High Stakes, Low Dignity: A Game of Family and Fortune

During the New Year celebrations, Jason suddenly declared that the card game was boring and suggested we play for higher stakes. He slammed his BMW car keys down on the table and asked if we dared to match him. I knew he was just showing off his new car. Everyone was taken aback, quickly saying, "We’re just playing for fun, we can’t match that," while praising him for being so impressive at such a young age.

I hesitated because my hand had three Kings. Jason was basking in the compliments, ready to shuffle the cards, when I quietly slid my BYD car keys onto the table and said, "I’ll match." The room fell silent. Everyone stared at me in disbelief, and Jason’s eyes widened in shock. The atmosphere turned tense; the moment we both placed our car keys on the table, any sense of family ties vanished.

But I had no regrets. After all, he was the one who put his BMW keys up first. If he could play so ruthlessly with family, I wouldn’t care about his feelings anymore. Jason smirked and said, "How much money do you have in your pocket to scare me? This is a BMW we’re talking about. You better gather your cash; don’t bring that old BYD to the table." I shot him a cold glare. I hated playing cards with him.

What should have been a joyful New Year celebration turned sour because he flaunted his wealth, raising the stakes higher with every bet. Anyone who has played cards knows that those with less money are at the mercy of those with more. While we were betting one or two dollars, he would bet five hundred. We all urged him not to play so high among family, but he innocently replied, "Is five hundred really that much?"

He was just bullying us for being poor, knowing we wouldn’t dare to match him. He came to the game just to toy with the dignity of us less fortunate relatives. Realizing my BYD couldn’t compete with his BMW, I turned to call for Emily. We were about to get married, and she wore the "Three Golds" I had bought for her. I said, "Put the gold chain and bracelet on the table."

Emily glanced at me, not even asking what cards I had, and simply removed her chain and bracelet, placing them on the table. In that moment, a phrase popped into my mind: "With a wife like this, what more could a man want?" I looked at Jason seriously and said, "Is this enough? Are you ready to reveal your cards?"

Jason’s expression changed. He clenched his teeth, probably not expecting me to defy him. With a hint of mockery, he said, "Little brother, don’t blame me for not making it clear. Losing a BMW doesn’t matter to me, but if you lose everything, how will your family survive for the next five years?" I shook my head and replied, "It’s fine; my family has our own way of living. Besides, didn’t you and Sarah just say at the dinner table that I’m not bold enough?"

Jason’s face darkened further. I had never offended him before, but earlier at the dinner table, he had belittled me for not making as much money as he did, looking down on me for being too timid, unlike...