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

No one spoke in the meeting room.

Chen Ping's phone screen was lit up, and the dial tone of "beep...beep..." came from the receiver. The moderate volume of the sound made everyone tense.

A bead of cold sweat slid down Hu Jinshan's temple.

He stared intently at Chen Pingfang, his eyes filled with shock, anger, and panic.

He bet Chen Pingfang wouldn't dare to report the matter to the provincial authorities, but this young man didn't follow the rules at all!

Once the Provincial Department of Natural Resources intervenes, the land use change will be halted. Even worse, it will trigger a comprehensive investigation of the Xinhuo Industrial Park by higher authorities. At that point, the fake official seals, the falsified accounts… all the hidden problems will be exposed!

"That's enough!"

In the last second before the call connected, Hu Jinshan suddenly shouted, his voice hoarse.

He seemed enraged, but he could do nothing but yell.

Chen Ping swiped his finger and hung up the phone.

Throughout the entire process, his facial expression remained unchanged, as if he had genuinely just asked a business question.

The conference room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The other deputy directors all lowered their heads, pretending to look at their teacups, and dared not make a sound.

In just a few minutes, the situation in the conference room completely changed.

"cough."

Director Lin Yaodong, who had been silent all along, finally put down his teacup and coughed lightly, breaking the silence.

"I think the issues raised by Comrade Pingfang are very important and need to be taken seriously." Lin Yaodong's tone was neither fast nor slow as his gaze swept over Hu Jinshan, whose face had turned pale. "The debt issue needs to be clarified; this is a prerequisite. If the prerequisite is not clarified, the subsequent work cannot be carried out."

He looked at Hu Jinshan, his words carrying an unyielding tone: "Comrade Jinshan, regarding the proposal to change the land use designation, I think... let's put it aside for now. The most important thing now is to establish an internal investigation team, led by Comrade Pingfang, to thoroughly investigate the debt situation of the Xinhuo Industrial Park!"

Lin Yaodong's words essentially defined the nature of the matter.

Hu Jinshan's chest heaved violently; he wanted to refute, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Oppose?

What grounds do you have for objecting? Admit the documents are fake and that your own review process was flawed? Or admit you were in a rush to sell land to cover up the problems?

He could only watch helplessly as Chen Pingfang, a young man he had never taken seriously, calmly took control of the whole affair.

"I agree with Director Lin's opinion."

"I agree, we must find out the truth first."

The deputy directors who had just supported Hu Jinshan immediately changed their tune.

The meeting ended just like that.

Chen Pingfang packed up the documents and was the first to leave the conference room. Zhang Chao immediately came up to him, looking at Chen Pingfang with excitement and admiration in his eyes.

"Director Chen, you...you're amazing!"

Chen Ping simply nodded and didn't say anything more.

He knew this was just the beginning; the real trouble was yet to come.

Back in his office, he closed the door, and before he could even sit down, the internal phone on his desk rang.

He glanced at the caller ID, his eyes narrowing slightly.

It's Zhou Wenyuan's number.

When the call connected, Zhou Wenyuan's familiar and steady voice came through, but his tone sounded a bit heavy today.

"Put it flat. How did today's management committee meeting go?"

"Minister Zhou, you're quick to respond," Chen Ping replied calmly.

"I just got a call," Zhou Wenyuan said, lowering his voice. "Did you embarrass Hu Jinshan?"

"Just stating the facts."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone.

"Pingfang, I know you're young and energetic, eager to get things done. However, the situation in Nanzhou is very complicated. The Chipfire Industrial Park project involves too many people and issues." Zhou Wenyuan's tone became earnest. "Some things can't be rushed. We need to be steady, strategic, and consider the big picture."

Consider the overall situation.

Chen Ping understood Zhou Wenyuan's meaning. The people behind Hu Jinshan had already used their connections to put pressure on Zhou Wenyuan.

Zhou Wenyuan's words were both a reminder and a warning, hoping to stop him from there.

"I understand, Minister Zhou," Chen Pingfang said respectfully. "Don't worry, I won't do anything reckless."

"Good to know." Zhou Wenyuan seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "Since you've just arrived, the most important thing is to get your work in order and establish yourself. The investigation can be done slowly; don't make too much of a fuss, or it will have a bad impact."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Ping's expression immediately turned cold.

Take your time?

By the time he takes his time, the evidence will have been completely disposed of, and all the blame will have been placed on him.

Zhou Wenyuan has his own difficulties; he needs to balance relationships with all parties. But Chen Pingfang has no way out; he has been forced into a corner.

He walked to the window and looked at the cars constantly passing by below.

Since there's so much resistance to the internal investigation, let's try a different approach.

If you want to resolve this internally and try to pressure me with talk of considering the bigger picture, then I'll make a big scene and let everyone see!

Chen Ping took out his phone and dialed Xiao Yuhan's number.

"Yuhan, do me a favor."

"Speak." Xiao Yuhan's voice was always so crisp.

"Write an in-depth report in your capacity as a reporter from the provincial TV station. The angle should be positive; write something like, 'Nanzhou High-tech Zone Takes Responsibility and Actively Explores New Paths to Revitalize 10 Billion Yuan of Non-Performing Assets.'" Chen Pingfang spoke quickly and clearly. "In the article, you should bring up the 12 billion yuan debt problem of the Xinhuo Industrial Park, emphasizing that this is a legacy issue. Then, include the point I raised at the meeting today: 'Thoroughly investigate the debt before discussing revitalization.' Emphasize that this is a highly responsible attitude towards state-owned assets."

Xiao Yuhan on the other end of the phone was very clever and immediately understood Chen Pingfang's idea.

"You want to expose this?"

"This article isn't meant to be shown to everyone." Chen Pingfang's eyes were deep. "Don't publish it in the public media. Use your station's channels to get it into the provincial party committee's internal reference."

"Internal Reference" is an internal reference material specifically for provincial leaders.

This report, while seemingly praising the High-tech Zone, actually cornered Hu Jinshan and his backers.

Do they dare to publicly oppose a thorough investigation into the debt?

Once this report is published in the internal reference and attracts the attention of the provincial party committee's main leaders, the problems of the Corefire Industrial Park will no longer be something that the High-tech Zone can suppress.

"I understand." Xiao Yuhan said without hesitation. "The manuscript should be ready by tomorrow at the earliest."

"You've worked hard," Chen Ping said softly.

"You're telling me this?" Xiao Yuhan paused, but couldn't help adding, "You need to be careful."

"rest assured."

three days later.

An in-depth report titled "Where Will the Billion-Yuan Abandoned Project Go? -- The Dilemma and Breakthrough of Asset Revitalization in Nanzhou High-tech Zone" quietly appeared in the latest issue of the Nanjiang Provincial Party Committee's Internal Reference.

The article was written very objectively, clearly presenting the predicament of the Chipfire Industrial Park and the two different approaches taken by the High-tech Zone leadership to the provincial leaders.

That afternoon, a document personally approved by the provincial party secretary was delivered to the Nanzhou Municipal Party Committee in an expedited manner.

The document contained only eight words:

"Investigate the facts and revitalize the assets."