A perfect life begins with changing the timeline.

Chapter 229 Xiaoqing Group

"Brother Bie, Brother Sun told me to go to the local tax bureau tomorrow morning. He works there?"

"Yes, that's right. You can go tomorrow."

"Okay... Brother Bie, what's going on?"

"You'll know when we get there, right? Oh, I forgot to mention, the company's awards just came out, you got a certificate of honor, but you were on a business trip, so I just put it in your drawer."

Hearing this, Li Mu thought for a moment and asked:

"Did the director say anything at today's morning meeting?"

"He didn't say. What could he possibly say? This is a private matter."

"Okay, I understand."

"Hmm, handle this news well. If the people in Yanjing ask where you got the connections, don't say anything, understand?"

"clear."\

"Okay, hang up."

After hanging up the phone, Li Mu scratched his head.

I wondered what was going on. So mysterious.

But since they wouldn't tell him, and he had nowhere to ask, he could only wait patiently.

Then, in the evening, Sui Kuan arrived.

Fatty Sui arrived at the dormitory looking travel-worn and carrying a large suitcase. Upon seeing Li Mu, his first words were:

"Damn, this is so exhausting."

Li Mu pointed to the wardrobe:

"Just leave your luggage there, go take a shower?"

"Hehe, no rush."

He wore a strange smile, clasped his hands in a fist and bow:

"Congratulations, bro! Congratulations to Ray for winning the gold medal, bro! From now on, we'll rely on Ray to win this game!"

A string of nonsensical Cantonese phrases, laced with flattery, spilled from his mouth, making Li Mu roll his eyes.

"You got the news? Who told you?"

"Li Wei. After the news came over this morning, she told me... Damn, I'm so envious! I heard... after you won this provincial award, you're eligible to compete for the National Journalism Award... Holy crap! I can't even imagine how awesome you'd be if you won the National Journalism Award! You'd be flying high!!!"

The congratulations were genuine, but the envy, jealousy, and resentment were also exceptionally sincere.

Who could have imagined this?

Li Mu inexplicably went to the United States... Even the people who came in with him that year still don't know why he was able to go to the United States, or how he got there.

Even in casual conversations, they considered an extremely absurd possibility.

That means Li Mu knew Bin Laden, and Bin Laden informed him in advance that he was going to the United States to make a big splash; the two were essentially working together from the inside.

Of course, this reason is pure nonsense; only a fool would believe it.

But Li Mu's attention wasn't on the compliment at this moment; instead, he said directly:

"I need to talk to you about something serious. Before you left, did Teacher Wu and Brother Bin say anything to you?"

"No, what's wrong?"

Fatty Sui was still somewhat confused.

"...I have something to tell you."

"Say it, what's wrong?"

"I've offended our director."

Sui Kuan was stunned.

After a nearly 30-hour train ride, Fatty Sui, who had just arrived in the capital, was suddenly slapped in the face.

……\

After a moment, Sui Kuan, his brows furrowed, looked at Li Mu and asked:

"So what about you?"

"Don't worry about me for now; I've definitely offended someone. But what about you... what are you planning to do?"

"I……"\

Sui Kuan was speechless for a moment.

He stared at Li Mu for a while, then asked:

"Did Brother Bie tell you to call me?"

"Yes. It was precisely because he told me to call you that I felt Brother Bie was protecting you... After all, besides me, you're the most suitable person Zhou Long wants to take the blame for. He can't possibly go to those veteran reporters, you understand that, right?"

"..."\

Fatty Sui fell silent again.

After a long while, he said speechlessly:

"Why do I feel like this is some kind of undeserved misfortune?"

Li Mu countered with a question:

"Am I not? You're alright, I'm the one who's suffering the most. Even if I hadn't messed with him, I could have kept to myself. But who knew Zhao Wei would cause such a huge mess?"

"...When I saw the news in Xiamen, I was wondering if it would affect you. But now, out of nowhere, it's affecting me. Damn it...this bitch is really causing trouble! Fuck!"

After uttering a curse, Sui Kuan sighed helplessly:

"So, what's the news this time?"

Clearly, he understood that since things had already happened and he was now on Brother Bie's side, there was no point in saying anything else.

There is no other possibility but to go down a dead-end road.

Even if all of this is just speculation...

But... who knows if Director Zhou would have made me write this article if I hadn't come this time and had instead returned to my unit.

Who dares to bet?

At least Sui Kuan wouldn't dare.

Instead of worrying now, it's better to look forward.

Moreover, Brother Bie had been with his elder brother from the very beginning. The fact that he called me over clearly meant he had figured something out… at least he wouldn't harm me.

