Chronicle of the 70s-Chapter 328 - 317: First Words
Li Xianglu was surprised to see that the document listed events by year, with specific or vague datesβthey resembled a chronology of major events. π³π«ππ²π ππ―ππ¨πππΉ.π°πΌπΊ
However, these were events that were supposed to happen in the future.
Curious, Li Xianglu took the document, which had about seventeen or eighteen pages. It listed events after the β90s and the year 2000, stopping at 2012. Li Xiangluβs expression darkened.
During 2012, that was when Qin Xi and she had encountered the typhoon, and then he saved her, while he fell into the water. That must have been when he died.
And she herself had hidden for about half a year, but she couldnβt recall how she got through it.
Seeing Li Xiangluβs mood suddenly become somber, Qin Xi pulled her to the bed and had her lean in his arms before asking, "What are you thinking about?"
Li Xianglu perked up and asked, "Why are you keeping all these documents?"
Qin Xi reached over to massage Li Xiangluβs somewhat stiff neck and explained, "Iβm afraid of forgetting since my memory isnβt as good anymore. Keep these; I plan to write down some scams and raise awareness soon."
Li Xianglu nodded and said, "Yes, raising awareness is good, to prevent more people from being deceived."
In the following days, the number of people making large withdrawals from the bank where Li Xianglu worked increased. Out of goodwill, Li Xianglu warned each person, and surprisingly, the same situation occurred over the next half month.
After discussing with the director and bank manager, they had Li Xianglu find red paper to explain in detail about wire transfers.
However, while some heeded the advice and went back to investigate, many did not listen and left with their money.
For seven or eight days, all major banks experienced this phenomenon. Li Xianglu felt that something was amiss, as if it were organized.
On Monday of the following week, the first couple who had come to withdraw money returned.
Their faces bore expressions of having narrowly survived a disaster. They nearly knelt to thank Li Xianglu; they had almost been deceived. The wire transfer was cancelled on the fourth day when they hadnβt used cash for the transaction, and they had confirmed it by calling the bank on the other side.
It was incredibly risky. If this wasnβt a scam, why such a coincidence? They couldnβt contact the so-called military procurement officer afterward.
They were even more cautious and contacted the local police, recounting the incident. After verification, the police confirmed there were no such procurement tasks at all, and the supposed purchase of copper cables didnβt exist.
Thus, it was confirmed that this wire transfer incident was a scam.
The exposure of this incident set off alarm bells in Li Xiangluβs mind. The seven or eight subsequent withdrawals were likely scams, and she immediately discussed the seriousness of this issue with the director and bank manager.
The senior bank manager, upon hearing the report, promptly took the director and Li Xianglu to report to the headquarters.
In the following week, three or four people came to thank the bank; some even started crying, the money involved was too substantial.
What was even more frightening was that it wasnβt just in the capital, but gradually, similar scams utilizing wire transfers that could be cancelled mid-process started nationwide.
Since it was discovered early, the bank promptly held meetings to study and promote awareness. On Qin Xiβs side, he discussed with the Lu Family and planned to use television broadcasts to explain the process of the scam.
They even filmed a short drama to illustrate the scamβs process, making everyone vigilant, especially major enterprises.
Until November, the public security system still hadnβt caught the main fraudsters.
Qin Xi had a bad premonition. It was not only domestically; Hong Kong and some foreign countries had also seen successive fraud incidents. If this matter was planned and implemented by an organization, it would involve a huge sum of money.
Li Xianglu, having obtained documents from the public security, simply summed them up. Just around the capital and Beihai Province, at least four million had been defrauded.
The telegraphic transfer incident temporarily came to an end, and Li Xianglu was promoted for her outstanding performance, becoming the business supervisor of the credit department.
This was a department newly established by the bank, a new position. Although Li Xianglu was the supervisor, she was only in charge of managing the savings department. Loan services were also gradually being rolled out. However, due to it being the end of the year, she had no tasks, but after the New Year, she would have tasks, actively granting loans to others.
Li Xianglu was both amused and frustrated; she thought about how difficult it was to get a loan in the future, requiring many collaterals and proofs; unlike now, the bank almost begged you to take out loans.
Xu Wu came back on the eleventh, weary and haggard.
In the afternoon, just as Li Xianglu returned and reached the front yard, she heard two children laughing loudly; these two kids only knew laughter, not a word spoken, it was quite bizarre. Ba Yi could even walk a few steps leaning on the wall but still couldnβt speak.
Every time Li Xianglu taught them to speak, they either looked around or simply opened their mouths wide in a laugh, drooling away.
As Li Xianglu entered the house, she heard the laughter of the children and Su Yan shouting, "Enough, take a rest, look at how you are laughing."
In the house, the skinny young man who was holding the children also turned around, smiling and saying, "Sister, youβre back."
Li Xianglu saw it was Xu Wu and walked up happily, patting his shoulder, saying, "Youβre back!"
Xu Wu was probably holding Baβer, who, seeing that the person who was playing with him stopped, began to fidget.
Li Xianglu tapped her sonβs foot and frowned, admonishing, "Baβer, stop fussing, Mommy wants to talk to Uncle!"
Just as Li Xianglu was about to turn her head to speak with Xu Wu, she heard a childish voice: "Choo choo."
The smile that Li Xianglu had just raised instantly turned into surprise as she stared at her son, asking, "Baβer, what did you just call, Uncle?"
Baβer, in Xu Wuβs arms, was drooling, and Li Xianglu repeatedly called him but he ignored her.
Li Xianglu couldnβt help asking, "Ah Wu, did you just hear Baβer call you uncle?"
Xu Wu smiled and nodded, "I heard it."
Li Xianglu turned to Su Yan shocked, "He doesnβt call us, but calls Xu Wu first?"
Su Yan, seeing the disbelief on Li Xiangluβs face, quickly reassured her, "Oh come on, it doesnβt matter who they call first, they just like Xu Wu. When he left last time, the little ones were just so young, they forgot us as soon as they started playing with him now. Stop being jealous."
Li Xianglu looked at Xu Wu, unable to suppress her irritation and muttered, "Naughty children!"
Then, Ba Yi sitting nearby looked up, his eyes misty, and mumbled, "Hi!"
Li Xianglu understood then; he meant βnaughty.β Su Yan immediately laughed and clapped her hands, relieved that the children could speak.
Xu Wu had returned, everyone was happy. In the evening, Sister Xing and Leng Qing cooked a pot of hand-cut mutton, everyone sat together, and Qin Xi also brought a telegram; Mr. Qin was coming back.
