Rebirth: Fan Debiao rises from the Liaobei land

Old Qian is really getting desperate this time.

The private room on the third floor, resplendent with gold and silver, was filled with the pungent smell of smoke that made it hard to open one's eyes. Old Qian sat on the sofa, his face as long as Mount Changbai, watching Planner Zhou ramble on and on.

"Mr. Qian, I've got the information!" Planner Zhou pushed up his glasses, spitting out a few drops of saliva. "That kid Fan Debiao is currently taking 500 yuan in deposits from TCL and 800 yuan from Xiamen. A total of over 300 units have been pre-ordered, and he has over 200,000 yuan in cash in his pocket!"

Old Qian glanced at him sideways: "Get to the point."

"Let's order some too!" Zhou, the planner, slapped his thigh. "Find dozens of people, using fake names and addresses, each ordering two or three units. Let's take all his slots!"

Li, with the gap-toothed grin, scratched his half-eaten head beside him: "Then we have to pay, right? Five hundred per person, twenty-five thousand for fifty people..."

"Are you crazy?" Zhou, the planner, scoffed. "If we don't pick up the goods when they arrive, won't he get his deposit back? But if we cause all this trouble, his real customers won't be able to buy the goods, his warehouse will be full of machines, and if his cash flow is cut off, he'll be stuck in a bind!"

Old Qian took two puffs of his cigarette without saying a word.

Zhou, the planner, leaned forward: "President Qian, do you think Fan Debiao can check the household registrations of every single person in Kaiyuan? Let's find those people, get some temporary phone numbers, use them twice, and then disconnect them—nobody will know!"

Old Qian stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and twisted it twice: "Find fifty people, and give each of them fifty yuan as a delivery fee."

"Alright!"

At Dexing Communications, Fan Debiao was going through the account books with Sister Zhou.

"Mr. Fan, TCL has ordered 217 units, totaling 108,500 yuan. Xiaxin has ordered 89 units, totaling 71,200 yuan." Sister Zhou pulled down her reading glasses. "Let's add more, it'll be close to 200,000 yuan."

Fan Debiao stared at the names, tapping his fingers on the table: "Sister Zhou, don't you think the names registered these past few days are a bit strange?"

"What's going on?"

"Look at this," Fan Debiao pointed to the ledger, "Andy Lau, phone number 138... This one, Sun Wukong, phone number 139... What is all this stuff?"

Sister Zhou leaned over for a look and chuckled, "You're right! There was someone registering for Pigsy (Zhu Bajie) yesterday!"

Gangzi happened to come in from outside and, upon hearing this, chimed in: "Brother Biao, I was just about to tell you. These past few days, there have been tons of unfamiliar faces ordering cell phones. They come in and order two or three at a time, pay, and leave without saying a word."

Fan Debiao frowned deeply: "They've all been published?"

"I did register, but the addresses they provided were 'No. 1 Kaiyuan Street' and 'No. 999 Liaohe Road,' they're trying to fool me!"

Fan Debiao lit a cigarette and took a couple of puffs: "We'll change the rules tomorrow."

"How should we change it?"

"First, you have to pay 20% of the total amount as a deposit when you make a reservation. It's 400 for TCL and 600 for Xiamen. Second, you must provide your ID number so we can verify it. Third, the address must include the house number so we can do random checks," Fan Debiao said crisply.

Sister Zhou hesitated for a moment: "Mr. Fan, if it's this strict... what if the client isn't happy?"

"Take it or leave it." Fan Debiao stubbed out his cigarette. "These two machines will be on the market in October, and people will be fighting tooth and nail to buy them. If you really want to buy them, this little thing won't bother you. If you don't want to buy them, this will just weed you out."

Gangzi nodded: "Brother Biao, are you guarding against someone causing trouble?"

"Prevention is better than cure," Fan Debiao said. "Old Qian's first two moves didn't work out, so he'll definitely be smug again. If something goes wrong with the pre-sales, our business will be ruined."

The next morning, a large red paper was posted at the entrance of Dexing Communications.

The notice, written in black ink, clearly states: "Important Notice: Effective immediately, the pre-sale of TCL 3188 and Xiaxin A8 has been adjusted. 1. Pay a deposit (400 for TCL, 600 for Xiaxin); 2. Register your ID number; 3. Write your address including the house number. The store will randomly verify your information; deposits will not be refunded if the information is inaccurate."

As soon as the notice was posted, the people in line started buzzing.

"Why do we need to pay a deposit now? Wasn't it just a 500 yuan deposit before?"

"They need your ID number? Is this some kind of household registration check?"

Xiao Juan explained from the doorway, "Dear uncles and aunties, this is mainly to prevent scalpers. Machines are limited in October, so we need to prioritize genuine customers. The deposit will be deducted from the payment upon delivery; verifying information is for fairness."

Most people nodded in agreement, while a few grumbled and left.

Around 10 a.m., three people came in; they were clearly a group.

"Order three TCL mobile phones," the first person said.

"Okay, please show me your ID card and I'll register." Xiao Juan took out the registration book.

The man was taken aback: "You need my ID?"

"Hmm, new rules." Xiao Juan pointed to the notice on the door.

The three looked at each other, then hesitantly pulled out their ID cards. After Xiao Juan finished registering, she collected the deposit and issued a receipt.

