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As soon as the three of them stepped into the casino at the New Orient Grand Hotel, they were greeted by guards armed to the teeth. Inside, it was almost a mirror image of the Golden Mountain and Silver Sea Casino—opulent décor, gold glittering everywhere, and every hostess was drop-dead gorgeous, dressed in skimpy, seductive casino uniforms.
The New Orient Casino was packed to the rafters, shoulder to shoulder with people from every corner of China, their voices a chorus of dialects and accents. At every gambling table, besides the 'shooters'—the hired hands who bet on behalf of the big bosses—there was something you wouldn’t see at Golden Mountain and Silver Sea: chip runners zigzagging through the crowd, swapping out chips. Most were young and scrawny, many with hooked noses, pointy heads, limp hair, jutting jaws, and bony, shriveled hands.
These young men all looked excited, moving as swiftly as barracudas among the plump, proud gamblers, busy exchanging chips, serving tea, lighting cigarettes, even holding fruit trays and ashtrays nearby—totally humble.
Shawn Young glanced at them and instantly noticed their shabby looks, haggard faces, and lifeless eyes. From their appearance, it was clear these guys were destined for a life of odd jobs and servitude—never to get rich, just scraping by or hustling for others.
Noticing Shawn’s gaze lingering on these quirky young men, Simon Bai explained, “They’re called chip runners. Not gamblers themselves, but pros at serving the big bosses—swapping chips, fetching drinks, running errands. It’s like the boss’s money is their own. Most have regular patrons, but only when their boss wins do they get a tip, like vultures snatching scraps from lions. These scraps may be meager, but they’re enough to keep them going. They’re the parasites of the casino! The more chip runners a casino has, the hotter the action!”
"Oh, I see!" Shawn Young and Rainie Bai nodded in realization. Shawn then asked curiously, "But why aren’t there any chip runners at Golden Mountain Casino?"
"Ah! Golden Mountain Casino has different rules from New Orient. They believe in 'keeping the fat in the family,' so even tips from gamblers and bosses go to the staff and security. New Orient isn’t as fancy, but it’s way more lively! Here, all kinds of people gather, betting is more free, and having chip runners feels great, so the gambling vibe is better! Honestly, I’ve lost more money here than anywhere else—" Simon Bai explained, then admitted his own losses.
As they spoke, a sneaky-looking, timid young man squeezed in front of them, quickly sizing up Shawn Young and Rainie Bai before plastering on a fawning smile. "Welcome, young master and beautiful lady from the mainland! Hehe—my nickname’s Quail Boy. If you need anything, just say the word! I guarantee you’ll get your money’s worth!"
Shawn Young sized up Quail Boy and saw he really did look like a quail in winter—shivering and jumpy, the very picture of a petty crook. Shawn didn’t turn him away, but asked, “Really? Then tell me, what’s the most exciting game here, the one where you can win big?”
Quail Boy’s eyes darted and he quickly replied, “Oh! Boss, there are tons of ways to gamble here—any of them can win you big money! As long as you’re brave enough to bet big, it’s guaranteed to be exciting! And you could win a fortune!”
“Oh, we’re just here for fun. Just tell me which game is the simplest and most straightforward!” Shawn Young said.
“That’d be Big-Small! It’s the easiest game—fast, thrilling, win or lose in a single round! It’s a simple high-low card game, super popular in Chinese casinos.” Quail Boy grinned as he introduced it.
“Alright, let’s play Big-Small!” Shawn Young said.
Quail Boy’s eyes lit up and he eagerly said, “Please follow me! I’ll show you the hottest table!”
Shawn Young pointed at Simon Bai beside him and said, “Oh! I’m not the one gambling, he is! We’re just here to watch the action!”
Quail Boy froze, squinting at Simon Bai, then suddenly exclaimed, “Ah—you’re that Bai guy who shines shoes on the street, aren’t you? How come—”
Simon Bai’s face flushed red. He opened his waist pouch, revealing bundles of red Chinese yuan bills, and glared at Quail Boy, “Watch it, kid! Don’t look down on people! Get me a good spot, now!”
Quail Boy’s eyes lit up and he instantly switched to a flattering smile, “Sorry, Boss Bai! I was just joking. I know you’re a big shot! I’ll get you the best table—this time you’re sure to win big!”
“Cut the crap! If you serve me well and I win big, you’ll get your runner’s fee!” Simon Bai snapped.
Quail Boy perked up and immediately led Simon Bai, Shawn Young, and Rainie Bai to a bustling table, squeezing out a spot. He grinned at Simon Bai, “Boss Bai, this seat faces the cash and has a wall behind for support—top-notch feng shui! (That’s a Chinese concept for lucky placement and good vibes.) You’re all set to show your skills! Hehe—”
Simon Bai nodded, glanced back at Shawn Young and Rainie Bai, saw Shawn give him a nod to go all in, and Rainie Bai whispered, “Dad, just bet freely, but every time put down the biggest wager. Just follow my lead!”
“Oh—” Simon Bai nodded. After Rainie Bai finished, she returned to Shawn Young’s side.
After having Quail Boy exchange 50,000 in chips for him, Simon Bai eyed the beautiful female dealer across the table and immediately bet 10,000 chips—betting big!
After having Quail Boy exchange 50,000 in chips for him, Simon Bai eyed the beautiful female dealer across the table and went all in with a bet of 10,000 chips!
Rainie Bai leaned in and whispered, “Next round, put all the remaining 20,000 down!”
Simon Bai nervously asked, “Rainie—we only have one last chance!”
“I know, don’t worry—go for it! We’ll win!” Rainie Bai reassured him.
“Uh—okay! Let’s go all in!” Simon Bai gritted his teeth and bet the remaining 20,000 chips on 'big' again!
After a nerve-wracking wait, the dealer revealed her cards—this time, Simon Bai was overjoyed to see it was 'big', he won!!
The pretty dealer’s brows furrowed slightly, thinking she’d made a mistake, but kept her poker face and started the next round. Simon Bai, now brimming with confidence, kept betting the maximum!