13: Make a good connection with the heiress of the underworld.

"What! They're in this together!"

"F*ck you! Pockmark! Skinny Monkey!"

Lin Jiang finally completely came to his senses.

His eyes, which hadn't even finished swelling yet, bulged like copper bells.

Two flames burned within them.

No wonder!

No wonder those two bastards kept egging him on just now.

No wonder when he was gambling with that lackey, Little Mustache always managed to discard the right cards at just the right time.

It turns out they're a f*cking pack of wolves!

Teaming up to screw him over!

He was nearly driven to ruin by these two today!

"Are you two even human!?

I've treated you well in the past, lent you money for cigarettes, and treated you to drinks.

And this is how you plot against me?

You're trying to drive me, Lin Jiang, to my death?!!"

The more Lin Jiang thought about it, the angrier and more resentful he became.

The feeling of being betrayed by friends and coworkers was even worse than losing money.

He was an engineer at a State-owned Construction Site, built like an ox.

He rolled up his sleeves and was about to rush forward to fight Pockmark and Skinny Monkey.

"I'll kill you bastards!"

"Brother!!"

A hand firmly grabbed Lin Jiang's arm.

Lin Chuan pulled Lin Jiang back from the brink of a rampage.

"Let go of me, little brother!

If I don't crack these bastards' heads open, I won't be able to let this go!"

Lin Jiang roared, his face flushed and his neck veins bulging.

"Even if you can't swallow it, you have to, at least in this room."

Lin Chuan's voice wasn't loud as he whispered in his older brother's ear:

"Brother, look where we are.

This is Miss Chu's place.

If you start a fight here, you're disrespecting Miss Chu.

We just won money. If we trash the place now, we're being ungrateful. How would we ever show our faces around here again?"

Hearing Miss Chu's name, Lin Jiang's hot-headedness cooled down a bit.

He subconsciously glanced at the cold and elegant woman standing at the top of the second-floor stairs, holding a wine glass.

Chu Yueli was looking over with a half-smile.

Her gaze seemed to hold both admiration and a warning.

To survive in the underworld, one must know the rules.

Winning money is fine; that's skill.

But trashing the place after winning is just being foolish.

Although Lin Jiang was a rough man, he wasn't stupid; he knew the Lin family couldn't afford to offend such a big figure.

He could only spit on the ground viciously.

"Pah! Consider yourselves lucky!

Don't let me see you again, or I'll beat you every time!"

Pockmark and Skinny Monkey shrank behind Little Mustache, not daring to make a sound.

But in their evasive eyes, a hint of ruthlessness was clearly hidden.

Little Mustache's face was as gloomy as if his father had died.

He looked at the pile of colorful bills in front of Lin Chuan—that was his money!

Over fifty thousand!

And his house!

All gone!

When the casino came to collect the house, if his wife found out, she'd scratch him to death.

He wasn't reconciled!

How could he be!

Little Mustache's eyes darted around as he glanced at a few subordinates who had remained silent, exchanging a subtle look.

The thugs understood and quietly slipped out of the crowd and through the door.

Lin Chuan saw everything but just smirked, pretending not to notice.

"Mr. Lin, quite the technique."

At that moment, Chu Yueli walked over gracefully in her high heels.

Behind her followed a Floor Manager in a suit, carrying a black leather briefcase.

"So much money is hard to carry."

"This briefcase isn't a famous brand, but it's perfect for holding money.

It's yours."

With a wave of Chu Yueli's hand, the Floor Manager stepped forward and efficiently packed the stacks of big unity bills into the case.

"Thank you, Miss Chu."

Lin Chuan took the case; it was heavy.

He didn't refuse her kindness and smiled.

"Miss Chu is very generous.

I've made a small fortune in your esteemed establishment today. I'll treat you to dinner when there's a chance."

"Sure, I'll wait for whenever Mr. Lin is free."

Chu Yueli gave Lin Chuan a deep look.

Her beautiful eyes were bright and captivating.

