Diary of Getting Rich Quick in the South

Arrive at the front desk.

I got straight to the point and told the receptionist that I wanted to see Zhao Hongqi.

"Sir, do you have an appointment?"

I shook my head: "No, but as long as you say Chen An came to see him, he'll know."

The receptionist gave me a suspicious look, but still went back to the front desk and made an internal call.

Two minutes later, the receptionist came over with a smile and gestured for me to enter: "Hello Mr. Chen, Mr. Zhao is waiting for you in his office."

Zhao Hongqi thought I had come to return the money, and was especially polite to me when I came in.

She opened her arms and came to greet me, giving me a big hug.

"Brother Chen, you're here! Have a seat, have a seat! You've come at the perfect time. This is the finest Biluochun tea, just arrived. Come and have a taste!"

Seeing his fake smile, my anger surged instantly. I took two steps back and glared at him fiercely.

"Mr. Zhao, we've already agreed to repay the money, why are you still trying to kill my cousin!"

Zhao Hongqi's smile froze: "Wang Long is dead?"

Keep pretending!

I wanted to punch him in the face.

"Yes, he's dead. You killed him!"

Zhao Hongqi's face gradually darkened: "I lend and collect debts according to the rules. He can't think straight, what does that have to do with me?"

The thought of my cousin's body being barely cold and Su Wan still carrying a huge debt made me tremble with anger.

In a fit of rage, she grabbed his collar and yelled, "If you hadn't been a loan shark, he wouldn't have been driven to his death!"

I know that doing this is reckless, and many people would see it as courting death.

All I can say is that you won't feel pain unless the knife pierces you.

When anger overrides reason, one has no idea what they might do.

Zhao Hongqi suddenly kicked me in the stomach.

I stumbled and took a few steps back, clutching my stomach in pain and struggling to breathe.

That kick almost dislocated my internal organs.

Zhao Hongqi straightened his suit, which I had torn, and looked down at me.

"Did I force him to borrow the money? Or did I tie his hand to the IOU? He chose to take the loan himself, and he felt perfectly justified taking the money, but now he blames others when he can't handle it? Adults should take responsibility for their own mistakes!"

I know that makes sense, but the thought of my cousin lying on that cold iron bed makes me lose control.

"Yes, I know it was his fault, but we have already promised to pay back the money, so why did you send someone to kill him?"

Zhao Hongqi's expression suddenly changed. He took a step forward, grabbed my collar, and stared intently into my eyes.

"What did you say? Wang Long was murdered?"

He didn't know?

I glared at him fiercely: "Yes! He died in the unfinished building on Huangtupo. His body is lying in the funeral home now. The police say it involves a criminal case, and we can't even get the body back. You still want to deny it!"

Zhao Hongqi's face was gloomy and uncertain, and I didn't know what he was thinking, but he still loosened my collar and said in a deep voice.

"I, Zhao Hongqi, am a man of my word. If I say it wasn't me, it absolutely wasn't me! If you dare to cause any more trouble here, I'll send you down to keep Wang Long company right now!"

Judging from his appearance, he doesn't seem to be faking it. Could it be that his cousin's death has nothing to do with him?

Just as I was lost in thought, a secretary rushed in in a panic.

"Mr. Zhao, two policemen have come downstairs. They say they have something to ask you."

Zhao Hongqi gave me a deep look and said, "I understand. Please take them to the reception room first, I'll be right there."

Just as he was about to step out of the office, he paused slightly and glanced back at me.

"There's an old saying that debts are wiped out when a person dies, but Wang Long's debt can't be wiped out. I'll give you a reduction of 200,000 yuan as his funeral expenses."

I clutched my aching stomach, my mind a jumbled mess.

If it wasn't him, who else could it be?

Could it be that my cousin has made some other enemies?

To be honest, although Zhao Hongqi was a loan shark, he had done a pretty good job.

Other loan sharks would cut off your hands and feet if you didn't pay even one yuan less, let alone reduce the amount by 200,000.

Moreover, the interest continues to accrue during the debt repayment period.

Some people thought they only had 10,000 yuan left to settle their debts, but the interest compounded and they ended up with over 100,000 yuan more.

This is why many people eventually succumb to the overwhelming pressure and choose to commit suicide by jumping off buildings.

……

Back at the public rental housing, I saw Su Wan packing her luggage as soon as I entered the door.

Zhang Dongting paced back and forth, making a phone call, looking somewhat dejected.

I quickly went up to ask what had happened.

"Chen An, you're back."

Upon seeing me arrive, Zhang Dongting let out a long sigh of relief, glanced at Su Wan, and said with a hint of helplessness.

"Xiaowan said your cousin is gone and she wants to go back to the village to tell your parents. My idea is to keep it a secret for now, at least until we can get your cousin's body out. I just called some friends to ask if there was any way to get your cousin's body out, but they all said it's in the process and there's nothing they can do."

Su Wan turned to look at me, forcing a smile: "This can't be kept secret forever. Even if I don't say anything, the police will notify the family. I want to go back and spend time with my parents. Chen An, could you... come back with me?"

Yes, the truth will eventually come out.

They would be so heartbroken if their aunt, uncle, and cousin weren't here.

My parents are getting old, and I'm afraid they won't be able to handle this news.

But I have a criminal case against me now, and I don't dare to go back at all.

But looking at Su Wan's haggard face and expectant eyes, I couldn't bring myself to be cruel.

He could only agree: "Okay, I'll go pack two pieces of clothing."

If all else fails, I'll sneak back.

Putting Su Wan aside, my cousin raised me since I was a child, so I should go and offer him incense as a matter of duty and obligation.

I made an excuse to go downstairs to throw out the trash and called my mom.

On my very first day in Kunming, I borrowed a stranger's phone to call my mom and let her know I was safe. After that, I didn't dare contact her again. I didn't even dare use my old number; I just got a new phone card.

I'm afraid the police will track me down to my address.

I don't know if it's because it's a new number, but it took two tries to get through.

"Feed".

Hearing my mother's voice almost brought tears to my eyes.

"Mom, it's me, Xiao An."

There was a two-second pause on the other end of the phone before my mother's excited, tearful voice came through.

"Xiao An, is that really you? I'm not dreaming, am I? You finally called me! How are you doing in Chuncheng? Have you been eating on time? Have you lost weight? Remember to wear more clothes in this cold weather. You child, you haven't called home for so many days, I was so worried."

I used to find my mom's endless questions incredibly annoying, but now they sound so heartwarming.

I took a deep breath and tried to make my voice sound normal: "Mom, I'm doing well here. I've found a job, and it pays several thousand a month. I'm well-fed and clothed, so you don't need to worry about me."

"That's good. Now that you say that, Mom can rest assured."

I hesitated for a moment, then asked nervously, "By the way, Mom, how is that person...?"