by Ian Hamilton
“It’s being funnelled through a number of companies that are controlled by his son, Tsai Men, and other family members.”
“Xu is paying these companies?”
“Yes.”
“Under what pretext?”
“They’re supposedly management and consulting fees. It’s all bogus.”
“So no services are provided at all?”
“He gets all the permits and licences he needs, and the authorities turn a blind eye to his illegal factories. He doesn’t have any problems either importing or exporting goods. I guess you’d call all those things services.”
“So the money goes from Xu’s companies to Men’s?”
“I think so.”
“Were contracts signed?”
“I don’t know,” Ava said, wishing she’d asked Xu that question.
“Is Tsai Lian directly connected to any of those companies?”
“Apparently not.”
“So if there’s any corruption going on, it could be orchestrated by his son acting on his own.”
“No, Xu said his father had a long-standing relationship with Lian that’s been passed down to Xu and Men.”
“Does Xu ever have any contact with Lian?” May asked.
“He met with him yesterday in Nanjing.”
“I have to say that’s a bit shocking,” May said. “What did they talk about?”
Ava closed her eyes and sighed. “Tsai Lian thanked him for helping to create so many jobs in Jiangsu, and asked him to keep working with Men to create more.”
“That’s it?”
“Yeah. I know it sounds weak, but Xu stressed that the fact Lian would meet with him at all is significant.”
“This chat is starting to make my stomach feel upset. I think I’ll have some rice now,” May said, reaching for the serving platter with her spoon.
Ava did the same and ate quietly while her mind raced.
“I’m not discounting anything you’ve told me,” May finally said. “It’s just delicate and complicated, and it’s not something I’d rush to judge. It’s risky enough accusing a senior official of being on the take even if you find him with a bag of cash. What you’re telling me is a long way from that. It could be the son is milking his father’s name and reputation.”
Ava shrugged. “I understand that the link to Lian sounds tenuous, but Xu is insistent that it’s real.”
“Okay, but what does that matter and where does it lead? He’s been paying them for years without any negative consequences that I can see. Why has it become a concern now?”
“They’re not content with just taking money. They want to become his partner in a business and they’re strong-arming him to get into it.”
“What kind of business?”
“Drugs,” Ava said without hesitation.
“You’re not serious,” May said.
“Drugs of the synthetic variety — ketamine, ecstasy, and meth. They want him to open a lab.”
“That’s insane.”
“That’s what Xu thinks, but they’re not listening to him.”
“Tell him to say no.”
“He’s tried to without actually saying so. He’s afraid of the damage they can do to his existing businesses.”
May shook her head. “I can’t believe that Tsai Lian would condone that.”
“Damaging Xu’s businesses?”
“No, the drug lab.”
“Maybe he hasn’t. Maybe, as you say, it’s Men acting on his own.”
May poured tea for the two of them and took off her sunglasses. Her eyes were slightly puffy, but nowhere near as horrendous as she’d made out. “What’s Xu going to do?”
“He doesn’t know. He has a short-term plan to buy some time, but beyond that, nothing.”
“Is he asking you for advice?”
“He’s using me as a sounding board, that’s all.”
“When you get the chance, please tell him not to mess around with the Tsai family.”
“If he doesn’t do something he’s going to be forced into building the lab, and if he does that he’s going to make enemies of some triad gangs who are currently friends, and he thinks that inevitably the police and army will be all over him.”
“That still might be easier than tangling with the Tsais.”
( 9 )
“Let’s go for a walk,” May said as Ava settled the lunch bill. “I could use some air, and it’s almost a sin to come here and not experience the Bund on foot.”
They left the hotel and crossed the street to the promenade. It was even more crowded than usual and their walk turned into a shuffle. That and the fact that the river view was blocked by a solid wall of people staring out onto the Huangpu and the Pearl Tower and skyscrapers that lined the riverbank in Pudong made the outing seem rather pointless to Ava.
“You surprised me when you made that remark about Xu tangling with the Tsais,” Ava said. “I didn’t think you’d put much credence into what I was telling you.”
“Even if a quarter of it is true, that’s still reason enough to tiptoe around that family. You don’t want to give them the slightest indication that you might pose a problem. You don’t get to Lian’s status without being incredibly smart and superbly connected. And you don’t survive for as long as he has without having a highly refined instinct for survival. He’s the kind of man who can anticipate trouble before it has a chance of raising its head and is willing to chop off the head without waiting to see if his instincts were right.”
“Why would Xu cause him trouble?”
“He doesn’t have to; Tsai Lian just needs to think Xu’s capable of it. Xu shouldn’t mess with him or, by extension, with his son. Lian would regard any attempt to discredit his son or his family as a direct attack on himself.”
“I understand.”
“Good.”
“But May, I’ve been thinking about what you said at lunch.”
