Legal proceedings	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
27. Legal Proceedings	27. Legal proceedings Proceedings incidental to our lending business 27.1 On July 24, 2017, Chutian filed an execution case with the Wuhan Wuchang District People’s Court for property preservation on Hubei Sheng Guang Gong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd and related borrowers. On August 20, 2019, Chutian further filed the real estate valuation report to the court for further processing. In August 2020, the secured real estate were auctioned for RMB2.56 million($0.4 million). However, as of the date of this annual report, the proceeds are still held by Wuhan Wuchang People’s Court pending resolution of various ongoing legal proceedings. *Property Preservation Proceedings* 27.2 On July 16, 2019, Shenzhen Lihe Wantong Commerical Factoring Co., Ltd (深圳立合旺通商业保理有限公司)(“Shenzhen Lihe Wangtong”) applied to the Wuhan Wuchang People’s Court for pre-litigation protective measures to be taken against the respondents Chutian and Mr. Wei with regards to a contract dispute. On July 31, 2019, the court issued a preservation order freezing a total of RMB12.3 million ($1.8 million) of deposits in the bank accounts of Chutian and Mr. Wei for a period of one (1) year; and seizing four properties of Mr. Wei and Ms. Peng Yan, Mr. Wei’s wife. The total limit of the property preservation in this matter is RMB29.9 million ($4.3 million). As of the date of this annual report, our cash deposits and properties have not been released from the preservation order. Chutian and Mr. Wei are negotiating with Shenzhen Lihe Wangtong to reach a mediation agreement. 27.3 On September 4, 2019, Hubei Changjiang Microcredit Co., Ltd (湖北长江小额贷款有限公司) (“Hubei Changjiang”) applied to the Wuhan Wuchang People’s Court for pre-litigation property preservation of respondents Mr. Wei and Ms. Peng Yan, Mr. Wei’s wife, Chutian, Hubei New Nature Investment Co., Ltd and Dunxin Holdings Co., Ltd in connection with a loan contract dispute. On September 6, 2019, the court issued a preservation order seizing the bank deposits, or property in the corresponding value, of Mr. Wei, Ms. Peng Yan, Chutian, Hubei New Nature Investment Co., Ltd and Dunxin Holdings Co., Ltd in the amount of RMB13.0 million ($1.8 million) and RMB12.0 million ($1.7 million). Hubei New Nature Investment Co., Ltd is a company that is 80.8% owned by the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Wei. Dunxin Holdings Co., Ltd is a company that is 70% owned by the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Wei and 30% owned by Ms. Wenting (Tina) Xiao, Chief Personal/Human Resource Officer. The Court’s ruling was effective immediately. In July 2020, Hubei Changjiang applied for court enforcement and execution, which was accepted. As of the date of this annual report, all parties are still in negotiation of a mediation agreement. 27.4 On October 14, 2019, Mr. Deng Xinxue, Mr. Zhang Xuan and Mr. Yang Bobiao each applied to the Wuhan Wuchang People’s Court for pre-litigation property preservation of respondents Hubei Shanyin Wealth Management Co., Ltd (湖北善银财富管理有限公司), a company that is 69.5% owned by the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Wei, and Chutian in connection with loan contract disputes. The court issued a preservation order seizing the bank deposits, or property in the corresponding value, of Hubei Shanyin Wealth Management Co., Ltd and Chutian in the amount of RMB2.9 million ($0.4 million), RMB9.0 million ($1.3 million) and RMB9.0 million ($1.3 million), respectively. The court’s ruling was effective immediately. As of the date of this annual report, our cash deposits and properties have not been released from the preservation order and all parties are still in negotiation of a mediation agreement. 27.5 On October 15, 2019, the Wuhan Wuchang People’s Court received a Letter of Property Preservation from the Wuhan Arbitration Commission in connection with a loan contract dispute among the applicant Hubei Huaya Investment Co., Ltd (湖北华亚投资有限公司) and respondents Mr. Wei, Ms. Peng Yan, and Chutian. On October 23, 2019, after review of the letter by the court, the court issued a preservation order seizing the bank deposits, or property in the corresponding value, of Mr. Wei, Ms. Peng Yan, and Chutian in the amount of RMB12.3 million ($1.8 million). In August 2020, the parties entered into a mediation agreement whereby Mr. Wei and Ms. Yan agreed to pay the loan principal with penalty interests and costs in connection with the legal proceeding while Chutian, as the third respondent, will be responsible for 50% of the liabilities of Mr. Wei and Ms. Yan under the mediation agreement, should they fail to make the payments. As of the date of this annual report, Mr. Wei and Ms. Yan are still making payments pursuant to the mediation agreement. Property Services Contract Proceeding 27.6 On September 26, 2019, the Wuhan Branch of Xiamen Lianfa (Group) Property Services Co., Ltd (“Xiamen Lianfa”) filed an action in the Wuhan Wuchang People’s Court against Chutian in connection with a property service contract dispute. On November 27, 2019, the case was scheduled to be heard and Chutian was lawfully summoned and failed to appear, and did not submit a reply. The case was decided and concluded on November 27, 2019. The court found that Chutian failed to pay the owed property services fees to Xiamen Lianfa from April 1, 2019 to August 31, 2019. The court rendered a judgment in favor of Xiamen Lianfa and ordered Chutian to pay property services fee in the amount of RMB193,944 ($27,000) for the period from April 1, 2019 to August 31, 2019 to Xiamen Lianfa, within 10 days of the judgment. The court further ordered Chutian to pay the accrued interest, to be calculated based on the principal amount of RMB193,944 ($27,000) and based on the People’s Bank of China lending interest rate for the period from September 26, 2019 until fully paid. In the