Chapter 100: Driven to Desperation

This story is purely fictional.

“You’re being too formal. Is our relationship really just about a red envelope? The new company’s opening is just a bit of celebration, nothing more. Don’t you think so?” Zhao Ming responded quickly.

“You’re right. Among friends, it’s important to support and help each other as much as possible,” General Manager Yan joked lightly.

“Speaking of care and help, I’m thinking of buying a house, but I’m a bit short on the down payment. Can you help me? Since I know you run a loan company, I figured it’s better to come to my old classmate than to someone else. So, I called your company,” Zhao Ming seized the opportunity to ask for a loan while Yan was talking about mutual assistance among classmates.

Hearing this, Yan paused briefly, hesitating over whether to lend money to his longtime classmate, Chi Zhao Ming. “Oh, buying a house is indeed a big matter. As an old classmate, it would be simple and normal for me to offer you some loan assistance. But our company has a rule: we don’t lend to relatives or acquaintances.”

Zhao Ming felt his hope of finding a savior vanish in an instant. He realized that even classmates can’t be relied upon when money and interests are involved. He deeply understood that people have become very pragmatic nowadays.

“Understood, understood. Rules are rules. Since it’s the company’s policy, there’s nothing to be done. I’ll have to find another way,” Zhao Ming said, about to hang up.

“Don’t hang up. Rules are rules, but rules often bend for personal ties. Director Chi, since you asked, I have to make some gesture. The company’s funds can’t be lent to acquaintances, but I can personally lend you twenty thousand. We’re not just classmates; we also share a bit of a family tie. Though I’m not your biological uncle, I’m still your uncle in some sense,” Yan said, unwilling to completely turn Chi away and thinking of this compromise.

Hearing this, Zhao Ming felt somewhat relieved. Although it wasn’t exactly what he hoped for, twenty thousand in cash was better than nothing.

“Come to me now. I’m playing mahjong in the presidential suite at the Zhizhen Hotel. If it’s convenient, come now and take the money,” Yan said, puffing smoke while playing mahjong. The presidential suite was filled with a smoky haze.

Since Zhizhen Hotel was familiar to him and not far from his workplace, Zhao Ming decided to go. “Alright, I have time now. I’ll be there in about half an hour.”

Zhao Ming closed his office door, greeted his colleague in the neighboring office, and stepped out to hail a taxi.

Not wanting acquaintances to see him heading to a presidential suite during work hours, he put on sunglasses after getting out of the taxi to avoid recognition.

Following Yan’s directions, he reached the room and knocked on the door.

The door was unlocked, and a voice from inside said, “The door’s not locked. Just come in.” Zhao Ming recognized Yan’s voice.

The room was filled with smoke. When he opened the door, a thick smoke greeted him, and he waved his hand to clear it.

Zhao Ming sat beside his uncle and glanced at the others playing mahjong—each was a burly man covered in tattoos. Fortunately, Yan still looked like a respectable gentleman.

Next to Yan’s seat was a basket woven from tree vines.

Inside the basket were stacks of cash, each bundle containing ten thousand yuan. Yan’s luck at the game was good; the pile rose above the basket’s rim. Zhao Ming thought that if this basket of money were his, all his problems would be solved.

“Is this how the rich play with money? It looks like each round’s stakes are at least ten thousand. How much do they win or lose in one session?” Zhao Ming wondered to himself.

Yan took out two bundles of ten-thousand-yuan bills and handed them to Zhao Ming. “Go on, don’t just stand here watching—you might get a bad influence.”

Zhao Ming knew Yan meant well. At that time, Yan considered Zhao Ming an upright government official. He didn’t know that Zhao Ming was no longer the same man from a year ago; he had become a hopeless gambler, struggling in a bottomless pit.

Zhao Ming took the two bundles of cash. Though not fully satisfied, twenty thousand yuan was a fortune to him then.

In the past, the money he handed to his underlings every Monday probably added up to astronomical sums. Just thinking about it made him shudder. Since birth, he had never had so much cash in hand.

Holding the bundles, the weight in his hands made him feel a pang of guilt. But the thought of solving his immediate crisis eased his mood somewhat.