Although she was only in her early twenties, she was a veteran of the Blue Path.

She started playing mahjong at age three.

Played Fried Golden Flower at five.

By ten, she could already beat many adult Card Sharps from various families at the table.

Ordinary people just saw the 7 turn into a 9, but she saw the skill behind it.

A top-tier technique!

Even she had been fooled.

This young man was unfathomable.

"In this small town, there aren't many interesting young people like you left.

If you ever want a place to showcase your talents in the future..."

"...you can come find me anytime."

This was a recruitment offer.

And an attempt to build a good relationship.

Lin Chuan understood perfectly and gave a slight nod.

"Definitely."

Then, Chu Yueli stepped forward and spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"Little Mustache's men have already left. They're likely going to intercept you. Do you want me to send someone to escort you home?"

"That won't be necessary," Lin Chuan politely declined.

"Alright."

With that, Lin Chuan picked up the briefcase and turned to wave at Long Wu and Lin Jiang.

"Brother, Lao Wu, let's go."

The three of them strode out of the casino entrance.

The night wind outside blew with a slight chill.

Lin Jiang's excitement hadn't faded yet; his eyes shone as he looked at the briefcase in his brother's hand.

"Little brother! Over fifty thousand!

You're amazing! Winning so much in one go!"

"I'd have to work for over a decade to earn that much."

He was so excited he was incoherent, his steps feeling light.

"What, Brother, is your heart racing again?"

Lin Chuan joked.

"No, no!" Lin Jiang shook his head.

"That feeling of total despair, of almost losing everything..."

"...I'll remember it for the rest of my life."

"Besides, there's nothing clean about those gambling games!"

Lin Chuan laughed. "Exactly! Human nature loves to exploit loopholes; there's never a shortage of cheaters in any game."

"You're not a professional. Gambling with those people is just throwing money away."

Lin Jiang thought about it and agreed.

What did he do? He was a construction worker.

He spent the year designing blueprints on-site, while those people spent every day honing their gambling skills.

Going up against them was just giving money away.

"You're right, brother. A lot of people in town work hard all year, come home for the New Year, and lose everything in one night."

Lin Chuan: "They work hard for a year, while others in the village practice gambling for a year just to devour them. Yet they jump into the trap even though they know it's there."

Lin Jiang scratched his head. "The thing is, State-owned Construction Sites aren't doing well either. Many people are saying there might be large-scale layoffs soon."

"Just working at the site, I don't know how long it would take to earn ten thousand."

"Brother, life is long. This is just the beginning."

Lin Chuan smiled, but his eyes alertly scanned the pitch-black wilderness around them.

This was the outskirts of town; large cornfields rustled in the night wind, like countless ghosts moving.

"Boss, we have tails behind us."

Long Wu, who had been silent, suddenly whispered.

"I know."

Lin Chuan didn't stop. Instead, he deliberately slowed down and turned onto an even more secluded path.

"Some accounts are inconvenient to settle in the casino."

"But outside, no one cares."

Lin Jiang froze upon hearing this.

"Little brother, what do you mean? Who's following us?"

Just as he spoke.

A series of noises came from the cornfields on both sides.

*Rustle, rustle—*

"Stop!"

"F*ck! Everyone f*cking stop!"

"R-r-r-robbery!"

Accompanied by several distorted shouts.

A dozen dark figures seemed to emerge from the ground, suddenly jumping onto the dirt road and surrounding Lin Chuan's group.

Their faces were covered with various rags—some used red scarves, others even had stockings over their heads.

They carried a variety of weapons.

Some held pickaxe handles, others held machetes!

By the moonlight.

Lin Jiang recognized the leader at a glance.

Despite the covered face, that short stature...

...he knew it instantly!

"Little Mustache?!"

Lin Jiang cried out in surprise.

"And that bow-legged one, that's you, Pockmark, right?

And that one as thin as a monkey, it's definitely you, Skinny Monkey!

What do you want?!"