Jin Zhao sought out various wealthy benefactors and explained his intentions. Everyone present had been enjoying interest profits for years. They believed that as long as they kept a close eye on matters and avoided being the last to jump ship, there wouldn't be any problems. Each person held a mental ledger, calculating their vested interests. Since they could all see that purchasing the factory building would yield an immediate profit of 10 million, the safety factor seemed high. They planned to borrow funds for a few months; once the factory was purchased, it could be mortgaged to the bank for a loan. Everyone was unusually excited. In just three days, they managed to raise 30 million at an interest rate of 2.5%. With the money raised, Jin Zhao quickly completed the company's equity transfer process. <br><br>He paid a deposit of 8 million to the other party, a man surnamed Ding, addressed as Mr. Ding, the proprietor. They agreed to handle the title transfer exactly one month later. On that day, Jin Zhao would pay the remaining 30 million for the property, with an additional 2 million to be settled a month after the transaction, accounting for procedural and intermediary fees. Jin Zhao paid the deposit, and Mr. Ding promptly agreed to let Jin Zhao begin relocating the factory. <br><br>One month later, the new factory was mostly relocated, and Jin Zhao was busy renovating the four-story office building. On the 4th, as agreed, he went to the business administration bureau to complete the equity transfer with Mr. Ding. At 10 a.m., Jin Zhao arrived punctually at the service hall, but Mr. Ding was nowhere to be seen. He finally arrived at 10:30 a.m. After completing the equity transfer registration, the two of them proceeded to the bank. Jin Zhao transferred 30 million to Mr. Ding, who then said, "I forgot to bring my account number; please transfer it to my mother-in-law's account instead." <br><br>Jin Zhao responded, "Alright, you must be a rare breed of son-in-law. Your wife must be highly capable!" Mr. Ding replied with a dry laugh, "Hehe." As they left the bank, Mr. Ding patted Jin Zhao on the shoulder and said, "Brother, I leave this business to you now. Farewell forever!" <br><br>The day after completing the equity transfer, Jin Zhao took the factory's documents to the bank to apply for a mortgage loan. However, the bank informed him that the property had already been mortgaged to another bank a year earlier, with payments overdue by six months. The asset was frozen and could not be used for a loan. Jin Zhao immediately realized that Mr. Ding and the intermediary had conspired to orchestrate this. They insisted on handling only the equity transfer and avoided processing a property sale at the land bureau, as they couldn't complete the transaction. Jin Zhao had only seen a series of photocopies and a possibly fake property ownership certificate during their dealings. It dawned on him that they were all in cahoots. His heart sank. <br><br>Jin Zhao made multiple attempts to call Mr. Ding, but none of the calls went through. The intermediary claimed ignorance and said they would help him find Mr. Ding. Returning to his company, Jin Zhao felt utterly defeated. Just then, the security guard called to inform him that a group of people claiming to be creditors of the original factory were causing a scene at the main gate, demanding to see him. Jin Zhao looked and saw seven or eight people outside. <br><br>Fearing the fallout with his investors, since this situation was still under wraps, Jin Zhao instructed the security guard to let them in. These individuals were creditors of the previous company. They presented various documents, insisting that the original company owed them over 20 million and that the responsibility now fell on Jin Zhao as the new owner. The commotion alarmed everyone in the company, and informants among the creditors promptly alerted their patrons. Within two hours, people from all directions converged on the factory. <br><br>Jin Zhao could only admit that the entire affair was a scam. He had been deceived out of 38 million and burdened with a mountain of debt. The crowd erupted in curses and slammed the tables. Jin Zhao recalled the name of Mr. Ding's mother-in-law and the bank involved in the transfer. He drove to the bank for answers, where a kind staff member confirmed the existence of the woman. They revealed that the funds had long been transferred and suggested Jin Zhao report the matter to the police before attempting to locate her. <br><br>He found her address through the property management office of her residential complex. Rushing to her door, Jin Zhao banged on it until it opened. He immediately pushed past her and demanded, "Where is your son-in-law, Mr. Ding? He scammed me out of my money. I won't leave until I find him!" <br><br>The elderly lady replied, "That damned villain! I am not his mother-in-law. Mr. Ding divorced my daughter three months ago. He died in a car accident yesterday morning. If you want answers, go to his hometown in Tongliang. Maybe you'll have better luck digging him out of his grave!" <br><br>Jin Zhao asked, "What about the money transferred to your account?" <br><br>The old lady said, "It was for construction fees. Mr. Ding closed the account three days ago. The card was used by him and my daughter. I, an old lady, know nothing. He died in the accident on his way back!" <br><br>Jin Zhao demanded Mr. Ding's address in Tongliang. Upon obtaining it, he drove there as quickly as possible. Arriving two hours later, he found a large plastic canopy set up beneath the apartment building. A funeral had recently concluded, and the ground was littered with wreaths and funeral banners naming Mr. Ding. Seeing the photograph in the memorial hall, Jin Zhao collapsed. It was indeed Mr. Ding. <br><br>The police later verified that Mr. Ding had died in a car accident, and the whereabouts of the funds remained unknown. Jin Zhao, broken and enraged, felt as though his entire being had been shredded. He filed lawsuits, only to face countersuits from the creditors. Six cases were processed concurrently. The court ultimately ordered the factory's repossession and auction. Mr. Ding's fraudulent activities were dismissed due to his death. Jin Zhao lashed out in court and cursed everyone he believed had wronged him. <br><br>Finally, through the court-ordered sale, Jin Zhao repurchased the factory for 30 million. Overall, he had spent 68 million on the ordeal, losing six months of time as he became entangled in lawsuits. During that half-year, all company matters were put on hold. Monthly interest payments, due on the 27th, had been delayed multiple times. Various individuals came to the factory demanding refunds. <br><br>Jin Zhao barely functioned, spending his days scrambling to gather funds to pay off previous debts. The production, sales, and leasing of building clamps were neglected entirely. He became a relentless, vampiric device, constantly seeking new resources. The bank loans remained unresolved, forcing him into the clutches of loan sharking. Each day, he cursed employees who failed to bring in money. He bombarded his friends and relatives with calls, begging for funds to keep his fragile dream alive.)
