Having just broken up, Yang Jian had no mood for blind dates.
"Mom, there's no rush with the blind dates. Let me finish the Xichuan project. By then, I'll have money and can choose someone better."
Liu Xingzhi immediately refused, "No, it will take at least two years to finish the Xichuan project. My health isn't good, and I don't have many years left. You must get married and have children quickly. I'll ask the matchmaker to arrange blind dates for you tomorrow."
"Fine, you arrange it. I'll go on the blind dates."
Yang Jian didn't want his mother to worry and planned to go through the motions.
As the family was chatting, San Pang walked in, greeted Yang Shuanglin and his wife, and then sat on Yang Jian's bed.
The elders, sensing the young people had something to discuss, discreetly left.
"Brother Jian, I went to Brother Mao's house yesterday to deliver gifts. Brother Mao specifically talked to me about you."
San Pang was here specifically to report information about Brother Mao, a task Yang Jian had assigned him.
Yang Jian asked as he put on his clothes, "What did he say?"
"He seemed very concerned about your whereabouts these past six months and asked very detailed questions."
"What did you tell him?"
"I told him that while you were doing construction in Xichuan, you swept through the local underworld, then opened a casino in a village near the construction site. In less than two months, you made over a million, and bought an off-road vehicle worth over three hundred thousand."
Yang Jian lightly kicked him, "You're exaggerating too much. If this gets out, I'll really be considered a gang leader. I'm about to go on blind dates, and you're ruining my reputation!"
"Blind dates? Don't you have a girlfriend?"
"It's over. Chen Xiaoli dumped me. Damn it, my first relationship and I got dumped by a girl. I've lost so much face."
San Pang wasn't surprised at all. "So what if it's over? Chen Xiaoli isn't even good-looking and doesn't deserve you. With your conditions, finding someone better shouldn't be difficult."
"Stop talking nonsense and tell me about Brother Mao."
"Brother Mao was very shocked when he heard this and didn't quite believe it. I showed him my bank text messages, saying I was working for you and earned nearly forty thousand in over a month. Only then did he fully believe me. He then asked why you returned so early if it was so profitable."
"What did you say?"
"I said our casino was growing bigger and bigger, and the local underworld was unhappy. They organized over a hundred people to attack us. Six of us, with two guns, routed the opponents. We injured over ten people, and the police intervened, forcing us to flee back."
Yang Jian burst out laughing, "You're making it more and more unbelievable. Do you think he'll believe that?"
"He did, he really believed it. I said you and Lu Feng, each with a gun and a baton, charged at the front. You started shooting and took down a few people, then charged into the enemy ranks with your batons as if invincible. No one could stop you two. Do you know what Brother Mao said after hearing this?"
"You've made me out to be Zhao Zilong of Changshan. It's a miracle he believed it."
"He said you and Lu Feng are both ruthless individuals who don't hesitate to go all out, so it's not surprising you'd do something like this. Brother Jian, when I mentioned you using guns, I noticed his expression clearly changed. He seemed a bit scared."
Yang Jian, tying his shoelaces, looked up and asked, "You mean he's afraid I'll seek revenge on him?"
"That's likely it. Otherwise, why would he ask so many details, including your license plate number, car make, and color?"
Yang Jian straightened up, pondered for a moment, and then sneered, "If what you're saying is true, then Baoguo who came to my house that day was arranged by Brother Mao. Do you have any information on Baoguo? Biao Biao hasn't called in days either. I wonder how his investigation is going?"
"Brother Mao also told me about Baoguo. He even asked if I was willing to work for his casino for some New Year's money."
"Quick, tell me what's going on!"
"In the first half of the year, Baoguo took a few brothers south and directly joined Hong Xing. Because Baoguo and his group fought cohesively, they helped Hong Xing clear out several rival gangs and quickly made a name for themselves. After Old Gui died, Hong Xing provided money and manpower to support Baoguo's return to expand his influence. As soon as Baoguo returned, he opened a casino and it became very prosperous."
"Besides Baoguo, do you know anyone else around him?"
San Pang thought for a moment and said, "I also know someone named Er Ping. He seemed to be here that day too. Their motorcycles were going very fast, so I couldn't see very clearly."
"They didn't recognize you, did they?"
"No, I was wearing a straw hat and planting rice, covered in mud. How could they have noticed me?"
"That's good. Find some time to secretly help me identify these two."
San Pang looked a bit worried. "Brother Jian, you're planning to deal with Baoguo? His influence is quite significant now. He has over twenty brothers protecting his casino. Dealing with him won't be easy."
Yang Jian's eyes gleamed with ferocity. "They forced my grandfather to his death. This is an irreconcilable hatred. I can't let them off. If it weren't for fearing my parents' worry, I would have acted long ago."
Seeing San Pang seemed a little scared, Yang Jian patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, you don't need to be involved in this. You just need to help me identify these two. I'm not foolish enough to confront him directly. I've tasted prison life, and I never want to go back."
San Pang breathed a sigh of relief. "No problem. My home's ceiling is done. I plan to go to Baoguo's place tomorrow to be an informant and earn some New Year's money. You can go at some point and I'll point them out to you."
"Okay, earning some money during the New Year period. When Jianmin and the others return to open the casino, I might also go and earn some expenses."
Yang Jian needed to support his car now and was thinking about earning money. He had called Song Jianmin a few days ago and knew they would be back for the New Year and would open a casino in the village for a while. He could be an informant then, earning two hundred yuan a day, which was better than being bored at home watching TV.
After San Pang left, Yang Jian washed his car himself and then drove to his uncle's house. He hadn't visited them since returning, mainly to deliver gifts to his cousin-in-law.
Liu Yong had already set up his own household. After Yang Jian became his apprentice, he had to deliver gifts to him on the fifteenth of August and during the New Year. Even though they were cousins, this custom had to be followed. Sometimes, when Yang Jian was not home, his mother would deliver the gifts.
He went to Xinqiao to buy two boxes of milk, five jin of pork ribs divided into two portions, two large green fish weighing about ten jin each, and two bags of fruit. These were for his cousin-in-law and his uncle's family.
Upon arriving at Liu Family Village, he first went to his uncle's house, but the main gate was shut, and no one was home.
Yang Jian had no choice but to go to his cousin's house. Liu Yong, who had been working as a carpenter and taking on contracts for many years, had earned some money and built a two-and-a-half-story house on his own land, about a hundred meters away from his uncle's house.
As his car drove into his cousin's yard, he saw his uncle, aunt, and Liu Chao were all there. The atmosphere seemed rather somber.
His cousin-in-law, Peng Yuxiu, had red eyes, as if she had been crying. Her twin children, who were over four years old, were nestled obediently beside her.
What major event had happened? Yang Jian felt a sense of unease, suspecting it might be related to the Xichuan construction site.