The underground market has never been closed.

In 1998, almost all transactions were cash transactions, which was in the most elementary stage of market development.

After 2002, telephone calls began to be used. Investors placed bets over the phone, and the proceeds were transferred through banks. The increased concealment and convenience made the market grow like a snowball.

After the rise of the Internet, the styles became more diverse and a mature industrial chain was formed.

This pool in Dongjiang City has only been in operation for two or three years. It has handicaps for the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Champions League, and other popular leagues. The bookmaker behind it is unknown, but it has a good reputation, is safe and reliable, and is very popular among golfers.

Whenever a big game starts, everyone gathers in one or more secluded places, with a TV hanging in front of them. The game goes to the pool to fill with water, the game is broadcast live, and money is divided according to the odds of winning or losing.

However, this is the first time that Dongjiang has opened a World Cup match.

Lin Baiyao didn't plan to go alone. He didn't know the secrets involved, so he entrusted Chu Gang to come forward, which not only reduced the trouble, but also offset the possible risks in the future.

"...That's it. My dad has to go in and rest for two days, but it's the World Cup finals. He asked me to come to you and put all the money on Brazil 0:3 France."

Chu Gang frowned and said, "Shouldn't it be Aunt Shi who told me this? Why did I let you come?"

"My mother went to take care of my grandpa and was not at home during this period... Brother Gang, you understand, after all, my father's arrest is a disgraceful matter, and he doesn't want my mother and relatives over there to know..."

Forty thousand yuan is not much for a person like Chu Gang.

After all, he works in an entertainment hall and makes a lot of money every day. He has seen a lot of money.

But this money is really not too much for ordinary people. If you throw it all in, if you lose it...

Chu Gang hesitated and said: "I am still a friend in the nursery and asked Uncle Lin..."

"Oh, Brother Gang, you still can't trust me? Besides, my dad came out in two days. How dare I give you so much money without his permission?"

Lin Baiyao said with a smile: "Brother Gang, I'm going to brag about myself, so don't laugh at me. My dad has made a lot of money in restaurants in Xinkai District over the years. Forty thousand yuan is enough for him..."

"That's true!"

When it came to this point, Chu Gang couldn't refuse, and said: "Uncle Lin has really thought about it, is he betting on France? I heard that everyone is optimistic about Brazil..."

"My dad said that he doesn't understand football, but when everyone is optimistic about Brazil, then they have to bet on France to win. Otherwise, how can the big foreign bookmakers make money? Just by pumping water? They will be hungry."

"That makes sense!

In fact, big bookmakers can achieve perfect profits by adjusting odds. Even if they really want to control the game, the trick is to bribe the referee, such as what Bangziguo did in 2002, rather than bribe the opponent's players.

Therefore, the conspiracy theories about the 1998 World Cup finals are simply nonsense.

"You play a game first, and I'll ask someone for directions. We'll go there later."

"good!"

…

The No. 1 entertainment hall is divided into two floors, with hundreds of arcade machines. The most popular games from all over the country, such as "Master", "Dinosaur Island", "Metal Slug", "Eater of Heaven and Earth", "King of Fighters", "Street Fighter", etc.

.

As for some kind of tiger-eating machine, Lin Baiyao didn't see it, but he knew with his toes that it must be placed in a more hidden place.

These days, if there are no slot machines in the entertainment hall, it’s like Guangxing Street has no young ladies. How can it be popular?

Perhaps because of the summer vacation, almost all the machines were occupied, and there were dense crowds of spectators standing behind them, several times the number of players.

This situation seems to be familiar. In later generations, anchors would sit at home and play games, while the audience would watch happily on the live broadcast platform.

Now there are groups of spectators gathered in the entertainment hall, watching with equal excitement people they know and don't know playing games.

Times are changing, and the game methods are changing, but the core and spirit of the game remain the same:

Game, just for fun!

Lin Baiyao finally found a machine in the corner and tried the joystick: Well, it is made by Sanwa, the island country next door, and the quality is good.

This is not licking, but facing the facts.

