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

After Liu Jianming left, Huang Shide sat alone behind his desk, staring at the closed door, without moving for a long time.

He leaned back in his chair, his mind replaying the events of the past few days.

Three days ago, in the morning.

He was reviewing a project application in his office when his phone rang.

He glanced at the caller ID—it was Hu Yuheng, director of the Fifth Discipline Inspection and Supervision Office of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection.

When someone from the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection calls, no matter who you are or what position you hold, your heart will skip a beat the moment you receive the call.

He answered the call.

"Director Huang, this is Hu Yuheng from the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection."

"Director Hu, hello."

His voice was steady, but his heart was racing.

"Director Huang, there's something I'd like to ask you. Has your department encountered any difficulties in cooperating with the audit work in Qingshun County?"

Huang Shide's fingers tightened slightly.

Hu Yuheng asked, "Have you encountered any difficulties?", not "How well are you cooperating?"

He understood the wording.

"Have you encountered any difficulties?" is a question directed at him.

Is anyone making things difficult for you?

Is anyone stuck with materials?

Is someone putting pressure on them?

"Director Hu, we haven't encountered any difficulties so far. We are obtaining the materials the audit team needs according to procedure."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

"Director Huang, the province is paying close attention to the case in Qingshun County. The audit work cannot be delayed. Keep a close eye on things there."

"Okay, Director Hu. I'll keep a close eye on it."

The phone hangs up.

Huang Shide put his phone on the table, leaned back in his chair, and stared at the ceiling.

Hu Yuheng said, "The case in Qingshun County is of great concern to the province"—not the "Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection," but the "province as a whole."

The statement was vague, but he knew it actually referred to the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection.

He didn't act immediately because he hadn't figured out the situation yet.

Hu Yuheng only said "paying attention," not "intervening" or "filing a case."

This indicates that the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection is currently only gathering information and has not yet formally intervened.

But the next day, he received another call.

He hadn't saved the number and hesitated for a moment before answering.

The voice on the other end of the phone was a man's, very low, with a deliberately calm tone.

"Director Huang, this is Nie Jianguo."

Huang Shide's fingers tightened slightly.

Old Nie—a businessman from the provincial capital, known in his circle as "General Manager Nie," is said to have extensive connections and close relationships with several provincial leaders.

Huang Shide had no direct contact with him, but he had heard of him.

"Mr. Nie, what is it?"

"Director Huang, regarding the request for access from Qingshun County, could you perhaps make an exception?"

Huang Shide's face darkened.

Lao Nie is not from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, nor from the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, nor from the audit team.

What's so special about him, a businessman, being in charge of retrieving materials from the provincial department?

But he didn't refuse outright because he knew that Lao Nie had powerful connections.

The fact that Lao Nie dared to make this call means that the person behind him had given his approval.

"Mr. Nie, the audit team's retrieval of materials is in accordance with procedure. We will proceed to each step of the procedure as it progresses. There is no issue of 'leniency'."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

"Director Huang, I'm not asking you to break the rules. It's just... to slow down a bit."

"President Nie, the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection is paying attention to this matter..."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, then the call ended.

Huang Shide put his phone on the table, stared out the window, and thought for a long time.

The fact that Lao Nie called to "say hello" indicates that someone above is putting pressure on them.

This person is not Lao Nie; Lao Nie doesn't have this ability.

The person behind Lao Nie

Huang Shide was constantly torn.

His concern wasn't about whether or not to provide the materials—the materials definitely needed to be provided; the provincial audit office had already sent him a reminder letter, and Hu Yuheng from the provincial discipline inspection commission had also called.

Refusing to give it is tantamount to defying the Provincial Audit Office and ignoring the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection.

He, a deputy director-general, couldn't handle these two heavy burdens.

His dilemma was: how to give it?

Should we give it to them readily, or delay giving it to them later?

Give it to him readily, or you'll offend the people behind Lao Nie.

Delaying payment would offend the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Provincial Audit Office.

He couldn't afford to offend either side.

He had been in officialdom for over twenty years, rising from a clerk to a deputy director-general, and had seen too many people fail because they chose the wrong side.

Some people stand on the left, and the people on the right attack them;

Some people stand on the right, and the people on the left attack them;

Some people try to offend neither side, but end up offending both.

Taking sides is suicide, not taking sides is waiting to die.

……

That evening, he sat alone in his study and thought about the matter from beginning to end again.

He recalled what Hu Yuheng had said—"The province is paying close attention."

He recalled the phone call from Lao Nie, a businessman coming to manage matters at the provincial department, which meant that the person behind him was already anxious.

He recalled the urging letter, with his name written in the copy column. The Provincial Audit Office was telling him: You are responsible for this matter.

You're a deputy director-general, and the provincial audit department has sent you a follow-up letter, and the provincial discipline inspection commission has called you. What are you still hesitating about?

He was hesitating.

He knew that if he readily handed over the materials to the audit team, the people behind Lao Nie would put him on a blacklist.

As a deputy director-general, how will he proceed in the future after offending someone like that?

But he also knew that if he didn't give it, or if he gave it to them in a dragging manner, the provincial discipline inspection commission would keep an eye on him.

The provincial discipline inspection commission will not show leniency just because someone is a deputy director-general.

Ultimately, he made a decision.

He chose to listen to the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection.

It wasn't because he wasn't afraid of the people behind Lao Nie, but because he had done the math:

If he offends the person behind Lao Nie, he might still be able to stay in the provincial capital.