“I said a lot of things.”
“Well, one thing you made clear was that I don’t really know much about the deal between Xu and the Tsais.”
“So?”
“You sparked my curiosity.”
“That wasn’t my intent.”
“I know, but I wouldn’t mind finding out how many companies the Tsai family actually has and who is running what, including which other relatives are in the mix.”
“Ava!”
“Don’t panic. I’m not going to run off half-cocked. But I am thinking about it and I am curious.”
“What did I tell you about how sensitive this situation is?”
“May, I know how to be discreet, and I know how to keep my head down.”
“Why bother with it at all?”
“Well, I’m thinking that if Xu is giving them money, then the likelihood is that they’re doing deals with others.”
“I’d say it’s closer to a certainty than a likelihood.”
“It would be interesting to know who they are.”
“Why?”
“You never know what you might find,” Ava said with a shrug.
“That’s the potential problem,” May said. “What if what you find is trouble?”
“All of the Tsai companies would have to be registered, wouldn’t they?”
“You’re not listening to me,” May said.
“I’m listening. I’m just not agreeing.”
“I don’t want to talk about this anymore,” May said.
“That won’t stop me thinking about it.”
“Ava, you just can’t blunder about. You don’t know the system here well enough.”
“That’s why I’m asking you questions.”
“You’re making me crazy is what you’re doing.”
“Look, given our relationship with Xu, we have a s
take in this. And I think, like me, you still want us to be doing business with him a year or two from now. I don’t want this drug thing to get him killed or thrown into a Chinese jail.”
“You’re being dramatic.”
“Maybe, but don’t forget what organization he’s part of, and don’t start minimizing the danger the Tsai family represents after you’ve just told me so much about it.”
“Ava, I concede that Xu is in a difficult position, whichever way he turns. What I don’t understand is what you think you can actually do about it.”
“He needs to find some leverage that will persuade the Tsai family to back off on the lab.”
“What kind of leverage?”
“I don’t know. Maybe they’ve been careless somewhere. Maybe I can find a direct link between the Governor and the money. I won’t know until I see it. That’s why I want to take a close look at those companies.”
“It sounds very iffy to me.”
“So it should. I have no idea what I’ll find, but I won’t find anything unless I make the effort. If it turns out there’s nothing, then Xu can deal with Tsai Men as best he can and we’ll just hope it works out.”
May stepped in front of Ava. “If I get involved, you have to actually listen to me and not just pretend to.”
“I will.”
“You would have to stay completely under the Tsai family’s radar.”
“I understand.”
“That means no direct contact with any of them and no direct contact with anyone who’s one of their partners or works for them. “
“May, I’ve spent my career following paper trails. They’ll never know I’m looking.”
“And I want you to tell me what you find when you find it. I don’t want any surprises.”
“So I assume you’ll help?”
“Yes,” May said slowly. “I only wish I felt as carefree about it as you sound.”
Ava smiled. “Then can we go back to my original question about company registrations?”
“The companies would be registered,” May said with a heavy sigh.
“Would the officers and shareholders be listed?”
“Of course, but that might not mean much. If they’re intent on hiding the true identity of the shareholders they could have any number of people — including family and friends — listed instead. It’s done all the time, and not always for sinister reasons. I mean, I know businesspeople who just don’t want anyone to know what they’re actually worth.
“The most important name attached to most of the companies is the designated legal representative. Every business in China, domestic and foreign, is required to have one. They’re the people empowered to represent the company and enter into binding obligations on its behalf. They’ll have full access to the company cash and capital. Their chop stamps — which are registered with the police — are as vital as any signature.”
Pedestrian traffic had thinned and they were able to walk faster. As they did, Ava stretched her arms out in front and to the sides. Her morning languor was fading and she began to feel, if not invigorated, energetic. She knew that part of that energy spurt came from her decision to try to help Xu. What was odd was that she wasn’t quite sure when she’d made it. She hadn’t even thought about it until she’d started talking to May over lunch, and even then she hadn’t been conscious of it. It was as if her mind was just programmed to respond that way.
“I’m going to start with Feng,” Ava said abruptly.
“Who’s he?”
“Xu’s administrator. He controls the records. I’ll get him to provide me with all the information he has about the Tsai companies.”
“Will he tell Xu that you asked?”
“I’ll probably have to go through Xu to get Feng to do it.”
“What will you say to him?”
“I’m information gathering, that’s all,” Ava said. “I want to understand just how large the Tsai empire is and who else is affected by it.”
“He’ll want to know why.”
“And I’ll tell him the truth,” Ava said. “I want to help Xu, but I don’t have a clue what to do. So I’m doing what I would have done on any job with Uncle, and that’s finding as much information as I can and hoping that somewhere there’s a nugget or two that we can use to our advantage.”
