"Answer my question. is there anything else you want to add?!" Lin Qiang demanded.
"This... this is my wife's salary!" Hao Wei stammered.
"No, THIS is your wife's salary," Lin Qiang corrected, instructing Zheng Shuai to display the next image. It showed Hao Wei's wife's account at United Bank, with monthly deposits clearly marked as salary payments.
"I don't need to explain anything to you!" Hao Wei cried out, clutching his head. "This is my wife's private money, won from mahjong games. It has nothing to do with me!"
"Oh? And it just happens to match the amounts in Zhang Jiaming's account every month? Does she play mahjong with Zhang Jiaming that often?"
"I don't know! I don't know! Think whatever you want!" Hao Wei glared at Lin Qiang, his lips trembling.
"Let's set that aside for now. Here's your wife's account at Citibank. It took quite some effort to obtain this information."
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the screen. This account didn't have many transactions, but the amounts were substantial.
As banking professionals, they could easily discern the account's activity pattern. Every so often, a sum between 50,000 and 150,000 yuan would be transferred in. There were about seven such transfers, totaling 450,000 yuan. Subsequently, this money would be converted to US dollars and transferred to an overseas account.
"Please explain the source and destination of these funds!" Lin Qiang demanded, pointing at Hao Wei.
"...This is my wife's money. How the hell should I know?!"
"Fine, if you don't know, I'll help you," Lin Qiang said, pulling up the account of Wang Jiaxin's son and connecting the dots. "Every time you helped Wang Jiaxin evade taxes, he would transfer money to your wife's account. Especially for those two insurance policies - he gave a total of 400,000 yuan. Quite generous, isn't he?"
Hao Wei remained silent.
"As for where it's going, I suspect it's being sent to your son studying abroad?" Lin Qiang shook his head resignedly. "Having such a son must be quite a burden. Earning money in China but spending it in America - even an outlet manager would struggle to keep up."
"Don't bring my son into this!!!" Hao Wei lost all composure, stomping his feet so hard the entire conference room shook. "It's all nonsense! From start to finish, it's all nonsense! I didn't do anything!!"
"Enough! That's enough!" Zhu Fengshan couldn't bear to watch anymore. He waved his arm at Hao Wei, "Director Hao, the situation is clear. We'll continue the investigation privately."
Turning to Lin Qiang, he thought for a moment before reluctantly saying, "During the investigation period, Hao Wei will be suspended. Lin Qiang will serve as acting director of the Longyuan outlet."
The room fell silent.
Had such a dramatic reversal... just happened?
Upon reflection, Zhu Fengshan's attitude wasn't entirely surprising. Lin Qiang had been pushed to bypass the branch and directly market business at the private banking center of the regional office, bringing in nearly 100 million yuan in performance - a significant achievement for the branch. Lin Qiang's value now far exceeded the trouble he caused.
The branch leadership had to be discerning. There was no irreconcilable feud between the two sides, only interests to be divided. Lin Qiang's value now surpassed that of anyone else present.
If that 100-million-yuan business were attributed to the Dongjiao Branch, they might even surpass the Xiyuan Branch this quarter! Zhu Fengshan was ultimately a shrewd operator. He knew that continuing this conflict would only risk pushing away Lin Qiang, their golden goose. Given the current momentum, Lin Qiang's outstanding performance had surely caught the attention of the regional office. There was a very real possibility that upper management would intervene directly and transfer him to the private banking center!
Zhu Fengshan, like a large ship, had swiftly changed course with the wind!
"Thank you, Manager Zhu." Lin Qiang could see through everything and had even anticipated this turn of events. He went along with it, extending goodwill towards Zhu Fengshan.
"Well... aside from Lin Qiang and Hao Wei... the rest of you can..." Zhu Fengshan began.
"Wait! Manager Zhu!!" Hao Wei rushed to Zhu Fengshan's side like a madman, shaking him violently. "Lin Qiang has no real evidence! How can you be so hasty?!"
"Hao Wei, you're being too emotional."
"I won't accept this! Zhu Fengshan! If you dare to arrange things this way, I'll report it to the regional office!!" Hao Wei, having lost all reason, began lashing out at anyone within reach.
"You... you..."
"Hao Wei, stop causing trouble for the branch manager. I'll make you confess completely," Lin Qiang shouted. "Zhang Jiaming! Speak up!!"
Zhang Jiaming had been sitting in the farthest corner throughout the meeting. From start to finish, he had seemed dazed, neither surprised like the others nor as terrified as Chen Liang.
At this moment, he became the focus of everyone's attention.
"Jia... Jiaming..." Hao Wei turned woodenly to look at the stunned Zhang Jiaming. "You don't know anything, right?"
"You know everything, don't you?" Lin Qiang simultaneously cast a fierce glance at Zhang Jiaming.
Zhang Jiaming silently stood up.
"Jiaming... look at the facts before you, look at the people..." Hao Wei stared at Zhang Jiaming, enunciating each word. "Tell the truth. I'm innocent, right?"
"Zhang Jiaming, look at the facts before you, look at the people," Lin Qiang pointed at Hao Wei. "It was him who ordered you to do everything, right?!"
Zhang Jiaming took a deep breath.
"This matter..."
"This matter..."
"Is entirely..."
