Chapter 2 — My Cousin Used My House To Swindle 11,800,000 Yuan, But Didn't Know The House Was Cleared

I no longer have the house book of that apartment in my hand. So where did the "photo" copy that manager Ton is holding... come from? Is it the "real book" that was swapped out of the file bag that year, was always thought to be real by me, locked in a drawer, and then stolen by Tham Tu Hien? Or did they directly fake one? My back was cold, a layer of sweat soaked in. Seeing me staring at the file without saying anything, manager Ton's voice began to carry a pressing tone.

"That's the situation. The contract was signed for three months, and is now more than half a month overdue. According to the terms, we have the right to handle the mortgaged property. Simply put... to collect the house."

He glanced at the old T-shirt and cotton slippers at my feet.

"You probably won't be able to get 11,800,000 yuan in a short time. We give you three days to pack up your personal belongings and move out yourself. Three days later we will come to change the locks and inventory the assets in the house. You should take your valuables away first."

The slightly opened door at the end of the hallway opened a little wider. I put down the teacup.

“This house has problems.”

My voice suddenly calmed down.

“What's the problem?”

Manager Ton frowned.

“We have checked the ownership and authenticity of the house book very clearly.”

“Apartment 903, building 6, Bich Lan Dinh area…”

I pressed each letter one by one.

"A year ago, it was demolished. The original house book was revoked and destroyed by the city's resettlement department. That house has long since been razed. Now that place is the Cam Hoa Center shopping center."

I stopped for a moment.

"The notebook you are holding in your hand... is either scrap paper, or fake paper."

The hallway was immediately quiet. Even the vague sound of the TV coming from the house next door stopped. Manager Ton's formulaic face finally cracked. He frowned lower, bowing his head and looking back at the stack of documents in his hand. The young man holding the file behind him took two steps forward, the two looked at each other. The person recording the video also put down his phone. Manager Ton's voice was deep.

"This cannot be said indiscriminately. If the house has truly been liquidated, the real estate management system will definitely record the cancellation of ownership. Our risk control department cannot help but check it out before disbursing the funds."

"I don't know whether you guys will find out or not. But that's the truth. Now go to that address and take a look. There's only a commercial center there, no more residential areas."

I opened my phone and scrolled through the photo album. A year ago, when the clearance project was about to be completed, I went back to the place where my old house used to be and took a photo. In the photo, there are only rubble and rubble, in the distance is a blue construction fence. Timestamp: April last year. Below is also a line I wrote for myself.

"Goodbye."

I turned the screen towards him.

"Photo taken a year ago. Location of Bich Lan Dinh. Building 6, building 8... the whole area has been flattened."

Manager Ton took the phone. He looked at the photo for a few seconds, then looked at the timestamp. His face changed layer by layer. He raised his head, his voice seemed to be forced from between his teeth.

“If what you said is true… then your cousin, Tham Tu Hien, used a fake ownership certificate to defraud us from Heng Thai Credit of 11,800,000 yuan.”

“Not ‘if’.”

I picked up the phone again.

“But it's the truth.”

"You guys were tricked by him. With an empty house exist."

“But the system…”

The young man holding the file couldn't help but interrupt. I interrupted:

“It's okay for the system to be late to update, it's okay for him to take advantage of some vulnerability, but that's not my problem. When did you sign the mortgage contract?”

“Three months ago.”

Manager Ton replied with a heavy voice.

"A house that had its ownership canceled a year ago but still can be mortgaged three months ago, there is only one possibility."

I looked straight at him.

“Shen Tu Hien used fake tricks, or bypassed your inspection process. As for your company... before disbursing more than ten million yuan, you haven't even gone to verify it on the ground."

This statement is not polite. But manager Ton did not object. Apparently he also realized it. If the mortgaged property was fake from the beginning... then that contract isn't worth a penny. 11,800,000 yuan.

“Where is Tham Tu Hien now?”

he asked.

“I don't know.”

I'm telling the truth. I haven't contacted him for more than half a year. The last time we met was a family dinner during Tet. Tham Tu Hien kept talking about how big a business opportunity he had discovered, and in a roundabout way he wanted me to contribute money. I did not respond. Before he finished eating, he left.

“Call him. Right now."

I glanced at Manager Ton. Don't move. He took a half step forward. The hallway was already narrow, and the smell of men's cologne on his body came straight to him.

“If this story is true, your cousin is suspected of financial fraud involving a large amount of money. We at Hang Thai Credit will not accept losing everything. There must be someone responsible for these 11,800,000 yuan. If he runs away... this debt, I'm afraid I still need your cooperation to clarify."

The meaning in the words was clear. Even if the house is fake, the contract is invalid... the name signed above is still "Tham Nhuoc An". They want to throw this pot of dirty water on me. The door next door closed a little more. I picked up my phone and searched for the name "Tham Tu Hien" in my contacts. Turn on speakerphone. The waiting sound echoed in the hallway. Then the call is connected.

“Hello? Nhuoc An?”

The other side is extremely noisy. Music, laughter, clinking glasses. It's just after ten o'clock in the morning, I don't know where I'm at.

“Shen Tu Hien. Did you mortgage apartment 903, building 6, Bich Lan Dinh area to borrow 11,800,000 yuan?

The music on the other side seemed to fade. He was stunned for a second or two, then his tone immediately rose:

“How do you know? Who told you? Did those lenders come to you? Don't believe them! Those people are just scammers!”

“Where did you get that house book?”

“Where and where? That house originally belonged to our Tham family! I'm your cousin. My business needs to raise capital. How about using it for a while? Wait until I earn money and I'll pay you double! Besides, it's just a mortgage, the house won't grow legs and fly off, why are you so frantic?"

Every sentence and every word is full of obviousness.

“Our Tham family.”

“I'm your cousin.”

“Take it for a little while.”