After getting off the plane, Liu Jun entered Hong Kong visa-free, while a group of compatriots had to use special permits to enter their own country’s Special Administrative Region. After clearing customs, Liu Jun grabbed someone to ask what transport to take to Macau, but unfortunately, that person didn’t speak Mandarin, so Liu Jun had to switch to English. Unexpectedly, someone nearby suddenly chimed in with crisp, standard Mandarin.

“Macau? You’re going to Macau? Come with me to the pier.”

Liu Jun turned and saw Yang Xun looking at him matter-of-factly. He suddenly realized that this Yang Xun might also be going to the casinos. Unwilling to show weakness, he said “thank you” and followed Yang Xun. Yang Xun glanced at him but said nothing. Only after getting in the car did he ask: “Even a model student like you goes to Macau to gamble?”

“Women go shopping, we men gamble—what’s the big deal. Your English is very good.”

“English? I only recognize letters. When you said Macau, even the dumbest person could guess what you were talking about. What’s bothering you? Haven’t you been doing pretty well lately?”

“Year-end troubles.” Liu Jun didn’t want to ask whether Yang Xun was also going to Macau because of troubles. He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes to rest.

“How big could your problems be? If you really can’t handle it, find some remote reservoir in the middle of the night, go run a few laps, and howl a few times—that’ll solve any problem.”

Liu Jun had no choice but to open his eyes and look at Yang Xun. “You’re running to Macau because of troubles? What big problem can’t be solved by running around a reservoir and howling a few times? Is there anything you can’t handle locally? Come on, tell me.”

“If I told you, I’d be afraid of corrupting you. Given what you do and how you do things, how much trouble could you possibly get into? Give it a rest. I have experience—howl a few times and it’s guaranteed to work. Howl until you cough up blood, and things will immediately turn around. Go home—don’t make your wife and child worry. Gambling is something that once you get hooked, you can’t let go.”

Liu Jun was dumbfounded. “Why are you advising me? Do you think I’m going to the casino to vent?”

Yang Xun said contemptuously: “Although I’m not many years older than you, I’ve been navigating society for more than twice as long as you have. Having reached my level, there’s no enmity I can’t overcome, no resentment I can’t dissolve. Everything is just a matter of timing—you think I’m sulking with you? I don’t have time for that. I’m seriously advising you to go home. You’re not the type who can control yourself. With your temperament, you shouldn’t enter a casino. If you insist on going, I’ll call Mr. Song right now—think about whether you dare explain to Mr. Song.”

Liu Jun was almost forced off the car by Yang Xun. Standing on the street watching the taxi carrying Yang Xun disappear, he stood dazed for a long time. At this point, his impulse to go to Macau had been diminished by Yang Xun’s disdain, and he could no longer muster the energy to find a route to storm the Macau casinos. The sky began to darken—winter nights came early, and Hong Kong was even more brilliant in the night. Liu Jun simply walked on foot, walking and eating as he went, not thinking about anything else, just focusing on Hong Kong’s abundant cuisine. Roast goose, rice rolls, fish balls… When he was stuffed and tired from walking, he found a hotel to stay in. First, he called Cui Bingbing to report he was safe, then called Yang Li, because he knew Yang Li, who worked in hotels, couldn’t possibly sleep early.

“I’m in Hong Kong. I met your big brother and we talked quite a bit. I was somewhat surprised.”

“Right, he went to Macau to gamble—he can’t quit. Sister-in-law is even more unwilling to come back because of this. Did you try to stop him?”

“No, your big brother stopped me in Hong Kong, wouldn’t let me go gamble. I was very surprised—I’d always thought he was the type of person who… but he went to Macau himself.”

“Sigh, do you have any way to stop him from going to the casino? If you do, I’ll thank you in my next life too. My big brother is very complex. When my mind was simple, I couldn’t understand him. Even now, I still can’t fully understand him. His way of thinking is somewhat different from those of us with academic backgrounds, but he’s a real man—there’s no doubt about that.”

“Later, please help me thank him. Have you all been having a lot of trouble lately? Please try to stay positive—year-end is always full of complications.”

