“Governor, do you think that Huang He has already run away?” someone said worriedly inside a moving Audi.
“He shouldn’t have. I heard that workers blocked Huang He inside the office building yesterday, and there are still workers keeping an eye on him. He can’t escape!” the vice-governor of GS Bank said calmly, but a hint of melancholy could not be erased from his brow.
“Alas, it doesn’t matter if he runs or not. This Huang He definitely can’t come up with a single cent. We can only seize the factory and inventory he mortgaged to pay off the debt, but how much are these things worth?”
“Right, I heard that over a thousand people are owed wages this time. The proceeds from the sale of these mortgaged assets will likely go to paying these workers first. After all, stability is paramount. We’d be lucky if we get even a fraction of our 350 million back!”
“Shut up! You’re so young, why so many words?” the vice-governor scolded angrily. The chatterbox subordinate immediately shut his mouth.
This vice-governor was beside himself with anger because he was the one who approved this loan. He thought Huang He seemed quite capable, and as a returnee from overseas, his insights would surely be different and he had a promising future.
Of course, the most crucial thing was that the bank had loan quotas to meet, and he had to lend out the money. Thus, he signed a 350 million loan contract with Jiangnan Leather Factory.
However, the happier he was when signing the contract, the more terrible his mood was now. If these 350 million couldn’t be recovered, he estimated he would have to retire early.
But he was only 50 years old, and he still had 15 years of work ahead of him.
Amidst endless gloom, the vice-governor arrived at the entrance of Jiangnan Leather Factory. He had expected to be met with no welcome and to be treated like a plague god, but he was surprised to find Huang He waiting at the entrance early, personally greeting him with a few people and warmly ushering him into his office.
He had dealt with too many defaulting borrowers before. These people would either disappear without a trace, making it impossible to find them, or be extremely cold, crying poverty after a few words and saying they didn’t have a cent and would do whatever the court decided. They were simply broke and didn’t care if you were the bank governor, a stark contrast to their attitude when taking out the loan.
Huang He’s unexpected enthusiasm made the vice-governor feel much better.
But no matter how comfortable he felt, the most difficult issue still needed to be addressed.
“Chairman Huang, it’s time to repay the loan!” the vice-governor said.
“I know!” Huang He nodded. “The first installment is due to your bank today, a total of 80 million. I’m aware of that.”
“And do you have the money to repay it?”
“Yes!”
“Alas, Governor, our bank doesn’t have much to spare… What did you say?” The vice-governor suddenly felt as if he had misheard something.
“I have money to repay!” Huang He said with a smile.
“Really?” the vice-governor confirmed, filled with surprise and joy.
“Absolutely!”
“Then when will you transfer the money?”
“In three months!”
“…” The vice-governor’s voice caught. After a long pause, he snorted, “So Chairman Huang is waiting for me here. You want a three-month extension, that’s not acceptable, it can’t be done!”
“Okay!” Huang He shrugged. “Then it doesn’t matter to me. You can take whatever you think is valuable here. Anyway, all my assets are here. At worst, I’ll spend a few more years in prison. How much you can recover depends on your ability!”
“Aren’t you reneging on the deal?” the vice-governor became anxious.
“Governor Wang, you know better than me whether I’m reneging or not. All my funds are handled through your GS Bank. You know exactly how much money I have left, don’t you?”
“I’m being held here by the workers, and I don’t have a single cent left. All I have is this broken pot. Either you smash my broken pot, or you give me three months. In three months, I guarantee I’ll find a way to repay the first installment of 80 million!” Huang He was completely emboldened at this point.
Having been influenced by various official and financial articles from his previous life, Huang He fully understood the principle that the debtor is the master. He owed 350 million, so he was the master, and he wouldn’t fear a mere vice-governor.
“Why should I believe you can repay the money in three months!” the vice-governor questioned. “This is a delaying tactic. In three months, you’ll probably have vanished without a trace.”
“Whatever I say now, you’ll be suspicious of me!” Huang He smiled slightly. “But if you seize my assets now, you’ll only get at most 50 million worth of assets!”
“If you seize them in three months, you’ll still get 50 million, or you can get 80 million repaid!” Huang He picked at his ear. “Governor Wang, everyone is struggling now. Your GS Bank in Wenzhou has probably had dozens of loans worth over 100 million that you haven’t been able to recover, right?”
“A large part of that is from your governor.”
“But if you manage to recover the loan from me, you’ll be the only one in the entire GS Bank to have recovered a loan. This is a unique achievement, don’t you want it?”
“This… this…” Vice-Governor Wang began to hesitate. Although he felt that Huang He was 99% talking nonsense and trying to stall for time to escape, he couldn’t help but want to agree to Huang He when he thought of the 1% possibility of repayment and the glory he would receive after recovering the loan.
This is human nature. In the darkest times, any glimmer of light can ignite immense hope, or a desire for gambling.
What if he gambled, and the money could be recovered!
“Governor Wang, if you seal my leather factory now, let alone in three months, even in thirty years I will have 100% no money to repay you!” Huang He interjected unexpectedly.
“Alright, I’ll give you three months!” Vice-Governor Wang finally made up his mind. He decided to take the gamble, no matter what.
And even if he lost, it wouldn’t matter much; he would still have to retire early!
“Then I’ll be leaving!” Vice-Governor Wang, who had come empty-handed, was about to leave empty-handed as well.
“Wait!” Huang He called out to Vice-Governor Wang. “Governor Wang, the company only has 100,000 yuan left. I can’t proceed with my subsequent business plans. Why don’t you lend me another 1 million for temporary turnover?”
“Do you think I’m an idiot?” Vice-Governor Wang looked at Huang He as if he were a lunatic.
“With this 1 million, your 80 million and 350 million can be recovered!” Huang He said earnestly. “Otherwise, you should just seize me now.”
“I really can’t!” Vice-Governor Wang shook his head. “This is a policy issue. If I make this mistake, I’ll be imprisoned!”
“It’s alright, it’s not in the name of our company!” Huang He smiled. “My sister-in-law has a 40-square-meter apartment. Lending her 1 million should be enough, right?”
“Fine!” Vice-Governor Wang gritted his teeth.
A 40-square-meter apartment in Wenzhou, the new housing market price was less than 150,000 yuan.
“Then thank you, Governor Wang. But it needs to be fast. It should be approved within three days at the latest. I need it urgently!”
“Okay!” Vice-Governor Wang was about to grind his teeth to dust.