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Q: I'd appreciate some advice please.
Background: I was approached to do some business training because the people doing it were out of their depth. As I knew the guy, I accepted a pretty ordinary rate but it included a driver to pick me up and take me home. I have already done several corporate training gigs and there was little prep work involved. And i had free time on those days.
I discovered that I was being paid 100 rmb less per hour than the person i replaced and they decided that the extra 3km the driver had to travel to my house was too much trouble for him. Of course, i asked for at least the same deal that the previous 2 people were on.
Last night the boss sent me a dozen voice messages saying that he was going to kill me, kill my whole family and rape my wife (by name). The reason: "This is China. I am Sam. I am rich."
Call me crazy but i think this is somewhat unprofessional. Any advice?
I would take the voice message to the PSB, and remind them how much face the country loses if a foreigner is a victim of violence, and I'm sure they will detain and counsel the guy on his actions, that is, if he is important, if he is nothing, they will just laugh and ignore both of you. I think he is harmless and stupid, actually, you can hire thugs to commit violence but you can't pay a few more rmb on a rate and taxi fare, pure bullshit.
Stiggs:
I think that if he was nothing - just some guy they'd be much more likely to bring him in and quietly counsel him than if he is connected and 'important'.
I do agree that he's probably just all talk. When somebody is making threats like that though a guy would be stupid to not take them seriously.
It's easy! Reply to bastard, that's what you do for him is illegal by Chinese law! 
His message is enough ... to change the city! 
I would take the voice message to the PSB, and remind them how much face the country loses if a foreigner is a victim of violence, and I'm sure they will detain and counsel the guy on his actions, that is, if he is important, if he is nothing, they will just laugh and ignore both of you. I think he is harmless and stupid, actually, you can hire thugs to commit violence but you can't pay a few more rmb on a rate and taxi fare, pure bullshit.
Stiggs:
I think that if he was nothing - just some guy they'd be much more likely to bring him in and quietly counsel him than if he is connected and 'important'.
I do agree that he's probably just all talk. When somebody is making threats like that though a guy would be stupid to not take them seriously.
Report him to the PSB or the police at once. If his threats do materialize then at least you have a leg to stand on in court.
Holy shit, that's not cool at all man.
I really don't know what the best thing to do is but here's a few things to consider at least.
1. I mostly agree with taking it to the PSB. I've seen a case where a teacher was getting threats like you are and the cops ( PSB) stepped in, told the Chinese people involved that if anything at all happened to the teacher they would be held accountable.
Having said that though, I'm not sure how it might play out if the guy has connections with the PSB, it could come back and bite you.
2. Is doing that job ok on your visa? If it was something you shouldn't be doing you may want to leave the PSB out of it.
3. Make copies of the messages and send them to friends or something just so there are copies out there. You could also look into sending an email to your embassy with copies of the threats. Doubtful they'd do anything but if you cc the boss guy so he knows the embassy is involved now he would probably freak out and stop the threats.
4. In the meantime, don't do or say anything to incite him or make him lose face in any way. Just ignore any further messages from him. A Chinese guy who feels like he lost face and needs to get revenge somehow can be irrational, unpredictable and just straight up insane.
Accidents happen all the time in china...pay someone to make it look like an accident. And if you're not down for that.... Remember, "The Yangtze river swallows all secrets"
Serious though you should call the police...although they might not help...depending on who is making the threats.
Contact the Embassy/Consulate, then contact the PSB.
Do you have a contract with this group or all under the table pay?
I'd be wary of contacting the authorities, you might be lifted for working in the shadows.
I have to say though, I reckon this bloke is bluffing. I have heard shit like this three or four times here and nothing has ever come to pass. They realise when they calm down that it is not a good idea to have a go at a foreigner.
Still, if you really think the chap might be for real, shop him to the PSB.
Thanks for the advice. I think it is a storm in a teacup and just some butt-hurt blowhard trying to look like a big man.
He sent a similar stream of messages to a girl i know too. She's foreign but her husband is Chinese and wants revenge.
ambivalentmace:
one day he will spout off to the wrong person and want be around anymore, so if you get a call from his replacement to pay you for some training, you know what happened.
Might be a storm in a teacup Wolfie but no way I’d tolerate these sorts of threats & it’s not just you is it?
I know now it’s your job but he has to realize he can’t do this. So write a letter to him highlighting what he’s done & stating clearly if any more threats then you go to the police. Keep a copy (let him see this).
iWolf:
I'm going to let it go for now. I think it's a mixture of short-dick syndrome and lost face for being a wanker. It was a xenophobic rant, full of piss and courage. The other victim and myself converted the wechat messages to mp3. So there are copies floating aroind. Let me know if you want copies for shits and giggles. Or i may post it to Wechat moments....lol
I have surprise waiting anyone comes looking for me. Just remember chiners will attack from behind, use any weapon, and gang-up. No compunction to 5 jumping 1.
diverdude1:
suprisingly no. I was in one tussle in China in many years here,, my fault, I deserved what I got. I just like the baton for it's build-quality, and I've collected knives since I was a kid. :)
Stiggs:
I've never carried a weapon in public, mostly because I don't anticipate needing one and couldn't be bothered carrying shit around that I don't need but also because I'm scared I'd kill someone in the heat of things while drunk or something and fuck up my life when I should have just taken a bashing if it came to that.
