Kanghan YUAN - One Who Moved Out to Get Rich

"But Hong wait a minute what happens to the experience I have given to the company? I want to file a case in court about this…".

Before even finishing the sentence, Hong interrupts mercilessly.

"Oh! You are talking about the experience not so? She beckons.

"From today, I want you to understand that cost-cutting is more important to businesses here than what you call your experience. I already knew this would happen to you".

She reveals. I am shocked at hearing this.

"What? You knew I was going to be laid off, and you did not have the guts to tell me about it?" I asked her boiling with anger.

"No, don't' get me wrong, Franz". She answers. "I first guessed it after realising that the company removed the car from the driver after we had that minor accident with a dog. The company promised to take care of the repairs at the end of the month. But the fact is that they wanted to rent it out. The police and insurance were informed, so there was no cause to worry for the company to lease the car".

This time Hong shows pity and sympathy towards me.

After going through all this, I am still wondering why she never told me anything about it, yet she had the information. I am not surprised because chauffeurs get to know much more about such issues. I am disappointed to learn that I am the last person to know about it; I wish I did; I would have prepared myself enough. Women are always more intuitive than men. But on the other hand, I don't have to be upset with Hong. I didn't pay much attention to the car, and therefore I did not talk to the driver about repairs. Maybe if I had, I would have known about it.

The Chinese, who had been transferred to Germany as a General Manager just before Christmas, will be replacing me. Hong tells me that she had heard from a colleague that they were going to dissolve the whole company.

"Usually, the boss lays off his employees first to leave himself until the end. You don't have to worry much about it; I will support you since I am a lawyer. You will get free legal assistance from me."

She promises. I did not believe it, though, because it is typical of her to change what she promises.

I remember how she reacted on holiday, complaining about taking care of me by financing everything. But I will give her the benefit of the doubt. Anyway, the company still owes me money for the many expenses I incurred on their behalf. On our way to the GCC meeting, we get caught up in a traffic jam, and as a result, we arrive late. I will not bother to distribute my business cards since it is my last day in the company. I instead other business cards from my previous company in Germany.

My company offers training and consultancy services. Hong is ready with her business cards too. In China, it is always essential to have a business card on you. If you do not have any, you are a nobody. We registered our company in China, with a logo and a trademark. By the time of the meeting, we were still working on building a website for it. It is a company in which Hong, and I will put all our efforts into developing. However, we will need revenue to do that. On our way home after the meeting, I receive a phone call from my British HSBC bank in Shanghai. They acknowledge receipt of my details but are requesting me to include my new address before they proceed further because it is missing.

The money transfer request was not carried out. Since I moved to Taicang, all along communication with my bank has been mainly through emails. In Germany, all personal details, including your address, are required during the registration process. I wonder how I have been making all the transactions without blocking my account.

I feel that British banks here are probably not much customer-driven, but more of security-oriented. I thank the bank for providing the information. I ask them whether I can give them my details on the phone, they tell me that it is not possible. I am instead referred to a hotline number to call, but it is not going through. I have tried many times; it is almost a non-existent one. I consider terminating the service, as soon as I gain a foothold in the Chinese banking system.

At the dinner table this evening, we discuss what will happen.

Next, it is then that Hong changes the topic and starts talking about children.

"I prefer our children to grow up in the USA, Germany, or any other country, other than here in China, and also pursuing a doctorate in law is still included in my future". She says.

I tell her that it would make sense to build up a secure source of income. Otherwise, our children would grow up in poverty which would certainly not be in their interest.

"Therefore, I propose to register my Germany company in China to make it public. After we have done that, I could lie on the beach, eat crabs and write books".

"And hunt for women too, don't forget that". She adds. Whether she is sarcastic or jealousy, I remind her of the story of a man who was looking for jobs, but always being turned down, until he one day discovered his talent. He used his ability to become successful.

Hong turns the story the other way around. She compares it to a field where only specific plants grow for others to enter. She claims to mean that I should try all jobs until I become successful, but honestly, I cannot make sense of what she is saying. I know she is sarcastically referring me to dating other women.

Having a simple breakfast of oatmeal and water has left our fridge empty, we have to stock it up again. I open my laptop and browse through the British bank account. I am trying to access my new address and my mobile number, unfortunately, it will not be active, until the following week. It is trouble again; I don't know what to do. Hong sets out to go and buy vegetables. I start cleaning my home office to sort out a backlog of documents that had accumulated during the period when we were away on holiday. The decision made by my employers to terminate the contract, is still fresh in my mind, still ringing in the back of my ears. We all need to learn to tighten our little belts when wen we are at work.

After the anger subsides, I decide to send my ex-boss an email, which I think is legitimate. The mail includes among others the reimbursement of my unpaid travel expenses, my books which were still in Taicang office, and variable salary shares. In my opinion, I have done an excellent job, and therefore I am entitled to such remunerations. I can still not come to terms with the termination of my contract and what they meant by "bad reviews". I had never had any single complaint against me or criticism from any of my bosses.

Maybe if there were any, I would have had a fair chance to make corrections. I am not sure about legal implications on this, but I am trying to demand what I think is due to me.

Despite Hong's warnings about high levels of smog reported for today, I will go jogging along the river. Afterwards, I will prepare a notice for the afternoon speech at the GCC meeting. Where I will be introducing our new company as follows.

"Many of you present in GCC meeting know that I am Franz Übermut and that I have been working in the Chinese business for over twenty years. I have forty years, worth of experience in many well-known international companies. I have been working in the Asia-Pacific region over the years. It is now time for me to take another path. My wife and I will open up a consulting and training company, in the names of ECOCUT in Suzhou. ECOCUT stands for "Efficient Cost-Cutting". We shall specialise in supporting companies on how to deal with cost-reduction, for example, in price negotiations with suppliers, or sales discussions with customers.

That is the way to do it because I believe that success will only come through determination, courage and self-confidence. We shall be guiding customers into self-employment, and how to make right contacts, that is why I am exchanging my business cards with you today. You will be surprised about the potential you have, and how much you can increase your profit. I thank you very much".