After seeing Xu Sheng and the other two off, Yang Jian let out a wry smile. He was broke again. Fortunately, the casino would operate for three more days, and he should be able to earn over forty thousand yuan. Although it was a bit less than the capital needed for Hancheng, as long as his luck held, he could still manage.
"Second brother, I have something to tell you."
Just as he was about to wash up and have breakfast, his father called him again.
"Dad, what is it?"
"It seems you've earned quite a bit of money recently. Do you have any more?"
"No, I gave Yong Ge fifty thousand, and just now I gave out another forty thousand. I only have a little over three thousand yuan left."
"You earned ninety thousand from the third day of the Lunar New Year until now?"
Yang Shuanglin looked astonished. No wonder Wu Wangchun and the others earned millions a year; running a casino was so profitable.
"Yes, I'm a minor shareholder. Brother Hao and the others earned more, over two hundred thousand. What's wrong? Do you need money?"
"It's like this, yesterday afternoon, your uncle-in-law came to discuss partnering to start a factory, and it requires some investment capital."
"Start a factory? What kind of factory?"
Yang Jian was very confused. His father had worked in agriculture his whole life, and in recent years he had worked as a laborer for others. He was a steady, honest, and somewhat dull and stubborn person. Why had he suddenly become so open-minded as to invest in a factory?
"A wood processing plant, specifically to produce semi-finished building formwork for carpenters like you. Wood processing has gradually become an emerging industry in Xinqiao, and there's no shortage of buyers for the products. Building the factory on our own land will save a significant amount of capital."
"Hmm, the real estate market is developing very rapidly now, and the demand for building formwork is quite large. This venture could indeed work, but it also requires certain technical skills, doesn't it?"
"Yongli brought this up. He doesn't want to spend all his time in his small supermarket, and he knows he's not suited to mixing with you in the casino. So, he used the Chinese New Year holiday period to conduct an investigation. He said the technology isn't difficult; as long as we buy the machinery, the manufacturer will handle the installation and training, and we can learn it in a day or two."
"How much investment is needed?"
"Over two hundred thousand. Your uncle-in-law said our family would contribute one hundred thousand, and the rest would be from him. Since the land is ours, the current land rent is eight hundred yuan per mu per year. Our six mu of land is just enough."
Yang Jian scratched his head. "One hundred thousand? But I can't even take out ten thousand right now. I can't sell the car again, can I?"
"No need to sell the car. We lost fifty to sixty thousand on the last sale, it wasn't worth it. We still have fifty thousand at home. Your uncle-in-law said he would pay for the machinery and factory construction first. This process will take over a month. Our family's money can be used as working capital for raw material procurement, and we can pay it a bit later."
"How much later? A month?"
"Only half a month later, because after the factory building is completed, we need to start acquiring timber. Once the machinery is installed, production can begin immediately. I heard it can earn two to three hundred thousand a year."
"It shouldn't be a problem for me to earn fifty thousand yuan in half a month."
Yang Jian decided to support his father's factory venture. His father was sixty years old and still working as a laborer on construction sites. He had originally planned to help fell trees this year, which was also manual labor, a task requiring strength. Although his body was still robust, excessively strenuous labor could be overwhelming, and it also carried certain risks.
He had tried to persuade his father before, telling him not to work as a laborer anymore and that he could earn a living for the family. But his father wouldn't listen, always saying that with two children still unmarried and one elder not yet seen off, he couldn't stop working.
Partnering with Yongli to start a factory now seemed like a good solution. Whether it was profitable or not was secondary; at least his father wouldn't have to endure the sun and rain, work as a laborer taking orders from others, or face danger.
Yang Shuanglin appeared very pleased. "It's good that you agree to start the factory. If we're really short on funds, I'll borrow another fifty thousand from your sister. You just need to be responsible for Rui Rui's living expenses each month."
"That works too. I'll strive to earn fifty thousand in half a month."
Yang Jian was confident in this small goal. Not to mention going to Hancheng, he was sure he could earn forty thousand yuan in the last three days.
The thought was good, but reality was a harsh slap in the face.
After lunch, Yang Jian, along with San Pang and Liu Chao, headed to Songjia Village. To his surprise, there were far fewer people watching the opera today.
When they reached the ancestral hall, there were also very few people gambling.
"Brother Jian, I suggest we merge the two venues today. The red money venue probably won't be able to operate."
Biao Biao came over to discuss with Yang Jian as soon as he saw him.
Yang Jian was a little confused. "Why are there so few people? Have Baoguo and the others attracted everyone away?"
"No, Brother Jian. Did you forget what day it is? It's the sixteenth. Most people who work outside the province leave today. Didn't you see fewer people watching the opera? And it's mostly middle-aged and elderly people at the opera stage; there are very few young people."
Yang Jian slapped his forehead. "You're right. After the fifteenth, everyone has to go back to work. Who would still watch operas and gamble?"
"Those bosses who run kiln factories and transportation companies in the south are also departing today. So, there won't be many people at the red money venue today. It's best to merge the two venues."
"Alright then, let's merge into one venue. Notify Emperor Company to send one team."
"Manager Wu is already here. He's inside the ancestral hall."
"Then notify the other team not to come."
Yang Jian finished speaking and entered the ancestral hall. Wu Wangchun was sitting by the gambling table, chatting with Wu Changshun, Song Hui, and others.
"Uncle Wu, there are too few people today, and the two venues need to be merged. You'll be the banker outside later."
Yang Jian handed out cigarettes to everyone present.
"It's fine, this was within my expectations. In a few more days, there will be even fewer people. By the way, Little Yang, our casino will open tomorrow, so we won't be coming here anymore. You need to arrange for Emperor Company in advance."
Wu Wangchun said with a smile, looking very excited.
Yang Jian was a little surprised. "Opening tomorrow? Has Yu Xiangdong been transferred?"
"Yu Xiangdong hasn't been transferred; he's being investigated. Sister Feng is incredibly resourceful, and with the举报 materials we submitted, even if Yu Xiangdong escapes this ordeal, he won't be able to return to Xinqiao."
Yang Jian suddenly realized. "I thought Sister Feng was just saying it casually. I didn't expect it to actually happen."
"Little Yang, could you find some time to arrange a meeting with Sister Feng? I'd like to thank her in person."
"Let's do it after some time. There are many things to deal with at the beginning of the year. She now manages the entire Dongsheng Group, and it's very difficult to get an audience with her. By the way, Uncle Wu, after the fifteenth of the first lunar month, the casino becomes less prosperous. Why do you still want to open one?"
Yang Jian thought of this crucial question.
Wu Wangchun smiled slightly. "It's not prosperous here, but it doesn't mean it's not prosperous elsewhere. Luogang Town is mainly composed of migrant workers, and it's very quiet except during Chinese New Year, so running a casino there is naturally not prosperous.
But Xinqiao is different. The timber processing industry is developing vigorously, and more and more factories are being established. There are more bosses and workers from other places, as well as merchants from outside who come to purchase finished and semi-finished products, truck drivers, and timber traders. It's much livelier than Luogang Town. Therefore, opening a casino there naturally has better conditions than here."
Damn, this analysis makes a lot of sense. At this moment, Yang Jian felt that these people were indeed meant to make big money. Even opening a casino required market research. They not only cleared potential safety hazards in advance but also made predictions about the local market prospects. Impressive.