City life casts a dark shadow over migrant workers as a business deal turns sour and they’re left penniless before the most celebrated national festival
　　
　　On January 9, Qiu Suokun, together with a group of migrant workers, reported a fraud case worth more than 100,000 yuan ($12,500) to Beijing police.
　　“The Spring Festival [January 29] is approaching, and I don’t even know how to face my family,” lamented Qiu, who said that he was virtually penniless. A farmer from Danyang City in Jiangsu Province, Qiu came to Beijing with several villagers in 2000, hoping to find job opportunities.
　　Being an outgoing person, his communication skills quickly established him as a leader and in the last five years he has led his team to successfully complete several construction projects, gaining a good reputation along the way.
　　Last December, Qiu was introduced to a businessman who allegedly had a project worth 13 million yuan ($1.63 million) to contract out. The man, Ma Heping, claimed he was the deputy manager of a Hong Kong-funded company, responsible for business in the Beijing area. Ma indicated Shunfeng Restaurant in the capital’s suburban Shunyi District was a profitable project, so he decided to invest in the restaurant’s refurbishing. Desperate to win the tender as the construction team, Qiu gave Ma 120,000 yuan ($15,000) up front as the obligatory bribe.
　　The two signed a contract, in which Ma agreed to pay Qiu a 5 percent advance on salaries on December 26. However, when Qiu phoned Ma asking for this money, the man asked to postpone payment to January 8. When the day arrived, Qiu tried in vain to contact Ma, who had long since disappeared.
　　Coming back from the police station, it was pitch dark. Having walked the whole day, Qiu and his team stopped in at a small eatery frequented by migrants. Talks revolved around going home, Spring Festival gifts for family members and getting salaries on time.
　　Qiu apologized to his team once again, realizing that they have all lost their savings and in some cases even money loaned from family members.
　　According to the police, Ma is a criminal with a long record. There was only a slim chance of tracking down the money before the Spring Festival, Qiu admitted.
　　“Defaulting on project money happens a lot. I never had any idea that the whole thing was a setup,” he went on to say.
　　Earlier last year, Qiu and his colleagues refurbished an office building for a real estate company and the payments were also postponed. Fortunately, through insistent asking, Qiu was able to get his team’s money on that occasion.
　　Before signing the last contract, Qiu said Ma left him the telephone number of the company’s headquarters in Hong Kong, but when he called the number, it was answered in Cantonese and English, both of which he doesn’t understand. Qiu thought it made sense for a Hong Kong company employee to speak Cantonese, and felt it was legitimate deal.
　　
　　On investigation, it was found that the phone number does belong to a Hong Kong-based company, but one with no record of Ma Heping as an employee or any catering projects in Shunyi. It also happens that the company has received several reports of fraud cases where its name has been involved and it has made this known to the media.
　　Qiu said they had thought of approaching the villagers’ committee where Shunfeng Restaurant is located and perhaps getting them involved, as they own the building, but after getting legal advice they were told their contract was with Ma Heping and no one else could be held responsible.
　　“I feel so sorry for these guys. I cannot even give them enough money for the Spring Festival,” said Qiu.
　　However, what really touched him, he said, was that in spite of their losses, none of his team had turned against him.
　　Qiu had planned for his daughter to come to Beijing to find a job, but now has to shelve that plan. He has decided to sacrifice his holiday and remain in Beijing to help the police recover the money and also try to pick up contracts so his team has work on their return.
　　“I don’t have much money left, but some friends are willing to help put a project together, so maybe after the festival we’ll be able to pay back some of our debts,” Qiu said, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

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