After entering, I stood behind a table where people were playing炸金花 (zhá jīn huā), acting as a spectator, listening intently to the movements of the three "pigs."
My mission tonight was to determine whether they were human or ghosts.
Even with my previous deductions, I wanted to confirm with my own eyes.
From a distance of five tables away, I focused my attention, listening carefully to their conversation.
They kept addressing each other as "Mr. So-and-so," their boss-like demeanor a bit overdone.
In addition to that, their brand-new, gleaming clothes looked jarring and out of place.
There was no need, truly no need.
Real big bosses wouldn't drive old cars and wear new clothes to a card room to gamble.
Without needing to look further, I could already confirm...
It was undoubtedly a "pig-herding-people" scenario!
Just as I was privately reaching my conclusion, Zhang Chengxiang appeared beside me at some point, asking softly, "How is it, brother Chen Xiang? What's the deal with those three?"
Upon hearing this, I led Zhang Chengxiang towards the bar, finding a spot where others couldn't see, and said, "Your card room has been targeted!"
Before Zhang Chengxiang could ask, I poured out my conclusion of "pig-herding-people," along with all the deductions and evidence supporting it.
To my surprise, Zhang Chengxiang didn't get angry upon hearing my answer. Instead, he asked again, "Can you analyze for me how much residual value these three 'pigs' still possess?"
It was no wonder Zhang Chengxiang could manage a card room so efficiently; he truly had a sharp mind.
Most people lacking foresight would instinctively avoid such a situation.
They would subconsciously assume that "pigs" who had already been fleeced by casinos had no further value.
In reality, this notion is entirely mistaken!
Everyone, please don't forget, above gamblers who are without bottom lines, principles, or morals, there are also gamblers who are driven to the brink of madness!
These desperate gamblers are often shunned by everyone, left with nothing.
Compared to these gamblers, ordinary gamblers are far from that point.
They have borrowed from everyone they know, are deeply in debt, and are treated like pariahs by their friends and family.
In other words, even after being exploited by a casino, gamblers still have considerable residual value that can be squeezed.
Things like houses, cars, stocks, futures, fixed bank deposits, large credit card limits, and so on.
As long as they possess any of these, there's still profit to be made.
The reason I am so certain is that I understand casino tactics all too well.
They never go for a quick kill. Instead, they nurture the "pig" before slaughtering it, following a gradual process, step by step, until the person is completely trapped and ruined.
Take the three "pigs" who rented luxury cars to pose as big spenders at Zhang Chengxiang's card room as an example.
If those three were truly trapped by the casino, their personal freedom would have been lost long ago.
The fact that they can still move around indicates that the casino hasn't reached the final stage of utter destitution.
At this stage, "pigs" with brains will reflect and realize their situation after calming down; these three are perfect proof of that.
These three "pigs" came to the card room with no other purpose than one thing: to make money!
Using the same methods the casino used against them, they intend to trick others at the card room.
To achieve this, they must have made thorough preparations.
And this includes money.
The cost of impersonating bosses is not small. Since they dared to do this, they must still have money on them. wΑp.kanshu伍.net
...
With this thought, after a brief pause, I held up a hand to Zhang Chengxiang, signaling that the three of them, combined, had at least fifty thousand yuan in their pockets.
These three "pigs," having been fleeced by the casino, are smart enough to do their homework and prepare in advance.
The card room isn't without genuine big players to catch; many small business owners enjoy playing cards with regular partners at the card room.
However, if your bait isn't substantial enough, those small business owners hidden among the gamblers and "shills" will absolutely not give you a second glance.
Showing up with five thousand yuan and trying to play at a table with stakes of fifty thousand yuan isn't playing cards; it's polishing shoes!
Birds of a feather flock together; people of the same kind associate with each other.
With the right presence and money, people will naturally be drawn in.
Seeing the number I indicated, Zhang Chengxiang fell into a silent contemplation.
I knew he was considering my words and weighing the pros and cons.
The figure of fifty thousand yuan is more than the combined annual income of a young couple earning two thousand yuan a month if they worked and saved without spending a dime.
Wine intoxicates the senses, and wealth stirs the heart!
When doing business, isn't everyone in it for the money?
Earning this fifty thousand yuan would yield significantly more than the repeated profits from arranging "shills" to fish for a whole month.
If these three "pigs" could be successfully "processed," it would be enough to comfortably relax for a month.
The only question was: who would be the one to slaughter the pigs?
As it was described as a "pig-herding-people" situation, and with three pigs appearing at once, an unskilled person could easily find themselves in trouble.
Therefore, Zhang Chengxiang was hesitant.
He knew very well that even if his card room had seasoned players, they couldn't handle three opponents at once.
In theory, if I wanted Zhang Chengxiang to use me, I should have stepped forward and volunteered at this point. However...
Rushing to make a deal isn't good business.
Only when Zhang Chengxiang actively asks me will he owe me a favor once the job is done.
Therefore, I stood there silently, watching as if it were none of my business.
Just then, Zhang Chengxiang suddenly asked, "Hey, why isn't anyone in the room daring to go and sit down to play with them?"
Although I wasn't entirely sure of the meaning behind Zhang Chengxiang's question, I replied truthfully, "Because their demeanor is very imposing, clearly indicating they intend to play for high stakes, so most people wouldn't dare to join the table lightly."
"And if I were to go and gamble with them, would they let me join?" Zhang Chengxiang asked again.
"Of course!" I blurted out without hesitation, "But you'd need to bring sufficient chips, and... you can't be afraid of losing!"
"No problem!"
After a pause, Zhang Chengxiang said in a deep voice, "I'll handle this situation myself!"
With that, he took some chips from the bar and walked over.
As he approached the gambling table, Zhang Chengxiang deliberately slowed his pace, nodding and greeting familiar customers along the way.