In a rundown hair salon near a suburban motel, Yang Chun shaved his hair into a buzz cut and put on sunglasses, transforming from a refined scholar into a menacing gangster.
Dark clouds blotted out the sun, and a fierce wind stirred, making the yellow reeds surge like ocean waves, adding to the ominous atmosphere.
Lu Hui drove an old Jeep, bouncing through the dense reeds like a small boat on rough seas.
The Jeep broke through the reeds and reached the seashore, where a jet ski was waiting.
Lu Hui and Qiang Min abandoned the Jeep and boarded the jet ski, which sped towards a distant, isolated island.
The jet ski quickly reached the island. Lu Hui and Qiang Min jumped ashore. The island was barren, with jagged rocks, no vegetation, and no signs of life.
The air was filled with a strong, pungent odor. Several makeshift shacks billowing smoke were barely visible. A shadowy figure moved in a watchtower made of sticks.
Lu Hui dragged Qiang Min into a dimly lit large room. As soon as they entered, several batons struck Qiang Min, knocking him to the ground. Lu Hui shouted, "Tie him up!"
The Price of High Occupancy
In the manager's office of Haizhou Tower, Wang Jingfei was reviewing documents and entering data into a computer.
The efficient and attractive head of the housekeeping department, Liu Fang, knocked and entered, asking, "You called for me, Mr. Wang?"
Wang Jingfei nodded and gestured for her to sit. Liu Fang sat properly in the chair in front of the desk.
Wang Jingfei finished his entry, closed the computer, and said, "I've reviewed the monthly report from the housekeeping department you submitted." Liu Fang, cautious of the unknown, asked, "Is there a problem?"
Wang Jingfei replied, "Do you remember the occupancy rate?"
"94.7 percent," Liu Fang promptly reported.
Wang Jingfei said calmly, "That's the problem."
"That's a pretty high number!" Liu Fang was surprised.
Wang Jingfei replied, "The problem is in that 'pretty high'."
Liu Fang, puzzled, asked, "Isn't high good?"
"Everything has a limit," Wang Jingfei looked at Liu Fang. "Exceeding it is not good."
Liu Fang thought Wang Jingfei was being pretentious and felt a bit defiant. "How can it be bad?"
Wang Jingfei stood up and paced. "I have worked with Hilton and Shangri-La Hotel Groups. Even these world-renowned hotels rarely have occupancy rates over 80 percent. Especially in the off-season."
Liu Fang, accustomed to arrogance, replied haughtily, "Mr. Wang, you are talking about foreign branded hotels. Haizhou has its own characteristics. I worked extremely hard to attract several tour groups and conferences to reach this number."
Wang Jingfei, with a hidden edge, said, "The main sources are groups and conferences. It looks like a high occupancy rate, but in reality, profits are offset by high commissions, even showing negative growth. More importantly, these commissions are not discounts to customers, but cash payments from the restaurant, mall, and entertainment sectors. This money ends up in individuals' pockets. Strictly speaking, this is disguised bribery. Do you acknowledge that?"
Hit in the sore spot, Liu Fang muttered, "Everyone is doing it now. Without commissions, no hotel can operate."
Wang Jingfei pressed on, "You made a conceptual error. In business, commissions are a normal discount and can be accounted as costs. The commissions you refer to are under-the-table operations shared by a few people. This is called embezzlement and bribery."
The female manager Liu Fang turned red and white, speechless.
Wang Jingfei, taking advantage of the situation, softened his tone, "From today on, everything will be done by the book."
Liu Fang quickly nodded, "Yes, Mr. Wang."
Wang Jingfei sat down and handed back the report, "You may go now."
Liu Fang, blushing, exited the office. The phone rang.