To prevent interception and retaliation from Bao Guo, Hong Xing, and their associates, Yang Jian followed Wu Wangchun's suggestion and set off home with them.
Yu Feng and Old Wu also left behind them, parting ways after reaching the county town.
Meanwhile, Wu Wangchun pulled Yang Jian and the other two into a restaurant that had just opened for business that day.
It was only a little past four in the afternoon, still a bit early for dinner, but the restaurant owner greeted them warmly and arranged a private room.
"Uncle Wu, we've ordered so many dishes, we won't be able to finish them all. It's the New Year, and people don't eat this much."
Looking at the table laden with rich dishes, Yang Jian felt speechless. He couldn't understand why Wu Wangchun wanted to treat him to a meal, especially after he had clearly declined his invitation earlier.
"Xiao Yang, it's a rare opportunity for us to sit down and chat. Eating is just a formality. Since you're driving, you won't be drinking. Feel free to order whatever you like. Liu Chao, San Pang, you two can have some drinks."
Wu Wangchun placed two bottles of baijiu in front of Liu Chao. He also greatly admired this young man. Earlier, in the casino, Liu Chao had shown no fear in front of so many people, instead adopting a desperate stance. He had potential.
"Thank you, Mr. Wu. One bottle is enough for us two. We can't drink any more than this."
Liu Chao didn't stand on ceremony and opened a bottle. This was a good wine costing over a thousand yuan a bottle; he had to try it, as he didn't have such opportunities usually.
"Uncle Wu, when are you planning to go to Hancheng?"
Yang Jian made small talk, genuinely unsure of what to discuss with him. Being from different generations, he felt a gap.
"Xiao Yang, I invited you to dinner today precisely to discuss this matter. To be honest, we've decided to shift our focus back to our hometown."
Wu Wangchun poured himself a glass of wine and then clinked glasses with Liu Chao before answering.
"What are you going back to your hometown for? Aren't you going to Hancheng to be the emperor and run the house?"
"We're going back to open a casino. We'll still go to Hancheng, but we'll just arrange for a few people to manage it there."
"Open a casino? In Wu Family Village?"
"Yes, around the area of Xinqiao Town."
Yang Jian was a bit confused. "Why? You earn millions a year in Hancheng. Opening a casino in Xinqiao shouldn't earn you that much, right? Xinqiao's economy isn't developing as fast as Luogang, and there aren't that many rich people."
"Xiao Yang, to tell you the truth, we did earn quite a lot in Hancheng last year. That was because we occupied a good casino for a long time. The boss there had a good relationship with me. But precisely because we won so much, the casino's patrons have been significantly declining.
So, that boss has some issues with us. I'm worried that if we go again this year, he might try to trick us, or use other means to make us return the money we've won."
"Then just switch to another casino. I heard there are thousands, if not tens of thousands, of casinos in Hancheng. Where can't you run the house?"
"You haven't truly entered the industry yet. A good casino is hard to come by. That's why Song Jianhao didn't make money; he didn't encounter a casino that was relatively fair and could protect his interests. Many casinos are specifically designed to cheat the emperor, causing the house to lose money.
Yang Jian listened, dumbfounded. "My goodness, if you say so, then being an emperor in Hancheng is very risky?"
"Do you think being an emperor is that easy? Just gathering a few people together and you can make big money? However, if it's a slightly more regulated and fair establishment, it's indeed very profitable. The probability of the emperor's company losing money is very small. It all depends on the emperor's company's strength, vision, and luck."
"Just because of this reason, you're planning to give up the current establishment and come back to open a casino?"
"There is this reason, but the main one is that we don't want to keep playing hide-and-seek anymore. We've already earned our first pot of gold, and we don't want this money to be eaten up by other casinos. Opening a casino back home might not earn as much, but it's a sure bet. If operated well, it could even earn more than running the house. If all else fails, we can open our own casino and run the house ourselves."
"But Xinqiao is a poor place. It can't compare to Luogang or the county town at all. If you open a casino there, where will you find so many rich people to play?"
Wu Wangchun laughed heartily. "Xiao Yang, you're too ill-informed. Xinqiao isn't poor anymore. If you have time, drive around Xinqiao Town and its surroundings, especially the northern part. The timber processing plants there have gradually scaled up. Xinqiao Town is planning to build a large-scale timber processing base. Not only are local residents joining this industry, but many outsiders are also investing in and setting up factories. Within two years, Xinqiao Town will become the largest timber processing base west of Dahongshan."
"Really? No wonder my dad said he'd be helping someone fell trees after the New Year. So that's what it's about."
"Yes, with the continuous increase in timber processing plants, a group of timber brokers has emerged, whose profession is to acquire felled trees. They drive tricycles, either partnering with a few people or hiring a few to purchase felled trees from surrounding villages, and then resell them to processing plants. It's very profitable. Sometimes, with good luck, they can earn over a thousand yuan in a day. Under normal circumstances, they can earn three to five hundred, which is much better than working outside."
"If that's the case, Xinqiao's future development is quite significant. No wonder you want to come back to open a casino."
Wu Wangchun chuckled. "Xiao Yang, actually, opening a casino in Xinqiao isn't just about attracting local gamblers. People who like to gamble will travel from afar to play. As long as our casino becomes big, not only will rich people from the county town come to play, but even gamblers from Hancheng and Hongzhou will flock here. Many people even fly to gamble overseas."
"That makes sense. When I was running a casino in Xichuan, many people from far away drove there to play."
"So, are you interested in joining me in establishing a casino in Xinqiao?"
Wu Wangchun finally revealed the true intention behind inviting him to dinner.
Yang Jian was stunned. "Me? You want me to join you in opening a casino in Xinqiao?"
"Yes. Song Jianhao only dares to operate for a few days during the New Year. We want to do it long-term. We'll be the masters of our own territory and won't have to curry favor with others."
"No, no, no. If I open a casino right at my doorstep, my reputation will be completely ruined. I haven't even found a girlfriend to marry yet. Out of sight, out of mind. Although my parents allowed me to go out and get involved in casinos, they would absolutely not agree to me operating one right at our doorstep. There's no room for negotiation on this matter."
It was a joke. A rabbit doesn't eat the grass near its burrow. When operating a casino elsewhere, he didn't know the people. Others losing or winning money didn't affect him.
But doing it at his doorstep was different. They were all neighbors who would see each other every day. If some fellow villager lost all their fortune and committed suicide by drinking pesticide, all the blame would fall on them, the casino operators.
Yang Jian felt he couldn't overcome this hurdle. He already felt a sense of guilt operating a casino in Song Family Village.
Many of those farmers watching the games were people who worked hard outside for a year, or toiled in the fields from dawn till dusk, earning meager money. They lost it all at the gambling table, crying without tears. Such scenes happened every day.
If he were to open a casino at his doorstep, wouldn't his backbone be broken? Even if it was to repay debts, his father would not forgive him.