Chapter 178: Casino

The birthday banquet lasted until seven in the evening.

The rest paired up and went off to drink and sing.

After Chen Mo had his men leave, he followed Jingkun into a private room.

"Brother Kun, you said there was good news earlier—can you tell me now? Could it be some profitable business?"

Jingkun gave a hehe laugh.

"You guessed right—it really is a profitable business."

"What business? Say it straight—if it's about dealing drugs, don't bother mentioning it."

"Oh no! It's not drugs; it's a business that makes even more money than drugs."

Jingkun shifted his chair and sat beside Chen Mo.

"Over in Macau, a hotel has opened for business.

People from Macau sent word that Mr. He plans to hand over the casino of that hotel to our Great Prosperity to operate, inviting me over to discuss the cooperation details.

How about that—isn't it good news?

Jingkun looked at Chen Mo with a smug expression, awaiting his reaction.

Chen Mo blinked—wasn't this what Jiang Tiansheng did in "Enter the Dragon"? How come it's coming from Jingkun's mouth now?

Could it be that, no matter who is the Dragon Head, He Xin intends to cooperate with Great Prosperity?

But now is not the time to investigate the underlying reasons.

Chen Mo suppressed his doubts, putting on a cooperative look of surprise: "Wow! This is truly great news—a casino can earn us at least a hundred million a year for Great Prosperity."

"Not just that!" Jingkun exclaimed exaggeratedly, "The scale of this casino is much larger than our previous one.

"At the very least, it brings in two hundred million a year!"

Saying this, Jingkun waved two fingers in front of Chen Mo.

"Really? That much! Then we really hit the jackpot."

Then Chen Mo showed doubt: "Brother Kun, this is indeed good news. But you could just go to Macau and talk to Mr. He—why involve me?"

"It's like this: the casino in Macau has always been operated in rotation by the twelve halls of our Great Prosperity.

"This year it's the Wang Jiao Hall's turn to manage it. Originally, after you became the boss of Wang Jiao, I should have handed the casino over to you, but my people are still there.

Saying this, Jingkun rarely showed a bit of embarrassment.

A Macau casino brings in monthly profits of tens of millions; although most goes to the Triad Society, the hall responsible for operations also gets a thirty percent cut.

That sum is not small—Jingkun simply couldn't bear to give it to Chen Mo.

Chen Mo had just become boss and hadn't even considered this.

Since Chen Mo didn't bring it up, Jingkun would never volunteer to give it, so the people running the Macau casino are still Jingkun's.

"It's not that I don't want to give it to you. I just think you've only just become boss, with few subordinates, and I'm worried you can't handle it."

Chen Mo waved his hand, indifferent: "Brother Kun, no need to say that—I understand."

A few million a month, while not insignificant, Chen Mo had already extracted more from Jingkun, so he didn't quibble further over this.

Seeing that Chen Mo truly didn't care, Jingkun continued.

"According to the rules, the Macau casino should be handed over to the Crown Prince next year.

"Since I became Dragon Head, the Crown Prince and I haven't gotten along.

"If it were just the original casino, it wouldn't matter.

"But if I and Mr. He settle the casino matter, we could end up with two casinos.

"I don't want to hand over the casino's operating rights to him now—help me think of a way."

Chen Mo now understood what Jingkun was aiming for.

"Not wanting to give it to the Crown Prince—he just wants to keep control of the Macau casino's operating rights in his own hands."

Chen Mo looked at Jingkun with a troubled expression: "Brother Kun, the rule of rotating casino operation is something you all set long ago—what can I do?"

"Ah Mo, help me think of a solution. This isn't just my problem—if we follow the rule, when it's your turn to run the casino, that'll be twelve years from now.

"Help me keep the casino's operating rights; each month's profit, I'll give you thirty percent—how about that?"

"If both casinos are run well, monthly profit would be around thirty-plus million; the hall operating them would take thirty percent, roughly ten million.

"Giving Chen Mo thirty percent would be about three million.

"That amount is not small.

"This is essentially Jingkun giving the current casino to Chen Mo.

Chen Mo showed a tempted demeanor, but still refused verbally.

"Brother Kun, this isn't that easy. Even if we took out the Crown Prince, it wouldn't let you continue operating.

"Unless more than half of the bosses agree to hand the casino to you, otherwise the casino can only go to the Crown Prince."

"Is there really no other way?" Jingkun said, unwilling to give up.

Chen Mo shook his head: "For now I don't have any good ideas."

Jingkun sat in the chair, brows furrowed, looking displeased.

The goose that lays golden eggs—one became two, and the new one lays even larger golden eggs.

Too bad it'll soon have nothing to do with me.

Nobody would be happy about this!

Chen Mo patted Jingkun's shoulder, comforting: "Brother Kun, I think you shouldn't worry so much. First settle this with Mr. He, then we'll talk.

"We've only just passed the halfway point of the year.

"Even if we have to hand over the operating rights to the Crown Prince, that's next year's matter—no need to rush!"

"All right." Jingkun let out a long sigh, resigned: "I'll first go to Macau to settle the matter of the new casino."

You also help me think of a plan!

Don't worry, Brother Kun, I'll definitely help you think of a plan. You're supposed to give me thirty percent!

Chen Mo said earnestly.

Think of a plan? Think of shit!

Chen Mo now, adding up all his businesses plus the income from his territory, can earn about twenty million a month.

After the laser disc factory officially starts production, he'll earn even more.

He wouldn't even look at those few million.

Just giving Jingkun verbal lip service.

Back at the bar, Chen Mo began to recall the plot of Enter the Dragon.

Originally, the Triad's Lei Gong, through Shan Ji, had made contact with Jiang Tiansheng, wanting a fifty percent share of the Macau casino.

Now Shan Ji is dead, the Dragon Head of Great Prosperity is still Jingkun; unknown what Lei Gong will do.

Should he continue to curry favor with Jiang Tiansheng, or switch sides and cooperate with Jingkun?

Considering that Shan Ji and those Triad underlings died at Jingkun's hands, Chen Mo feels that the possibility of Lei Gong cooperating with Jingkun is lower.

Furthermore, considering that Lei Gong also has a mistress, Ding Yao, this woman is ambitious and deep-minded.

Conflict between Great Prosperity and the Wan Dao Triad is inevitable.

Thinking this through, Chen Mo summoned Shen Guodong.

"Guodong, these few days contact your comrades back inland, see if any are willing to come to Gangdao to develop."

"If so, let them come over, with the same treatment as you guys."

Shen Guodong exclaimed in surprise: "Really? How many people do you need? I'll immediately contact the folks back home."

There are quite a few discharged soldiers back home whose lives are not going well.

Over the past few months, after Shen Guodong and them sent money back several times, many of their former comrades have proactively inquired about the situation here.

Now that Chen Mo has asked for people, Shen Guodong naturally agreed readily.

Chen Mo thought: "Around a hundred people, as long as they're capable, female soldiers too. ASAP!"

"Understood." Shen Guodong nodded heavily, "Within half a month I can get them here."