Home is a different story though. I was woken by burglars in my house once, was the second time I'd been broken into and going out to confront them is fucking terrifying but at least I had a weapon in my hand. It's a very comforting feeling.
Since then, I always keep a metal pipe next to my bed and another few weapons around the house.
diverdude1:
yeah, these are strictly home defense. well, the knife is also for if I ever go camping again,, haha. Pretty cool survival knife (Gerber - Bear Grylls). knock-off from taobao,,, like 1/5 the price of the real deal and pretty much just as good.
coineineagh:
Dude, this is a bit uncool (and I always pictured you as the Dude Lebowski). If you have these sort of things, you shouldn't be advertising that fact with pictures. Especially in the context of street violence. What we say on ECC goes mostly unnoticed, until it doesn't. This could possibly be construed as grounds for preemptive deportation, and I'd hate to see you go dude. I suggest deleting your pic.
diverdude1:
yeah Coin,,, I'm hear what you say. I even had the same thought before posting, But finally I decided nothing really wrong with it. We all have the right to Self-defense. Maybe not according to some governments, but according to universal human rights. I don't walk the streets packing, and I don't go looking to stir up trouble, but I want to be able to defend myself if it comes down to it.
News programs show lotsa people getting victimized because they could not adequately defend themselves. #1 on my list is the Tate-LaBianca murders in 1969.
iWolf, as Monkey said, report it to PSB and police. And don't do the trainin. Man, what a bastard.
iWolf:
We both wiped him and his training like a dirty bum. The rants are epic. I'm thinking about using them for a YouTube video and/or a sampled rap song. I have the time and the skills...lol
PulSartre:
Hahahahah, LOL. That's a good idea. I would do it. Anything to help him lose face.
Actually, I would ask the police to read the threat or listen to it, then tell them to accompany me to have a face to face meeting with the guy and have him give account on his words. I would make him lose face as many times as possible. What a grotesque animal.
You know that I would be knocking on his office door asking him to repeat what he said to my face ...funny how they are never in when you arrive
When my old Chinese boss made a passing (financial) threat towards my family, my reaction was of taking the matter very seriously and not in the fear-response way intended. I was ready to quit over it. I announced my intended departure in less than 2 weeks.
While I was still working, the boss and a co-owner of the school traveled to my aunt's teahouse in the county, went with gifts and an apologetic tone, were introduced formally to relatives, and when I heard of what happened, I found my wife was no longer enthusiastic about my quitting. So I stayed.
I drew a line, and the boss learned not to cross that again. Respect one another's culture, until someone loses their cool. Then allow them to backpedal and restore things.
This guy went way, way across the line. The threats you received are on a different level, which might suggest your boss is on an extreme irrational level. You might not be able to expect any sense of measure in his responses. If that's the case, you need to protect yourself. Even if you risk trouble with authorities, that's preferable over these kinds of dangers.
But be honest with yourself. Did you do things to provoke such behaviour? Were you intentionally disrespectful? Probably not, but be honest with yourself all the same.
This guy seems like a latent racist, and a penny-pincher. He's offended at being held to ransom by someone like you, and the fact you are reasonable in your demands is only seen as a reason for you to be a bigger perceived threat to his finances.
He grew accustomed to you expecting lower wages than your predecessors. He now considers the saved money entirely his own, and is unwilling to part with it into the extreme. Sod him. Business is business, and this petulant child is throwing a tantrum at you like you were a disappointing toy. People like this need to be unsuccessful in life as a direct consequence of their chosen course of action. My ethical instincts say: "Don't let this slide".
But life is risk, and you are responsible for you own choices. Take my advice with a pinch of salt.
Kill him before he kills you.
He'll be dead and nothing to worry about. 
iWolf:
SB i like the way you think and cut right to the heart of the problem.
Ok, a quick update.
As i mentioned before we both quit immediately. The actual owner of the of the company has messaged us both several times begging us to save his arse and explaining that Sam has been demoted and shamed. We didn't care....lol
Anyway, we made mp3s of the turgid filth he sent and have forwarded them to all and sundry with and explanation of what had occured. Let's just say that they aren't ranking in the top ten places to work.
In addition, because i am a consummate professional, i made a worksheet to go with the listening material. Whatever face he had is now glossing the pipes beyond the S bend.
If you want copies please pm me with your email address or wechat ID.
