Reborn in 1985, starting from the mountains of Northwest China

Zhang Jianjun pointed at the cards, his fingers trembling: "You...you've got cards like this...what's the point of playing!"

"The landlord has been called, I'll go first."

Chen Feng ignored it and directly placed four 2s: "Bomb!"

Zhang the blacksmith and Jianguo hadn't even warmed their hands when they saw four 2s slapped on the table, and they looked at each other in bewilderment.

Chen Feng then threw out ten more pairs: "5566778899!"

Zhang Jianguo swallowed hard.

Chen Feng arranged the remaining cards and played a "three-of-a-kind with one extra card".

He looked up and asked, "Three Kings and a 3, want it?"

Zhang the blacksmith slammed his pipe on the table and said irritably, "Do you want it or not? Did you leave me any way out?"

Zhang Jianguo slammed his cards on the table, his face contorted with despair: "I haven't even played a single hand, and I'm already done for?"

Chen Feng put down his last trump card and clapped his hands: "We won."

Zhang Jianguo stood to the side, his face turning green.

He pointed at Chen Feng, then at the pile of cards, opened his mouth, and after a long pause, finally managed to say, "This isn't right!"

Chen Feng said, "What's wrong?"

Zhang Jianguo said, "A pair of Kings, four 2s, and that consecutive pair! How can you possibly put these together?"

Zhang the blacksmith said slowly, "You dealt the cards."

"I can't post something this outrageous!"

Zeng Tieniu chimed in, "You posted it, you washed it, we cut it, and you call it outrageous? Whose fault is that?"

Zhang Jianguo was speechless, his face flushed red after a long pause, when he suddenly slammed his hand on the table:

"I need to have my license checked!"

As Zhang the blacksmith was counting money on the table, his shout startled him so much that his hand trembled and he dropped two cents on the ground.

He bent down to pick it up, then pointed his pipe at Zhang Jianguo: "What are you checking? The license plate was bought from the supply and marketing cooperative. If you want to check, go check the supply and marketing cooperative!"

Tie Niu laughed so hard he couldn't stand up straight: "Jianguo, are you getting desperate after losing?"

Zhang Jianguo retorted, his neck stiff: "We can't lose like this! Every game like this, who can stand it?"

Chen Feng laughed heartily, saying that when luck is on your side, nothing can stop it!

Chen Feng gathered the money, stood up, and said, "Master, you guys have fun. I really have to go. My wife is waiting for me."

Zhang the blacksmith waved his hand: "Alright, alright, go ahead. Come back another day, and I'll have Jianguo give you a few more good hands."

Zhang Jianguo panicked: "Second Uncle! Aren't you my real uncle? You're happy that he won money, aren't you?"

Zhang the blacksmith took a drag of his cigarette and said slowly, "I lost money, what's there for me to be happy about? I just think it's a waste that your card-dealing skills aren't used as a dealer in a casino."

Zeng Tieniu laughed again.

Zhang Jianguo's face flushed red and then turned pale as he muttered, "Fine, fine, you win. Let's go again, this time I'll go myself and not let anyone else deal the cards."

Chen Feng smiled as he left, Zhang Jianguo's voice still faintly echoing behind him: "I don't believe it, I'll play myself this time, I'll see who gets the good cards..."

Chen Feng closed the door, and his lips twitched slightly.

There were few people on the village road. It was already dark, and the moon had not yet risen. We could only find our way by the light shining from the windows of each house.

Chen Feng touched the crumpled bills in his pocket and did the math in his mind: He spent nearly 12.3 yuan at the market today, earned 2.3 yuan from selling eggs and hemp, and originally had 10 yuan left. But he spent another 2.6 yuan on lanterns, red paper, the character "福" (good fortune), door gods, and the like. Now he has a little over 7 yuan left in his pocket.

Adding the two cents I just won.

Not bad.

Shoes are a serious matter; you have to wear them for a year.

Lanterns, red paper, and door gods are all things needed for the Chinese New Year, so it's worth spending money on them.

