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

Zhou Hailong couldn't resist at all and leaned down to kiss him.

The two became entangled again...

Lin Zheng stood outside the door and heard every word of their conversation.

Ma Cuihua wanted him to fight Li Ting himself, and then she could reap the benefits.

If she wins, she will have a political achievement, and she can also use the opportunity to blackmail Li Ting.

If they lose, he takes the blame, and she suffers no loss.

This woman is terrifyingly cunning.

Lin Zheng clenched his fist, about to continue listening, when his phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket.

He was startled, quickly covered his pocket, and took two steps back.

The phone was still vibrating, though not loudly, it was exceptionally clear in the quiet corridor.

In the office, Zhou Hailong suddenly stopped what he was doing: "What was that sound?"

Ma Cuihua heard it too, and her expression changed: "It sounds like someone's there."

The two quickly separated and hurriedly straightened their clothes.

Lin Zheng dared not linger any longer, and quickly walked to the elevator and pressed the button.

Footsteps could already be heard in the corridor before the elevator arrived.

Zhou Hailong opened the door and peeked out.

Lin Zheng quickly slipped into the stairwell and held his breath.

"Nobody's here," Zhou Hailong's voice came through.

"Maybe I misheard."

"Go downstairs and check, but don't let anyone see you."

Ma Cuihua's voice carried a hint of nervousness.

"understood."

Zhou Hailong walked out of the office and headed towards the elevator.

Lin Zheng hid in the stairwell, listening to the footsteps getting closer and closer, his heart pounding like a drum.

Zhou Hailong walked to the stairwell door, put his hand on the doorknob, hesitated for a moment, and ultimately did not push it open, but turned and walked towards the elevator.

The elevator doors opened, and he stepped inside.

Lin Zheng breathed a sigh of relief, leaned against the wall, his back covered in cold sweat.

They almost got caught.

He waited a few minutes to make sure Zhou Hailong had left before coming out of the stairwell and quietly entering the elevator.

After leaving the head office, Lin Zheng found an internet cafe nearby.

The scene he just witnessed caused a surge of blood to flow to a certain part of his body.

It wasn't appropriate for him to talk to Ma Cuihua now; he needed to calm down.

At 2 p.m. sharp, Lin Zheng appeared at the door of Ma Cuihua's office.

He deliberately arrived half an hour early, hoping to finalize the deal when there were fewer people around.

Inside the office, Ma Cuihua was already busy.

She changed into a dark gray business suit, her hair was neatly styled, and her makeup was exquisite, making her look completely different from the woman who had been so unrestrained at her desk that morning.

When Lin Zheng entered, Ma Cuihua raised her head, her gaze indifferent.

"Manager Lin, you have so much time?"

"Mr. Ma, I'd like to report to you about the project."

Lin Zheng sat down and got straight to the point.

Ma Cuihua leaned back in her chair, picked up her teacup, and took a sip. "Go ahead and speak."

Lin Zheng gave a brief report on the progress made in the past few days.

The election was successful, and Deng Hong was elected as the village committee secretary, which basically put the village affairs in order.

Li Ting promised to repay five million to Tianlong Engineering Company within ten days, but the money hasn't arrived yet.

The project lacked complete permits, and Li Ting threatened to use this as leverage to halt the project.

Ma Cuihua remained expressionless after hearing this.

"That's all?"

That's all.

"Manager Lin, you have disappointed me greatly."

Ma Cuihua put down her teacup and looked at him coldly.

"The group entrusted this project to you because they trust you and believe you are capable."

"But what about you?"

"You've been in charge of the project for almost half a month, and you still haven't gotten the money back, the road isn't built, the demolition isn't resolved, and there are still problems with the project's permits."

"How am I supposed to explain this to the company?"

Lin Zheng frowned: "President Ma, you are also aware of the project's situation."

"The money was embezzled. The relationships in the village are complicated, and there are also people in the town causing trouble."

"It was already quite an achievement for me to straighten out the relationships in the village within half a month, get Deng Hong elected as the village committee secretary, and make a breakthrough."

"Not easy?"

Ma Cuihua scoffed, "Manager Lin, are you saying I should praise you?"

"Did you get Deng Hong elected as the village committee secretary?"

"That was Yang Wanshan helping you, Qiu Xiuqin helping you, and Qian Kun helping you."

