Chapter 6

VIP Area Entrance-----

Two racetrack staff members were slacking off, leaning against the entrance and smoking cigarettes. Seeing Shi Zhijian, dressed in a white suit and puffing on a large cigar, they were about to speak up to stop him, but Shi Zhijian took the initiative. Holding the cigar, he pointed at them and said, "You're a bunch of good-for-nothings! Both of you are good-for-nothings!"

"Look at yourselves! You can't even stand properly, and you're sneaking around while smoking!"

The two guards were startled. Seeing Shi Zhijian's distinguished appearance and authoritative demeanor, they were momentarily at a loss.

Seeing their confusion, Shi Zhijian went up and kicked their butts, "What are you staring at? Quickly put out your cigarettes! Guard the entrance well, and don't let any irrelevant people in!"

"Yes!"

"Understood!"

The two guards hurriedly threw their cigarettes on the ground, stomped them out, and stood up straight, puffing out their chests.

Shi Zhijian snorted and then adjusted his tie, still puffing on the large cigar, and swaggered in.

Shaqiang was dumbfounded. Is this how it's done?

He quickly followed behind Shi Zhijian, "Ah Jian, no, Master Shi! You were so impressive just now! When did you become so awesome?"

Shi Zhijian's lips curled, "The best is yet to come!"

……

Shi Zhijian led Shaqiang into the VIP area, where the surroundings were filled with well-dressed rich people, and waiters in waistcoats and bow ties were serving drinks.

Shi Zhijian strode in with a domineering gait, holding the cigar, and shouted, "Who wants to get rich? I'm giving you the chance now!"

The rich people were drawn to Shi Zhijian's shout. They saw a young man who looked quite domineering, but they didn't know which family he was from.

Seeing no one responding, Shi Zhijian laughed even more arrogantly, picked up a glass of champagne from a waiter's tray, drank it in one gulp, and then smashed the glass on the ground. He pointed at the crowd with his left index finger, took out a wad of money from his pocket with his right hand, and threw it on the tray, "Everyone, witness this—this is a thousand dollars to pay for the glass!"

The crowd was stunned!

In those days, a worker's salary in a factory was only about 300 Hong Kong dollars, and a waiter working hard for a month could earn only 320 Hong Kong dollars. Now, Shi Zhijian had just smashed a glass and thrown out a thousand!

Shaqiang, who was behind him, was heartbroken, shouting in distress.

A thousand, just like that?

Weren't we supposed to come to bet on the horses?

The rich people, however, confirmed Shi Zhijian's identity. Without a fortune, no one would act so extravagantly.

"Which family's young master is this?"

"Don't know!"

"Looks very wealthy!"

Seeing this, Shi Zhijian unbuttoned his white suit jacket, stood with his hands on his hips in a domineering pose, puffed on his cigar, and said loudly, "Last chance! I'll place the bets for you. If we win, we split the money; if we lose, it's on me. Who dares to play?"

This time, some people started to show interest.

After all, Shi Zhijian's display of arrogance was too real, making it hard not to believe he was a wealthy young master.

"Nothing to lose if we lose, and we get half if we win. It's a good deal! I'll play!" A loud voice rang out as everyone was pondering.

Shi Zhijian looked in the direction of the voice and saw a man in his forties with a hooked nose walking over confidently, followed by a young man in a floral shirt.

"Is this Master Shi? I admire your attitude, so domineering and arrogant! I, Lei, want you to place a bet for me. Do you dare to take it?" The man with the hooked nose said, looking at Shi Zhijian with a slanted glance.

"Wow, isn't that Inspector Lei?"

"Yes, it's actually Chief Inspector Lo Lei!"

"Inspector Lei is personally here, it's going to be a good show!"

The crowd was buzzing.

Chief Inspector Lo Lei, the legendary figure of Hong Kong?!

Lo Lei, a legendary figure in Hong Kong. As the top of the four chief inspectors in the 1960s and 1970s, he wielded immense power, with the entire Hong Kong police force under his command.

He was known for his greed and corruption, allegedly embezzling 500 million dollars during his tenure, earning him the title of "Inspector with 500 Million."

Later, the Hong Kong film industry produced many movies based on this legendary inspector, and Shi Zhijian had seen them, so he was not unfamiliar with the person in front of him.

Shi Zhijian looked at Lo Lei and smiled, "Inspector Lei, how much do you want to bet? I'll take it all!"

Lo Lei, seeing that Shi Zhijian was not intimidated by him, nodded inwardly. This young man knew who he was and still dared to be so arrogant, which was interesting.

