"The most important thing now is to find a way to get that bitch to withdraw the case, otherwise Ethan will have to hide in the corner forever."
"It'll be trouble if he gets caught!"
Lance was already thinking about how to deal with this matter. He had seen very clearly this month that the Federation people could not be trusted.
He was another one without roots, so this group of fellow countrymen from the Empire might become a crucial force.
"Two options. First, we find a way to borrow some money to shut this person up and get him to drop the case."
"Second, if we can't borrow any money, we have to find a way to convince him."
Erwin didn't think that was very likely. "That's not a good solution at all. Where are we going to borrow the money from, and how much can we borrow? Those are all questions!"
He had only been here for a month, didn't know anyone, and didn't have much money with him.
Most people who have the opportunity to come here have their families make great efforts and almost empty the bottom of every family.
Nowadays, many fishermen no longer fish, and they specialize in transporting people from the shore to the high seas and then onto the smuggling boats.
The entire smuggling process costs about 1,500 yuan, which is a difficult sum for an ordinary family to bear.
Plus, families in the empire still need to make a living and have some funds to deal with emergencies, so most people who come here illegally don't have much money on them.
Lance had less than five dollars in total when he disembarked, and the others were in a similar situation.
The most they had was probably just a few tens of dollars.
Erwin was a little annoyed. "The problem is, where can we borrow so much money?"
Lance asked him to wait a moment, and went back to the bakery to talk to the fat boss about taking some time off work.
"A friend of mine is in trouble and I need to go and see what's going on, so I won't be in the shop this afternoon."
The fat boss sat behind the counter, smoking a pipe. His eyes, squeezed shut by his obesity, were dark and only the pupils were visible, like two buttons stuck on a piece of stale bread.
He looked up and down at Lance. "You can take a leave of absence, but I'll fine you one dollar, and you must be back before five o'clock, or it'll be two dollars."
"If we sell less than yesterday because you were absent in the evening, you have to make up for the loss, because you caused it."
Lance looked at the fat boss, who also met his gaze without fear. "I know you hate me, and I also like it when you hate me, but there's nothing I can do about it."
He tapped his pipe on the corner of the table, pointed his finger at Lance, and said, "If you run away or don't come back, I'll call the police and say you stole from the store. Do you understand?"
Lance always acted very humble, and even smiled. 'I think I understand, Boss."
The fat boss snorted in contempt. 'Then get out. I want to see you behind the counter before five o'clock."
"By the way, you now owe me four dollars, and I'm going to charge you interest. At the end of the month, if you can't pay me back, it will become 4.60..."
A monthly interest rate of 15%, an annual interest rate of 180%, it's just murder!
Sometimes when people stand on the edge of a cliff, they always have the urge to jump off, except that some people can suppress this inexplicable urge, but someone has taken this step.
Lance was silent for a moment, not refusing, "I'll remember, Boss."
The fat boss couldn't find any more superiority and sense of playing with him from Lance, and waved his hand impatiently, "Get lost."
Lance took off his apron and left with Alvin. The friends were not far away, there were a total of twelve or thirteen of them.
They squatted in the shade of the alley, and when Lance arrived, everyone stood up and greeted him with slight anxiety.
"I still have five dollars here. How much have we raised in total?"
A guy named Melo took out a washed-out handkerchief from his pocket, and there seemed to be a heavy lump inside.
After opening it, it was almost all pennies, and surprisingly there were also two two-dollar bills.
In this strange environment, when faced with a crisis, the unity of these people made Lance see "strength." It was brewing, just like a seed in the dark soil, and there would always be a day when it would break through the surface.
"With yours, there's a total of 77 dollars."
The young people all had strange expressions on their faces when they heard that there was so much money.
Inflation in the Union during this period was not severe, and coupled with the economic upswing, the purchasing power of the currency was very strong. 77 dollars was indeed not a small amount.
But it was still a bit short of the 200 yuan.
"Do you know where the nearest finance company is?"
After careful consideration, Lance decided to borrow some money, from a loan shark.
Although loan sharks were terrifying, if they all contributed to the repayment, then based on 14 people, even if it was a 15% monthly interest rate, in reality, each person would only be responsible for 1% of the 150 yuan, and the interest for each person would be just a little over 1.5 yuan.
If they were willing to repay the principal and interest together, then each person would only need to contribute three dollars a month, and they would be able to pay off the debt in less than half a year.