Yan’s twenty thousand wouldn’t solve the root problem; he still needed to borrow more. So he searched for another loan company the next day by browsing the city newspaper and found a small loan agency.

He drove to the loan company and, after inquiring about the services, was told that his loan application would need to be evaluated.

“Please wait a moment. A staff member will accompany you to your workplace and home for verification. We need to confirm your employment and residence,” a staff member explained through the glass window.

The thought of a home visit made Zhao Ming’s heart race. He wasn’t sure if Du Juan was home. If she was, it would be very inconvenient.

During the evaluator’s inspection at his workplace, after preparing his ID and income proof, he called Du Juan to confirm she wasn’t home. Then he took the evaluator to his residence.

The evaluator examined the balcony and rooms carefully. “Director Chi, please bring out the property deed and your marriage certificate so we can verify them. Once confirmed, we’ll proceed with the loan disbursement.”

Zhao Ming opened a drawer and retrieved the property deed and marriage certificate from the bottom, handing them over.

The evaluator cross-checked the property deed information against the household registration.

Zhao Ming asked, “You don’t need to keep the property deed as collateral, right?”

“You’re a director at the TV station, a person of status. There’s no need to mortgage your property deed or marriage certificate. Rest assured,” the evaluator replied.

Relieved, Zhao Ming breathed easier.

“Based on your income and situation, we can grant you a loan of one hundred thousand yuan. You may collect the funds from our office now,” the evaluator said.

“That’s perfect. One hundred thousand is enough. Thank you! Your service is really efficient,” Zhao Ming felt a weight lifted from his chest.

He followed the evaluator’s car to the financial company’s office building and parked.

At the disbursement counter, the clerk was counting cash. After counting each ten-thousand-yuan bundle, the clerk skillfully bundled it and set it aside. After counting all one hundred thousand yuan, ten bundles were handed to Zhao Ming through the window.

Taking the money, Zhao Ming suddenly felt its weight. In less than a year, he had lost over three hundred thousand yuan gambling. His heart ached quietly, but determined to recoup his losses quickly, he pushed aside his doubts. With this hundred thousand, he had capital to bet again. He firmly believed in one saying: “As long as you keep gambling, you haven’t truly lost.”

With this capital, the betting websites would open before him.

Even just browsing the dazzling array of matches was a refined pleasure. The thrilling tension of the gamble set his blood racing.

The loan’s interest was two percent per month. When winning, paying two thousand monthly was manageable. But when losing, even two hundred yuan for living expenses was tight.

Zhao Ming’s socks already had a hole. He couldn’t bring himself to buy a new pair. He remembered how Du Juan, shopping at the market, only bought a small plate of pork ribs for their son, Xi Yu, enough for him to eat. When seeing pricier seasonal vegetables, Zhao Ming could only look on and wait for prices to drop before buying.

Back at the TV station, he cautiously placed the money in the safe. Looking around to ensure no one was watching, he went to the cafeteria for lunch.

With a hundred thousand yuan in hand, this meal tasted delicious. Not a single grain of rice was left on his plate. Even the tomato and egg soup he usually disliked was finished.

Rubbing his full belly, he wiped his mouth with a napkin and left the dining hall.

That evening after work, due to a domestic top-tier league match, Xiao Jin returned home promptly. His wife, Jin Yan, and son Xiao Yi were not home, so he casually ordered takeout for dinner.

Just as the delivery man arrived, Xiao Jin was about to eat while waiting to watch the league match.

Before he could take a few bites, Ma Shengwei called. “Come to my office immediately. There’s an urgent matter you need to handle.”

“What is it? Can I come after the match?” Xiao Jin was a bit annoyed.

“Is watching the match more important than my matter? Have you forgotten the word ‘discipline’? Looks like my reminders have been in vain. You don’t take discipline seriously at all. Hurry up!” Ma Shengwei sounded angry.

With a big chicken leg in his mouth, Xiao Jin quickly got dressed and headed out.

He hurried back to the police station building and went to Ma Shengwei’s office.

(To be continued)