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

Fang Mingyuan sat on the sofa, his phone lying on the coffee table in front of him, the screen still displaying the message from Fang Zhiwen—

"Brother, I might not be able to hold on."

He did not reply.

It's not because I don't know what to say, it's because saying anything is useless.

Fang Zhiwen worked in Liuhe Town for ten years. What kind of storms hadn't he seen?

The fact that he said "I can't take it anymore" means that what the audit team found was much more serious than he had expected.

Zheng Hai sat opposite him, holding a notebook, his expression much more serious than usual.

He had followed Fang Mingyuan for five years and had seen him handle all sorts of situations—being questioned by superiors, ostracized by peers, and contradicted by subordinates—and Fang Mingyuan always managed to find a solution, remaining calm and composed, handling everything with ease.

But this time is different.

The ashtray in front of Fang Mingyuan was already piled with seven or eight cigarette butts, some of which had only been half-smoked before being extinguished.

This isn't like him.

Fang Mingyuan is a man who even smokes with a rhythm—deep inhalation, slow exhalation, and extinguishing each cigarette only when there are two centimeters left.

But at this moment, his rhythm was completely disrupted.

"Zheng Hai," Fang Mingyuan finally spoke, "how many problems did the audit team find during their three days in Liuhe Town?"

Zheng Hai opened the notebook and read through it page by page.

All of this information was sent to him by someone arranged by Fang Zhiwen.

The 300 million yuan contract (LH-2023-018) was paid in full in a lump sum without any written approval procedures.

The black ballpoint pen used to sign the acceptance report did not comply with the county's 2022 regulations on the use of blue-black ink.

The wastewater treatment project tender documents were released, but only seven days were given between the deadline for submitting bids, which violates the Bidding Law.

Two other contracts also showed handwriting discrepancies upon preliminary comparison with signatures on other documents by the same person.

"County Chief Fang, the audit team is currently communicating with the town about these three items." Zheng Hai closed his notebook, looked up, "but they definitely have more to offer. Meng Qingshan is the type to hold onto his cards, playing them one by one."

Fang Mingyuan stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, leaned back on the sofa, and stared at the ceiling.

"Zhiwen said he couldn't hold on any longer. This is the first time I've heard him say that."

Zheng Hai remained silent.

He had dealt with Fang Zhiwen quite a bit and knew that person—

In Liuhe Town, their word is law.

Even some county-level leaders who went to Liuhe Town for research had to be mindful of his attitude.

When someone like that says "I can't take it anymore," it's not just being dramatic; it's because they've truly reached their limit.

"County Chief Fang, we need to figure out a solution for Liuhe Town." Zheng Hai carefully chose his words. "The audit team has only been investigating for three days. The deeper they investigate, the more problems they'll uncover. And what about Secretary Fang..."

He didn't finish speaking, but Fang Mingyuan understood what he meant.

Fang Zhiwen couldn't hold on, not because of a lack of ability, but because the problems were too big.

The money handled, the signatures made, and the projects approved over the years—every single one of them cannot withstand close scrutiny.

The audit team is like a needle; once it pricks you, the pus will flow out.

"Have you made contact with Lao Nie in the provincial capital?"

Fang Mingyuan sat up straight and looked at Zheng Hai's face.

Zheng Hai shook his head.

"I called him several times, but no one answered. I sent him messages, but he hasn't replied yet."

Fang Mingyuan's fingers slowly tightened on the sofa armrest.

It's not normal for Lao Nie not to answer the phone or reply to messages.

Even if it's inconvenient to meet, at least they'll reply with a message saying "I understand" or "It's inconvenient."

There isn't a single word. What does that mean?

This means he's hiding.

This means he heard some rumors and didn't want to get involved.

"Keep hitting. Keep hitting until you get a hold of the ball."

Zheng Hai hesitated for a moment: "County Chief Fang, if Lao Nie keeps refusing to answer..."

"Then let's find a way to find him." Fang Mingyuan's voice turned serious. "Go to his workplace, go to his home, go to the places he frequents. Find him and talk to him face to face."

"County Chief Fang, isn't this too risky? Old Nie is the kind of person who's most afraid of being seen getting too close to us. If people find out we went to see him..."

"Now is not the time to be afraid," Fang Mingyuan interrupted him. "The audit team has a knife to our throats. If we don't fight back now, it will be too late."

Zheng Hai was silent for a few seconds, then nodded.

"Then I'll go to the provincial capital first thing tomorrow morning."

"There's one more thing," Fang Mingyuan said, looking at him. "Is the liaison officer for the audit team that kid surnamed Chen?"

"Yes. Chen Dapeng. He Ying's man."

Fang Mingyuan tapped his fingers on the armrest twice more.

"Find a way to transfer him away from the audit team."

Zheng Hai was taken aback: "County Chief Fang, the liaison officer for the audit team was appointed by the province; the county government office only recommended him. Transferring him requires the provincial audit team's approval. Liu Zhiguo doesn't have that authority."

