Reborn in 97, I solved a cold case at the Municipal Bureau

Chapter 540 Boss Feng
Mo Hanrong works at a state-owned glass factory. He has worked there for half his life and is a well-known master craftsman in the factory.

Five years ago, I took on an apprentice, a young man who had just joined the factory. His surname was Zhu and his name was Zhu Cong.

That is, the person who borrowed the money.

This wasn't the first time Lao Mo had taken on an apprentice; after all, it was common for experienced workers to mentor new ones in the factory.

But most of the people I mentored called me "Master" while I was mentoring them, and after a year or two of apprenticeship, they started calling me "Old Mo" as colleagues.

Zhu Cong was the only one who was very talkative. Even after he graduated, he still called Lao Mo "Master" and would come to deliver gifts during holidays. He really treated Lao Mo as his master.

Old Mo naturally liked him very much, and the two had a very good relationship.

Even when Xiao Zhu got married two years ago, Lao Mo gave him a red envelope that was twice as big as the ones given to his other colleagues.

Everything was fine at first; Lao Mo said that Xiao Zhu was a very reliable and conscientious worker.

However, Xiao Zhu's mindset has changed somewhat since she got married.

They complained that the glass factory paid too little and that the work was too hard.

Old Mo always advised him to be down-to-earth and work hard, because for most people their age, it is normal to work in one company for a lifetime until retirement.

But Xiao Zhu's mind was already racing. He became increasingly distracted at work, thinking only about how to make money through business.

Old Mo also heard some reasons from other coworkers. It seemed that Xiao Zhu's new wife always complained that he didn't earn enough money, which led to his current state.

Old Mo didn't pay much attention until one day Xiao Zhu came to him and said he wanted to borrow some money from his master.

He said he recently partnered with someone to start a business and wanted to invest some money, but he didn't have enough on hand, so he had to borrow from someone.

This was the first time his apprentice had asked him for money, so Lao Mo agreed on the spot.

He was taken aback when Xiao Zhu asked to borrow five thousand.

After all, he and his wife were just ordinary workers, and they had to support their daughter's schooling, so saving money wasn't easy.

In the end, out of consideration for our teacher-student relationship, I lent him three thousand yuan.

I originally thought I could pay back the three thousand yuan quickly. After all, when Zhu Cong borrowed the money, he spoke very convincingly, saying that the business was absolutely reliable and that a big boss doing business in a major southern city was willing to help me get rich.

They promised to pay it back in three months, but six months have passed and there's still no sign of it.

Old Mo is shy, and even though his wife urged him several times, he was too embarrassed to ask someone for the money.

Until more than three months ago, one day after get off work, Zhu Cong came to him and said he wanted to treat him to dinner.

Old Mo thought it was about repaying a debt, so he happily went there.

As a result, after all the dishes he ordered were served, Zhu Cong picked up his wine glass and said that he was not here to repay the money, but to ask his master for another favor.

Old Mo was stunned and quickly said that he had no more money to lend him, and then launched into a long tirade.

He was often scolded by his wife because of this money.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Cong said he wouldn't lend money today.

He breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that they wouldn't lend him money.

But he was still very uneasy, so Zhu Cong kept pouring him more wine. After a few rounds of drinks, he finally revealed his true intentions.

He was planning to borrow some money from a lending company because the business he had previously invested in had already made money, but he had only invested a small amount, so the profit was small.

The big boss said that the more you invest in this business, the more you earn, but this is only for the next year or two. Once others get envious and come in to steal the business, it won't be as easy to make money.

So Zhu Cong was very tempted, thinking that he could make a fortune and then live a life of luxury instead of working hard in the glass factory.

However, he still needs a guarantor, otherwise the lending company will not lend him money.

So he thought of this master, after all, as the old saying goes, "A teacher for a day is a father for life."

Moreover, the main investor this time was that big boss, Zhu Cong, who invested 10% of the money, but the money he earned was enough for him to work in the glass factory for ten years.

And the big boss promised him that he would see results within a month.

Old Mo didn't understand what he was saying and was completely confused, but he couldn't resist Zhu Cong's persistent pleading and finally agreed.

This is the biggest problem with his kind-hearted personality: he's easily influenced.

