Yang Jian was not concerned about the dispute between Old Gui and Yu Feng, but he understood the current predicament of Biao Biao and the others. If they took someone's livelihood, they had to do their bidding, otherwise, how could they become deputy managers with their qualifications?
"Biao Biao, if you think the risk is too great and you don't want to go to Nanhai, then don't do it. Do something legitimate. It's not easy to mix in the underworld."
"Brother Jian, I don't know what legitimate work I can do. How about I follow you on construction sites?"
"Construction sites are very tough, and your health isn't good. Besides, you haven't kicked your drug addiction yet. How about going to Brother Hao's place?"
"Brother Hao's place won't work either. He's set up an 'Emperor Company,' but because their team lacks tough guys, they're always bullied at the casinos in Hancheng. They often get pushed around and have been running at a loss. If we go there, we probably won't even get paid."
Yang Jian was a bit surprised. "That bad? I didn't hear him mention it when I spoke with Jian Min earlier?"
"Brother Hao owes a lot of foreign debt. Jian Min has been supporting him during this period. Now, he can only make a living by dealing at some very small underground casinos."
Yang Jian hadn't expected the Song Hao brothers to end up like this, but he himself was in no position to help them, being overwhelmed with his own affairs.
"Brother Jian, can you persuade Lu Feng to give up his plan to go to Nanhai? Hong Xing has been operating in Nanhai for many years and has immense power. We'll be strangers there, and trying to move against him would be suicidal."
Seeing Yang Jian remain silent for a while, Biao Biao offered another suggestion.
"Biao Biao, to be honest, I don't want to get involved in any underworld affairs. I'm not particularly familiar with Lu Feng. I only stayed with him in the detention center for four days, and I don't really understand his personality. I doubt he'll listen to me."
"He will listen, he will listen. He always acknowledges you as his master. He will definitely listen to what you say."
"Alright, send me his number later, and I'll talk to him tomorrow. Also, I need money for investment now and want to withdraw the funds from the betting company. Is that okay?"
"Of course, it's okay. But I still need to discuss it with Sister Feng. We have 800,000 yuan now, including the principal, and another 120,000 yuan is out on loan with a monthly interest rate of five percent."
"Alright, get back to me as soon as possible."
After hanging up, Yang Jian also spoke with his sister, Yang Hui. He learned that everything was fine at home, his mother's condition had improved, and his brother-in-law could walk again. The repair shop was installing the equipment, and they would start taking repair jobs within a few days.
Knowing that her brother needed money for the construction project, Yang Hui readily agreed to transfer the 250,000 yuan she had. This included 150,000 yuan from selling a car, which she had intended for his house, and another 100,000 yuan that she hadn't touched.
Yang Jian was surprised that his sister had so much money and was willing to give it all to him. With the ten thousand or so from the betting company, he would have around 400,000 yuan, which should be enough to start the joint construction project.
Just as he was about to share this good news with his cousin, Yu Feng's call came in, indicating that Biao Biao had given her his number.
"Yang Jian, why didn't you call me when you were in Xichuan for so long? Do you have a problem with me?" Yu Feng began with a tone of reproach.
"Sister, I don't want to dwell on the past. I just want to withdraw the money from the betting company."
"Are you doing construction projects in Xichuan? Why did you run so far away? Come back, and I'll give you projects to do. You can do single packages, double packages, or large packages, and you won't have to pay any upfront capital."
"Sister, I won't be returning now. I can't face my grandmother or my parents. Thank you for your kind offer, but I'm doing well here. I just finished a small project and am preparing to start a larger one, so I want to withdraw the funds from the betting company."
"How much money do you need? Is 500,000 enough? Give me an account number, and I'll transfer it to you tomorrow. The money in the betting company has all been lent out for now, so we can't settle the accounts."
Yu Feng didn't want to sever ties with Yang Jian. He was loyal and would not abandon her if she faced any serious difficulties.
"Sister, don't lie to me. Biao Biao just said that only about 100,000 yuan from the betting company has been lent out, and the rest is still there."
"I'm not lying to you. Biao Biao has been helping at the commercial concrete station recently and doesn't know the financial situation of the betting company. After the Nanhu Club was shut down, the betting company's investment direction shifted to lending at monthly interest. All 800,000 yuan in cash has been lent out in the past few days at a five percent monthly interest rate to people I know. It's very safe."
Yang Jian was somewhat annoyed by her blatant falsehood. "Sister, I don't want to fall out with you. I must get the money from the betting company. Settle it with me separately."
He then hung up the phone. Yang Jian didn't have any special affection for Yu Feng. Although she had helped him twice, she had also reaped immense rewards.
Just by helping to bring down Pan Wenbin, her Yu family had undergone a rebirth. In the past few months, she had also used her reputation to stabilize Old Gui, gaining precious breathing room.
Yang Jian was well aware that Yu Feng's strong desire to win him over was for exploitation – to use him to ward off trouble from the underworld, essentially to be her shield and expendable subordinate.
Her claims of treating him like a younger brother were pure nonsense. If he hadn't made a name for himself, with Yu Feng's status and family background, she would never have bothered with a poor country boy.
"Second Jian, what's wrong? Why are you angry?"
Liu Yong had been in the room and hadn't left. He found Yang Jian's fluctuating moods inexplicable.
"It's nothing, Brother Yong. My sister has 250,000 yuan, and she'll transfer it to me tomorrow. The betting company should be able to settle about 100,000 yuan. With over 300,000 yuan in total, that should be enough to start the joint construction project, right?"
"Yes, of course, it is. We have old materials from the project department. We just need to add about 200,000 yuan for new formwork. I'll borrow some more, and with 200,000 yuan for living expenses, it should be enough to last until the end of the year. Manager Chen said that by the end of the year, regardless of whether we reach the disbursement milestone, the client will disburse funds. The wages of migrant workers cannot be delayed."
"That's good. This clause must be included in the contract, otherwise, we'll be in a very passive position come New Year."
It was already September by the Gregorian calendar, and there were just over three months until the New Year. The power plant dormitory building hadn't even broken ground. If the weather was good, it would be fortunate to complete the foundation work before the New Year, let alone reach the disbursement milestone. This was because the individual joint package was tied to the main contract of the project department, requiring upfront capital until the fifth floor was built.
It was precisely because Yang Jian understood the main contract between the project department and the client that he was so sensitive to the disbursement timing. This was his first time investing such a large sum. If he didn't consider all unfavorable factors and rushed into it blindly, he might end up with nothing, not only failing to make money but also incurring losses.
With a thin family fortune, he couldn't afford any accidents, or he would have even less face to return to his parents.