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

Han Zhengke's smile remained, but the muscles in his cheeks tensed for a moment.

Chen Ping didn't press the matter further. He removed his hand from the agreement, leaned back in his chair, and nodded at Han Zhengke with his chin raised.

"Direct sourcing from Germany, okay, I understand."

Han Zhengke blinked.

"Your Jiacheng Precision has been able to establish a procurement chain with Germany. This international capability is something that not many companies can achieve."

Han Zhengke relaxed his shoulders and picked up his teacup again.

"Director Chen, you flatter me. We have indeed put a lot of effort into our overseas expansion over the past few years, especially in terms of the supply chain..."

"That's why I said," Chen Ping interrupted Han Zhengke, leaning forward slightly, "I accept Mr. Han's kind gesture on behalf of Xinhuo High-tech Zone."

Han Zhengke paused for half a second, then his smile returned.

"Director Chen is very helpful."

"But there's something."

Chen Ping reopened the agreement folder, pressed his thumb on the header of the first page of the equipment list, and slowly turned it halfway around towards Han Zhengke.

"A donation of equipment worth one billion yuan is no small amount. The second phase of Xinhuo is a key provincial project, and provincial leaders have been keeping a close eye on it. Any decision I make must be auditable."

Han Zhengke raised his teacup halfway, then put it back down without drinking.

"Director Chen means..."

"The meaning is very simple." Chen Ping closed the agreement and placed his hands on it, folded over. "If this batch of equipment is to enter my pilot production line, it will have to go through a strict joint review. If we don't go through this procedure, and I accept this gift, how will I explain it when the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection comes to check the accounts tomorrow? I can't tell the higher-ups that ten billion yuan worth of equipment entered the site based on just an agreement."

These few words were placed on the table, neither too heavy nor too light, but every word left him speechless.

If Han Zhengke claims that the 1 billion yuan was given away for free, then fine, if it was given away for free, we need to investigate that thoroughly. There's no such thing as a free lunch; the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection understands this better than anyone.

Han Zhengke placed his hands on the edge of the table, interlaced his fingers briefly, and then released them.

"Joint review...how exactly will the review process proceed?"

Chen Ping stood up, walked to the whiteboard on the side of the conference room, picked up a marker, and drew three boxes on the whiteboard.

The first box is the CoreFire Technology Center.

The second box is for the Provincial Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision.

The third box contains the Jiacheng Precision Technology team.

Chen Ping drew a triangular structure by connecting the three boxes with a pen, then turned around.

"A joint acceptance team. Your Jiacheng Precision provided the technical team, our Xinhuo Center provided the process experts, and the Provincial Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision sent testing personnel. The three parties jointly conducted a comprehensive acceptance of these 42 pieces of equipment."

Han Zhengke stared at the three boxes on the whiteboard, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.

Chen Ping put the pen cap back on, walked back to the table, and rested one hand on the tabletop.

"Mr. Han, I'm doing this to provide you with official proof."

"Official verification?"

"If the donation of one billion yuan passes the joint acceptance inspection by the three parties, the report issued by the Provincial Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision will serve as official certification. Jiacheng Precision's brand value will be established immediately. In the future, not only for the Xinhuo Phase II project, but also for projects in other high-tech zones within the province, who wouldn't want to cooperate with you?"

Chen Ping spoke these words earnestly, bending down to look at Han Zhengke's face.

"But if you refuse to accept it..." Chen Ping paused for a moment. "Ten billion yuan worth of equipment, given away for free, with no one allowed to investigate. Mr. Han, what do you think people will say outside?"

The meeting room was silent for a few seconds. The air conditioner was blowing cold air, and the fluorescent lights on the ceiling were humming very faintly.

Han Zhengke pulled his hands back from the edge of the table and placed them on his knees. He looked down at the closed agreement folder in front of him, with Chen Pingfang's hand pressed against the blue cover.

Chen Pingfang pressed on relentlessly; he had no way out.

Not accepting the product is tantamount to having a guilty conscience. Accepting the product is like exposing your own problems to the other party.

