"Pengcheng is not the Gu family's domain. Don't treat us like fools. Boss Zhang tried every means to prove his innocence, but you dragged your feet and refused to cooperate, insisting on crucifying him with shame. What are your true intentions?"
"I suspect the spy is one of you. Since you claim to have seen things at the hotel, let's check the guest records and ask the front desk. But you refuse to do so, which clearly indicates you're hiding something from us."
"Your behavior is highly suspicious. Could it be that, as Boss Zhang claims, the thief is crying out to catch the thief?"
"..."
As expected of the Sun family faction, their attack was more potent than the Gu family's. Their every move exposed loopholes in the Gu family's defense, leaving the Gu family faction red-faced and erupting in curses.
"We are all factory owners, people of standing. Why should we cooperate with an unknown nobody? If you have so much free time, you can go, but don't drag us along!"
"You are the ones crying out to catch the thief! We are staunch anti-Hong Kong merchants. Don't smear us with baseless accusations."
"Exactly, you're all talking nonsense."
"..."
The two factions immediately descended into a chaotic argument, tainting the delicious meal with their spittle.
Fortunately, everyone had eaten to their fill and wasn't hungry. They all stood with their arms crossed, watching the unfolding drama, and secretly wondering if there really was a spy at work.
Back then, the Hong Kong merchants had so easily swindled their domestic counterparts. Rumors circulated that a spy had betrayed them, but the specifics were unclear.
With the old issue resurfacing today, they couldn't help but suspect the existence of a spy, and whether that spy was among the people present.
Furthermore, they had witnessed the Gu family faction's actions earlier, which were indeed unreasonable. Could they possibly be the Hong Kong merchants' spies?
It shouldn't be. When the Hong Kong merchant incident broke out, Boss Gu and others had led the charge in forming the Anti-Hong Kong Merchants Association, also known as the National Merchants Association, to boycott cooperation and contact with Hong Kong merchants. If Boss Gu, as a leader, were a spy, whom could they trust?
"I truly underestimated you, Zhang Liunian. You've managed to pit our Gu and Sun families against each other with such ease. What a clever tactic!"
Gu Lou, seeing the situation spiral out of his control, turned to Father Sun and said, "Old Sun, you will surely regret speaking up for him."
"My regrets are none of your concern. You should be the one to be careful and ensure we don't find out that you are the spy." The Gu and Sun families had always been mortal enemies, and Father Sun did not fear the Gu family's wrath.
"You..." Gu Lou was so enraged he was speechless, unable to utter a word for a long time.
Seeing this, Father Sun felt immensely pleased. Nothing was more satisfying and joyful than seeing his nemesis almost explode with anger.
"If you ask me, we should go to the hotel and check later! Let's see who's lying. Old man, do you dare to go with us?" Father Sun also suspected Gu Lou and wanted to see if there was truly something amiss with him.
If so, it would be fantastic; he would finally have an opportunity to bring him down.
Gu Lou saw through Father Sun's intentions, his heart sinking. However, he couldn't refuse, so he gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, let's go. Who's afraid of whom?"
"That's wonderful! We are individual entrepreneurs of the new era; we absolutely cannot bully the younger generation or wrongly accuse anyone. If he never came here, it would be a sin." Seeing Gu Lou's displeased expression, Father Sun continued to ramble on, making Gu Lou want to hit him.
Zhang Liunian, seeing the Sun family come to his defense and completely turn the tide, even adding more suspects to everyone's minds, paid the bill with a cheerful heart and set off with everyone towards the Pengcheng Hotel.
However, halfway there, someone from the Gu family came to find Gu Lou, reporting that his eldest son had caused trouble and run off. Gu Lou feigned embarrassment on his face but was secretly overjoyed as he bid farewell and left.
He had been looking for an excuse to slip away, and unexpectedly, his trouble-making eldest son had provided him with one. It was perfect.
With excited anticipation, Gu Lou hurried away.
Seeing Gu Lou leave, Father Sun suddenly remarked, "That old fellow sure is quick to run."
The more he acted like this, the more Father Sun suspected him. He was afraid to go to the Pengcheng Hotel. If that were the case, he could start from here and perhaps uncover something astonishing.
"It doesn't matter if he left. Whether it's true or false, everyone can bear witness." Zhang Liunian's eyes narrowed, further solidifying his suspicion that Gu Lou was a spy.
"Exactly. His presence or absence is irrelevant. The truth of who is lying will be made clear." Father Sun was eager and turned to urge everyone to continue on their way.
Their arrival at the hotel caused a panic, with the hotel staff thinking a group of troublemakers had arrived.
Upon learning of Father Sun's identity and his intention to check the hotel records from October of the previous year, they breathed a sigh of relief.
"The check-in and check-out information for October 1st of last year is all here. There are only 35 people in total, all Hong Kong merchants." The front desk retrieved the guest records from the previous year and found that everyone was from Hong Kong, with no domestic businessmen at all.
"Please help us see if there is anyone named Zhang, by the name of Zhang Liunian. Also, who was on duty on October 1st last year? Can you call them over to see if they recognize our Comrade Zhang Liunian?" Father Sun took the initiative to negotiate, and the hotel staff was very cooperative.
The reason for their cooperation was that the hotel had a small stake held by the Sun family, which made them so accommodating.
"Go and call Xiao Zhao. She was on duty last year." The hotel manager instructed the staff behind him to fetch Xiao Zhao and then continued to review the names.
"There is no Comrade Zhang Liunian. Are you sure you have the right name?" the manager asked after checking, concluding that no one matched.
"Xiao Zhao is here." At this point, the staff member brought Xiao Zhao over.
The manager immediately asked him to come and identify the person. When Xiao Zhao looked at Zhang Liunian with a bewildered expression, he racked his brain and asked, "Manager, why did you call me over to look at him? He's not my relative."
The manager, exasperated, lightly tapped the back of his head. "See if you recognize this face, if you remember where you've seen it."
Xiao Zhao became even more confused. He stared at Zhang Liunian again and then shook his head, "I don't recognize him. I've never seen him before."
"..."
At this moment, everyone fell silent.
"So, can this prove that I did not come to Pengcheng and did not stay here?" Zhang Liunian suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.
His words caused an uproar throughout the hall.
"So, it was Boss Gu who was lying?"
"It seems to be him. Didn't you find their behavior very strange earlier?"
"I noticed it too, but I don't think Boss Gu would lie."
"What's impossible about it? Boss Zhang hit his son. For revenge, what's wrong with telling a lie?"
"That's true, who wouldn't protect their own child?"
"..."