Wu Wangchun left class early, driving to Changlong Trading Company to pick up Yang Jian for dinner, deliberately avoiding the Song Jianhao brothers.
Because Yang Jian had a sworn enemy like Xiong Ge at Xunsi River, for safety reasons, Wu Wangchun specially took Yang Jian to a restaurant in the city that specialized in fish. They requested a private room.
Yang Jian's body had not fully recovered and he could not drink, so Wu Wangchun ordered a signature dish, the fathead fish balls, which required a forty-minute wait. He also planned to wait for other members of the Emperor Company to join them for dinner.
"Manager Wu, you're treating me today."
Yang Jian was not very familiar with Wu Wangchun. Having received over five thousand yuan in "red money" from him today, he felt a little embarrassed.
"Little Yang, you're being too formal. We're from the same place. You didn't know me before, but I was very close to your father."
Wu Wangchun poured him a cup of tea.
"Really? Manager Wu looks very capable, but I've never heard your name before, nor has my father mentioned you."
Wu Wangchun laughed heartily. "Little Yang, to be honest, six months ago, I was still a bricklayer. Your father worked as a laborer for me for four or five years. Last year, your father and I worked together in Chengguan for two months. You can call your father right now if you don't believe me."
Yang Jian was quite surprised. "Really? Then you are an elder."
"Of course. I'm only a few years younger than your father. We call each other brothers. You should call me Uncle Wu or Uncle Wang."
His father didn't have a mobile phone, so Wu Wangchun's words couldn't be verified, but Yang Jian didn't think he would lie. Yang Jian also knew that his father had worked as a laborer for many years, so it was likely they were indeed close.
"Alright, then I'll call you Uncle Wang from now on. But I'm curious, why did you suddenly enter this circle when you were doing well as a bricklayer?"
"Didn't you also work as a carpenter last year? I was introduced to this circle by a relative, an uncle of mine. He's a professional cotton carder, also known as a 'laoqian' (cheater). You'll meet him later."
Cheating in gambling was locally referred to as "carding cotton." Yang Jian knew this common knowledge but had never met a real "laoqian." Having been cheated himself, he was always curious about this profession and wanted to meet one if he had the chance.
"Uncle Wang, Jianmin told me that your Emperor Company is very powerful. How much money have you made in the half year you've been in this profession?"
"You might not believe it if I told you. I came to Hancheng in June last year with only ten thousand yuan. By the end of the year, I had fifty thousand yuan in cash."
Yang Jian was instantly shocked. "Fifty thousand? In half a year?"
"Yes. Do you know how much I've earned since the New Year? Thirty thousand. My goal this year is five million."
"Five million?"
Yang Jian was completely unsettled. Was being a "huangdi" (gambling house operator) this profitable? Song Jianhao didn't seem to have this kind of capability.
"Yes, we currently have two fixed gambling dens at Sanjiao Road and Shahu Street. We deal with five to ten thousand yuan in wins and losses daily. On average, winning three to fifty thousand yuan a month is not difficult."
"But from my observation, the Emperor Company doesn't win every game they deal. You must lose sometimes, right?"
"Of course, there's a significant element of luck when the Emperor Company deals. But overall, the winning probability is higher. As long as they aren't cheated, the Emperor Company generally won't lose money."
Yang Jian was even more surprised. "The Emperor Company gets cheated?"
"Yes. Many gambling companies, due to excessive costs, can't make money, so they use cheating to fleece the Emperor Company or the gamblers. In the eyes of gambling companies, both the Emperor Company and the gamblers are just leeks to be harvested. This often leads to disputes."
"Does Brother Hao's venue also use cheating?"
"Of course, he will if his venue isn't making money."
"Is Brother Hao a 'laoqian'?"
Wu Wangchun shook his head. "No. The 'laoqian' you're thinking of are professional operators with all sorts of magical techniques, like in Hong Kong movies. In reality, it's not that complicated. Except for playing poker and mahjong, which do require skill, cheating in many gambling games is done with technology and tools, without needing professional 'laoqian' to operate."
"Technology and tools?"
Yang Jian's interest was piqued.
Since the Emperor Company members hadn't arrived yet, Wu Wangchun was happy to chat with Yang Jian and share some inside information about the gambling world.
"Yes, there are many ways to cheat with dice, mainly through perspective cups, floor shakers, and remote-controlled dice.
Perspective cups use specially made teacups with camera functions. People outside the game can clearly see the pips on the dice inside the cup on a TV screen.
Floor shakers involve installing special devices under the gambling table that can sense whether the dice are odd or even, but not the specific numbers.
Remote-controlled dice can change the pips of the dice at any time.
Regardless of the method, if the Emperor Company can't detect it, they'll be harvested. So, this profession isn't easy either."
Yang Jian's knowledge was expanded. He had seen real casinos but didn't know there were so many tricks. The gambling world was too deep.
"Little Yang, are you interested in joining our team?"
Through this conversation, the distance between them had narrowed considerably, and Wu Wangchun no longer hid his intention for inviting him to dinner.
After two overtures, Yang Jian wasn't surprised by his recruitment offer. "Uncle Wang, I don't have the means to join your team right now. You know I was swindled out of two hundred thousand by Maozi. I have no money on hand, and besides, I don't know anything."
"It's alright. If you don't have money, I can lend you some, or you can work for us first. Three hundred a day, with food and accommodation provided. Once you accumulate some funds, you can hold shares in the Emperor Company and receive dividends."
Three hundred a day was indeed high before, but Yang Jian could now earn a thousand yuan a day from Song Jianhao's venue. As for borrowing money, he wasn't considering it, as he still had a ten-thousand-yuan debt to repay.
Perhaps sensing Yang Jian's thoughts, Wu Wangchun said seriously, "Little Yang, don't think that the one thousand yuan a day that Song Jianhao offers is very high. Actually, the risk there is very great. If you hadn't come today to stabilize the situation, his casino probably wouldn't have lasted a few more days. Xiong Ge hasn't recovered yet, but he will eventually make a move against you and Xiao Wu."
Yang Jian nodded. "You're right, it's only a matter of time before Brother Xiong targets me. But joining your team doesn't seem safe either, does it?"
"Wrong. Our Emperor Company is much safer than Song Jianhao's casino. Under normal circumstances, gambling companies have to guarantee the safety of the Emperor Company, otherwise, no one will deal for them. Moreover, we don't easily get into conflicts with people, unless the gambling company deliberately tries to cheat us or 'card our cotton'."
"Why are you recruiting me? Is it not because of my father?"
"To be honest, I value your ferocity. Although the Emperor Company is safer than gambling companies, it's relative. Some disputes are unavoidable, and people are always eyeing our money."
Wu Wangchun was very open about his thoughts.