After breaking up with my boyfriend, I made a fortune and rose rapidly in my career.

Chen Ping picked up the receiver, and a steady middle-aged male voice came through.

He is Minister Qian from the Organization Department of the Municipal Party Committee.

"Comrade Pingfang, are you free tonight? Let's have a casual meal together." Minister Qian's tone was very polite, but the meaning behind his words left no room for refusal.

Before Chen Ping could answer, he lowered his voice and added solemnly.

"There's something I need to let you know in advance. The Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department is currently evaluating you and intends to promote you to a county-level position as county head."

"However... you should be prepared. Behind this might be a trap of a promotion in name only, a demotion in reality."

……

The streetlights cast a dim, yellowish glow on the streets of Yunzhou late at night.

Chen Ping drove through the old town, turned into a narrow alley, and stopped in front of an old wooden sign.

Qingxin Tea House.

Everyone in Yunzhou's official circles knows this place. Ostensibly a teahouse, it's actually a place where leaders hold private meetings. The private rooms are well-soundproofed, and the owner is tight-lipped.

Chen Ping pushed open the wooden door, and a fragrant aroma of tea wafted out, but the room was quiet and had a serious atmosphere.

Minister Qian from the Organization Department of the Municipal Party Committee was already waiting for him in the private room by the window.

Minister Qian, dressed in casual clothes, was slowly warming the cups with a tea set. Seeing Chen Pingfang enter, Minister Qian looked up and gestured for Chen Pingfang to sit down.

"They're here." Minister Qian's voice was calm. "Were you followed on the way?"

Chen Ping shook his head and sat down opposite him.

Minister Qian poured Chen Ping a cup of hot tea, pushed it in front of him, then leaned back in his chair and looked at Chen Ping.

"That move at Jinshui Bay was brilliant." Minister Qian picked up his teacup and gently blew on the steam. "Those people from Changqing Group still haven't recovered. Zhou Wenyuan has suffered a huge loss this time."

Chen Ping didn't reply, but simply picked up his teacup and took a sip.

Minister Qian smiled, but quickly suppressed the smile. He took a document from his briefcase and spread it on the tea table.

That was an internal list for consideration.

"The preliminary intention of the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department has been released." Minister Qian's voice was very low. "You will be promoted across levels to become the Deputy Secretary of the County Party Committee and Acting County Head of Qingyuan County."

Chen Ping paused slightly.

Qingyuan County.

Chen Pingfang was familiar with this name. Qingyuan County was a remote county under the jurisdiction of Yunzhou City, nestled in the mountains, and was a notoriously poor place in the city.

Minister Qian then took out a map of the city's administrative areas from his briefcase, spread it out on the tea table, and pressed his finger heavily on a small dot on the edge of the map, a place surrounded by mountains.

"Qingyuan County," Minister Qian's voice was deep. "Take a look at this location."

Chen Ping looked down.

Qingyuan County is located in the southwest corner of Yunzhou City. It is surrounded by mountains on three sides, and the Qingyi River flows through the county seat. It is one of the most remote and poor counties in the city.

"Former county head Wang Dawei was not old, and he resigned half a month ago due to heart disease." Minister Qian's tone was somewhat sarcastic. "Actually, he was sidelined by local forces and couldn't do his job, so he could only resign under the pretext of illness."

Chen Pingfang frowned slightly.

Minister Qian continued, "The situation in Qingyuan County is more complicated than you imagine. The county party secretary, Ma Changsheng, used to be Zhou Wenyuan's secretary. He is an important figure that Zhou Wenyuan has placed in the Yunzhou officialdom."

He paused, then stared straight at Chen Pingfang.

"Your trip there may seem like a promotion, but in reality, you're entering Zhou Wenyuan's territory."

The private room fell silent immediately.

Chen Pingfang didn't speak, but just stared quietly at the small dot on the map.

Minister Qian picked up his teacup, took a sip, put it down, and began to explain Zhou Wenyuan's plan in detail.

"Qingyuan County is currently facing two major problems." Minister Qian held up two fingers. "First, all the teachers in the county have been owed salaries for three months, and many people are petitioning, so something could happen at any time. Second, illegal sand mining is very serious; the riverbed has been destroyed, and the environmental protection department has issued several notices, but the county just won't take action."

He paused, then lowered his voice.

"The interest groups behind sand mining have deep ties with the county party committee. Ma Changsheng's brother-in-law is the owner of a large sand and gravel company in the county."

Chen Pingfang's eyes narrowed slightly.

Minister Qian continued, "Zhou Wenyuan said to the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department that you performed well and were capable in the Jinshuiwan project, and recommended you to Qingyuan County to handle this mess. That way, you can't refuse. If you refuse, it would be disobeying the organization's arrangements."

He looked at Chen Pingfang, his tone serious. "But if you go, you could ruin your future because of these things. If you can't resolve the unpaid wages, you'll be held accountable. If you touch the profits of sand mining, Ma Changsheng will unite with local forces to deal with you."

The private room fell silent.

Minister Qian picked up his teacup, slowly sipped his tea, and waited for Chen Pingfang's reaction.

Chen Pingfang stood up, leaned closer to the map, and carefully examined the terrain of Qingyuan County.

Chen Ping's finger moved along the Qingyi River, finally stopping at several places marked as mining areas.

"Minister Qian," Chen Pingfang asked, "whether the management rights for mineral resources in Qingyuan County are currently held by the county or the city?"

Minister Qian paused slightly in his hand holding the teacup.

He looked up and stared at Chen Pingfang with some surprise.

"The approval authority for mineral resources rests with the city, but the daily supervision is handled by the county," Minister Qian said slowly, putting down his teacup. "However, the sand mining business in Qingyuan County has become a complete profit chain. From mining to selling, someone gets a cut at every stage. The county's law enforcement departments have long been bribed."

Chen Pingfang didn't speak, but just stared at the locations of the mining areas on the map.

Minister Qian looked at Chen Pingfang and suddenly asked, "Pingfang, do you have some ideas?"

"Zhou Wenyuan's plan is to make me take the blame," Chen Pingfang said. "If I can't resolve the wage arrears, I'll be held accountable; if I touch the interests of sand mining, Ma Changsheng will join forces with local forces to deal with me."

He paused.

"But the bigger the conflict gets, the more likely their internal relationships will break down."

Minister Qian's eyes lit up.

Chen Pingfang continued, "The issue of unpaid wages appears to be a lack of money, but in reality, the money has been misappropriated. The profit chain in sand mining appears to be due to strong local power, but in reality, no one is in charge."

He looked at Minister Qian.

"If I can find out where the money went and get evidence of the sand mining profit chain, these two problems will blow up their own business."

Minister Qian remained silent for a moment, then picked up his teacup and gently touched Chen Ping's cup.

"Put him flat. Remember this," Minister Qian said in a low voice, "Qingyuan County is Zhou Wenyuan's territory, and Ma Changsheng is his man. Once you get there, be careful with every step you take, or you won't be able to come back."

Chen Ping picked up his teacup and drank it all in one gulp.

"Minister Qian, I understand."

Minister Qian looked at him and suddenly smiled.

"You're more composed than I expected." He paused, "But don't be too optimistic. The situation in Qingyuan County is much more complicated than you think."

Chen Pingfang didn't speak, but just stared at that remote little dot on the map.

In the teahouse late at night, the steam from the tea was rising.

Chen Ping's gaze remained fixed on the area marked as a mining zone on the map.

He knew the situation was dangerous.

But he also knew that the more desperate the situation, the more likely he was to find an opportunity to fight back.