Having achieved financial freedom, I reorganized my workplace.

Chapter 108 A Cage No One Can Escape

When Engineer Cai saw that Lin Chen had put away his cigarette and completely ignored the safety loopholes at the construction site, neither questioning the rectification nor investigating in detail, he was completely relieved and assumed that Lin Chen and Lao Zhang were the same kind of people. He spoke to Lin Chen more and more casually and unrestrainedly, without any guard up.

Looking at his relaxed demeanor, Lin Chen knew perfectly well that he hadn't planned to overturn the table right from the start when he first arrived at the project department, so as not to be seen as ignorant of the rules or eager for quick success. Moreover, Xiao Liu had just secretly told him that this Engineer Cai was actually Lao Zhang's distant nephew-in-law. They were related by blood, so he was Lao Zhang's own man who had been planted in the construction team to help Lao Zhang navigate the intricacies of the project.

Lin Chen checked the project quantity list along the process, and the more he looked, the clearer things became. The trickery was blatant and brazen. On the surface, all the construction items listed were for the first phase of the project, but upon closer inspection, a large portion of the project was actually from the second phase. Some sub-items had not even been approved, yet they had already been reported for work and paid for. In short, they were using the name of the first phase to embezzle project funds, getting the money first and worrying about the rest later. As for when the second phase would start or whether it could even start, that was all completely unthinkable.

He took a picture of the form without making a sound, without saying a word, neither pointing out nor questioning it. After checking it, he left. Seeing this, Engineer Cai was completely relieved and turned to give the construction team leader a reassuring look.

Having navigated the murky waters of Wushan Water Station, Lin Chen has actually grown quite a bit. He knows that the higher one climbs, the less reckless one should act. Being too sharp-edged will only lead to one's own downfall. Blending in with the crowd is the best strategy for self-preservation and waiting for the right opportunity.

A person like Zeng Huihuang cannot be brought down with a few words or an accident. He needs power; he needs to grow himself into a big tree step by step.

He can uphold his own bottom line and remain incorruptible, but he cannot demand that others be as clean as he is. If the water is too clear, there will be no fish. Xinhai Company is full of filth from top to bottom. It is not directly related to Lao Zhang taking kickbacks and making a profit by abusing his power in the project department. Xinhai is a large and powerful company, and it is indeed not short of a little money that is embezzled.

But Lin Chen had to keep these shady dealings and evidence in his hands, not to bring down anyone, but to leave himself a way out. Only by having trump cards in hand could he avoid being manipulated by others and controlled at will.

Just as they were getting ready to get in the car and head back, Xiao Liu, who had disappeared for a moment, came briskly back carrying two heavy black burlap sacks. The contents of the sacks were struggling and making slight noises. Lin Chen's face darkened, and he coldly asked, "What are these things?"

Lin Chen's idea is a bit scary.

The last time he gave He Qin money, it was also in this kind of black burlap sack. To be honest, Lin Chen now has a conditioned reflex to seeing this kind of bag; he probably has a psychological aversion to it.

Xiao Liu, however, looked smug and chuckled, "Director Lin, don't worry, they are two local free-range chickens, tender and juicy. We'll each have one."

""

I'm so damn angry.

If this were some desolate, uninhabited wilderness, Lin Chen would have suspected that this guy had two girls inside him.

After confirming that it was indeed a chicken, Lin Chen immediately reprimanded him with a stern face: "You stole the villagers' chickens? Put them back right now."

Xiao Liu quickly waved his hand: "Director, you're overthinking it. These are chickens raised on-site by the construction team. They've been working here for several months and don't have much meat, so they bought some chickens from the village to raise in their coop. Every time we come to inspect, they're happy to let us take two. It's not stealing or robbing; it's just a courtesy."

Lin Chen instantly understood; this was no politeness at all.

It's just a way for the construction company to curry favor with the client, much more subtle than giving red envelopes.

I guess it's because they took two the first time, and the construction team saw that you were happy, so they deliberately raised more, just waiting for you to come and "take them away". They did you a favor without leaving a trace. Their methods are really clever.

It has to be said that Old Zhang's relative is quite capable.

"I don't want it, you can take it yourself." Lin Chen refused directly. He wouldn't even look at such a small favor. He had tens of millions of dollars in liquid funds in his account. Why would he want a prostitute like her? If it were just a slutty prostitute, Lin Chen might actually consider it.

Returning from the construction site in the east of the city, Lin Chen felt like he had a thorn stuck in his heart. Although he had expected that the project department was murky, he had not expected that the two parties had already colluded so closely, and were already a community of interests where one's prosperity was the same as the other's loss.

Sigh, Lin Chen had indeed witnessed similar tactics with the water supply center before. The director would collude with the construction team to inflate the amount of work done and embezzle the company's project funds. However, these were usually only a few thousand or tens of thousands of yuan, not this outrageous.

Lin Chen was indeed a little worried about the issues involved, but he figured that if the other party dared to do this, they must have thought it through carefully, considered everything thoroughly, and made proper arrangements, so there wouldn't be any problems.

Oh, right, Zeng Huihuang was in charge of vetting things at the city company, so what problems could there be?

They're all in cahoots.

