Ding Da's uncle invested a total of 170,000 yuan in the mutual aid association.
Besides the money from selling houses and land, there was also public funds from his wife's workplace. The two of them embezzled public funds and invested them in a mutual aid society, using public money to earn interest for themselves.
Uncle Ding did some quick calculations and figured that if they took out all the money before the Lunar New Year and paid off the public funds, he and his wife could get 60,000 yuan in interest.
With this money, their child's wedding home was secured, and the couple was able to buy two courtyard houses in Beijing.
Selling a house is nothing; the money from the sale isn't without returns. You can invest the money from the sale into a mutual aid society, earn more money, and buy a better house. Isn't that better than earning a fixed salary?
Uncle Ding felt that his colleagues who hadn't invested in the mutual aid society were a bit stubborn. There was a great way to make money right in front of them, they were practically begging him to open his mouth, but they still wouldn't get it. They insisted that there was no such thing as a free lunch and that the mutual aid society was risky.
"Once I get the interest back, we'll buy a house and a car, and give them a good slap in the face! This year for Chinese New Year, we'll buy a whole fat sheep, not a local one, but one transported from Inner Mongolia. We'll also buy some seafood from the south—ginseng, abalone, shark fin—we'll eat whatever's expensive, so they can only watch us eat and drink to their hearts' content and be envious!" Uncle Ding said with a smile.
In his spare time, he likes to have a couple of small drinks, and his wife cuts up some snacks for him to enjoy with them.
The couple used public funds to make money. They had little capital but earned a lot. They could afford to eat pork head meat and mutton every day, and even dragon meat.
Old Ding's wife was also quite happy. Thinking that the New Year was coming soon, she took the money and went to the mall to buy a few cashmere coats, cashmere sweaters, black suit pants, high-heeled leather shoes, and then went to the hair salon to get her hair permed. She wanted to look more fashionable than others when she went out to buy groceries.
"Old Ding, do you think I should buy a cashmere overcoat or a wool overcoat this year? I saw Old Qin from work wearing a black down jacket, saying he bought it at Mandarin on Wangfujing Street. Do you think I should buy an overcoat or a down jacket?"
Old Ding took a sip of wine dismissively, slammed the cup down on the table, and said with a flourish:
“We’re rich! Why should rich people fuss over such a small amount of money? If you like it, buy it all, whether it’s cashmere or cashmere, buy it as long as you like it. Buy a couple of down jackets too, those things are warm, and buy a few for our son and daughter-in-law as well. After we buy them, we’ll go back to our hometown for the New Year and show off in front of Ding Da, let’s see if he’s envious!”
"That Ding Da is really something. You, as his uncle, have treated him quite well. You wanted to sell the house to make money, but he actually advised you not to. In the end, he just wants to take your ancestral property! What an ingrate!"
Old Ding was also a bit emotional. He was a traditional Chinese man, and with his old-fashioned mindset, he felt that his nephew was like half a son, one of his own. He had always treated his nephew well, and his nephew was quite filial, always busy doing chores, whether it was carrying coal briquettes or cabbages. He was the one who fixed the lights when they broke at home.
You can't tell the difference in normal times, but you'll see it when something happens.
You can't truly raise someone who isn't your own flesh and blood.
Old Ding nodded and said, "This kid isn't clever enough and isn't up to any good! If a person doesn't have the courage to burn their bridges, how can they talk about making money?"
"By the way, you applied to Lao Zhao for money, right? What did the chairman say again?"
"I've applied. Don't worry, the chairman doesn't care about this small amount of money. Just a few days ago, Old Qin's nephew applied for 18,000 yuan and got the money smoothly. The chairman not only doesn't delay your payment, but he also thinks you've put too much money in and can't wait for you to get it back!"
Old Ding shook his head with amusement, thinking his wife was being paranoid.
He has been a member of the mutual aid society for more than half a year. He has watched the society grow up. The society has a large fund pool, and new members are constantly joining. There are always new members who can fill the gaps left by the old members.
Old Ding wasn't worried about not getting his money.
He had just taken a bite of pig's ear when there was a rapid knocking at the door.
"It sounds like Lao Zhao's voice."
"I'll go see." Old Ding's wife opened the door, and asked suspiciously, "Old Zhao, what brings you here? Do you need to see Old Ding?"
Old Zhao was also a little anxious, and afraid that making too much noise would alert others, so he ran to find Old Ding first. He pulled Old Ding aside, so anxious that he was about to cry.
"Old Ding, this morning I went to the mutual aid association to get my money from the president, but I couldn't find him anywhere. Zhou Jian'an wasn't there either. The only people at the company were his relatives from his hometown, but they didn't understand anything I asked and couldn't even speak Mandarin. Something seems off to me."
Old Ding burst out laughing, thinking that Old Zhao had caught his wife's weirdness too.
It's perfectly normal not to see anyone this morning, is there any need to be in such a hurry?
Old Zhao was practically slapping his thigh in exasperation. "Old Ding, Old Ding, are you out of your mind! I wouldn't be worried if I didn't see them for a day, but according to others, these two haven't shown up for several days. And these past few days, they haven't been able to withdraw money from the association either. Do you think that's normal?"
Old Ding then realized the seriousness of the situation. He dusted himself off, stood up, and without even putting on his shoes, sat in the back seat of Old Zhao's car and went to the mutual aid association.
A little over a month ago, the mutual aid association moved to a new office address. This new store is five times the size of the old one, with a grand and luxurious decor. Every member who enters the store can sit in the company's genuine leather chairs and enjoy a massage from a financial specialist.
A company must be thriving to spend money to move to a new office.
This move misled Lao Ding, making him believe that the mutual aid association had plenty of money and a bright future.
But little did he know that the chairman and Zhou Jian'an had both disappeared.
Old Ding was quite familiar with Ai Fang and Qiao Xiaomai, so he came looking for them. Qiao Xiaomai was there, after all.
"Ai Fang left a long time ago. I haven't seen the president and team leader Zhou these past few days. The mutual aid association has changed its staff. The current president is Zhou Huilan, the vice president is Bao Liu, and the sales team leader is..."
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