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

The words "We're out of money" slammed onto the conference table, causing all twenty-seven people to pause for a moment.

Chen Ping didn't press further and put down the pen in his hand.

"Meeting adjourned. Ma Jiancheng, stay behind."

The sound of chairs being moved rose and fell as middle-level managers filed out. Zhao Deming paused for half a second at the door, glanced back at Chen Pingfang, said nothing, opened the door, and left.

There were only three people left in the meeting room.

Han Zhiming put the speaker into his backpack and retreated to a corner. Ma Jiancheng sat at the end of the U-shaped table, his hands clasped together on the table, his ten fingers twisted together.

Chen Ping picked up the paper cup in front of him and took a sip of water; it was cold.

"Director Ma, how much of the provincial government's special funding is allocated for Huaxing New Materials' innovation subsidy?"

"Fifty million."

"When did it arrive at the park's tent?"

"Last October."

Chen Ping placed the paper cup back on the table, making a crisp sound as it hit the bottom.

"The 50 million has been in the account for almost half a year, and you're telling me there's no money left. Where is the money?"

Ma Jiancheng's Adam's apple bobbed, and his tongue circled in his cheek.

"it took."

"Where are the flowers?"

"Industrial Park Infrastructure Improvement Project"

Chen Pingfang opened the materials in front of him. The last page was the financial summary of the High-tech Zone in the previous quarter. The numbers were printed densely, but one column stood out: "Landscape Corridor Construction Project", with an expenditure of 48 million.

Forty-eight million.

Of the 50 million yuan special subsidy, 48 million yuan was used to build a landscape corridor.

"Who approved this scenic corridor?"

Ma Jiancheng pulled his fingers back from the table and onto his thigh.

"It was signed by Director Zhao. It's recorded in the Party Working Committee meeting minutes."

"Give it to me."

Ma Jiancheng stood up, his leg bumping against the chair, causing the chair to move back half a step. He strode out of the meeting room and returned three minutes later carrying a stack of manila envelopes.

Chen Ping took it, pulled out the meeting minutes, and flipped to the one from last October.

The minutes were very simple. "After deliberation by the Party Working Committee, it was decided that, in order to prepare for the provincial-level civilized city review and improve the overall image of the park, 48 million yuan would be allocated from the special fund for industrial development for the construction of the park's landscape corridor."

With five attendees, the motion passed unanimously.

Chen Ping closed the minutes.

"Where is this scenic corridor?"

"East of the management committee building, along the river, it stretches for 1.2 kilometers."

"Is it finished?"

Ma Jiancheng hesitated for a moment.

"It's about one-third complete."

"One-third of it cost forty-eight million?"

Ma Jiancheng remained silent.

Chen Ping took out all the remaining materials from the document bag, including the project tender documents, construction contracts, and payment vouchers, and laid them out on the table one by one.

The winning bidder's name was prominently displayed on the tender document: Datong Construction.

On the signature page of the construction contract, Zhao Deming's name was written in the "Party A Representative" column, and a person named Zhou Hai was written in the "Party B Representative" column.

The payment vouchers were issued in three installments. The first installment of 20 million was paid last November; the second installment of 15 million was paid last December; and the third installment of 13 million was paid this January. The total of these three installments, 48 ​​million, was cleared in two and a half months.

"Han Zhiming".

Han Zhiming walked over from the corner.

"Investigate Datong Construction. Reveal its legal representative, equity structure, and all government projects it has undertaken in Qingjiang over the past three years."

"clear."

Han Zhiming took out his phone, stepped back into the corridor, and dialed a number.

Chen Ping stared at the numbers on the payment voucher and circled the third stroke with a pencil.

Two and a half months, 48 ​​million. A normal municipal landscaping project takes at least six months from start to finish. The money is moving three times faster than the construction period, which can only be explained by one thing: payment and construction are out of sync. The money is not being disbursed according to the schedule, but according to some other rhythm.

"Director Ma."

