BPIFC -Volume 1 – Chapter 4 In Front of the Office Building

Che Qianzi originally thought that Kong Dalong only owed the three creditors a little over three million yuan. To his surprise, while the bald man was still complaining to him, more than a dozen additional creditors gradually arrived.

Che Qianzi found them all familiar.

To his astonishment, they were people whose families he had once helped by exorcising ghosts and eliminating evil spirits.

After asking around, he learned that over the years Kong Dalong had been borrowing money from them as well.

At first, the amounts had been small—three hundred, five hundred yuan at a time. Before long, he would always pay it back. Later, the amounts increased, but he still repaid them promptly, making people trust him.

About half a month ago, however, Kong Dalong made one final round of borrowing.

This time, the amounts were substantial.

He had practically calculated each family’s financial situation before asking for money.

Claiming that he wanted to renovate the temple and invite Patriarch Lü Dongbin himself to descend into the mortal world and perform a great act of merit, he asked each household for eighty to one hundred thousand yuan.

Because Kong Dalong and his disciple had helped these families before, and because he had always repaid his debts in the past—often with a little extra interest—most of them eventually found ways to gather the money and lend it to him.

Today was the agreed repayment date.

After adding everything together, including the debts owed to the bald man and his two associates, the total exceeded five million yuan.

“The old bastard planned this from the very beginning… and he even included me in the scheme…”

Che Qianzi’s face flushed red with anger.

Looking at the timid creditors standing before him, however, he found himself unable to vent his fury.

At that moment, the bald man stepped forward again and crouched beside him.

He offered Che Qianzi a cigarette and lit it for him before saying:

“Little Master, you treat Kong Dalong like your master, but he never treated you like his disciple. Sure, he always called you ‘big son’ this and ‘big son’ that, but in his heart he treated you more like a grandson.”

“We all know who actually handled the demon-hunting and ghost-expelling. Kong Dalong made his money because of you. Remember what happened in Hejia Village five years ago? That female ghost scared him so badly he nearly wet himself. Everyone saw it. If it hadn’t been for you, that old Taoist would’ve been reincarnated by now.”

“That’s enough. You don’t get to talk about him like that.”

Before the bald man could finish, Che Qianzi shot him a sideways glance.

He tossed away the half-smoked cigarette and stood up.

Facing the crowd, he said: “My master’s debts are now my debts.”

“Give me one month.”

“If I can’t repay everything by then, this temple and all the temple property behind it will belong to all of you.”

Then he pointed at the bald man.

“You. Baldy. I’m talking to you.”

“Lend me some travel money.”

No one believed that a young man who had never traveled far from home could somehow come up with more than five million yuan in a month.

Most assumed he was planning to run away.

But if he ran, so be it.

Once the temple became the property of the bald man and the rest of the assets were divided among the creditors, they would at least recover part of their losses.

The bald man didn’t dare offend Che Qianzi.

In front of everyone, he handed over three thousand yuan as travel expenses.

And so, carrying a belly full of anger, Che Qianzi boarded a train bound for the capital.

At this point, all his hopes rested on the man named Gao Liang whose name appeared on the business card.

Ten years had passed since Che Qianzi first met Gao Liang.

He could no longer remember what the fat man looked like.

He vaguely recalled that someone had given his master a business card back then.

Come to think of it, ever since that day, Kong Dalong—who had always been short on money—never seemed to lack cash anymore.

Still, Che Qianzi couldn’t understand one thing.

If Gao Liang was so wealthy, why hadn’t Kong Dalong gone to him directly?

Had he already borrowed too much from Gao Liang and lost the nerve to ask for more?

Was he now sending his disciple to do the borrowing instead?

And even if Gao Liang was rich, why would he lend money to a complete stranger?

Lost in these thoughts, Che Qianzi finally arrived in the capital.

Without even stopping for a meal, he immediately hailed a taxi and headed for the place listed on the card:

The Bureau of Folklore Affairs Investigation and Research.

To his surprise, the taxi driver—who claimed to have driven taxis his entire life—had never heard of such an organization.

Even the navigation system couldn’t locate it.

In the end, they relied solely on the address written on Gao Liang’s business card.

