Chapter Four: Twenty-Four Hours

“Aren't you afraid I'll wager it?” Zhou Lin asked. “Yes. This isn't a loan. It's trust.” The silver coin chimed. The one instance of trust he had staked was gone from him forever, but Xu Zhi had just given him another. Before midnight, an elevator carried him below the private bank. Its panel showed only twelve chairs. When its doors opened, Gu Chenzhou sat at the far end of a long table. Twelve sealed glass jars stood before him. The first contained a lock of a woman's hair. “Welcome,” Gu said, “to collect the interest on your mother.”