There was no problem with the card check, which stemmed from my final decision to forgo cheating in the last round.
Because if I had cheated, the extra cards would have been exposed on the table.
At that time, even if I didn't have any stolen goods on me, and Shen Mengqing couldn't find evidence of my cheating, she could have used the excuse of mismatched cards to immediately stop the game.
So, I felt very fortunate about this.
As for the body search, it was during the round where I won 7.2 million. When I gave Jiang Xiaowan 200,000 in loose chips to exchange for cash...
I had already quietly transferred the cards I had stolen at the beginning but hadn't used to her.
Earlier, I mentioned that when Shen Mengqing asked me to cut the cards in our first encounter, I had stolen an Ace and a face card.
That face card, representing 10 points, couldn't be used in the subsequent rigged games where Shen Mengqing intentionally lost to me.
Not being able to use them didn't mean the cards had to be kept forever.
Since I had given up on cheating, I wouldn't leave any potential trouble for myself.
What if Shen Mengqing, after admitting defeat, suddenly decided to search me? I would be unable to clear my name even if I jumped into the Yellow River!
While Shen Mengqing was plotting against me, wasn't I also plotting against her?
To ensure victory in the gamble, before the final round began, I even put myself in Shen Mengqing's shoes and constantly deduced her thought process.
I remembered Uncle Tuo once saying that top-tier cheaters never win by skill alone, but by outsmarting their opponents!
Only by outsmarting and trapping the opponent would victory be within reach!
Shen Mengqing knew there was a gap in skill between us, so she consistently played to her strengths.
As the "lamp lighter," Shen Mengqing's forte was her meticulous calculation.
If she hadn't tried to outsmart me, and we were to compare cheating techniques purely on skill, I could guarantee... she wouldn't have lasted until the final round!
After winning the gamble, I had completed the task of clearing the venue assigned by Ying Baolin.
The rest was none of my concern.
Because Jiang Xiaowan had already gone to the bar to wait for the chips to be cashed out.
With Yun Jin absent, and 14 million in cash, if Shen Mengqing, as the manager, didn't step in to cover the funds, Ruichi would inevitably close its doors for the night.
Honestly, considering Shen Mengqing had taught me the trick of flying cards, I rather hoped she wouldn't step in to cover the funds.
Since Ying Baolin had already decided to wield the butcher's knife against Ruichi, what happened tonight was merely the beginning.
Whether she covered the funds or not would only determine if they could last a few more days.
However, if Shen Mengqing did cover the funds, it was highly probable she would never get her money back.
Based on my assumptions about Ying Baolin, this big shot would definitely send more subordinates to clear the venue later.
At that time, if Shen Mengqing didn't have reliable help, and the stakes in subsequent games kept increasing, Ruichi would only lose more and more.
...
About ten minutes later.
Just as Shen Mengqing, accompanied by the finance department, arrived at the bar and seemingly stepped in to cover the funds, alleviating Ruichi's crisis of closure...
"Dear friends, due to some special circumstances, we regret to announce that Ruichi cannot continue business tonight."
"As this is an unforeseen situation, to compensate for everyone's losses, all friends who are still betting will have their final round considered a draw, regardless of the outcome."
"In addition to returning your bet chips, Ruichi will also give you an extra 20% bonus."
"If you feel this is not enough to satisfy your excitement, please bring your chips and come back early tomorrow."
Although Shen Mengqing's response to the disruption of the casino's cash flow was quite swift.
Not only did she personally step in to cover the funds, but she also returned the principal to the gamblers who had bet in the final round, and even offered an additional 20% bonus in chips...
This was fundamentally a superficial solution.
Chips were not cash.
Even if the customer traffic remained the same the next evening, without a large influx of cash, this fundamental problem would not be solved, and closing down would only be a matter of days.
With Ying Baolin's strike, Ruichi was fraught with danger, and a crisis could erupt at any moment.
For me, this presented an opportunity. That pickpocket Mingwen should also come into play...
Dragging two large, fully packed suitcases, Jiang Xiaowan and I walked nearly four to five hundred meters away from Ruichi.
When the pick-up car arrived, Jiang Xiaowan took a suitcase from my hand and got into the car herself, leaving.
I was left standing alone, bewildered and confused in the cool night breeze.
What was going on?!
Was she not going to take the remaining seven million?
She wasn't that generous, was she?
Just as my mind was filled with questions, Ying Baolin's call came through.
I pressed the answer button, and before I could speak, I heard Ying Baolin say, "Xiaowan has told me about your performance tonight."
"To be honest, your mission this time... was completed exceptionally well!"
"That seven million is the reward you deserve!"
"I, Ying Baolin, never mistreat those who are truly capable!"
"Chen Xiang, are you interested in coming to work for me?"
Just as I was about to try and politely decline, Ying Baolin preempted me, saying, "Don't rush to refuse! I'll give you three days to think it over carefully."
After saying that, Ying Baolin hung up the phone.
Frankly, I had long expected Ying Baolin to try and recruit me after the job was done.
But what I didn't expect was for him to offer seven million to do so.
I finally understood why Jiang Xiaowan had other businesses; following such a wealthy and generous boss, it was entirely possible to thrive!
However, this seven million was both a reward and a pledge of allegiance.
If I chose to accept it, the difficulty of the next job would undoubtedly be higher, but the rewards would also be more substantial.
This pledge of allegiance was quite difficult to accept!
...
Coming back to my senses, I walked directly to the road, hailed a taxi, and left quickly.
Back at the hotel, after entering my own private suite, the moment I opened the suitcase...
I felt my eyes sparkling.
Sparkling with a bright, reddish glow.
A full seven million in cash, ten thousand per bundle, seventy bundles in total, laid out neatly before me.
Who could resist the temptation of such pure cash?
Just one day ago, I was lamenting and worrying about money.
Who would have thought that in just one day, I would become a millionaire with seven million in cash?
At this moment, I roughly understood why so many officials in society today fall and become corrupt, unable to resist temptation.
Even a gambler who deals with money every day can't resist the allure of cash, let alone others!
Honestly, for a moment just now, a rather wicked thought suddenly flashed through my mind.