Chapter 89: California Heaven and Hell

Vanderbilt's disappointing son Connie is still the same, not changed at all. Google search reading

Connie owed another $43,000 in gambling debts in the casino in California, and owed more than $1,000 in wine on credit in the tavern.

If there is anything worth mentioning besides these, it is that Connie has been a guest of honor in the police station several times because of fighting, which gave Sheriff Flagg a headache.

Even the captain of the Sacramento often complained to Liang Yao because Connie often ate and ate on the Sacramento.

Connie wanted to go to the brothel for free several times, but Leland Stanford, who was in charge of the casino and brothel, was not a good person and directly drove Connie out.

Stanford allowed Connie to gamble in the casino and continue to owe more gambling debts, but he would never allow Connie to go to the brothel for free.

Because these ladies could bring him several ounces of gold for every additional guest they received, and Connie could not take out any cash.

When Liang Yao found this young man with a bad record, his red hair was long and messy, tangled in clumps, and his beard had not been groomed for a long time. It was impossible to tell that this homeless man who was sleeping soundly next to the garbage dump and exuded a strong smell of alcohol was only a young man of 19 years old.

Although it was noon and the sun was high, it did not affect Connie's sleep quality at all. He slept very sweetly.

Two or three wild dogs that smelled the smell were licking the vomit next to Connie.

Connie's custom-made clothes with exquisite fabrics had long been pawned by him, not to mention the valuable gold pocket watch and fountain pen.

The clothes he was wearing now could not be called clothes, but rags found from nowhere, barely used to cover his body.

"Let him wake up."

Liang Yao looked down at Connie and said, it must be said that it was a miracle that this kid could survive until now.

A guard following Liang Yao drew a bucket of cold water from the nearest well and poured it on Connie's face at Liang Yao's instruction.

"Who? Which bitch threw cold water on me?"

Connie jumped up from the ground instantly after being splashed with cold water, raised his fist and was ready to fight at any time.

When he saw that it was Liang Yao, Connie put down his hand raised in the air, because several strong and tall guards behind Liang Yao had already put their hands on the handles of the revolvers on their waists.

"It turned out to be you, Mr. Liang."

Connie yawned, stretched his body lazily, and said with a smirk.

"Mr. Liang, are you here to pay me? I am your employee, but you haven't paid me once."

"But you haven't served me even for a minute." Liang Yao said lightly.

"Oh, really?" Connie rubbed his bloodshot eyes in disappointment and said, "I thought you would give me a surprise. If there is nothing else, I will continue to sleep. Please, Mr. Liang."

"Connie, are you interested in playing a few games with me in the VIP room of the casino?" Liang Yao asked Connie.

"VIP room?! Of course I am interested! But as far as I know, you don't gamble."

As soon as he heard about gambling, Connie, a veteran gambler, immediately became interested, and his eyes that were not full of bloodshot also sparkled.

"It's a good day today."

The autumn in California came quietly, and the hot and scorching sun in summer gradually became mild and pleasing.

A cool breeze in early autumn blew across Liang Yao's wheat-colored face, making him feel very comfortable and cozy.

"I'm in a good mood too, so when I'm happy, I want to gamble a few games with you."

"Thanks for the warm autumn weather!"

Connie habitually patted the dust on his tattered clothes to make himself look cleaner and more decent, although it was in vain.

The casino in San Francisco is located in the city center of the old city.

This is not the focus of Liang Yao's development in San Francisco. Liang Yao's main focus is on the new city center with the new commercial street as the center. Because it is much simpler and cheaper to build a new city than to rebuild the old city.

The casino looks particularly abrupt against the backdrop of a bunch of dilapidated sheds and tents in the old city.

In fact, the casino in San Francisco is still the most spectacular and gorgeous building besides Liang Yao's Tingtao Garden so far. Gamblers call it a "palace".

Walking into the casino, beautiful and fashionable women are responsible for opening cards or spinning roulette wheels. There are also erotic pictures hanging on the walls, which are full of white stains with a fishy smell.

There are even bands in the casino to liven up the atmosphere. Under the shining of a bunch of dazzling lights, everything in the casino seems full of vitality, and people are shrouded in a cheerful atmosphere.

Even during the day, casinos like to keep doors and windows closed, draw curtains, and light expensive whale oil lamps for lighting.

This is not to evade government inspections. In California, gambling is still legal for the time being. It is because it is more atmospheric.

Casinos of all sizes in San Francisco and Sacramento are open 24 hours a day, always open to welcome gamblers with money.

Miners, sailors, coolies, merchants, priests, and even deserters and slaves who have deserted their posts are excitedly gathered around the gambling tables, encouraged by the scantily clad girls to spend a lot of money.

Spending a fortune is not just a literal meaning. The gamblers throw real gold on the gambling table. Bags of gold dust, finger-sized gold nuggets, and the backs of California gold coins that have just been minted by the mint are casually placed on the gambling table. There are no dollar bills, because compared with the dollar bills and banknotes of Eastern banks, the casino recognizes real gold more.

This casino is the largest casino in California, and the biggest bets are also made. It is common here to bet on $10,000 or $20,000, or even $30,000 or $40,000.

In New York, a bet of $10,000 or $20,000 can even make the news.

The last time the California Daily News published such news was a bet of $50,000, and it is said that there is a new record now.

