The second day after taking over the chess and card hall was Thursday, the day of the Mark Six lottery draw.
After breakfast, Yang Jian, along with Afeng and the others, came to the chess and card hall to observe how Fang Hai sold lottery tickets.
The Mark Six draw was scheduled for 8:30 PM, with a live broadcast on Hong Kong City Television. People started coming in to buy tickets from the morning.
Most people bought special numbers, ranging from one to forty-nine, and could choose multiple numbers simultaneously.
The minimum bet was two yuan for one number, with no upper limit. If they won, the payout was forty times the bet.
A two-yuan win would yield eighty yuan, and a hundred-yuan win would bring in four thousand yuan.
Old Ma had once bet a thousand yuan and won the special number, which would have paid forty thousand yuan. Unfortunately, the lottery operator had absconded, and he never received the prize money. This incident also led to a series of conflicts that drew Yang Jian into the affair.
"Little Yang, I heard you've opened a lottery operation. I've brought a few of my buddies to help you out."
Just past nine o'clock, Old Xie arrived with several middle-aged men of similar age, who appeared to be fellow scrap collectors like himself. Old Ma, however, was not present.
Yang Jian quickly offered them cigarettes. "Uncle Xie, I'm very happy to have you help me, but I don't recommend you buy tickets. It's a bottomless pit, and it's not easy to earn money collecting scrap."
"You're a strange child. Others who run lottery operations wish for more customers, but you're driving them away. We usually buy tickets from the south side, and we came here specifically to support you because Old Ma told us you opened this operation."
"I'm just afraid you'll lose money. It's similar to gambling, you know, more losses than wins."
"It's alright. Even if you didn't open this lottery, we would still buy elsewhere. I trust your character. Old Ma said you drive a car worth one or two million yuan, so you must have the means and won't run off."
"Of course, I won't run off. Don't worry, we can afford to pay you even if you win a million."
"Little Yang, when you lived with Old Ma, I felt you were no ordinary person. I just don't understand how you suddenly became so wealthy."
Old Xie had heard from Old Ma that Yang Jian was opening a lottery operation north of the village. He initially didn't believe it, thinking Yang Jian was merely an agent earning commissions. So, he decided to come and see for himself.
Yang Jian smiled. "Didn't I tell you before that my phone and wallet were stolen as soon as I arrived? I had no money or ID on me, so I stayed with Uncle Ma. I've now contacted my family, and Boss Fang gave me this location. I called my brothers from back home to invest in this lottery operation together."
"Oh, that's good. We'll buy tickets here from now on. I'll buy five hundred yuan worth today, ten numbers. Little Ma, write them down for me."
Old Xie had already chosen ten numbers and written them on a piece of paper, which he handed to Ma Yuan. He was betting fifty yuan per number. If one of these ten numbers was the special number for this draw, he would win two thousand yuan, making a profit of one thousand five hundred after deducting the principal.
His companions also bought tickets for one or two hundred yuan each, all choosing ten numbers, just different ones.
Ma Yuan used a three-part invoice to record the numbers provided by Old Xie and the amount bet on each. The second copy was given to Old Xie and his companions, which they would use to claim their winnings if they hit the jackpot.
Anan and Junjun were responsible for collecting the money, and they also kept records. After the lottery draw, they would reconcile with Fang Hai and Ma Yuan and identify the winning tickets for prize redemption the following day.
"Little Yang, you're busy. We need to get back to work. We'll come to claim our winnings tomorrow."
Old Xie saw that his companions had completed their ticket purchases and were preparing to leave.
Yang Jian quickly went to the adjacent room and brought back several bottles of drinks. "Uncle Xie, it's our opening day today. Please have a bottle of water each."
Old Xie accepted them without hesitation. "That's great! Do we get this treatment every time we come?"
"Yes, every time. Everyone who buys tickets here receives a complimentary bottle of drink."
Yang Jian suddenly realized that these people were all working-class individuals with low wages. Giving them a three-yuan bottle of drink would make them very happy, making them feel that the lottery operation was humane and had financial strength.
This initiative would not only bring back customers but also attract new ones.
Afeng, with his extensive experience managing casinos, immediately understood Yang Jian's intention. He promptly went to the adjacent room and brought back several cases of red tea and green tea. Buying in bulk offered a discount.
He first gave a bottle to each person playing cards and then ensured that anyone who entered to buy tickets could receive a bottle of water.
By noon, the number of people buying tickets increased significantly, likely due to factory workers finishing their shifts. They were mostly young people, and their betting amounts were not large, ranging from ten to one or two hundred yuan.
Two people were busy writing ticket slips, so Anan also took out a stack of invoices to help with order taking, while Junjun alone was sufficient for collecting money.
Yang Jian and Afeng were distributing drinks to the workers buying tickets.
"Hey, has the owner of this lottery operation changed? They're even giving out drinks."
"It's probably just for the opening day. No owner would be willing to give out drinks every day."
"It's good enough that they're giving out drinks. I've been to many lottery operations, and this is the first one that gives out drinks."
The workers buying tickets were discussing amongst themselves, finding this lottery operation somewhat different.
Afeng took advantage of the crowd and announced loudly, "Starting today, this establishment will give every customer who plays cards or buys tickets a bottle of drink every time. Regardless of the winning amount, we guarantee redemption. Please help spread the word."
"Boss, we don't like red tea. Can we have juice instead?"
Someone jokingly asked.
"Yes, if you want juice, I'll arrange it immediately."
"Then, can I still get a drink if I only buy two yuan worth of tickets each time?"
"Yes, as long as you come to buy tickets, regardless of the amount, you are supporting our operation. We treat everyone equally and welcome you warmly."
Afeng knew that these workers had low salaries and saved money to buy lottery tickets. A considerable number of them indeed only spent two yuan or a few yuan each time to try their luck. Receiving a three-yuan bottle of drink meant they were ahead even if they didn't win.
The consequence of this was that it might attract a large number of people looking to take advantage, spending two yuan on a ticket and then getting a bottle of drink. If they won, they would earn seventy-eight yuan, and if they lost, they wouldn't lose anything, as two yuan for a bottle of drink was a good deal.
However, Yang Jian and Afeng had a counter-strategy. After discussing with the supermarket owner, they reduced the price of the drinks to two yuan and twenty cents per bottle. The lottery operation could afford to subsidize twenty cents.
This was essentially a marketing strategy. On the surface, the workers were getting a good deal, but in reality, once these people became addicted to buying tickets or won once, they would no longer spend only two yuan each time.
Afeng had experience managing casinos. During slow periods, casinos often invited professional gamblers to fill the seats, giving each person two hundred yuan per day. In reality, these gamblers, focused on receiving the daily allowance, would eventually lose heavily.
These workers who were trying to get a good deal were similar to those professional gamblers. They would start by taking advantage, but later they wouldn't be able to stop, because buying lottery tickets, like gambling, was addictive. Once addicted, the money invested in buying tickets would only increase.