"Snap!" Lo Lei snapped his fingers, and immediately a foreigner ran out, smiling at Lo Lei, "Inspector Lei, do you need any help?"

Lo Lei nodded and said, "Sorry, Seban, I had bad luck and lost all the 100,000 dollars I brought. Now, please get me another 100,000 dollars. I want to play with this friend!"

Seban, the head of Standard Chartered Bank and a long-time acquaintance of Lo Lei, replied, "Of course, dear Lei! You are a premium customer of Standard Chartered Bank, and I, Seban, am happy to serve you!"

Soon, Seban returned with a 100,000-dollar check and handed it to Lo Lei.

Lo Lei, who had lost a lot that day, was full of anger and decided to take a big risk because of Shi Zhijian's arrogance.

"Ah Jiu, give the check to Master Shi and see how he wins!" Lo Lei said, lifting his chin and smirking, looking at Shi Zhijian with a haughty attitude.

Following Lo Lei's gesture, the young man in the floral shirt stepped forward, grinned at Shi Zhijian, and said, "I'm Chen Xijiu. This is a 100,000-dollar check. I hope you can give me some pointers later!" He then exaggeratedly lifted his shirt to reveal a gun at his waist, clearly meaning that if Shi Zhijian lost and tried to back out, the gun wasn't for show.

Shi Zhijian, not to be outdone, ordered Shaqiang, "Shaqiang, take the money!"

Shaqiang, with a stiff upper lip, took the check and tried to mimic Chen Xijiu's confident gesture by lifting his shirt, but found he had only a piece of sugarcane, not a gun.

With Lo Lei leading the way, three more wealthy people joined the "game."

"Since Inspector Lei has set the example, I'll play too. Two thousand dollars!"

"Inspector Lei is so generous, betting 100,000 at once. I can only bet 30,000!"

"Inspector Lei, I support you. I'll add 50,000!"

These people had different motives. They were mainly trying to flatter Lo Lei by contributing to the pot for Shi Zhijian to bet on the horses.

If Lo Lei hadn't stepped forward, Shi Zhijian might have only managed to gather a few thousand dollars, but now, with 100,000 after 100,000, he had 200,000 in his pocket—

200,000!

Not a small amount, but not a huge one either,

For a gambler like Shi Zhijian,

Lose, and he would pay with his life!

Win, and he would become rich overnight!

……

The wealthy people who didn't join the game watched with interest, waiting to see Shi Zhijian's performance. After all, no one could guarantee a win in horse racing, unless they were a god!

As the race was about to start, Shi Zhijian didn't immediately place his bet but waited for the "opportunity" he knew about.

Half an hour passed.

Shi Zhijian still hadn't moved.

The wealthy people couldn't help but laugh, "This Master Shi is quite patient. The race is almost over, and he hasn't placed a bet yet?"

"Maybe he's sobered up and realized that horse betting isn't that easy. Blowing hot air comes with a price!"

"There are still 30 minutes left. It looks like this Master Shi is going to be in trouble!"

Lo Lei, seeing Shi Zhijian's inaction, taunted, "Master Shi, why haven't you placed a bet yet? I'm waiting for you to win!"

"Inspector Lei, please be patient. Trust me, I will win!"

"How can I trust you when I just met you today?" Lo Lei's face turned cold, "I'm telling you, I lost 100,000 today, and I gave you the money to help me win it back. If you win, it's fine; if you trick me, I won't be nice to you!"

Shi Zhijian smiled, "Even if you don't trust me, trust my dad!"

"Why should I trust your dad?"

"My dad appeared in my dream and told me that I will dominate the racetrack today!"

Lo Lei rolled his eyes, "I hope your dad is right, or I'll send you to meet him myself!" His tone was menacing.

The crowd, hearing that Shi Zhijian was betting based on a dream from his father, burst into laughter. While Hong Kong people are superstitious, they aren't that foolish.

If a dream from one's father could guarantee a win, half of Hong Kong's gamblers would be rich.

Shaqiang, who was following Shi Zhijian, though he was foolish, knew that a dream from one's father couldn't be trusted. But seeing the situation now, he was in a panic.

Just as the crowd was mocking him, the broadcast announced that Xu Shixun's "Black Lightning" was about to enter the race, with the jockey being the three-time champion, Sima Ke.

Without hesitation, Shi Zhijian pushed the 200,000 onto the betting area, "200,000 on 'Black Lightning'!"

The crowd was stunned, not because Shi Zhijian was betting 200,000, but because of the horse he chose—

This was its debut!