I slept with my sister's classmate, and she turned out to be my boss.

The next morning, He Ying was reviewing documents in her office.

A knock came at the door.

"Come in."

Su Wanqing gently pushed open the door.

He Ying looked up and saw that Su Wanqing's expression was somewhat subtle.

"Director Su, what's the matter?"

"County Chief, Du Jianguo just called me."

He Ying put down her pen and leaned back in her chair.

"What did you say?"

"He said he wanted to invite me for tea to talk about things at the Finance Bureau." Su Wanqing walked in and sat down opposite He Ying, her voice very low. "He didn't say exactly what it was about, but his tone was off. It didn't sound like official business."

He Ying tapped her fingers lightly twice on the table.

The Finance Bureau is the county's purse strings, and every single allocation of 1160 million yuan to Liuhe Town must go through the Finance Bureau.

Du Jianguo knew better than anyone how many cases he had handled.

He should have already heard the news that the Provincial Audit Office was coming.

What are you thinking?

"I think... he's testing me." Su Wanqing carefully chose her words. "The Provincial Audit Office is coming, and the news should have reached his ears. He knows that the batch of accounts he has is a hot potato. If he keeps them, he's afraid they'll be discovered; if he hands them over, he's afraid he'll offend Fang Mingyuan."

He Ying nodded.

"Your analysis is correct. Du Jianguo worked in the Finance Bureau for more than ten years, rising from a clerk to the director, and served under several county heads."

The reason he can stay in this position is because of one word—stability.

Don't say what you shouldn't say, don't do what you shouldn't do, and don't offend either side.

But now, he has to choose sides.

"Director Su, when you have tea with him, you don't need to say anything. You just need to let him know—the Provincial Audit Office is coming, and it's not just a formality."

Su Wanqing nodded: "He knows I'm with you. My going to see him is a signal in itself."

He Ying looked at her, her gaze darkening.

"Be careful. Du Jianguo is shrewd, but not necessarily reliable."

"Okay, I've got it."

Su Wanqing stood up, turned around and walked out.

As she reached the door, she paused, stopped, and turned around.

"County Magistrate, there's one more thing."

"What?"

"Du Jianguo asked on the phone, 'Has Xiao Chen's injury healed yet?'"

He Ying's fingers tightened slightly.

Du Jianguo asked Chen Dapeng about his injury.

This is not just ordinary concern, nor is it merely politeness.

He was sending a signal to He Ying: I know Xiao Chen is your man, I know what he's investigating, and I know what you're doing.

Su Wanqing didn't say anything more and turned to leave.

He Ying sat behind her desk, staring at the closed door.

She had learned about Du Jianguo before coming to Qingshun County.

He comes from the finance system and his professional skills are beyond question, but he has always been an "invisible man" in politics—he doesn't take sides, doesn't express his opinions, always sits in the middle in meetings, and always says "agree" when he speaks.

But now, he takes the initiative to call Su Wanqing and invite her "for tea".

This shows that his attitude has changed.

The provincial audit office was coming, and he knew that the records he had were a ticking time bomb.

If you leave him there too long, he'll be the one who gets burned.

Handing it over would offend Fang Mingyuan.

He's looking for a middleman.

Su Wanqing was the one he chose.

The deputy director of the government office, who is also the liaison for the county head, is neither Fang Mingyuan's person nor He Ying's protégé, at least not on the surface.

Using her to relay messages allows for both offensive and defensive maneuvers.

He Ying picked up her phone, scrolled to Chen Dapeng's WeChat, and typed a message.

"Du Jianguo might approach you on his own initiative. If he contacts you, don't trust him easily."

After sending it, she stared at the screen.

Less than ten seconds later, Chen Dapeng replied.

"clear."

There were only two words, but He Ying knew he had truly taken it to heart.

After what happened in Liuhe Town, Chen Dapeng was no longer the clueless newbie he was when he first joined the company.

He knows who he should believe and who he shouldn't.

He Ying put down her phone and leaned back in her chair.

His mind raced—the records in Du Jianguo's possession were one of the key pieces of evidence in the Liuhe Town case.

If we can get it, Fang Mingyuan won't be able to escape.

But she couldn't trust Du Jianguo.

He worked at the Finance Bureau for over a decade and with Fang Mingyuan for so many years. Who knows how much more he has up his sleeve?

Now, all we can do is wait for news from Su Wanqing.

……

At 3 p.m., at Qingming Tea House on the east side of the county town.