In addition, due to a lack of understanding, he didn't even think there was anything wrong with him acting as Zhu Cong's guarantor before the debt collectors came knocking on his door.

That's the background of this matter. As for why the loan of 20,000 has now become 60,000, he doesn't know either.

"Uncle, do you have the loan agreement?" Zhou Yi asked helplessly.

Mo Hanrong spread his hands and said, "No, Xiao Zhu took the contract and everything back then."

"So you provided your ID card and signed and fingerprinted the guarantor section of the contract?"

"Yeah, they said it's just a formality."

Mo Youyou quickly said, "They have a contract, they took it out yesterday, and...it is indeed my dad's signature on it."

What a show of force, old man!
Old Mo is quite old, how can he be so naive, believing everything people say?

Zhou Yi couldn't help but let out a heavy sigh.

Although usury is illegal and not protected by law.

However, the actual act of lending is still protected by law.

Unexpectedly, when Mo Hanrong saw Zhou Yi sigh, he actually emphasized what he had said before again.

This afternoon, the factory leaders informed him that Zhu Cong had been found.

Zhu Cong had been out of contact for several days, and his family and colleagues at the factory didn't know where he had gone.

This wasn't the first time the debt collectors had come. They had previously gone to the Zhujiahe factory to look for Zhu Cong, but hadn't found him, so they came to find Lao Mo a few days ago.

Mo Youyou said that when they first came a few days ago, these people were polite in their attitude, but they were rude in their words, saying things like it's only right to pay back debts and don't be so shameless.

They also said they would have three days to raise the money, otherwise they would be in deep trouble.

So the next day, Mo Hanrong went to the factory and eagerly inquired about Zhu Cong's whereabouts. Only then did he learn some terrible news: Zhu Cong had not only borrowed money from him, but also from many other people.

The minimum is three to five hundred, and the maximum is one or two thousand.

Old Mo lent out the most money, not only lending out three thousand, but also acting as his guarantor.

He then realized that something serious had happened, but as an ordinary worker, he didn't know anyone and could only go to the factory leaders to complain.

But what's the use? These kinds of personal economic disputes aren't under the factory's jurisdiction.

Zhu Cong, on the other hand, has been absent from work without cause for several days. If he doesn't come back to the factory soon, they'll issue a dismissal notice.

This morning, the factory received a notification from the police station that Zhu Cong's body had been found in the river, and an investigation confirmed that he had committed suicide by jumping into the river.

Old Mo said that when the factory told him the news, he felt terrible. Logically, he should have been very upset, as his apprentice had died and the three thousand yuan was gone.

But he still had a sliver of hope, because Zhu Cong was dead, so the 60,000 yuan had nothing to do with him.

“I feel quite guilty,” Mo Hanrong said.

Mo Youyou had already figured out the problem; after all, she was a top student majoring in financial management.

Zhou Yi was so angry that he laughed, proving the saying "there is always something hateful about a pitiful person".

"No, what makes you think this money has nothing to do with you?" Zhou Yi asked irritably.

Mo Hanrong was stunned for a moment, and stammered, "This... Xiao Zhu is dead... dead, that person's debt is settled... why... why are they looking for me again?"

Mo Youyou couldn't hold back any longer and shouted, "Dad! Don't you have any common sense? If that Zhu guy hadn't died, at least there would be someone to owe the debt. Now that he's dead, it means our family has to pay it back!"

Xiao Mo was almost in tears.

Old Mo was stunned for a few seconds, then shouted in shock and indignation, "Why...why?"

Zhou Yi said seriously, "Your daughter is right. With Zhu Cong dead, this matter will be even more troublesome for you."

"No, I haven't received a single penny of this money. Xiao Zhu took it. Why should I pay back the money for him? I..." Mo Hanrong was still trying to argue.

At this moment, Mo Youyou suddenly stood up and shouted, "Dad, shut up! Can you please stop talking? What's the use of you keeping up this stubbornness? If you're so capable, go ahead and tell those debt collectors what you're saying, and see if they listen to you!"

Mo Hanrong was speechless after his daughter's words.

She immediately fell silent, her head drooping, while Mo Youyou's mother was already sobbing quietly beside her.

Mo Youyou raised her hand to wipe away her tears and said, "Officer Zhou, please continue. Don't listen to my dad anymore. Tell me, isn't this situation very bad for our family?"