He spoke with his friends first, and in the end everyone agreed that this was a suitable option, even though it might cause some financial strain.
But they had already been working for a month, and they had gradually become familiar with the work and everything here.
They knew where they could find shelter from the wind and rain, and they knew when and where they could go to receive free, no-cost relief food.
They also know when and where they can go to get some used clothes if they're lucky.
As long as they live in the Federation for a long enough time, there will always be a way out.
And as the news and newspapers have been saying recently, Congress may soon sign the bill related to illegal immigrants.
By then, they can go to the immigration office to register and get their own work permit.
At that time, the money they earn will all be theirs, and it may not take long to pay back all the money.
Lance walked in front, followed by a dozen young people in their late teens and early twenties, and they all entered a finance company together.
There are many finance companies in the Federation, especially in a city like Golden City where the economy is developing rapidly.
Ninety-nine percent of the people in the Federation are dreaming of the Federation. Many people have witnessed ordinary people just like them, who seized an opportunity that they might also be eligible for, quickly rising from the ordinary class to the middle class, or even capitalists. People are going crazy!
Miracles happen every day, and the media reports on them as if they were equal to federalism. These miracles have created the idea and motivation for federalists to work hard and start their own businesses.
If you don't have any money to start a business, it may not be easy to borrow it from the bank.
In order to reduce the risk of lending, banks will require borrowers to have real estate or collateral, and then only lend 60% of the market value.
Strict audits and harsh lending conditions have blocked the entrepreneurial path of many people, but the finance companies on the side of the road will not do so.
As long as they can be sure that you are capable or that you have something worth the money, they will dare to lend you the money.
Some people do borrow money and then don't pay it back, but these people are eventually put in oil drums and become the foundation of the port.
If someone is willing to trade their lives for a few hundred, a few thousand, or even a few tens of thousands of dollars, the finance company can only admit defeat.
The only thing they can do is bear the loss and then get you killed!
Of course, there are still very few people who can really do this. The desire to survive is the strongest desire in humans, without exception.
So during this period, around the port, on the streets and alleys, there were almost always finance companies.
Lance casually found one that looked bigger, and the person in charge of guarding the door stopped in front of them, "This is not a club, if you want to find a girl, go across the street."
Facing so many young people, the doorman was not sure what they really wanted. For safety and deterrence, he put his hands on his waist, and the hem of his shirt happened to be lifted, revealing the faint outline of a holster and the pistol inside.
The pistol, with its metallic luster, was inserted in the holster. Some of the young men took a step back immediately, while others were a little nervous and could not speak.
Lance, on the other hand, looked calm and collected. There was no hatred in him, and no one would shoot him.
Even if he was a black immigrant.
In a murder case, there is no such thing as a black or white immigrant in the eyes of the law.
"We want to borrow some money."
The person at the door looked at Lance and felt that he might be a bit more reliable, "You, plus one other person go in, the rest of you wait outside."
Lance glanced back. Although most people did not back down, they did not take the initiative to step forward either.
After about three or five seconds, Alvin stood up and said, "I'll go with you."
Lance nodded, and the gatekeeper stepped aside. He and Alvin entered the company, while the others were asked to stay outside.
The company was luxuriously decorated, but not very large.
As soon as you entered the door, there was a reception desk, and a pretty young girl was fixing her nails.
She glanced up at the people entering and went back to fixing her nails.
Lance walked up to the reception desk and knocked on the countertop, "I want to borrow some money."
"Go to the end and turn left, there is only one room there," the girl said without looking up.
Lance shrugged and led Erwin towards the inside.
Erwin seemed a little nervous, so Lance didn't speak to him. Sometimes distracting oneself not only does not relieve nervousness, but it can also make it worse.
The hallway was not long, and there were offices on both sides, but the people inside did not look like office workers, but more like thugs or something.
Everyone's gaze would fall on the two of them, and Lance could clearly feel that Erwin was following him closely, and he was even more nervous.
These guys were all tattooed, built, and looked vicious, making Erwin lower his head. On the contrary, Lance did not feel anything scary.
At the end of the corridor, he turned left and knocked on the only door marked "Manager's Office". There was an answering voice from inside, "Come in."
He pushed open the door and a guy who looked like he belonged there, dressed in a suit and tie, was sitting behind the desk.
He looked to be in his mid-30s, and after a moment of surprise, he invited the two men to sit down.
"Would you like something to drink?"
"Water, please."