event that the repayment obligation is not fulfilled, the court ordered that the debt interest would be doubled in accordance with PRC law. Chutian did not appeal the judgment and the judgment became effective immediately. On November 10, 2020, court issued a preservation order that froze the assets of Chutian in the maximum amount of RMB 220,000 ($32,000) or to seize or attach property in the corresponding value. On December 18, 2020, the court terminated the enforcement proceeding and will recommence the enforcement proceeding if enforceable assets are located and meet the enforcement requirements within five years. In August, 2019, Xiamen Lianfa filed an action in the Wuhan Wuchang People’s Court against Chutian in connection with a property service contract dispute. The case was decided and concluded on October 12, 2020. The court found that Chutian failed to pay the owed property services fees to Xiamen Lianfa from September 1, 2019 to April 30, 2020. The court rendered a judgment in favor of Xiamen Lianfa and ordered Chutian to pay property services fee in the amount of RMB310,311 ($46,000) for the period from September 1, 2019 to April 30, 2020 to Xiamen Lianfa, within 10 days of the judgment. The court further ordered Chutian to pay the accrued interest, to be calculated based on the principal amount of RMB310,311 ($46,000) and based on the People’s Bank of China lending interest rate for the period from September 11, 2020 until fully paid. In the event that the repayment obligation is not fulfilled, the court ordered that the debt interest would be doubled in accordance with PRC law. Chutian did not appeal the judgment and the judgment was effected immediately. In July 2021, the court issued the notice of enforcement. In 2021, Xiamen Lianfa filed an action in the Wuhan Wuchang People’s Court against Chutian in connection with a property service contract dispute. The case was decided and concluded on November 29, 2021. The court found that Chutian failed to pay the owed property services fees to Xiamen Lianfa from May 1, 2019 to October 30, 2020. The court rendered a judgment in favor of Xiamen Lianfa and ordered Chutian to pay property services fee in the amount of RMB238,344 ($37,000) for the period from May 1, 2019 to October 30, 2020 to Xiamen Lianfa, within 10 days of the judgment. The court further ordered Chutian to pay the accrued interest, to be calculated based on the principal amount of RMB238,344 ($37,000) and based on the People’s Bank of China lending interest rate for the period until fully paid. Chutian did not appeal the judgment and the judgment was effected immediately. In November 2021, the court issued the notice of enforcement. As of the date of this annual report, Xiamen Lianfa and the Company are in negotiation of a mediation agreement. Li Ling Loan Dispute Proceeding 27.7 On August 27, 2019, Ms. Li Ling applied to the Wuhan Wuchang People’s Court for pre-litigation property preservation of respondents Chutian and Mr. Wei in connection with a loan contract dispute. The court issued a preservation order that froze the bank deposits of Chutian and Mr. Wei in the amount of RMB12.0 million ($1.7 million), or to seize or attach property in the corresponding value. Li Ling Loan Dispute Proceeding On October 9, 2019, the case was filed and accepted in the Wuhan Jiang’an People’s Court. Li Ling filed the following actions with the court: (1) that the two defendants Chutian and Mr. Wei repay the borrowed principal of RMB 10.0 million ($1.4 million) and interest of RMB787,500 ($114,000) (based on the interest rate of 1.125% per month on the principal of RMB10.0 million ($1.4 million), calculated from February 1, 2019 until fully paid, currently calculated until August 30, 2019), and (2) the costs of litigation to be fully borne by both defendants. On December 4, 2019, the court ruled that there was a valid loan relationship, that Chutian had failed to repay the loan as agreed and that Ms. Li Ling had the right to request full repayment of the loan principal and interest. The court ordered Chutian to repay the principal amount of the loan of RMB10.0 million ($1.4 million) to Ms. Li Ling, and to pay the interest rate of 1.125% per month on the principal amount of RMB10.0 million ($1.4 million), beginning February 2019 until the date the loan is fully paid. The court further ordered that Mr. Wei shall also be jointly and severally liable for the repayment of the loan. In the event that the repayment obligation is not fulfilled, the court ordered that the debt interest would be doubled in accordance with PRC law. On May 20, 2020, due to the failure of Chutian to fulfill its obligation to repay the principal amount determined above, the court issued a consumer restriction order against Mr. Wei to restrict high consumption and high expenditure behaviors. Violation of this order carries the imposition of fines and detention, and in circumstances sufficiently serious to constitute a crime, pursuit of criminal liability according to law. On July 27, 2020, the court terminated the enforcement proceeding and will recommence the enforcement proceeding if enforceable assets are located and meet the enforcement requirements. Cases Entered into the Enforcement Process Chutian had a total of nine cases entered into the enforcement process for the year ended December 31, 2021, all of which were accepted and enforced by the Wuhan Wuchang District People’s Court, with an aggregate amount of RMB17,262,222 (US$249,891). All of the nine cases entered into the enforcement process have been terminated by the Wuhan Wuchang District People’s Court because there were no other assets of Chutian available for enforcement. However, pursuant to the Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China, once the court or the applicant petitioning for enforcement locates clues that Chutian owns new property or assets available for enforcement, the court may resume the enforcement procedure.

