Song Jianmin was moved to a general ward on the tenth day of the first lunar month. When Yang Jian visited him, he was quite lucid. There was no problem with his head, but his entire body was wrapped up like a zongzi. He was indeed severely injured.
Song Jianhao, along with his two cousins, was guarding him in the hospital. Two cleavers were hidden under the bedding by the bedside, a precaution against anyone coming to finish the job.
"Jianmin, how are you feeling? Better?"
Yang Jian brought him a jar of ginseng and old chicken soup, which his mother had specially simmered overnight.
Song Jianmin's spirits were not high. "I hurt all over. It's a miracle I survived."
"What happened? Tell me about it."
"The day before yesterday at noon, after lunch, I was driving back to Songjia Village. As I neared Luogang Town, I scraped against a motorcycle and knocked the rider down. To my surprise, as soon as I got out to check, five or six people rushed out, all carrying wooden clubs. They beat me mercilessly and smashed my car. In less than two minutes, they were all gone."
"This was a premeditated attack. Do you remember what they looked like?"
"I don't remember. They were all wearing masks."
"Could you tell their accents?"
The accents in Xinhe District changed every ten li, with distinct differences in dialect for each township, making them easy to identify.
"They didn't say a word. They just started hitting me as soon as they arrived, and their blows were brutal."
"I'll have Liangliang and the others inquire in Chengguan and Luogang. With so many people involved, there must be clues. If I find out who they are, I will never let them get away with it."
Although he had agreed with Song Jianhao to let the matter go, seeing Song Jianmin in this state made Yang Jian furious. Others might not care, but Song Jianmin was his good buddy. Hitting him was no different from hitting himself. This matter absolutely could not be left unresolved.
"Yang Jian, this must have been done by Baoguo and his gang. But my brother doesn't want to clash with them. Let's drop it for now. I want to ask you for a favor."
"We're friends, why would you say 'favor'? Go ahead and tell me."
"My condition will likely require three to six months to recover. During this period, I'll have no income, and my wife is pregnant with our second child. We're having a very difficult time financially."
Yang Jian waved his hand. "Don't say another word. I'll figure out the money. You just focus on recuperating."
Song Jianmin shook his head. "No, I'm not asking to borrow money. I hope you can help my brother. Continue cooperating with him when you get to Hancheng. We lost money last year because we didn't have someone as tough as you. If you help him, this situation can be reversed, and he'll share the profits with me."
"No problem. We agreed on this before, and it won't change."
"I'm mainly worried that Wu Wangchun might poach you."
"He won't. He did want me to partner with him in opening a casino in Xinqiao, but I didn't agree. My family wouldn't approve."
"That's good. My brother is a bit conservative. He doesn't have the boldness he had in his youth, and sometimes he seems quite weak. Don't blame him. He's forty and still unmarried, mainly due to a hidden health issue. But he's truly kind and has no ill intentions towards his brothers. Although he's always been involved in shady dealings, he never harms anyone, and he often helps the elderly and orphaned in the village."
Song Jianmin's tendency to ramble had returned, as if he were desperately trying to defend his brother's weakness. In reality, he was worried that Yang Jian might have reservations about his brother, which could lead to Yang Jian separating from their team.
"Jianmin, don't worry. The casino is operating until the eighteenth of the twelfth lunar month. Both of us can earn tens of thousands of yuan. That will be enough capital to go to Hancheng. Even if you can't go, you still have a share in the Emperor Company. You can't drive your Santana anymore, so let's aim to get a new car in the second half of the year."
Yang Jian reassured him once again.
Whether it was to truly protect his brother or out of fear of retaliation from Baoguo and his gang, Song Jianhao handed over all casino operations to Yang Jian and Song Hui. Except for the afternoon settlements, he stayed at the hospital and didn't show up at the casino at all.
Even so, the casino operated smoothly, with no further disturbances. By the fifteenth of the first lunar month, the casino was generating a net income of around 100,000 yuan daily.