“Probably issues with the mine. Big brother won’t complain to me about being tired. But you can imagine how complex coal mining is—big brother says it’s blacker than coal, and at least coal has some brightness. In that business, you earn big, but the pressure is also big—it’s hard to explain in a few words. What happened to you recently?”

“Year-end troubles—I’m living like Yang Bailao, so I escaped. But it seems no matter how far I run, I still have to go back. You can never really escape. When can I retire?”

“Hehe, every time I’m annoyed enough to want to retire, I think, wow, there’s nothing in this world that money can’t fix. Once I think that, I immediately summon up energy to throw myself into the struggle to make money. Do you have any way to help me persuade Big Brother not to gamble? He’s gambling on one hand and praying to gods and buddhas on the other—spending money like water in both places.”

“I’m not at his level—I can’t advise him. Neither can you. If possible, I’d recommend your fellow townsman, Mr. Song.”

“Mr. Song has deliberately distanced himself from us for several years now. I guess that’s his way of staying clean—there’s no benefit to getting close to us. He’s hard-hearted, and I can’t move him. Liu Jun, you spoke very generously today—I’m really happy. Thank you.”

“Uh, I’m not the one who should be thanked. Why do I feel unprecedentedly ignorant today? Am I a very simple person? Please don’t be polite—speak frankly.”

“We’re all the same. You’re not simple, but you’re not as complex as my big brother either. The only simple thing about us is probably that we’re too clear about love and hate.”

“Also, too many principles, too many rules, right?”

“That’s a good thing, too. These virtues make people trust you easily. In an economic society, this is intangible assets—credit purchases, loans, all depend on it.”

“Yang Li, you’re becoming more and more beautiful.”

Both people on the phone ended the conversation happily. Liu Jun was puzzled—no problems had been solved, so why did his mood suddenly brighten? As for Mr. An’s situation, he’d play it by ear. As long as he wasn’t ultimately deported, there would always be ways to think of solutions. Even if he had to sit in jail for a few days… there’s nothing in this world that money can’t fix. What’s the meaning of irreconcilable grievance? There isn’t any. As Yang Xun said, everything is just a matter of timing—why think so much?

After returning home, Liu Jun learned about Yang Xun from friends like Shen Huadong. He found out that through an investment promotion event, Yang Xun had signed an agreement with a northern local government. He would invest to help integrate the small mines there, and ultimately, he could own a certain percentage of shares. The prospects were naturally good, but the interests of small mines were intricate and complex—integration was easier said than done. Just thinking about it on Yang Xun’s behalf made Liu Jun’s scalp tingle. No wonder Yang Xun needed heavy gambling to vent.

After Mr. An returned to the country, he called asking what Liu Jun wanted to see him about. Liu Jun disclosed the work group’s visit to Mr. An. Mr. An inquired in detail about exactly what the work group had investigated and whether they had revealed any other fragments of information. Liu Jun told him everything truthfully. Finally, Mr. An asked Liu Jun to keep his mouth shut. Liu Jun further sensed that Mr. An’s side was in danger, and the danger had already knocked on the door—it was imminent.

Spring Festival was supposed to be a time of national holiday, but Liu Jun discussed with the outsourced construction teams whether they could pay extra for overtime work during Spring Festival. He didn’t know how things would develop on Mr. An’s side. He could only try every means to accelerate progress, at least… if he got into trouble, the Tengda project absolutely couldn’t be left half-finished and unable to start work—that would rot away. But during the Spring Festival, even with extra pay, people weren’t willing to work. The migrant workers on the construction site were like spawning salmon—at this time, they only had one eye, willing to endure the hardship of queuing for three days and nights to get a return ticket, willing to travel and suffer just to go home.

Liu Jun had no choice but to temporarily shut down the construction site. Moreover, it looked like even after Spring Festival, work might not resume quickly—those people who had finally fought their way back home couldn’t possibly rest until the seventh day and then return. Only the engineers at the research center returned voluntarily one after another after the fourth day to work. Seeing their busyness, Liu Jun’s heart was full of fulfillment.