Although Jing Yongli comforted him not to worry too much about the migrant workers' wages, as the power plant and project department might negotiate a solution, Yang Jian was not optimistic. This sudden news made him feel like he was about to collapse.
Seeing him standing in the yard in a daze, Liu Chao called out, "Brother Jian, what's wrong?"
Suppressing his anger towards his cousin, Yang Jian calmed his breathing and stabilized his emotions. He returned to the main hall. After all, his cousin's downfall had nothing to do with his uncle, aunt, or cousin-in-law, so he couldn't vent his anger in front of them.
"Er Jian, what should we do? Your brother hasn't brought any money back all year, and he owes over a hundred to two hundred thousand yuan. Now he's being pressed for debt and needs another 150,000. Where am I supposed to find so much money?"
Peng Yuxiu was at a loss. She was a rather introverted person who usually stayed home to take care of the children and tended a small vegetable patch. During busy farming seasons, she would also help her in-laws with transplanting rice seedlings and harvesting wheat. She was a very virtuous woman.
Yang Jian glanced at his uncle Liu Tong and aunt Fang Tao before saying, "Sister-in-law, stop trying to raise money. Brother Yong owes more than 150,000 yuan over there. Even if we raise 1.5 million yuan, it might not solve his problems."
At these words, everyone was stunned. Liu Tong and Fang Tao were not eloquent and could only stare at Yang Jian, unable to speak for a long time.
Peng Yuxiu asked in horror, "Your brother owes over a million yuan outside? What did he do?"
"What did he do? Ask Xiao Chao."
Seeing Yang Jian pass the ball to him, Liu Chao scratched his head. "Sister-in-law, Brother has a mistress outside, and he also does drugs and gambles."
"What did you say?"
Peng Yuxiu and her in-laws exclaimed in unison.
Liu Tong trembled slightly. "Xiao Chao, you mustn't talk nonsense."
His brother was truly disappointing. Liu Chao no longer held back. "Dad, I'm not talking nonsense. I originally wanted to keep it from you, thinking he'd change when he came back. But judging by today's situation, he's beyond saving. I don't need to say anything; in a few days, when the workers from Xichuan return, everyone will know."
"This beast, how did he become like this? Why didn't you tell us sooner?"
Fang Tao suddenly burst into tears.
Peng Yuxiu fell into a daze. This news was too much of a blow to her. She worked hard at home raising two children and serving her in-laws, while her husband was indulging in debauchery outside, accumulating huge debts, and even asking the family for money. It was simply shameless.
Seeing their grandmother cry, the two children also started crying fearfully. The family was in chaos.
Liu Tong, in his fifties, also shed tears. His son, whom he had once been proud of, had fallen so low. How could he not be heartbroken? If he were in front of him now, he would want to kill him.
Liu Chao was extremely agitated. "Dad, Mom, stop crying and think about what to do now. Since Brother Jian is here, let's discuss a solution together."
Fang Tao then stopped crying. "Er Jian, you've always been decisive and capable. Only you can save your brother now."
Yang Jian said with a bitter expression, "Aunt, you want me to save Brother Yong. Do you know how much money I've invested in this project? Not to mention how much money I made from gambling and invested, I brought 430,000 yuan from home. This includes 50,000 yuan from my dad, 100,000 yuan borrowed from my sister, 150,000 yuan for buying a car, and 80,000 yuan earned from betting. According to the information Yongli gave me, not a single cent of this money can be recovered."
At this point, Yang Jian no longer concealed the matter of running a casino, as the workers would spread the word when they returned, and his father would eventually find out.
"But we can't just watch him being pushed to a dead end and beaten every day. And the drug use, we don't understand this matter. How serious is it, and how to deal with it, we don't know. You are capable, only you can save him."
"Aunt, I'm being investigated by the police for running a casino over there, so I can't go for now. Distant water can't quench nearby thirst. I can't do anything if Brother Yong is being beaten over there. As for drug use, it's a very serious matter. Once addicted, it's very difficult to quit. It not only costs money but also ruins the body. We can only send him to a rehabilitation center when he returns, which also costs a lot of money."
Liu Tong calmed down at this moment. "Er Jian, can't your engineering fees offset his debts? I heard you were doing a joint contract."
"We are doing a joint contract, but the first joint contract doesn't make any profit because a large amount of funds needs to be invested in purchasing materials and tools. Only the second project will be profitable. So, it's probably difficult to offset his debts with engineering fees. There are also one to two million yuan in labor wages to be paid. How can we offset it?"
"Then what should we do? How will he pay the money he owes outside? Will those people let him come back?"
"I don't know what to do either. Let's wait until the settlement in a few days. The project department should protect Brother Yong."
Yang Jian's heart was also in turmoil. He wasn't too worried about Liu Yong. Those people couldn't possibly beat him to death. What worried him most was whether the migrant workers' wages could be paid, especially the workers brought from Xinhe. If they couldn't get their money there, they would come back to demand it from him, which would be a considerable sum, and he couldn't afford it now.
Upon returning home, Yang Jian took the initiative to tell his parents about Liu Yong and his casino business. Since the workers would spread the word when they returned in a few days, the entire area would know. It was better to reveal it now and give his parents some time to prepare.
Yang Shuanglin, who was usually hot-tempered, was surprisingly calm this time, not pursuing the matter of his son running a casino.
"Second child, why did Da Yong become like this? Weren't you together every day?"
"Dad, we had a division of labor. I was mainly responsible for on-site management, and he was responsible for communicating with the project department, purchasing materials, and recruiting workers. He was always out and about, and the construction site was always busy, so I didn't pay much attention to his private life. How could I have known he had a mistress, gambled, and used drugs outside?"
Seeing that his father wasn't angry, Yang Jian breathed a sigh of relief.
"Then what should we do? Can you recover your investment?"
"It's unlikely."
"Sigh, forget it if you can't recover it. At least you came back safely, paid back your sister's debt, and brought back a car. It's not a loss. It's just that I don't know how to resolve this matter with Da Yong."
Yang Jian knew that his father hadn't fully grasped what he meant. "Dad, things might not be as optimistic as you think. In a few days, many people will probably come to our house to demand money. This matter is much more serious than losing 200,000 yuan last year. You need to be mentally prepared."
Liu Xingzhi became anxious. "Who is coming to our house to demand money? Did you also owe money?"
"Mom, it's not that I owe money. Brother Yong lost too much. I'm worried the project department will withhold our engineering fees, and then the workers will come to our house to demand money."
"Then they should ask Da Yong for the money! He lost it, why are they asking you?"
Although Liu Yong was their nephew, he was still their son. Liu Xingzhi's first thought was to protect her son.
"Brother Yong can't even get money on the construction site. Will the workers still look for him when they come back? I'm a partner, so they will definitely look for me. However, don't worry too much. Maybe the project department will pay their wages. At worst, I won't take the materials and engineering fees from there."
"May Buddha bless us, may Buddha bless us, you will be alright."
Liu Xingzhi couldn't think of a solution and could only pray to the gods. This was the most common psychology and belief of rural women.