No sooner had they left than Gangzi came out from the inner room: "Brother Biao, I know these three. They're the ones who run the Jinbihuihuang establishment."

Fan Debiao chuckled: "You left the information?"

"I left my ID number and address, in black and white."

"Okay." Fan Debiao nodded. "Go to the police station this afternoon and find Officer Wang. Tell him we're cooperating with public security management and want to verify some customer information. Ask him for help."

Around 2 PM, five more young people came in, their hair dyed like feather dusters.

"Order five Xiaxin A8s." The leader slammed a wad of cash onto the counter.

Xiao Juan asked for their ID cards as required, but the people hesitated and finally pulled out ID cards with photos that looked completely different from the real people.

"Brother, this ID card isn't yours, is it?" Xiao Juan asked.

"Why not? It's mine!" the man retorted, sticking his neck out.

"Then please memorize your ID number."

The man hesitated, then turned to look at his companion.

Fan Debiao strolled over: "Brothers, reservations here require the person holding the ID. If it's not the person in charge, you can't make a reservation."

"What kind of ridiculous rule is this!" the man snapped, "You can't even spend money?"

"Give me the flowers, but follow the rules." Fan Debiao said calmly, "If you were the person in question, memorizing your ID number would be a piece of cake, wouldn't it?"

The group left, grumbling and cursing.

Gangzi followed them to the door, watched them turn a corner, and disappear into the arcade on the street corner.

"Brother Biao, there are still some of their people in the arcade, at least a dozen," Gangzi said as he returned.

Fan Debiao nodded: "Let them gloat. Go to the police station later and tell Officer Wang about the situation. Tell them that someone might be using a fake ID to cause trouble, and ask them to take it seriously."

On the magnificent third floor, Planner Zhou paced anxiously, turning in circles.

"Mr. Qian, Fan Debiao has changed the rules! He now requires a deposit and ID numbers! Half of the people we've contacted don't even have IDs, and some are using other people's. It's easy to find out!"

Old Qian's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot: "Didn't you say he couldn't be investigated?"

"How was I supposed to know he was so cunning..." Zhou, the planner, was sweating profusely. "Now, over twenty of us have paid a deposit, nearly ten thousand yuan tied up with him. If we can't get the goods, that money will be gone!"

Li with the gap-toothed grin muttered to himself, "How about... we have those people pick up the goods in October? Once we get the phones out, we can resell them and recoup our costs."

"Go back to your mother!" Old Qian slammed his hand on the coffee table. "Fan Debiao's ID number is registered! When the goods are picked up, it'll be all our Jinbihuihuang people. Even a fool would know it was us who did it!"

The room was deathly quiet.

Just then, a henchman rushed in, stumbling and crawling: "Boss Qian, it's bad! The police are here!"

Old Qian's heart skipped a beat: "What are they doing here?"

"They said they wanted to verify ID information. They said a few of us were using fake IDs, and they want us to come to the station to discuss it..."

Old Qian's legs went weak, and he slid onto the sofa.

Planner Zhou's face was as white as paper: "President Qian, I..."

"Get the hell out of here," Old Qian's voice boomed. "Now, right now."

"Mr. Qian, let me think about it some more..."

"roll!"

Zhou, the planner, scrambled out of the room.

Old Qian sat there, motionless for a long time. Li, with the gap-toothed man, cautiously asked, "Mr. Qian, what about... those deposits..."

"No, thank you." Old Qian waved his hand, his voice tinged with exhaustion. "Just consider it dog food."

Several regular customers came to Dexing Communications this afternoon.

"Boss Fan, your new rules are excellent!" said the wife of Section Chief Wang from the Industry and Commerce Bureau. "That's how it has to be done! Otherwise, scalpers will snatch up all the goods, and those of us who really want to buy will be left watching helplessly!"

Fan Debiao offered her a cigarette: "I'm glad Sister Wang understands. We had no choice; we were afraid someone would cause trouble."

"I understand, I understand!" another customer chimed in. "I heard someone tried to order a huge amount under a fake name to force you to stock up. That's such a shady tactic!"

Gangzi leaned closer and whispered, "Brother Biao, the police station called. They said they've finished verifying the information, and seven or eight pieces of personal information didn't match. They gave them a warning. According to regulations, the deposit won't be refunded."

Fan Debiao nodded: "Understood."

Before closing time at dusk, Fan Debiao asked Sister Zhou to go through the reservation list again.

"Mr. Fan, TCL has officially placed 183 orders, and Xiamen has placed 67. Those that were suspicious have been screened out," said Sister Zhou.

"What about the deposit?"

"Don't touch what you've already collected; we'll discuss it again in October. If they don't come to claim it, confiscate it according to regulations."

Fan Debiao glanced out the window; the dazzling neon lights across the street were incredibly eye-catching.

This time, Lao Qian lost both his wife and his army.

After tidying up the shop, Gangzi asked, "Brother Biao, can Lao Qian finally give up?"

"Calm down?" Fan Debiao laughed. "A leopard can't change its spots. But he'll have to take a break next time he makes a move."

Why?

"I'm broke." Fan Debiao lit a cigarette. "I've thrown in nearly 30,000 yuan, and it's all gone. Even if he owned a bank, he'd need to recoup his losses."

Gangzi chuckled: "That's true. What's that saying—'Losing both wife and army!'"