"You can have your people try applying for loans at the bank and examine their procedures. Then copy down their loan documents and add some extra clauses."
He glanced at Mr. Fox beside him. "For example, after a certain period, they can forfeit the collateral while still being required to repay the full debt and interest. That way, you can lower the interest rate on paper."
This approach was simply a variation of the banks' usual practice. If borrowers could not repay their loans on time, the banks would send the collateral to auction.
The proceeds from the auction would always be used to cover the debt the borrower could not repay. It looked like a perfectly reasonable process, but it was not.
That was because the banks had valued the collateral very low from the beginning, while charging extremely high interest. Most people who needed loans simply did not have the ability to repay them in the short term.
The logic was simple. If these people could raise the money within a month or two, they would have had no need to borrow from the bank in the first place.
Since they could not raise the money, they naturally had no ability to repay the bank's loan. The bank could then openly swallow the collateral.
If the borrower could repay the money in the short term, the bank still would not lose out. It would have earned a sum of interest within a short period.
That money might not seem significant in any one transaction, perhaps only a few percent to ten percent of a hundred dollars. But once all the bank's business was piled together, it was no longer a hundred dollars. It might be ten million, a hundred million, or even more.
Lin Qi's suggestion merely added a clause requiring continued collection of the principal and interest after the bank's termination process had ended.
Even at a bank, termination was absolutely not the end. They had plenty of ways to devour a borrower until not even the bones remained!
Banks might not have as many negative stories in society as financial companies like Mr. Fox's, but banks were not benevolent saints either. One only had to look at the highest standards set by banks for the boundaries in every law and policy related to illegal funds... They were not only the athletes but also the referees! When Mr. Fox had previously said that certain people did not want to see their business legalized, he was referring to the legislators connected to the banks and major financial conglomerates.
The banks and conglomerates supported them, their families, and perhaps even their personal staffs, maintaining their respectable lifestyles. Naturally, they had to learn to defend the interests of the masters who fed them.
Lin Qi's idea was not complicated at all. If you could not defeat your opponent, join them.
It was just that, to avoid risks, he had added some wordplay to the contract, leaving certain matters ambiguous so they could be handled conveniently.
Mr. Fox thought seriously for a moment, then said hesitantly, "I'll give it a try. In any case, thank you very much for your advice!"
Lin Qi waved his hand and said with a smile, "Your matter is settled, but I need your help with something too..."
After eating at Mr. Fox's farm, he left with some local specialties. They were a few cattle-horn ornaments that would not have been worth much if one ignored the gold and the rather inconspicuous gemstones on them.
Meanwhile, after a whole morning of filing applications, the Michael they had discussed finally saw his son, Little Michael, at Sabine City District Prison.
People sometimes believed that criminal cases had to go through several trials before a verdict could be issued, but that understanding was wrong. If a criminal voluntarily admitted to the crime, the process would be greatly shortened.
Although the court had yet to announce Little Michael's final sentence, he had already begun serving his time ahead of schedule. This could also be considered a form of preferential treatment.
In the room used to receive prisoners' families, father and son sat across from each other at a table. After the prison guard nodded at Michael, he left the position he was originally supposed to guard at all times.
That was simply how the rules worked. Some people obeyed them, while others broke them. The people who broke the rules were often members of the Privileged Class, or even the people who had made the rules. The ones always managed by the rules were those without the ability to resist.
It was ridiculous, but not funny.
Even more ridiculous were the people who could break the rules constantly accusing those who could not break them of doing so, while continually adding rules that benefited themselves to consolidate their positions and the power in their hands.
"When the trial starts in a few days, you must appeal. Don't plead guilty!" Michael glanced back at the tightly closed door and continued, "I've already hired a lawyer. He'll do his best to clear your name, so don't worry!"
Little Michael was very calm. There was no surprise and no anger, only calmness. He felt that his soul had already been elevated.
The way he looked at Michael also seemed different from before. There was less worship, less irritation, less rebellion, and no more gritted-teeth obedience.
With a single glance, he seemed to have grown up considerably. He shook his head, which surprised Michael. Then a burst of fury rose from the soles of Michael's feet.
He abruptly stood up, leaned forward, and reached for Little Michael's collar, wanting to make him understand that this was no time for jokes. But his movement was too large and alarmed the guards outside.
The prison guard coughed to warn him not to go too far. Michael's movements froze for a moment before he forced down his anger and sat back down.
He glared at Little Michael with ill intent. "Why?"
Little Michael replied in a tone Michael hated intensely, "One of us was going to end up in here sooner or later. You always said I couldn't bring you any glory. Look, I'm protecting you now!"
As he spoke, he grew somewhat impatient. "I don't want to hear your explanations. Whether you did it or not, the problem has happened. I admit that I'm partly at fault, so I'm making up for my mistake, and besides..."
Little Michael seemed unwilling to continue. "Actually, pleading guilty is better for you, for me, for Mom, and for all of us. Stop dwelling on this. Think about how to reduce my sentence instead. I heard from the people here that I might get nine to twelve months."
After saying this, Little Michael stood up and slapped the table. The prison guard came in, glanced at the father and son, then took Little Michael by the arm and led him away.
Michael already understood Little Michael's thoughts, but he had to admit that the boy was foolish, because this was framing and entrapment! As long as they dealt with the person who had framed him, the matter would be over. Neither of them would have to bear any disgrace because of it. But he had no way to explain that clearly to Little Michael now.
He had only wanted to stall until the truth came to light, but that bastard did not see it that way. He even thought Michael was doing this to protect himself.
What an unreasonable child, and utterly stupid!
A little after seven in the evening, Lin Qi finished eating outside and returned to the second floor of the little tavern. He had not had time to look for a house these past few days, so he was still living here for the time being.
The place was right by the roadside, with people constantly coming and going and a lively little tavern downstairs. If anything happened, it would be difficult not to alert the people nearby. In another sense, that also ensured his safety.
Just as he took out his key at the door, he paused. There were obvious pry marks around the keyhole. He gently pushed the door, and it creaked open.
In the pitch-black room, a glowing ember flickered on and off. Whenever it brightened, a vague face could be faintly seen.
The room was somewhat messy and looked as if it had been searched again. Lin Qi turned on the switch beside the door. Yellow light filled the room, revealing Michael leaning against the wall of the partition and watching him.
Lin Qi smiled. He walked into the room and looked at the belongings scattered everywhere in a chaotic mess, then sighed helplessly.
"You must never do housework at home, so you have no idea how troublesome it is to put all this away. It takes physical effort and puts people in a bad mood." He bent down and picked up several books, placing them on the wardrobe nearby. Just as he bent down again, Michael suddenly rushed in front of him and shoved him hard, pinning him against the wall.
"You framed my son, Lin Qi..."
Michael's ferocity did not register in Lin Qi's eyes at all. Looking at Michael, who was only inches away, he remained as composed as he had been in the alley that day. "Apologize and get out. Then this matter ends here. Otherwise, you'll bear all the consequences yourself, just as I warned you that day!"
Lin Qi did not back down, meeting him head-on.
Bullying people could become addictive. The feeling of controlling others made people try it again and again. For example... Newspaper Boss. Although Lin Qi did not know what kind of grudge existed between Newspaper Boss and Michael, it was probably something similar.
If one of them had to be destroyed, Lin Qi was certain it would not be him!