Shangnan County, located along the coast, besides being home to many wealthy individuals, has a distinctive feature: numerous mahjong parlors.

Despite efforts to promote civilized behavior due to the upcoming Olympics in the capital, Shangnan County is quite far from the capital city, resulting in limited effectiveness of these campaigns.

Many full-time housewives in Shangnan County, whether affluent or not, enjoy playing mahjong in their spare time. The mahjong parlors also double as restaurants and lodgings, flourishing everywhere. With a good network and a large group of mahjong-loving friends, opening a mahjong parlor here is almost a guaranteed profitable venture.

All it takes is a storefront, some tables and chairs, and a few snacks and beverages. The barrier to entry for opening such a business is much lower compared to other types of establishments.

As a result, children in Shangnan County, to varying degrees, are exposed to and learn how to play mahjong. Sometimes, when there’s a shortage of players, children as young as ten years old are brought in by relatives to fill the table.

Dong Changyang naturally knows how to play mahjong.

Not only does Dong Changyang know how to play mahjong, she can be considered skilled at it. Some even jokingly call her the “Little Mahjong Goddess,” directly borrowing from Hong Kong mahjong movies without any creativity in naming.

By the way, the videos rented the fastest and most are about “mahjong” and “poker.” Dong Changyang even had a period of obsession with Chow Yun-fat’s “God of Gamblers,” trying to emulate his poker skills.

Unfortunately, her poker skills were average at best, but she excelled naturally at playing mahjong.

In essence, mahjong relies on two things: luck and skill. Luck is elusive—some people with poor skills still manage to win frequently, while others with superior skills end up paying others all the time. This is something that cannot be controlled. Dong Changyang’s luck is neither good nor bad, but her strong memory and card counting skills ensure that she wins more than she loses when playing mahjong.

However, Dong Changyang rarely plays mahjong. She only helps out when a few neighbors on the street need an extra player, playing a game and then leaving.

Today, she simply happened to be available.

“Wang Jie, is your daughter going to be able to get into Upper South High School this time? If not, it’s best to change her first choice to Third or Fourth High School. You know, my son from the same village missed First High School by five points initially, didn’t make it through the donation quota, and almost couldn’t get into the key class at Fourth High School without connections. Now they’re implementing small class sizes, restricting the number per class, which complicates things.”

A mahjong friend feigned concern but was actually subtly boasting, “My daughter had bad luck too. She didn’t do well in English composition and lost a few points, missing the top spot by two points. But we’ve already called Third High School, and they said anyone within a three-point difference from the top can get in. However, my daughter is proud and doesn’t want to apply to Third High. She still wants to take the entrance exam for First High School, studying until eleven or twelve every night!”

“Wang Jie’s daughter is an arts student with lower scores,” another mahjong friend chimed in to help, “She barely passed the talent exam earlier. Even with cultural scores twenty points lower than regular students, she can still get into First High School.”

“Speaking of the talent exam, it seems our downstairs neighbor Dong Changyang took first place. Hey, Wang Jie, isn’t Dong Changyang from your neighborhood too?”

“Not just the talent exam, she also topped the general excellence exam. I heard from a friend that teachers from those high schools even come with gifts. The top scorer in general excellence, even the first-tier classes in the province, accept them.”

“Wang Jie, now that Dong Changyang doesn’t need to go to school anymore, and you’re close to her as neighbors, why not ask her to tutor your daughter? Being neighbors, the fees shouldn’t be too expensive.”

“Yeah, let’s consider our recent losses as tuition fees for your niece’s tutoring.”

At the card table, it’s always a place where Wang Hongying boasts about her children and husband.

Just now, Wang Hongying won a few hundred yuan in one go, and she’s dragging on the game. When she wins, she smiles happily; when she loses, she complains endlessly. If they could find other players, they wouldn’t want to play with Wang Hongying.

It’s not Intentional, just saying something to make Wang Hongying unhappy at this moment.

