Power and Wealth
Chapter 212 – Gambling raid plan
In the afternoon, after the wedding ceremony is over, Dong Xuebing’s phone rang. It was Liang Chengpeng calling.
“Hello, Chief Liang.”
“I heard it’s your cousin’s wedding, and you smashed a car blocking the road?”
“That car did it on purpose. We had given him red packets twice, and he still refuses to move off. Also, the driver is from Jin Di Mansion.”
Liang Chengpeng kept quiet for a few seconds. “These bastards just won’t stop. About two days earlier, a case was brought up to my attention. One of the villagers is brought to Jin Di Mansion’s Casino and loses all his money. He also borrowed from the loan sharks there. After the villager returns home, he hangs himself. The people from Jin Di Mansion heard the man had killed himself and tried to collect back the debt from that villager’s wife. They said that if the widow let them ‘serve’ them for one month, they will write off the debt. Sigh… They are too much, but we don’t have evidence against them.”
Dong Xuebing frowned. “Chief Liang, if such places remain, it’s only a matter of time something serious happens.”
“I know.” Liang Chengpeng replied. “You mentioned you want to conduct a gambling raid at Jin Di Mansion. How confident are you?”
“…… 90%.”
“Alright. As long as you arrest someone and got evidence against Jin Di Mansion, I will let you handle this case!”
Dong Xuebing paused for a second and brightened up. “Yes, Sir! I will not let you down!”
“It’s all up to you now. You must confiscate the gambling equipment and money. It’s useless if it is only tens of thousands. There must be at least hundreds of thousands to a million before we can get a valid reason to shut that place. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Sir!”
“Alright. Take care of your safety.” Liang Chengpeng doesn’t know why Dong Xuebing is so confident. But what Jin Di Mansion did recently had angered Liang Chengpeng. If Dong Xuebing can find a valid reason to arrest those people, Liang Chengpeng doesn’t mind giving Dong Xuebing a helping hand. If Dong Xuebing couldn’t get any evidence, Liang Chengpeng also has nothing to lose.
Liang Chengpeng’s change of attitude had given Dong Xuebing more confidence. After hanging up the phone, he brought Chu Feng to his car.
“How’s the investigation?” Dong Xuebing asked when both are in the car.
Chu Feng replied. “Chief Dong, I had checked all the case files. Over the past few years, our station had received a lot of reports from the villagers on Jin Di Mansion. But after we submitted the reports to the County Bureau, there is no more news. I remember Chief Liang had sent people to investigate on Jin Di Mansion, but… but they did not get evidence.”
Dong Xuebing looked at Chu Feng. “Everyone knows there is an illegal casino in Jin Di Mansion. How come there is no evidence?”
Chu Feng replied. “First, someone from our side might leak the news to Jin Di Mansion. Secondly, Jin Di Mansion is huge and the Casino is deep inside. When the police arrive, the people at the entrance will notify the people inside to escape. Even if the police found poker cards and dices, it’s useless. After all, it’s an entertainment outlet, and their customers can buy poker cards inside. So, it can’t be used as evidence.”
Dong Xuebing nodded. “Do you know who the person in charge of the casino and Jin Di Mansion is?”
Chu Feng nodded. “Yes. I got the information.”
“Ok. Let’s go.”
Chu Feng was surprised. “Where are we going?”
“Shopping.”
An hour later, Dong Xuebing ordered Chu Feng to buy two sets of clothes, sunglasses, and hair dye, from a shopping mall. Dong Xuebing sprayed the hair dye on his hair. It’s a spray-on non-permanent hair dye, and the color will fade when it’s washed. Dong Xuebing changed his hair color to yellow and used hair gel to comb it back. After that, he switched to a set of a Hawaiian shirt and wore a pair of big sunglasses.
“Xiao Chu, how is it? Can you recognize me?”
Chu Feng smiled. “No.”
Dong Xuebing looked at himself in the mirror and nodded. “You should also change now.”
