Often, when companies encounter problems, it’s precisely when the funding chain is at its tightest, but Liu Jun still paid Qian Hongming for the second-hand houses without a penny short, robbing Peter to pay Paul himself, struggling to cope. What gave him the biggest headache now was customers canceling orders. If customers canceled orders, even if he kept those small deposits, what use was that? The deposits were only enough to buy materials, not enough for processing fees. Canceled products became synonymous with backlog in these times. The sales department’s main work now was to contact customers every few days, asking whether existing orders were secure.
One day in early June, Liu Jun was just emerging from a temporary warehouse piled with finished products. He was already sweating from the stuffiness of the temporary warehouse, his work clothes clinging wetly to his body. Walking outside, the sun blazed down hotly again, making Liu Jun feel irritated. Just then, Shen Huadong called, asking if Liu Jun had orders he couldn’t complete, whether he could transfer some to Shi Yiji for emergency relief. Liu and Shen always spoke quite directly – to outsiders, it might seem shameless. Liu Jun also did not attempt to hide anything, saying: “Since the beginning of the year, the term ‘overtime’ has become history at my place. Now we’re also not getting enough to eat. Some contracts, even knowing we won’t get enough, we don’t dare touch – no orders to give you. What operating rate can you maintain there?”
“Currently, we’re down to almost only 70% operating rate, and I strongly suspect it’ll have to drop further. Our product exports aren’t doing well this year – orders are dropping fast. Several orders are like tasteless ribs, but Shi Yiji’s general manager is still reluctant to give up, coming to discuss with me, begging me to show mercy and take them on. The company would lose a little to guarantee the operating rate and prevent unrest. But how dare I agree? Exchange rates are stubbornly holding, raw material prices rise daily. Factor these out of a contract, and it’s more than just a little loss. Plus, to protect Beijing’s environmental face before and after the Olympics, North China has to shut down many factories. Orders from there end here – finish what’s done, and that’s it, new ones have to wait until after the Olympics. That’s how big a cut this is – truly adding insult to injury, treating human lives like grass.”
“Stop complaining. At least it’s less sacrifice than the Beijing people are making. My most important work now is clearing inventory. What’s sad is that some client companies have no conscience – clearly, their companies are already in trouble, but when we call to ask, they still say it’s fine, payment is ready. When we ship goods overseas, they don’t pay according to the contract, hoping to delay payment. I have to pay shipping costs to have the goods pulled back. In times like these, knowing everyone’s having a hard time, who dares let clients hold inventory? Better I hold it myself – at least I can see and touch it.”
“Exactly!” Shen Huadong was in complete solidarity with Liu Jun. Talking about such things, the two could drain their phone batteries and still not finish. After exchanging experiences dealing with such dishonest clients for quite a while, Shen Huadong suddenly remembered something: “At lunch, I passed your friend Qian’s real estate agency company. The storefront was very messy, like something big had happened. The big glass window was also smashed.”
Only then did Liu Jun realize he hadn’t received a call from Qian Hongming for several days. In the first few days after taking over Qian Hongming’s houses, he had been very vigilant, calling Qian Hongming every day or every other day. After several normal days, with his side in chaos, he unknowingly neglected Qian Hongming’s end. He hurriedly dialed Qian Hongming’s number, but it indicated the phone was off. He ran back to his office, delegated work, and rushed to downtown, calling Cui Bingbing on the way to report the situation and ask if she’d heard any rumors.
When Liu Jun reached the real estate agency headquarters, he saw that the curtain had already fallen. Through the smashed glass window, he could see that inside was empty, with only scattered trash remaining. Outside, many pointing and whispering onlookers had gathered. Cui Bingbing, having heard the news, also rushed over. Seeing this, she asked strangely: “Who smashed it? What happened?”
A busybody nearby excitedly said with flying spittle: “Started this morning. Said the boss ran away. As they argued, more and more people came, and finally it got smashed. Police came too, but what use were the police? Everything was already smashed and moved out.”
Liu Jun pulled Cui Bingbing: “Come on, let’s go to Hongming’s office.”
Cui Bingbing was pulled by her husband running to the parking area at the street corner, running until she was breathless. Even when they reached the parking area of the building where Qian Hongming’s company was located, her breathing hadn’t calmed down. But waiting for the elevator, it just wouldn’t come down, stuck on some floor. Liu Jun suddenly felt that the elevator not coming down was related to Qian Hongming’s company on the ninth floor. He had Cui Bingbing continue waiting for the elevator while he took the stairs, rushing up to the ninth floor. Cui Bingbing looked at the dark stairwell, feeling apprehensive, but after thinking about it, followed up.
