In a dimly lit rental room on Henan Road, a young forger handed a stack of freshly printed documents to Ah Cai.
"Here's the Title and Registration you wanted, Cai-ge," the kid whispered. "The new name is added right after yours. I'm only charging you five hundred for this because we're from the same neighborhood."
Ah Cai squinted at the forged stamp of "Old Wild Motors" and Haining's name on the document. He slapped it against his palm, satisfied. "Good work. I'll WeChat you the funds. Stick with me, and I'll keep you busy."
Half an hour later, Ah Cai was back at the Evergrande complex. He pulled Haining toward the Prado with the air of a professional businessman.
"Look closely, Haining. First owner was my cousin, second was me, and now you're the third," Ah Cai pointed at the forged Title, his face showing not a hint of guilt. "Keep your ID safe. This rig officially belongs to you now."
Haining was ecstatic. He transferred 130,000 in cash on the spot and signed a formal IOU for the remaining 100,000 at a nearby print shop.
"You're a real brother, Cai-ge! Next time we're at the harbor, the seafood is on me!"
One Month Later.
Haining was driving the Prado near the Dajiao Market to pick up some cargo. Just as he pulled into an alleyway on Hainei Road, two battered Wuling vans suddenly screeched out, boxing him in from the front and back.
"Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing?" Haining shouted as he climbed out, only to find himself surrounded by several thick-necked thugs.
Leading them was Ah Hai, Brother De's right-hand enforcer. He gripped a spare key in his fist, a cold smirk plastered on his face. "What are we doing? We're repossessing this car. The loan is in default. What do you think we're doing?"
"Repo?" Haining froze. He scrambled to grab the forged documents from the glove box. "Look at this! I bought this car in full! The Title transfer is right here, stamped by Old Wild Motors!"
Ah Hai took the papers, crumpled them into a ball, and tossed them into the roadside gutter. He spat on the ground. "Old Wild Motors? This crap doesn't even have a security hologram. Look at the contract in my hand. This is the official seal of Hengli Finance. Who did you buy this from? Call him out here!"
"I... I bought it from Ah Cai. He's my friend..." Haining's hands trembled as he dialed Ah Cai's number. All he got was a cold automated recording: "The number you have dialed is powered off."
"Can't get through? Then get out of the car!" Ah Hai kicked one of the tires. "That loser Ah Cai skipped his payment. This car belongs to the company now. You either pay his debt, or I tow this rig right now!"
"How much?" Haining's eyes were turning red.
"The monthly payment is 6,600. Plus, since you're a few days late, with interest and late fees... give me 12,000 to start." Ah Hai impatiently pulled out a payment QR code. "Move it! Beihai is a big city. Do you know how much gas I wasted driving all the way out here to find you?"
Desperate to keep his "dream car," Haining gritted his teeth and scanned the 12,000.
"I paid. Can I go now?"
"Go? Go where?" The thugs behind Ah Hai closed in. "We drove all the way from Guangdong Road in the heat to find this car. You think we do this for free? Gas money, tolls, and a 'finders fee' for tracking you down. Give us another 10,000."
"10,000? That's robbery!" Haining screamed.
"Robbery? Go ask Brother De what our standard rate is. Fine—give us 5,000 and get lost!"
Haining's last bit of savings was drained. As he watched Ah Hai and his crew roar away, he slumped onto the curb. He looked at the Prado—a car that never truly belonged to him—and felt his heart go numb.
Meanwhile, at a food stall on Guangdong Road.
Ah Hai slapped the "collection fees" onto the table and grinned into his phone. "De-ge, the money is in. That 'Sucker' actually paid Ah Cai's first installment for him. He's clueless."
"Good. Wrap it up," Brother De's voice came through the line, cold and calculating. "You boys want to go celebrate at the Dynasty Hotel tonight?"
"Forget the Dynasty!" Ah Hai laughed. "I'm going home to sleep!"