Chapter Eighteen: Playing Cards

With Gou Weidong’s tone so resolute, Chen Huajiang felt relieved.

“So, tell me, what time do you usually close up?” the constable asked, turning his gaze to Chen Huajiang.

“I usually stop selling anything at midnight. Cleaning up takes about half an hour, so I’m home between twelve-thirty and one,” Chen Huajiang replied.

“Officer, may I ask, since I was brought here without knowing why, if this delays my business, who is responsible? Shouldn’t the person who reported me compensate me?” Chen Huajiang looked at Gou Weidong, his eyes full of provocation.

The constable, clearly displeased, said to Gou Weidong, “If the owner wants compensation, it’s on you. There’s no law for it, but you did waste his time. The times you two gave don’t match at all.”

“I’ll go see what the others say. The two of you stay here and don’t wander off.” With that, the constable left the room. Chen Huajiang smiled.

“Gou Weidong, you really are something. With so many people holding grudges against you, getting beaten up is only natural. Now you say I did it? Do you have any sense at all?” Chen Huajiang mocked him.

“It was you who beat me, don’t deny it. And you want me to pay you damages? Just you wait,” Gou Weidong spat back, unyielding.

Chen Huajiang shook his head, unwilling to waste another word. There was no point arguing with someone so incapable of reason.

Before long, the constable returned. Just from his expression, Chen Huajiang could tell Gou Weidong was in for a scolding.

“You have no proof that he hit you. I’ve questioned everyone—during that time, they were all busy. Not a single person left for the snack bar. What, you think he has the power to be in two places at once?” the constable said, clearly irritated.

“But I was beaten up. That much is true, isn’t it?” Gou Weidong protested, spreading his hands.

“You were beaten because you’ve offended too many people. Why not tell the officer how you’ve bullied others at the factory? Should I recount all the times you picked on people here?” At Chen Huajiang’s words, Gou Weidong’s arrogance instantly deflated.

He had bullied plenty at the factory and started no small number of fights. If the officer found out, he’d be in real trouble.

The constable looked at him coldly. Gou Weidong immediately changed his tune, “Officer, I’m sorry. I had a bit to drink last night. My head’s not clear.”

“Then why speak nonsense? If you do it again, don’t blame us for taking action. You two are free to go.”

With that, Chen Huajiang and Gou Weidong left the station together.

Once outside, Chen Huajiang shot Gou Weidong a frosty glance. “Looks like you haven’t been beaten enough. At last someone taught you a lesson. Serves you right.”

With those words, Chen Huajiang turned and headed back to his snack bar. Lunch was out of the question—too much time had been wasted.

With Gou Weidong dealt with, Chen Huajiang began to consider how to handle this Wu De. At that moment, Liang Long arrived.

Last month’s dividends had been generous, so his visits had become more frequent. Chen Huajiang drew him aside and asked in a low voice, “Are you familiar with Wu De?”

“You mean Old Wu’s son? Not well, but we’ve played cards together,” Liang Long replied. He’d met Wu De a few times; they could hardly be called close.

“That guy wants to shut down our snack bar. We need to teach him a lesson. I suspect Gou Weidong put him up to it. They see us making money and want to shut us down.”

At this, Liang Long bristled. Though his father’s position wasn’t as high as Wu De’s, he couldn’t abide such blatant bullying.

“That bastard’s got a wicked mind. Any ideas? Let’s teach him a lesson,” Liang Long said. He was not the sort to be pushed around—no matter your status, he’d fight back.

Chen Huajiang thought for a moment. He decided to let Wu De take a loss at gambling.

“He likes gambling, doesn’t he? Invite him over tonight. We’ll work together and win a few thousand off him. The shop will be closed tonight—dealing with him matters more.”

Just thinking of how Wu De had bullied Lin Jiayin filled Chen Huajiang with rage. He wanted not only to win Wu De’s money but also to give him a good beating.

“No problem. He’ll definitely come,” Liang Long assured him.

The plan set, Chen Huajiang closed the shop for the night, claiming he needed a break.

That evening, Liang Long gathered a few card players and invited Wu De as well. Among them, Wu De was the wealthiest. When he saw Chen Huajiang arrive, he sneered.

“A little snack bar owner wants to play with us? If you lose all your earnings, don’t blame us,” Wu De mocked, looking down on him.

“If I lose, I lose. I make several hundred a night—how much do you make?” Chen Huajiang retorted, not the least bit intimidated.

Wu De was immediately displeased. Among this group, no one dared speak to him like that—after all, he was the deputy factory director’s son.

“Made a little money and forgot your place, did you? I can shut down your snack bar in no time,” Wu De threatened, pulling out a wad of cash and slapping it on the table.

Chen Huajiang only smiled and said no more. The game began.

With Liang Long and Chen Huajiang working together, Wu De soon lost over a thousand yuan.

Pocketing his winnings, Chen Huajiang declared, “I’m done for tonight—another win.”

“Don’t go! You think you can just walk off with your winnings? How about you and I play head to head?” Wu De was getting fired up—that was exactly what Chen Huajiang wanted.

“Why not? I’ve already won plenty,” Chen Huajiang replied, sitting across from Wu De.

For him, playing cards was child’s play. With just a few tricks, Wu De would be stripped of everything.

The others watched with interest as Wu De said coldly, “Let’s make it big then—a thousand per hand. Do you dare?”

Everyone gasped—a thousand per hand was a fortune.

“Fine. As much as you want,” Chen Huajiang replied, placing his money on the table.

To Wu De’s shock, he lost the very first round.

Of course, he was not willing to accept defeat and insisted on continuing. But what followed was nothing short of a nightmare for Wu De.