Who made Wang Hongying brag so much about her daughter before? She boasted about her daughter’s performance as if she had already been admitted to First High School right after the talent exam was online. Normally, she boasted about how good her daughter’s grades were, but in the end, her daughter didn’t even qualify for the talent exam, while Dong Changyang quietly took two first places, shocking the parents of children at home.

Look at Dong Changyang, even without parents and poor family conditions, she managed to take two first places. They provide for their children’s food and clothing, make sure they don’t have to worry about anything, even enroll them in tutoring classes, yet they can’t even touch the edge of First High School!

“Dong Changyang’s parents are gone, how can she not work hard?” Wang Hongying’s face suddenly dropped. “Maybe the teachers felt sorry for her and gave her extra scores. My daughter’s grades used to be better than hers.”

“The exam papers are all sealed. The Director of Education personally inspected them at the time, and he had no idea who was who,” another nearby mahjong friend wasn’t easily fooled like this.

“First High School is their face in Shangnan County, and the leaders take it seriously. In the surrounding several prefecture-level cities, First High School in Shangnan County is a provincial key school, while Third High School is just a municipal key school. Can they be compared?”

“She’s naturally tough.” Wang Hongying collected her money, taking her time with her tiles. “Look, even her mother doesn’t want her. A girl like this will be unlucky in marriage in the future. What’s the use of ranking first? She won’t be able to marry well. Although my daughter’s grades aren’t as good as hers, my daughter is beautiful with fair skin. I’ve realized that it’s better to marry well than to excel academically. My daughter doesn’t need to compete with her in this regard.”

“Wang Jie, you shouldn’t say that.” Another mahjong friend was taken aback. Even if she partly agreed with Wang Hongying, it wasn’t appropriate to discuss such matters here among neighbors. Talking behind the backs of the younger generation like this would sound too harsh.

“I’m speaking the truth, there’s nothing wrong with it. Hurry up and play your tiles!”

Some people do believe in things like destiny.

Initially, their own children were not bad, but suddenly being overshadowed by Dong Changyang made them lose their shine. They might say that their own children have shortcomings here and there, urging them to learn from Dong Changyang, but deep down, they probably still think highly of their own children.

Dong Changyang’s destiny seems to be a bit tough.

Poor thing.

Wang Hongying’s words were like opening a breach, and within just a day, similar rumors quickly spread.

Although they didn’t say these things directly in front of Dong Changyang, rumors have a way of reaching those involved.

Dong Changyang had already felt that others were looking at her strangely, but she hadn’t paid much attention to it. Today, returning early from her art class, she happened to overhear someone gossiping behind her back about her destiny being tough, nearly making her want to curse in anger.

In these few streets, it’s a small community where gossip spreads easily; with a little inquiry, one could easily find out who started the rumors.

As Dong Changyang’s neighbor, Wang Hongying also had a daughter of the same age who was a talented student, so naturally, her presence was highly noticeable.

Dong Changyang locked onto her target and was not willing to just endure this.

She was a girl, and even though the street office director took good care of her, living alone came with many inconveniences. With that kind of reserved personality, she feared she might endure a lot of bullying.

Dong Changyang had long understood the principle that “the crying child gets the milk.”

Adults all prefer children who are academically successful and obedient, and she was no exception. Besides wanting to escape such a life, she worked hard in her studies to earn better treatment from these adults.

As far as she knew, there was also a boy on the street next door who had grown up with his grandmother since his parents divorced when he was young. Despite having a grandmother, his life wasn’t much better than hers. Because of his poor grades and lack of parental control, he hung out with troublemakers, and the street office director didn’t pay as much attention to him as they did to ”ong Changyang.

How could there possibly be a perfect student who excelled in every way in the world?

So Dong Changyang loves hot-blooded manga, seeing the protagonist striving so hard towards their goals. Seeing others who have it worse than her being encouraged, it balances her feelings even more.

And this strange fate with Chen Huanzhi just solidifies Dong Changyang’s belief in this. Even if I start with the tragic heroine’s opening, I’m definitely on the motivational path.

Simply put, she’s becoming more and more obsessed with her middle-school years.

