Chapter 48: Genius At Doing Business
Chen Wujun jumped down from the arena and threw his gloves aside.
“Didn’t control the force well, how is he?”
“That elbow of yours was heavy enough, he’ll need a few days to recover.” Cun Bao glanced at Tang Mi Zai and said.
He’s not recovered yet now, probably has a cracked bone.
Chen Wujun reached into his pocket… he only had over five hundred bucks on him, and handed it all to Cun Bao: “Buy tea for a few brothers. Later I’ll have someone bring more money, medical expenses are on me.”
Cun Bao took the money and tossed it to Kou Shui and Shen Deng: “Aren’t you going to thank A Jun?”
Chen Wujun handling it this way gave Cun Bao both face and substance, so he had a good impression of Chen Wujun.
“Thanks, Brother Jun!” Shen Deng and Kou Shui took the money, their moods much better.
“How about it, need more people? If you need more, I’ll have to spar with you myself!” Cun Bao asked.
“In a few days, I really will need your help!” Chen Wujun nodded.
“When the time comes, I’ll bet my entire fortune on you!” Cun Bao patted Chen Wujun on the back.
Chen Wujun left the martial arts school, still feeling a bit heartbroken over the money.
He just didn’t have much money.
The tens of thousands at home were all hard-earned blood money he’d sweated for.
“Practicing martial arts requires money and influence, only if you have influence will these new technique martial artists spar with you, otherwise who would bother? If you’re not part of the influence and rashly go looking, you’ll just get mobbed.”
“But just having influence isn’t enough, unless your influence is big enough that others curry favor with you, you still need to offer benefits. Sparring often injures people, one session of buying tea plus medical expenses is at least one or two thousand.”
“Or hide your identity and find people from other influences, beat anyone you see! But that works once or twice, not if you do it too many times.”
“If it’s war with another gang, then you can openly go beat them at their door.”
“Right now I only have a little influence, can’t stir up trouble everywhere. Once my strength grows and influence expands, I can find any excuse to go beat them at their door, and they’ll have to apologize and compensate me for my losses.”
Chen Wujun quickly had an idea.
For now he could only spend money to find people to spar punching practice, but later when his influence grew, he wouldn’t need to spend money, others would have to pay him.
“But there’s benefits to this too, give and take makes relationships close, then people will help when there’s trouble.”
These days Chen Wujun got along pretty well with A Hao and Cun Bao, both sides had a harmonious relationship.
First went back to his place to get money, then walked along Long Jin Street to the gambling den, Chen Wujun pushed the door in, only a few scattered gamblers inside.
“Brother Jun!” The henchmen all stood up.
Chen Wujun felt the henchmen’s mood was low, looking at the somewhat deserted gambling den, he went aside with Ah Fei.
“How’s business lately?”
“Not good! Originally Wen Long’s gambling dens also sold wolf medicine and number four, we don’t sell that, those guests didn’t come. Plus lately nearby several Li Dong gambling dens are giving snack platters, their places are lively, guests all went there.” Ah Fei glanced at the gamblers in the place and said:
“Those few are just brought in to warm up the place, evenings have a bit more people, but no profit.”
Chen Wujun frowned upon hearing that.
The gambling den determined his income.
And if the gambling den didn’t make money, he couldn’t pay up to Sha Jiu’s side, his own face wouldn’t look good.
Hand the place to you, and in a month you don’t make any money, how would others see you?
Even if senior sister didn’t say anything, others would talk.
So he had to change the situation of the place.
Chen Wujun sat aside, his mind racing, he didn’t know much about doing business, but had seen some.
And these days with more experience, his mind got sharper, now thinking about the gambling den, lots of ideas popped into his head.
After thinking for a long time, Chen Wujun said: “They give snack platters, we’ll give money. Gamblers can skip meals, their heads are all about recouping investment.”
“For those who lose in the place, give 15% vouchers, can be used to continue betting or exchange for snacks or whatever, even find women!”
“Later I’ll tell Kai Lun, then settle the gambling den’s account with her.”
“I remember the Walled City has a job posting board, plenty of people looking for work every day. Tear off the job postings on the board, then put up a brand next to the gambling den, paste all those job postings there, those people may not gamble, but with more people, some will come in.”
“Out of the gambling den they can directly see the job posting board for work, in a way we’re helping them!”
“Also arrange some micro bet spots, two bucks to get on the table, first heat up the place.”
Walled City gambling dens are divided into several tiers, the highest tier is the big den like Chen Wujun’s, with table entry fee, minimum bet ten bucks.
These big dens are all on the main streets.
While the most numerous are those small gambling dens with very low entry fees, dozens of bucks to play all night.
Chen Wujun felt these few moves of his would definitely heat up the place.
“Brother Jun…” Ah Fei hesitated and said: “Those gamblers don’t just lose to the casino, many lose to other gamblers. Overall our gambling den rake is only 8%, this 15% voucher…”
“They can’t take that money away anyway, it’s just playing a few more hands. And we can require vouchers only cover part of the bet. Like if betting ten bucks, voucher only offsets five, so he still has to pay more. No money left, voucher can be used next time.”
“They definitely want to gamble, gamble wherever they go, vouchers offset gambling debts, why wouldn’t they come?”
“Same for finding women, voucher offsets half.”
“Only snack platters or whatever, vouchers can be directly exchanged, but those gamblers don’t care about food anyway.”
Chen Wujun felt his idea was better the more he thought about it.
He suddenly discovered he was a genius, also very talented in business.
“Do as I say, first heat up the place.”
“Remember, we don’t encourage gambling! They’re the ones who want to play.”
“Got it!” Ah Fei thought carefully and felt the idea was feasible, then smiled:
“Brother Jun, didn’t expect you knew business too!”
“Doing things out here requires using your brain! Otherwise why grow this? To look tall?” Chen Wujun pointed at his head.
Then pulled a stack of money from his pocket and handed it to Ah Fei: “Send to Cun Bao.”
After instructing, Chen Wujun got up and went home.
The following days, he still did daily martial arts practice during the day—go home for dinner in the evening—eat another meal at A Yue’s—go to the rooftop for martial arts practice—go back to eat A Yue.
And in the Walled City, people looking for work daily, when they got to the job posting board, saw several burly-looking youths tearing off the job info on it.
“What are you doing?” Someone couldn’t help saying.
“Job posting board moved, 150 meters east along Long Jin Road.” One of the burly youths explained.
“Why move a perfectly good one?” A job-seeking youth looked puzzled, muttering as he walked in the pointed direction.
Then discovered the job board had moved to an alley mouth, a crowd squeezing there.
“Why move a good one here? Crowd squeezing here, can’t even turn around.” The youth muttered.
Then glanced to the side, and saw the gambling den right next door.
“How did this job posting board move next to the gambling den?”
……
Several youths saw a crowd gathered by the gambling den, after asking what happened, sneered.
“That guy’s gambling den is dead quiet, forced to no choice, even thought of this.”
Several youths went to Jin Di Finance, first handed over the collected money.
“Brother Ji Xiang, Niu Zhao’s debt collected.”
Then leaned on the table: “Brother Ji Xiang, guess what we saw on the way back?”
“A Jun’s gambling den has no guests, guess what he did?” Several wore schadenfreude sneers:
“He moved the job posting board next to the casino!”
“Result a crowd in front of the gambling den, inside door wide open, not a soul.”
“Those job-seeking laborers, if they gamble, go to small places, dozens of bucks for a night.”
“He’s desperate and grabbing at straws!” Ji Xiang smiled, a bit mocking in his heart, didn’t take it seriously.
“Alright, back to work.”