"I know Liu Zhiguo doesn't have the authority," Fang Mingyuan's voice turned cold. "Then let's start somewhere else."

Zheng Hai looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

"Isn't he helping He Ying investigate materials? Doesn't he have something on his hands?" Fang Mingyuan's voice was very low. "Then let's find a way to turn what he has into a hot potato—so that he can't even keep it himself."

"What County Magistrate Fang means is..."

"The audit team is checking the accounts, not individuals. If that guy surnamed Chen gets into trouble, would the audit team still dare to use him?"

Zheng Hai's fingers tightened slightly.

"County Chief Fang, do you mean—we should take action against him?"

"It's not about harming him," Fang Mingyuan shook his head. "It's about letting him cause problems on his own."

He paused for a moment.

"Last time in Liuhe Town, Zhiwen acted too carelessly. Hitting someone like that leaves a handle for them to use against you. We can't do that this time."

"Then what should we do?"

"He was helping He Ying investigate materials, but where did he get those materials from? Some of these materials are not something a mere information section clerk should have. If someone reports him for stealing classified documents or retaining classified materials without authorization, would the provincial audit team still dare to use him?"

Zheng Hai's eyes lit up.

"Does County Chief Fang mean—to report him?"

"We don't need to report it. Find someone to write a report posing as an 'insider' and send it to the provincial audit team. The content doesn't need to be fabricated; just list the materials he actually has. The things He Ying asked him to investigate didn't go through proper procedures; he took copies without permission. That's the leverage."

Zheng Hai thought for a moment: "This method is feasible. But it requires someone to carry it out."

"Let Zhiwen make the arrangements. He's been in Liuhe Town for so many years; finding a trustworthy person shouldn't be difficult for him."

"What will Meng Qingshan think of the whistleblower letter sent to the provincial audit team?"

Fang Mingyuan sneered: "Meng Qingshan is a man who's very particular about procedures. Even if he thinks it's a false accusation against a liaison officer, he'll at least suspend his work until the investigation is clear. And that suspension lasts a week. After a week, it's not even certain whether the audit team will still be able to stay in Liuhe Town."

Zheng Hai quickly took notes in his notebook.

"And another thing," Fang Mingyuan looked at him, "we need to hurry up with Lao Nie's matter in the provincial capital. The problems the audit team found in Liuhe Town are just 'problems,' not 'cases,' as long as no one in the province pushes them forward. But if someone in the province pushes them forward, problems will become cases, and cases will become major cases."

"I'm going to the provincial capital first thing tomorrow morning."

Fang Mingyuan nodded and leaned back on the sofa.

He picked up the cigarette case on the coffee table, took out a cigarette, and lit it.

"County Chief Fang," Zheng Hai said, closing his notebook and looking at him, "if Lao Nie doesn't show up, if the provincial audit team can't push things through, if Liuhe Town really can't hold on anymore—do we have a way out?"

Fang Mingyuan's fingers paused for a moment.

"What way out?"

"I mean..." Zheng Hai carefully chose his words, "What if things get out of control? Have you considered...?"

He didn't finish speaking, but Fang Mingyuan understood.

Zheng Hai asked him: Have you ever thought about running away?

Have you ever thought about shifting the blame to Fang Zhiwen?

Have you ever considered taking the blame for someone to protect the others?

Fang Mingyuan stared at him for a few seconds, his gaze as cold as ice.

"There's no 'what if'."

Zheng Hai lowered his head and stopped speaking.

"Zhiwen handled most of the matters in Liuhe Town, while I handled less," Fang Mingyuan said calmly. "Of the 1160 million, only the 300 million allocated by the province was directly related to me. The rest was handled by Zhiwen himself. I only 'knew' about it, but I didn't 'participate' in it."

Zheng Hai looked up at him.

"If it ever comes to that, Zhiwen will take the blame. He won't drag me into it."

His tone was calm, as if he were talking about something that had already been agreed upon.

Zheng Hai's throat felt a little dry.

He had been by Fang Mingyuan's side for five years and knew about his relationship with Fang Zhiwen—not just cousins, but also political allies and a community of shared interests.

But now, Fang Mingyuan says, "Zhiwen will handle it," his tone as calm as if he were talking about something insignificant.

"County Chief Fang," Zheng Hai's voice was somewhat hoarse, "If Secretary Fang knew..."

"He won't know," Fang Mingyuan interrupted him, "and it won't come to that."

He stood up.

"Alright, go back and get ready. We're going to the provincial capital first thing tomorrow morning."

Zheng Hai stood up and picked up his notebook.

"County Chief Fang, I'll be going now."

"Zheng Hai".

Zheng Hai stopped and turned around.

"You've been with me for five years. I won't let anything happen to you."

Zheng Hai opened his mouth as if to say something, but nothing came out.

He nodded, turned and left.

The moment the door closed, Fang Mingyuan looked out the window.

A thought kept running through his mind—

If Liuhe Town really can't be saved, he must absolve himself of all responsibility.

"Zhiwen, don't blame me..."