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

The last day of the provincial audit team's stay in Qingshun County.

The conference room on the third floor of the county committee building was filled with people sitting on both sides of the long table.

Zhou Mingyuan sat in the main seat, with a notebook open in front of him.

He placed his hands clasped on the table, his gaze fixed on the conference room door, waiting for Meng Qingshan to enter.

He Ying sat to his left, wearing a dark suit jacket, her hair tied in a low ponytail, with light makeup on her face, and her expression was very calm.

Fang Mingyuan sat opposite He Ying, with a laptop open in front of him and a cup of tea beside him.

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, then put it down. His gaze swept across the conference room, lingering on each attendee's face for less than half a second before quickly looking away.

The conference room door was pushed open, and Meng Qingshan and his entourage walked in.

Zhou Mingyuan stood up, He Ying stood up, and the others followed suit.

"Team Leader Meng, thank you for your hard work."

Zhou Mingyuan greeted him with a smile.

Meng Qingshan responded with a smile, "Secretary Zhou, the audit report is out. We're here today to formally report the audit findings to the county party committee and county government."

"Please sit down."

Everyone took their seats.

The audit team members distributed the bound materials to everyone present.

Fang Mingyuan took the document, opened the cover, and saw the words printed on the first page: "Special Audit Report on the Fiscal Revenue and Expenditure and the Use of Special Funds in Qingshun County".

His hand paused slightly, then continued flipping down.

Meng Qingshan opened the report in front of him and cleared his throat.

"Secretary Zhou, County Head He, and comrades, according to the work arrangements of the Provincial Audit Office, the audit team entered Qingshun County last month to conduct a special audit on the county's fiscal revenue and expenditure over the past five years and the use of provincial and above special funds."

During the audit, the audit team also conducted extended audits of key towns such as Qingchuan Town, Shuangqiao Town, and Liuhe Town.

He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the people on either side of the long table.

"According to the audit, the overall fiscal operation of Qingshun County is basically stable, and most of the special funds are used in accordance with regulations."

The audit team affirmed that the rural revitalization projects in Shuangqiao Town and the infrastructure construction projects in Qingchuan Town were compliant in their use of funds and well-managed.

However, some problems were also discovered during the audit, with those in Liuhe Town being particularly prominent, mainly concentrated in the following aspects.

The meeting room was quiet, with only Meng Qingshan's voice and the occasional rustling of papers.

"First, there are serious irregularities in the use of special funds in Liuhe Town."

From 2019 to 2024, Liuhe Town transferred a total of approximately 1240 million yuan from the finance office account under the guise of "other expenditures," with the recipient being Hongda Trading Co., Ltd.

The audit team verified that approximately 800 million yuan of the aforementioned funds were not used for purposes stipulated in the contract, indicating issues of falsely reporting projects and misappropriating funds.

Fang Mingyuan's fingers tightened slightly, but his expression remained unchanged.

He kept his head down and continued flipping through the report.

"Secondly, there were irregularities in the bidding process for engineering projects in Liuhe Town."

Taking the wastewater treatment project in the Economic Development Zone as an example, the period from the issuance of the bidding documents to the deadline for bidding was only 7 days, which violates the requirement of the Bidding Law that "it shall not be less than 20 days".

The audit team verified that Hongda Trading Co., Ltd., the winning bidder for the project, did not possess the qualifications for municipal engineering projects and was suspected of bid rigging and collusion.

He Ying sat next to Zhou Mingyuan, her expression unchanged.

She already knew these contents, but hearing Meng Qingshan read them out one by one in person still gave her a different feeling.

"Third, there are problems with the distribution of land acquisition compensation in Liuhe Town."

The land expropriated under the name of villager Fang Zhiqiang is 17.5 mu, and the compensation is 140 million yuan, which is six times the average level of other farmers.

The audit team verified that Fang Zhiqiang did not have registered land contract management rights in Liuhe Town, and the basis for issuing compensation was insufficient, raising suspicions of fraudulent claims.

Fang Mingyuan's fingers tightened a little more.

