Soon, someone brought two glasses of water, and the manager naturally placed his hands on the desk with his fingers clasped together.
At this time, he separated his palms and spread his hands, "So...what are you doing here?"
The company has many businesses, some of which are not handled by him, so it is impossible for him to know the specific circumstances of each business.
Erwin didn't know what to say, but Lance seemed very natural and relaxed.
"We're in a little trouble and need a little money."
The manager smiled and said, "That's no problem. That's what we do."
"How much do you plan to take?"
"two hundred."
"two hundred?"
"two hundred!"
The manager did not think that the amount of money was too little. The financial companies here would not let go of any big or small fish, and based on the actual interest rate, the smaller the amount, the higher the profit would actually be.
Maybe a thousand dollars would be calculated at an annual interest rate of 50 to 60 percent, but if you borrow ten thousand dollars, the annual interest rate might only be 20 to 30 percent.
Moreover, the risk of borrowing small amounts is lower. The probability of running away for a few hundred dollars and the probability of running away for tens of thousands of dollars are absolutely different.
Of course, before that, he definitely needs to figure out the basic information of the person in front of him. It is impossible to give money to anyone as soon as they come.
That's not cash flow, that's fucking charity.
"Your accent doesn't sound like that of a local."
Lance didn't deny it, "We are from the Empire."
The manager curled his lips and said, "I often see news about your place on the news. It's really a terrible place. So do you have any collateral?"
"You are not locals. If you run away, it will be difficult for me to find you."
"Rather than paying for your expenses, I would rather not lend you the money."
Lance knew that this would be a troublesome process, so he had to explain, "We don't have collateral..." Seeing the manager's expression and emotion of "Are you kidding me?", Lance said first, "But we have the ability to repay."
Facing the manager's confused expression, he explained, "There are 14 of us here, and we all work in Jingang City. Due to the lack of legal status, it is difficult for us to go elsewhere."
"After all, you know, there are fewer job opportunities in other places, and it's less safe. Other cities won't be as tolerant as Jingang City, so we won't run away."
The manager agreed with this point of view. He opened his cigarette box, turned around and made an inviting gesture.
Lance took out one, and Erwin just looked at it without taking any action.
The manager thought Lance was very interesting and pushed a lighter over to him. It was a very classic desktop lighter. "Do you know how to use it?"
Tabletop lighters from this period all have a storyline, and appear to be about the size of an adult's palm - just the base.
There is a clown statue holding a torch on the base. When you press one of the little man's arms, the little man will spit out sparks at the cotton wick of the torch in his hand, and then the torch will be lit.
Filled with kerosene - the kerosene wick, and the flint.
This type of desktop lighter is very popular and comes in a variety of shapes and prices ranging from low to high.
Lance came closer with a cigarette in his mouth, took a deep breath, and seemed to relax completely.
Watching Lance smoke his cigarette skillfully, the manager lit a cigarette for himself and said, "Let's continue with the previous topic. Tell me how you can guarantee that I can get the money back after I give it to you."
"There are fourteen of us. Even if each of us can only earn fifteen dollars a month, that's still two hundred and ten dollars."
"I'll give you half of it. It will only take three months at most to pay it off completely."
"And I believe that even if we lose our jobs and cannot pay back the money, we can still work for you to pay off the debt. We have a lot of people, so you don't need to worry about that at all."
After listening to this, the manager thought it was true, but he still had a question, "How can you guarantee that I can still find you?"
"You can take our picture."
This was a good idea, but the manager decided to ask again, "Can I ask what you want the money for?"
"After all, two hundred yuan is not a small amount for you."
Lance did not hide anything and spoke directly, "We have encountered a problem. A woman who is keeping a harem wants to extort money from us..."
After listening to Lance's brief account of the whole incident, the manager showed some interest. "I have a new suggestion. Do you want to listen to it?"
Lance flicked the ash from his cigarette and asked, "Do we have the right to refuse?"
The manager laughed a few times, "It seems that there is none..." He paused, "I'll help you with this... It's raised by a woman, you still owe me two hundred yuan, but I can make the decision and reduce the interest a little."
"In fact, it will be more beneficial for you if I solve this matter than if you just give me money."
"According to the company's regulations, we won't charge you interest for such a small loan of 200 yuan. You need to give me 350 yuan including the principal and interest within six months."
"I'll lower the interest rate for you now. You only need to pay me 320 yuan including principal and interest for half a year, which means 53.5 yuan per month. This is my reward for your outstanding performance."
Seeing the confident smile on the manager's face, Lance did not agree or refuse directly. Instead, he gave him a new choice, "We will give you 250 yuan including principal and interest. This money will not be transferred to the company's account, but directly to you."