Hearing this, Li Mu was somewhat surprised by the fat man's decisiveness.

But thinking about it carefully... it's true, this fat guy has never been one to drag things out.

So he said:

"Going to the local tax bureau tomorrow. But what exactly I'm going to do... they didn't say."

"...Didn't you say?"

"Okay. So... get some rest, we'll see tomorrow."

"...Okay, I'm going to take a shower."

This time, Sui Kuan took a very long time to take a bath.

Clearly, he needs a space where he can think things through calmly.

Li Mu didn't say anything more and closed his eyes early.

Finally, amidst his groggy whispers of "Hey, yes, I've arrived," he drifted off to sleep.

Then I woke up to the sound of a gong.

After glancing at the time, he quickly shouted:

"Fatty, let's go, we need to get there early."

"good."\

Sui Kuan woke up groggily, still a little sleepy, but he sat up and stared blankly at Li Mu.

"Hurry up!"

"oh oh……"\

A little after 7 a.m., Li Mu, carrying his digital camera, hailed a taxi with Sui Kuan and headed straight for the local tax bureau.

The two arrived at the location before 7:30, but didn't go in.

Instead, they just stood outside.

Sui Kuan glanced inside but saw no one, only a few buses.

Li Mu then dialed Brother Sun's number.

"Beep beep... Hey, Xiao Li, you've arrived?"

"Good morning, Brother Sun. We've arrived at the company entrance."

"Okay, wait a moment. Someone will come looking for you. Just follow them; don't ask any questions, they'll tell you."

"OK."\

Less than ten minutes after the phone call ended, a man with a square face, who looked to be in his thirties, with piercing eyes and an air of quiet authority, came out with two staff members.

It was still early, and only Li Mu and Sui Kuan were at the door.

As soon as the man came out, his gaze quickly locked onto Li Mu and Sui Kuan, and he walked over:

"Is this reporter Li Mu?"

Li Mu nodded immediately:

"Yes, it's me. Hello, I'm Li Mu, a reporter from the Southern Metropolis Daily. This is my colleague, Sui Kuan."

The man extended his hand:

"Hello, Reporter Li, I'm Zhang Kun, head of the inspection section of the local tax bureau. Please come in."

"Hello, Section Chief Zhang, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Me too, Reporter Li. Our work will start promptly at nine o'clock. We're still preparing. Have you two eaten yet?"

Zhang Kun's attitude was quite polite.

Li Mu nodded:

"have eaten."\

"Please, both of you, have a seat in my office for a moment. This is Qin Liyan. Let him entertain you first. I have some other matters to attend to, so please excuse me."

"Okay, Section Chief Zhang, please go ahead with your work."

After watching Zhang Kun leave, Li Mu politely greeted the young man, who was probably older than him:

"Hello, Teacher Qin."

"Hello, Mr. Li, this way please."

Following Qin Liyan, the two reporters, filled with questions, arrived at an office.

Li Mu wasn't nervous at all... after all, this was just an inspection, not a police station.

Sitting on the sofa, after accepting the water glass from Qin Liyan, Li Mu thanked him and then asked:

"Teacher Qin, would you mind telling us what we're going to do next?"

Although Brother Sun told me not to ask too many questions... he did say that the people here would tell me.

But right now, he doesn't even know what he's going to do.

"We are going to conduct an inspection of Xiaoqing Group. This operation is a joint inspection by multiple agencies, including the tax bureau, public security bureau, and local court. You two reporters can get in my car shortly; we'll go together. Once we arrive, you can take photos according to our instructions, but whether they are published will be up to us. The completed news articles will also need to be submitted to us for review."

Qin Liyan didn't hide anything and spoke directly.

But... Li Mu and Sui Kuan were both a little taken aback.

Xiaoqing Group...?

What company is this?

Wow, this is a serious matter that can attract joint investigations from the tax authorities, public security bureau, and local procuratorate and courts…

What exactly did this group do wrong?

As Li Mu was pondering this, he heard Fatty Sui next to him let out a low, surprised growl:

"Liu Xiaoqing!?"

who?\

Who did Fatty Sui just mention?

Li Mu's mind went a beat slower than expected.

Liu Xiaoqing?

Wu Zetian! ? ? ?

Liu Xiaoqing... Xiaoqing Group... Yes!

Isn't Xiaoqing Group the company she founded?

At this moment, with Qin Liyan nodding, Sui Kuan asked a very silly and naive question:

"You're investigating Liu Xiaoqing? She...she broke the law?"