Chapter 8 Joining the Gang The name of the gang is the Red Head Gang, and it is the number one gang in Jiangning City. It mainly controls the territories of the inner city and part of the outer city. Other small gangs in the outer city have to pay some tribute every month to join in the fun. Of course, the Red Head Gang can become so big and strong not only because it has a backer, but also because it has to pay tribute to the officials every month in order for the higher-ups to turn a blind eye. Among the gang's income, the protection fees from street vendors are only a small part. The more generous big brothers let their brothers divide it among themselves. The real big part comes from the Red Head Gang, which almost monopolizes such lucrative industries as brothels, taverns, and gambling houses in Jiangning City. In order to prevent malicious competition among the people in various halls under its command, it also set up regional protection. This really opened Ruan Xing's eyes and he couldn't help but sigh at their advanced thinking. Although Qi Ye looked so imposing, he was actually just the manager of one of the more than 30 branches of the Red Head Gang in Jiangning City. The branch he was in charge of was in charge of five streets, which sounded a bit incongruous like a street office, and his status was suddenly lowered. But soon Hu San told her that although on the surface these thirty-odd managers were of equal status, their actual value was different. There were rules as to which area had more money and which area was larger. The Seventh Master was one of the top figures who could have a say with the gang leader. Not only did he manage an area in the inner city, he also had more than two hundred brothers under him, making him the most powerful person among the many gangs. Ruan Xing thought about it and it made sense. The weaving workshop where Ruan's mother worked was a state-owned enterprise, and the products produced by the top embroiderers there were tributes sent to the palace. Such state-owned enterprises were all within the jurisdiction of the Seventh Master, which showed his ability. "Even if I don't tell you these things, you will naturally know them after staying in the gang for a long time." "I have to thank Brother Hu for telling me the information in advance. I'll ask Brother Hu to take good care of me in the future." Ruan Xing said as he took out a few coins and quietly gave them to him. According to Ruan Xing's estimation, the purchasing power of one cent was equivalent to one dollar today, but in this era of low productivity, most ordinary people could only earn four or five hundred cents a month to barely make ends meet. If it weren't for Ruan's mother earning so much, they would not be able to withstand Ruan's father's extravagance. A few cents may seem like a small amount, but they can buy half a pound of wine or a bowl of noodle soup with minced meat on the street. This man was still watching over the gambling house yesterday and should not look down on these small amounts of money. What's more, most importantly, she conveyed to Hu San the message that she would be rewarded if he helped her. Unexpectedly, Hu San took one look and rejected it, saying, "Don't let your child learn these customs."
After a few seconds of silence, he revealed another message, "You are different from us. I can't help you. If you are lucky, we won't meet in the future." What does this mean? Ruan Xing was confused for a moment. Hu San's job in the gang was to watch the casino, so he must know some martial arts, and his thick muscles also proved this. And Qi Ye wanted her because he was attracted by her talent in gambling. How could she not deal with him when she learned gambling in the casino? "Brother Hu, why do you say that? Didn't Master Qi take a fancy to my talent and asked me to learn gambling skills?" Ruan Xing was puzzled. The simulator also clearly told her that she was going there to learn gambling skills. Hu San seemed to know something, but he didn't want to answer. Unable to bear Ruan Xing's constant questioning, he replied dryly, "Seventh Master Xinyun." After that, he refused to pay any more attention to her. Ruan Xing wanted to simulate it again to see the result, but it was not convenient on the road, so she had to continue following Hu San until Hu San stopped. "arrive." In front of him was a residential mansion, but it was much larger than the Ruan family's bluestone courtyard. The gate alone was three meters wide and painted dark red. If two stone lions were placed at the door, people would believe that it was the residence of the Lord of Jiangning City. But there were no stone lions. There was only a pair of lanterns hanging in front of the door with the word "red" written in big letters on them. This is the territory of the Red Head Gang, and also the headquarters of the Seventh Master. Hu San knocked on the door and someone opened it. When they saw them, they called out "Brother Hu" and let them in. "Seventh Master is checking the accounts. I'll see you later. I'll take you to meet the master who will teach you the art of gambling." The two men walked around the screen wall and passed through the corridor of the side door, and came to two rows of low houses behind the house. There were several big willow trees planted in the open space, and there were stone tables and stone benches under the trees. There was also an old man lying on a bamboo chair to enjoy the cool air. The old man closed his eyes and fanned himself with a palm-leaf fan, looking very happy. Hu San walked over and patted him, "Master Shi, the people are here!" "I know, I'm not hard of hearing. Go ahead." The old man was unhappy and knocked on the armrest of the bamboo chair with a palm leaf fan to drive him away. After Hu San left, he coughed and called Ruan Xing, "Come here, girl, take a look at the things on the table. Do you recognize them?" Ruan Xing then turned her attention and saw three white porcelain bowls on the table, each with a round egg in it. She immediately understood that this was a way for street performers to make money, and it was also related to gambling. The introductory gambling skills she learned from the simulator also contained content related to this aspect. "Yes, this is called the Three Immortals Returning to the Cave." "Okay, then I'll test your eyesight first." Master Shi put down his palm-leaf fan and sat up straight. His old hands, which were full of wrinkles, were unusually flexible. He turned three white porcelain bowls upside down and put three eggs under one bowl, moving them back and forth, making people dizzy. His hands were busy all the time, and he did not forget to explain, "The art of gambling is actually the art of cheating. If you want to cheat without being discovered, the most basic thing is to be quick. Although this art of cheating is not presentable in a gambling house, if you set up a stall on a busy street, you can still attract a lot of bets. Even if you only learn this entry-level art, you can support yourself in the future without worrying about food and drink. As long as you practice diligently until your eyes can't keep up with your hands, then you have mastered it." As soon as he finished speaking, the three bowls also stopped. "Guess which bowl the egg is in?"
Ruan Xing had already mastered the simulator, so her eyesight was different from before. Master Shi didn't intend to embarrass her with those tricks, so she could see it easily. She pointed to the bowl in the middle and said, "This one." When the bowl was opened, three eggs were indeed lying there quietly. Master Shi nodded with some satisfaction, and then asked, "What did I say when I demonstrated it to you just now? Did you remember it?" "I remember." Ruan Xing nodded, paused and added: "The purpose of your words is not only to teach me, but also to distract me." Originally, she had shown herself to be bold, careful, calm and clever in front of the Seventh Master, and now she was not afraid to show it even more. Master Shi was surprised. "Yes, you can think of this at such a young age. You are really smart and lucky. Great! This time it will be a sure thing!" He burst out laughing. Ruan Xing didn't understand the meaning of his last sentence and was about to ask when someone suddenly interrupted. (End of this chapter)