They reached the end of the Bund and reversed their course. As they did, Ava’s phone rang.
“Hey,” she said.
“How are you feeling?” Amanda asked.
“Surprisingly good. I’m out for a walk on the Bund with May. How about you?”
“I woke up about half an hour ago. I have a headache and I’m a bit nauseated, but the last time I felt this happy was on my wedding day. Yesterday was terrific.”
“It was. You and Chi-Tze and Gillian did a wonderful job.”
“It was Clark who did it.”
“There’s no doubt he’s the star, but without your support it wouldn’t have happened.”
“Thanks, Ava. I’ll tell the girls what you said.”
“Do you have plans for today?”
“I’m meeting with Gillian and Chi-Tze later this afternoon. We’re going to review the response to the show and figure out what needs to get done over the next few weeks. Tonight I’m having dinner with Elsa Ngan. Her photographer starts shooting tomorrow. I’ve arranged for him and Clark to spend most of the day together.”
“I assume Lane Crawford will be part of your review,” Ava said.
“Yes, it’s at the top of the list. Carrie Song’s assistant has already emailed us with a long list of questions. I forwarded some of them to Clark and he’s promised to get back to me by tomorrow morning. She’ll have to wait until then for answers, because I don’t want to send her anything that’s incomplete.”
“Well, it has to be a positive sign that she contacted you so quickly.”
“That’s what we thought.”
“I would join you for the meeting, but I’m tied up on another project right now and I could be for a few days.”
“Do you need any help with that project?” Amanda asked. Ava detected disappointment in the question. She was going to have to be more sensitive with the girls. They should never feel that she was doing something for the business behind their backs.
“It has nothing to do with the Three Sisters. It’s a carry-over from my old work. I’ll be glad to get it out of way,” Ava said. “I’m going to try to have dinner with Suki and May tonight.”
“Suki’s a force of nature.”
“Like Clark, only different.”
“They’re not as different as they look,” Amanda said. “Both are creative, focused, and driven.”
“They are indeed.”
“I should get going,” Amanda said. “Good luck with your project.”
Ava ended the call. “Gillian, Amanda, and Chi-Tze are getting together at the plant to plot the next steps.”
“I wish I was joining them.”
“It’s better that we look after Suki. Amanda just called her a force of nature, and she’s right. But we don’t want her out of control.”
“That’s exactly what I was going to say to you.”
( 10 )
Ava called Xu’s cell as soon as she got back to the hotel. When he didn’t answer, she called the house.
“Auntie Grace, this is Ava.”
“He’s outside sitting by the fish pond. He’s smoking and feeding his fish.”
“Tell him to call me at the hotel or on my cell when he’s back inside.”
“No, wait. He’s been out there too long anyway. I’ll get him.”
Before Ava could argue, the line went quiet. About a minute later she heard voices in the background. What Xu was saying was indistinct, but he sounded irritated.
“Ava, did you sleep well
?” he said.
“Yes, not bad. I’m sorry if I’m disturbing you.”
“Never. It’s Auntie Grace. She’s on a mission to get me to stop smoking.”
“I’ve been thinking about our talk last night,” she said.
“Me too, and I’m sorry I bothered you with it. You have enough on your plate with this new business. You don’t need the distraction.”
“What did you decide to do about your problem?”
“I called Lam this morning. I’m flying to Guangzhou tonight.”
“Did you talk to Ming in Guangdong?”
“No, I decided against it. I don’t have as good a relationship with him. Lam owes me — owes us — a lot. I’m hoping he’ll be willing to help. If that falls flat, I’ll go to Guangdong.”
“Did you tell him what you wanted?”
“Not over the phone.”
“Obviously face to face is preferable,” Ava said, and then paused. “Xu, I’d like to do some research into the Tsai family. Would you ask Feng to give me absolutely all the information he has on the companies you’re sending money to?”
“Why?”
The question was abrupt and caught her off guard. She started to frame a justification, and then stopped.
“Because I want it,” she said.
“Okay,” he said slowly.
“And while you’re away, please tell him to give me whatever else I ask for.”
“What are you up to?”
“Uncle and I always wanted to know as much as possible about the people we were dealing with.”
“You aren’t actually dealing with the Tsai family. I meant it when I said I was using you as a sounding board. You shouldn’t get involved.”
“I’m not really getting involved. I’m an interested spectator. I’ll stay on the sidelines. You never know — I might find some information you could use to improve your situation.”
“Like what?”
“I have no idea, and that’s the way it always is until I stumble upon it. There’s no guarantee, of course, that I’ll find anything at all.”
“Ava, I didn’t tell you about this problem with the intention of pulling you into it.”
“I know, and I’m really not getting pulled into it. I just want to poke around a bit. I mean, I’m in Shanghai and I have time on my hands, and I’m trained to do this kind of research. It can’t hurt.”