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

Lin Zheng felt hot all over and, suppressing his impulse, helped her into the car.

When the car arrived at Yang Wanshan's house, Lin Zheng helped Qiu Xiuqin out of the car.

"Sister-in-law, we're here. Can you go in by yourself?"

Qiu Xiuqin shook her head. "I feel dizzy. Help me inside."

Lin Zheng hesitated for a moment, but still helped her into the courtyard.

The villa was pitch black; Yang Wanshan had not yet returned.

Qiu Xiuqin took out her key and opened the door. Lin Zheng helped her into the living room.

Qiu Xiuqin leaned back on the sofa, looking at him with a dazed expression.

"Manager Lin, thank you."

"Would you like a glass of water before you go?"

"No need, sister-in-law, you should get some rest." Lin Zheng turned to leave.

"Wait." Qiu Xiuqin suddenly grabbed his hand.

Lin Zheng stiffened and turned to look at Qiu Xiuqin.

She stood up and slowly approached him, her warm breath brushing against his face.

"Manager Lin, would you like to stay and keep me company tonight?"

Qiu Xiuqin's voice was seductive as she gently stroked his chest.

Lin Zheng's heart raced, and his blood rushed to his head.

Liu Rong's words rang in his ears, reminding him to be careful of this woman.

But the faint scent of perfume on Qiu Xiuqin and her soft touch made it impossible for him to refuse.

Just as he was hesitating, his phone suddenly rang.

It was Deng Hong calling.

Lin Zheng grasped at a straw and quickly answered the phone.

Deng Hong's voice was filled with panic.

"Lin Zheng, something's happened."

"Liu Shanhai's side has made a move."

"What is it?" Lin Zheng's heart tightened.

"Someone in the village reported me for embezzling land requisition funds, and the discipline inspection commission just came to talk to me."

Where are you now?

"The discipline inspection officials were still waiting outside the village committee office."

"I'm coming right away."

Lin Zheng hung up the phone and looked at Qiu Xiuqin.

"Sister-in-law, something urgent has happened at the village committee, I have to go there."

A hint of disappointment flashed in Qiu Xiuqin's eyes, but she still let go of his hand.

"Then hurry up and go, don't delay important matters."

Lin Zheng nodded and quickly walked out of the villa.

After starting the car, he let out a long sigh of relief.

I almost made a mistake just now, thank goodness Deng Hong's call came just in time.

Half an hour later, Lin Zheng arrived at Zhuangdong Village Committee.

Deng Hong was waiting for him in the office, her face pale and her eyes red.

"Don't rush, tell me slowly, what exactly happened?"

Lin Zheng lit a cigarette and handed one to Deng Hong.

Deng Hong took the cigarette, took a deep drag, and calmed herself down.

"This afternoon, someone in the village anonymously reported that I embezzled a sum of land expropriation compensation three years ago."

"After receiving the report, the discipline inspection commission immediately came down to investigate."

"They checked the village committee's accounts and questioned several villagers."

"Although no problems were found, this incident has greatly affected my reputation."

"The election is next week. For something like this to happen at this time, it must be Liu Shanhai pulling the strings behind the scenes."

Lin Zheng frowned deeply after hearing this.

Liu Shanhai's move was indeed clever; instead of directly targeting Deng Hong, he used a propaganda war to damage her image among the villagers.

"Do you have any evidence to prove that Liu Shanhai instigated this?"

Deng Hong shook her head. "No, the whistleblower is anonymous, and the disciplinary committee won't reveal anything."

"But I know that there is a man in the village named Liu Dabiao, who is Liu Shanhai's cousin, and he does these dirty jobs for him."

"Nine times out of ten, he was the one who made the report."

Lin Zheng thought for a moment, "Where is Liu Dabiao now?"

Deng Hong said, "It should be in the village's mahjong parlor."

"He plays cards there every day at this time."

"I'll go and meet him." Lin Zheng stubbed out his cigarette and stood up.