A girl in her teens is someone whose thoughts cannot be easily measured by ordinary standards.

I won’t mess with anyone who doesn’t mess with me.

She knew that Wang Hongying was known for being talkative, claiming to have a “sharp tongue but a soft heart,” but if that sharp tongue hurt her, Dong Changyang couldn’t ignore it.

As for Wang Hongying being an adult or not yet grown up, it was completely irrelevant in Dong Changyang’s considerations.

However, in front of Chen Huanzhi, Dong Changyang still tried her best to present the image of an outstanding and diligent girl.

At this time, Chen Huanzhi shouldn’t be watching her.

Because normally at this time, she would be in class, and Chen Huanzhi would get a headache just from looking at the simplified characters on her side, and after a few days of trying, he refused to light the incense.

In other words, it’s safe now.

My image must be maintained in front of Brother Chen, but it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t notice.

With this in mind, Dong Changyang quickly approached Wang Hongying’s table after discovering it was short of one player, pretending as if nothing had happened and greeted her.

“Aunt Wang, long time no see,” Dong Changyang smiled as she walked up to Wang Hongying.

“Oh, it’s Changyang,” Wang Hongying showed no awareness of speaking ill of others, immediately adopting the tone of an elder, “Although you don’t need to go to school now, learning is about constant improvement. You should still spend some time studying.”

Hypocrite!

These adults are all so hypocritical.

“Yeah, I just finished a set of test papers and felt a bit tired, so I came out for a walk,” Dong Changyang scratched her head, “But my head still feels a bit swollen. Aunt Wang, you guys continue playing slowly. I’ll go buy some fruits first.”

A red envelope peeked out from Dong Changyang’s pocket.

“Changyang, did you receive a red envelope?” Auntie, one of the card players, asked curiously.

“Yeah, I got first place in the special talent exam, and this is the prize money from the art class, not much, just three hundred yuan,” Dong Changyang said shyly.

“You can earn money from studying, impressive! If my son could be half as good as you, I’d be satisfied,” Auntie said, pulling Dong Changyang who didn’t really want to leave, “My son is in the second year of junior high. His physics and English grades aren’t improving. Changyang, do you tutor? Do you have notes from your second year that you can lend me? Auntie won’t let you suffer.”

“Ahem,” Wang Hongying’s face grew even more unpleasant, “You’ve been holding onto Changyang all this time, but remember, this is a mahjong parlor. Are you still playing?”

“No one else is coming now,”

“Changyang, why don’t you join us?” Wang Hongying’s tone shifted as she looked at Dong Changyang. “We’re playing small, just fifty cents. Help us fill a seat, and someone will join us soon.”

“Wangjie is right,” another middle-aged woman who hadn’t spoken much chimed in, echoing Wang Hongying. “It’s a good way to relax.”

“Sure,” Dong Changyang didn’t refuse, sitting down directly. “I haven’t played in a long time, so I might not be very good.”

“No problem, I’ll make you the banker,” the auntie next to her who was trying to recruit Dong Changyang as a tutor spoke kindly. “If you lose today, it’s on me; if you win, we split the winnings.”

She wasn’t short of a few bucks, just worried that Changyang would feel awkward if things didn’t go well.Changyang, the top scorer, was in no position to refuse this favor, and it was a good time for her to repay her favors. Whether she wins or loses, she won’t become a tutor for her son, but she will definitely have her notes to study.

“Wow, so generous?” Wang Hongying seemed a bit weird.“

My husband recently closed a few deals, so we have some extra money at home,” the auntie boasted, pleased with herself. “Changyang has been doing well lately, and seems to be on a winning streak. I might not lose.”

“That’s not necessarily true,” Wang Hongying said confidently. Her luck had been quite good; the previous player in Changyang’s seat left angrily after losing several rounds in a row.

Dong Changyang smiled quietly, shuffling the tiles.

In less than ten minutes into the first round, Dong Changyang got the tiles she needed. She looked a bit shy as she laid them out, “I think I have a winning hand, Auntie, take a look. I didn’t make a mistake, right?”

