Please, mature women, have some self-respect. I just want a raise and a promotion.

After leaving Ma Cuihua's office, Yang Zhian extended an invitation.

"Manager Lin, Sister Chen, let's have dinner together, it's on me."

"I know a seafood restaurant where the food is excellent."

"I have something to attend to. You go with Director Chen."

Lin Zheng was so worried that he had no appetite for seafood and made up an excuse to refuse.

"I also have something to do, let's get together again next time when we have time," Chen Li added.

"Then I'll go by myself."

Yang Zhian shrugged and left first, seemingly unaware that this project was a huge pitfall.

After Yang Zhian left, Chen Li stared intently at Lin Zheng.

"Why are you staring at me like that? Is there something on my face?"

Lin Zheng looked annoyed, thinking to himself, "Is this woman sick?"

Chen Li said, "Lin Zheng, tell me the truth."

"You really weren't involved in Zhang Wenshan's affair?"

"Chen Li, are you out of your mind?"

"You're just an employee assisting me. Even if I have something to do, it's none of your business."

Hearing this, Chen Li wasn't angry. She replied, "I need to understand this point before I dare to follow along."

Lin Zheng lit a cigarette, took a few puffs, and said, "Chen Li, you need to understand, this isn't about whether you work for me or not."

"Didn't you hear what Ma Cuihua said? If the project fails, you'll all be fired."

"You should spend more time thinking about how to raise some money to get this project going."

Upon hearing this, Chen Li suddenly laughed.

Lin Zheng looked completely bewildered and, not wanting to waste any more time on Chen Li, turned and left.

"Wait!" Chen Li caught up and grabbed Lin Zheng.

"I know some secrets that might help us break the deadlock."

Lin Zheng stopped in his tracks, looking at Chen Li: "What secret?"

"This isn't the place to talk. Get in my car, I'll take you somewhere."

After the two got into the car, Chen Li started the car and drove towards the city.

Half an hour later, the car drove into the basement of a large shopping mall.

After the car came to a stop, Chen Li did not get out. She turned on the music in the car, then unbuckled her seatbelt and took off her coat.

Lin Zheng looked at Chen Li with a puzzled expression.

What is Chen Li trying to do? Is she going to have sex in his car?

At this moment, Chen Li took out a mobile phone, opened the audio playback, and handed it to Lin Zheng.

"Listen carefully to this."

Lin Zheng took the phone and started recording.

"The Nanshan project cannot be restarted, otherwise my past will be exposed."

"If something happens to me, it will have a huge impact on you as well."

"You have to find a way to make this project fail."

The speaker was a man, his tone deep and tinged with a hint of panic.

"How many more things are you hiding from me?"

"I can hold it down for you this time, so hurry up and wipe your butt clean."

"If there's a next time, figure it out yourself, and don't expect me to help you again."

The man was answered by a woman's voice, which sounded familiar to Lin Zheng.

"who are they?"

Chen Li said, "Ma Cuihua and her husband."

"The funds that Zhang Wenshan had pledged to the village committee were taken away by her husband's company."

"The head office restarted the project and allocated 10 million yuan to the finance department, but it was embezzled by Ma Cuihua."

Lin Zheng frowned upon hearing this. Ma Cuihua was truly audacious, not only protecting her husband but also embezzling ten million yuan herself.

He pondered for a moment, then turned his gaze back to Chen Li.

"Did you get this recording? Are there any other pieces of evidence?"

"Don't worry about where the recording came from."

Now that you know these secrets, what are your thoughts?

"Chen Li, we're in this together now, can we stop testing each other?"

"If everyone is more honest, we might be able to turn things around."

"If we continue to be wary of each other, we'll all die together."

Chen Li pondered for a moment, then reached into her bra.

Lin Zheng stared wide-eyed, unabashedly admiring the beautiful scenery Chen Li was presenting.

Chen Li seemed indifferent. After fiddling with it for a moment, she took out two receipts stamped with an official seal from her chest.

"This is an IOU from Ma Cuihua's husband, Li Tingtianlong Engineering Company."

"That's all I can do."

"You've managed to survive Liu Kaishan's suppression unscathed, so you must have something in your hands."

"Now it's your turn to show your sincerity."

Lin Zheng frowned and said, "You investigated me?"

Chen Li nodded and said, "Since we're going to cooperate, I definitely need to investigate thoroughly."

"As you just said, only through honest cooperation can we turn the situation around."

Lin Zheng didn't hide anything and revealed his secret.

"I have dirt on him and secrets about some high-ranking officials."

Upon hearing this, Chen Li's eyes flickered.

"I think we can use these secrets to fight back."

Lin Zheng nodded: "You and I are thinking the same thing."

"However, right now, our first priority is to solve the funding problem."

"Let's go down and find out what's going on tomorrow, and then discuss it further."

"I have the phone number of Deng Hong, the director of Zhuangdong Village Committee. Should I contact her now?"

Chen Li looked at Lin Zheng and asked.

Lin Zheng nodded and said, "That's good. Let's all meet first to make it easier to get things started."

Chen Li immediately took out her phone and made a call.

The two chatted for a few minutes and then agreed to meet at the Mingxuan Hotel in the shopping mall.

Half an hour later, Deng Hong arrived at room 666 of the Mingxuan Hotel.

Deng Hong wore a beige V-neck dress. Although she was in her early forties, she was very well-maintained, and her full, fair figure was outlined by the fabric in a shapely way.

Chen Li stood up and introduced: "This is Lin Zheng, the development manager of the group's subsidiary, who is in charge of that unfinished project in your village committee."

Lin Zheng extended his hand: "Hello, Director Deng, please take care of me in my future work."

Deng Hong reached out and shook hands with Lin Zheng.

"Hello Manager Lin, you are so young and handsome."

"Sit down, let's eat and chat."

The three sat down, and Lin Zheng poured red wine for Deng Hong and the other woman.

The two women didn't stand on ceremony; they raised their glasses of red wine, clinked them together, and drank.

Half an hour later, the atmosphere became more lively, and everyone was no longer reserved.

Deng Hong took a sip of red wine and said, "Manager Lin, this project is far more complicated than you imagine."

"The village committee, the subdistrict office, the town, your group—it's all about interests."

"Take Mr. Zhang's previous project funds as an example. When the town government makes a phone call, the village committee must act in accordance with the rules and regulations."

"Now that the money has been embezzled, the villagers are causing a huge uproar. What can the village committee do?"

"When you go to the town to find the leaders, they just pass the buck, and nobody dares to step up and solve the problem."

"If you go to the district leaders, you'll not only get a severe scolding, but you might also lose your job."

"If you want to restart this project, you first need to solve the funding problem."

"Don't expect any compensation from the government. It's already very kind of you that these leaders aren't making things difficult for you."

Deng Hong became more and more excited as she spoke, and she seemed to be slightly drunk.

Lin Zheng's brows furrowed deeper as he listened.

Judging from Deng Hong's reaction, the South District project was a dead end, and he simply couldn't find a way to break it.