The manager was stunned for a moment, then started laughing, and his laughter became louder and louder, and he couldn't stop it at all.
Lance vaguely understood what the problem was.
"Is this company yours?"
The manager nodded and held his stomach. "That's so funny. You're trying to bribe me right in front of me!"
"Hahaha, you're really interesting, not at all like that silly guy next to you. I haven't asked yet, what's your name?"
"Lance...", he spelled.
"An odd name, but you're an interesting person, Lance."
"For making me laugh so hard, two hundred and eighty dollars for six months."
"This was a last-ditch concession. If it had been anyone else, the moment they tried to counter-offer, I would have told them to get out!"
The manager sounded proud when he said this. In this era of capital shortage, as long as you have cash in hand, you don't need to worry about not being able to find a borrower.
Some people may not be willing to bear such terrible interest rates, but there are many who are willing to take a chance.
Two hundred dollars, plus eighty dollars in interest, this interest rate is not expensive at all in this era and in this city!
Lance didn't hesitate too much, and put out the cigarette butt in the ashtray. Then, while exhaling the last puff of smoke, he stood up and stretched out his hand, "I'm glad that we can reach a cooperation, sir."
After a brief moment of distraction, the manager stood up and held Lance's hand. "You are very interesting, Lance. Now I am your creditor."
Then he shouted to the door, "Fordice, come in!"
Not long after, a sturdy man pushed open the door and stood inside. "Boss, you looking for me?"
The manager let go of Lance's hand and pointed at him. "Follow him to get a bitch's bastard, then go around his workplace and bring back some food..."
He looked at Lance, "You are different from other people your age that I have met. To be honest, there is something very special about you. I admire you very much. I don't think you will be an ordinary person in the future."
"I hope to hear your name mentioned again in LOS City, Lance."
"Also, don't forget the money you owe me. If you forget, I will have someone remind you. You definitely don't like this kind of reminder. Do you understand?"
Although he thought Lance was funny, business was business.
The girls who run their own businesses on the roadside with low costs will not take the initiative to reduce or waive some fees just because their customers are regular customers.
If they really like you, they may live with you after work, but if you want to do something during work, you have to pay.
After briefly threatening Lance, he let them go.
For him, two hundred and eighty yuan is less than forty-seven yuan per month.
But it is these forty-seven dollars that support his current life.
And this time there was no risk at all, because he didn't spend any money at all, and he also met an interesting guy.
The abrupt feeling that Lance was somewhat incompatible with the whole world made the manager more tolerant and willing to wait and see how things developed.
When Lance and Alvin walked out of the financial company, their friends immediately surrounded them and asked about the final result.
Lance told them that the matter was settled, and gave them a heads-up, "Three dollars per month for each person, that's forty-two, and Ethan has to pay the remaining five dollars himself. This is his fault, so he should pay more."
No one had any objection to this and everyone obeyed Lance's words.
Fordyce frowned, "We're still in a hurry."
Lance immediately agreed. He asked the other friends to wait for news, and then he and Alvin got in the company car and drove towards the port under Alvin's guidance.
The guy who called the police to arrest Ethan lived in a workers' apartment near the port.
This was the first time Lance had ridden in a sedan in this world. The interior of the car was far more luxurious than it appeared from the outside, especially the walnut and calfskin interior, which made people feel its low-key and luxurious nature.
"How much does this car cost?"
While driving the car, Fordis said without turning his head, "Twenty thousand dollars."
Lance whistled and said nothing more.
Although he dared to think about 20,000 yuan, it was not easy to get it.
The car is a little bumpy and the lack of good suspension makes it feel "hard" to ride, but it is still a car after all, and as a man, I will never hate it.
The car stopped outside the workers' apartment at the port. Fordis followed Lance and Alvin, mainly Alvin, to the fourth floor of the apartment and knocked on a door.
"It's you?" The drunken woman raised her eyebrows when she saw Erwin. "Did you get the money?"
Lance pulled Erwin aside, and Fordyce stood in front of the man. He said in a non-aggressive tone, "Go to the police station and withdraw your report. This matter ends here."
The woman who was raised by the bastard didn't buy it at all. Maybe she drank too much and her brain became abnormal.
He pushed Fordyce and asked, "Where did you find the actors?"
"You bunch of stowaway sons of bitches, don't think you can scare me just because you're big."
"I'm telling you, it's easy to get me to drop the case. Just put two hundred dollars in my hand. Otherwise..."
He stopped talking because Fordyce opened his coat, revealing a holster and a gun in it. "Want to see if it goes off?"
The drunkard raised by the cousin woke up in an instant, took a step back, raised his hands, and stood back in the door frame, "I'm sorry, I didn't understand the situation..."