When Su Wanqing arrived, Du Jianguo was already there.

He sat in a corner booth with a pot of Tieguanyin tea in front of him.

He was wearing a dark jacket, his hair was neatly combed, and he looked no different from when he was at work.

But Su Wanqing noticed that his hand was on the table and his fingers were tapping lightly on the surface.

What is he thinking about, or what is he nervous about?

"Director Du, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

Su Wanqing sat down opposite him.

"No, no, I just arrived too." Du Jianguo forced a smile and poured her a cup of tea. "Director Su, have you been busy lately?"

"It's alright. You know the situation with the county government office; there are no major issues, but constant minor ones."

Du Jianguo nodded, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.

Su Wanqing also picked up her teacup and slowly sipped her tea.

Both of them were waiting for the other to speak first.

After drinking half a cup of tea, Du Jianguo put down the cup and spoke.

"Director Su, you've heard the Provincial Audit Office is coming, haven't you?"

"I've heard about it."

Du Jianguo tapped his fingers on the table twice more.

"Director Su, let me tell you the truth." His voice was very low, "I know the accounts of the Finance Bureau over the past few years. Some of the accounts cannot withstand an audit."

Su Wanqing didn't respond, waiting for him to continue.

"That 1160 million yuan in Liuhe Town, every single transaction came from the Finance Bureau. I signed off on every single one." Du Jianguo looked up at Su Wanqing. "I'm not trying to shirk responsibility. I acknowledge the signatures. But some money wasn't something I could decide on my own."

Su Wanqing was taken aback: This old fox had actually exposed himself.

1160 million!

Su Wanqing remained calm and took a sip of tea.

"Director Du, what did you want to discuss with me today?"

Du Jianguo remained silent for a few seconds.

"I'd like to know, what's County Chief He's attitude towards me?"

After saying this, Du Jianguo seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and leaned back in his chair.

He said it out loud, revealing his hand—he wanted to side with He Ying, but wasn't sure if she would accept.

Su Wanqing looked at him but did not answer immediately.

She was thinking about what He Ying had said—

"You just need to let him know that the Provincial Audit Office is coming, and it's not just a formality."

"Director Du, the Provincial Audit Office's visit this time is not just a formality." Su Wanqing's voice was not loud, but every word carried weight. "The higher-ups already know about the Liuhe Town matter. As for County Chief Fang, no one can say for sure how long he can hold out."

Du Jianguo's expression changed slightly.

He knew all too well that an audit by the provincial authorities was no joke.

Every audit report can serve as a clue and be directly transferred to the discipline inspection and supervision commission!

"What is County Chief He's attitude towards those who voluntarily confess their problems?"

"Confessing will be met with leniency. This is the policy, and it's also County Chief He's attitude."

Du Jianguo remained silent for a long time.

He picked up the teacup, took a sip, put it down, picked it up again, and put it down again.

Su Wanqing didn't urge him; she sat opposite him and slowly drank her tea.

"Director Su, I have some things on hand." He finally spoke, "The Finance Bureau's records over the years, the whereabouts of every large sum of money, are all documented. Including the 1160 million in Liuhe Town."

Su Wanqing's heart skipped a beat, but her face remained expressionless.

"What are your plans to do?"

"I want to hand it over to County Chief He. I don't want to be a victim of power struggles," Du Jianguo said, looking at her. "But I have one condition."

"What are the conditions?"

"No one can know that I was the one who handed this over. At least not now."

Su Wanqing understood—Du Jianguo was afraid of Fang Mingyuan's retaliation.

Having lived in Qingshun County for so many years, Du Jianguo knew how powerful the Fang family was.

"Director Du, I can't make that decision myself. I need to go back and report to County Chief He."

"Of course." Du Jianguo nodded. "Director Su, I'll wait for your news."

Su Wanqing stood up and picked up her bag.

"Director Du, I'll pay for the tea."

"No need, no need, I'll do it..."

"You can treat me next time."

Su Wanqing smiled, turned around and left.

As she walked out of the teahouse, she took a deep breath.

Du Jianguo is about to lay bare his true colors; this is a major breakthrough.

The total amount of 1160 million in Liuhe Town is recorded and signed for every single transaction.

If these records ended up in He Ying's hands, or in the hands of the audit team...

Fang Mingyuan really can't escape now.

She took out her phone and sent a message to He Ying.

"County Chief, Du Jianguo is willing to disclose the truth. But he has one condition—no one can know that he was the one who disclosed it."

After sending it, she waited for a while.

