During the New Year, my second uncle, Barton Waters, took the initiative to invite relatives to play poker cards for fun, but when everyone sat down at the table, he said, "We don't want to play with one or two pieces of money. If we want to play, we have to play big.”
The relatives asked with a smile how much money was actually considered big?
Barton took out ten bundles of cash from his bag and threw them on the poker card table, “A thousand for a single hit. Don't play if you don't have the capital.”
The relatives all looked embarrassed and said that they could not afford to play such a big game. They complimented Barton for being a capable boss who could play poker cards on such a big scale.
Barton proudly enjoyed everyone's flattering looks and taught them to work hard to improve themselves, otherwise they would be poor all their lives and would not even be able to afford a game of poker card that cost a thousand dollars per hand.
At this time, I slowly walked to the poker card table and said, “Uncle, I'll play with you.”
——
"You?”
When they saw me at the table, my relatives were all stunned. Barton was also stunned for a moment, then he laughed in a weird way, “Erwin, you only make a few hundred dollars a month, why are you making a fuss?”
I smiled and said, “This year I received a year-end bonus of a thousand, which is enough for me to play a few games with you, uncle.”
We could all see that Barton did not only want to play poker cards, but also wanted to show off that he was rich.
I had been enduring it for several days.
On the day I came back from the New Year holiday, I bought two bottles of fine wine for my dad. When Barton saw it, he lectured me, “Your dad is just a farmer. How can he taste the goodness of fine wine with that mouth?”
If my dad had not tried to stop me, I would have fallen out with him.
Since Barton trampled on the dignity of us poor relatives even when playing poker cards, there was no need for me to consider him a relative anymore.
“Oh, you're doing pretty well. Your year-end bonus of a thousand is almost as much as I earned in ten days. Don't cry if you lose it all later.”
Barton had obvious disdain on his face and said something sarcastic again.
I looked at him coldly, feeling disgusted for having such a relative.
It was like this every year. Everyone was celebrating the New Year happily, but Barton relied on the fact that he ran a small company and acted condescending all day long and he lectured everyone he met.
It was fine to brag in front of outsiders, but what was the mentality of showing off your superiority in front of his relatives?
That day, I would not spoil him anymore!
Faced with Barton's sarcasm, I did not hold back and provoked him, “Don't worry, I can afford to lose. I'm just afraid that you won't admit your loss, uncle.”
Barton saw that I dared to disrespect him, so he sneered, “Haha, I don't care about losing some of the thousands I earn tonight, Erwin. Don’t think I'm the same as you, okay?
“I live on a thousand of dollars in year-end bonuses all year round. I heard from your dad that he wants to save up for a down payment to buy a house and help you get married. So, don't blame me if you lose all the down payment and your girlfriend runs away. "
As he said this, the other relatives could not help but frown.
Was there any elder who would say such words to his own nephew?
I was too lazy to argue with my uncle anymore, so I asked the relatives present, “Is there anyone willing to help us get together?”
It took four people to play a poker card and it was impossible for Barton and I to play it alone.
However, when the relatives saw that Barton and I had started to compete with each other, they were afraid of getting covered in blood and shook their heads to indicate that they could not afford such a big game.
Barton curled his lips and rolled his eyes, “What a coward, you can't even play a game of poker with a thousand dollars hand, what great things can you do?”
The relatives were angry but dared not say anything about his disgusting face.
I took in everyone's expressions and did not say much. Instead, I narrowed my eyes slightly and said to Barton, “Since we can't play poker cards, how about we play something exciting?”
Barton drooped his eyelids and snorted, “What exciting game to play? Poker, Dice, Chess, whatever you choose!"
