Chapter 29: Team Building
"Party A: XX Financial Consulting Company"
"Party B: Sun Shengli (ID number: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX)"
"Whereas the borrower, Sun Shengli (Party B), has applied for a loan from Party A in the amount of RMB150,000.00 (in words) yuan..."
"Loan interest..."
"Loan term..."
Chen Nuo parked his motorcycle a few streets away at the entrance of a supermarket and took a quick glance at the contract from his pocket.
Well, the loan date mentioned is the second day after school started. No wonder Old Sun seemed a bit off ever since the school year began, filled with anxiety and a little listless. Initially, I thought Old Sun was just feeling down because of a fight with his wife at home. Now it seems he was troubled by loan sharks.
Chen Nuo sighed. The trouble Old Sun got himself into isn't simple at all. I initially thought it was just a simple family drama. How did loan sharks get mixed into this? That confrontation at the school this morning... they were practically trying to drive Old Sun to his death; their tactics were too cruel. Social death. What kind of grudge is this deep? What are they after?
Around nine in the evening, Xiao Guohua walked out of a KTV named Blue Frog. Perhaps preoccupied, he nearly missed a step on the stairs at the entrance, but fortunately, a manager beside him was quick to lend support.
"Mr. Xiao? Please be careful."
Xiao Guohua glanced up at the manager and nodded.
At that moment, Xiao Guohua's mind was a chaotic mess, as if overgrown with weeds. My financial company was raided today... eight or nine of my toughest guys, men who've been with me for years, real fighters who've seen blood and done time. And yet, some lone intruder barged in and took them all down single-handedly. Losing over a hundred thousand in cash isn't the biggest deal. But Cui Dapeng and a few others are still in the hospital. And worse, all the client data for the financial company was burned on the spot. This is real trouble.
That financial company is just my front for loan sharking. The loan agreements themselves don't matter much; for loan sharks, contracts are bullshit—they aren't legally protected anyway. With my reputation as Boss Xiao, who would dare default on me? But the problem is, someone wiped out the whole company, even burned the client contracts! This is a blatant slap in my face, trampling all over my dignity! Who the fuck is so bold? I haven't made any deadly enemies around here lately. This is pushing someone to the brink, offending them to death!
Luo Dachanzi? No way, that guy's busy with his earthmoving business; he hasn't dabbled in my line of work. Little Cotton? Couldn't be him either; he deals in drugs. Fu Daqing? Doesn't seem like him. He only got out of prison a year ago and is busy fighting for turf and collecting protection fees. His eyes are glued to those new big trading markets all day.
The most crucial question: how capable is this guy? One person, single-handedly, took down all my men guarding the place, and they didn't even touch a hair on his head. Where the hell did this monstrous fiend come from? Too damn fierce!
When Xiao Guohua received the news earlier today, he was having lunch at one of his mistresses' homes. She had given birth to a son for him last year and was currently his favorite. She'd been all over him at noon, trying to get him to buy her a car. Then, after the call, Xiao Guohua had rushed out. He'd spent the whole afternoon sending all his men out to gather information. Who the fuck messed with me?
Xiao Guohua was forty years old, a local magnate. In the business of loan sharking, he was considered a top figure locally. It was a bloody business, and to reach his current level, Xiao Guohua had naturally nurtured many fierce underlings. Over the past two years, he had expanded his businesses beyond loan sharking, opening a teahouse and a car dealership.
According to the historical trajectory Chen Nuo knew from his previous life, if nothing went wrong, Xiao Guohua would venture into the automobile sales industry next year. In a few years, he would manage to start up two 4S stores and, with the huge profits from the auto parts business, make a fortune. Of course, his downfall wasn't pretty either. Originally from the loan sharking business, he later took part in the P2P lending boom, seeing how quickly money could be made there. He collaborated with a few others to create something similar... then was ruined when the bubble burst. He had planned to abscond with the money but failed and ended up behind bars.
The current Xiao Guohua wasn't as illustrious as he would be in a few years, but he still had a net worth of several tens of millions.
That evening, he had summoned several key members to the KTV to discuss, but after hours of talk, they came up with nothing. In the end, they could only conclude: This was likely the doing of some powerful outsider, some formidable figure passing through who, short on cash, decided to hit him. Since they couldn't come up with anything else, they had to assume this was the case.
