That evening, on the way back to the hotel after work, Yang Jian shared his thoughts with Song Jianmin.
Song Jianmin chuckled as he drove, "You think you're working undercover, using selling lanterns as a cover? Let me tell you, it's fine for you not to stay in one place while on lookout, but don't underestimate the cops' intelligence."
"What do you mean?"
"If the police arrange for plainclothes officers to raid our operation, they would have already investigated the locations of your lookout posts, even your identities. No matter what cover you use at the intersection, they'll come straight for you."
"Then what should we do?"
Yang Jian was shocked. The risk was too great. Getting arrested and jailed for two hundred yuan a day was not worth it. It would not only tarnish his life but also infuriate his parents.
"Don't worry too much. Our operation will cease in a few days, so it shouldn't attract excessive police attention. Just be more vigilant when you're on lookout and don't let suspicious individuals get too close to you."
"Alright."
Yang Jian didn't quite believe Song Jianmin's words. Lately, there had been too many gamblers, many driving luxury cars, indicating the casino's scale was growing, and the stakes were getting higher. Since the police had shown up today, the casino was definitely on their radar and a crackdown was inevitable.
The Song brothers had treated him well, and it felt disloyal to quit now. Yang Jian decided to find a way to protect himself.
The next day, before starting his shift, he went to the street and bought a stylish baseball cap with a long brim, five black masks, and a collapsible baton for self-defense.
With the baton in his pocket, Yang Jian felt confident he could handle three to five people. Even if the police came to arrest them, he was sure he could escape unharmed. Wearing the hat and mask, he wasn't afraid of being identified by the police. As long as he wasn't caught red-handed, he'd be fine.
As soon as he started work, Yang Jian noticed even more people coming to gamble. There were over thirty cars, plus four or five vans specifically for transporting gamblers. The number of outsiders arriving at the casino was at least a hundred.
Such a large gathering for gambling was bound to attract the police's attention, intensifying Yang Jian's worries.
He put on his hat and mask and roamed around the intersection, keeping a distance of about a hundred meters. Although it was a bit tiring, it was safer.
"Lookouts outside, please respond if you receive this."
Song Jianmin's voice came through the walkie-talkie.
"Yang Jian received, please speak."
"Biao Biao received."
"Si Gou received."
"Liang Liang received."
The lookouts at various exits of the village responded one after another. Except for Yang Jian, who used his real name, the others used their nicknames.
"There are quite a few people in the operation today, nearly two hundred, with some unfamiliar faces. Stay alert, prioritize your safety, and closely monitor all entry and exit points, guarding against sudden raids by plainclothes officers."
"Understood."
Yang Jian's guess was correct. The sudden surge in people at the casino had made the situation more complex.
He didn't see Brother Mao's car pass by today. He had collected six thousand yuan in "red money" from him over the past few days.
Although Song Jianmin had offered some explanation, Yang Jian still found it a bit strange. Six thousand yuan was not a small amount at that time; it would take him three months of work at the construction site. Brother Mao was a cunning person, and his sudden generosity might indicate something fishy.
While he was thinking about this, two men in their thirties, of medium build, walked towards him, chatting and laughing. One of them carried a backpack, looking like he was going out to work.
However, Yang Jian sensed a hint of danger. Having served in the military, he noticed that the two men walked with steady steps and had sharp eyes, clearly having undergone professional training like himself.
"Brother, can I ask you something?"
The man with the backpack took out a cigarette and approached him, as if asking for directions.
"I don't smoke. What is it?"
Yang Jian remained on guard, did not accept his cigarette, and instinctively took a step back.
Seeing his intention exposed, the backpack man acted decisively, lunging at Yang Jian and attempting to grab him by the waist with both hands.
The other man, though slightly behind, also moved in to flank him with practiced coordination.
Yang Jian was prepared. He dodged, instantly grabbed the backpack man's right arm, blocked his lower body with his left leg, and used the man's momentum to throw him forward forcefully.
The backpack man, caught off guard, was lifted off the ground and flung three to four meters away.
The backpack man was actually quite sturdy, weighing at least 150 to 160 pounds, yet he was easily thrown. This was mainly because he underestimated Yang Jian and his own momentum was too great, allowing Yang Jian to use his strength against him, employing the principle of "four ounces deflect a thousand pounds."
Furthermore, Yang Jian was naturally strong, and his arm strength had been further honed by hauling formwork at construction sites over the years.
As the backpack man cried out in pain upon landing, Yang Jian attacked the other man without hesitation.
Close-quarters combat was Yang Jian's forte. The other man intended to use a body slam to subdue him, which was a miscalculation. As soon as they closed in, he was thrown to the ground with an over-the-shoulder throw.
The entire process took only three to four seconds. A black car in the distance was about to accelerate to provide support, but Yang Jian had already rushed into the still snow-covered fields and was sprinting away.
"Stop, or I'll shoot."
The car sped to the scene, and two men emerged, quickly pursuing Yang Jian.
Yang Jian was no fool; he wouldn't stop to be captured. He judged that the police were unlikely to be armed when arresting gamblers. Moreover, he had already run fifty meters off the road, and based on his understanding of firearm performance, a handgun posed no significant threat at that distance.
Relying on his robust physique and swift running ability, Yang Jian quickly widened the distance between himself and his pursuers. The snowy terrain made pursuit difficult, and the pursuers stopped after a few dozen meters. They quickly returned, got into the car, and headed straight for Song Jiazai.
"Jianmin, hurry and retreat! The cops are in, all plainclothes."
Yang Jian stood in the middle of the field and did not continue to flee. He quickly used the walkie-talkie to report the situation.
"Received. Find a place to hide and wait for my call."
Song Jianmin's voice was clearly a little panicked.
Having fulfilled his duty, Yang Jian oriented himself and headed towards Zhang Zhuang, opposite Song Jiazai.
An hour later, Song Jianmin's call came through.
"Yang Jian, where are you? I'll come pick you up."
"I'm at Xiaojiawa. How are you guys? Did anyone get arrested?"
Yang Jian gave the name of an adjacent village, worried that Song Jianmin might be under police control and lure him into a trap.
"Our company's Liang Liang was arrested. The Emperor was arrested, and twenty gamblers who couldn't escape were likely arrested too."
"The Emperor?"
Yang Jian didn't understand what "the Emperor" meant. How could there be an emperor at a casino?
"That's the dealer. I'll explain later. I'm not far from you, five minutes."
"Oh, then come pick me up at Zhang Zhuang. I'm almost there."
Yang Jian could tell Song Jianmin wasn't lying; he seemed to be safe.