"Brother Huangfu, Hawaii is out of the question, how about Las Vegas?"
Hearing the busy tone on his phone, Zhuang Rui hung up with a wry smile. The gambling game was starting in five days. Good heavens, Zhuang Rui still didn't know how to play Texas Hold'em!
"Mr. He, are you really betting the outcome of this gamble on this young man?"
At Mr. He's place in Macau, a conversation was also taking place. Standing next to Mr. He was Uncle Ming, the dealer Zhuang Rui had met before. Although he praised Zhuang Rui's gambling style and superhuman luck, he could tell from his own perspective that Zhuang Rui was completely ignorant of gambling skills.
“Ah Ming, this person is actually gambling from birth. As long as he doesn’t take his last breath, he will never know if he is a winner. Don’t you think it’s interesting that someone who knows nothing about gambling can beat a bunch of world’s gambling kings?”
Mr. He smiled like an old fox. His life had been full of ups and downs, and he had seen too many storms and waves, as well as all kinds of thrilling gambling games.
Actually, winning or losing isn't that important to the old man. He's betting on his own judgment because he firmly believes he hasn't misjudged Zhuang Rui. He thinks Zhuang Rui will ultimately be the dark horse who doesn't belong in the gambling world at all, and he'll be the one to win this bet.
"Mr. He, you're right, I understand..."
Uncle Ming bowed slightly. He didn't understand anything, but the old man in the wheelchair before him was a gambling legend, a gambling king who had never lost. ...
"Peng Fei, this gambling game was arranged by He Daheng. What are you worried about regarding security? Wouldn't it be better to stay home and spend time with your son?"
Sitting on his private jet, Zhuang Rui shook his head helplessly. Peng Fei insisted on coming along this time, and no matter how Zhuang Rui tried to persuade him, he couldn't stop him. You have to understand, this younger brother's son was only a few months old.
“Brother Zhuang, I’m always worried even if I stay home when you go out, so I might as well go with you…”
Peng Fei shook his head. He knew who had given him everything he had now, and in a sense, he was willing to risk his life to protect Zhuang Rui's safety.
"You're thinking of going after a gold-haired girl, aren't you? Cough... Look at how serious you're acting. Let me tell you, I have experience with this. Don't go after those blonde-eyed, blue-haired girls; they're usually frigid..."
Huangfu Yun was also on the plane. This guy seemed like a completely different person after leaving Beijing. However, Zhuang Rui knew that it was mainly because Yunman was busy with work at the end of the year. If he had come along, Brother Huangfu would definitely have been even more well-behaved than a golden cat.
"Ahem... Brother Huangfu, I have a habit of recording conversations with people. Listen to this, is this your voice?"
Seeing the two flight attendants blushing from Huangfu Yun's words, Peng Fei coughed, took out his phone, and pressed the replay button.
"If you're looking for one, you should find one with rounded breasts, like that..."
Immediately, Huangfu Yun's voice came through the phone, perfectly clear and without any distortion.
"Uh, well, I wasn't teaching you, I just heard it all... I heard it from other people..."
Huangfu Yun was dumbfounded by Peng Fei's move. If Yun Man found out, he would probably have to sleep with a pillow every night and kneel on a mechanical computer keyboard for a month.
Everyone in the cabin laughed. With Huangfu Yun, this clown, around, the journey was very pleasant. After a day's flight, the plane landed at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Chapter 1033 Las Vegas
Just as Zhuang Rui's plane came to a stop, a Mercedes-Benz bus sped up and pulled up in front of the plane's cabin door. Four burly men wearing sunglasses got out of the bus and stood guard at the door, vigilantly watching their surroundings.
"Hey buddy, I'm just here to make a quick buck, is all this fuss really necessary?"
Zhuang Rui peeked out and was surprised that Mr. He had made such an arrangement, hiring four bodyguards for him. Could it be that there was really some danger in this betting game?
However, as the last woman got off the Mercedes bus, Zhuang Rui realized that he had been deluding himself; the bodyguards were probably all this woman's.