Liu Jun reached the ninth floor first. Accompanying his bellows-like panting was indeed a chaotic scene. A woman sat on a leather executive chair blocking the elevator door, shouting at anyone who approached: “Mine, nobody steal it.” Someone else sat on a platform made of two office desks, hugging several computers and shouting: “This is mine, this is mine.” Everyone was noisily dividing up the office furniture and miscellaneous items. Unfortunately, security kept guarding the elevator entrance, not letting them move things away, so they could only keep occupying things. The floor was already scattered with leftover fast-food boxes. Liu Jun thought to himself that Qian Hongming’s generous gifts of cordyceps to security still had some effect.
After catching his breath slightly, he headed straight for Qian Hongming’s office. As expected, all furniture had been moved, and anything that could be taken was already gone. The originally luxurious office was a scene of devastation. Someone clutched a picture frame tightly, pacing back and forth restlessly, joining others in similar straits to loudly pour out their experiences. They roughly said they had privately lent Qian Hongming over a million, and borrowed money from relatives and friends to lend to Qian Hongming again, never expecting… Liu Jun looked and saw that the frame was empty. He recognized this frame – it originally held a photo of Qian Hongming’s family of three. Whether the photo had been taken by Qian Hongming or torn up by these angry people was unknown.
In any case, Qian Hongming was nowhere to be seen.
Suddenly, a former employee of Qian Hongming’s company rushed to Liu Jun, loudly pointing him out to everyone as Qian Hongming’s close buddy. Immediately, all who could move crowded over, while those occupying desks and chairs couldn’t move but stared intently this way. Seeing things going badly – these were all people driven to desperation – Liu Jun naturally refused to suffer immediate loss. He counter-questioned the employee: “Where is Qian Hongming? I can’t get through to his phone. When was the last day he appeared? How much money is left in your accounts? Do you know which bank you’re with, what account number…”
Liu Jun’s rapid-fire questions immediately extinguished the hope that had just ignited in everyone’s eyes, because the questions Liu Jun asked were the same ones each person had asked when coming upstairs. So everyone dispersed again. Liu Jun looked up with a stern face, seeing Cui Bingbing just breathlessly coming up. He pulled Cui Bingbing back to the stairwell, walking slowly down. Only after getting in the car did he speak: “Probably Hongming absconded with the money. Those upstairs are all creditors who lent him money. Let’s go check his house.”
“Knowing it would end like this, why didn’t he run earlier or later – why pick this time? He even borrowed from colleagues?”
“His sister also borrowed from colleagues and friends, reportedly borrowing millions at a time. Crazy.”
“Qian Hongming was conscientious toward you. Otherwise, you’d have had a stroke on the spot today. You’d be the person who lent him the most.”
Liu Jun couldn’t help but sigh. The car quickly reached the heavily guarded residential complex where Qian Hongming used to live. This time, security wouldn’t let them in. Liu Jun didn’t dare reveal that the house already belonged to him by property rights. The couple tried to persuade the security guard, saying many nice things, hoping to move him. But the security guard still didn’t dare let them pass. Finally, he quietly revealed the reason – someone had already broken through the defense line to reach the Qian family’s door, using red paint to make the door look terrifyingly horrific. Many people had already tried to get in today to find the Qian family. They could only maintain strict vigilance, not letting any outsiders through.
Leaving the guard post, Liu Jun was greatly puzzled: “Where did they go? How come he didn’t even tell me?”
“Not telling you is for your good, so you don’t know anything and won’t struggle internally facing a bunch of poor creditors.”
“Mm, you go back to work first. I’ll go home to get all the door keys Hongming gave me and search everywhere.”
“Stop looking. Qian Hongming isn’t that stupid. If it’s convenient for him, he’ll contact you. If he doesn’t contact you, then it’s inconvenient for him. Just wait patiently and keep some money ready at hand.”
Although Liu Jun also felt Cui Bingbing made sense, concern made him confused. He still went home to get the keys and door cards and returned to the Qian house. Since he had the door card, he could swipe in, and security had no reason to stop him. Going upstairs, Liu Jun indeed saw a sea of blood red – not just the Qian family’s door was blood red, but the entire entrance hall was blood red. The other household on the same floor was unlucky. After much consideration, Liu Jun opened the door and went in. Inside remained as it was, but there wasn’t a single person, not even the daily housekeeper was anywhere to be found. After looking around, Liu Jun came out and left his business card with property management, saying this house now belonged to him, and if anyone caused trouble for this house, please notify him, Liu Jun. Property management wanted to know why, but Liu Jun had nothing to tell them. When Liu Jun left, he heard the big-mouthed property manager say this was already the second household this year.