Han Zhengke sat in the chair for about ten seconds, then looked up and forced a smile back onto his face.

"Director Chen is right. As businesses, we should be able to withstand scrutiny. The joint inspection is fine, we will cooperate."

"Okay." Chen Ping released his hand from the agreement and pushed the folder back to Han Zhengke. "Compile the list of the technical team and the detailed technical parameters of the equipment, and submit it to me within three days. I'll coordinate with the Provincial Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision to schedule the acceptance.

Han Zhengke reached out and took the folder. When his fingers touched the blue cover, his fingertips trembled briefly.

It was extremely short, but Chen Pingfang saw it.

"In addition," Chen Ping straightened up, "I'll tell you about the key items for the acceptance test in advance, so that your technical team won't be unprepared."

Chen Ping pulled a piece of paper out of his briefcase. It listed only six models, with the TPS-9X being the first one.

"The firmware version, production serial number, and factory inspection report for these devices all need to be provided in original form. This 3D topology scanner, in particular, has a more complex intellectual property chain, so the provincial quality supervision department will definitely ask a few more questions."

Han Zhengke took the paper, glanced at it, folded it, and stuffed it into his suit pocket.

"These can all be provided."

Chen Pingfang didn't say anything more, but extended his hand, and Han Zhengke stood up and shook it.

That hand was damp and slightly cool.

"Take care, Mr. Han. I won't see you off."

Han Zhengke left the conference room with a folder tucked under his arm. His leather shoes clattered rapidly on the terrazzo floor of the corridor, the heels clicking at a pace at least twice as fast as when he came in.

Chen Ping stood at the window, watching Han Zhengke's black Audi drive out of the management committee gate from the parking lot, turn right onto Jianshe Road, and disappear behind the roadside trees.

TPS-9X.

This particular model is the most problematic part of the entire agreement. The ownership chain extends from Germany to Singapore, with the Singaporean contract manufacturer connected to Nexvance BV, and M Company's representatives appearing on Nexvance BV's board of directors.

Han Zhengke said he could provide the original document.

Let him provide it.

The original documents provided by Han Zhengke can only have two outcomes. Either they're forged, which is fraud. And then, the true nature of Company M will be exposed.

No matter which path he chooses, Han Zhengke is doomed.

There was a knock on the conference room door, and Jiang Fan poked half his head in.

"Director, has General Manager Han left?"

"I'm gone."

Chen Ping handed Jiang Fan a copy of the equipment model list.

"For these six models, tonight you need to check the international ownership change records for each one in the system, focusing on the equity penetration over the last two years. Once you're done, send it to my personal email address, not through the intranet."

Jiang Fan took the paper, asked no further questions, and turned to leave.

Chen Ping stood alone in the conference room for a while, then took out his phone, scrolled to his contacts, and dialed a number.

Lin Yuanzhou answered quickly, his throat still carrying the smell of cigarette ash he had inhaled at the fire last night.

"Director Chen."

"Yuanzhou, how are your injuries?"

"It's just a superficial wound, nothing serious."

Chen Ping was silent for two seconds. He owed Lin Yuanzhou a favor from last night, and it wasn't time to repay it yet, but it weighed on his mind and he would settle it sooner or later.

"I have a job for you."

"Please speak."

"Jiacheng Precision is going to donate a batch of precision equipment to the second phase of Chipfire, totaling one billion yuan, covering forty-two categories. The Provincial Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision will conduct a joint inspection with us in three days, and you will be responsible for the technical review of Chipfire Center."

There was a pause on the other end of the phone.

"Give away a billion for free?"

"right."

Lin Yuanzhou didn't reply, but Chen Pingfang heard him let out a heavy sigh. Anyone in the tech field would immediately sense something was amiss upon hearing the words "gift for free."

"Yuanzhou, prepare to receive a great gift."

Chen Ping moved the phone to his other ear and tapped his thumb on the seam of his pants.

"And while you're at it, help me find the hidden surprise inside."