"He's going to Pengcheng tomorrow. I came to get my daughter back, but he won't see me," Tang Shitong nodded, explaining why he was there.
Upon hearing this, Wang Dachui turned to find Zhang Liunian again, lest he didn't know when Zhang Liunian would return.
But as soon as he turned, he realized he had nothing substantial to offer now, and he stopped.
"Alas, it seems our cooperation will not be achieved in the short term, and it will not be easy for you to get your daughter back," Wang Dachui said, then walked away, leaving Tang Shitong standing there with an unpleasant expression, watching his departing back.
Zhang Liunian was unaware of matters here. At this moment, he was delegating work, and in Pengcheng, where he was heading, a major event was also unfolding.
This event was the sudden collapse of plot number 10, purchased by the Gu family last year, which caused quite a few casualties.
"May I ask Mr. Gu, how do you view the collapse of plot number 10? Is it man-made or an accident? How will you handle those who were injured or killed..."
Gu Lou had just returned from outside when he was swarmed by Pengcheng reporters who had caught wind of the news. They bombarded him with questions about the collapse of plot number 10.
Gu Lou was already vexed by this matter. Seeing a crowd surrounding him, with every question feeling like a mockery of his blindness and misfortune, he simply had his bodyguards clear them away and rushed into the company building.
Back in the chairman's office, Gu Lou paced back and forth, his veins sometimes bulging with anger, at other times wanting to kill someone. He only turned his fury onto Gu Sanqing when he appeared.
"How did you handle this? You didn't discover that the ground beneath this plot was hollow, and you made our Gu family acquire it at twice the price. Now, the ground beneath it is empty, and nothing can be built there.
Not only will our Gu family's fortune be gone, but the money borrowed from the bank will also be wasted. If we cannot reverse this situation, our Gu family will have to declare bankruptcy. Do you know that?"
After roaring at Gu Sanqing, Gu Lou was still extremely angry.
After all, this plot was bought by the Gu family, suppressing all other bidders. Their aim was to develop it into Pengcheng's first residential community, a living space.
Unexpectedly, their luck had run out, and they had chosen such a place.
Moreover, now there were over a dozen deaths. They couldn't cover it up. The Sun family played a significant role in escalating the situation, as they were the ones spreading news about their construction site accident.
Also, the Sun family had been very interested in this plot initially and wanted to compete with their Gu family. However, on the day of the auction, they suddenly changed their minds.
So, was it because they knew this plot could not be developed and buying it would mean losses that they suddenly changed their minds?
Furthermore, after the incident today, they could have mitigated the severity of the situation, but it was the Sun family who jumped out again, spreading the news everywhere, directly pinning the blame on their Gu family.
One incident after another, Gu Lou refused to believe that the Sun family, who claimed to be uninvolved and unaware, were not responsible.
"Damn the Sun family! They must have known the outcome from the start, which is why they didn't compete with us for plot number 10. Not only that, they even inflated the price to deliberately set up our Gu family. They truly treated our Gu family like fools, those shameless scoundrels."
Gu Lou rested his hands on his office desk, his conviction growing with every word.
Listening to his father, Gu Sanqing couldn't help but recall the expressions of the Sun family members during the auction, and a sudden realization dawned on him.
So, they had known long before that plot number 10 could not be developed and that all invested costs would be wasted, leading them to believe that their Gu family would surely cease to exist because of this plot.
Fortunately, he had made preparations beforehand and transferred a considerable amount of wealth. Even if the Gu family collapsed, he could start anew.
But why would the Sun family know that this plot was unviable?
As Gu Sanqing was pondering, Gu Lou once again unleashed his anger upon him.
"It's still your lack of caution, Sanqing. If you could have discovered that this plot was unsuitable in advance, our Gu family wouldn't have invested all the borrowed money into it.
Now, our Gu family's investment has gone to waste. Not only can the construction site not be built, but we also have to pay for the lives lost, as well as the upfront investment.
Sanqing, if our Gu family cannot fix this loophole, we are finished. Do you understand?
Our Gu family is truly in big trouble this time..."
As Gu Lou spoke, he clasped his head in sorrow. This was the greatest tribulation he had faced since starting his business. He had lost his composure and had no idea what to do, which is why he vented his unease onto Gu Sanqing.
After all, the Gu family was built by him, and now it was going to be ruined by him. He couldn't accept such a drastic downfall.
"If it doesn't work, let's declare bankruptcy," Gu Sanqing knew very well that it would be difficult for their family to recover this time. Firstly, they had no way to fix the loophole, and secondly, they had no capable helpers. When problems arose, they could only rely on their family.
But the strength of a family is limited. Their capabilities are only so much, and the current situation has exceeded their scope, making it impossible to proceed.
"Slap!"
As soon as Gu Sanqing finished speaking, he received a slap from Gu Lou.
"You say it so lightly. If our Gu family declares bankruptcy, we will never be able to establish ourselves in Pengcheng again, and we will be suppressed by the Sun family forever. I can't stand it, and neither can you.
I, Gu Lou, will not bow to the Sun family! They were people who weren't even fit to carry our shoes before. What right do they have to stand over us and defecate and urinate? I refuse to accept this..."
Gu Sanqing rubbed his slapped face, a dark glint flashing in his eyes. He thought that if his elder brother were standing here now, he wouldn't be treated this way.
However, he immediately thought of his elder brother's death and felt a sense of relief. At least he was the one alive now, wasn't he?
"Dad, you should quickly think of a way to save us. Wait a moment longer, and the whole of Pengcheng will know about this. By then, everyone will be watching our every move."
Gu Sanqing's words were a reminder to his father to prepare a fallback plan, not to expect him to turn the tide, as he was well aware of his father's limitations.
Gu Lou hadn't reacted at first, but after thinking it over carefully, he understood his son's intention. He raised his head in surprise and looked closely at this son he had never favored, suddenly realizing he didn't seem to know him at all.
"I've already had people keeping an eye on things. You should find a way to secure your own future. If our family truly goes bankrupt, I will bear all the debts. This is the only thing I, as a father, can do for you, and the last thing I can do now." Gu Lou's emotions gradually calmed down, as if he had accepted the worst outcome.