Dong Changyang pushed forward her tiles confidently.

Wang Hongying scrutinized them briefly and reluctantly nodded, “Hmm, Chicken Hand.”

“A win is a win,” the tutoring auntie chuckled. “Changyang, your luck is really something. Winning right from the start.”

“I’ll check the remaining tiles.” Wang Hongying reached for the pile. “Here’s the 8 Bamboo, just as I thought it would be here.”

“I needed the 3 Character,” Wang Hongying sighed in disappointment. “I had a Pure Straight!”

To lose out on a Pure Straight just because someone else won with a Chicken Hand—what a painful experience in mahjong!

“But Changyang won early. Come on, let’s continue,” the auntie urged cheerfully.

The second round ended in a draw.

“Oops, my bad, I made a mistake,” Dong Changyang couldn’t help reaching for the tiles.

“Hey hey, once the tile is played, it’s played. You can’t take it back,” Wang Hongying quickly intervened. “Changyang, that’s the rule.”

“Sorry,” Dong Changyang withdrew her hand reluctantly.

In the third round, Wang Hongying discarded a few tiles.

“Um, I think I just drew a winning hand,” Dong Changyang pushed forward her tiles. “But it’s not a big win.”

“You just discarded a 5 Bamboo, how can you win with a 5 Bamboo again?” Wang Hongying noticed Dong Changyang’s tiles and her tone had already turned stern. She accidentally discarded a tile earlier because Dong Changyang had prev”ously discarded Bamboo tiles, who knew Dong Changyang would win with Bamboo tiles?

Clearly, if Dong Changyang had won with pairs, she would have scored more points.

“I accidentally discarded the 5 Bamboo earlier,” Dong Changyang sighed softly. “I already dismantled it, so I have to make do with what I have. And remember, Wang Auntie, you said once a tile is played, it’s rooted and can’t be taken back.”

Fifth round.

“Little Three Dragons, I think I just won.”

Sixth round

.……

“I think I’ve only won ten bucks. Ugh, ever since we switched seats, my luck hasn’t been great. It was your idea to change seats, and that last false win was really painful,” the tutoring aunt lamented, recalling the round where she misjudged her hand – she played too quickly!

A false win, combined with the money Dong Changyang won as the banker, all lost in one go.

By the rules, a false win is doubled in penalty.

One to three.

“I lost thirty, but we’re playing small stakes, so wins and losses aren’t that big.”

“You lost more, Hongying.”

“Two hundred down,” Wang Hongying’s face was visibly upset, she was the biggest loser.

“You brought this on yourself by changing seats. You lost even more after swapping with Changyang. Changyang had good luck in her previous spot, but luck doesn’t always hold. If you hadn’t changed seats, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“Yeah, blaming anyone but yourself for your reckless discards?”

Wang Hongying felt crowded out by these two mahjong friends, almost breathless with anger.

Playing for fifty cents a game, losing two hundred bucks, and having all her morning winnings swallowed up was definitely not a small amount.

“Oh no, it’s getting late. Should we keep playing?” Dong Changyang, holding the money, seemed quite embarrassed.

“Let’s play tomorrow,” Wang Hongying’s tone was cold, “You can’t just leave when you’re losing. That’s not how it works. Do you not have anything to do these days? It’s just ”ccasional fun. I need to go back and cook; my daughter will be out of school soon.”

“Is Aunt Wang mad?” Dong Changyang asked with concern, trying to appear pitiful, “Should I give her back the money?”

“In mahjong, once the money’s on the table, it stays there, Changyang. Are you afraid of your own winnings?” the other friend added.

“Yeah, she’s sulking just because she lost. In mahjong, who doesn’t lose?” the third one chimed in.

“Alright, alright, I’m going back to cook too. Changyang, treat yourself to something nice with your winnings.”

Hmm.

Adults are like this too.

It seems a person with bad character also has bad mahjong etiquette.

When Dong Changyang returned home, she stopped by a braised meat shop and bought herself a roast chicken.

Counting tiles in mahjong is too taxing; a chicken leg would be a good reward.