Legal proceedings

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

27. Legal proceedings

Proceedings incidental to our lending business

27.1 On July 24, 2017, Chutian filed an execution case with the Wuhan Wuchang District People’s Court for property preservation on Hubei Sheng Guang Gong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd and related borrowers. On August 20, 2019, Chutian further filed the real estate valuation report to the court for further processing. In August 2020, the secured real estate were auctioned for RMB2.56 million($0.4 million). However, as of the date of this annual report, the proceeds are still held by Wuhan Wuchang People’s Court pending resolution of various ongoing legal proceedings.

Property Preservation Proceedings

27.2 On July 16, 2019, Shenzhen Lihe Wantong Commerical Factoring Co., Ltd (深圳立合旺通商业保理有限公司)(“Shenzhen Lihe Wangtong”) applied to the Wuhan Wuchang People’s Court for pre-litigation protective measures to be taken against the respondents Chutian and Mr. Wei with regards to a contract dispute. On July 31, 2019, the court issued a preservation order freezing a total of RMB12.3 million ($1.8 million) of deposits in the bank accounts of Chutian and Mr. Wei for a period of one (1) year; and seizing four properties of Mr. Wei and Ms. Peng Yan, Mr. Wei’s wife. The total limit of the property preservation in this matter is RMB29.9 million ($4.3 million). As of the date of this annual report, our cash deposits and properties have not been released from the preservation order. Chutian and Mr. Wei are negotiating with Shenzhen Lihe Wangtong to reach a mediation agreement.

27.3 On September 4, 2019, Hubei Changjiang Microcredit Co., Ltd (湖北长江小额贷款有限公司) (“Hubei Changjiang”) applied to the Wuhan Wuchang People’s Court for pre-litigation property preservation of respondents Mr. Wei and Ms. Peng Yan, Mr. Wei’s wife, Chutian, Hubei New Nature Investment Co., Ltd and Dunxin Holdings Co., Ltd in connection with a loan contract dispute. On September 6, 2019, the court issued a preservation order seizing the bank deposits, or property in the corresponding value, of Mr. Wei, Ms. Peng Yan, Chutian, Hubei New Nature Investment Co., Ltd and Dunxin Holdings Co., Ltd in the amount of RMB13.0 million ($1.8 million) and RMB12.0 million ($1.7 million). Hubei New Nature Investment Co., Ltd is a company that is 80.8% owned by the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Wei. Dunxin Holdings Co., Ltd is a company that is 70% owned by the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Wei and 30% owned by Ms. Wenting (Tina) Xiao, Chief Personal/Human Resource Officer. The Court’s ruling was effective immediately. In July 2020, Hubei Changjiang applied for court enforcement and execution, which was accepted. As of the date of this annual report, all parties are still in negotiation of a mediation agreement.

