No… how could there be people like this?
If you don't want to give, just don't say anything. But if someone really offers, you say you were joking.
"Ha ha ha…" Hu Qing laughed heartily when she saw Cao Yang awkwardly frozen.
"I was just teasing. Whatever you want, just tell me," she said.
Cao Yang explained to her about opening the arcade and asked if she could introduce him to some influential people.
Hu Qing thought for a moment and agreed.
Her subordinates each had their own subordinates. If Cao Yang didn't earn some extra money, there wouldn't be funds to support his men.
She took out her phone, made a quick call, said a few words, and hung up.
"I've already given a heads-up, but you still need to handle the bribes yourself."
Hu Qing held up five fingers, then handed Cao Yang a phone number for him to contact directly.
"Thanks, sister-in-law," Cao Yang said happily. One call from her had already solved the problem.
"Do you have capital to open the arcade?" she asked, opening a drawer and pulling out 100,000 yuan in cash.
"No, no… I have it, I have it," Cao Yang quickly waved his hands, embarrassed to take it.
He was about to leave when Hu Qing called him back.
"Your brother is looking for you. He's at the casino. Go see him."
Cao Yang nodded and headed to the underground casino. In the surveillance room, he saw Jie Ge.
It wasn't just Jie Ge—Sun Xiao and several staff members were there too, all pointing at the screens and discussing.
"It should be these two. Print out their photos."
"Also check which croupier brought them in."
Jie Ge organized everything efficiently. He looked at Cao Yang and patted his shoulder.
"Come with me outside."
In the parking lot, Cao Yang couldn't help but ask, "Jie Ge, did someone use fake bills?"
Cao Yang clenched his fists, ready to beat someone up.
Tang Shaojie shook his head and pulled two 100-yuan bills from his pocket.
Cao Yang took the money, puzzled.
"One of these is counterfeit. Can you tell which?"
Fake bills again?
Cao Yang held them up above his head, examining carefully. They looked identical.
These were the new red 100-yuan bills, only recently issued. Cao Yang hadn't encountered many.
He shook his head. "I can't tell."
Tang Shaojie smiled. "These fakes are extremely realistic. Not just you—even a bill detector can't detect them. We spent a long time comparing to spot the differences."
He pointed out subtle differences: fine gold threads and patterns. With his guidance, Cao Yang barely distinguished the fake.
"Yesterday, a customer exchanged 700,000 yuan in fake bills for chips. We didn't notice in time and let them cheat away 700,000."
"Bold! Jie Ge, what should we do? Let me handle it!"
Tang Shaojie smiled. "Even if you want to, you have to find them first."
Cao Yang scratched his head. This is tough. They probably ran far away after getting the money. How can we find them now?
"This won't be easy, right?"
"Indeed not. But many people are helping us."
"Who?"
"The police."
"Not just here—the capital city, Shencheng, and even other provinces have seen lots of fake bills lately. This is a large gang."
"The authorities have already set up a special task force, coordinating across several provinces and cities."
Cao Yang didn't understand why Jie Ge was telling him all this.
"Come with me," Tang Shaojie said, driving him to a private club without further explanation.
In the private room sat a middle-aged man in a white shirt, drinking tea.
Seeing Tang Shaojie and Cao Yang enter, he nodded at Tang Shaojie, then looked at Cao Yang.
"Is this Cao Yang?"
Cao Yang was surprised—this man knew him? Was his reputation really that big?
"Yes, it's him. I trust him with this task, right?"
The middle-aged man smiled and poured tea for Jie Ge.
Jie Ge sipped lightly and introduced him.
Upon hearing his name and position, Cao Yang quickly greeted him politely.
"You went too far at Villa 76 last time. If not for Jie Ge, nobody could have protected you. From now on, you must act with more restraint."
Cao Yang nodded repeatedly, listening carefully.
"Alright, you may leave now. I'll talk with Jie Ge."
Cao Yang stepped out into the lobby, where a waiter brought him tea and snacks.
He sipped tea, thinking: He assumed Jie Ge wanted him to catch and punish the two gamblers using fake bills. But now, bringing him to meet this leader—does this mean they want to groom him?
Soon, Tang Shaojie returned.
"Do you understand what I mean?"
Cao Yang nodded.
"Go find those two who used fake bills at the casino."
"I understand, but it won't be easy. I suspect they've already left Guancheng."
"Even if they left, bring them out!"
"But…"
"Don't worry, the police will assist you."
"What do you mean?" Cao Yang was confused.
"Literally. Police will assist, but you must ensure their safety."
"Wait… let me get this straight. I go with the police to find them, and I have to protect the police?"
"Why does a gangster need to protect a policeman?" Cao Yang thought.
Tang Shaojie shook his head. "He didn't tell me either. I guess he's using this case to polish his credentials. His identity is special, so he needs protection."
"I have another question—why are we helping the police?"
"It's not that simple. Didn't they help you last time?"
"Also, you're not just helping the police. Fake bills entering the market cause great harm—to the country and the people."
"Forgot to tell you, I'm patriotic. I hope you are too."
Cao Yang realized Jie Ge could be shameless. A gangster leader preaching patriotism so casually—how could he say such things without a blush?
At that moment, an old woman carrying a basket of lychees walked past.
Jie Ge stopped her and bought some lychees.
He didn't have cash, so he took 100 yuan from Cao Yang. The woman gave him around 90 yuan change, which he returned to Cao Yang.
He peeled a lychee, popped it in his mouth, and said, "Look at this old lady. On such a hot day, at her age, carrying a whole basket of lychees to sell. If fake bills had entered the market and she received one, all her effort would be wasted."
"Now you understand how dangerous fake bills are, right? Find those people quickly. They can't hurt anyone else!"
"Well… uh…"
Cao Yang felt embarrassed and quietly reminded, "Jie Ge, that 100 yuan you just gave me… it's fake. Really, in my right pocket."