"Be careful, Liu Dabiao is not someone to mess with. He's been to jail before for fighting," Deng Hong warned.

Lin Zheng nodded and walked out of the office.

The mahjong parlor is located at the entrance of the village; it's a two-story building.

Lin Zheng pushed open the door and went inside. The room was filled with smoke, and several people were playing cards at several tables.

He spotted Liu Dabiao immediately. The man was burly, with a scar on his face. He was sitting at the innermost table, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, and mahjong tiles in his hands.

"Who is Liu Dabiao?" Lin Zheng asked deliberately.

"I am. Who are you?" Liu Dabiao raised his head, his gaze unfriendly.

"Lin Zheng, the project manager of Tenghua Group, needs to speak with you about something."

"I have nothing to talk to you about." Liu Dabiao waved his hand and continued playing cards.

Lin Zheng walked up to him, took out a wad of cash from his pocket, and threw it on the table.

"A thousand dollars for ten minutes of your time."

Liu Dabiao's eyes lit up, and he reached out to take the money, but Lin Zheng stopped him.

Answer my question first, and the money is yours.

"Ask away." Liu Dabiao stared at the money, swallowing hard.

"Was it you who reported Deng Hong?"

Liu Dabiao's expression changed, his eyes flickering: "I don't know what you're talking about."

Lin Zheng said, "Don't pretend with me. I'll double how much money Liu Shanhai gave you."

Liu Dabiao hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice: "Ten thousand."

"I'll give you 20,000 yuan. Tell me everything Liu Shanhai asked you to do."

Liu Dabiao's eyes widened, clearly not expecting Lin Zheng to be so generous.

He thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay, but this isn't the place to talk."

"Come with me."

The two left the mahjong parlor and came to an open space outside the village.

Liu Dabiao lit a cigarette and confessed everything Liu Shanhai had asked him to do.

It turns out that Liu Shanhai not only had someone report Deng Hong, but also arranged for a woman to set a trap for him the day before the election.

The woman's name was Li Qiuping. She was a widow in the village and was quite attractive.

Liu Shanhai gave her 10,000 yuan and asked her to invite him to Li Qiuping's house for dinner the night before the election, and then take the opportunity to seduce him.

Liu Shanhai had already arranged for people to wait outside, so that as soon as he entered Li Qiuping's house, they would rush in to take pictures.

Then we'll use these photos to blackmail him into giving up his support for Deng Hong.

Lin Zheng broke out in a cold sweat after hearing this.

Liu Shanhai's move was truly ruthless; if Liu Dabiao hadn't been so greedy for money, he might have fallen into the trap.

"What else did Liu Shanhai arrange?" Lin Zheng asked.

Liu Dabiao shook his head and said, "That's all."

"He's very careful; he won't tell me all his cards."

Lin Zheng handed the money to Liu Dabiao, saying, "Don't tell anyone about what happened today."

"Don't worry, I'm very tight-lipped." Liu Dabiao took the money, beaming with joy.

Lin Zheng returned to his office and told Deng Hong what Liu Dabiao had said.

Deng Hong's face turned ashen after hearing this.

"Liu Shanhai is a real scoundrel. He'll use any underhanded means to keep his position."

A cold glint flashed in Lin Zheng's eyes.

"Now that we know his plan, let's play along."

"you mean?"

"Let Li Qiuping continue to set traps for me, but we can't let them take the photos."

"On election day, I will expose Liu Shanhai's true colors in front of everyone."

Deng Hong thought for a moment and said, "This is a good idea, but you have to be careful."

"Liu Shanhai is a cornered dog; he's capable of anything."

Lin Zheng patted her shoulder: "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." "It's getting late, you should go back and rest."

Deng Hong nodded, packed her things, and left.

Lin Zheng sat in his office, lit a cigarette, and pondered his next plan.

Since Liu Shanhai made the first move, let's play along to the end.