He Ying's phone vibrated, and she replied.

"Okay. Have him come to my place tonight."

Su Wanqing looked at the words and felt a complex mix of emotions.

Du Jianguo, seeing which way the wind was blowing, sided with He Ying.

This person, who had worked in the Finance Bureau for over a decade, finally chose sides.

It wasn't because He Ying was better than Fang Mingyuan, but because the Provincial Audit Office was coming, and he sensed a change in the wind.

He really is a shrewd old man.

……

That evening, at He Ying's residence.

Du Jianguo stood at the door, carrying a briefcase, looking somewhat nervous.

Su Wanqing opened the door for him. He Ying was sitting on the sofa with a pot of tea on the coffee table in front of her.

"Director Du, please have a seat."

He Ying pointed to the sofa opposite.

Du Jianguo sat down and placed his briefcase on his lap.

He didn't open it, but looked at He Ying as if confirming something.

"County Magistrate He, I've come today because I want to..."

"I know," He Ying interrupted him. "Director Su told me everything. You said you had some secrets and wanted to give them to me."

Du Jianguo nodded.

"County Chief He, I've worked in the Finance Bureau for over ten years. I keep records of every large sum of money that goes through. It's not because I want to keep any evidence, it's just... a habit. People in finance are used to keeping records..."

He Ying smiled faintly: "I understand."

Du Jianguo opened his briefcase and took out a thick, bulging brown paper envelope.

He placed the envelope on the coffee table and pushed it in front of He Ying.

"This is the bottom record of all large sums of money in Liuhe Town over the past five years. The destination of every penny, the person in charge, and the approver are all listed inside. There are also... records of several transactions handled by County Chief Fang."

He Ying picked up the envelope, but didn't open it; she simply set it aside.

"Director Du, have you thought this through?"

Du Jianguo remained silent for a few seconds.

"I've thought it through. I don't owe County Chief He or County Chief Fang anything. Over the years, a lot of the money they've made me approve has been irregular."

I approved it because he's the executive deputy county head, someone I can't afford to offend. But now…”

He looked up at He Ying.

"The provincial audit department is coming, and I don't want to be a scapegoat."

"You won't be a scapegoat. As long as you cooperate with the investigation and proactively confess your problems, the organization will consider leniency. I will also put in a good word for you when the time is right."

Upon hearing this, Du Jianguo nodded and stood up.

"County Magistrate He, I've handed over the items. I'll be leaving now."

"Director Du."

He Ying called out to him.

Du Jianguo stopped and turned around.

"For now, only you, me, and Director Su know about this. Don't worry."

Du Jianguo opened his mouth as if to say something, but nothing came out.

He nodded, turned and left.

The moment the door closed, He Ying leaned back on the sofa and let out a long sigh.

She picked up the brown paper envelope, opened it, and took out the materials inside.

The records are densely packed with information—date, amount, destination, person in charge, and approver.

Every single one is clearly stated.

Fang Mingyuan's name appeared several times.

Su Wanqing walked over and sat down next to her.

"County Magistrate, is this enough?"

He Ying flipped through the records, her fingers slowly sliding across the pages.

"That's enough. But it's not time yet."

"What are we waiting for?"

"Wait for the provincial audit office to arrive. Wait for Fang Mingyuan to get restless and slip up."

He Ying put the materials away and locked them in the drawer.

My phone vibrated; it was a WeChat message from Chen Dapeng.

"Sister Ying, I heard Du Jianguo went to see Director Su. What happened?"

He Ying thought for a moment and replied, "He handed over the complete accounts. The full record of 1160 million in Liuhe Town."

"That's great! As for Fang Mingyuan..."

"It's not the right time yet. Let's wait until the Provincial Audit Office arrives."

"clear."

He Ying smiled slightly as she looked at those two words.

From that absurd night until now, Chen Dapeng is no longer the clueless newbie he was when he first joined the company.

He learned to be cautious, to wait, and to remain calm at crucial moments.

"Dapeng".

She posted another message.

"Um?"

"During this time, try to avoid contact with Du Jianguo. If Fang Mingyuan's people find out, there will be trouble."

"Okay. You too, be careful."

He Ying looked at the words "Be careful" and fell silent.

She recalled what Du Jianguo had said earlier that day—"I don't want to be a scapegoat."

These words sent a chill down her spine.

In officialdom, how many people have become scapegoats?

How many people have taken the blame for others?

but……

She wouldn't let Chen Dapeng become that kind of scapegoat.