The taxi finally stopped in front of a solitary office building.

Within several hundred meters of the building, there was nothing but open land.

Had he not seen it with his own eyes, Che Qianzi would never have believed that such a vast empty area could exist in the land-starved capital.

After getting out of the taxi, he circled the building.

To his surprise, he found no signboard whatsoever.

Wasn’t this supposed to be some kind of research bureau?

Why wasn’t there even a plaque?

Had the taxi driver brought him to the wrong place?

No one came out of the building.

The more he waited, the less confident he became.

Just as he was about to go inside and ask someone for directions, a luxurious Mercedes-Benz pulled up at the entrance.

A smiling fat man stepped out.

The man’s face carried a permanent grin, making it impossible to judge his age.

Seeing a Taoist priest standing outside, he assumed Che Qianzi was a new employee.

He waved cheerfully.

“New guy? Why are you still wearing religious robes? Did Secretary Yang send you to pick me up?”

“Not that I’m complaining, but I just finished handling the Dark Night incident. This is basically a triumphant return! Even if he didn’t come to the airport personally, the least he could’ve done was greet me at the front door instead of sending someone like—”

“I’m here to find someone.”

Before the fat man could finish rambling, Che Qianzi interrupted him.

He handed over the business card.

“Do you know this person? Gao Liang.”

“Gao Liang, huh…”

The fat man’s eyes narrowed.

After glancing at the card, he smiled.

“Yep, there is someone by that name.”

“But why are you looking for him, little brother?”

“Are you a relative of Boss Gao? Did you come to the bureau because of some business?”

“Not that I’m saying anything, but the two of you don’t really look alike.”

“My lips are sealed. Just tell me what your relationship is, and I promise I won’t spread it around.”

Hearing that the fat man knew Gao Liang, Che Qianzi finally relaxed a little.

Still, judging by the man’s expression, he seemed to be hoping that Che Qianzi would admit to being Gao Liang’s illegitimate son.

Already furious because of Kong Dalong, Che Qianzi directed all that irritation toward him.

With a sidelong glance, he said: “What’s our relationship got to do with you?”

“What, if you find out, are you hoping to become someone’s son too?”

“These days there are all kinds of people. Some borrow money and run away. Others run around looking for a daddy.”

The fat man froze for a moment.

Then he laughed.

“Interesting. Not many people in this world can leave me speechless.”

“Usually I’m the one leaving everyone else speechless.”

“That’s karma.”

Before he could finish, Che Qianzi cut in again.

“You probably didn’t do enough good deeds in your previous life.”

Che Qianzi expected the fat man to lose his temper and start a fight.

Instead, the man burst into hearty laughter.

After he finished laughing, he said:

“My fault. I crossed a line earlier.”

“Don’t take it personally, little brother.”

“Here’s what you do.”

“Go inside and keep walking.”

“Ask someone where Room Six is.”

“There’s a man there named Wu Rendi.”

“He knows where Boss Gao is.”

“Just ask him, and you’ll find Gao Liang.”

“Room Six… Wu Rendi…”

Che Qianzi glanced at the fat man.

Just as he was about to speak, a tall man emerged from the building.

Upon seeing the fat man, he shouted:

“Sun Fatty! What took you so long?”

“The boss wants you in the Director’s office.”

“Hurry up. They say they’re assigning you a job.”

The fat man immediately frowned.

“The boss?”

“Which boss?”

“There’s only one Boss Gao in this bureau.”

“You idiot, make yourself clear.”

“Who in this bureau dares assign work to me?”

“Why don’t you go and find out?” the tall man replied dismissively.

Turning around, he headed back inside while muttering:

“Still thinks he’s the director…”

“Doesn’t even know what trouble he’s gotten himself into.”

“Has he explained his work-style problems yet? Bah.”

The fat man no longer paid attention to Che Qianzi.

He immediately followed the tall man into the building.

Che Qianzi remembered one important thing the fat man had said:

There was only one ‘Boss Gao’ in the entire bureau.

Assuming that meant Gao Liang, he followed the fat man into the headquarters of the Bureau of Folklore Affairs Investigation and Research.