Fiction: Group 4
‘How could this be? Didn’t you watch the recent news of the jerry-built project? The building materials are
of low quality. They are hardly resistant to stress. Our company has long been having a good reputation. If
any accident occurs due to the use of cost-saving yet inferior materials, it will inevitably tarnish our image
and erode our credibility.’ Alex, the manager of Customer Service Department, argued.
‘Quality of service is definitely one of our concerns. Yet, our prime concern is always to push the profit to
the highest. There hasn’t been any related accident so far. So we shall adhere to our principle. Let’s go for
your idea, Tony.’ Mr. Kwok attempted to end this conversation up with a wide grin on his face as he can
image people handing money to him in turn.
Time elapsed swiftly, like the daily rotation of the earth, inconspicuous yet irreversible. Six months after the
meeting, just before Christmas, the No.24 Villa Project had come to a satisfactory completion which
brought a lovely spring back to Mr. Kwok’s face, making him look as if he was in his thirties, energetic and
motivated. The opening ceremony of the property was held in the morning. In front of the makeshift stage,
a long red carpet was rolled out for the visited guests. While he was moving at his usual stately pace with his
head held high, proud and confident, everybody began clapping. While enjoying rounds of applause, Mr.
Kwok saw his partner, Mr. Wong, wave his hand and mouth ‘Congratulations!’
‘Is everything going well?’ Mr. Kwok asked the manager who rushed to him.
‘Yes, except for one thing. A group of protesters assembled outside the ceremony and accused us of
compulsory land acquisition.’ He uneasily pointed at the back of Mr. Kwok and whispered.
‘Calm down! We haven’t done anything wrong. You have done very well so far. Someone will soon settle
it.’ Mr. Kwok said while patting him on the shoulder.
As expected, the police swiftly arrived and those cynical and irrational protesters were ejected for creating a
disturbance and were charged with unlawful assembly. This scene triggered Mr. Kwok to recall a memory of
having a pleasant dinner with several government officials and exchanging ideas regarding the future
economic development blueprint. He could still remember clearly the smirk on their faces when receiving
his cheque and stashing it inside their pockets hastily. In return, they guaranteed the success of this project. It
is money, the omnipotent existence, which played an important role in empowering future success, he
thought.
For the sake of multiplying his wealth, he decisively entered the unpredictable stock market game, hoping
that the principles of levers could amaze him with excellent result. The candy he tasted in the beginning
motivated him to invest more. Since then, he was addicted to the stock market, so deep that he sold not
only his posh cars and yachts, but also most of his properties.
Just when Mr. Kwok rolled up his sleeves and was ready to get busy, a global financial tsunami swept
through the world economy as if the grave winter had come. All at once the market experienced panic
selling. As Mr. Kwok looked vacantly at the screen, his mouth slacked and he was totally dumbstruck. He
collapsed and fell unconsciously. The only words in his mind were ‘My money….’
Suffering from the great economic depression, and the betrayal of Mr. Wong who absconded with the
funds, Shing Kung Limited, a once proud and shiny firm, was moribund, like Mr. Kwok. To extricate the
company, he tried to seek support from his previous traders but failed. Eventually and despairingly, the
corporation went into liquidation and Mr. Kwok was declared bankrupt after failing to pay a one-hundred-
million loan guarantee, whereas Mr. Wong gained much from lining his pockets with the firm’s accounts,
leaving an awful mess for Mr. Kwok.
He lost everything. He muddled along during this tragic month when he went through all the legal
processes and the official receiver brought him to his house, which no longer belonged to him, to pack up
his belongings and leave immediately. The security guards casted disdainful glances at him as they passed,
