Silence
But then, nothing happened. The black market dealer simply vanished. No response to emails. Inquiries through acquaintances in Japan yielded nothing. No trace of the dealer, ginseng, or money.
Meanwhile, the deadline for the loan extension inexorably approached. The McAllens convened a family council, but the outcome remained the same. All cash reserves had been depleted in recent years. The real estate market was currently stagnant.