The sunglasses covered half of Dong Xuebing’s face, and after changing his hairstyle and clothes, Dong Xuebing looks like a hooligan. Dong Xuebing felt that even his mother would not recognize him if she met him on the streets.
After a while, Chu Feng changed his clothes and hairstyle. His dressing is similar to Dong Xuebing.
Dong Xuebing looked at him and nodded. “Alright. You look different. It’s time to act. Leave your identification cards and personal items in my car. Don’t bring anything that will expose your identity.” Dong Xuebing said and threw his work pass and other items on the back seat. He only has money and a wallet with him. After that, Dong Xuebing parked the Buick in an underground carpark and left with Chu Feng.
Chu Feng asked puzzledly. “Chief Dong…”
“Call me boss.”
“Boss, where are we going?”
Dong Xuebing laughed. “We are going to conduct a gambling raid at Jin Di Mansion.”
Huh?! Chu Feng was shocked. “Just… just the two of us?”
Dong Xuebing nodded. “Jin Di Mansion’s location is under the jurisdiction of the County-City. I can’t bring the officers from our station as it is out of our boundaries. Also, our officers might have dealings with the people from Jin Di Mansion. The people from the Bureau is also not safe. That’s why it’s only the both of us.”
Chu Feng was touched because Chief Dong did not even call Liu Dahai and Chen Fa, and only brought him along. He is only a small police officer, and Chief Dong trusted him more than the Station Chief. Chu Feng was scared when he found out only two of them are going to Jin Di Mansion. But now, he was excited.
Chu Feng asked. “Boss, do you have a plan? If not, we will not be able to catch them with just the both of us.” Chu Feng knew Chief Dong is capable, but how can they raid the gambling den with only two people? Jin Di Mansion has more than a dozen people. They can escape with gambling tools and money in different directions. Even if Chief Dong can stop 3 of them, can he stop the rest?
Dong Xuebing laughed and looked at Chu Feng. “Xiao Chu, what is most critical in a gambling raid?”
Chu Feng thought for a while. “Catch the gamblers? No… the people at the Casino are not that important. The evidence is the most important. It’s gambling tools and money. In the past, when Chief Liang went to raid Jin Di Mansion, he could not find the gambling money, and that’s why he could not do anything to them. If we can find more than a few hundred thousand of gambling money, Jin Di Mansion will have no way to escape even with their backing.” The leaders in Yan Tai County are not united. None of them have the power to cover up Jin Di Mansion if there is concrete evidence. The people who are protecting Jin Di Mansion will not dare to interfere and will think of ways to cut ties with them.
Dong Xuebing replied. “You are right. Our target this time is gambling money.”
Chu Feng doesn’t understand what Dong Xuebing is saying. “Jin Di Mansion is considered a resort. They only need to move their money to another place, and they can claim the money is from the resort and not from gambling.”
Dong Xuebing said. “Then, we just have to hold on to the money, and they can’t take it to other places.”
Chu Feng’s heart skipped a beat. “You are going…”
Dong Xuebing laughed. “Let’s go. We will gamble and win their money.”
Is Chief Dong going to gamble? Chu Feng was stunned. “This… is this alright? If we gamble…”
“What’s wrong? This is called giving them a taste of their own medicine. Are you afraid of the repercussions? It got nothing to do with it. Our Public Security’s undercover officers are all over China. They even must help the drug lords to trafficked drugs to arrest them. Did they break the law? No. This is only one of their strategies.” Dong Xuebing had planned this gambling raid for a while and had thought about all the possibilities.
Dong Xuebing only has one chance to raid Jin Di Mansion’s Casino.
If Dong Xuebing fails, the other party will be alarmed and stop their operations. In the future, Dong Xuebing will have no chance to catch them. That’s why Dong Xuebing cannot afford to fail this time. His target is to win as much money as possible, and the more money he has with him, the more serious the crime is. Dong Xuebing must get rid of them in one blow!
