arrive safely. As expected, Shanghai is still very cold. We call a taxi to drop us at our home in Taicang. When I enter the house, it is a significant relief. I feel as if some weight is loaded off my head. I get a glass of water; it was given to me by my father-in-law.
Both in-laws remained home when we were away on holiday. While gulping down the warm water, I browse through my emails. I remember that I had to change my password.
ALL IS UNDER CONTROL ON THE SINKING SHIP
Today it is raining heavily. We get up to start unpacking our luggage.
I use the opportunity of the lousy weather to prepare presentations for the coming week and to read and reply to my emails. Since HSBC bank in Shanghai blocked my account, I send an email to them to rectify the problem. Hong is meanwhile busy translating our marriage contract from Chinese to the German language to make it easier for me to understand it thoroughly. In the agreement, Hong states that she wants to live independently out of my life. She aims to avoid sharing with me the inheritance of her parent's wealth. I cannot agree with it since we're already married, and above all, she is more conversant with the Chinese law than myself. So, it could end up not working for me.
Interest rates in the bank have gone up. I am going to the bank of Suzhou local branch in Taicang, to finally open a fixed deposit account and get my money transferred from the local ICBC Bank. I am told that it is not possible because of my financial status. I drive to the company headquarters in Shanghai, to fix an appointment with my boss. We discuss the expiry of my probationary period and the evaluation report too. I don't expect too much praising. I know I am good books.
Hong and I go to attend the German Chamber of Commerce GCC meeting in the German Centre. Many things have changed at the office since we were on holiday. My department, for example, was relocated to a floor above. I am upset that despite moving my office much of my furniture was left behind. The meeting is about to begin.
The head of the Human Resource Department, and my boss have already arrived. I observe a strange look from him and the human resource manager. They start by reading the assessment report about me. They interview both my German and Chinese bosses. They say that they are not satisfied with my performance. What follows is not good news at all to me. The evaluation report recommends terminating my contract. I receive a copy. I have to get time to settle down. Without showing any remorse, the human resource manager calculates all my remaining vacation days and deducts them from the current month. I am horrified that it is my last working day today.
I leave the meeting with a threatening remark.
"See you in court!" I say to them.
It is like being in a trance. I don't know what is going on. A security officer asks me to hand over the laptop, my identity card, and a company mobile phone. I am not thinking about what to do next. Everything is unfolding so damn fast. At home, Hong is working on her laptop. I am in another world. I sit next to her and explain what has happened. I am surprised at her reaction. She shows no pity or any concern at all.
"Did you hear what I said to you?" I ask her.
"Yes, I heard you quite alright, but it does not surprise me at all, because after all, you are too expensive for the company. There are many Chinese here who the same job can do you are doing, for lower salaries".
"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".