Summer evenings always came especially late. When Liu Jun rushed nonstop to the house with the last set of keys, the setting sun outside was just blood red, like the blood-red paint splashed at the Qian family’s door. Under the blood-red setting sun, Liu Jun happened to receive a call from Jiali. Jiali’s voice was very soft, saying she had just settled Xiao Suihua to sleep. Liu Jun didn’t respond, so Jiali carefully asked: “Do you have news about Hongming? He said he was busy recently and would call me in a couple of days. But today is already the fourth day. He’s never gone this long without calling home before.”
Liu Jun calculated – it was about four days since he and Qian Hongming had talked too. “I’m in the house where you lived when you first got married, the one Hongming’s work unit allocated to him. I’m also looking for Hongming.” Liu Jun didn’t hesitate, being frank with Jiali. “He’s temporarily missing, and many creditors are looking for him too. Do you have enough money in Australia?”
“Money… I have some. What happened to Hongming?”
“Debts – he owes private debts, bank debts, and probably other companies too. I don’t know what happened to him yet either. I’ll report to you first thing when I have news. Jiali, promise me, absolutely don’t return to China at this time. If you come back, not only can’t you help, but you might also make it impossible for Hongming to hide. Don’t cry, listen to me seriously. Please also keep a low profile there and maintain everything as normal. If anyone calls asking you questions, no matter who, say you don’t know, even if it’s the domestic police. If Hongming contacts you, please immediately tell him that I’ll always stand on his side.”
Before Liu Jun finished speaking, Jiali was already sobbing uncontrollably. “Liu Jun, I’m very worried. You must find Hongming, you must. You’ve been friends with him for so many years, you must understand his personality. He’s afraid of losing, afraid of being poor, very afraid. He has a catchphrase – about people who lose everything trading futures, he often says, ‘Losing like this and still having the face to live – pig-heads don’t deserve to live in this world.’ I’m afraid he’ll also treat himself as a pig-head. Liu Jun, I should still return to China. Even if it makes him unable to hide, it’s better than him thinking the worst alone.”
“Jiali, I must remind you – Hongming isn’t the kind of person who thinks the worst as you imagine. He’s a very tenacious and persevering person. You absolutely mustn’t think wildly and do something foolish. You must listen to me and not come back for now. Also, I must remind you of something else – please start paying attention to your living expenses. It’s best to find a job. I think Hongming will have difficulty making a comeback for now. I’ve been in contact with Hongming these past few days. I’m now slowly realizing he already had arrangements for today’s temporary disappearance, at least a month’s worth. Since Hongming has such rational arrangements, I believe he also has rational arrangements for his escape route.”
“But Hongming… Liu Jun, you might not know – Hongming isn’t self-confident. He’s very afraid of losing inside, often showing anxiety when no one’s around. He would never let you see it.”
Liu Jun said firmly, “Jiali, you’re very lazy. Your understanding of Hongming is only superficial. I’ve been old friends with Hongming for many years. I not only understand his personality but also understand what caused his personality to form. Now hang up and think carefully about why Hongming sent your mother and daughter to Australia – this was his best arrangement under rational thinking. Let me tell you again – your front door was painted with red paint by debt collectors, and Hongming’s company and real estate headquarters were both smashed and destroyed. Consider what actions creditors would take seeing you and Xiao Suihua. As an adult, you can bear it, but what about Xiao Suihua? The child is still small and can’t be allowed to see violence. Wait for my call, and please check your email regularly. I won’t hide any news from you.”
Liu Jun almost forcibly ended the call, otherwise, Jiali would hold onto the phone, crying endlessly without saying anything constructive. Liu Jun’s worry was the same as Jiali’s. Initially, he kept thinking Hongming had finally absconded with money, but the more he thought about it, the more wrong it seemed. If escaping, he would at least give him a heads-up. Qian Hongming knew very clearly he would help his family over reason and assist in concealment. But now it was confirmed that Qian Hongming’s departure didn’t even notify Jiali. That was very problematic. But how could he voice these doubts to Jiali?
Liu Jun also wanted to know whether Qian Hongying had fled, whether the siblings had run away together.
Returning home exhausted, Cui Bingbing pulled Liu Jun to look at several web pages on local websites. As expected, someone had already posted live updates with pictures and text online. Liu Jun carefully examined the comments but still couldn’t find any clues.