"Fourth Wife? What brings you here?"
Zhuang Rui went to greet the last woman to get off the car. This woman, who was in her fifties, was Mr. He's fourth wife. She was now in charge of many things at SJM Holdings and could be considered Mr. He's right-hand woman. Although Zhuang Rui was not very familiar with her, he had met her a few times.
"Mr. Zhuang has taken action for SJM Holdings this time, and Mr. He is unwell, so of course I have to come and entertain him..."
Fourth Wife's smile is as beautiful as a flower. Although she is over fifty years old, her appearance is as youthful as ever. Every smile and frown is full of charm, dignified yet alluring.
Zhuang Rui thought to himself that she was a devil, so charming at her age. No wonder the old gambling king was still working hard when he was in his sixties or seventies and had another daughter.
"Zhuang Rui, I'm here on vacation, you know. Your boss has to reimburse me for everything—food, lodging, and transportation..."
Huangfu Yun was no stranger to Las Vegas. He used to be considered a member of the upper class in the United States, and he would occasionally come here to gamble a few times, though the wins and losses were never very big.
"Mr. Huangfu, all your expenses in Las Vegas will be covered by SJM Holdings. Furthermore, this card can be used to withdraw one million US dollars in chips at any casino in Las Vegas. Have a great time..."
Before Zhuang Rui could answer, Fourth Aunt, who was sitting in the front row, handed a golden card to Huangfu Yun.
"Well, let's forget about it. I'm only betting a small amount..."
Huangfu Yun was just joking with Zhuang Rui; he didn't want to receive favors for nothing.
Fourth Aunt seemed to know Huangfu Yun's concerns, and immediately said with a smile, "Hehe, Mr. Peng also has one. It's a small token of appreciation from SJM Holdings, so you can accept it without worry..."
The gambling industry is actually a service industry. Basically, all major casinos have a dedicated system that records customers who have gambled heavily at their casinos. The next time a customer visits any of their casinos, they will receive VIP treatment.
It seems that SJM Holdings has treated Zhuang Rui like a VIP, having thoroughly investigated the situation of those around him.
Although Peng Fei was Zhuang Rui's bodyguard, he was also Zhuang Rui's sworn brother. Therefore, not only did Huangfu Yun, who was Zhuang Rui's right-hand man, have a casino gold card, but Peng Fei and the others were also provided with one.
To be fair, SJM Holdings isn't exactly stingy; they can casually throw in a $1 million card, which would be enough for a family to live a comfortable life for the rest of their lives in mainland China.
However, Peng Fei did not reach out to take the card. Instead, he looked at Zhuang Rui. To be honest, there was really no place where he needed money when he was with Zhuang Rui. Zhuang Rui had given him tens of millions of yuan, which he had entrusted to his wife for safekeeping.
Zhuang Rui glanced at Fourth Aunt and said, "Take it. This is Fourth Aunt's kind gesture. Brother Huangfu, relax these next few days..."
Zhuang Rui holds the key to SJM's $500 million fortune. He certainly wouldn't care about such a small amount. If Zhuang Rui can help them win the gambling license, SJM's profits in the next few years will be in the tens of billions of dollars.
Upon hearing Zhuang Rui's words, Huangfu Yun and Peng Fei accepted the fourth wife's gold card. Peng Fei was indifferent, but Huangfu Yun's perception of Zhuang Rui's influence had been redefined. ...
The bus sped along the wide highway, and the interior gradually quieted down. Zhuang Rui's gaze was drawn to the scenery on both sides of the road.
It's not that the view outside the window is particularly beautiful; on the contrary, both sides of the highway are just barren desert.
Las Vegas has a typical desert landscape with very little rainfall, hot summers, and cold, windy winters. Logically speaking, such a place is usually not a good place.
However, Las Vegas is the only oasis with springs in the surrounding desolate desert and semi-desert area. Because of the springs, it gradually became a rest stop for travelers on highways and a transit point for railways.
