Friday was the day Yang Jian had arranged to meet Bai Zheng, Yang Fan's senior martial brother.
At eight in the morning, Yang Jian drove off with Afeng, Anan, and Junjun.
Bai Zheng had given them an address at Villa Number 58 in the Nanhai Mingzhu villa complex, located by the sea on the southern outskirts of Dongjiang.
Knowing from Yang Fan that Bai Zheng had a penchant for Maotai, Yang Jian and the others brought no other gifts, only a case of Feitian Maotai, six bottles in total, each costing over six hundred yuan.
They also purchased some high-end imported fruits, bringing the total expenditure to nearly five thousand yuan.
The drive from the city to the seaside took nearly an hour to reach the Nanhai Mingzhu villa complex. It was immediately apparent that this was a place for the wealthy.
"Facing the sea, with the spring breeze blooming" was an apt description of the villa complex. Every house offered a view of the sea, with varied architectural styles and a sophisticated, grand aesthetic.
In the distance, coconut trees and sandy beaches lined the coast under a clear blue sky, resembling a painting.
The community's security was exceptionally strict. The main entrance featured an intercom system directly connected to each resident's home, preventing visitors from entering without prior permission.
Upon arrival at the gate, Yang Jian called Bai Zheng, and only then were they allowed entry. Following the building numbers, they quickly located Villa Number 58.
At the entrance, a robust man in his forties, with a square face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes, dressed in a Tang suit, smiled as he watched Yang Jian and his companions alight from the car.
This must be Bai Zheng. Yang Jian had described Bai Zheng's appearance to Yang Jian, so he quickly stepped forward to shake his hand.
"Hello, Mr. Bai. I am Yang Jian."
"Good, good, good. You are indeed a fine young man. Don't call me Mr. Bai, call me Brother Zheng. Yang Fan is my youngest junior brother, and we are very close."
Bai Zheng's Mandarin had a distinct Dongjiang accent.
"Alright, Brother Zheng. These are Afeng, Anan, and Junjun. They are all Brother Fan's disciples."
"Greetings, Uncle-Master."
Afeng and the other two stood in a line and bowed to Bai Zheng.
"Mm, excellent. You young men all look quite spirited. Yang Fan has indeed taken on some good disciples. Come, let's go inside and sit."
Bai Zheng was a straightforward person and had a very good impression of Yang Jian and his group.
The villa's reception room had a massive floor-to-ceiling window facing the vast, azure sea.
A young man, about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, was preparing tea. He smiled at Yang Jian and the others as they entered.
"This is my youngest disciple, Abiao. He's a bit older than you."
Bai Zheng introduced everyone to each other, and they gathered around the tea table.
Inhaling the fragrant scent of Tieguanyin and gazing at the seamless horizon where sea met sky, Yang Jian felt his heart and mind become exceptionally clear. This, he thought, was the ultimate enjoyment of life.
"Little Yang, Yang Fan briefly told me about your situation, saying you were a wanted man for running a casino. Tell me the details."
Bai Zheng wasted no time with pleasantries and got straight to the point.
"Certainly, Brother Zheng."
Yang Fan had said Bai Zheng was trustworthy, so Yang Jian did not hold back. He recounted in detail how he partnered with Li Jin to open a casino and its subsequent shutdown.
However, he omitted the matter involving Lu Hao, only mentioning that he had escaped thanks to a warning from a stranger whose identity he still didn't know.
Given the sensitive background of the Lu family, it was best to keep the number of people aware of the tip-off to a minimum.
"Remarkable. No wonder Yang Fan called you a talented individual. To run a casino with such a large turnover, even though you're wanted, it's a glorious defeat in the underworld. Few people can achieve that, especially at your age. You are truly a rare gem."
Bai Zheng praised Yang Jian immensely. He had never heard of a casino with tens of millions in turnover being operated in mainland China, and it was rare even in developed coastal regions.
Yang Jian, however, gave a wry smile. "What talent? I'm a fugitive now, living precariously. I might be arrested tomorrow."
"Haha, Little Yang, don't worry. Since you've come to me, you are safe. It's just a matter of your identity, and I'll sort that out for you."
"Can you, Brother Zheng, have my wanted notice revoked?"
"Haha, you think too highly of me. I can't revoke a wanted notice; that requires going through the Kyoto Police Headquarters. However, I can help you get a new identity, and then you won't have to fear being wanted."
"A new identity? How can that be done?"
"I'll send you to Southeast Asia, where you can obtain a foreign identity, and then return as a foreign investor, worker, or student."
Yang Jian was greatly surprised. "Smuggling? Is it still possible to smuggle? Isn't the risk very high?"
"Rest assured, there's no risk when I handle it for you."
"If my wanted notice is revoked, can I revert to my original identity?"
"Yes, you can. The country doesn't restrict dual nationality yet. Of course, if you don't want to smuggle yourself abroad, I can also ensure you are not arrested in Dongjiang."
"Is that so? I'll consider it first. Thank you, Brother Zheng. Regardless of what happens, I'll need your help."
Bai Zheng waved his hand. "Don't be so formal. You and Yang Fan are brothers who have faced death together, so you are my brother too. In Dongjiang, I can't say I'll let you walk sideways, but at least you won't feel insecure. Do you have any plans or intentions since coming here?"
"Brother Zheng, we set up a lottery house in Liuqiao Village. After only three or four rounds, we felt that running a lottery house also carried risks.
On one hand, the odds of winning the Mark Six lottery are not low, and lottery houses can easily incur losses.
On the other hand, our identities can't withstand police scrutiny, so we came to ask you to show us the way."
Bai Zheng chuckled. "It's like falling asleep and someone handing you a pillow. What a coincidence! I'm currently preparing to open a casino, and your arrival is perfect. You all have experience; come and help me get this casino up and running."
"Open a casino?"
Yang Jian was a bit disappointed. He had hoped Bai Zheng would introduce him to a legitimate business and wasn't particularly interested in illicit ventures.
Bai Zheng, however, didn't notice his expression. "Yes, my casino is different from those in the mainland. You play with dice; we have many games, such as Baccarat, Roulette, Texas Hold'em, Stud Poker, and other gambling games. And we specifically use Hong Kong dollars."
"Play with Hong Kong dollars?"
"Yes, my casino primarily caters to Hong Kong and Taiwanese businessmen. This ensures security, at least preventing the situation you experienced at your casino, where the police went undercover and busted everyone."
Yang Jian nodded repeatedly. "Exactly, exactly. When we operate in the mainland, our biggest fear is the police posing as gamblers and getting in, then orchestrating an inside job. Not a single key member of the casino can escape."
"That's why my casino is absolutely secure. Furthermore, I have connections with the Dongjiang police. Even if problems are discovered, it won't be a big deal. How about it, are you interested in a partnership?"
"Partnership?"
"Yes, a partnership. You are Yang Fan's brother and a big shot who has run a large casino. I can't just have you as my subordinate, but I can't give you too many shares because opening this casino requires the support of the Hong Kong triads and higher authorities."
Bai Zheng had gone to Hong Kong a few days prior to discuss casino operations with local figures. Since the gamblers were mainly Hong Kong businessmen and the betting currency was Hong Kong dollars, many factors were involved, requiring joint operations from both sides.