In the island country in the 1990s, the so-called craftsman spirit had not yet become the shameless craftsmanship spirit that it later became. The products produced were durable and were quite different from the copycats.

"Street Fighter extras..."

As a senior arcade enthusiast, I was an invincible player in surrounding schools during high school, so I know this 3D battle game that was just launched in 1998.

Lin Baiyao quickly found the feel, and was enjoying the crackling. The tall fat man next to the machine turned his head, stared at it for a while, and suddenly said: "Brother, let's play a round?"

Most fat people use their voices to control welfare, and this one is no exception. He is tall and slender, but his mouth is the ceiling for Qing Shuyin.

In other words, without a mouthful of 82-year-old phlegm, there is no way to produce such a bubble sound that makes a girl blush and her heart beats.

Facing the challenge from his peers, Lin Baiyao had no reason to refuse and said with a smile: "Come on!"

Twenty seconds!

Complete abuse!

The fat man was dissatisfied: "Hey, brother, okay, let's play another round?"

"come."

Fifteen seconds!

Complete torture again!

However, the fat man exchanged fifty coins without blinking an eye, and huffed and fell on the table next to him, making it clear that he wanted to fight Lin Baiyao.

Lin Baiyao was not polite, he changed roles after a round, and made all kinds of sexy moves to make the fat brother cry.

He was convinced!

"Great God...I want to worship you as my teacher..."

"It's okay to have a discussion, but there's no need to become a disciple."

"Then, can you make a friend?"

"Okay, let's get to know Lin Baiyao!"

"My name is Cao Mengde!"

"...Are you sure you really want to make friends?"

It was obviously not the first time that Fatty encountered this kind of doubt. He calmly took out his second-generation plastic ID card and pointed to the name and stamp: "Look, Cao Mengde, certified by the state, fidelity!"

Lin Baiyao gave a thumbs up and said: "This name is amazing..."

"My name is not awesome, my brother's is awesome."

Cao Mengde's face was full of pride and he said: "My brother's name is Cao Zhongmou!"

Cao Cao said that having children should be like Sun Zhongmou.

Good guy, your dad is going to kill Cao Cao and Sun Quan in one fell swoop!

Lin Baiyao asked with admiration: "What's your uncle's name?"

"Cao Bei!"

learn!

If there was a rice circle in the Three Kingdoms, your whole family would be die-hard fans!

He and Cao Mengde were discussing and talking, and when night fell, he left in advance and made an appointment to find a day to play together. Chu Gang also came back from outside, told his younger brother to watch the scene, and rode on the Dayang 100 curved beam motorcycle placed at the door.

Said: "Come on, I've found out where the odds are and I'll take you there to open your eyes."

Dayang Motorcycles were all the rage in the 1990s, but this model of imported engine costs about 13,000 yuan. Serious workers cannot afford it, and only crooks like Chu Gang, who are young and can make money quickly, can afford it.

I'm willing to buy it to support the scene.

Chu Gang said: "Brother, do you have a helmet?"

This is the instinct of the reborn:

Cherish your life!

"In the movie "Love", when Andy Lau got a nosebleed while riding a motorcycle, did he wear a helmet?"

"No……"

"understand?"

"Understood...real men don't wear helmets!"

Lin Baiyao sat behind the car and couldn't help but rolled his eyes:

Brother, in your profession, shouldn’t you like to watch Young and Dangerous? Why are you so interested in romance movies?

Besides, the focus of Andy Lau's last scene was the nosebleed, and he wore a helmet and filmed it for the ghosts to see!

…

The motorcycle was speeding towards the west, the wind was blowing against his face, and the boy's drool-worthy hair volume and texture were like tassels flying in the stars.

The whole city did not have the high-rise buildings and dazzling light pollution of later generations. The dim street lights were enough to illuminate the road underfoot. In the distance, there was a mixture of light and shadow, prosperity and dilapidation. People returning home in a hurry would cast envious eyes when they heard the roar.

, and then quickly disappeared into the darkness behind him.

Lin Baiyao narrowed his eyes due to the wind.
To be continued...