A dispute concluded with Bao Guo backing down, exciting Song Jianhao. He immediately announced that the casino would continue the next day, but today's commotion was too great, and the police might arrive soon, making it unsuitable to continue gambling.
Afterward, Song Jianmin arranged for the crowd to disperse and tidied the gambling tables. All casino personnel then gathered inside the ancestral hall.
"Xiao Yang, thank you today. If you hadn't been so assertive, our casino wouldn't have been able to stay open."
Song Jianhao expressed his gratitude to Yang Jian in front of all his brothers. Yang Jian not only saved the casino but also saved him. If the casino couldn't operate, he would have to pay for the opera troupe's expenses himself. Tens of thousands over ten days were beyond his current means.
Yang Jian harbored some dissatisfaction towards Song Jianhao. At the critical moment, not only did he hide in the back, but none of his subordinates stepped out to offer support, not even to stand behind him and add to the numbers.
However, since the matter was resolved, there was no need to show displeasure. "Brother Hao, I'm also a shareholder of the casino. Of course, I can't just watch our financial path be cut off. I plan to earn two million this year to pay off debts. Whoever tries to stop me from making money, I'll get agitated with them."
Old Wu came over and patted his shoulder. "Not bad, more imposing than your father. Xiao Yang, you're suited to the underworld, and you have the makings of a leader. Originally, Young Song asked me to join Emperor Company in Hancheng, and I was hesitant. Seeing your performance today, I've made up my mind. I'll join you."
So he hadn't made a decision yet. Yang Jian knew Song Jianhao had fooled him again, but he didn't care. Although Song Jianhao was a good person, his personality was too weak. Such a person couldn't make a lot of money. Following him, earning 1.5 million a year to pay off debts would be almost impossible.
He could only go to Hancheng with him first to familiarize himself with the market and then start anew if the opportunity arose. This was not about affection or loyalty, but because the pressure was too great. The helpless eyes of the migrant workers always gave him a sense of urgency. If he couldn't repay the money this year, he wouldn't have the face to go home for the New Year.
"Biao Biao, Liang Liang, and Liu Chao, you three performed well today. This is your bonus."
Song Jianhao gave each of them a thousand yuan.
Then he began to lecture the others. "You all saw today how these three dared to step forward at a critical moment to protect the company's interests. You should learn from them. If you're afraid of trouble, don't be in the underworld. Since you want to earn a living from the casino, you need to show some unyielding spirit. In a while, when we go to Hancheng, anyone who retreats when faced with trouble will be kicked out directly."
Although Song Jianhao's words were stern, the brothers below were not convinced. Even their boss didn't dare to step forward to deal with it, so how could they expect their subordinates to charge forward? Who would be responsible if something happened?
Biao Biao and Liang Liang were only so bold because Yang Jian backed them up; they weren't as fearless before.
Moreover, Yang Jian was leading them to make big money. Liang Liang, by following him, got married and bought a house within a year. Biao Biao not only gave tens of thousands to his family but also quit drugs.
Could Song Jianhao lead his brothers to earn tens of thousands a year? If they had nowhere else to go, who would follow you, worrying about their next meal? When they won money, it was only a hundred or two hundred. When they lost money, they didn't even get paid.
Seeing that his words had no effect, Song Jianhao felt a bit embarrassed to say more and dismissed them. However, Biao Biao and Liang Liang did not leave.
Liang Liang took out his five-shot revolver. "Brother Hao, can you cover the expenses for bringing people and guns here earlier?"
Yang Jian had promised to pay this expense, but Liang Liang felt that Song Jianhao should pay it, so he made the request without consulting Yang Jian.
Song Jianhao did not hesitate. "Of course, of course. I'll pay this. Liang Liang, Biao Biao, starting tomorrow, your salaries will be increased to four hundred yuan. If you need to bring people over, all expenses will be covered by the company."
In Song Family Village and even in Luogang Town, Liang Liang and Biao Biao were more famous than Song Jianhao, as they could gather a group of people to support the scene at any time.
The two of them had also gained considerable attention today. From now on, not only in Luogang but even in the county town, they could walk around with impunity, as few people dared to openly embarrass Bao Guo.
Song Jianhao counted out another three thousand yuan for Liang Liang.
At this moment, Wu Wangchun entered with Wu Zhi and Wu Xian.
Yang Jian quickly asked, "Uncle Wu, did you get the money?"
Wu Wangchun handed over fifty thousand yuan directly. "Xiao Yang, I got the hundred thousand yuan. Here's fifty thousand for you. You were amazing today, finally making Bao Guo suffer a silent loss. That kid has been too arrogant lately."
"No, no, no, Uncle Wu, this money is yours. I can't accept it."
"Take it. Without you, this money wouldn't have been obtained."
"That's not right. You're dealing cards at our venue, so we have to protect your safety and interests. Otherwise, who would dare to deal cards here?"
"That's a different matter. This is my personal gift to you. Even if you don't want it, these brothers should be rewarded."
Wu Wangchun then gave Biao Biao, Liang Liang, and Liu Chao ten thousand yuan each, and stuffed the remaining twenty thousand into Yang Jian's pocket.
"Thank you, Mr. Wu."
Liang Liang and the other two did not stand on ceremony. They had taken great risks to stand up for the company today, and there was a chance they could get injured or arrested. However, Song Jianhao only rewarded them with a thousand yuan, and they were already a bit unhappy. This Mr. Wu was much more generous than Song Jianhao. It was no wonder he could earn millions a year; it was determined by his vision.
With such earnestness, Yang Jian had no choice but to accept. "Thank you, Uncle Wu."
"What are you thanking me for? We don't need to be so formal. Since we're not gambling today, let's go back together for safety. We need to guard against Hong Xing and Bao Guo intercepting you on the road, especially that Cat Brother. He's very insidious, and we must be wary. I suspect this whole setup today was orchestrated by him."
Wu Wangchun saw through the essence of the matter at a glance because Cat Brother arrived so quickly after the incident. He probably had been directing from a distance.
"I will settle the score with Cat Brother sooner or later. I heard before that his brother and daughter were seriously ill, and I was planning to forgive him. Now it seems this person is the most insidious. Including arranging for us to enter the farm to gamble, then having conflicts with Wu Laizi, and later my sister's house being rammed, my house being smashed, and my grandfather being forced to death, I suspect it was all his deliberate arrangement."
Yang Jian suddenly had an epiphany and figured out some things.
Yu Feng nodded beside him. "Now that you mention it, I also think he's behind all these things."
"But what is his purpose? If I'm no longer pursuing him for cheating me out of two hundred thousand yuan, why would he arrange for Wu Laizi to enter the farm and eventually conflict with me?"
Song Jianmin suddenly interjected, "If I'm not mistaken, he probably wanted to instigate a conflict between you and Old Gui. Because during that time, Old Gui was pressuring Hu Zhenghua to run the Hi-Bar and sell drugs. I met some internal management personnel at the farm then, and I learned some inside information from them."
Yu Feng nodded repeatedly. "Yes, Xiao Song's analysis is correct. Hu Zhenghua hated and feared Old Gui at that time and wanted to kill him, but he didn't have anyone to deal with Old Gui. Yang Jian was the best candidate."
Yu Feng did not mention that Hu Zhenghua had jointly funded Lu Feng to deal with Old Gui. There were too many people here, and if it got out, it would cause big trouble. She knew Yang Jian would understand her.
With this explanation, Yang Jian's understanding of the entire event became clear. The car crash into his sister's house and the smashing of his own home were all carried out by Cat Brother's men. The purpose was to make him go to war with Old Gui, thus achieving a situation where both sides would be weakened.