Selling the House to Pay the Debts

They said a man never quite forgot his first time.

In the days since returning from Hongfang Street, Ding Ding kept finding himself thinking of that fool.

The memories of that night were like a towel that had not been fully wrung dry, hanging heavy on the wall, occasionally releasing a drop of water, trickling back bit by bit until they returned in full.

Soft, sweet, neither quite dreaming nor quite awake.

Ding Ding was not a heartless man.

If this had happened a few years earlier, Ding Ding would have brought him home without hesitation, taken responsibility, and provided for him properly.

But now...

"Look, you're like a brother to me. This is the only buyer willing to pay in full, but the price..."

Ding Ding looked at the home he had lived in for three years and consoled himself that a hundred-odd square meters felt empty for one person anyway. He might as well take the opportunity for a change of surroundings. Perhaps it would even turn his luck around.

Taking a deep breath, Ding Ding turned his gaze to the agent beside him.

"How much is he offering?"

The agent, Xiao Li, rubbed his nose and quoted a price twenty percent below market value.

Even Xiao Li felt uneasy saying it, and he hurried to explain, "It's mainly because you need a quick sale and payment in full. I negotiated with the buyer to cover the transfer and agency fees. This is the amount you'll actually receive."

Ding Ding gave a quiet acknowledgment. "Get the paperwork done as soon as possible."

When poor people suddenly came into money, buying houses and land was only natural. No one would want to sell their home unless they were at the end of their rope.

Xiao Li and Ding Ding were old acquaintances of sorts. He had watched Ding Ding build his grand tower and feast his guests; now the tower had collapsed, and everyone was waiting to laugh at him.

People turning cold when fortunes changed was nothing unusual, but Ding Ding had treated him very well, and Xiao Li could not bring himself to kick him while he was down.

"Where will you live once this place is sold? I've got a few pretty good listings. How about..."

"Not yet," Ding Ding interrupted him. "Give it some time. If I rent somewhere, I'll definitely come to you."

"Rent..." Xiao Li nodded blankly. "Renting works too. I'll keep an eye out for you, then."

Ding Ding said nothing. Once he signed where he needed to and handed over the keys, this place would have nothing more to do with him.

"When will the money come through?"

"As soon as possible," Xiao Li said. "Don't worry. They're afraid you'll change your mind too. We've agreed they'll pay before the transfer."

"All right. I'll buy you dinner sometime."

Xiao Li hurriedly waved his hands. "No need to be so formal with me."

His brotherly regard was sincere, and Ding Ding was willing to accept the kindness.

"See if there's anything valuable left in here. Take it and sell it yourself. Whatever you can make is something."

"..."

They said even a wrecked ship still had three thousand nails. Xiao Li looked at the almost empty home, then at Ding Ding's lowered eyes, and in the end could not bring himself to make any cutting remarks.

"All right. I'll take care of it as I see fit."

After seeing Xiao Li off, Ding Ding collapsed onto the sofa, not wanting to move.

The money from selling the house might not even cover the workers' wages, let alone the outstanding payments for goods.

Ding Ding was in the clothing fabric business. From the weaving mill and dyeing plant to the sales department, the entire production chain was his own, and his business had once flourished.

Things had gone smoothly for so long that Ding Ding had come to believe they always would.

Who could have known that one ill-judged decision would bring an ingrate into his life?

Looking at the caller ID on his phone, Ding Ding drew a deep breath, held it in his lungs, and answered the call.

Both sides remained silent after the call connected. A full twenty seconds passed before the person on the other end spoke.

"Mr. Ding, are you busy?"

Ding Ding scoffed. "You'd know better than anyone whether I'm busy."

"What are you saying, Mr. Ding?" The person on the other end was laughing too, very softly. Ding Ding was certain it was mockery. "If you have time, come by the company. The factory managers are all waiting."

"Got it."

After hanging up, Ding Ding exhaled a stale breath, got up, and made himself presentable before setting off for the company.

There was no telling how long the caller had been waiting downstairs in the industrial park. Only when he saw Ding Ding turn the wheel and pull into a parking space did he loosen his stiff joints and walk over.

"Mr. Ding."

Ding Ding lifted his chin and, taking advantage of his height, cast him a sidelong glance.

"Li Hao, Li Hao. No, wait... I should be calling you Mr. Li now, shouldn't I?"

Li Hao curled his lips into a smile and, just as he always had, stepped ahead to press the elevator button for Ding Ding. "Call me whatever you like."

"I never realized you had tricks like these up your sleeve."

"I had a good teacher in you, Mr. Ding."

That was true enough. Without Ding Ding, Li Hao would probably still have been a circular knitting machine operator, lost among hundreds of others doing the same work, with little chance of getting ahead.

Back then, Ding Ding had been inspecting the weaving mill when he came across two workers arguing. One of them was Li Hao.

One leaned on his age and experience to scold the youngster for not knowing better; the other, a fearless young upstart, held his head high and refused to give an inch.

For all their arguing, it was over nothing but trifles.

What really caught Ding Ding's attention was Li Hao's way with words.

An argument required give-and-take. The worst thing was to wander off topic and talk past each other.

This Li Hao was different. No matter how the other man changed the subject or resorted to unreasonable arguments, he always managed to steer the discussion precisely back to its original point. Each point stood on its own, his logic was perfectly clear, and he never lost any ground.

With that particular air of youthful arrogance, he nearly drove the other man mad.

Even then, Ding Ding had thought he had the makings of a salesman.

Ding Ding had not misjudged him. In his very first month after transferring to sales, Li Hao landed an order from a well-known brand.

The profit was modest, but it was enough to take Ding Ding's textile company a major step toward the high-end market.

So Ding Ding kept him by his side, teaching by word and example, holding nothing back, showing him both the business and how to take a broader view in his dealings with others.

Who could have known that a greedy snake really could swallow an elephant? By the time Ding Ding looked back, he found bloody jaws and fangs behind him, with nowhere left to retreat.

The elevator stopped on the ninth floor. Ding Ding pulled himself out of his memories and unhurriedly replied to Li Hao's earlier remark.

"Someone who's set his mind on it doesn't need teaching, does he?"

"..."

Li Hao could not understand how someone could fall this far and still make jokes.

Besides... what was that supposed to mean?!

The office was packed with people. At a glance, there was not a single unfamiliar face.

Ding Ding walked over to the boss's chair and sat down. He switched on the kettle and began making tea right in front of his creditors.

"Da Hong Pao. Care to try some?"

Naturally, no one answered. These people had not waited so long just to drink tea. Several gazes settled on the purple clay teapot in Ding Ding's hands. Steam rose slowly from it, making the already stuffy office feel even more oppressive.

"Boss Ding, you know I'm a blunt man, so I'll get straight to it. When exactly are you going to pay for the goods?"

Ding Ding sighed inwardly, suddenly feeling very tired. He let none of it show, merely stretching his neck and straightening his back further.

His gaze swept across the room. A six-figure number shone above every person's head.

"In the next couple of days," Ding Ding said. "As soon as the money comes in, I'll transfer it to you."

"Where are you getting the money, Boss Ding?" someone demanded anxiously. "I heard from Xiao Li that your business has gone under!"

Ding Ding glanced at Li Hao in the corner, making no attempt to hide the disgust on his face.

"My business has gone under, not me. We've known each other for so many years. When have I ever shortchanged you by a single cent?"