27.4 On October 14, 2019, Mr. Deng Xinxue, Mr. Zhang Xuan and Mr. Yang Bobiao each applied to the Wuhan Wuchang People’s Court for pre-litigation property preservation of respondents Hubei Shanyin Wealth Management Co., Ltd (湖北善银财富管理有限公司), a company that is 69.5% owned by the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Wei, and Chutian in connection with loan contract disputes. The court issued a preservation order seizing the bank deposits, or property in the corresponding value, of Hubei Shanyin Wealth Management Co., Ltd and Chutian in the amount of RMB2.9 million ($0.4 million), RMB9.0 million ($1.3 million) and RMB9.0 million ($1.3 million), respectively. The court’s ruling was effective immediately. As of the date of this annual report, our cash deposits and properties have not been released from the preservation order and all parties are still in negotiation of a mediation agreement.

27.5 On October 15, 2019, the Wuhan Wuchang People’s Court received a Letter of Property Preservation from the Wuhan Arbitration Commission in connection with a loan contract dispute among the applicant Hubei Huaya Investment Co., Ltd (湖北华亚投资有限公司) and respondents Mr. Wei, Ms. Peng Yan, and Chutian. On October 23, 2019, after review of the letter by the court, the court issued a preservation order seizing the bank deposits, or property in the corresponding value, of Mr. Wei, Ms. Peng Yan, and Chutian in the amount of RMB12.3 million ($1.8 million). In August 2020, the parties entered into a mediation agreement whereby Mr. Wei and Ms. Yan agreed to pay the loan principal with penalty interests and costs in connection with the legal proceeding while Chutian, as the third respondent, will be responsible for 50% of the liabilities of Mr. Wei and Ms. Yan under the mediation agreement, should they fail to make the payments. As of the date of this annual report, Mr. Wei and Ms. Yan are still making payments pursuant to the mediation agreement.

Property Services Contract Proceeding

27.6 On September 26, 2019, the Wuhan Branch of Xiamen Lianfa (Group) Property Services Co., Ltd (“Xiamen Lianfa”) filed an action in the Wuhan Wuchang People’s Court against Chutian in connection with a property service contract dispute. On November 27, 2019, the case was scheduled to be heard and Chutian was lawfully summoned and failed to appear, and did not submit a reply. The case was decided and concluded on November 27, 2019. The court found that Chutian failed to pay the owed property services fees to Xiamen Lianfa from April 1, 2019 to August 31, 2019. The court rendered a judgment in favor of Xiamen Lianfa and ordered Chutian to pay property services fee in the amount of RMB193,944 ($27,000) for the period from April 1, 2019 to August 31, 2019 to Xiamen Lianfa, within 10 days of the judgment. The court further ordered Chutian to pay the accrued interest, to be calculated based on the principal amount of RMB193,944 ($27,000) and based on the People’s Bank of China lending interest rate for the period from September 26, 2019 until fully paid. In the event that the repayment obligation is not fulfilled, the court ordered that the debt interest would be doubled in accordance with PRC law. Chutian did not appeal the judgment and the judgment became effective immediately. On November 10, 2020, court issued a preservation order that froze the assets of Chutian in the maximum amount of RMB 220,000 ($32,000) or to seize or attach property in the corresponding value. On December 18, 2020, the court terminated the enforcement proceeding and will recommence the enforcement proceeding if enforceable assets are located and meet the enforcement requirements within five years.

