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

The light from the phone screen shone on Chen Pingfang's face, making it impossible to discern his expression.

The text message from Xiao Yuhan accelerated the pace of things.

Hu Jinshan's former boss.

In the officialdom of Nanzhou, these few words are more useful than the signature of the municipal party secretary.

Chen Ping locked his phone, placed it on the table, and leaned back in his large leather chair. He closed his eyes, quickly processing the connections in his mind. Hu Jinshan was just one link in the chain; now that he was dealt with, everyone in the entire profit chain felt the pressure. The person hidden deepest inside was finally going to personally step forward.

He wasn't surprised.

Disrupting this chain of interests will naturally alert the people behind it.

"Ring ring—"

The red landline on the desk suddenly rang, its sound somewhat jarring in the quiet office.

Chen Ping opened his eyes and reached out to press the speakerphone button.

"Director Chen, this is Xiao Wang from the Municipal Party Committee Office." The voice on the other end of the phone was very polite, with the strictness typical of government offices.

"Director Wang, hello."

"Here's the thing, Chairman Wei of the Provincial Political Consultative Conference wants to go back to Nanzhou tomorrow and specifically wants to meet with the new leadership of the High-tech Zone for a casual meal. The city leaders want you to be sure to attend."

Chairman Wei.

Wei Changqing, former vice chairman of the provincial CPPCC, retired from his post three years ago. A native of Nanzhou, he has students and friends all over the city.

He is the person behind Hu Jinshan.

"Okay, got it. Time and place?" Chen Ping's tone remained unchanged.

"Tomorrow at noon, Qingzhu Hall, Nanhu Hotel."

"it is good."

After hanging up the phone, the office fell silent again.

Zhang Chao, who had been standing to the side, heard every word on the phone and his face turned pale: "Director, isn't this obviously aimed at you? Wei Changqing is coming in person to demand an explanation from Hu Jinshan."

Chen Ping smiled, took out some documents from Hu Jinshan's safe from the drawer, pulled out a few sheets of paper, and handed them to Zhang Chao.

"Go and make a few copies. We're going to the banquet tomorrow."

……

The next day, at the Nanhu Hotel.

As the highest-standard hotel in Nanzhou, it boasts a quiet environment and strict security.

Qingzhu Hall is located in a separate courtyard. Chen Ping arrived ten minutes early, pushed open the door of the private room, and found that there was already someone sitting inside.

An elderly man, dressed in a gray Zhongshan suit, with gray hair and a thin face, was intently fiddling with a set of Yixing teaware. His movements were practiced and his expression was calm.

It was Wei Changqing.

"Chairman Wei," Chen Pingfang said, taking the initiative to speak.

Wei Changqing looked up, a kind smile on his face, as if he were seeing a junior member of his family. "Comrade Pingfang has arrived, please sit down."

He pointed to the spot opposite.

The aroma of tea wafted from the table. There were no other accompanying persons.

"This old man of mine, now that I'm retired, just enjoys tinkering with these things," Wei Changqing said casually while rinsing his teacup with boiling water. "Nanzhou has changed so much in the past few years, I almost don't recognize it anymore. You young people have ideas and drive, that's a good thing."

Chen Ping sat quietly without responding.

He knew that the real work had not yet begun.

Wei Changqing poured out the first brew of tea, poured in fresh water, and then pushed a cup of bright yellow tea in front of Chen Pingfang.

"Try it, this year's pre-Qingming Longjing tea."

Chen Ping picked up the teacup, took a small sip, and nodded, saying, "Good tea."

"Yes, good tea." Wei Changqing put down the teapot and sighed. "Unfortunately, even the best tea can't withstand being brewed haphazardly. The tea leaves may be good, but if the water temperature and brewing method are wrong, it will be ruined."

He finally looked up, his gaze falling on Chen Pingfang's face. His eyes were gentle, but the meaning behind his words was heavy.

"Comrade Pingfang, I've heard about the Chipfire Industrial Park project. You've managed to clean up such a huge mess as soon as you took office, and even Governor Zhou from the province has given his approval. This is a great achievement."