Las Vegas was founded in 1905. After gold and silver mines were discovered in Nevada, a large number of prospectors flocked to the city, and Las Vegas began to prosper. However, like other mining towns in the West, it was abandoned once the mines were depleted.
On January 1, 1910, the depressed Las Vegas closed all its casinos and brothels. In 1931, during the Great Depression in the United States, in order to overcome economic difficulties, the Nevada legislature passed a bill to legalize gambling, and Las Vegas became a gambling city, which has since risen rapidly.
As is well known, the main economic pillar of Las Vegas is casinos. Because casinos are a goldmine, tycoons from all over the United States have invested in building casinos in Las Vegas. Even wealthy Japanese, Arab princes, and famous actors have invested.
In 1990, Chinatown was established in Las Vegas, quickly becoming a gathering place for Asian Americans, which made Las Vegas one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States.
Today's Las Vegas boasts some of the world's top resort hotels, world-class large-scale shows, and high-tech entertainment facilities, and its reach has extended into the tourism and sex industries.
In Las Vegas, if you have money, it can satisfy any desire you have.
Of course, many people have also experienced going from being extremely wealthy to being penniless here, which is why Las Vegas is also known as the "Suicide Capital." The reason for suicide is naturally because they lost too much money gambling in Las Vegas.
In this world, there are many people who take risks. They come to Las Vegas with hope and dreams for one last gamble, but the impartial Las Vegas cannot tolerate these failures. In the end, they can only go to meet God in despair.
In addition, Las Vegas is also known as the "Wedding Capital of the World". There is a marriage registry office in Las Vegas that never closes, and an average of nearly 120,000 couples register for marriage here every year.
At the marriage registration office, you can see young people, middle-aged people and the elderly engrossed in filling out marriage forms. Some are of vastly different ages, and some are even carrying bamboo baskets with sleeping babies inside.
No proof is required; all you need to do is pay a $55 registration fee, and the marriage registry will completely believe any lies people make up. You can get a marriage certificate in 15 minutes and then find a pastor at a nearby church to hold the wedding.
Many movie stars and celebrities like to get married in Las Vegas, and eventually get divorced in the same city.
Zhuang Rui had recently seen a news report that Ray Lui and Kathy Chow, who were once very popular in the Shanghai Bund TV series, had held their wedding here.
You have to admit that Americans have an open mindset. What's new and hotly debated in China is that whirlwind marriages have been going on in Las Vegas for decades.
As Zhuang Rui pondered the information about this magical city, the car had already entered the city of Las Vegas. Compared to the desolation outside, it gave one the feeling of ascending directly from hell to heaven.
Everywhere you look, there is lush greenery, and the buildings on both sides of the road are strangely shaped, but decorated in a magnificent gold. It was only after Huangfu Yun's introduction that Zhuang Rui realized that this was the casino in Las Vegas.
The car carrying Zhuang Rui and his group drove directly into the MGM Grand Hotel, one of the world's ten largest resort hotels. The hotel has various restaurants, amusement parks, show venues, casinos and other leisure facilities. Most importantly, each hotel has its own unique features, making it practically a theme park.
As long as you stay in the hotel, almost all your needs can be met; whether you want to eat, play, or gamble, you can find it all.
The fourth wife dropped Zhuang Rui off at the hotel and left, but left a Chinese bodyguard to oversee Zhuang Rui's itinerary in Las Vegas. The gambling will take place the day after tomorrow morning, and Zhuang Rui will have a whole day and afternoon of leisure time.
Zhuang Rui wasn't interested in gambling, but he was very interested in the world-renowned shows in Las Vegas. After a short rest and a quick bite to eat, he dragged Peng Fei and the others to see the show.
The Canadian Circus's water theater cost $92 million just for stage props and equipment. The grand scale and innovative concept left Zhuang Rui in awe. The casino's signature show, the topless show, which has been performed for twenty years, thrilled Huangfu Yun, as all the dancers were completely naked from the waist up during the performance.
