Yang Jian ultimately decided to adopt Wu Wangchun's suggestion, setting the casino's operating hours from 2 PM to 11 PM.
The Emperor Company would act as the banker, operating in three shifts: the first from 2 PM to 5 PM, the second from 5 PM to 8 PM, and the third from 8 PM to 11 PM.
If the Emperor Company was willing or if the gamblers requested it, the third shift could be extended to midnight.
After making this decision, Yang Jian had Biao Biao announce the new rules to everyone at the casino in person, effective immediately. This would allow gamblers to plan their time accordingly.
"Little Yang, take this twenty thousand yuan for my uncle."
As their conversation concluded, Wu Wangchun placed another twenty thousand yuan in front of Yang Jian.
"Why don't you give it to him yourself?"
"My uncle is stubborn. If I give it to him directly, he won't accept it. His family is having a difficult time, but even so, he's unwilling to accept our help. The rift between him and my father is too deep; it's unlikely to ever be mended."
"Alright, I'll give it to him later."
Yang Jian took the cash and personally saw Wu Wangchun out. They were new to the area and needed to find lodging nearby.
Upon returning to the casino floor, Yang Jian encountered Yu Wei exiting. Yang Jian proactively offered him a cigarette.
"Mr. Yu, how did it go? How much did you win?"
"I lost one, which is fortunate. At my peak, I had lost over twenty. I was in a losing streak all afternoon, but I caught a long winning streak just now and managed to break even. Losing ten thousand yuan isn't really losing. My form is off today, so I'm done for now."
"Indeed, it's important to cut your losses when you feel things aren't right. Mr. Yu, you're not too busy, are you? I'd like to treat you to a meal."
Yang Jian found Yu Wei to be a decent person. The gamblers he brought today were betting actively, so Yang Jian decided to further improve their relationship.
"Let me treat you instead. After all, I'm a native of Xunsi River, a local. The first meal should definitely be on me."
"Alright then, I'll treat you next time. There will be plenty of opportunities."
After greeting A Feng, Yang Jian called A Nan over.
The martial world is treacherous; one must be vigilant. He couldn't fully trust Yu Wei without knowing his background.
Yu Wei was accompanied by four people: two were his associates, and the other two were gamblers who had clearly won money, appearing quite excited.
The six of them occupied a private room at a restaurant in Xunsi River specializing in fish. Yu Wei ordered a lavish spread of soft-shelled turtle, perch, bream, and bighead carp balls.
Through their conversation, it was revealed that the two gamblers were named Zhang and Huang, both involved in the building materials business.
Yu Wei, on the other hand, was a former inmate, a resident of the old Seventh District. He had only been released from prison during the Lunar New Year and was thirty-two years old.
Yu Wei had been sentenced to twelve years for manslaughter in a group fight, serving ten years before his release. He was also well-acquainted with Xiao Wu, a formidable figure from the same era.
Upon his release, the Seventh District was undergoing demolition. He leveraged his past notoriety to gather people and get involved in the district's development.
This coincided with Li Jin's period of expanding influence, leading to inevitable conflict between them, and they had even fought twice.
However, Li Jin's influence was ultimately greater, and Yu Wei always ended up at a disadvantage. Consequently, 90% of the earthwork projects in the Seventh District were divided between Li Jin and Xiong Er.
Yu Wei only secured a small earthwork project, which earned him a decent sum. Feeling dissatisfied, he was eager to get involved in projects with shorter construction periods and quicker returns.
"Mr. Yang, Xiao Wu and I are like relatives. Since you are good brothers with him, you shouldn't treat me as an outsider. The Seventh District will soon commence full-scale construction, with Dong Sheng Group's project being the largest. Since you're backing this project, I won't bother Manager Fan anymore. However, you must help me secure one or two subcontracting projects within it."
After a smooth exchange, Yu Wei finally stated his request.
Yang Jian clinked glasses with him using his drink. "Mr. Yu, I can ask Manager Fan to help you secure two projects, but the pricing must adhere to the project department's rates. The project department's subcontracting prices need to be reported to the group company for approval, and they cannot issue contracts above market prices.
Don't try to get everything at once. If you take on the entire waterproofing project, you can still earn a considerable amount. You need to think long-term. Dong Sheng Group will be working here for five to six years, and there will be many more projects later. If you maintain good relationships, you won't lack opportunities to earn money."
"Mr. Yang, you're right. I was too eager for quick profits. To be honest, seeing Li Jin and Xiong Er become so influential makes me resentful. They used to not even be worthy of carrying my shoes."
Yang Jian chuckled. "Mr. Yu, you shouldn't have that mindset. In the Jianghan region, the new waves push the old ones ashore, and the old waves are left stranded on the beach. You spent ten years inside, and the outside world has changed drastically. You need to adapt. In the martial world, no one is the eternal boss.
Xiao Wu ended up in a vegetative state precisely because he had your way of thinking. Brother Xiong, who dominated Xunsi River for over a decade, was still murdered in his home.
Li Jin's rise to prominence is due, in part, to his generosity and good treatment of his subordinates.
On the other hand, he is meticulous and far-sighted. Before truly controlling the situation, he tolerated minor forces like Xiong Er and yours competing for territory in the Seventh District, even making concessions. He didn't try to monopolize everything like Brother Xiong. You should learn from him."
After listening to Yang Jian's words, Yu Wei pondered for a while before raising his glass. "Mr. Yang, your summary is incredibly insightful. I should indeed learn from Li Jin. That young man has patience. Although we clashed twice, he always left room for maneuver. Even when he had the upper hand, he didn't completely crush me.
The same applies to Xiong Er. With his current strength, it wouldn't be impossible for him to monopolize all the earthwork projects in the Seventh District. Yet, he still allowed Xiong Er to take a 30% share, and we smaller forces also got a piece of the pie.
Therefore, he hasn't reached a point of irreconcilable conflict with any faction in Xunsi River. Even if Xiong Er suspects Li Jin was responsible for his brother's death, there's no sign of him seeking revenge.
Your reminder makes me realize how truly formidable this young man is. He possesses both dominance and the ability to avoid making mortal enemies. That's how people can survive longer in the martial world."
Yang Jian laughed heartily. "It's good that you understand. Whether dealing with underworld factions or construction sites, never push things to the extreme. I won't even mention the underworld; Xiao Wu and Brother Xiong are cautionary tales.
Speaking of construction sites, do you think those construction bosses are easy to bully? Take Dong Sheng Group, for instance. How do you think they became so large? What kind of storms haven't they weathered? If you truly push them to the brink, can't they hire assassins to deal with you? Do you think such a large group company has no hidden resources? They likely have connections in both the legitimate and illicit worlds, but they tolerate minor issues to maintain their corporate image."
"Yes, yes, Mr. Yang. Listening to you is more valuable than ten years of study. You are younger than me, but your vision is broader. People don't fear us because their bottom lines haven't been crossed."
"Exactly. You must learn to know when to stop."
Yang Jian's objective was to persuade Yu Wei to stop bothering Manager Fan. Local strongmen like them were difficult to deal with and possessed many unscrupulous methods that were hard to guard against. Force couldn't solve every problem.