Zhou Yi nodded: "First of all, I have to say something unpleasant upfront. The matter you're facing now is a civil debt dispute, which is not under the jurisdiction of the police. To completely resolve the issue, you need to file a lawsuit in court." Upon hearing that they would have to go to court, the couple looked at each other, at a loss.

Only Mo You nodded.

Zhou Yi continued, "Now that Zhu Cong is dead, the debt will fall on two people: the borrower's immediate family member and the guarantor."

"In theory, the borrower's immediate family members are the priority debtors."

Upon hearing this, hope ignited in Mo Youyou's eyes.

But then, Zhou Yi's words were like a slap in the face to their entire family.

“But if Zhu Cong’s loan, including the loans he’s taken out before, is taken out without his wife’s knowledge, and not used for the couple’s joint living expenses, and if his wife renounces her inheritance of his property,” Zhou Yi turned to look at Lao Mo and said, “then the first debtor for this loan will be the guarantor.”

The Mo couple turned ashen-faced. Mo Youyou, quick-witted, asked, "Then... what about his parents?"

"The same principle applies: if you don't inherit, you don't have to bear debt responsibility. The common people's idea that children should pay their parents' debts and vice versa is actually not fully supported by law, because parents and children are independent civil subjects under the law."

“So, Youyou, you’d better find a professional lawyer to help you protect your rights. I’m not very familiar with these kinds of civil debt disputes. You know what I mainly handle,” Zhou Yi said calmly. Although lawyers aren’t cheap these days, at this point, some money is unavoidable.

Mo Youyou nodded repeatedly with a solemn expression.

"As for the people who use violent debt collection tactics, I will arrive as scheduled the day after tomorrow. I will bring police officers from the nearby police station with me. But what I can do is mainly to deter them and make them stop doing anything outrageous. We will resolve this dispute through legal channels."

"If they commit any violent acts such as physical harm against you, our police force will not tolerate it."

Now that things have come to this point, it's time to tell this family of three to give up any more illusions.

Adults must take responsibility for their actions.

Upon hearing these words, Mo Hanrong was as wilted as a frostbitten eggplant, on the verge of tears.

Losing three thousand was bad enough, but now I've lost tens of thousands. How am I supposed to live like this?

“Youyou, you can ask a lawyer later if there’s any way to find out where Zhu Cong’s money went. I suspect that the big boss he mentioned is probably a fraud.”

While listening to the conversation, Zhou Yi felt something was off. The so-called big boss that Zhu Cong mentioned to Lao Mo was highly suspicious of being a fraudster.

“If we can find this person and confirm that the so-called business he told Zhu Cong about does not actually exist, then we can report him to the police for fraud. Fraud is a criminal case, and you can not only demand compensation for your losses from the suspect, but the suspect will also bear criminal responsibility.”

"But this task will definitely be difficult and will likely take a long time, so you should be prepared."

Mo Youyou nodded repeatedly. Although she was a college student, she didn't have much social experience. Zhou Yi's words at least gave her some peace of mind.

"Uncle, do you know any specific information about this big boss that Zhu Cong mentioned? Like, what's the name of his company?" Zhou Yi asked, turning his head.

Old Mo's face was ashen; he wished he could beat himself to death.

When Zhou Yi asked him, he shook his head helplessly and said, "I really don't know. Xiao Zhu said that the boss is a local, but he does business in big southern cities all year round. Anyway, he said that his business is very big."

Do you know what it's called?

"Xiao Zhu never said that. I only know that his surname is Feng because he always calls him Boss Feng."

"Huh?" Zhou Yi was taken aback. Surname Feng? Claimed to be doing big business in the south? A local from Wuguang?

Zhou Yi thought to himself, "Why does this sound so familiar?"

"Does Zhu Cong's wife know anything about this Boss Feng?" Zhou Yi asked hurriedly.

Old Mo shook his head and said, "I really don't know."

"Okay, Uncle, take me to Zhu Cong's house now. I'll ask his wife if we can find the boss's contact information there. It will be helpful for your lawsuit later."

Upon hearing that it would be helpful, Lao Mo quickly got up and eagerly headed outside.

