Chengguan, savoring time.
Yang Jian and Lin Nan sat opposite each other in a booth. In front of them, besides a pot of Tieguanyin, was a bowl of claypot rice each, their dinner.
"Little Yang, tell me honestly, were you the one who got Xu Zheng's casino people beaten and his arcade smashed?"
After listening to Yang Jian recount the beating of his cousin, the burning of the excavator, and the smashing of his aunt's supermarket, Lin Nan suddenly asked.
"It wasn't me. I've been in Hancheng with my sister for her surgery. The incident happened suddenly, and I don't know Xu Zheng at all. I didn't even know he ran a casino or an arcade, so how could I have retaliated against him in such a short time?"
Yang Jian fully trusted Lin Nan, but he knew Lin Nan was a former soldier with strong principles. He couldn't tolerate injustice and detested the conflicts between dark forces. If he admitted to what happened that afternoon, Lin Nan might very well handle it officially and take him away immediately.
"Little Yang, I can believe you, but don't lie to me. Otherwise, if you really get into trouble, I won't be able to help you."
"Brother Nan, it's really not me. I invited you here today to help me brainstorm. Should I show up for the topping-out ceremony the day after tomorrow? Because the police went to my factory this afternoon, clearly suspecting me of planning and carrying out retaliation against Xu Zheng. I'm worried they'll arrest me without question the day after tomorrow and force a confession."
"Nonsense. This is a society governed by law. There's no such thing as forced confessions anymore. Our police department has a strict supervision system, and torture has long been forbidden. Besides, I'm here. If you really get arrested, I'll definitely follow up and won't let frame-ups or forced confessions happen to you."
Yang Jian breathed a sigh of relief. "Brother Nan, with your words, I'm at ease. Then you must come to my ceremony the day after tomorrow. And Sister Xia. I won't send you separate invitations."
"We definitely have to go for such an important event. But Little Yang, I warn you, don't fight anymore, especially within the Xinhe District, or I'll disown you."
"Brother Nan, why do you see me like that? I'm a law-abiding citizen and aspire to be a well-known entrepreneur in Xinhe District. How could I fight with people?"
Lin Nan snorted, "Don't try to fool me. I won't even mention your past dealings with Liu Ming and Wu Laizi. You've been running a casino in Hancheng recently, and you thought I didn't know?"
Yang Jian was startled. "Brother Nan, how did you know? Did Sister Xia tell you?"
"Do I need her to tell me? Not only do the people on the streets of Chengguan know you're running a casino in Hancheng, but we do too. You're already a person of interest."
"No way, Brother Nan. Do you control that much?"
"It's not that we control too much, but dangerous individuals like you are our focus. If you were running a casino here in Xinhe, I would have arrested you myself long ago."
"But there are so many casinos in Xinhe now, why haven't you arrested anyone?"
Lin Nan shook his head. "Arresting gamblers isn't the job of our Criminal Investigation Brigade; it's the responsibility of the Public Security Brigade. But I consider you a brother, and I won't allow you to engage in illegal activities. Little Xia told me about your difficult situation, so I didn't stop you from opening a casino in Hancheng. But I hope you'll stop soon. If you walk the dark road too often, you'll eventually run into trouble."
Yang Jian raised his hand in a salute. "Yes, Brother Nan's lesson is correct. Once I get past this hurdle, I'll stop immediately."
"Don't be flippant with me. You think you're safe just because I'm not arresting you? I can tell you clearly, your name is already on the blacklist of the Hancheng police, but it's just not time to act on it yet."
Yang Jian's face instantly changed. "No way, Brother Nan. If there aren't ten thousand people running casinos in Hancheng, there must be at least a thousand, right? Why am I on the police blacklist?"
"It's not just you. All the big bosses running casinos are recorded. It's just that the controlling unit differs based on the size of the casino. The scale of your casino is the same as Old Pan's, so it's definitely on the municipal bureau's blacklist."
Lin Nan's words made Yang Jian break out in a cold sweat. He realized he had already been targeted by the police.
"Brother Nan, do you mean that those running casinos in Xinhe are also in your sight?"
"Of course. Do you think we police are just eating and doing nothing? You know that Song Jianhao, Baoguo, Wu Wangchun, and Xu Zheng have long been on the police blacklist."
"Then why don't you arrest them?"
"This issue is very complex. Simply put, there are two reasons. First, our internal supervision mechanism is not yet perfect, and some high-level officials act as protective umbrellas.
Second, we require evidence when handling cases. If we can't take down the casino operators and the casino in one go, the casino will revive.
Just like now, I know you're running a large casino in Hancheng, but I can't arrest you without concrete evidence.
However, don't get lucky. This situation won't last long. The higher authorities will eventually introduce very strict policies against crime and evil. If you don't stop early, not only you, but your so-called protective umbrellas in Hancheng will also face the most severe crackdown. Opening a casino is definitely considered an evil force. Once caught, you, the ringleader, will face a prison sentence of over ten years."
Lin Nan's words made Yang Jian feel as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, his body turning cold. "Brother Nan, when will this policy come into effect?"
"Who knows? It might be tomorrow, or it might take two or three years. Justice may be delayed, but it will never be absent.
I advise you to make plans early and not ruin your entire life for immediate gain. From what I know of you, you are a kind and upright young man. The fights and brawls that happened before were only in self-defense due to being forced.
It's precisely because I haven't found any evidence of you bullying others, provoking trouble, or committing evil deeds that I'm willing to associate with you. Otherwise, even if you had arranged my marriage with Little Xia, I wouldn't have had a meal with you."
"Thank you, Brother Nan. This meal with you today was truly worthwhile. You're showing me the way, otherwise, I would have walked step by step into the abyss."
Yang Jian's words were heartfelt. The Sisun River casino was now raking in a fortune, making millions a month, which had already made him a bit arrogant, believing that money could move heaven and earth, and that with enough money, they could ensure absolute safety from their protective umbrellas.
If this casino continued to operate until the end of the year or longer, his wealth could reach tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions. This was much faster than any engineering project or business. It was a shortcut to financial freedom and reaching the pinnacle of life.
Lin Nan's words were like a heavy hammer, waking him up. Running a casino was ultimately a crooked path, an illegal and criminal act, a road of no return.