Accountability

  "How can you say that too?" Lin Qiang frowned and said.

  Zheng Shuai pulled over a chair and sat down beside Lin Qiang, persuading him in a bitter tone: "I'm an administrative person, at least I understand the basic rules. Last time during the audit office's questioning, it was already a joke. The purpose of this accountability meeting is to confirm a unified tone within the organization."

  Lin Qiang shook his head and smiled bitterly: "So everyone is blaming me, in order to satisfy the leader and not lose face in front of the Audit Office again, I have to admit it?"

  "No need to admit, silence is enough." Zheng Shuai grasped Lin Qiang's shoulders, his brow furrowed with anxiety. "Later when you make a separate statement to the Audit Office, you can take the opportunity to reveal the true circumstances of the matter. I believe the law enforcement department will not make a mistake."

  "Alright, let me guess. In the end, Qian Cai and Xiao Feng got what they deserved, I, Lin Qiang, have been deceiving everyone, only telling the truth to the Audit Bureau. Zheng Shuai, can I still stay here? Why not just go to the Audit Bureau to be an official?"

  "What's the point of deceiving, is there no other way...?" Zheng Shuai scratched his head and hesitated, "I believe that after the fact, the leader will still understand. If all else fails, secretly communicate with the leader... it will be clear."

  "Zheng Shuai, I see it a bit deeper than that," Lin Qiang said calmly. "Qian Cai is just a dying mad dog, no matter how hard he struggles, he can't escape the fate of death. He's struggling, hoping to bite me before he dies, trying to reduce his sentence, trying to live a few more days."

  Zheng thought for a moment and said, "But according to the eight trigrams of the line, he was very calm."

  "You underestimate him, he's not like Zhang Jiaming who would pee his pants over a small matter. This time, he can't avoid going to jail, and he will use every trick in the book to struggle, regardless of the consequences or cost, just to avoid being locked up."

  Lin Qiang smiled and replied, "My style is impeccable, they won't have any substantial evidence to frame me, but once I give an inch, people who don't know the truth will turn against me, even leaders. If they see an opportunity, they'll fabricate evidence, and with my default attitude, everyone's impression of me will be set in stone, that would be the end. This is why they want to drive me away, they're afraid of the real me who speaks the truth, not the timid me."

  "But... what about Rosa? She's the one who's been behind everything. If there's a chance to compromise... " Zheng Shuai clenched his fist, almost to the point of bleeding, and said with a ferocious expression, "If I can get Rosa to give up on Qian Cai... I'll buy her a drink..."

  "Nonsense!" Lin Qiang cursed, "Have you forgotten? And that thing, the stuff Hu Xiaolian took with Chen Cang, it dragged out so many things, Luosa must have hated me to the bone by now."

  "It's also true... Rosa and Chen Liang have a leg up on us... And with the equity issue... This Liangzi... It can't be resolved...” Zheng Shuai thought for a long time, still shaking his head: "Tomorrow afternoon is the accountability meeting, before that, can you think of any other way?"

  "I've already asked my friends at the Audit Bureau to secretly put pressure on Nie Xiao Feng, and also use the bait of a reduced sentence." Lin Qiang opened his computer again, rubbing his forehead and said, "Unfortunately, the documents from the Audit Bureau haven't come down yet, so we can't enter the legal investigation stage, and can only rely on ourselves for now."

  "Ah...... you're really something, being a banker and a detective at the same time..." Zheng Shuai also opened his computer, "Give me some information, amateur great detective."

  "This aspect is really unprofessional, and the search efficiency is extremely low." Lin Qiang handed the hard drive to Zheng Shuai and continued to painstakingly search for clues in the records.

  Zheng Shuai took over the hard drive and suddenly hesitated: "Wait a minute... since you're not professional... there must be many blind spots, why not ask a professional?"

  "Are you going to introduce Conan again?" Lin Qiang said with a smile.

  "Oh no! You forgot again, Hu Xiao!"

  "!!!" Lin Qiang slapped his forehead and scolded himself, "I was too busy to notice that we didn't need an undercover agent after all!!"

  …………

  The next day at 2 pm, Beijing Branch Third Meeting Room, Xinda Real Estate Loan Incident Internal Accountability Meeting.

  United Bank Beijing Branch Deputy General Manager, Chen Xingyuan and other leaders attended; United Bank Head Office Legal Department Director, Lu Feng attended. Financial Street Branch Financing Department all staff and branch manager attended; Tongzhou Branch Audit Department head attended; Lin Qiang attended.

  The conference room was decorated in an extremely classical style, with dark-colored furniture and a huge European-style chandelier hanging from the ceiling, making people feel uneasy, as if it might fall down at any moment, just like the atmosphere inside the conference room at this time.

  Chen Xingyuan nodded slightly at Lu Feng, the director of the General Administration Department who was standing beside him. After Lu returned the courtesy, Chen's stern eyes swept across the crowd.

  "Everyone is here, let's begin." Chen Xingyuan's voice was not loud, and even a bit hoarse with age, but it did not affect his intimidating presence. As a former member of the Beijing Bank's board of directors, he had been through many storms and this time was just another unsettling episode.

