Chapter 42: One’s Own Industry
After both sides signed, Xin Ye spoke leisurely:
“Since the gambling battle has been set, no one is allowed to start conflicts these days.”
After speaking, he nodded to Li Dong Dragon Head Ma Dong and the old man beside him, then got up and walked out.
“Last time, count yourself lucky you ran fast!” Sha Jiu glanced at Wen Long, turned around and left, stretching lazily as she walked.
After the group went downstairs, Xin Ye said to Chen Wujun: “Work hard, I have high hopes for you.”
“If you need anything these days, just ask! You’re doing work for the hall, and the hall won’t treat you poorly!”
Chen Wujun’s mind raced; he really wanted to ask boldly for a million.
But he also knew that Xin Ye was just saying that.
If he actually asked, that would be asking for trouble.
“My people, I’ll definitely arrange them well!” Sha Jiu said to Xin Ye.
“Of course, you’ll take good care of them.” Xin Ye said with a hearty laugh.
While speaking, a car slowly pulled up, and two henchmen ran over to open the car door.
“Then I’ll head out first; I have an appointment.” Xin Ye turned, got in the car, and left.
“Let’s go, talk back home.” Sha Jiu turned and walked back.
Under the countless neon lights on both sides of the street and the endless stream of car lights, groups of He Tu henchmen followed behind and left.
On the second floor of Qing Yun Pavilion, Li Dong Dragon Head Ma Dong looked at Yu Wei: “Confident, right?”
“Boss, don’t worry. Though that kid has practiced some old technique, I’ll smash his bones to pieces one by one on the arena!” Yu Wei showed a cruel smile.
“I can’t even imagine how I could lose!”
……
The group returned to Jin Di Finance and arrived at Sha Jiu’s office.
“You all know the situation. Xin Ye stepped in to talk with Li Dong. Four months from now, Jun Zai and Li Dong’s Yu Wei will have a gambling fist. If we lose, we give up half the territory; if Li Dong loses, he gives us another half street.”
“That Yu Wei guy is tough! Among Wen Long’s several subordinates, his strength isn’t the greatest, but he’s the strongest overall. Rumor has it he’s from a mining area suppression army, uses army combat skills, killed someone in the army, and fled here.” A Hao said to Chen Wujun.
“His punching power exceeds 1500 pounds, and his bone density, impact resistance, endurance, and reaction speed are far beyond ordinary people.”
“When you fight him, you absolutely cannot let him hit you!” A Hao was no longer joking around but warned seriously.
“Army combat skills, huh…” Chen Wujun nodded slightly.
“I’ll explain these matters later!” Sha Jiu said.
“From now until before the gambling battle, Wen Long won’t cause trouble anymore.”
“Jun Zai’s recent performance has been good, and he took on this gambling duel. I’m handing him the gambling den on Long Jin Street and the gambling den in Yong Fa Building. No objections?”
“No objections! Congrats, A Jun! Rising so fast!” A Hao and Cun Bao chimed in.
“Jun Zai, hand over half the net winnings each month; the rest is yours to divide.”
“That half street from the bet, you’ll get it naturally once you win.”
Hearing the first sentence, Chen Wujun felt a bit excited; this was his own business. As for the last sentence, that was only natural.
These past few days, he had looked into some gambling den situations. The one on Long Jin Street was a big one, with 9 tables total, over 300 people a day, up to 500 on busy days.
Each person averages 12 bets, average bet 30 bucks, rake rate 6%, plus house edge win-loss difference, comprehensive rake 8%.
Nearly 8000 bucks a day, close to 230,000 a month.
That’s at minimum traffic; in peak months, it can exceed 300,000.
The one in Yong Fa Building is mid-tier, only 5 tables, about 100 gamblers a day, average bet just 20 bucks, comprehensive rake 8%, net winnings over 40,000 a month.
Chen Wujun calculated in his mind: 230,000 plus 40,000 is 270,000… hand over half, left with less than 140,000.
Plus pay for Curry, Ah Fei, and over a dozen henchmen, plus dealers for the gambling den, accountants, etc…
The more Chen Wujun calculated, the dizzier his head got, the more anxious he felt; he simply stopped calculating.
Better to just ask directly.
At this time, Sha Jiu was still explaining:
“The remaining two gambling dens to A Hao!”
“Streetfront shops on the territory to Cun Bao!”
“And two loan shark companies. Wen Long’s people have pulled out, but we still need to keep them running. Hand them to Ji Xiang…”
Moments later, Sha Jiu had explained all the territory situations.
“Go handle them. Jun Zai, stay a bit!”
After the others left, Sha Jiu took a stack of documents from the drawer and tossed them on the table.
“I had someone prepare this for you.”
Chen Wujun picked up the documents and flipped through; the top one was Yu Wei’s file.
Yu Wei, male, 28 years old, former East Ten District special suppression troops lieutenant, fled after killing someone.
