The incident happened suddenly. Yang Jian did not accompany Biao Biao to the scene. Instead, he called Lu Yao, telling her not to go to the garden entrance to prevent a stampede due to the crowd.
Lu Yao also knew that something had happened and had already taken the children back to the hotel.
By the time Yang Jian arrived at the scene, Biao Biao had already led forty security guards to separate the onlookers under the direction of the police.
Yang Jian finally managed to squeeze through and saw a woman in her forties lying on the cold cement floor in the middle of the crowd. A middle-aged man sat beside the woman, holding his head, with bloodstains on him, appearing to have been beaten.
An ambulance arrived and quickly carried the two people into the vehicle and drove away.
Following that, the police were seen handcuffing Li Xiang and taking him away.
"Biao Biao, what's going on?"
After the police had dispersed the crowd, Yang Jian found Biao Biao.
Biao Biao, sweating profusely, said, "A gambler from the opposite village, Tao Jia Village, not only lost all the money he earned last year but also brought his child's tuition fees to gamble today. His wife came to the casino with pesticide, forcing him to go back, but she still couldn't persuade him. Li Xiang's henchmen also yelled at his wife a few times.
In a fit of anger, the woman drank the pesticide, which was Paraquat. Once ingested, it's irreversible.
As soon as the woman drank the pesticide, she collapsed. The place exploded. Many people from Tao Jia Village were there. Upon hearing that someone from their village had died, they immediately united to smash the place and beat that man half to death. If our people hadn't arrived quickly, that man would have surely been beaten to death."
"Alas, another tragedy caused by gambling. Later, issue a public announcement in the name of Lijian Company, prohibiting casinos within Yang Li Village. The security department has the right to expel and report any violations.
Furthermore, all employees working for Lijian Company are forbidden from gambling. Any violation will result in immediate dismissal, with no leniency."
Yang Jian regretted not stopping Li Xiang from opening the casino earlier, otherwise, this homicide wouldn't have happened today.
"Alright, I'll report this matter to Director Jiang."
Yang Jian sighed again, turned back to the hotel, and told Lu Yao what had happened.
Lu Yao was also full of emotion, lamenting how a perfectly good family was ruined by gambling.
"Brother Jian, it's fortunate you're no longer involved in the casino business, or we would be living in constant fear. We must never touch gambling again."
"Don't worry, I now detest gambling and would never touch it again. By the way, Yao Yao, Biao Biao and I have been discussing for a while, and we want to ask you to write a book."
"Write a book? What kind of book?"
"About casinos, mainly exposing the dark side of casinos and persuading people to quit gambling. I'll provide the material, and you'll be the writer. Any problem?"
Lu Yao smiled and said, "Is this your conscience kicking in? You're actually thinking of writing a book. No problem, writing is my strength, but I don't have much experience writing long novels, so it will be a bit challenging. You can't rush me."
"No rush, no rush. Online gambling is also becoming popular again. I'll figure out the schemes involved and then explain them to you in detail."
Yang Jian knew that writing a book wasn't easy and didn't expect it to be accomplished immediately.
After the death incident, the Xinqiao police intensified their crackdown on gambling. Li Xiang was formally arrested and will face criminal charges, likely resulting in a prison sentence.
On the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, Yang Jian's family returned to Chengguan. Lu Yao had to go to work and also handle the school enrollment procedures for Li Feng and Li Hu.
Lijian Company Security Department.
Wu Laizi had grown accustomed to life there. If it weren't for the need to cooperate with the police in capturing Brother Mao, he truly wished to stay and work there. During the New Year, Yang Jian had even greeted him personally, clearly having forgiven him.
He sincerely hoped that Brother Mao would never call him again, so he could continue working there and eventually become a formal employee of Lijian Company, escaping the life on the streets. Now, the forces on Xinhe Street were controlled by Zhou Tao, leaving no room for Wu Laizi. Having a stable and long-term job here was better than anything else.
However, fate had other plans. On the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, Brother Mao's call came.
"Old Wu, where are you now?"
"Brother Mao, Happy New Year. I've been at my uncle's place in the lake district and haven't dared to go home. Yang Jian even sent people to my house looking for me, which means he doesn't intend to let me go."
"Yang Jian is too ruthless. You have too deep a grudge with him; it's normal for him not to let you go. Come out, come to me."
"I've wanted to come out for a long time and have been waiting for your call. When should I leave? Should I still go to Dalou Town?"
Wu Laizi actually wanted to ask what he would be doing there now, as Bao Guo had already been arrested and the drug trafficking network destroyed. He wondered what business Brother Mao was planning to get into.
But asking this question would arouse Brother Mao's suspicion, so he could only comply for now.
"You come to Dalou Town first, and I'll pick you up then."
"Okay, I'll leave tomorrow. Brother Mao, can you give me some money? The ten thousand yuan you gave me last time is all gone. My mother's hospitalization was paid for by my sisters, and they aren't doing well either. I don't even have money for the travel expenses."
Wu Laizi was the fifth child in his family. Two of his sisters died at a very young age. He had two older sisters who were already married, and he lived with his parents.
The reason Wu Laizi asked Brother Mao for money was also a test. If Brother Mao was willing to give him some money, it would mean he genuinely wanted his help.
If Brother Mao refused this time, it would mean he was tricking him into coming over and selling him like livestock.
Brother Mao was quite straightforward: "Actually, I asked Bao Guo to transfer two hundred thousand to you last time, but I didn't expect him to have an accident before the transfer. Send me your account number, and I'll have my wife transfer fifty thousand to you. Because the last batch of goods was seized by the police, my funds are not sufficient right now. I'll compensate you after a few more deals."
Thinking there was nothing amiss, Wu Laizi hung up the phone and sent his account number, which belonged to his sister. His parents actually had money; Yang Jian had sent them fifty thousand yuan through Biao Biao before the New Year.
Half an hour later, his sister called to say she had received fifty thousand yuan.
Wu Laizi was finally relieved and immediately called Yang Jian and Zhang Hui, reporting the situation.
After discussing it, Yang Jian and Zhang Hui decided to follow Wu Laizi to Dalou Town, hoping to catch him during this opportunity.
The next day, Yang Jian, along with Biao Biao and Wu Laizi, went to Hancheng to meet Zhang Hui and Qin Feiyang. Biao Biao was meticulous, and Yang Jian kept him by his side for advice.
"Captain Zhang, Brother Mao is very cunning and suspicious. We can't travel with him. I suggest he take the train while the four of us drive. Do you have a way to track his movements at all times?"
Yang Jian knew Brother Mao too well. The other party would definitely monitor Wu Laizi, possibly from the moment he boarded the train. Therefore, they couldn't be careless.
Zhang Hui smiled, "Don't worry, we're prepared."
Qin Feiyang took out a miniature tracking device and installed it into the gap between Wu Laizi's back molars.
"Old Wu, you were worried yesterday that Mao Zi might trick you and sell you. Now you don't have to worry. No matter where you go, we can track you."
Zhang Hui demonstrated the display in his hand on the spot, dispelling Wu Laizi's concerns. The five of them set off separately, heading straight for Northern Myanmar.