The next morning, I rushed to the catering department of Emperor Hotel and hastily greeted the staff before going to find Zhao Gang.

  Zhao Gang is a contractor who takes on business at various construction sites and has a group of younger brothers under him, with a relatively wide network.

  I came to Zhao Gangs office and found a beautifully dressed woman sitting on his lap, chatting and laughing with him in a very intimate manner.

  I couldnt help but feel somewhat surprised.

  Zhao Gang has always been unapproachable to women, how could this be?

  Seeing me, Zhao Gang pushed the woman away and pointed at my bandaged arm, "Brother, whats this?"

  I was mainly injured in the ribs, and my arm was also unlucky.

  "Its nothing." I waved my hand.

  "Whats wrong? Has someone bullied you?" Zhao Gangs eyes widened.

  Then he pushed the beautiful woman out and closed the door. "Were not outsiders, whats going on? Speak up."

  I briefly told him about what happened with Bai Yes men, then said: "I married a woman I didnt understand and its really embarrassing. Can you help me investigate?"

  "You want me to investigate my sister-in-laws past?"

  Zhao Gang smiled incredulously, pulled out a cigarette, lit one for me and then one for himself, slowly exhaling a string of smoke rings. "What was I worried about? Damn it!"

  "How can this not be a big deal?" I was anxious, "I suspect your sister-in-law and that guy named Bai Ye are not being transparent with each other, can you understand my current mood."

  "Brother Chen, dont get excited. I know Bai Ye, hes just a small leader of the Qinglong Gang. Hes quite a lecher, cant move his legs when he sees beautiful women. Its not surprising that he chased after your wife."

  Zhao Gang and Zou Miao Miaos words matched up.

  I felt relieved.

  Maybe Im too sensitive.

  Zou Miao is a great beauty, its no wonder men chase after her. It would be strange if they didnt.

  Zhao Gang continued: "Zou Miao Miao became your wife, he cant even eat grapes and yet he takes it out on you, Bai Ye is really not a good thing!"

  I found Zhao Gangs tone and style of speaking have changed a lot.

  He used to be quite stable and never mentioned his mother.

  Besides, hes not too into women, just now when I came in, he was actually hugging a woman!

  Seeing the question on my face, Zhao Gang lowered his voice and said, "Recently Ive been on a good streak, winning one million."

  He then smiled and said, "Whats the point of making money if its not for fun?"

  "You... gamble?" I was shocked.

  Zhao Gang once told me in person that I must absolutely not get involved with gambling, or else I would be finished.

  This guy actually went gambling?

  Its too hard to imagine.

  "I happened to play a round and unexpectedly won 50,000 yuan. I thought this 50,000 was my winnings anyway, so I used it to continue betting."

  "My luck was too good, 50,000 became a huge profit, all the way up to 1 million."

  "After saying that, he sighed and said, Actually, gambling isnt as terrible as I imagined. The key is a persons willpower. As long as you can control yourself, you wont get trapped."

  I suddenly remembered that Zou Miao Miao said she was a dealer in a casino, I asked Zhao Gang, "Which casino are you at?"

  "What?" Zhao Gang was stunned, "Youre not also playing this, are you?"

  "Of course not."

  I shook my head helplessly. "You may not know, but your sister-in-law has a part-time job at the casino. I want to know if shes working at the one youve been to?"

  "Sister-in-law is a card dealer?" Zhao Gang was surprised, "Its not easy to be a card dealer, its not something that can be done casually."

  Then he smiled and said, "So sister is a person from the rivers and lakes."

  "Say less useless things."

  Ill get to the point, "I came to find you just to tell you this thing. I think your sister-in-law is too mysterious, dont you have a group of younger brothers under your command? Help me investigate your sister-in-laws background."

  "No problem."

  Zhao Gang nodded in agreement and looked at me very seriously. "I understand your character, you wont just let things go like this. You must want to make a comeback, right?"

  "Im now penniless, and on top of that, I owe a huge debt."

  I took a deep drag on my cigarette. "I just heard that the chicken soup shop poisoning incident was pinned on Si Maowei. That guy must be hiding somewhere."

  I thought Zhao Gang would definitely be spirited after hearing this sentence.

  But he calmly said a sentence, "Even if we find this person, its useless. The thing has already happened. To say something unpleasant, the sign of Fengs Chicken Soup Restaurant has been smashed."

  Zhao Gang is not feeling well.

  He is not considering the problem from my perspective.

  How strange!

  How did Zhao Gang become like this?

  Someone once said that gambling can change a persons temperament, and maybe its really like that.

  I told Zhao Gang: "You know me best, Im not a person who eats soft rice."

  "Brother Chen, I know youre in a tough spot right now. I suggest you take a gamble."

  "Gambling?" I smiled wryly, "Not to mention that I never gamble, even if I wanted to, do I have the funds for it?"

  "I lend you 200,000."

  "Lend me some money?"

  Seeing Zhao Gangs enthusiastic face, I suddenly felt suspicious.

  Whats wrong with him?

  Why persuade me to gamble?

  Still willing to lend me money?

  Of course, despite having doubts in my heart, I didnt show it on my face. I shook my head, "I dont understand gambling at all. This thing requires practice and innate skill, what can I do?"

  "Do I have a youthful appearance?"

  Zhao Gang retorted, "Gambling doesnt require skill, its all about luck."

  He extinguished his cigarette butt, stood up, "Life is a gamble, it should be lived stimulatingly. Otherwise, its really not interesting."

  Then he said firmly to me: "Brother Chen, if you want to make a comeback, you must go to another city to start again and open a new chicken soup restaurant, but you dont have the funds."

  "So now you have no other way out except to take a gamble."

  "I know you dont want me to lend you money, but theres actually another way..."

  As he said this, Zhao Gang wanted to speak but hesitated.

  "Whats the solution?"

  "You can transfer your secret recipe."

  I suddenly reacted and changed color, "Is it Liu Xiaoting who let you do this?"

  I thought of a possibility.

  Liu Xiaoting actively let me go to the Emperors Building catering department as a manager, actually in order to get out of my secret recipe.

  At the same time, she must find Zhao Gang and let Zhao Gang act as an intermediary to buy the secret recipe with money.

  The latter is her second plan.

  "Who is Liu Xiaoting?" Zhao Gangs face was full of surprise.

  Its clear that he really doesnt know Liu Xiaoting.

  I realized I had misunderstood Zhao Gang. I said: "Liu Xiaoting is the deputy general manager of Emperor Hotel, and she used to work as a waitress in my chicken soup restaurant."

  "Whats so funny?"

  "No joke. Shes after the secret recipe for Won Ton Soup."

  "This woman is not simple." Zhao Gangs face turned solemn, "I didnt say anything wrong, your chicken soup shop has been set up by someone."

  "You finally got to the point."

  "Help me get to the bottom of this matter. Help me find Tang Sima."

  "Ill take care of it." Zhao Gang patted his chest, "Another day, Ill take you to the casino to take a look. Ill ask around which casino your sister-in-law is at and get back to you."

  After finishing speaking, Zhao Gang opened the drawer, took out a stack of banknotes and stuffed them into my hand. "Buy some nutritious food and take care of your body first."