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

Chen Ping glanced at the banner but didn't reply.

The man in the leather jacket took two steps forward, his construction boots thumping on the concrete.

"I'll ask one more time, who is Secretary Chen?"

Just as Han Zhiming was about to speak, he heard the rapid sound of leather shoes stomping on the stairs behind him. Zhao Deming strode out of the management committee's gate, his suit jacket unbuttoned and a thin layer of sweat on his forehead.

"Mr. Zhou, Mr. Zhou, don't be anxious, let's talk this out."

Zhou Hai.

The legal representative of Datong Construction is Zhao Deming's brother-in-law.

Chen Ping stood still, comparing the face to the business registration photo. The man was a size bigger than in the photo, with a fuller chin, but the fierce look in his eyes and brows was exactly the same.

Zhao Deming jogged up to Zhou Hai, put one hand on his arm, and pointed behind him with the other.

"Secretary Chen has just taken office and hasn't even figured out the situation yet, and you've already made quite a show of it."

Zhou Hai shook off Zhao Deming's hand.

"Director Zhao, it's not that I'm making a big deal out of this. Of the 48 million yuan project cost, I advanced 23 million yuan for materials and labor, and I haven't received a single penny back. The workers haven't been paid for three months. If they can't find anyone today, they'll block my doorstep tomorrow."

Well done.

Chen Ping switched the document bag to his left hand, put his right hand into his coat pocket, and pressed the recorder switch with his thumb.

Zhao Deming turned around and gave Chen Ping a troubled smile.

"Secretary Chen, this is a rather tricky matter. The landscape corridor was a project decided upon by the previous leadership. The contract was signed, and part of the payment was disbursed, but the construction company still owes a final payment. The workers need to eat, and the company also has its own difficulties."

He paused, lowered his voice, and took a half-step closer.

"How about we allocate some funds from the park's development special fund for emergency use? The subsidy for Huaxing New Materials is still in the process of being processed anyway, so it's okay to delay the disbursement by a few days."

Chen Ping didn't look at Zhao Deming, but stared at the three construction vehicles in the parking lot.

Inside the truck bed, some workers squatted smoking, while others leaned against the side, yawning. Their reflective vests were brand new, still creased, and their trousers were spotless. These workers, who hadn't received their wages for three months, wore these brand-new reflective vests to demand their pay.

"Director Zhao, do you mean to divert the subsidy funds from Huaxing New Materials and use them to settle accounts with Datong Construction first?"

Zhao Deming's smile froze for half a second before quickly returning to normal.

"It's not a transfer, it's an adjustment. It's an internal fund pooling system within the park. We'll make up the difference once the provincial allocation comes through next quarter."

It's a classic case of robbing Peter to pay Paul. Huaxing New Materials' subsidies were swallowed up by the landscape corridor project, and now they're using other companies' money to fill the gaps in the landscape corridor's finances. After that, whose money will be used to fill the next company's hole?

The more they tried to patch up the holes, the bigger they got; the accounts became increasingly rotten; in the end, it all turned into a complete mess, and no one could figure it out.

This is the result Zhao Deming truly wanted.

Chen Ping ignored the conversation, walked past Zhao Deming, and headed straight for the entrance of the management committee.

Zhou Hai stood in front of the iron fence, arms crossed, with more than forty workers lined up in a semi-circle behind him.

Chen Ping walked to the banner and stopped.

"Are you Zhou Hai from Datong Construction?"

Zhou Hai puffed out his chest.

"Yes. Secretary Chen, my workers are waiting for their meals, and I'm also waiting for an explanation."

"Paying back debts is a matter of course."

Chen Ping raised his finger and pointed to the eight characters on the banner.

"You're right. The management committee signed the contract, so they should act in accordance with it."

Zhou Hai was taken aback, clearly not expecting this opening. He glanced at Zhao Deming, who nodded slightly.

"So, what Secretary Chen means is..."

"I can sign now and start the payment process."

There was a two-second silence in the parking lot. Zhou Hai loosened his arm from his chest, a smug look on his face.

Zhao Deming stood behind Chen Ping, the corner of his mouth just twitching upwards by a centimeter.

"But~"

Chen Ping's voice wasn't loud, but it captivated everyone's attention.