Chu Feng was worried. Chief Dong is not an average person. Use gambling to take down a gambling den? How did he think of this idea? But if Chief Dong did not use this method, they will not gather enough evidence. Using extraordinary methods will get exceptional results!
“But… what if we lose?” Chu Feng asked.
Dong Xuebing laughed. “How is that possible? You just help me collect my winnings and don’t need to care about the rest.”
Huh? What does Chief Dong mean? Is he good at gambling? But no matter how good he is, he can only win ten or twenty thousand at most. How is it possible to take down Jin Di Mansion with that amount? This idea is not reliable!
Jin Di Mansion.
This is a beautiful place, but compared to the holiday resort in the 1st tier cities, this place is still lacking. However, this resort is the best recreation resort in Yan Tai County. In the carpark, there are lots of expensive cars, and staff in Cheongsam are receiving guests at the entrance. Dong Xuebing and Chu Feng entered and registered at the front desk.
“Sir, how many people?” The receptionist at the counter smiled.
Chu Feng said. “Two. Give us a big room.”
The receptionist nodded. “Ok. Can I have your identification card? I need to register.”
Chu Feng replied coldly. “We didn’t bring!”
The receptionist was stunned but did not say a word. She quickly registered a room for Chu Feng. This place is not a proper hotel or resort, and guests can still even when they don’t have their identification cards with them.
In the room, Dong Xuebing and Chu Feng did not visit the facilities like regular guests. They stayed in the room and smoke. From Chu Feng’s investigation, Jin Di Mansion’s Casino is very strict. Strangers will not be allowed to enter the main Casino and can only make small bets around the resort. It’s only when the staff felt the guest is not suspicious, then they will bring the guest to the real Casino. The bets in the real Casino are high, and that’s Dong Xuebing’s target. But he needs to find a way to enter.
After thinking for a while, Dong Xuebing snubbed his cigarette and said. “Call the front desk…”
Chu Feng picked up the phone in the room and called for staff.
A female staff entered and smiles. “Sir, do you need anything?”
Chu Feng looked at her. “We want to play cards. Bring us there.”
The female staff looked at them. “Ok. May I know what do you want to play? Mahjong? Pai gow? Three-card brag?”
Chu Feng looked at Dong Xuebing. He forgot to ask Chief Dong which game he is good at. But Dong Xuebing’s answer shocked him. He said. “Anything.” Chu Feng could feel sweat rolling down his forehead. Anything? Are you confident of winning at any game? Chu Feng quickly says. “Three-card brag.” Chu Feng knows how to play Chinese Poker, and if Chief Dong can’t win, he can take over.
The female staff walks out to make the arrangements. After a while, another staff entered the room.
“Sir, this way please.”
On the way to the room, Dong Xuebing had seen a Cards and chess room. But that place is for the guests to play cards, and not the Casino. The staff did not bring Dong Xuebing and Chu Feng to the Cards and Chess room. Instead, they walked along the corridor to a place with carpeted floors. Dong Xuebing and Chu Feng were brought to a bigger room filled with second-hand cigarette smoke. Four men are sitting at a table, and a croupier is standing beside them.
Chu Feng’s heart starts beating faster. He knew they are in the right place. This is one of the games outside of the Casino.
A young man at the table stood up angrily. “You all can take my place. I had lost everything.” He said, and left.
The other three players looked at Dong Xuebing and Chu Feng. They seem to be waiting for Dong Xuebing to join in. These three men are either tourists or gamblers, and Jin Di Mansion’s staff will arrange for people who want to gamble to play together. Jin Di Mansion will then collect ‘rental fees’ from the players.
The female croupier looked at Dong Xuebing. “Do you want to join in?”
Chu Feng asked. “What are the rules, and how much is the charges?”