In August, 2019, Xiamen Lianfa filed an action in the Wuhan Wuchang People’s Court against Chutian in connection with a property service contract dispute. The case was decided and concluded on October 12, 2020. The court found that Chutian failed to pay the owed property services fees to Xiamen Lianfa from September 1, 2019 to April 30, 2020. The court rendered a judgment in favor of Xiamen Lianfa and ordered Chutian to pay property services fee in the amount of RMB310,311 ($46,000) for the period from September 1, 2019 to April 30, 2020 to Xiamen Lianfa, within 10 days of the judgment. The court further ordered Chutian to pay the accrued interest, to be calculated based on the principal amount of RMB310,311 ($46,000) and based on the People’s Bank of China lending interest rate for the period from September 11, 2020 until fully paid. In the event that the repayment obligation is not fulfilled, the court ordered that the debt interest would be doubled in accordance with PRC law. Chutian did not appeal the judgment and the judgment was effected immediately. In July 2021, the court issued the notice of enforcement.

In 2021, Xiamen Lianfa filed an action in the Wuhan Wuchang People’s Court against Chutian in connection with a property service contract dispute. The case was decided and concluded on November 29, 2021. The court found that Chutian failed to pay the owed property services fees to Xiamen Lianfa from May 1, 2019 to October 30, 2020. The court rendered a judgment in favor of Xiamen Lianfa and ordered Chutian to pay property services fee in the amount of RMB238,344 ($37,000) for the period from May 1, 2019 to October 30, 2020 to Xiamen Lianfa, within 10 days of the judgment. The court further ordered Chutian to pay the accrued interest, to be calculated based on the principal amount of RMB238,344 ($37,000) and based on the People’s Bank of China lending interest rate for the period until fully paid. Chutian did not appeal the judgment and the judgment was effected immediately. In November 2021, the court issued the notice of enforcement.

As of the date of this annual report, Xiamen Lianfa and the Company are in negotiation of a mediation agreement.

Li Ling Loan Dispute Proceeding

27.7 On August 27, 2019, Ms. Li Ling applied to the Wuhan Wuchang People’s Court for pre-litigation property preservation of respondents Chutian and Mr. Wei in connection with a loan contract dispute. The court issued a preservation order that froze the bank deposits of Chutian and Mr. Wei in the amount of RMB12.0 million ($1.7 million), or to seize or attach property in the corresponding value.

Li Ling Loan Dispute Proceeding

On October 9, 2019, the case was filed and accepted in the Wuhan Jiang’an People’s Court. Li Ling filed the following actions with the court: (1) that the two defendants Chutian and Mr. Wei repay the borrowed principal of RMB 10.0 million ($1.4 million) and interest of RMB787,500 ($114,000) (based on the interest rate of 1.125% per month on the principal of RMB10.0 million ($1.4 million), calculated from February 1, 2019 until fully paid, currently calculated until August 30, 2019), and (2) the costs of litigation to be fully borne by both defendants. On December 4, 2019, the court ruled that there was a valid loan relationship, that Chutian had failed to repay the loan as agreed and that Ms. Li Ling had the right to request full repayment of the loan principal and interest. The court ordered Chutian to repay the principal amount of the loan of RMB10.0 million ($1.4 million) to Ms. Li Ling, and to pay the interest rate of 1.125% per month on the principal amount of RMB10.0 million ($1.4 million), beginning February 2019 until the date the loan is fully paid. The court further ordered that Mr. Wei shall also be jointly and severally liable for the repayment of the loan. In the event that the repayment obligation is not fulfilled, the court ordered that the debt interest would be doubled in accordance with PRC law.

On May 20, 2020, due to the failure of Chutian to fulfill its obligation to repay the principal amount determined above, the court issued a consumer restriction order against Mr. Wei to restrict high consumption and high expenditure behaviors. Violation of this order carries the imposition of fines and detention, and in circumstances sufficiently serious to constitute a crime, pursuit of criminal liability according to law.

On July 27, 2020, the court terminated the enforcement proceeding and will recommence the enforcement proceeding if enforceable assets are located and meet the enforcement requirements.

Cases Entered into the Enforcement Process

Chutian had a total of nine cases entered into the enforcement process for the year ended December 31, 2021, all of which were accepted and enforced by the Wuhan Wuchang District People’s Court, with an aggregate amount of RMB17,262,222 (US$249,891). All of the nine cases entered into the enforcement process have been terminated by the Wuhan Wuchang District People’s Court because there were no other assets of Chutian available for enforcement. However, pursuant to the Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China, once the court or the applicant petitioning for enforcement locates clues that Chutian owns new property or assets available for enforcement, the court may resume the enforcement procedure.