Moreover, according to Cui Dapeng and the others, that fiend spoke standard Mandarin, without a trace of the local accent. This also lent credence to the idea; it really seemed to be some fierce bandit just passing through.
But why the fuck am *I* the unlucky one! Go rob Luo Dachan, dammit!
Agitated and confused, Xiao Guohua couldn't help but drink a few more glasses that night. Now, walking out of the KTV, his key men had dispersed; they still had to continue gathering information.
Down the stairs, a black Audi slowly approached and stopped by the curb.
Xiao Guohua went over, opened the door, and got in. Settling in the back seat, a bit drunk and not entirely alert, he closed his eyes to rest and mumbled, "Old Wei, take me home!"
The Audi moved smoothly along.
After about fifteen minutes with his eyes closed, Xiao Guohua opened them and casually looked out the window. The unfamiliar streets made him frown. Then, with a jolt, Xiao Guohua sobered up completely.
First, he reached for the bag thrown on the back seat. Then, without a sound, he sat up straight, took out a pack of cigarettes, and lit one. After a few puffs, Xiao Guohua cracked the car window open a bit, letting the smoke out.
"Bro, want one?" Xiao Guohua flicked the bottom of the cigarette pack, offering the protruding cigarette towards the driver's seat.
"I'm driving; later," Chen Nuo, the driver, replied, shaking his head.
Xiao Guohua sat steadily in the back, continuing to smoke, watching as the car took another turn, almost leaving the city.
"Bro, what's your line?" Xiao Guohua's tone was calm. "Are you short on cash, or is there some unsettled score?" As he spoke, Xiao Guohua rummaged in his bag, pulled out a kraft paper envelope, deliberately tore it open to reveal a thick wad of cash, and tossed it onto the passenger seat. "Don't think it's too little, brother. This is all I have on me. Just a token to make a new friend, help a fellow traveler out of a tight spot," Xiao Guohua said quietly, while surreptitiously trying to get a look at the driver in the rearview mirror.
Chen Nuo wore a hat and a mask. He was dressed in a black leather jacket and leather gloves.
"If there's something you can't get over, just tell me about it. I have some clout locally. If there's trouble somewhere, just give me a word," Xiao Guohua said gravely. "We don't need to resort to extreme measures, right?"
Chen Nuo laughed. "Boss Xiao, you certainly know the score."
Xiao Guohua's heart skipped a beat. I was still clinging to a sliver of hope—that he didn't know who I was, that he was just after money. Maybe some opportunistic robber. But him calling me 'Boss Xiao'... this isn't about money. He's here specifically for me!
"Bro, there's no need for this," Xiao Guohua maintained his composure, trying to reason with him earnestly. "If it's not enough, name your price, and I'll see if I can scrape it together. There's always a way, right?"
"Not bad. You do have the air of a big boss," Chen Nuo nodded. "No wonder you've managed to get ahead."
The car began to slow down, then slowly turned onto a narrow, bumpy dirt road. Xiao Guohua looked out the window. We're almost at Fangshan. In 2001, this area was still a deserted wasteland.
Xiao Guohua swallowed, his hand reaching into his jacket, already touching his phone.
"I'd advise against making that call," Chen Nuo said, driving steadily without looking back. "This place is remote. Even if your people could find it, it'd take at least an hour, right?" As he spoke, Chen Nuo had already stopped the car by the roadside. "An hour is enough time for me to dig a pit and bury you."
"It doesn't have to be like this, bro, really. What kind of grudge is so deep? There's nothing that can't be resolved." Xiao Guohua forced a smile, but his hand still retreated.
"Well then, if I may be so bold, shall I have a word with you, Boss Xiao?" Chen Nuo engaged the handbrake, then turned to glance at Xiao Guohua. "Boss Xiao, give me a cigarette."
Xiao Guohua quickly handed over the cigarettes. Chen Nuo immediately flipped the rearview mirror so Xiao Guohua could no longer see his face. Smart enough to know I shouldn't look, Xiao Guohua thought. If I see his face, he might have to silence me for good. He sat perfectly still, not daring to try and sneak a peek.
