Seeing Yang Jian hesitate, Lu Feng knew he was in a difficult position. He sighed, "Master, I can't implicate you. Let me stay here for one night, and I'll leave tomorrow. But I have one request."
"Tell me."
"When you go back, please help me look after my parents and sister. With you there, Wu Laizi won't dare to trouble them."
"I promise. Even if not for you, I would have visited Chief Engineer Lu. However, I don't plan on returning anytime soon."
"As long as you promise, that's enough. My mother and the others are within the system, so Wu Laizi wouldn't dare to openly harass them."
After saying this, Lu Feng's eyes became vacant. The world felt vast, and he suddenly realized he didn't know where he could hide.
Just a few days ago, he had been driving freely through the streets and alleys of the town with high spirits. In the blink of an eye, all of that was gone forever.
Lu Feng finally regretted his actions. Reflecting on Yang Jian's words, he realized he had indeed been used. Yang Jian had hit Liu Ming because Liu Ming had bullied his sister and brother-in-law. What was his reason for killing Old Gui, with whom he had no enmity?
Was it for money? It didn't seem entirely so. His entire family, including himself, was earning money. His father alone could earn over two hundred thousand a year as a senior chief engineer with a salary of over one hundred thousand, plus nearly one hundred thousand in additional income from his Grade 1 Constructor certificate.
His mother was the vice-principal of the experimental middle school. Although her salary wasn't high, her illicit income was substantial, and she had also invested in two properties.
The family's assets had long surpassed a million. In a small place like Chengguan, the Lu family was undoubtedly a high-income family. Buying a car was simple.
Besides, the two million that Sister Feng gave him wasn't just for him. After expenses, he still had to give each of the other six accomplices a hundred thousand.
So far, Sister Feng had given him one million in cash. The initial two hundred thousand was mostly spent on the car, and the rest, along with the six outsiders, had been squandered.
On the day of the incident, Sister Feng's driver gave him eight hundred thousand. Four hundred thousand was given to the four accomplices. He had initially planned to send the remaining two hundred thousand to the hometowns of the other two accomplices, but he abandoned the idea for fear of the police setting a trap. He currently had four hundred thousand in cash on him.
For the past three days, he hadn't dared to take a train because train stations had security checks, and carrying so much cash would surely arouse suspicion.
Bus stations were not as well-regulated, allowing passengers to board and alight mid-journey. After traveling hundreds of kilometers to Xichuan, he had spent two thousand yuan to hire a private car and drive directly to Baoping Town.
He had expected Yang Jian to readily accept him, but upon arriving, he realized his current status was that of a wanted criminal. Harboring him would be equivalent to harboring a murderer. His master was a good person, and he couldn't harm him, especially when he had asked him to look after his family.
"Lu Feng, why don't you just stay here? In this vast mountain, information is not readily available, and the police won't find you quickly. If there's any sign of trouble, you can leave then."
Just as Lu Feng was planning to rest for a night before leaving, Yang Jian suddenly decided to take him in.
"Master, this will implicate you."
"It's fine. This place is a mix of people from all walks of life. I suspect you're not the only one hiding here due to trouble, especially in the mining area where there are more outsiders and more complex backgrounds."
"Thank you, Master."
Lu Feng's eyes welled up. He understood that his relationship with Yang Jian wasn't that close; they had only spent three and a half days together in the detention center. Yang Jian's willingness to shelter him was entirely out of consideration for his father.
"You don't need to thank me. If you're here, you have to work, or you'll arouse suspicion. You can stay with Liangliang and the others and help them with receiving and sending materials and guarding against thieves."
"No problem, I'll do anything."
Lu Feng finally felt at ease. Although he knew this wasn't a long-term solution, at least he could get some peaceful sleep.
The construction site was busy, so Yang Jian didn't stay long. He asked Liangliang to take Lu Feng to buy bedding, clothes, and other daily necessities, and instructed them not to reveal Lu Feng's information to anyone, not even Liu Yong.
They were currently working on the foundation, which included large underground civil defense projects and a parking lot. Therefore, there were over a hundred carpenters on site, all arranged by Yang Jian. Liu Yong was specifically responsible for purchasing materials, recruiting workers, and dealing with the project department.
When it was time to get off work, Huang Hua was indeed waiting for him at the entrance.
"Boss Yang, let's go. The dog meat at home is ready."
Huang Hua's enthusiasm made Yang Jian quite puzzled. They weren't particularly close, and he couldn't figure out his motive for approaching him.
"Manager Huang, do you have something to tell me? Just say it directly. We can skip the dog meat."
"Boss Yang, I see you as a straightforward and generous person, so I wanted to make friends with you. Come on, our Baoping dog meat is exceptional. This is the season for eating dog meat, and you'll regret it if you don't try it."
"Alright then. A brother just came from my hometown. You don't mind if we add one more person, do you?"
"Not at all, not at all. More people make it livelier. One dog weighs dozens of pounds, and we can't finish it in one meal."
With such earnest persuasion, Yang Jian had no choice but to bring Lu Feng, Liangliang, and San Pang along to Huangjiaping.
Huang Hua's family ran a video arcade and a mahjong parlor, and business was good. This place was remote, with limited entertainment options. The most common entertainment for migrant workers on the construction site was watching videos.
Hong Kong films were the most popular during this era, but adult films, or pornographic videos, were even more prevalent. Video arcades typically showed Hong Kong films and martial arts films during the day, and adult films late at night.
The mahjong parlor played mahjong and Pai Gow. Yang Jian had seen mahjong before, but this was his first time seeing Pai Gow.
There was a local custom where dog meat was not served on the main table, so the dog meat could not be cooked on the stove. Huang Hua's wife set up a makeshift stove in the yard, and in a large pot, they stewed a large portion of dog meat with white radishes and garlic sprouts. The aroma was intoxicating.
Huang Hua's elder brother, Huang Qiao, who was in his thirties, had a buzz cut and wore a thick gold chain, clearly indicating he was involved in shady dealings. He was also there to eat dog meat.
Huang Hua brought out two bottles of good liquor and placed them on the dining table. "Come, Boss Yang, brothers, let's dig in."
The dog meat was truly delicious, far superior to anything Yang Jian had tasted in Xinhe or Hancheng. Yang Jian and the others didn't hold back, and under the constant urging of the Huang brothers, they ate heartily and enjoyed themselves immensely.
After several rounds of drinks and most of the dog meat consumed, Huang Hua steered the conversation towards the main topic.
"Boss Yang, we invited you here today to become friends and to ask for your help."
"Manager Huang, don't be polite, just say it."
Yang Jian knew that there was no such thing as a free lunch, and the real reason was about to be revealed.
"My brother and I want to open a casino, and we need your strong cooperation."
Huang Hua didn't beat around the bush, directly stating the purpose of the dog meat feast.
"I cooperate with you to open a casino? How?"
Yang Jian was greatly surprised, unable to fathom what the Huang brothers were up to.