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Taiwanese Merchant: A Family Annihilated
墨書 Inktalez
In June 2003, Shanghai had just emerged from the rainy season, and the air was still thick with humidity. At the exit of the Shanghai train station, Huang Ligang stepped out, dragging a worn-out duffel bag behind him. As he surveyed the bustling crowd and towering skyscrapers, his eyes reflected both excitement and an unspoken determination.
Huang Ligang hailed from a remote village in Sheyang County. His father worked away from home for most of the year, while his mother tended to a few acres of land. He dropped out of school before finishing middle school and spent his days idling around the village.
Huang Ligang had tried to find legitimate work. He had worked at a brick factory and washed dishes at a restaurant, but each time he was fired within days—either for stealing or for fighting with coworkers. Gradually, he began to stray down a darker path, starting with petty theft and eventually escalating to burglary.
Last winter, Huang Ligang had been caught for theft and spent fifteen days in detention. When he returned home, his parents were utterly disappointed in him; his mother cried, "If you keep this up, you'll bring shame to our family!" In a fit of anger, he retorted, "Do you think staying cooped up in this miserable place will lead to anything?" After a fierce argument, Huang Ligang left home and ventured to Shanghai alone.
Before long, he had squandered all the money he brought with him and found himself unable to secure a job. With no money left, even eating became a challenge. It was during this difficult time that he met Cheng Liang.
Cheng Liang was three years older than him at 22 years old and hailed from Jiangsu Suining. He was also unemployed. The two met in an internet café and quickly found common ground. Cheng Liang had more "experience," having previously partnered with others for small-time "business"—in other words, petty theft.
"Brother, you know we can't keep living like this," Cheng Liang said as he exhaled smoke. "There are plenty of wealthy people in Shanghai; why don't we aim for something bigger?"
Huang Ligang's eyes lit up. "What do you mean?"
"What do you think?" Cheng Liang said with a mysterious smile. "I've heard that those Taiwanese businessmen in Shanghai have good stuff at home. If we pull off one big score, it could keep us living lavishly for a long time."
The two then began to brainstorm how to "pull off a big one." Cheng Liang suggested that if they were going to do it, they should go all out and target a wealthy family, sneaking in at night to take whatever valuable items they could find.
"What if we get caught?" Huang Ligang asked.
Cheng Liang made a gesture across his throat. "At this point, being this poor, taking a risk is better than waiting to die."
Huang Ligang fell silent for a moment before finally gritting his teeth and saying, "Let's do it!"
They set their sights on committing a burglary.
"This time we need to make it big. Once we get the money, we can disappear and never have to live this miserable life again."
On the morning of June 22, Huang Ligang and Cheng Liang began their "site selection work."
They spent most of the day wandering around downtown Shanghai, looking at various villas and upscale neighborhoods, but they were deterred by the security measures and guards.
Cheng Liang shook his head. "These places are too well-guarded; we can't handle it."
They then shifted their focus to the outskirts of the city. Around 2 PM, they arrived in the vicinity of Minhang District on Hongjing Road.
Most of the buildings here were two-story houses, and the residents were quite mixed—some locals and some migrant workers.
Huang Ligang pointed to a nearby community and said, "This looks good; there doesn't seem to be much security."
"Let's take a closer look first," Cheng Liang replied cautiously. "We need to find a fat sheep; we can't waste our efforts."
The two began to wander around the area.
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