  He slowly scanned all parties involved again: "The purpose of internal accountability, I hope everyone is clear. Our bank's internal affairs are best resolved internally. This way, when facing the audit office's investigation, we can also form a good communication environment. If you're wrong, you must admit it. Law enforcement agencies always follow the principle of leniency for those who confess and severity for those who resist. If things get too ugly, not only will the lawbreakers personally face more severe penalties, but United Bank will also be labeled with even more dirty hats."

  After a pause, he added a mouthful of tea and deliberately stared at Lin Qiang, Nie Xiaofeng, and Qian Cai: "At the same time, I'd like to make a bold point. The sooner things are cleared up, the sooner people in the industry will help to make amends. The more awkward things become, the harder it will be for people in the industry to intervene. Weigh the pros and cons carefully."

  Chen Xingyuan finished speaking, put down his teacup and stared at the three of them.

  Rosa saw that Chen Xingyuan had finished speaking, so she leaned forward and smiled at the host: "Chen Xingchang, Director Lu, there are some things you can't say clearly, I'm a thick-skinned person, so I'll dare to add a couple of sentences."

  "After the two nodded in agreement, Rosa turned to the person involved and said: 'Everyone understands that our bank also doesn't want to make a big deal out of this, it's best to downplay it. But the people from the audit office may not think so, the media may not think so, the longer this drags on, the more unfavorable it is for our bank, and the more time the media will have to get involved. Therefore, no matter which side you consider, it's best to be honest and forthcoming as soon as possible. For example, Nie Xiaofeng made a mistake and confessed immediately, our bank leaders will also try their best to protect him, and the comrades from the audit office will also appreciate his cooperation and give him some leeway.'"

  She said, her eyes stopping on Lin Qiang.

  Everyone's eyes were fixed on Lin Qiang.

  In this suffocating oppression, Lin Qiang forced a smile: "Director Luo specifically said to me, why not name criticism?"

  It's a trivial matter, everyone knows it, Lin Qiang doesn't intend to pretend, even if the leaders are present, he decides to make a joke, an upright person is not afraid of a crooked shadow.

  "Hehe, I don't dare, who doesn't know you love to flip the table." Rosa glanced at Lin Qiang and then looked at the two people on the host seat, "Director Chen, Director Lu, is there anything else to entrust?"

  "Let me say a couple of words." Lu Feng's hair was thick and dense, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, looking like an honest person. He adjusted his collar and said clearly: "This matter is related to the entire United Bank, and the board of directors is also very concerned. As a member of the legal department, I need to remind you that there may be a difference of one fold in sentencing between confessing and resisting. Don't think it's just a matter of law, this matter has been considered since the investigation began. Think about it, law enforcement also hopes to close the case quickly, so they will naturally lean towards people who make things easier, and naturally hate those who complicate the case. Chairman Chen said it well, weigh the pros and cons carefully."

  The participants nodded one after another. This time, the leader had made it very clear. From the leader's standpoint, it was obvious that he hoped things would pass quickly and smoothly, without any more trouble.

  "Well then, let's officially begin." Chen Xingyuan tapped the table and said, "As for what was discussed at the preliminary investigation meeting earlier, we all already know about it. Does anyone have anything to add?"

  In the corner of the conference room, a young man with sparse hair and a waxen complexion raised his hand.

  "Ah, just about to ask you." Chen Xingyuan waved his arm and nodded, "The branch audit department also has some responsibility, you say it."

  Audit Department, responsible for reviewing the regularity and rigor of various businesses, including loans. In principle, any loan must be submitted to the Audit Department for review and approval before it can be granted. The person who made the request is the auditor in charge of this loan.

  After Chen Xingyu allowed it, he slowly got up, looked at the empty space, and stuttered: "This time... I also bear a great responsibility... I will take on my own responsibility for not reviewing carefully, and seriously reflect..."

  "Stop talking nonsense." Chen Xingyuan waved his hand impatiently. "Do you have anything to add?"

  The man was taken aback by her words and hastily changed his tone.

  "... apart from the audit being lax, I also bear the responsibility of favoritism..." He suddenly turned his head to look at Lin Qiang, "That loan, originally I wasn't planning to approve it... but at that time Lin Qiang contacted me three or five times, using personal relationships, hoping I could approve this loan. He emphasized that this was a Fortune 500 company... an important client of Financial Street Branch. If there were any problems... he would hold me responsible. If everything went smoothly, afterwards he would also thank me..."

  He said, suddenly choking with sobs: "I... for a moment... lost my judgment... I owe an apology to the United Bank that raised me, I owe an apology..."

  Lin Qiang had heard enough to make him want to vomit, not just stomach acid, but also anger. He knew Chen Xingyuan's style and wouldn't care about his rebuttal at this internal meeting.

  He couldn't bear it anymore and pointed at the man, scolding him loudly:

  "Who the f**k are you? Do I know you?"

  Many people in the conference room couldn't help but smile and slightly lower their heads at this remark.

  Even Chen Xingchang covered his mouth and coughed twice before saying seriously: "Lin Qiang, watch your language, let's have a civilized conversation."

  "Yes." Lin Qiang nodded at Chen Xingyuan and then stood up to ask, "Who are you?"