"Officer Zhou," Mo Youyou called out as she was leaving, "Come back for dinner later. I don't know how to thank you properly, but at least I can't let you come to our house hungry."

Zhou Yi nodded: "Okay, any kind of food will do."

Zhou Yi rode Mo Hanrong's bicycle, while Mo Hanrong rode his wife's women's bicycle.

Mo Hanrong rode ahead, leading the way, pedaling incredibly fast; at this moment, even rabbits were his grandsons.

Zhu Cong's home wasn't far, only about four kilometers away, and the two of them arrived in less than fifteen minutes.

It's also a residential area, but it looks significantly older. It's a tenement building, the kind of dormitory building that looks like your own home.

Zhu Cong's home is a small one-bedroom apartment.

More importantly, it's extremely easy to recognize!

Because only on the outer wall of his house were the words "Pay Back the Money" painted in large red paint.

Old Mo said he covered the paint that was smeared on his house with lime that same day.

After they knocked, an old woman opened the door, looking at them with a terrified expression.

Only after Lao Mo revealed his identity did the old lady cautiously let them in.

The house was simply decorated, and the door to the only bedroom still had a faded "double happiness" character pasted on it.

In one corner of the living room, there was a small bed, which was probably where the old lady slept. There was a curtain in front of the bed with wire.

It is clear that Zhu Cong's family was indeed quite poor.

After a brief conversation, I learned that the old lady was Zhu Cong's mother and that her eyesight was not very good.

The old man passed away seven or eight years ago.

As for the daughter-in-law, after the debt collectors came to make trouble, she ran back to her parents' home.

What made the old lady even more desperate was that her daughter-in-law was already more than four months pregnant, but now she said she wanted to abort the pregnancy.

She said this was going to sever the lineage of the Zhu family, but the old lady was powerless to do anything about it and could only hide at home and cry alone.

Zhou Yi looked around, then at the old lady, and finally at Mo Hanrong with a helpless expression.

It means you're probably going to have to take on this debt.

There must be no money left in the family, otherwise Zhu Cong wouldn't have borrowed money to invest.

As for this house, these are old-style company-allocated housing units that cannot be bought or sold. Even if they were sold, they wouldn't fetch a good price because they only have the right to use the property, not ownership.

Old Mo understood what Zhou Yi meant and was completely dumbfounded.

But since we were already there, we couldn't leave empty-handed, so we asked the old lady if she knew the boss, Mr. Feng, who did business with her son.

The old lady knew nothing about it and had never heard of any Boss Feng. She said her son never talked to her about these things.

Finally, after explaining the situation to the old lady and obtaining her consent, Zhou Yi pushed open the door and walked into the bedroom decorated with the character for "happiness".

Unlike the outside, the bedroom had clearly been renovated, which further indicated that the Zhu family was financially strapped, since they could only afford to renovate one bedroom for their wedding.

The furniture in the room was relatively new, and the bed was covered with brightly colored bedding. There was also a 21-inch color TV on the TV cabinet, which was probably the most valuable thing in the house.

Zhou Yi began searching the house; logically, there should at least be some form of contact information.

Because Lao Mo said that Xiao Zhu didn't even have a pager, let alone a cell phone, and there was no telephone at home.

So if he wanted to contact this Mr. Feng, he definitely needed a phone number.

Before mobile phones became widespread, most people liked to write down phone numbers in a notebook.

So Zhou Yi's main task was to find paper, since the Zhu Cong couple didn't seem like cultured people; there wasn't a single book in the house.

While flipping through the pages, I suddenly found a pornographic magazine in the drawer of the TV cabinet.

There are obvious signs that it has been frequently browsed.

Zhou Yi had just turned two pages when a business card fell out.

He picked it up and saw that it was actually a business card with gold foil stamping, which looked quite impressive.

The name on the business card had three characters, one more than the name of Feng Kun, whom he suspected had cheated his third uncle out of money.

His name is Feng Baokun.

A name alone is not enough to confirm whether two people are the same person.

The person's title read "General Manager," and below it, in addition to a mobile phone number, there was even a surprisingly professional email address, giving it a very international feel.

When Zhou Yi saw the company name on the business card, he immediately lost his composure.

Because the company name is: Shenzhen Qianye Commerce & Trade Co., Ltd.!
Uncle's company!
(End of this chapter)