"Stop!!!" Hao Wei, seeing Zhang Jiaming's expression, completely broke down. He grabbed Zhu Fengshan and shouted, "Manager Zhu! It's Zhang Jiaming, it's all Zhang Jiaming's personal doing! They planned together to frame me!!"
In the silent conference room, Zhu Fengshan ignored Hao Wei and looked at Zhang Jiaming: "Zhang Jiaming, tell us the truth."
Zhang Jiaming's heart sank.
Hao Wei, as expected, would abandon him without hesitation in such a moment.
"This matter... was entirely... Hao Wei's orders!! Hao Wei's threats! Hao Wei forced me to do it!!!"
"Shut up!!!" Hao Wei cursed at Zhang Jiaming.
The usually timid Zhang Jiaming, at this moment, pointed at Hao Wei and shouted with the loudest voice of his life—
"You shut up!!!"
Hao Wei looked at Zhang Jiaming in disbelief.
When had he become so daring?
"You're always like this!! Forcing me to do these dirty things!!!" Zhang Jiaming's emotions were completely out of control, his eyes bloodshot as he pointed at Hao Wei and yelled, "You dragged me, step by step, into this abyss! At first, you wanted me to give you my bonus... then you wanted me to help you with these shady deals. I didn't want to! I'm just an ordinary person!! I still have 8,000 yuan in alimony to pay! 8,000 yuan!!! Stop pushing me, Hao Wei!!"
"It's not like that... it's not like that..." Hao Wei dazedly pulled at Zhu Fengshan, "Manager Zhu, this is their conspiracy. Let me explain..."
"It is exactly like that!! At this point, Lin Qiang has uncovered everything!! Don't you understand, Hao Wei?!" Zhang Jiaming collapsed onto the table, banging his forehead against it violently.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"If Lin Qiang wants to, he can report this directly to law enforcement!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"That means prison, Hao Wei!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"I... I have a wife and children to support! I can't go to prison!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Why... why has it come to this..."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sound of Zhang Jiaming banging his head echoed through the conference room.
Hao Wei also collapsed to the ground, ceasing his final attempts at defense.
The evidence was too much, too irrefutable.
I'm finished, he thought.
Just like the silent sinking of the Yamato, he was finished.
No one in the room moved or even looked at them.
At this moment, Lin Xiaozhao quietly walked over to Zhang Jiaming and pulled him up.
"Brother Zhang... don't do this... there's still hope."
"Xiao... Xiaozhao..." Zhang Jiaming turned back fearfully, looking at her innocent face. "You... must hate me, right?"
Lin Xiaozhao shook her head silently: "It's understandable. If it were me, I might not have done as well as you did."
"...Xiaozhao..."
Tears of remorse instantly welled up in his eyes.
"I'm sorry... Xiaozhao..." Zhang Jiaming fell to his knees, sobbing uncontrollably. "I'm sorry, Xiao Xiao. I'm sorry, Zheng Shuai. I'm sorry... Manager Lin..."
"Hey, forget about it, Fatty Zhang ," Xiao Xiao waved dismissively. "Just give me all the credit card business from now on."
"Xiao Xiao..." Zhang Jiaming cried even harder.
"Alright, Zhang Jiaming, I accept your apology," Lin Qiang turned silently towards Hao Wei. "At this point, do you have anything else to say? Do you plan to report this to the Banking Regulatory Commission? Or the Audit Office, or perhaps the Public Security Bureau?"
"..." Hao Wei's face was ashen. "What... do you intend to do?"
"Are you willing to admit your mistakes?"
"...I..."
"Hurry up, don't waste everyone's time."
Hao Wei looked helplessly towards Zhu Fengshan.
Zhu Fengshan thought for a long while, then nodded.
Hao Wei slowly stood up and walked towards Lin Qiang.
"Not to me, to them," Lin Qiang pointed towards the Longyuan outlet staff. "Apologize to Xiao Xiao, to Lin Xiaozhao, to all the people you've oppressed in the outlet."
"..." Hao Wei turned and walked dejectedly towards the group.
He stood in front of Xiao Xiao and slightly lowered his head: "...I'm sorry... Xiao Xiao."
Xiao Xiao's expression was one of pure elation.
"Attitude! Mind your attitude, Hao Wei!" Lin Qiang shouted.
"..."
Hao Wei forced himself to bow lower: "I'm sorry, Xiao Xiao. I shouldn't have... stolen your achievements."
"Oh..." Xiao Xiao looked like she was about to climax from joy.
"Attitude! Your attitude is not good enough! Let me see your sincerity, Hao Wei! This kind of attitude shows no remorse!"
Hao Wei was already rolling his eyes, but when he saw Zhang Jiaming kneeling on the ground and thought about the prospect of prison, about his wife and children, he finally took a deep breath.
Thud!
He knelt directly on the ground in front of Xiao Xiao, closing his eyes and shouting: "I'm sorry, Xiao Xiao! I'm sorry, Lin Xiaozhao! I'm sorry, Lin Qiang, I'm sorry, Manager Zhu! I'm sorry to everyone!"
"I... have brought shame to all of you..."
"Please... forgive me..."
He opened his eyes, which were now bloodshot.
"Yes, that's the right attitude!" Lin Qiang suddenly turned to Zhu Fengshan, changing his tone, "Bank matters should always be handled within the bank. Resolving this internally at the branch level is the best course of action. Manager Zhu should make the final decision on this matter."
With these words, even Zhu Fengshan himself was taken aback!