Rebirth 04: Starting from Taking an Unconventional Approach

A red sports car drove into the parking lot in front of the used car market and stopped.

A bald man peeked out from the shop, glanced inside, and involuntarily opened his mouth wide, causing his cigarette to fall to the ground with a thud. He froze for three seconds before pulling back inside.

Five seconds later, a group of people poured out of the shop. Most of them were car experts who immediately recognized it as an Alfa Romeo Spider by its iconic inverted triangular grille and streamlined body.

This car is said to embody the Italians' complete understanding of driving, and it's extremely rare in the Chinese market. The annual number of officially imported vehicles is less than two hundred. Adding in parallel imports through various grey market channels, the total number in China barely exceeds five hundred. The base price of this car is enough to buy a 100-square-meter apartment within the inner ring road of Beijing.

Curious, they circled the red sports car. Behind the windshield sat a handsome man and a beautiful woman, clearly not ordinary people. The same question popped into everyone's mind: What were they doing here?

"Why don't you go to the bank?" Zhang Ruiyi asked, glancing at the crowd of onlookers outside the car out of the corner of her eye.

Han Fei's fingers tapped rhythmically on the steering wheel. Just before they set off, Zhang Ruiyi had handed him the reins, telling him to experience the power of the 2.0-liter dual-spark plug engine.

He was used to the wobbly ride of the Xiali, the cumbersome sluggishness of the Land Rover, and many other models that only came into existence later. But it wasn't until he gripped the steering wheel of an Alfa Romeo that he realized a car could truly be as obedient as if it were part of him, going exactly where he pointed it, and even pressing the accelerator too hard felt like he was conversing with the engine, unlike the Land Rover which roared twice before moving after being pressed down.

"The bank's process is too slow." Han Fei looked around and searched for Liu Dong in the crowd. "The whole process of assessment, review, and loan disbursement takes at least half a month. Moreover, what I have is just an expected return. The bank's risk control model is not familiar with this kind of thing, and it will most likely require additional collateral or asset collateral."

"Aren't contracts and confirmation letters considered solid evidence?"

"Yes, but in the eyes of banks, it's just one month's turnover. They'll definitely ask if it can be sustained next month? And the month after that? What if customers leave? What if mobile policies change? In the end, they'll do a series of risk assessments, and it could go on forever."

"So this kind of place is faster than a bank?"

"Well, these kinds of private pawnbroking deals are all about the people and relationships, and what you can actually hold onto right now. If he thinks the deal is worthwhile, he can make a decision on the spot. Besides, he's already made money off me once, so he knows I'm not the kind of person who would run away."

Just then, a grinning face appeared on the windshield, revealing a row of yellow teeth of varying lengths. Zhang Ruiyi was startled and shrank back. Han Fei looked up and saw it was Liu Dong.

"Hey, President Han! What brings you here?"

Han Fei and Zhang Ruiyi opened the car door and got out, only to see that everyone around them was staring at them.

Liu Dong had already handed Han Fei a cigarette. He looked at Han Fei, then at Zhang Ruiyi, and finally at the sports car, his eyes practically popping out of their sockets.

"Did President Han get a new car?"

"No," Han Fei said, taking the cigarette, "I wanted to ask you for something as collateral."

"You mean..." Liu Dong stared wide-eyed at the Alfa Romeo sports car.

"It's not this car, it's something else. I remember you don't only accept vehicles as collateral, do you?"

Liu Dong let out a long breath and lit a cigarette for Han Fei.

"Of course, we have a wide range of pledge business here. Last year, a restaurant owner brought a jar of pickled vegetables that had been fermenting for twenty years as collateral, saying it was a family heirloom, made with a secret family recipe, and worth 200,000 yuan. I opened the jar and took a sniff, and I almost passed out. Later I found out that he had lost money gambling, and his wife had hidden all their savings. He had no choice but to use this as collateral. Of course, I didn't take it, but that jar of pickled vegetables was eventually bought by a Sichuan restaurant owner, and I heard it actually helped him revive his business."

"That's good," Han Fei said in a low voice, "There are too many people here, let's go inside to talk."

Liu Dong squinted at Han Fei, exhaled a puff of smoke from his nose, glanced around warily, and then nodded.

"Okay, follow me."

Han Fei and Zhang Ruiyi followed Liu Dong into the shop, through the entire hall, and into a room. The entrance led to an outer room piled high with miscellaneous items and documents; inside was an office.

Liu Dong invited the two to sit on the sofa, brought them two glasses of water, and then went around to his desk and sat down.

Han Fei saw a calligraphy scroll hanging on the wall behind Liu Dong, which read "Honesty is the foundation" and was signed by a name he had never heard before.

Liu Dong looked at Han Fei with a smile, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, puffing out one puff after another.

"President Han looks like he's struck it rich, not like he's here to pawn something. Tell me, are you here to redeem your car? I'll keep it for you; it's in such good condition. Besides, we still have some small things to take care of, right? I can't bear to sell it."

Han Fei knew Liu Dong meant to talk about hiring ghostwriters for his novel, so he laughed a few times to show he understood. Zhang Ruiyi looked at him with a questioning gaze.

"Don't worry, Brother Liu, things are being prepared urgently," Han Fei said. "Today's matter is actually somewhat related to that."

"Oh?"

Han Fei took out a business data confirmation letter and contract from his bag and handed them to Liu Dong, who quickly glanced through them.

"Wow, 60!" Liu Dong exclaimed in surprise, a smile spreading across his face. "President Han has really struck it rich! What are you planning to do...?"

"Use this as collateral to get cash."

Liu Dong's smile faded: "President Han, are you kidding me?"

"I'm not kidding. You haven't finished reading yet; there's one more picture below."

Liu Dong turned to the next page.

"That was the formal cooperation agreement I signed with China Mobile," Han Fei said. "The data on the confirmation letter was just the beginning; there will be a stable share of revenue every month thereafter."

Liu Dong nodded, his gaze fixed on the paper. He took a deep drag on his cigarette, almost setting it ablaze. Then he held his breath, trapping the smoke in his lungs, before exhaling a long breath, his trachea hissing loudly.

Zhang Ruiyi nudged Han Fei with her elbow and gestured with her chin toward Liu Dong, as if asking him what he was doing. Han Fei shrugged, indicating he didn't know.

Liu Dong tilted his head slightly, flicked the ash into the ashtray, and finally spoke: "President Han, to be honest, I only half understand this stuff. But I know that the official seal of China Mobile isn't easy to get. The fact that you got this means you have some connections with them. Besides, we've known each other for a while now, and I trust your character. It's just that I don't know much about this matter, so I don't dare to make a decision for you. If you really want to use this as collateral, then I'll take you to see my boss."

"Boss?" Han Fei and Zhang Ruiyi said in unison.

"Uh...it's the boss."