Seeing this, Yang Jian didn't want to stay any longer and was about to leave when Su Ya walked over and handed him a bottle of herbal tea.
"Brother Jian, you are the best man I've ever met. Ruirui told me you have a very beautiful girlfriend. Cherish her, and don't come to these places anymore. Too much of anything can make a good person bad."
"I won't come again. I hope you can get clean soon."
Yang Jian left without taking the herbal tea.
Upon reaching the club lobby, he saw Biao Biao had woken up and was drinking a beverage. He walked over and sat with him.
"Biao Biao, how are you? Does the smell of the drugs make you uncomfortable?"
"It's not discomfort, it's enjoyment. I have a strong urge to take a couple of hits, so I had to come out. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to resist the temptation. Brother Jian, I can't come to these places anymore. If I hadn't come with you today, I might have relapsed, and all my previous treatment and efforts would have been in vain."
"We won't come again. Including Liang Liang and San Pang, none of us are allowed to enter 'Hi Bar' anymore. Places like this only lead to downfall and offer no benefits."
"But if we're involved in gambling, it feels a bit out of place not to go to entertainment venues."
"It's not that we can't go to all entertainment venues. We can still watch shows or sing at legitimate KTVs. Besides, if it means being out of place, so be it. I don't plan to cooperate with Brother Hao long-term. If Old Pan's venue can win a few more rounds and Brother Hao returns my 200,000 yuan, we'll start our own operation."
Biao Biao's eyes lit up. "Brother Jian, have you really decided?"
"I've decided. Just now, seeing them all reveal their true colors, I couldn't go along with them. They spend money like water when they win. Tonight's expenses must be no less than five thousand yuan, right?"
"Five thousand isn't enough. The first bottle of foreign liquor they opened was three thousand, plus room fees, beer, drinks, snacks, hostesses, and tips. It wouldn't be less than eight thousand, and that doesn't even include the cost of ketamine and meth."
"So, it's over ten thousand?"
"It's definitely over ten thousand, because the consumption at 'Hi Bar' has increased significantly this year compared to last year."
"It's too extravagant. Ten thousand yuan in the countryside is more than half a year's income for a laborer, and it's all gone in one night here. We're all from the countryside, and no family is very wealthy. Why do they forget who they are as soon as they come to the city? Wouldn't it be better to use this money to pay the salaries of people like you?"
Biao Biao sneered, "If Brother Hao had your mindset, he wouldn't be in such a sorry state. Any boss can step on him. Never mind him. Brother Jian, as long as you're willing to lead us to start anew, leave the task of taking over venues to me. I've met many people in the gambling circles in Hancheng over the years and have contacts with some of the runners."
"Alright, we won't take on large venues. Firstly, we can't compete with the big players, and secondly, the risk won't be as high. We don't need much capital. As long as we can manage a venue like the one on Hongqi Street, we can earn a lot of money in a year."
"Yes, that's what I think too. We need to proceed steadily and accumulate funds gradually."
As they chatted, it was unknowingly past midnight. Song Jianhao and the others still hadn't come out. Yang Jian asked Biao Biao to go and hurry them up. No matter how much they played, there was a limit. It was easy for things to go wrong in such a mixed crowd. If another fight broke out, they wouldn't be as lucky as last time to escape.
Fortunately, Song Jianhao wasn't in trouble and was still relatively clear-headed. He soon came out with everyone.
Without asking how much they spent, Yang Jian started the car. As soon as everyone was seated, they headed to Jiangnan, ignoring Song Jianhao's suggestion for a late-night snack.
At Old Pan's casino, the dealer's turn wasn't fixed but rotated by order. Yesterday it was from three to six, so today it would be from twelve noon to three in the afternoon.
Therefore, Song Jian asked his sister to prepare lunch in advance, and they arrived at the Shahu Casino at half-past eleven.
At this time, there were significantly fewer people gambling, less than half of the afternoon crowd. This was understandable, as most casinos operated in the afternoon and evening. Apart from professional gamblers, most gamblers needed to rest in the late morning, attend to business, or handle other matters, only having time to play a few rounds in the afternoon or evening.
At precisely twelve o'clock, Old Wu took his place as the dealer.
It was lunchtime, and the casino provided a lavish lunch for the gamblers, which resulted in very few people placing bets for about half an hour.
Old Wu was getting a bit bored. "Little Yang, why don't you try it?"
Yang Jian, standing behind Old Wu, was a bit surprised. "Me? Deal? But I've never shaken the dice before."
"It's fine, just shake them a couple of times. There's no special technique, it's all about luck. There aren't many people now, so come and experience it."
As Old Wu spoke, he stood up, and Yang Jian had no choice but to take his place.
He had been hanging around casinos for over a year and it was indeed his first time dealing, but he had watched enough to know it wasn't difficult.
"Clink, clink."
He picked up the dice cup and shook it a couple of times before placing it on the table. Yang Jian called out, "Place your bets! I'm a beginner, so I'll be letting you win. Hurry up and make your money. Once I step down, you won't have the chance."
As soon as he finished speaking, the gamblers in the room burst into laughter. A few gamblers holding their lunch boxes actually started placing bets.
A young woman in her thirties from the opposite side smiled and said, "Handsome, if you really let me win, I'll treat you to dinner, singing, and a foot massage after work."
"Beautiful sister, you must keep your word. Place your bet, and you'll definitely win."
Since it was just for atmosphere, Yang Jian also joined in the jest.
Indeed, with his encouragement, the number of people betting increased significantly.
"Bets down, dealer is opening. Three, four, a total of seven. Odd wins."
Yang Jian opened the first round in Old Wu's style.
In this round, the Emperor clearly lost, but the amount wasn't large, about five to six thousand yuan.
"Brothers and sisters, didn't I tell you? I'm here to let you win. Hurry up and place your bets. There's no turning back once this opportunity is gone."
Yang Jian incited them again, and the number of people betting surged. The dice cup landed, and the table was covered with red banknotes.
"Dealer is opening. Two, five, another seven. Odd wins."
Yang Jian's face turned grim. This round was another loss, at least twenty thousand.
In the subsequent dozen rounds, he lost more than he won. In less than twenty minutes, he had already lost over a hundred thousand yuan.
This cursed mouth! He couldn't talk nonsense anymore. Yang Jian, who never believed in ghosts or gods, began to doubt the existence of luck.
"Old Wu, you take over. If I continue, I'll lose everything."
Yang Jian dared not shake the dice anymore.
"Don't go, handsome. Stay a bit longer. If I win fifty thousand yuan, I'll take you out and make sure you have a blast," the young woman said enticingly as Yang Jian was about to leave.
Others chimed in, "That's right, handsome. It's best for you to deal. I'll give you red money later."
"Don't leave, handsome. Shake the dice for another half hour."
The gamblers laughed heartily.
"My time for letting you win is up. If you lost money, it means your luck is bad today and it's not suitable for gambling. For those who won, you know what to do. Don't go back on your word."
Yang Jian teased them even as he stepped down.
The young woman actually grabbed a wad of cash and threw it at him. "Handsome, have this for tea."
Before Yang Jian could react, someone else threw money at him. "Handsome, I've been playing for days and kept losing. Today, I finally got some of my money back from you. Take this for a foot massage."
Yang Jian was speechless. Fortunately, he was a novice, otherwise, Song Jianhao and the others would have truly believed he was deliberately letting them win.