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

"Young man, too much pride can lead to downfall. Be careful."

The email was sent from an anonymous number.

Even a fool could tell that this was definitely someone from Sun Chuanhong's side trying to put him in a difficult position.

Chen Ping flicked his finger, deleted the text message, tossed his phone aside, and went into the bathroom.

The steam from the hot water quickly spread, washing away his fatigue.

Warning? What a joke!

Chen Ping has lived two lifetimes; he's really not afraid of this kind of warning.

……

The next morning, the General Affairs Section of the Municipal Government Office.

The atmosphere in the office was even more oppressive than yesterday.

Everyone arrived early, sitting upright, but no one dared to speak loudly.

Sun Zhigang's seat was empty, and the things on the table had been cleaned up.

Zhang Wei and the others looked pale, with dark circles under their eyes, clearly having stayed up all night working on a report and hadn't slept at all.

It's 8:30 in the morning, time for the regular meeting.

Chen Ping walked into the office on time, carrying a cup of hot tea.

His appearance seemed to lower the temperature in the entire office by several degrees.

He remained seated at his corner workstation, pulled out a chair, and calmly surveyed the room.

"Are the reports all done?"

Zhang Wei held a stack of newly printed reports, forcing an awkward smile onto his face.

"Secretary Chen... everything's ready, it's all here."

He carefully placed the report on Chen Ping's desk, making sure to put his part on top.

After he got home last night, he felt something was wrong.

Why does Chen Ping, a mere newcomer, have the right to boss me around?

He secretly made a phone call to an acquaintance in the Municipal Party Committee Office and soon received the news that Zhao Wenbin, the deputy director of the Municipal Party Committee Office, was about to be parachuted in as the section chief!

Who is Zhao Wenbin? He's a favorite of Secretary Sun!

With this newfound confidence, Zhang Wei's mind started racing. He decided to take a gamble.

On the surface, his report appeared to be flawless, with detailed data.

However, he secretly concealed additional expenses at three key points in the pipeline laying cost at Jinshui Bay. The total amount was not large, but it was enough to make the total cost of the entire project not match the accounts.

This loophole is very well hidden; it would be impossible to discover without going through all the original construction documents one by one.

He calculated that Chen Pingfang was young and eager for political achievements, so he definitely wouldn't have time to look at things in such detail.

If Chen Ping takes this report to Mayor Xiao, he'll be in big trouble when he's stumped by questions from other departments at the mayor's office meeting.

A secretary who can't even understand the data wants to be a section chief? Dream on!

When the time comes, the newly arrived Section Chief Zhao will definitely remember his kindness.

"Did you make this?" Chen Pingfang pointed to the top one.

"Yes, it's my responsibility." Zhang Wei puffed out his chest, feeling his chance had come. "Secretary Chen, please take a look. I stayed up all night to prepare this, going through all the accounts. I guarantee there won't be any problems!"

Chen Ping picked up the report but didn't open it.

He simply tapped the cover lightly with his finger, then looked up at Zhang Wei.

"The pipeline laying, the third-party supervision fee for Section A, the night-time expedited construction subsidy for Section B, and the special pipeline procurement fee for Section C due to geological issues—these three expenses add up to a total of 738,621.50 yuan."

Chen Pingfang spoke slowly, but Zhang Wei's heart sank when he heard the numbers.

"Why isn't this reflected in your report?"

Zhang Wei's face turned pale instantly, and he froze.

How...how did he know?

These numbers were hidden among hundreds of documents; it took him ages to find them and hide them properly! He hadn't even looked at the report, how could he possibly know them so clearly, down to the cent!

"I...I..." Zhang Wei's lips trembled, and he couldn't utter a single word.

Everyone else in the office was stunned, staring at Chen Pingfang in disbelief.

Is this the same young person who just started working? Their professional skills are amazing!

Chen Ping didn't give him any more chances.

He opened his drawer, took out another document, and threw it out.

The file landed squarely on Zhang Wei's face with a "thud," then scattered all over the floor.

He hadn't slept last night either, checking each original construction record copy, marking every suspicious point in red pen.

"Comrade Zhang Wei, do you think I'm young and easy to fool?"

Chen Ping stood up and walked step by step to Zhang Wei, his voice cold.

"Or do you think you can just throw Mayor Xiao's face away like that?"

"Are you trying to embarrass Mayor Xiao by presenting a fake accounting report to Secretary Sun at the Standing Committee meeting?"

"What are you up to!"

Chen Pingfang's voice suddenly rose in the last sentence, startling everyone in the office.

Zhang Wei's legs went weak, and he could no longer stand. He collapsed into the chair, his face completely pale.

He's finished.

He tried to take a gamble, but ended up hitting a brick wall.

Chen Ping didn't look at him again, turned around and went back to his seat, picking up the landline phone on the table.

In front of everyone in the department, he directly dialed the personnel department's internal line.

"Hello, is this the personnel department? This is Chen Pingfang from the general affairs department."

"Zhang Wei, a colleague in our department, has an extremely irresponsible work attitude. In the report on such an important project as the Jinshuiwan project, he committed serious data concealment and dereliction of duty. He is no longer suitable to continue working in the General Affairs Department."

"I suggest that he be transferred from his post. I see that the retired cadres' activity center is currently short of someone to manage the newspapers. He is getting on in years, so it would be good for him to go there and continue to contribute his remaining energy."

The head of the personnel department on the other end of the phone was stunned for a long time before stammering, "Okay...okay, we'll look into it."

Chen Ping hung up the phone.

The entire office was completely silent.

Those old hands who, like Zhang Wei, still harbored some thoughts were now all keeping their heads down, wishing they could crawl under the table, their backs soaked with cold sweat.

To kill the chicken as a warning to the monkey.

That was a really ruthless move.

Chen Ping glanced around at the pale faces, his tone returning to calm.

"Remember, the General Affairs Department doesn't tolerate idlers."

"Whoever has the ability can step up. Anyone who dares to pull any tricks behind our backs will end up like Zhang Wei."

"Now, redo the report. I need to see the correct version by noon."

As soon as he finished speaking, the office was filled with the sounds of flipping through documents and typing on keyboards.

No one dared to be negligent in the slightest.

Less than half an hour later, the personnel department issued the transfer order.

Zhang Wei, looking dejected, clutched his cardboard box and slunk out of the office under the watchful eyes of the entire department.

He walked to the door and bumped right into a man in a suit with slicked-back hair.

The man took a step back in disgust, frowned, and dusted off the corner of his clothes that had been touched, without even glancing at Zhang Wei.

Zhang Wei looked up and saw the person who had come in. It was Zhao Wenbin from the Municipal Party Committee Office, the person to whom he had placed all his hopes.

However, Zhao Wenbin simply bypassed him and pushed open the door to the General Affairs Department.

As soon as Zhao Wenbin entered the room, he put on a warm smile and walked straight toward Chen Pingfang, who was sitting in the corner.

"Hey, Brother Chen, you're really showing off!"

He held a red-headed document from the Municipal Party Committee Office in his hand, patted it on the hand, the sound was not loud, but it conveyed a sense of superiority.

"Secretary Sun is concerned about the work of the Municipal Government Office, so he specially asked me to come and give you, the General Affairs Section, some guidance."