The girl replied. “The charges for this room are 500 RMB per hour, and drinks and beer are provided. I believe you all should know the rules of Three-card brag. Three cards of the same rank are Three of a kind, and it’s the highest rank, followed by a flush, straight, and pair. 2,3,5 is the smallest hand of cards, but it will win Three of a kind. Oh, the bets are decided among the players.
An old man at the table said. “We are playing minimum bet 50 and maximum 1000.”
Dong Xuebing nodded and sat down. “Alright. Then I will just follow your rules.”
The croupier looked at Chu Feng. “Are you playing?”
“Let me take a look first.”
“Please follow me.”
The female staff knew Chu Feng and Dong Xuebing knows each other, and to prevent cheating, she brought Chu Feng somewhere further from the table.
At the table, a new game started. The female croupier shuffled and gave out the cards to the four players. Chu Feng was staring at Chief Dong’s back, curious to know why he is so confident.
The first round, Dong Xuebing folded and threw his cards towards the croupier.
The second game, Dong Xuebing, got a pair, and only one player followed. So, Dong Xuebing raised the bets to the maximum, 1,000 RMB. The old man immediately followed. Dong Xuebing bet another 1,000, and the old man followed. A few rounds later, the old man request Dong Xuebing to show his cards. The old man got a pair of A and won the round.
In the third game, after Dong Xuebing looked at his cards, he bet 1,000. One of the other three players folded, and the rest followed. After one round of betting, another player folded. Only the young man continued. In the end, Dong Xuebing lost as he only got three eights, and the young man got 3 Jacks.
The fourth game…
The fifth game…
Soon, the three players looked at Dong Xuebing as if he’s a sheep ready to be slaughtered by them.
But no matter how much Dong Xuebing lost, he didn’t bat an eyelid and continue to throw money into the pot.
Although Dong Xuebing had won some games, he still lost more than 30,000 RMB, which is equivalent to months of his salary.
Chu Feng can’t stand it. What’s going on? Didn’t Chief Dong say he is good at gambling? Why is he losing money? Damn! This is called good at gaming? Chu Feng knew Dong Xuebing had brought 50,000 RMB with him, and now, he had lost more than half of it. How are they going to gather enough evidence? Chu Feng went forward. “Boss, your luck is not good today. Do you want me to play for you?”
Dong Xuebing shook his head and threw his cards on the table. “I quit.”
The rest of the players don’t want him to leave. “Let’s play a few more games.”
Dong Xuebing waved his hand and waved the female staff over. “Come here.”
The staff walked out of the room with Dong Xuebing. “How can I help?”
Dong Xuebing asked. “The bets are too small, and it’s not fun. Are there any rooms with higher bets?”
The female staff looked at Dong Xuebing and thought for a while. “There is no higher limits table now. You got to wait until night. Let me know your room number, and I will call you when the higher limit games start.” If it’s other people, the staff will not bring them to the real Casino, as it’s perilous. But this person in front of her is wealthy, and the Casino needs customers like him. That’s why the staff decided to recommend Dong Xuebing to participate in the high rollers games at night, and she will get a cut from Dong Xuebing’s losses.
“Ok. I will wait for your call.” After that, Dong Xuebing and Chu Feng left.
In the corridor, Chu Feng asked. “Boss, you… how did you lose so much?”
Dong Xuebing whispered. “The money on the table earlier is not from Jin Di Mansion. Furthermore, the amount is too little, and it’s meaningless to win them.”
Chu Feng finally understood Dong Xuebing’s plan. He had lost money purposely to get into the real Casino. But… But you can’t even win those small-time players, how are you going to win in the Casino?
Translator’s notes: This is not the first time I read about three-card brag in Chinese novels, but I still don’t get the rules. This game seems to be popular in China. One of the Chinese novels I read, which mentioned a lot about this game is < 我的老千生涯> (‘My life as a conman’) by 黑色枷锁 (Blacklock). Not sure if it’s translated, but it’s an exciting novel which I will recommend to readers who likes suspense, violence, and gambling.
Three-card brag
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-card_brag
Pai Gow