"There is a procedure that must be completed before payment can be made."

Zhou Hai's smugness was still written all over his face, and he hadn't had time to hide it.

"What procedure?"

"Cross-audit of project quantities".

Chen Ping pulled out the construction contract and payment vouchers from the document bag and waved them in front of Zhou Hai.

"The total contract price is 48 million, and one-third of the project is currently completed. Proportionally, the amount already paid far exceeds the actual amount completed. Before the remaining balance is disbursed, I will invite the Qingjiang Municipal Audit Bureau and a provincially registered third-party auditing firm to conduct a comprehensive audit of the landscape corridor project."

He held up three fingers.

"Check three things. First, the discrepancy between the actual amount of work and the amount of work stipulated in the contract. Second, trace the brand, model, and batch of the construction materials to see if they are the same as those stipulated in the contract. Third, check for any illegal subcontracting or multiple layers of subcontracting."

Zhou Hai's face changed. It didn't change gradually; it turned from red to white, and then from white to green in an instant.

"Audit - How long does an audit take?"

"It will take two weeks at the earliest, and a month at the latest. Once the audit results are available, we will pay exactly what is due, without missing a penny. However, if any shoddy workmanship or falsified project quantities are found, Datong Construction will have to refund any overpayment in full."

Chen Ping turned around and glanced at the workers wearing brand-new reflective vests.

"Mr. Zhou, I understand your workers need to eat. But every penny of the management committee's money comes from taxpayers, and I have to be responsible for signing this document. If you're confident in the quality of your project, the audit is just a formality for you, right?"

Zhou Hai's Adam's apple bobbed up and down twice.

He glanced back at the group of "workers" behind him, then at the unfinished landscaped promenade along the riverbank—loose lampposts, exposed steel bars, and cement mortar that crumbled at the slightest touch.

That corridor can't withstand scrutiny. Forget about a third-party audit; any knowledgeable person could easily tell that the granite floor tiles aren't even half the standard thickness and that the antique-style lampposts are filled with yellow sand instead of concrete.

The contract was worth 48 million, but the actual cost was at most 8 million.

"Secretary Chen, I'll go back and discuss this auditing matter with the company."

Zhou Hai's voice lowered.

"No rush, let's discuss it slowly." Chen Ping put the contract and vouchers back into the file bag. "The audit notice will be issued this afternoon. Come and sign whenever you've reached an agreement."

Zhou Hai looked down and clenched the hem of his leather jacket, then turned and waved to the workers.

"Get in the car, let's go."

The engines of three construction vehicles roared in succession as they reversed, turned around, and drove off along the main road. The banner, still hanging on the iron fence, was flipped up at one corner by the exhaust fumes.

Han Zhiming stepped forward, tore down the banner, and folded it twice.

Zhao Deming stood in the middle of the parking lot, his hands hanging at his sides, his face looking like a skeleton had been removed from his body.

Chen Ping paused half a step as he passed by him.

"Director Zhao, you don't need to worry about the audit. I'll contact the Municipal Audit Bureau directly, without going through the Management Committee."

Zhao Deming's lips moved slightly, but he didn't make a sound.

Chen Ping walked into the management committee building, went up to the fourth floor, and closed the office door.

Han Zhiming followed him in, threw the banner on the sofa, and opened his laptop.

"Director, Zhao Deming made a phone call in the parking lot just now. I didn't hear what he said, but he went to a corner to hail a taxi, with his back to everyone."

"Keep an eye on him. He'll make a move against Huaxing New Materials next."

Chen Ping sat down in the chair and unfolded the payment vouchers in the file folder again. Zhao Deming's plan had failed; his attempt to force Zhao's hand over power had backfired, and now the audit was coming to investigate. He only had one option left—to make Huaxing New Materials disappear completely. The company was gone, the target material production line was shut down, and no one questioned the whereabouts of the 50 million yuan subsidy anymore.

Han Zhiming's phone vibrated, and a WeChat message lit up on the screen.

He glanced at it, then suddenly looked up.

"Director, Mr. Zhao from Huaxing New Materials just booked a flight to Huacheng for 7 a.m. tomorrow. I heard that an industrial park in Lingnan is already in contact with him about a relocation agreement, which will be signed tonight."