At worst, he'll be marginalized, transferred to a less demanding position, and sidelined for a few years. But once those people retire, he might still have a chance.

But having offended the provincial discipline inspection commission, he couldn't stay in the provincial capital for even a day.

If the provincial discipline inspection commission wants to take action against a deputy director-general, it can do so with ease.

He has seen too many officials taken away by the disciplinary committee for "non-cooperation".

When those people left, they didn't even have time to close the office door.

So he went to Liu Jianming's office in person.

Before he went, he considered many ways—

Call Liu Jianming and ask him to come over, have the secretary relay the message, or simply stay out of it and let the office handle it.

But he ultimately chose to go in person.

Because he wanted Liu Jianming to know that this matter was not Huang Shide's personal idea, but the idea of ​​those above him.

He wanted to put pressure on Liu Jianming, the kind of pressure that comes from a superior coming to his door in person, which is greater than any phone call or document.

He stood at the door of Liu Jianming's office and saw Liu Jianming leisurely drinking tea.

He cursed inwardly—

I've been agonizing over this for three days, while you're having such a leisurely time.

But he didn't show it; he just said coldly:

"Come to my office."

In the ensuing conversation, he thought through every word before speaking.

He said, "The audit team urged us three times," letting Liu Jianming know that the audit team had been keeping an eye on things.

He said, "When have I ever been on a business trip?" letting Liu Jianming know that he was lying.

He threw the urging letter in front of Liu Jianming, letting Liu Jianming see the official seal and the copy list on the red-headed document.

He asked, "Was this your own idea or did someone pressure you to do it?" letting Liu Jianming know that he had seen through him.

Finally, he uttered the most weighty words—

"The next time I come looking for you, it won't be me."

He didn't say that casually.

He knew Liu Jianming understood—the people coming "next time" wouldn't be department leaders, but people from the Discipline Inspection Commission.

He was nervous when he said that.

Because he knew that these words were not only for Liu Jianming's ears, but also for his own.

If he chooses the wrong side, he won't know who will come looking for him next time.

Huang Shide shook his head, pulling himself out of his memories.

He glanced at the clock on the wall—four o'clock in the afternoon.

The materials should have already been sent to the audit team.

He picked up the landline on the table and dialed the audit team's number.

The phone rang twice and was answered.

"Team Leader Meng, this is Huang Shide from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs."

"Director Huang."

Meng Qingshan's voice came from the other end of the phone, tinged with surprise.

"Did you receive the materials?"

"received."

"Team Leader Meng, the issue of retrieving the materials was due to our inadequate work, which caused trouble for the audit team. I apologize to you."

"Director Huang, you're too kind. It's good that the materials have arrived; we'll be using the audit report soon."

"Understood. Team Leader Meng, please feel free to contact us anytime if there's anything else we can do to assist with the audit."

"Okay. Thank you, Director Huang."

After hanging up the phone, Huang Shide leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh.

The materials have been submitted, and the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection should be satisfied, as should the Provincial Audit Office.

As for the people behind Lao Nie—

He can't care about that anymore.

He has made his choice, and he will continue down this path.

……

Meanwhile, on the third floor of the county audit bureau.

After hanging up Huang Shide's call, Meng Qingshan picked up the documents that had just been delivered from the provincial department and began to look through them page by page.

The original document is the original approval document from the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Each page is numbered and stamped with the official seal.

The entire approval process for the 300 million yuan provincial special fund for rural revitalization was clearly documented, from the Provincial Department of Finance to the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, from the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs to the County Finance Bureau, and from the County Finance Bureau to the Liuhe Town Finance Office.

Fang Mingyuan's name did not appear in the approval section.

But the final destination of this money perfectly matched the materials submitted by Zhou Min and Qian Cheng's account.

"Engineer Wu."

Meng Qingshan raised his head.

Wu Min peeked out from behind the computer: "Director Meng?"

"The audit report will be drafted starting today. For the section on Liuhe Town, we need to include all the issues that the audit team found; not a single one can be omitted."

"OK."

Wu Min stood up, walked to the filing cabinet, took out the folder for Liuhe Town, returned to her seat, and began to organize the materials.

Meng Qingshan picked up the landline on the table and dialed a number.

The phone rang twice and was answered.

"County Chief He, this is Meng Qingshan."

"Team Leader Meng," He Ying's voice came from the other end of the phone, "Did you get the materials?"

"I received it. Huang Shide called personally. I just received it and I'm looking at it now."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

"Team Leader Meng, when will the audit report be available?"

"Start drafting today, it will take at least three days. If it takes longer, it will take five days."

Okay. I'll wait for your news.

"County Chief He," Meng Qingshan's voice deepened, "we've obtained the materials from the provincial department. Once the audit report for Liuhe Town is completed, Fang Zhiwen's problems will be undeniable. But Fang Mingyuan—"

He didn't finish speaking, but He Ying understood.

"Team Leader Meng, you just focus on writing the audit report. I'll handle the rest."

"it is good."

Meng Qingshan hung up the phone and looked at the pile of materials on the table.

The financial statements of Liuhe Town for the past five years, special fund allocation records, project contracts, acceptance reports, original documents handed over by Zhou Min, Qian Cheng's transfer records, plus the approval document from the provincial department that was just delivered—these materials were piled up like a small mountain.

Meng Qingshan picked up his pen, opened a new notebook, and wrote the title on the first line:

Special Audit Report on the Use of Special Funds in Qingshun County...