Yang Fan also rolled up his sleeves, revealing his firm, muscular arms.
As soon as he gripped Yang Fan’s hand, Yang Jian knew this was the strongest opponent he had ever encountered. Winning against him would not be easy.
Yang Fan felt the same way. This young man, who had not received formal, systematic training, was not to be underestimated. He had to give it his all.
Song Jianhao acted as the referee on the side: "Ready, one, two, three, start."
Both exerted their strength simultaneously, and the cups on the tea table instantly began to shake.
It was a stalemate. Yang Jian had met his match. It wouldn't be easy to win quickly and end the match. It wouldn't be easy for the other party to win either. Now, it was all about endurance.
Both of their faces turned red, veins bulging on their hands as they pushed with all their might.
After one minute, Yang Fan began to show signs of defeat, struggling to hold on. However, he did not give up. At the two-minute mark, he was finally pinned down by Yang Jian.
"Brother, you're still the stronger one. I concede."
Yang Fan was very open-minded and accepted his loss gracefully, showing no embarrassment.
Yang Jian flexed his wrist. "Mr. Yang, I appreciate the match. In terms of wrist strength, you are my strongest opponent. However, this was just for fun. I still hope to have the opportunity to receive guidance from you in Sanda and combat."
"Certainly. We'll have plenty of time in the future. I keep my word. You can start operating the tables tomorrow and we'll give you the prime time slots."
"Prime time slots?"
"Our casino divides the day into three shifts for the 'Emperor' operators. The first shift is from 1 PM to 4 PM. This is the least busy period because most workers are still at work.
The second shift is from 4 PM to 7 PM. This is the prime time slot. Not only are there many workers finishing their shifts, but also many factory executives and bosses come to play. The capital flow is much larger.
The third shift is from 7 PM to 10 PM. To avoid affecting the workers' morning shifts, we close precisely at 10 PM."
Yang Fan explained in detail. Because Yang Jian met his approval, he specially arranged for them to operate during the prime time slots.
Song Jianhao glanced at his watch. "Mr. Yang, it's currently the first shift, but I see many people in the casino. We can barely squeeze in. Even during prime time, with even more people, there won't be enough space!"
Yang Fan smiled. "During the second shift, we will extend some of the gambling tables. More importantly, the betting amounts will be higher during this period. Currently, the minimum bet is ten yuan, but it will be fifty yuan during the second shift."
"Oh, are all these gamblers the workers from nearby?"
"Yes. Do you find it strange that the 'Emperor' companies are lining up to operate these tables with a ten-yuan minimum bet?"
Song Jianhao was indeed curious. "Why?"
"I won't tell you for now. You'll understand once you start operating. Also, we take a ten percent commission, and all 'Emperor' companies are treated equally. There's no room for negotiation. If you feel the commission is too high, you can choose to opt out."
"Ten percent commission?"
Song Jianhao was stunned. In all the casinos in Hancheng, a seven percent commission was considered very high. Most casinos only charged five or six percent. He had never heard of any establishment charging ten percent. This seemed rather harsh on the 'Emperor' companies.
Seeing Song Jianhao hesitate, Old Wu immediately asked, "Mr. Yang, what is the table limit in your establishment?"
"We don't have table limits here. But don't worry, the gamblers here are all workers. Even if some factory bosses come to play, they don't bet very heavily. Individual bets rarely exceed two thousand yuan. These people are workers or aspiring bosses, and they gamble cautiously. They don't treat gambling as a profession."
"Then we are willing to operate here."
Without Song Jianhao's explicit agreement, Old Wu immediately made the decision. Based on his experience, this casino was worth a try.
Song Jianhao did not object either. He still trusted Old Wu's judgment.
"Alright, then you can come tomorrow and take over the 4 PM to 7 PM shift. Please try to arrive early. If you are ten minutes late, your entry qualification will be canceled."
"No problem, we won't be late."
"Good, then it's settled. You can go and take a look at the venue. Prepare your capital and personnel. Our venue has many people, so it's best to arrange for four dealers to handle the payouts. If you lack staff, I can arrange some for you. You just need to pay them three hundred yuan each per day."
"It's fine, we have staff. Mr. Yang, we'll go and take a look then."
Song Jianhao stood up directly. He wanted to see for himself how this venue could justify charging a ten percent commission.
"Little Yang brother, don't be in a hurry. Let's chat for a while?"
Seeing all four of them stand up to leave, Yang Fan called out to Yang Jian.
Song Jianhao patted Yang Jian's shoulder, signaling him to stay and build a good relationship with the casino owner. This was something every 'Emperor' company had to do. Previously, he handled such matters, but now that the other party took a liking to Yang Jian, it was even better.
Yang Jian had no choice but to sit down. "Mr. Yang, is there something you need?"
"Brother, I'm a few years older than you. Just call me Brother Fan from now on. I'm not the boss here either. This casino belongs to our boss, and I'm just managing it."
Yang Fan poured Yang Jian another cup of tea.
Yang Jian was greatly surprised. "Really? I thought you were the boss here."
"I'm not the boss. Our boss is Luo Tong. He has some influence in this area and owns many physical businesses, including his own clothing factory, logistics company, and entertainment city. He has substantial capital and many subordinates. I see you're good at fighting. Are you interested in joining us? Our benefits are quite good."
Yang Fan's intention was immediately revealed: he intended to recruit Yang Jian.
"Brother Fan, don't joke. Although I've been in a few fights, it was only in self-defense. I've been trained in traditional martial arts passed down in my family since childhood. My ancestral teaching is not to join gangs or to fight without reason. For fighting, my father has beaten me countless times, and I still get beaten frequently. Therefore, I cannot accept your offer."
"That's a pity. But it's alright. The path of the underworld is not easy. It's good that you can maintain your original intentions. Where do you live now?"
"We are temporarily living in Jiangnan."
"Then you should move here and rent a place nearby. It's closer to the casino, and we can spar more often. I run a gym myself, which is fully equipped. You can train there anytime."
"Is that so? I must consider this suggestion. I'll have to ask Brother Fan for more guidance then."
As an ardent martial arts enthusiast, Yang Jian could be considered a training fanatic. For over a decade, he had trained diligently without slackening. He was proficient in various traditional martial arts techniques and weaponry, but his favorite was still Sanda and combat, which were highly competitive. However, he lacked proper coaching and had to learn on his own.
Now that such a good opportunity had arisen, he couldn't easily let it go. He would have to suggest to Song Jianhao that they move the Emperor Company to Jiangbei.