Four men in Tainan County were playing a card game together 10 years ago in the small hours of the first day of the seventh lunar month, known as the "Ghost Month" in Chinese communities.
The opening day of the month, according to folklore, is when spirits come out the Underworld to visit their living family members.
The four men, who were good friends, were attending a party marking the establishment of the Tatungshan Democracy Association in 1996, recalled Shen Yi-nien, one of the men.
Shen's wife bought a set of cards and the four of them decided to play a game called "13 Cards." Popular especially in Southeastern Asia, the game is played by four people who each gets 13 cards.
Chan Tseng-chou, one of the four, found that as soon as he received his set that the 13 cards were a complete suit, consisting of nine cards numbered two to ten as well an ace, a king, a queen, and a jack -- known locally as "One Dragon." Then another of the four, Lin Ching-chang, and Shen also found they were dealt the same hand.
Lu Fu-tung, who had been to the bathroom while the cards were being dealt, said when he returned there was no need for him to look at his cards, which for obvious reason was the same as the others'.
The odds of getting a "one dragon" hand, according to the Wikipedia, are one out of 12,211,799,223.
Shen felt this was unusual and ominous and suggested they go worship the god in a temple.
All them went to a temple except Lu.
The following year, a fire broke out in the apartment where Shen and his wife lived with Lu and his girlfriend. The Shens happened to be out, and Lu and his girlfriend were unfortunately killed in the blaze.
Lin said that, since Lu died the three of them have gone to a temple together to worship the deity every year on the eve of the first day of the seventh lunar month.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/deta ... 6593&GRP=B
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