Although similar programs can be seen in some obscure places in China, they are not on the same level as this open and aboveboard performance with hundreds of people.
Zhuang Rui could only interpret this as one person doing a striptease being vulgar, but a hundred people doing it being art.
After Zhuang Rui returned to the hotel, the bodyguard who had been following him stepped forward and said, "Mr. Zhuang, Fourth Madam would like to see you to discuss the gambling matter with you..."
This was also a special instruction from the fourth wife, instructing the bodyguards not to disturb Zhuang Rui's enjoyment of the trip, but to arrange for him to meet up with any prostitutes or similar services that Zhuang Rui did not make any arrangements for the evening.
"Okay, let's go now..."
Zhuang Rui checked the time; it was just past nine o'clock in the evening. For Las Vegas, the nightlife was just beginning.
Having agreed to Mr. He's request and received so many benefits, Zhuang Rui, true to his principles, would naturally go all out in this bet.
Chapter 1034 The Fourth Wife of the He Family
The room where Fourth Wife stayed was the same as Zhuang Rui's, the hotel's top-of-the-line luxury room. Upon entering, there was a living room, and two maids standing at the door bowed slightly to Zhuang Rui.
Seeing that there were other people in the room, Zhuang Rui felt much more relaxed. Although he was meeting a woman in her fifties who could be called an old lady, Zhuang Rui was still a little uneasy, after all, this old lady was too enchanting.
These days, with advanced technology, all sorts of beauty and skincare methods are emerging. Didn't that Ms. Snowflake from Taiwan win the beauty pageant at the age of fifty? Those two lumps of flesh on her chest are enough to make many young women cover their faces in shame and feel inferior.
"Mr. Zhuang, please have a seat..."
Fourth Wife was sitting on the sofa watching the news when she saw Zhuang Rui come in, so she stood up and went to greet him.
She knew that this young man seemed ordinary, but he had a very strong foundation in the mainland. Even if Mr. He was wealthy and powerful in Macau, he could be wiped out in the blink of an eye in the face of Zhuang Rui's background.
Therefore, Fourth Wife dared not neglect Zhuang Rui at all. On the surface, she only assigned Zhuang Rui one bodyguard, but in reality, there was a large bodyguard team protecting Zhuang Rui in secret.
"Mr. Zhuang, did you have a good time this afternoon? Here... try some of the tea I brewed. It's been a few years since I've made Gongfu tea..."
Fourth Madam had a maid set up a tea set on the coffee table in front of the sofa. Her well-maintained hands skillfully performed the procedures of cleaning the utensils, waiting for the water to boil, and rinsing the cups. Before long, a cup of fragrant tea filled with a delightful aroma was placed in front of Zhuang Rui.
"Hmm? Good tea..."
Zhuang Rui brought the cup to his lips, took a small sip, and slowly savored the tea's smoothness on his lips and tongue. After swallowing, he felt a warm sensation lingering on his lips and teeth, and a fragrant aftertaste. He couldn't help but praise, "Fourth Madam's tea-brewing skills are comparable to those of a top-notch tea master..."
While praising him, Zhuang Rui was also somewhat surprised. How did the other party know that he had recently taken a liking to Kung Fu tea? Moreover, the top-grade Tieguanyin tea used was one that he had been researching recently.
"I'm glad Mr. Zhuang likes it. I still have some tribute Guanyin tea here; I'll take it to Mr. Zhuang later..."
The fourth wife is also a legendary woman in Macau. When she met the gambling king, she was just an ordinary working girl. In just thirty years, she became the manager of the gambling king's billion-dollar group. Her methods must have been extraordinary.
Fourth Wife used just a cup of tea to shorten the distance between herself and Zhuang Rui, which made Zhuang Rui feel very good about her. Her shrewdness was evident.
Of course, this feeling of affection is not romantic love; it would be more likely if the person in front of me were the beautiful daughter of the fourth wife.