<h4>Chapter 96: Smoke and Business II</h4>


    “What exactly is going on?” I asked.


    “As I’ve already mentioned, they haven’t been getting paid for two months now. They were waiting for the 500,000 your father promised and for you to save them.”


    “What’s with the 500,000?”


    “You don’t know?” he asked, eyes wide and disbelieving.


    “What am I supposed to know? I only know that these calls are overheating my phone and that I know less about this hopeless factory than you guys.”


    “You graduated from Beijing University, right? Marketing? Managed finances in a high-endpany, yearly sry of a million?” sses asked.


    “Yes, I’m from there but I am still an undergraduate. The rest of what you said is not true. Did my dad tell you that?”


    sses shook his head. “He took thest 500,000 from thepany. He said it was for you to bring thepany back up again.”


    “What a joke. Why did you guys let him take it so easily?”


    “He said you’re earning a million a year and that the 500,000 is to be ced in suitable investments. Plus, he’s our boss, so why would we doubt him? You’re ourst hope now that you’re here,” he stated.


    “Hold on. Do you not understand? He took thest 500,000 and ran away, leaving me with his position.”


    “This... can we get it back? That money is for our sry. What should we do?” sses asked worriedly.


    “He’s been gone for almost a day now, do you really think we can still find him? He told me not to look for him and he will do the same,” I ryed, looking out of the windows. The workers were striving hard.


    “We’re doomed then?” sses plopped down onto a white sofa at the side.


    “How long have you been here for, sses?”


    “Since 2007, the first year of operation. I’ve been here for about 10 years now. Who would’ve known that thepany will fall into such a state...” he sobbed spasmodically, wiping his face with his sleeve.


    “Things aren’t as bad as they seem. We can continue selling the cars, right?” I asked.


    “Yes. You’re a high-performing marketing student, aren’t you? You’ll know what to do, won’t you? You’re our savior!” sses stood up and looked at me hopefully.


    “I’ll need to know how big the hole is...” I answered.


    “You’re saying we need more fundings, right? But your dad’s taken thest bit away and we really have nothing to fork out anymore. There’s no way...” he mumbled anxiously.


    I fished my phone out and waved it in front of him. “Those calling me... what banks are they from and how much does thepany owe them? Give me the exact numbers.”


    “I have a book. Hold on,” he said, rummaging through the cabs.


    He read aloud the contents of a small notebook, “A total of 13,630,000, which is considered little, thanks to the stores and factories that were being put up as coteral. Amidst the total, 10,000,000 are loans from respective banks like Central Bank, China Construction Bank, Field Bank and Industrial, and Commercial Bank of China. 3,000,000 was borrowed from a loan shark. I manage this side really strictly but your father had managed to borrow it somehow from someone called Brother Luan, a mafia boss. If we don’t return it as soon as possible, this factory is going down in a matter of days.”


    I turned my phone on, much to sses’ surprise. He asked, “Why would you do that? Are you not afraid of those calls?”


    I shook my head, frustrated. “I need to settle them before I can think about making money.”


    I called each bank up ordingly.


    “Hi, this is Central Bank.”


    “I’m the legal representative of Roadcat,” I greeted.


    “Hold on while I transfer your call to my manager.”


    Minutes passed.


    “Hi, sir. Under yourpany’s name, a loan of an estimated four million is due. Our final warning letter’s been sent out more than ten times and we’ve already taken legal action...”


    “I understand and I am ready to negotiate. Can you suspend the case for now?” I requested.


    “A huge sum of money is involved and yourpany is in decline. We cannot possibly take such a big risk. Please understand our position.”


    “It’s like this. We have an umted debt of over 13,000,000, from four banks in total. I’ve managed to convince the other three banks. Please suspend the case or there’s no way I can make a single cent appear. You banks won’t get much from me by turning it into a court case, but I can guarantee that if you suspend it, I will return the minimum sum to your bank every month.”


    sses grabbed my arm, possibly to chide me, but I made a ‘shush’ gesture to him. He fell silent but his grip on my arm remained tight, he had no intention of letting go.


    “You’re saying that if we suspend the case, you’ll repay the minimum sum? That would be 60,000 a month. I’ll help you make an appeal if you can guarantee that.”


    “Thank you for your hard work. I’ll make sure that the money gets to you on the first of each month.” I hang up.


    sses exploded. He let go of my arm and shouted, “No, you’re lying to them! How are we supposed to gather 60,000 a month? And the otherpanies... they never agreed to suspend the case!”


    I called up the second bank, China Construction Bank.


    Before the line connected, I said, “Am I not calling them up now? Shut it if you want thepany to live.”


    As if understanding something, he took out a pen and paper to jot down the sum to be returned each month.


    ...


    After conversing with all four banks, sses raised his list. “We’ll need 150,000 by the next month to save thepany.”


    “Isn’t this a lot simpler now? And the loan shark, Brother Luan. Do you have his number?”


    sses fiddled with his phone for a few seconds before handing it over to me.


    “What’s up?”


    “Hi, Brother Luan, I’m Lu Ba’s son, Lu Qiao. I’m here to repay Roadcat’s debt so can you please ask your men to stop calling me?”


    “You’re willing to pay 3,400,000?”


    “I don’t have it now but I can return it on the first of the next month. How about that?”


    “Have you gone silly? Or are you nning to sell away yourst factory and two stores?”


    “I can manage it without selling anything. I just hope you can give me until the next month.”


    “You said you’re Lu Ba’s son? Are you that remarkable?”


    “I have no other choice. I can’t produce anything if you rush me like that,” I responded.


    “3,500,000 next month, then. Miss a 100,000 and you’ll be missing a finger. I’ll have your right arm if you can’t keep your end of the bargain. I’ll keep my promise and I won’t call you until then.”


    “Thanks. Oh right, my dad’s fingers... you chopped them?” I asked.


    “d you know. I’ll see you in your factory in a month’s time.” He hung up.


    sses echoed fearfully, “3,650,000 in 20 days?”


    “It’s not that bad,” I said with a bitter smile.