Yang Jian was earning over 10,000 yuan a day. During this period, he also gave Liu Chao 30,000 yuan to pay Liu Yong's medical expenses, leaving him with over 40,000 yuan.
At this rate of earning, by the eighteenth of the twelfth lunar month when the casino closed, he should have 80,000 yuan, which would be sufficient capital to go to Hancheng. Yang Jian had already made his plans.
"Second child, hurry back. Someone is looking for you."
Early in the morning of the sixteenth of the twelfth lunar month, just as Yang Jian finished his morning exercises on the riverbank behind the village, his father called him back. Upon returning, he found three migrant workers from his previous construction site. One of them was Xu Sheng, and he couldn't recall the names of the other two immediately.
"Old Xu, why are you here? Is something wrong?"
Yang Jian always had cigarettes in his pocket from working at the casino, so he offered them one each upon meeting.
"Little Yang, it's like this. Old Huang's wife has a tumor, and her condition is very serious. The family is completely out of money. Can you think of a way to help them? According to our rural customs, we can't ask for money before the fifteenth. That's why they dragged me over first thing this morning."
"A tumor? Does she need surgery?"
"Yes, she was supposed to have it on the eighth of the twelfth lunar month, but the family had no money and kept postponing it until now."
"How much salary is Old Huang still owed?"
"He's still owed over 50,000 yuan. But the surgery and hospitalization fees are only 18,000 yuan. If you could help him borrow 18,000 yuan, we know you're also in a difficult position, but he truly has no other options. You have many connections, so borrowing money should be relatively easier."
Yang Jian nodded and looked at the other person. "You must be Old Zhang. What's your situation?"
"My son is getting married. The date is set for the eighteenth of the twelfth lunar month, but the bride's family is demanding a 20,000 yuan dowry. My son is already thirty years old. He finally found a wife. We renovated the house before the New Year and borrowed money for furniture. We haven't even sorted out the banquet expenses yet. Now the bride's family is suddenly demanding more dowry, which has thrown us into a panic. If this marriage doesn't happen, our family line will end."
Old Zhang was in his fifties, his face etched with hardship.
In this era, it was indeed rare for rural men to be unmarried at thirty. The probability of remaining single was high, as it was not difficult for boys in the countryside to find wives at this time. As long as they were healthy, even if they were poor, they could find partners.
Furthermore, a dowry of 20,000 yuan was considered exorbitant and rarely seen in the area. It was likely that seeing Old Zhang's son was older, the other party had increased the price arbitrarily.
"Old Zhang, Old Huang, both your families are in urgent need of money. By rights, I should settle your wages. But you know my situation. So, I won't explain much. I've been partnering with people to run a casino in Songjia Village these past few days and have earned tens of thousands of yuan. I'll give each of you 20,000 yuan. I really can't afford more."
Yang Jian was frustrated. The money in his hands was barely warm before it had to be given away again, but he couldn't refuse. One involved a matter of life and death, and the other was a major life event of getting married. Neither could be delayed.
"That's more than enough! Little Yang, you really have a way. I knew you were no ordinary person, to be able to earn tens of thousands of yuan in just a few days."
Xu Sheng looked pleasantly surprised, filled with hope that Yang Jian would settle all their wages for the year.
"Old Xu, Old Zhang, Old Huang, what happened today must not be spoken of outside. Otherwise, everyone will come knocking on my door. If I run out of money, the casino will have to close after the fifteenth, and I'll have to go to Hancheng to earn money."
"No, no, you've done all you can. How could we harm you? We promise not to say anything carelessly. However, before September first, you'll need to prepare some funds, as many families will need to pay tuition fees then."
"Don't worry, I'll make plans for that."
September first and the Lunar New Year were the two key periods for settling migrant worker wages in the construction industry. Yang Jian was well aware of this custom and needed to prepare in advance. Children's education was also a matter that could not be delayed.