"President, I am wronged! It's all Zhang Liunian's nonsense. I asked everyone to deposit money simply because I saw high interest rates and wanted to rope everyone in to earn more. I had no other intentions and didn't know who the owner of that bank was. You've truly misunderstood me. I have no connection with the Hong Kong businessman, I swear. If I have any involvement with the Hong Kong businessman, I will be rendered infertile and die a horrible death."
Gu Lou's oaths were quite dire, but everyone knew that for villains, such things were easily spoken. They didn't believe in retribution. Otherwise, they wouldn't have become bad people.
Just as everyone was waiting for Wen Qinmin to speak, Father Sun suddenly stood up and said, "President, I can prove that the bank was indeed opened by a Hong Kong businessman."
Zhang Liunian was taken aback and looked up at Father Sun. The latter, as if sensing his gaze, lowered his eyes and smiled at him. Although he hadn't found out who the bank's owner was, he had discovered that all the bank's inflows and outflows, and its investments, were all operated from Hong Kong. Just on this point alone, it could be proven that the bank must have been established by a Hong Kong businessman. As for whether it was someone within the Hong Kong business circle, he wasn't sure, but it was definitely a Hong Kong businessman.
Wen Qinmin heard this and looked at Father Sun, his voice trembling slightly, "Old Sun, what evidence do you have?" If Old Sun could truly prove that the bank was opened by a Hong Kong businessman, it would indirectly prove Gu Lou's connection to them. Just as everyone said, once or twice might be a coincidence, but too many times indicated a conspiracy. Moreover, if it were confirmed that the person behind the bank was a Hong Kong businessman, they would have to withdraw their money immediately and not keep it there, lest they be cheated again.
"The President also knows that my relationship with Gu Lou is not good. I also went to the bank on its opening day. I originally intended to deposit money, but after seeing Gu Lou, I became suspicious. Everyone knows Gu Lou's character; he wouldn't do anything without a benefit. Even if the bank's interest rates were high, he wouldn't actively stand up for it and help promote it as a leader. So, at that time, I became suspicious and guessed that Gu Lou might have a relationship with this bank. I didn't find out about Gu Lou, but I did discover that this bank was invested and operated by a company from Hong Kong, and the flow of funds was also handled there. If you don't believe me, I will have someone send the investigation report to you now. Therefore, I want to say that this Pengcheng Private Bank was created by Hong Kong businessmen, and the real owner cannot be found. This might be another scam, a scam specifically designed to cheat us domestic businessmen."
Boom!
Everyone was stunned. Who could be more infuriated than learning that they had been cheated by Hong Kong businessmen again? Nothing, absolutely nothing, could make them angrier. They had been cheated several times before, and now they were about to be cheated again. What made it even more infuriating was that there was an internal traitor among them, helping the enemy cheat them. This was simply unforgivable.
"Old Sun, you've done well. Have someone bring the documents." Wen Qinmin now fully believed Father Sun's words. This bank was used to cheat people like them. It was detestable that Gu Lou actually helped their enemies cheat their own countrymen. Their chamber of commerce didn't need such a person, and Pengcheng didn't welcome such a disgrace.
"Okay," Father Sun nodded and got up to instruct his subordinates to fetch it. Seeing this, other members also believed Father Sun's words. He didn't seem to be lying at all, and they would soon find proof. This meant that Father Sun hadn't lied, and Gu Lou had indeed colluded with the Hong Kong businessmen to make another move. Gu Lou deserved to die!
"You good-for-nothing Gu Lou, you actually helped Hong Kong businessmen cheat our own people. I'll beat you to death, you traitor!" An impetuous member, seeing that the matter was more or less confirmed, immediately rushed over and punched Gu Lou hard. Gu Lou fell to the ground in pain and opened his mouth to defend himself. However, everyone present had been severely cheated by Hong Kong businessmen. Seeing that they were being harmed because of Gu Lou, they naturally became furious and started punching him.
"I'm wronged!" Gu Lou was being beaten by everyone, and he managed to cry out his innocence. However, no one present believed Gu Lou's words. After all, too many coincidences meant it was false. Also, why were these people constantly being cheated, yet Gu Lou was doing so well, even becoming Pengcheng's number one factory? It turned out he had climbed to the top by betraying his own countrymen. They used to say Zhang Ya was detestable, but compared to Gu Lou now, Zhang Ya at least didn't pretend to be friendly with them and then stab them in the back.
An hour later, Gu Lou was beaten so badly that he could barely breathe, but not a single person on the scene felt sympathy for him. Instead, they wished Gu Lou would just die there. At this moment, the report Father Sun had sent for arrived at the scene. Wen Qinmin was so angry after seeing it that he almost tore the paper, but he couldn't; he still had to let everyone see it.
After the report was passed down, Wen Qinmin walked up to Gu Lou step by step and questioned him, "Did they buy you off from the beginning? How much money did the Hong Kong businessman give you to become this traitor? Don't you know who we hate the most? It's traitors. Now that you've become the person we detest the most, do you know what your fate will be?"
The near-death Gu Lou lay on the ground, opened his mouth to speak, but at this moment, another person rushed forward and kicked him. "Dead traitor."
"..." Wen Qinmin looked at the impetuous member and was speechless for a moment. Didn't he see that he was talking to Gu Lou? The member who delivered the kick also seemed to realize something, awkwardly smiled at Wen Qinmin, and then withdrew.
"President, I'm wronged, I'm not a traitor," Gu Lou said, clutching his aching body and trying to open his swollen eyes, his voice hoarse.
"No need to argue further. From today onwards, you, Gu Lou, are no longer a member of our National Business Chamber. We, collectively, will no longer cooperate with people like you. All our previous collaborations with you are hereby terminated. We will impose a ban on you, preventing you from continuing your business. As for your life, it will depend on fate." Wen Qinmin said this, glancing at the enraged members present, knowing in his heart that Gu Lou would likely not have a good outcome. Having offended so many people, who wouldn't want to see him dead? However, these words could not be said out loud.
"President, I didn't, I really didn't betray..." Gu Lou trembled all over. He had been collectively abandoned by the National Business Chamber. His factory would face another huge blow, and everything he had might turn to dust overnight. Thinking of this, he quickly reached out to grab Wen Qinmin's leg and said excitedly, "President, believe me, if I were such a person, I wouldn't be discussing with you how to cheat..."