At 4:30 pm, Lin Chen was just about to put his yo-yo on when Old Qiao rushed in, carrying a project order, his face full of anxiety: "Director Lin, I'm so glad you're back! I still can't get in touch with Old Zhang, I don't know where he's gone. This project order must be approved by 8 pm tonight, otherwise the finance department won't be able to settle the accounts."

The company's project payments are settled every six months, and today is the deadline for the first half of the year's settlement. After tonight, these project payments will have to be postponed to the second half of the year. Not only will the process be more complicated, but it will also directly affect the project's on-time completion rate, capital turnover rate, and may even lower the company's various performance indicators.

Old Qiao spoke urgently, but Lin Chen saw things clearly. He picked up the bill again and pretended to flip through a couple of pages. Having seen the scene and understood the situation, he now understood the bill even more clearly.

Many sub-projects were inflated by more than double. Some projects were reported as 90% complete when only 30% had been completed. Some projects were reported as completed before construction even started. They also used the excuse of "early preparation for the second phase of the project" to include many unstarted projects in the current phase's project volume. Such blatant fraud would be easily uncovered if investigated carefully.

Old Qiao was extremely anxious, constantly urging him on, but Lin Chen had already started making plans in his mind, even harboring some malicious thoughts. He sneered inwardly: Zhang Xincheng, weren't you so arrogant and unwilling to relinquish power? Didn't you treat me like I didn't exist, trying to control everything? If I don't cause some trouble, if I don't make you stumble a little, how can I get even a shred of power from you? The more autocratic you are, the more you deserve to suffer this loss today!

Once these thoughts took root, they spread rapidly. Lin Chen immediately put on a helpless and troubled look and said to Lao Qiao, "Lao Qiao, as you know, I haven't been here long and I'm not familiar with the project department's procedures or the intricacies of these forms. Besides, Lao Zhang has already said that everything must be signed by him personally. He's unwilling to delegate authority, so how dare I make decisions on my own, let alone have the authority to sign on his behalf? You should wait and wait for Lao Zhang to come back and sign."

Upon hearing this, Old Qiao's face immediately fell, and he stamped his foot anxiously: "Director Lin, how can we wait! If we're late, Director Song will definitely be furious. You know how tightly he's monitoring the company's performance indicators these days, more so than anyone else!"

Lin Chen knew perfectly well that Song Jiehui was now completely obsessed.

Suicheng is a small county with a limited population and underdeveloped industry. The core indicator of total water supply cannot be improved at all. If he wants to achieve results, rank among the top in the provincial company, and take another step forward, he can only focus on those minor performance indicators.

Project completion on time, water fee collection on time, and water loss rate became his key focus. Every week, Ji Ping had the office compile data on various indicators, creating rankings and vicious competition within the company, forcing each department to desperately strive for performance, completely disregarding the actual situation.

Lin Chen was secretly hoping that Song Jiehui would get angry. The angrier Song Jiehui was, the more he would investigate and hold people accountable. Old Zhang had full control of the project department but made a mistake. This was Lin Chen's opportunity. Only when Old Zhang stumbled would he have a chance to gain power and establish himself in the project department.

His true thoughts were deeply hidden, and Lin Chen still maintained a helpless expression: "I can't help it either. You've worked with Lao Zhang for so long, you should know the account and password for his office computer, right? Why don't you go to his office and sign it for him?"

Old Joe immediately shook his head, looking like he wanted to avoid it at all costs: "I dare not sign it. This has nothing to do with me. Sign it or don't, it's not me who will be blamed if something goes wrong!" After saying that, he hurriedly left with the form in his hand, unwilling to get involved in it any further.

Lin Chen watched her retreating figure with some surprise. He had thought that Lao Qiao and Lao Zhang were adulterers who would unite against outsiders, but now it seemed that they were just partners who each got what they wanted.

Old Qiao isn't stupid. She must know all about the tricks involved in this deal. Why would she be willing to overstep her bounds and sign it on behalf of Old Zhang? If something goes wrong, Old Zhang will definitely turn around and accuse Old Qiao of signing without authorization. At that time, she will be unable to defend herself and will have to take the blame for Old Zhang, ending up being fired.

Having worked in the project department for over a decade or two, Qiao was no longer the naive young girl who could be easily lured into bed by a few sweet words from her boss. Now, she was quite shrewd. The fact that Lao Zhang was touching her inappropriately became her way of manipulating him. By leveraging this relationship, she could easily take leave and receive bonuses more easily than others. Why would she do something that was not worth the effort?

After Lao Qiao left, the office became completely quiet. Lin Chen slowly leaned back in his chair, picked up the water glass on the table, took a sip of warm water, and ran his fingertips along the glass. A complex mix of emotions welled up in his heart, including a hint of barely perceptible unease.

After all, this was the first time he had taken the initiative to plan and deliberately let things escalate, waiting to see Lao Zhang make a fool of himself. In the past, Lin Chen would have disdained to do this, nor would he have ever done it, but now he was truly ready to die.

He should have been upset, but beyond that, he felt an overwhelming sense of excitement and anticipation.

This is a bit unusual.

Perhaps he too was obsessed, and could not escape the cage of being fooled by power.

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