Chapter Five: The Snake at the Head of the Mountain

  Everything went smoothly, without the troubles they had imagined. Yin Le and Zhu Xiao Fei were both a bit ecstatic. For a whole week, Yin Le was busy contacting gamblers to come and play. Hei Zi's operation gradually became known to big and small gamblers in the area, and Hei Zi and Zhu Xiao Fei earned their first pot of gold.

  They made a lot of money very quickly and easily, Hei Zi and Zhu Xiao Fei got several thousand yuan in just one week. This doesn't even include the two thousand that Hei Zi gave to Yin Le and his two younger brothers or the high-interest loans that he lent out but didn't get back. Hei Zi handed all this money over to Zhu Xiao Fei to take care of, and in an era when salaries were only a few hundred yuan, this was already a considerable income.

  In just two days after opening in the village, several big gamblers from the village came to Hei Zi's small courtyard. These people spent their whole year idling around, when they had money they would eat, drink and gamble, and when they didn't have money they would steal and rob.

  Hei Zi also knew that no one who came to gamble was a good person. As for what these people did, Hei Zi never asked. As long as you came here to gamble and have fun, following the rules of the trade, Hei Zi treated them all as friends.

  Hei Zi and Yin Le often talked about gambling when they were together, he wanted to understand the habits of these gamblers, only in this way could he make more money in this industry.

  A week has passed, Hei Zi is ready to take a two-day rest. Firstly, these past few days have been sleepless nights for everyone and they are all tired. Secondly, Hei Zi wants to discuss with Zhu Xiao Fei thoroughly and summarize the experiences of these past few days, in order to avoid as much as possible the risks that could appear at any time.

  Hei Zi's maturity made Zhuo Xiao Fei admire him from the bottom of his heart. He thought to himself, "The army is indeed a place that tempers people." In three years, Hei Zi had changed greatly and was no longer the impulsive youth he once was.

  After a week of busy work, Yin Le was also tired. Hei Zi told him to rest for two days, and then he informed his two younger brothers.

  Hei Zi knew that starting was illegal and would definitely have risks. A week of calmness made him worried, but after stopping, he felt more at ease in his heart.

  At night, the usually noisy farmhouse courtyard quieted down. Hei Zi and others no longer blocked the windows with blankets. Today, they didn't go out for dinner. They bought some cooked meat, peanuts, and other snacks in town, as well as two bottles of Er Guo Tou liquor. The two sat on the kang, set up a small table, and drank together.

  Heizi and Zhu Xiaofei discussed their future from the opening of the casino, Heizi said confidently: "Xiaofei, don't worry, we will definitely make a name for ourselves."

  Xiao Fei nodded, from Heizi's return these days he could see that Heizi was preparing to make a big move, and Heizi also had the ability to achieve something.

  The two were chatting when Hei Zi suddenly put down his wine cup, perked up his ears and listened for a moment before saying: "Xiao Fei, someone has entered the yard."

  Fortunately Xiao Fei didn't hear it, he asked strangely: "How come I didn't hear anything?"

  "Hei Zi smiled and said: 'You think being a detective for over a year is easy?'"

  "Who is it? Didn't they say today was a rest day?" Zhuo Xiaofei muttered to herself.

  Heizi jumped down from the kang and said, "It seems that something is amiss. They are not one person."

  Xiao Fei was just about to go downstairs when the door creaked open and five or six young men rushed in, making the small room feel very crowded.

  The one in the front was wearing a gray jacket, bald-headed, with thick and black eyebrows like two brushes, and had acne on his round face, with thick lips that were dark red.

  "Are you two opening a game here?" asked the one in front.

  From the rustic and earthy attire of these people, it can be seen that they are not police officers. With a slight smile, I said: "What kind of game is this? I don't understand what you're saying."

  One of them standing behind said: "This is our Dong Ge, whatever happens in the village can't be hidden from us, don't you admit it?"

  Hei Zi had inquired about the village situation before opening his shop and knew that Dong Zi was a rascal in the village, who usually led a group of people to eat and drink everywhere, doing some deceitful and thieving things.

  "It's Dong Ge, come on, let's have a drink together." Heizi sat down on the kang with a thud, picked up the wine bottle and prepared to pour a drink for Dongzi.

  "Stop trying to get close to me, do you know whose territory this is?" Dongzi said coldly.

  Hei Zi stopped and put down the wine cup in his left hand, saying: "I don't know, you tell me whose territory this is."

  Dongzi grunted and said: "Heizi, I know you're tough, but you should know that this is our brothers' territory. To make money here, you need to get our brothers' approval."

  "Hei Zi laughed loudly and said, 'Dong Ge, brothers don't need to make an announcement when we're just having fun. We each go our separate ways, like well water not interfering with river water. If you want to have a drink with us two brothers, we welcome it. If there's nothing else, then leave.'"

  "Hei Zi, don't forget that a strong dragon cannot suppress the snake in its own territory." Dong Zi said with great satisfaction, as if he was the one who had the final say here.

  Dongzi's words were not yet finished, when suddenly a loud crash was heard. Hei Zi's wine bottle had shattered on the edge of the kang (heated brick bed). Before everyone could react, Hei Zi sprang up and pressed the remaining half of the broken bottle against Dongzi's neck. Blood flowed down from Dongzi's neck.

  Dongzi and his brothers had never seen such a formation before, he was shocked and his body kept trembling. He tried to control himself, fearing that the intense shaking would cause the wine bottle to pierce his throat.

  "Hei, Hei Ge, sorry, we......" Dongzi stuttered.

  "Heizi interrupted him and said: 'Dongzi, I'm looking up to you and calling you Dongge, don't be shameless.'"

  Hei Zi's face revealed his anger, Dong Zi was completely convinced by Hei Zi, with this kind of skill, they were not in the same league at all. If Hei Zi wanted to take his life, it would be easy, just a slight exertion of force and the broken bottle could pierce his throat.

  "Hei Ge, I was wrong. I won't dare to come looking for trouble again." Dong Zi's hand rose and fell, he wanted to block Hei Zi's hand holding the broken wine bottle but didn't dare to.

  Hei Zi withdrew his right hand holding the broken wine bottle, threw the broken bottle on the ground, flipped over onto the earth bed, opened another bottle of wine, poured a cup for Zhu Xiao Fei and also poured one for himself.

  Dongzi and his brothers stood in front of the kang, not knowing what to do. Hei Zi didn't say a word, they didn't dare move, they could only foolishly watch Hei Zi and Zhu Xiao Fei drink together.

  "Come on, Xiao Fei, let's drink and don't let these few things disturb our pleasant gathering." Hei Zi seemed as if nothing had happened.

  Dongzi hastily climbed up the kang and refilled Heizi's cup. Heizi turned around, glared at him, waved his hand and said, "Scram."

  Dongzi walked out with a crowd of people, his heart filled with trepidation.