“Every day they inquire about the investigation team’s progress, indirectly applying pressure. Moreover, that General Manager Qian even brought reporters from the city to conduct an exclusive interview on this matter.”
Upon hearing Chen Meimei’s words, Fang Qingye suddenly recalled Qian Weimin mentioning during their hotpot meal a few days ago that he was treating friends from the city to dinner—could those have been the reporters?
“What should we do then? How is the bank handling it?” Fang Qingye asked again.
Chen Meimei glanced around and lowered her voice:
“I overheard the investigation team members discussing privately that to quell public opinion and give Tenglong Industry an explanation, they plan to dismiss Zhang Qunying, the head of Qianjin Road Savings Office, deduct wages and bonuses from several other staff members, and give Director Xia a disciplinary action. Fang Qingye, I’m telling you this because I trust you—you mustn’t leak it to anyone, especially Zhang Rong. That one can’t keep a secret!”
“Don’t worry, I won’t gossip.”
All of this had already happened in history, and Fang Qingye actually knew it all along.
“Sigh… If Director Xia receives a disciplinary action, she definitely won’t be able to succeed Director Zhang, and she’ll probably be transferred away from Nanxin Branch.” Chen Meimei sighed after finishing.
Xia He was just somewhat unfortunate—she had been framed!
Zhang Qunying and the others from the savings office were even more unlucky. They were innocently caught in the crossfire of higher-ups’ conflicts and became victims.
“Director Xia is quite a good person, especially to us newcomers. It would be such a pity if she gets transferred.” Chen Meimei expressed regret.
Of course she’s good to us—she’s cultivating her own loyal followers, Fang Qingye chuckled inwardly.
Back in those days, Fang Qingye hadn’t thought so deeply about these things. It wasn’t until she went to Shanghai to strive and witnessed many workplace incidents that she gradually understood.
Setting aside this underlying factor, Xia He had indeed treated them well—much better than Zhao Wenjun who later took over.
That Zhao Wenjun only favored the old-timers and looked down on newcomers like them, suppressing them in every way.
This was partly why Fang Qingye had resigned from Nanxin Branch and left for Shanghai to pursue her career.
It seemed keeping Xia He was the best strategy.
Moreover, it could also help Zhang Qunying and the others.
Thinking this, Fang Qingye glanced at her and said softly:
“Chen Meimei, after hearing what you said, I wonder if the investigation team is looking in the wrong direction? Maybe it’s not that there’s a mole within our ranks, but that Tenglong Industry is stealing from itself, or that two companies are colluding to deceive our branch?”
“Ah? You think so?” Chen Meimei looked at her in surprise.
Fang Qingye continued in her unhurried tone:
“Let me give an example, just an example. Company A takes money from the special account to issue loans. Because this activity is illegal, they remove the company seal, legal person seal, various U-shields, and passwords from the company, forge purchase contracts, and illegally lend this money to Company B by issuing electronic bank acceptance drafts through the banking system. The loan term is N months, and they collect some interest upfront.”
“Company A is after the interest, but they didn’t expect Company B to have designs on their principal behind their backs. When the loan matures, the other party doesn’t repay. Company A has no choice but to shift the blame to the bank, claiming the bank made unauthorized deductions. Someone took advantage of the situation to fuel the flames, and that’s how we ended up like this.”
“What if shifting blame doesn’t work?” Chen Meimei pressed.
“If they really can’t shift the blame to the bank, they’ll eventually sacrifice the company’s finance staff as scapegoats. That’s the usual method bosses employ.”
Fang Qingye smiled and said, “Anyway, as long as you can’t figure it out in a short time, their goal will be achieved!”
Chen Meimei, being quite clever herself, immediately understood the meaning behind Fang Qingye’s last sentence.
“Their goal? You mean Director Zhao…”
“Stop right there, I’m just giving an example,” Fang Qingye interrupted Chen Meimei, speaking seriously.
Chen Meimei stared blankly at him for a moment, then suddenly laughed.
“Fang Qingye, you’re really smart—and so cunning.”
“Hey, is that a compliment or an insult?”
“Of course it’s a compliment! Alright, I won’t chat with you anymore. I’m going to find Director Xia and tell him your speculation.” With that, she rode her bicycle toward the direction of their workplace.
“Hey, Chen Meimei, it’s your speculation, not mine! You didn’t say anything, and I know nothing!” Fang Qingye shouted at her retreating figure.
“That won’t do. You came up with this idea—I can’t be that selfish,” the girl’s voice drifted back from afar.
Hearing this, Fang Qingye shook his head and turned to walk in the opposite direction.
On the fifth day, the Tenglong Company deposit loss case took a turn. The temporarily withdrawn investigation team suddenly stayed on, shifting their focus from internal bank checks to probing inside Tenglong Industry itself. They also requested assistance from the county police department.
Soon, clues emerged: there were issues within Tenglong Industry. Under the suggestion from senior management, financial staff had taken out the U-shield, passwords, and other documents, handing them over to non-company personnel to operate. This resulted in the transfer of 20 million yuan to a company in Zhejiang Province, with the aim of earning high interest.
As for whether Tenglong Industry’s owner, Qian Weimin, was aware of this or if someone was pulling strings behind the scenes, further detailed investigation was needed.
Additionally, the Nanxin police had notified the Zhejiang police to freeze the funds in Zhilian Technology Company’s account and quickly track down the movements of the company’s actual controller, Sun.
In short, in this incident, the Qianjin Road Savings Office was not at fault in any way.
The municipal bank working group eventually withdrew, and follow-up matters were fully taken over by the local police, with the Dongfang Sub-branch providing full cooperation.
For the time being, the matter came to a close, and the Dongfang Sub-branch returned to its usual calm.
But those with a keen eye knew that beneath this surface tranquility, undercurrents were swirling—a storm was brewing.
That afternoon, the sky was overcast and unbearably humid. When it was time to get off work, Fang Qingye tidied up the documents on his desk and left his office. Just as he was about to head to the shed to get his scooter, he heard someone call his name.
“Xiao Fang!”
Turning around, he saw a middle-aged man standing at the building’s entrance—Deputy Director Zhao Wenjun.
He was dressed as usual for work, in his uniform, though without the suit jacket. His white shirt was crisp, and the cuffs were neatly buttoned, giving him a meticulous appearance.
Before Fang Qingye could walk over, Zhao Wenjun approached him with a smile and said, “Xiao Fang, are you free tonight? Let me treat you to a drink.”
“Director Zhao, you’re inviting me for a drink?” Fang Qingye was somewhat surprised.
Aside from occasionally running into each other in the unit’s corridors, where Fang Qingye would greet him and the other would merely nod without saying much, they had hardly spoken. Why would he suddenly invite him for a drink?
A thought suddenly occurred to Fang Qingye, and he looked at the other man.
“What? Won’t you give me the honor?” A faint smile appeared on Zhao Wenjun’s face.
Fang Qingye also smiled. “Sure, if Director Zhao is treating, I’d be delighted. Where to?”
“I’ll take you to a place I often go for drinks. It’s not far from here.”
Hearing Zhao Wenjun say this, Fang Qingye didn’t push her scooter either, and the two of them walked toward the main gate together.