Specialties: Military cold steel combat technique, short stick combat technique.
Magnetic field reinforcement reconstruction between 46%-51%.
Punching power over 1500 pounds, strong impact resistance, strong reactions, fast speed.
Fighting style: Short movements, straight lines, almost no hip turns for power accumulation, relies more on upper body drive and foot pressure; fighting style like a bulldozer.
Likes to trade injuries for life.
“This guy has no weaknesses?” Chen Wujun raised an eyebrow.
Great strength, fast speed, strong reactions, strong impact resistance—practically no flaws.
“The weakness is listed there!” Sha Jiu said.
“Bulldozer? Swimming Dragon Palm?” Chen Wujun pondered and seemed to understand.
This opponent excels at straight-line attacks; hard Wolf Fist clashes definitely wouldn’t beat him, while Swimming Dragon Palm excels at lateral evasion, twisting flips, and circling moves—perfect to counter this type.
“Yes, I guessed it was him earlier.” Sha Jiu nodded.
Among Wen Long’s subordinates, there are several masters; Yu Wei isn’t the highest in new technique level, but he’s the most fight-ready, with the strongest overall strength.
Chen Wujun nodded and flipped further, finding files on others too.
“Look at this when you have time, to understand his attack patterns.” Sha Jiu tossed him a yellowed booklet; Chen Wujun immediately saw the title 《Cold Steel Combat Technique》.
“His advantage is superior physical quality; his weakness is he doesn’t know your kung fu, and your advantage is knowing yourself and your enemy, so no hard clashes.”
“Got it! Right, Senior Sister, how much do those two gambling dens make a month?” Chen Wujun asked directly; he wasn’t good at math, better to ask straight.
Seeing how direct Chen Wujun was, Sha Jiu burst out laughing, then said:
“Gambling dens depend on luck. These two, low months 260-270k, high months over 300k. You hand over half, left with over 100k, minus your subordinates and den staff expenses, low months nets 50-60k, high months 70-80k.”
This answer satisfied Chen Wujun.
50-60k a month wouldn’t let him live in a luxury house or drive a luxury car, but it could cover crystal expenses, with 20-30k left over each month.
In the Walled City, that’s a big sum.
And every month.
This was his own industry!
“Senior Sister, I’ll head back then; I promised home I’d be back for dinner.” Chen Wujun took the documents and said goodbye.
“After dinner, check the gambling dens; I’ve arranged people to help you.”
As soon as Chen Wujun stepped out, he kicked over the trash can nearby.
“Screw math!”
He’d been so frustrated calculating earlier, full of pent-up anger.
……
Walking back along Long Jin Street, he passed Li’s preserved meat shop and bought a piece to carry home.
Just as he entered, he saw his younger brother Chen Wuqi bouncing on the sofa, shouting: “Dragon Ascension Sword!”
At the same time, the same voice came from the television.
“So late getting back?” Mother Huang Meizhen poked her head out from the kitchen and saw Chen Wujun in suit pants and shirt—not the same ones as last time.
She wiped the oil from her hands with a rag and came out from the kitchen to size up Chen Wujun.
Suddenly feeling her second son had grown up.
“The clothes look like good material, not cheap, right?”
“Over a hundred!” Chen Wujun halved it directly.
“Don’t spend money recklessly when you have it; save for a wife later.” Huang Meizhen advised.
Chen Wujun handed the preserved meat to Huang Meizhen.
“Such a big piece?” Huang Meizhen felt a bit heartbroken, thinking Chen Wujun too extravagant. A shirt over a hundred, plus pants and shoes, and a whole strip of preserved meat.
“A Jun’s back!” The eldest son came out of the bathroom, limping along barely able to walk, with a fawning smile on his face.
Chen Wujun glanced at his leg, eyes flickering.
……
Meanwhile, news of the He Tu and Li Dong gambling battle gradually spread in some groups in the Walled City.
Like among He Tu and Li Dong’s henchmen.
Like outposts of other influences in the Walled City.
In one gambling den, several Li Dong henchmen were leaning against the wall smoking when one henchman hurried in.
“Got news—heard there’s a gambling battle!”
“What gambling battle?” one asked puzzled.
“Sha Jiu and Wen Long each send one to fight on the arena!”
Hearing this, the others perked up.
“Heard Sha Jiu’s sending a newcomer she recruited, only been punching practice half a year…”
“Wen Long’s sending Yu Wei!”
“Half a year? Against Yu Wei? That’s suicide!” a nearby henchman said immediately.
“Yu Wei’s the cruelest. I once saw him punch a guy’s spine broken—bedridden for life.”
“Not just that—Sha Jiu’s betting half the territory grabbed from Wen Long this time, and our Li Dong’s betting half a street!” the reporting henchman continued.
“Tsk tsk, such big stakes? We’re winning for sure this time!”
“Such a big gamble—will there be odds opened?”
