After two days of preparation, Song Jianhao's casino was ready to open.
The casino was located by a freight railway line, less than fifty meters from the Seventh Brigade. Its location was very secluded. Because the railway was elevated, there was a slope with a drop of over ten meters from the Seventh Brigade. Dense oleander trees grew on both sides of the railway, making it impossible for cars to drive up, and from below, one could not see the trains passing on the tracks.
This was a disused railway signal station, a flat-roofed building of over twenty square meters, painted yellow on the outside. The inside had been cleaned up and furnished with a few tables, chairs, and benches, serving as a resting and dining area for the casino's internal staff.
Outside the flat-roofed building was a large iron shed, covering over fifty square meters, supported by eight channel steel pillars and topped with a gable-style tin roof. It was open on all sides, and this was where the gambling would take place.
The gambling tables under the iron shed were eight meters long and one point two meters wide, just as Yang Jian had seen in Song Family Village. They were covered with red plush fabric and had a yellow tape marking the dividing line in the middle.
Two rows of benches surrounded the gambling tables. The only difference from Song Family Village was that in the middle, on the side closer to the flat-roofed building, there was a chair with a backrest. Although Yang Jian had never witnessed a real gambling scene, he knew from movies that this was the seat for the dealer, the so-called "emperor."
The gambling was scheduled to start at one in the afternoon. In the morning, Song Jianhao convened a meeting for the company's internal staff to arrange personnel.
"Brothers, our gambling company officially opens today. Before we proceed with personnel arrangements, I want to emphasize a few points.
First, this establishment will be publicly declared as opened by Xiao Wu. We are all his brothers. Because he is a local and has a bit of a fearsome reputation in this area, it will facilitate our management. In reality, this place belongs to us, and we pay Xiao Wu a management fee of one thousand yuan per day.
Second, this area is a peri-urban zone, a mix of good and bad. Xiao Wu's reputation alone might not be enough to maintain order. According to our agreement with him, he is only responsible for external security. That is, he will handle the police side of things and ensure that the local gang leaders do not cause trouble. We will handle all other disputes ourselves.
Therefore, conflicts will inevitably arise in the future. Everyone should be prepared for fights. If you feel there is too much risk or you are afraid, you can withdraw now.
Third, company members are not allowed to gamble. You are all following me to make money. If I cannot lead you to prosperity, I will have no face when I return to Song Family Village. Therefore, internal personnel gambling is strictly prohibited. If you violate this, pack your bags and leave.
Fourth, no one is allowed to use stimulants or 'ice.' If any of you are 'digging pits' or 'eating fruit,' you must exercise restraint. As the establishment is newly opened and funds are tight, your salary will be one hundred yuan per person per day. This money is not enough for you to squander. We will increase salaries once the establishment grows."
Some of Song Jianhao's words were understandable to Yang Jian, while others were completely unknown, such as "digging pits," "using stimulants," "ice," and "eating fruit." He would have to ask Song Jianmin privately later.
After confirming that no one was withdrawing, Song Jianhao made personnel arrangements. Sixi, along with Yang Jian, Liangliang, and Biaobiao, was responsible for internal security. Song Jianmin was the dealer. The other four were sentinels stationed in the four directions outside.
After the meeting, Song Jianhao drove away, saying he was going to pick up people from the "Emperor Company" for a meal.
Yang Jian took this opportunity to ask Song Jianmin for clarification.
"Jianmin, what did your brother mean by 'using stimulants' and 'ice' just now?"
Song Jianmin smiled and said, "You're completely out of touch with society. How many young people today don't know about these things? Let me enlighten you:
'Using stimulants' refers to the use of high-purity heroin. This is something you must never touch. Once you're addicted, it's a dead end. It's not only very difficult to quit, but it will also drain your finances and destroy your body. That's why our team strictly forbids anyone from using it.
'Ice' is also drug use, with similar harms to heroin, but it's slightly cheaper because it's chemically synthesized, with lower costs. Heroin, on the other hand, is extracted from plants and imported from abroad, making it expensive and unaffordable for most people.
'Eating fruit' is the use of methamphetamine, a new type of drug. It looks like a pill, about five millimeters in diameter, round and red, with a strong fragrant smell. This drug is slightly less addictive than crystal meth or heroin, but it is still addictive. Moreover, if you overdose, you will develop pustules on your body and face, which are difficult to heal. Look at Liangliang's face, it has some. It's also very expensive, costing tens of yuan per pill, and it can be consumed in two minutes, making it very costly.
'Digging pits' is the use of ketamine, another new type of drug. It is in the form of white crystals, very similar to table salt. This drug is currently very popular in karaoke bars and nightclubs. It is somewhat addictive and can cause intense hallucinations after use. Overdosing can cause irreversible damage to the brain, leading to severe mental illness. Because it is inhaled through the nose, it also causes damage to the nasal cavity. Look at Biaobiao; it's a result of too much 'digging pits' – he's always stuffing his nostrils with tissues.
With Song Jianmin's explanation, Yang Jian finally remembered that Liangliang did indeed have a few pustules on his face. He was a rather handsome young man, but these pustules diminished his appearance.
As for Biaobiao, he always carried a large amount of tissues, either wiping his nose or stuffing his nostrils with them. Yang Jian had previously thought he had some kind of rhinitis or similar illness, but it turned out to be caused by drug use.
"Jianmin, you've been involved in this scene for so many years. Have you ever touched these things?"
Yang Jian had seen the dangers of drugs in movies, so he had a natural aversion to people who used them.
Song Jianmin shook his head. "No, I have a child, so I have that much self-control. There's another very important reason: people who have used these things and haven't quit cannot have children. I won't even mention the dangers of heroin and viruses. Just for those who have used ketamine and methamphetamine, regardless of gender, if either party has not completely quit before pregnancy, the child born is highly likely to be deformed."
"That's so serious. Neither Biaobiao nor Liangliang are married yet. How did they get involved with these things?"
Yang Jian felt he should distance himself from these two in the future.
"Young people like to play with excitement and cannot resist temptation. They have both been using drugs for two years, and it will definitely affect their fertility in the future. Last year, a brother of ours ate too much 'fruit' and got married without quitting. Later, he had a son, but the child was born without an anus. They spent forty to fifty thousand yuan on surgery for the child to survive, and his physique was clearly inferior to that of a normal child."
"This is too terrifying. Are these people out of their minds? Knowing the immense harm of drug use, they still jump into the pit one by one, heading down the path of ruin and family destruction."
Song Jianmin sighed, "Alas, there are two types of people who go down this path: one is curiosity that leads to gradual addiction, and the other is being enticed by others or deliberately poisoned through drinks or cigarettes. So, in the future, be extremely careful in entertainment venues. Don't drink or smoke with strangers; you might fall victim unintentionally."
Yang Jian took this advice to heart and was grateful to his comrade for giving him such a timely lesson.