Watching San Pang’s body weighing over 180 jin, Yang Jian suddenly felt a bit sorry for his situation, not understanding why he was so fat, given he wasn't a rich second generation and his family wasn't wealthy.
“San Pang, get up. A man shouldn't kneel down so easily. Tell me, how did Brother Mao win my money?”
“He used two methods. When Brother Mao was playing cards, he used sleight of hand. His card playing techniques were comparable to a magician's. Unless you were a highly professional peer, most people wouldn't notice any flaws even if they knew he was cheating. He could even alter his points without touching the cards. His poker cheating skills were top-notch throughout Chengguan, even Han Cheng.”
San Pang struggled to get up. Judging by Yang Jian’s tone, he wouldn’t make things difficult for him anymore.
“So impressive. No wonder he bought such a nice car.”
“Yes, his family was very poor before. Later, a master recognized his talent in cheating and took him as a disciple. In less than two years, his skills surpassed his master’s. He then bought a house and a car in Chengguan, and also purchased two storefronts in the bustling area of Chengguan. He has five or six trusted brothers working under him and holds a significant position in Chengguan’s underworld.”
“Besides his skills, what else does he rely on?”
“Three of the hands you lost money on involved marked cards. The backs of the cards had hidden marks, so they knew your hand in every game. They could let you win or lose as they pleased.”
Yang Jian, who had already prepared himself mentally, couldn't help but curse, “Damn it, isn't he afraid of being caught and having his hands cut off for doing that?”
San Pang shook his head. “Brother Mao is very shrewd. Before preparing a scam, he conducts background checks on the targets. Most of them are businessmen and bosses who run legitimate businesses. He doesn't mess with people who have underworld connections. Plus, he has his own crew, so ordinary people can’t discover his cheating. Even if they do, they wouldn’t dare do anything to him.”
“How long have you been learning from him, and how well have you learned?”
“I’m not good at it. My hands are clumsy, and I haven’t even started learning poker. But I’ve picked up a bit of mahjong. I make a living playing small stakes at the mahjong parlors in town. I don't dare to play big, for fear of getting caught. I occasionally play at Xu Zheng’s mahjong parlor too.”
“Alright, you can go back. I won’t make things difficult for you. Give Brother Mao a message: that 200,000 yuan is the hard-earned money that my sister and I worked for. I won’t let this matter go easily.”
Yang Jian planned to use his current reputation to intimidate Brother Mao. It would be best if he could resolve the matter without a fight, by making Brother Mao take the initiative.
He couldn't fight anymore. Firstly, his reputation wasn't good, and he didn't intend to gain profits through violence. Secondly, his father wouldn't allow him to become a figure in the underworld.
After letting San Pang go, Yang Jian returned to Yang Li Village, three kilometers away, with his cousin.
Due to the low mobile phone penetration rate in rural areas and the long distance from Chengguan, news about Yang Jian crippling Liu Ming and the downfall of Pan Wenbin’s gang hadn't spread widely in the village, as most of the young people with phones were away from home.
Therefore, Yang Jian’s return to the village didn't cause much of a stir. However, his mother and grandparents questioned him for a long time, as the police had searched their home that night.
After having lunch at home, Yang Jian packed two sets of clothes and returned to Xinqiao Town with his cousin.
“Er Jian, your car is nice! It’s probably the best car in our Xinqiao Town, isn’t it?”
His uncle, Jing Zhengming, circled the sedan at the entrance of the supermarket. He hadn’t been at the store that morning and hadn’t met Yang Jian.
“Uncle, why don’t you come in and experience it? I’ll take you for a spin around Xinqiao Town.”
“Alright, let’s enjoy your new car.”
Jing Zhengming didn’t stand on ceremony and got into the car immediately.
There was a hired sales assistant at the store, so his father and son didn’t need to be there. Jing Yongli didn’t get out of the car.
“Er Jian, are you very familiar with Xu Zheng?”
Just a few minutes after the car started, Jing Zhengming asked Yang Jian.
“Not really, I’ve never met him. What’s wrong?”
“He just came to the store to settle his bill, saying you sent him.”
“Oh, Yongli mentioned that Xu Zheng owed you for cigarettes and alcohol from your store and hadn’t paid. So I asked that guy, that young man with yellow hair, to pass him a message. I didn’t expect him to come and settle the bill so quickly.”
Yang Jian didn’t know the name of the young man with yellow hair.
Jing Zhengming sighed, “He settled it, but he only paid 2,000 yuan. He denied the remaining over 3,000 yuan, saying that last year’s accounts were settled during the New Year and he would only pay the 2,000 yuan he owed this year.”
Yang Jian slammed on the brakes, stopping the car by the roadside.
“What do you mean? He wants to default on the debt? Didn’t you keep records when you sold him cigarettes and alcohol?”
“Of course, I kept records. But he always sent someone to pick up the items, and I only recorded the date, not his signature. I thought we were neighbors, and he was a wealthy person, so he wouldn’t default. Who knew he would have the nerve to deny it?”
“Take me to him. Isn’t this clearly bullying?”
Jing Zhengming quickly waved his hands. “Forget it. The fact that he came to settle the bill today shows he’s a little afraid of you. He probably won’t come to buy on credit anymore. I’m already grateful for that.”
“How can that be? People like him shouldn’t be indulged.”
“Forget it, forget it. He also said that I was extorting him by using your name. If you dare to go to his house, he’ll call the police to arrest you, because his maternal uncle is the deputy director of our Xinqiao Police Station.”
Jing Zhengming clearly didn’t want to escalate the situation. Yang Jian might be in the spotlight recently, but the other party had official backing, which was why he was so arrogant.
As the saying goes, common people cannot fight against officials. Yang Jian had only made a name for himself in the underworld, but he certainly couldn’t compete with the authorities.
Seeing his uncle’s desire to avoid trouble, Yang Jian couldn’t insist further.
After taking them for a spin around Xinqiao Town, Yang Jian headed to Chengguan alone.
He was only halfway there when he received a call from Song Jianhao.
“Brother Hao, have you returned to Xinhe? How is Brother Sixi?”
“Xiao Yang, I just transferred Sixi back to Xinhe Hospital. He’ll likely be in the hospital for another two months. Where are you? Are you free to meet now?”
“Yes, I’m on my way to Chengguan. Let’s go to the hospital, and I can check on Brother Sixi too.”
“No need to come to the hospital. Go to Pinwei Shiguang. Brother Mao wants to talk to you. I’ll go there first. Call me when you arrive.”
“Okay, I’ll come find you later.”
Yang Jian was a little surprised. San Pang’s efficiency was quite high. He had delivered his message so quickly. It seemed Brother Mao was scared.
As soon as he hung up, Biao Biao’s call came in. He said that he and Liang Liang had arrived at the outer ring construction site. Yang Jian had no choice but to tell them to go to Pinwei Shiguang as well. These two were now his loyal brothers, and he had to include them in everything, including good food and drinks.