"What did you do yourself? You just ran errands and relayed messages."

Ma Cuihua continued, "And what about that money? Li Ting promised to repay five million within ten days, but seven days have passed now. Where is the money?"

"You say the money hasn't arrived in your account, then go ask him for it!"

"Do you think money will magically appear and fall into your lap if you just sit in your office and wait?"

"The project's paperwork is incomplete. Go to the town to complete it, or go to the district for approval."

"You do nothing but come to me every day to report back. What's the point?"

Lin Zheng took a deep breath and suppressed his anger.

"Mr. Ma, I'm here today to ask for your help in coordinating this."

"In Dianhai Town, I have no influence and no one listens to me."

"You're different; you're the group's vice president."

"If you step in, the town and district will give you some face."

Ma Cuihua waved her hand to interrupt him: "Manager Lin, you've got it wrong."

"You are in charge of this project, not me."

"If you can't even handle this little thing, then you might as well not do this project at all."

"I......"

Just as Lin Zheng was about to speak, Ma Cuihua interrupted him again.

"I'm giving you a month. Within that month, the money must be in place, and the road construction must begin."

"If you can't do that, write your own resignation letter. Don't wait for the company to fire you."

Within a month, the money needs to be in place, and the road construction needs to begin.

Li Ting's side is still dragging its feet; the project procedures haven't been completed yet, and the demolition compensation hasn't been secured.

This is simply an impossible task.

Ma Cuihua's move was clearly an attempt to force him to pack his bags.

"Mr. Ma, one month is too short, at least three months."

"Three months?"

Ma Cuihua sneered, "Manager Lin, do you think the group is your family's property?"

"Three months is too long, even the daylily will be cold."

"Just one month, not a day more."

"If you think you can't do it, you can resign now, and I'll replace you with someone else."

Lin Zheng frowned and said coldly, "Mr. Ma, why are you forcing me to leave?"

"Zhang Wenshan's mistake has nothing to do with me, you don't need to scheme against me like this."

Ma Cuihua's expression changed: "What do you mean by that?"

"It doesn't mean anything, it just feels weird."

"I took on this project, and I want to do it well more than anyone else."

"But not only do you not support me, you also set limits for me at every turn."

"It's simply impossible for the money to arrive and the road construction to begin within a month."

"You want me to leave so you can replace me with your own people, right?"

Ma Cuihua slammed her hand on the table: "Lin Zheng, stop spouting nonsense."

"You are in charge of the project, so if you don't do it well, of course you should take responsibility."

"If you feel that I'm targeting you, you can file a complaint with the company or report me to the disciplinary committee."

"I, Ma Cuihua, have done nothing wrong and have nothing to fear from your investigation."

Lin Zheng looked at her and couldn't help but laugh.

Can one walk upright and sit straight?

Who was having an affair with Zhou Hailong in the office this morning?

Who's doing things separately from Li Ting?

Who embezzled ten million yuan of project funds?

"Mr. Ma, don't worry, I won't complain or report it."

"One month it is, I promise to complete the task."

"But what will you do if I do it?"

Ma Cuihua was taken aback: "What? What should we do?"

"If I can get the money in place and clear the road to start construction within a month, how will you compensate me?"

Ma Cuihua's expression shifted between anger and uncertainty: "What kind of compensation do you want?"

"I don't care about promotions and raises."

"What I need is your support, unconditional support."

"No matter what difficulties we encounter during the project, you must stand by my side."

Ma Cuihua was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"Okay, I promise."

"You did it within a month, and I fully support you."

If you can't do it, then you can leave.

"make a deal."

Lin Zheng stood up and walked out of the office without looking back.

Ma Cuihua sat in the chair, her expression shifting between light and dark.

She didn't expect Lin Zheng to be so tough.

Instead of backing down, he turned the tables on her.

Within a month, the money arrived, and construction began.

This is simply not possible.

She had already spoken to Li Ting, telling him to stall for time.

She also spoke to people in the town, asking Wang Jianguo to make things difficult for them.

She also found someone in the district to help her with the project permits, but things were slowly dragging on.

Even if Lin Zheng had extraordinary abilities, it would be impossible for him to resolve everything within a month.

He'll leave obediently, and she'll replace him with her own people; the project will still be hers.