With that thought in mind, he pushed open the gate to his own courtyard.

The lights were on in the main room, and the aroma of food wafted from the kitchen.

Just as Chen Feng was about to walk towards the kitchen, he heard people talking in the main room.

He paused for a moment, then pushed the door open and went inside.

Inside the main room, Lin Xiu was pouring tea for his elder brother.

"Big brother's back!"

Chen Jun stood up, grinned, revealing a set of yellow teeth: "I just finished my business and was thinking of sending you the money."

Lin Xiu put down the shoe sole and said with a smile.

"Big brother just came in a little while ago, and I was just saying I'd have Xiaoshan go and call you."

Chen Feng pulled up a stool and sat down beside him: "Big brother, have you eaten yet?"

"I ate it, I ate it on the way."

Chen Jun took out a handkerchief package from his pocket and handed it to Chen Feng: "This is the money for the roe deer meat and hide, one hundred and two yuan and seventy cents. Count it."

Chen Feng was stunned; he hadn't expected so many: "So many?"

Chen Jun shoved the handkerchief into his hand: "Of course, your leather is of good quality. It's from that shopkeeper you introduced last time; he's really honest!"

"The shopkeeper said that your roe deer skin is well-tanned and has a good color. We need this kind of good skin in winter. The meat is also selling for a higher price than pork."

Chen Feng handed the money to Lin Xiu: "Take it."

Lin Xiu took it, her hands trembling slightly.

She had lived for over twenty years and had never seen so much money handed to her at once.

She clutched the money tightly, glanced at Chen Feng, and her eyes sparkled.

Chen Jun took a sip of water, paused, and then continued, "Tell them to send any more good hides like this to him. He'll pay a high price."

Chen Feng nodded, having made up his mind.

Seeing that it was about time, Lin Xiu turned around and went into the kitchen.

Chen Jun watched Lin Xiu leave, then turned around and said in a low voice, "Third brother, there's one more thing."

Chen Feng looked at him.

Chen Jun said, "The shopkeeper asked me to inquire whether you still have any of these hides. He wants two."

Chen Feng thought for a moment: "Not now."

"Brother, you know I haven't been to the mountains many times. I have to wait until spring, when the hides are thin and worthless. For good quality hides, I have to wait until autumn."

Chen Jun nodded: "That's what I said too. The shopkeeper said it's fine after the autumn harvest; he'll place an order and pay the same price then."

Chen Feng didn't speak, but was thinking to himself.

Chen Jun added, "If you can get a few more, that'll be enough for a year's worth of chewing."

Chen Feng said, "Roe deer are hard to hunt; you have to touch them."

Chen Jun smiled: "I know. I just wanted to let you know that there's such a connection. Just keep that in mind."

Lin Xiu brought in a bowl of hot ginger soup and handed it to Chen Jun: "Brother, have some ginger soup to warm yourself up. Were you cold on the way?"

Chen Jun took it, took a sip, and smacked his lips: "Xiuer's ginger soup is well-made, it's flavorful."

Lin Xiu smiled.

She brought the food up and set the table.

Lin Xiu had already fed Xiao Shan and Xiao Yue.

The food was pretty good. There was a cabbage stew with glass noodles, stir-fried radish with meat, a plate of pickled vegetables, and a few steamed buns made from a mixture of wheat and vegetables.

"Brother, have something hot to eat."

Lin Xiu handed over the chopsticks: "You can't just eat dry rations on the road, your stomach can't take it."

Chen Jun stared at the dishes on the table, stunned. "This...this isn't a holiday, why are you making so much?"

Lin Xiu smiled and said, "It's a rare occasion for my brother to come all this way, how could I let you leave on an empty stomach?"

Chen Jun looked at Chen Feng, then at Lin Xiu, his lips moved, but he didn't say anything.

Chen Feng said, "Brother, eat up. We're home now, no need to be so polite."

Chen Jun nodded, picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of cabbage stew with glass noodles, and put it in his mouth.