Chapter 21: The Grand Opening

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Cao Yang finally got the money under Li Yan’s reluctant consent. He sighed deeply—this money was harder to get than robbing three thousand yuan.
With the money in hand, he called Lei Dian to look for a shop together. They checked several places, but the rents were all too expensive; with his limited funds, he couldn’t afford anything.
Lei Dian then took him to an industrial park where a small convenience store was up for transfer.
The rent there was originally two thousand yuan per month, but now it was only five hundred because the factory opposite had shut down. The factory was empty with no new tenants, so the area lacked any real foot traffic.
The store’s current owner, a local auntie, agreed to transfer the shop to Cao Yang for a thousand yuan after a brief chat.
For a thousand yuan, all he got was a broken refrigerator and two shelves.
Then he contacted the landlord and paid three months’ rent plus a deposit.
And then... he had no money left for machines.
With no choice, Cao Yang went back to Li Yan.
Hearing him ask for money again, Li Yan was furious and declared she had no more to give.
But Cao Yang cuddled her, kissed her, and coaxed her with the charm of a strong man acting like a spoiled child.
“Yan Jie, my dear Yan Jie, the best Yan Jie in the whole world, please help me, won’t you…”
Li Yan couldn’t resist his tactic and withdrew another two thousand yuan for him. She warned Cao Yang that this time she was really emptying out her savings; if he didn’t start making money soon, she’d twist his head off!
With the money, Cao Yang immediately bought two machines, set them up, and prepared to open for business.
Outside, the machines were set at 37% odds—meaning 3 winners to 7 losers, and the boss earned from four losers.
Cao Yang adjusted them to 46% odds: 4 winners to 6 losers, earning from two losers. He thought, since it was just opening, better to go for low profits and high volume to build popularity.
On the first day, they made a hundred yuan, with Lei Dian losing.
On the second day, fifty yuan, Lei Dian lost again.
On the third day, thirty yuan, Lei Dian still lost.
Cao Yang felt a bit embarrassed; after all, they were brothers—it wasn’t good whether they won or lost.
He returned the money to Lei Dian and told him to stop gambling.
Lei Dian refused stubbornly, saying he was just there to support the business.
On the fourth day, the income was zero—because Lei Dian didn’t come.
“Ah…” Cao Yang sighed, realizing this location was too remote.
He opened a soda, sat down on a stool, and smoked to relieve his boredom.

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Suddenly, Lei Dian showed up again, accompanied by Jia Wei, A Liang, A Mei, and two girls with A Mei.
The six of them carried vegetables and alcohol, coming over to drink with Cao Yang.
Cao Yang quickly set up a small table, and the seven of them sat on stools, drinking heartily and boasting loudly.
Li Yan returned from work and saw the scene; her nose nearly twisted in anger.
Cao Yang saw her and invited her to join them for some food and drink.
Li Yan simply turned away with a scowl—showing no goodwill toward him or his unruly friends.
“Cao Yang, your sister seems to have a problem with us, huh?”
“Ah, don’t overthink it. She’s always like this, not even nice to me,” Lei Dian said with a pout. Then, changing the subject, he leaned in close to Cao Yang and whispered, “We have a mission tonight. Are you coming?”
Cao Yang shook his head, remembering Li Yan’s warning last time: if he dared to go, she would tell his mother he was out stealing.
Aside from Li Yan’s warning, Cao Yang truly disdained such behavior.
He refused, and Lei Dian didn’t mind; the group continued drinking and chatting.
...
Li Yan sat on the bed, angrily scolding Cao Yang. She felt deceived by this man who had promised to make big money but had instead drained their family savings. Not only did he fail to make money, but he also spent every day feasting with a bunch of shady characters.
Since the last incident, she hadn’t gone back to work at the Nightingale Club and was too scared to. She found a new job at a clothing store, though the pay was low. She didn’t mind because she had pinned all her hopes on Cao Yang.
But now, this guy had caused a big mess. She regretted lending him money.
Today she planned to persuade Cao Yang to transfer the shop and sell the machines, hoping to recover some of the capital, but there were so many people around she hesitated to speak up.
Cao Yang no longer came home at night. There was a small loft above the shop previously used for storage, which Cao Yang tidied up to live in.
Early the next morning, Li Yan stormed over, knocking loudly on the door.
Cao Yang usually stayed up until two or three in the morning and didn’t get up until noon or afternoon.
He opened the door groggily and saw Li Yan’s furious face, like she wanted to devour him.
She launched into a tirade, accusing him of cheating and not making money, demanding he quickly transfer the shop.
Cao Yang yawned and ignored her.
Li Yan, enraged by his attitude, glanced inside and saw the two machines still lit up, then began to scold him again.
“You don’t even turn off the machines when you sleep? Do you think electricity grows on trees?”

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Cao Yang lit a cigarette and smiled at her.
In the past, he would have found her annoying and narrow-minded—timid in front of others but shouting loudly at him—he would have hated that.
But now, he didn’t feel that way because Li Yan was not bad to him; though nagging, she had no ill intent.
“You’re laughing at your mother! Can’t you hear me?!” Seeing his calm demeanor, Li Yan became even more furious.
Cao Yang grabbed her arm, hugged her, and comforted her: “Don’t be angry, don’t be angry, things will get better.”
“You’re so...” Li Yan was about to retort when a handsome young man in factory uniform walked in.
“Boss, can you get me…” He stopped mid-sentence when he saw the two of them hugging. “Am I interrupting?”
Li Yan hurriedly broke away, fixed her hair, and stepped aside.
“Handsome guy, what do you want to buy?” Cao Yang greeted him warmly—strictly speaking, this was his first customer at the convenience store.
The young man took two packs of instant noodles and a bottle of soda, handing Cao Yang ten yuan.
Cao Yang gave him five coins in change, then looked at him expectantly.
Many people, upon receiving coins, would casually insert them into the slot machines to play a few rounds.
This young man did the same. Seeing the machines running, he inserted two coins and started playing.
Li Yan and Cao Yang both watched him.
In less than five minutes, he won thirty yuan, exchanged it for bills from Cao Yang, and left.
“Cao Yang! Damn you! You said you could control it, so how did he win money?!” Li Yan’s face turned as dark as a frying pan.
“Don’t be mad! I let him win on purpose. You have to bait the trap first!”
Li Yan didn’t believe him and nagged on for a while. Seeing she was about to be late for work, she left in a huff.
After she left, Cao Yang had no heart to sleep. He lit a cigarette and sat at the doorway, lost in thought.
Until four in the afternoon, the handsome young man came back with two others.
Each exchanged ten coins and began playing.
Gradually, more people arrived, all acquaintances of the three, likely from the same factory.