Chen Nuo pulled down his mask, lit a cigarette, and lowered the car window a crack, taking a few drags. The two of them sat there in the car, one in front and one behind, smoking.
After finishing the cigarette, Chen Nuo flicked the butt out through the crack in the window.
"Bro, have you thought it through? If you've got something to say, lay it on me. This old brother will see if I can handle it." Xiao Guohua actually felt a little more at ease now. He smoked and didn't make a move. He probably doesn't want my life.
"Boss Xiao, business has been busy lately, hasn't it?" Chen Nuo smiled. "I hear you're keeping a mistress over in Yinxian Alley, and she even gave you another son last year."
Xiao Guohua's heart clenched, but he maintained his composure and forced a smile. "Just keeping busy, that's all."
"If you're tired, you should take a break. Don't worry about all that messy business for a while. Rest for a few days, spend time with your woman, play with your son. That would be nice."
"..."
Xiao Guohua understood the implication. He nodded without hesitation. "You've got a point. I didn't even rest during the Spring Festival; I've been incredibly tired lately. Alright then, I'll take a few days off. I won't deal with any of that messy stuff. I'll just stay home and spend quality time with my son... Brother, do you think a month off would be enough?"
Chen Nuo waved his hand. "Boss Xiao, you rake in so much money every day; a month would be too great a loss. No need for that." After a moment's thought, Chen Nuo said slowly, "Two weeks. I hear Southeast Asia is quite warm this time of year."
"Done!" Xiao Guohua nodded. "I'll have someone book tickets tomorrow. I'll take the family on a trip to Thailand."
"Alright then, that's settled." Chen Nuo smiled and pressed a button on the dashboard. CLICK. The locked doors sprang open. "I won't drive you home. You can call a car to pick you up."
Xiao Guohua laughed heartily. "No need to trouble you, brother! Just take my car."
With that, Xiao Guohua pulled open the door and got out.
As his feet hit the ground, he felt his calves go weak. But being a veteran of the streets for many years, Xiao Guohua pinched his thigh forcefully. The pain shot up, and he instantly straightened.
The car started and sped away.
Xiao Guohua stood by the roadside. Only after confirming the car was long gone did he finally let out a deep sigh. The feeling of having just escaped the jaws of death surged wildly within him. He subconsciously reached for his cigarettes, only then remembering he hadn't taken them when he got out. Still catching his breath, he suddenly turned his head and saw... by the roadside, about ten paces away... at the foot of a small slope, there was a pit! It was clearly freshly dug. Judging by its size and depth, it was just right for burying a person! A shovel was stuck in the earth beside it!
Xiao Guohua instantly felt a cold sweat break out all over his body. He could no longer stand steady and collapsed to the ground! Sweat poured out of him. Just now... if I had said a single word out of line... that pit would have been for me!
After panting for a while, Xiao Guohua shakily took out his phone and dialed a number.
"Hello... Old Four, it's me! Call everyone back, all the men we sent out. And tell them to stop asking about what happened during the daytime! Yeah... I fucking told you to call them back, so just do it! Why so many damn questions! Just get it done!!... What are you grumbling about! Fine, I'll eat this one! That's right! We're not looking into it anymore! I'm swallowing what happened today!!" Xiao Guohua said fiercely. "No more bullshit! Oh, right, get a car to pick me up. I'm at Fangshan... Yes, Fangshan! Standing by the road! Uh... How the hell do I know where I am!! Just search, can't you figure it out!!"
Whatever was said on the other end, Xiao Guohua breathed a sigh of relief. "And... book tickets for me! To Thailand! A ten-day tour of Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand! It's on me! All the brothers are going! Not a single person stays behind, everyone goes! What?? Business? It can stop for a few days; no one's going to die!! Halt everything!! Everyone's going to Thailand! For a vacation!! Damn it, what's that word again... ah, right! Team building!! Don't you understand team building?!"
After hanging up, Xiao Guohua sat by the side of the narrow road, his gaze inevitably drifting back to that pit. Only then did he feel as if his soul had finally returned to his body. Damn it... where did such a terrifying fiend come from?!
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.