"But," he changed the subject, "Jinshan has been with me for many years. He made mistakes, but he also sweated and worked hard for the High-tech Zone. Even if he didn't achieve great things, he certainly put in the effort. Now he's in jail, and his family is broken up. Isn't that... a bit too much?"

Chen Ping put down his teacup with a soft sound.

He looked at Wei Changqing and said calmly, "Chairman Wei, I am just fulfilling my duty. There is a risk of losing 12 billion yuan of state-owned assets, the hard-earned money of thousands of workers, and thousands of families behind them. If this is considered hard work, then the price is too high."

Wei Changqing's smile faded slightly.

"It's good that young people are energetic. But if the water is too clear, there will be no fish. Some things can't be judged by just the accounts; we also need to consider human relationships and the big picture." He leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice a few decibels. "You've brought down Hu Jinshan, but what about next? Which of the projects in the High-tech Zone can withstand such scrutiny? If people are in a state of panic, how can we carry out our work? Stability is the most important thing."

This is both a warning and a reminder.

By targeting Hu Jinshan, you've targeted our entire community. Further investigation would mean making enemies of all the elderly people in Nanzhou.

Chen Pingfang was not intimidated by his aura; instead, he smiled.

"Chairman Wei, you're right, stability is the most important thing. More than anyone else, I hope the High-tech Zone can develop steadily."

He took a document out of his briefcase, placed it gently on the table, and pushed it over.

"Therefore, some factors that undermine stability must be eliminated. Otherwise, this problem will inevitably erupt sooner or later, and what will be destroyed is the reputation that you and the veteran comrades have built up over a lifetime."

Wei Changqing's gaze fell on the document.

That was a stack of business trip expense reports.

Looking up, I saw the High-tech Zone Management Committee. My destination was Europe. My purpose was to conduct a study tour.

Attached to the expense report were several photos. In the photos, a young man was shopping in a luxury store, and in the background, Wei Changqing's son was smiling happily.

Wei Changqing's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.

"Hu Jinshan is very generous. He used public funds to arrange similar business trips for many people's families." Chen Pingfang's tone remained calm, as if he were stating something unrelated to himself. "He kept these receipts in a separate safe. I guess they weren't for reimbursement, but for cultivating relationships."

"The joint investigation team from the Discipline Inspection Commission has already moved in, and they are working very meticulously. I'm worried that if they find these things in Hu Jinshan's accounts, and then the media reports on it, the headline might be 'Children of a Certain Leader Spend Public Funds on a Luxury European Trip.' Do you think that's fair to those veteran comrades who have dedicated their lives to Nanzhou? Their reputations cannot be tarnished by someone like Hu Jinshan."

Chen Ping looked at Wei Changqing with sincere eyes.

"So, Chairman Wei, I'm here today to ask for your help. Please help me stabilize this situation. I'd like you to step forward and speak with some veteran comrades and old friends, asking them to cooperate with the investigation, clarify all the issues, and return anything they shouldn't have taken. We need to keep the scope under control, preventing it from expanding and implicating innocent people. This is not only protecting them, but also protecting your reputation and everyone else's. Don't you agree?"

The private room fell silent immediately.

Only the faint sound of the wind outside the window remained.

Wei Changqing's fingers trembled slightly on the table.

He got it.

Chen Ping came today to give him a choice. This choice is both a threat and an opportunity to resolve the issue.

He could help Chen Ping control his subordinates and get them to return the embezzled funds, thus ending the matter respectably. Otherwise, if these things were handed over, everyone would be ruined.

a long time.

Wei Changqing picked up the slightly cooled teacup and drank it all in one gulp.

He picked up the teapot again and refilled Chen Ping's cup with water, but his movements were no longer as composed as they had been at the beginning.

Looking at Chen Pingfang in front of him, his eyes were filled with complex emotions.

He spoke slowly, his voice a little hoarse, as if he were talking to himself.

"The younger generation is truly formidable; Nanzhou... cannot keep you here."