Two gamblers who had a dispute fought on the gambling table, and the casino thugs stopped them.

The two gamblers did not want to let each other go, and shouted that they wanted to have a man-to-man duel to decide the winner.

They walked out of the casino because duels were not allowed in the casino.

Even dueling can become an interesting gambling game. The gamblers who are not afraid of trouble encourage them to duel, and they place bets on the side.

The two people were just trying to save face and show their masculinity in front of the gamblers and prostitutes, but at this time they were already in a difficult situation and could only bite the bullet and pull out the revolvers at their waists to duel.

With two gunshots, the two duelists fell at the door of the casino at the same time. The casino's thugs were no strangers to such duels, and they quickly cleaned up their obstructive bodies to avoid affecting the normal operation of the casino.

This is California's paradise, but also California's hell.

The person in charge of the casino, Leland Stanford, had been waiting for Liang Yao in the casino.

"Mr. Liang, a rare guest." Stanford came up to show his courtesy to Liang Yao.

"Rare guest?" Liang Yao looked at Stanford with an intriguing look. "This is my casino, I'm not a guest, Mr. Stanford."

Not only the casinos in California, but also the casinos in Sacramento and even Los Angeles belong to Liang Yao. Without his permission, the new casinos will not be open until the second day of opening.

The ragged Connie looked at Stanford's embarrassed appearance and couldn't help gloating. This guy had driven him out of the brothel many times.

Mr. Stanford's reputation among gamblers is not good. Almost all gamblers are afraid of Stanford. Once a gambler with a huge debt to the casino is found by Stanford, it will definitely be bad.

It is said that Mr. Stanford has privately executed several deadbeat gamblers, but this is just the gamblers' speculation, because they have not found any clues about the missing gamblers so far.

The police station finally hastily closed the case as a missing case.

But Connie guessed that it is very likely that Stanford lynched those gamblers who owed huge debts to the casino, or even executed them privately.

It was such a villain who behaved like an obedient child in front of Liang Yao, which surprised Connie.

"I'm sorry, sir, I said the wrong thing."

Stanford realized that he was a little too proud of himself. He wanted to continue to manage the brothel and casino business for Liang Yao, so Stanford slapped himself mercilessly.

"That's good to know. Lead the way." Liang Yao spoke in a cold tone.

"Yes, sir."

Stanford breathed a sigh of relief, and then asked the casino's thugs to blindfold Connie.

Connie, who was blindfolded, fell into darkness, but he was not afraid, but a little excited.

"Is this the latest service provided by the VIP room? Mr. Stanford, can you go next door and call a few girls to help? Mr. Liang is treating us today!" Connie said excitedly.

"You'll know in a moment, Mr. Connie."

Stanford looked at Connie with some disgust. Connie should be thankful that his father is Vanderbilt, otherwise, the money he owed to the casino would be enough to kill him several times.

Liang Yao came to the basement of the casino, and the fresh air instantly became turbid and smelly.

Several casino thugs ignored the gambler's pleading and pressed his hand on a chopping board. Stanford took off the black cloth covering Connie's eyes.

"Welcome to the VIP box, Mr. Connie." Stanford said to Connie with a fake smile.

Stanford's malicious smile made Connie feel numb all over. When he saw the situation in the basement clearly, he panicked.

"Lou Rivers, George, why are you here?"

The lighting conditions in the basement were not bad, and Connie quickly recognized two of the gamblers.

The one whose left hand was pressed on the chopping board was Lou Rivers, and they had played together at a gambling table.

"Lou Rivers, you are a dishonest gambler!

You owed the casino $600. Unfortunately, you failed to pay off the casino's debt within the stipulated time limit and tried to escape.

According to the rules, $100 is a finger cut off. I will cut off the little finger and ring finger of your left hand, and the entire middle finger of your left hand as punishment for your escape."

Stanford was timid in front of Liang Yao, like a well-behaved child, but in front of these gamblers, he was the supreme king.

Stanford waved his hand lightly, and a thug couldn't wait to take out a sharp hunting knife and started his work very skillfully.

Stanford then looked at the trembling Connie and smiled kindly at Connie: "Mr. Connie, I know what you are thinking. Maybe you owe too much, and you can't even remember how much you owe the casino.

Fortunately, I have a good memory. I will tell you the answer now. You owe the casino a total of 43,000 US dollars in principal! For the money you owe, you can't pay it back just by cutting off your fingers and toes. "

"Nonsense! I only owe more than 40,000 US dollars! Where did more than 100,000 US dollars come from?" Connie argued, "I studied in a business school! I am not one of those illiterate gamblers!"

"Mr. Connie, you are so forgetful. At the beginning of 1849, you owed this casino 60,000 US dollars, and the casino still has your IOU.

In addition, this is only the principal, and I haven't calculated the interest with you. Since you studied in a business school, I think you should know how much you owe the casino including the interest. "Stanford still kept a kind smile to Connie.

"That's what I owe Brannan, what does it have to do with you? "Connie was a little scared.

If you count the gambling debt owed in 1849, including Bendeli, he owed the casino at least more than 200,000 US dollars.

Even in California, where gold is everywhere, more than 200,000 US dollars is not a small amount.

"But Mr. Brannan transferred the casino to Mr. Liang, so you still have to pay this money back." Stanford said.

"I don't want to gamble anymore. I want to leave this place." Connie said in a panic.