Ma Jiancheng straightened his back slightly.

"Are there acceptance reports for each of these three payments?"

"Yes, there is. It's an acceptance form issued by the approval department."

Approval Department.

Liu Guodong's approval department.

Chen Ping put all the materials back into the file bag, tucked them under his arm, and stood up.

"Let's go take a look at that scenic promenade."

The river channel east of the management committee is overgrown with weeds, and several plastic bags are floating on the water. The so-called landscape corridor is actually just a section of granite paving stones laid along the river, with a dozen or so antique-style lampposts erected. The frame of a pavilion in the middle is stuck there with exposed steel bars, and construction was stopped halfway through pouring concrete.

Chen Ping walked two hundred meters along the paved paving stones and stopped in front of the construction section.

The granite floor tiles had rough surfaces, and the grout lines were filled with ordinary cement mortar instead of standard grout. Two bolts on the lamppost base were loose, and the entire post wobbled when shaken.

Han Zhiming caught up from behind, his phone still pressed against his ear.

"Director, we've found it. Datong Construction, legal representative Zhou Hai, registered capital of five million, paid-in capital of five hundred thousand. The company was established in June of the year before last."

He paused for a moment and glanced at his phone screen.

"The establishment date was a full twenty-one days earlier than the announcement of the bidding for the landscape corridor project."

First, establish a company, then issue a tender.

Chen Ping squatted down and used his finger to pry open the cement mortar in the gap between the floor tiles. A piece broke off, and when he rubbed it, it was loose and the grade was not high enough.

What is the relationship between Zhou Hai and Zhao Deming?

"There's no direct connection in the business registration information. But—" Han Zhiming turned a page on his phone, "Zhou Hai's wife is named Zhao Yalan."

Zhao.

Chen Ping stood up and brushed the dust off his fingers.

How many siblings does Zhao Deming have?

"I have a younger sister named Zhao Yalan. She married a construction worker."

Han Zhiming didn't finish his sentence, and the two stared at each other for a second.

The brother-in-law started a company, the brother approved projects, and 50 million yuan in industrial subsidies flowed through a scenic corridor into a shell company with a registered capital of 500,000 yuan. Huaxing New Materials' target material production line was shut down due to lack of materials, and the domestic substitution rate of Corefire 2.0 was teetering on the brink. This money, which should have been a lifesaver, turned into a pile of unfinished granite and rusty steel bars by the river.

Chen Ping switched the document bag to his other hand and turned to walk towards the management committee.

"Notify the district discipline inspection commission to seal all financial files related to the landscape corridor project by 8 p.m. tonight. Not a single piece of paper, including the bidding documents, construction logs, supervision reports, and acceptance forms, is to be touched."

"Over with Zhao Deming~"

"Don't notify him."

Chen Ping walked to the edge of the management committee's parking lot, then suddenly stopped.

The roar of diesel engines could be heard coming from the direction of the main road in the distance; there was more than one.

Han Zhiming turned his head to look over there.

Three blue construction vehicles were turning from the main road onto the road in front of the management committee, their cargo beds filled with workers wearing reflective vests. In the passenger seat of the lead vehicle, a middle-aged man with an open leather jacket leaned out, clutching a roll of red cloth in his hand.

The construction vehicles were lined up in a row at the entrance of the management committee, with their engines off.

The workers jumped out of the truck bed—at least thirty or forty of them, some carrying shovels, others carrying hard hats. The man in the leather jacket jumped out of the passenger seat and unfurled the rolled-up red cloth.

The banner, with its white background and red lettering, is a full six meters long when unfolded.

Eight large characters were written on it:

"Paying back debts is a matter of course."

Han Zhiming reached into his pocket for the voice recorder.

The man in the leather jacket hung the banner on the iron fence of the management committee's gate, turned around, put his hands on his hips, glanced at Chen Pingfang who was walking over, and raised his chin.

"Which one of you is the new Secretary Chen?"