The fact that Fang Zhiqiang's name appeared in the audit report means that the provincial audit team has obtained this part of the evidence.

Fourth, there are problems with the project acceptance process in Liuhe Town.

The audit team found that the signatures on many acceptance reports were added later, and the ink color used did not conform to the regulations.

Handwriting comparison and paper testing confirmed that the aforementioned acceptance report was signed retroactively during the audit period, and the whereabouts of the original acceptance report are unknown.

Meng Qingshan closed the report and looked up.

"The problems in other townships are mainly general issues such as inadequate financial management systems and incomplete project files. The audit team has urged rectification on-site."

The aforementioned problems in Liuhe Town are quite serious and need to be highlighted in the report.

The report contains detailed audit data, fund flows, and a list of issues.

The audit report will be submitted to the Provincial Audit Office according to procedures, and copies will also be sent to the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Provincial Supervisory Commission.

There was a moment of silence in the conference room.

Zhou Mingyuan looked at Meng Qingshan.

"Team Leader Meng, thank you for the audit team's work. Qingshun County will take the problems discovered in the audit seriously, rectify those that need to be rectified, and hold those responsible accountable."

Meng Qingshan nodded without saying anything more.

His work is done.

The audit report is out, the issues are clearly stated, and the evidence is attached.

The rest is no longer his concern.

He Ying did not speak.

She sat next to Zhou Mingyuan, the audit report in front of her open, her fingers slowly sliding across the pages.

She wasn't looking at the content—she already knew that content—she was confirming, confirming that every word, every number, every conclusion perfectly matched the materials she had.

Fang Mingyuan also remained silent.

He kept his head down, the audit report in front of him was open, but he didn't read a single word of it.

His gaze fell on the pages, but his mind kept replaying Meng Qingshan's words: "falsely reporting projects to embezzle funds," "bid rigging and collusion," "falsely reporting and fraudulently claiming funds," and "submitting acceptance reports later."

Every single one points to Liuhe Town, every single one points to Fang Zhiwen, every single one points to him.

The meeting lasted for more than half an hour before it adjourned.

The sound of chairs being moved could be heard, and people gradually stood up and walked out.

Fang Mingyuan was the first to stand up, holding the audit report, and strode out of the conference room.

He walked very fast, much faster than usual.

He Ying watched his figure disappear through the door without saying anything.

She closed the audit report in front of her and stood up.

"Team Leader Meng, thank you for your hard work."

He Ying reached out her hand.

Meng Qingshan shook hands with her: "County Chief He, the audit report is out, and our work is finished. We'll head back to the provincial capital this afternoon."

"So fast?"

"The audit team has been in Qingshun County for almost a month, and the department also has other work to do."

He Ying nodded.

"Team Leader Meng, I'll see you off."

"No need. County Chief He, you go about your business."

Meng Qingshan turned around and said to Wu Min, "Pack your things, get ready to leave."

Wu Min nodded and began tidying up the materials on the table.

He Ying stood in the conference room, watching Meng Qingshan's back.

The audit team left, taking with them the problems in Liuhe Town, the evidence, and the irrefutable proof of Fang Zhiwen's crimes.

He Ying took out her phone and sent a message to Chen Dapeng: "The audit team is leaving this afternoon. The audit report is out, and it includes all the problems in Liuhe Town."

After sending it, she stared at the screen.

Chen Dapeng quickly replied: "What about Fang Mingyuan?"

"He wasn't mentioned directly in the report. But after the leads were handed over, the disciplinary committee will follow up."

"What if he runs away?"

He Ying thought for a moment: "I don't know. But there's no escaping it."

……

That afternoon, the audit team's vehicle drove out of the county audit bureau compound.

Wu Min sat by the window, watching the scenery rushing past outside.

She stayed in Qingshun County for nearly a month, spending her days reviewing accounts, reading materials, and writing reports, and hardly ever left the audit bureau.

Now that she was about to leave, she realized that she hadn't even taken a close look at what Qingshun County looked like.

But she has no regrets.

She knew that this audit report would cause an earthquake in Qingshun County.

Meng Qingshan sat in the first row with his eyes closed, as if he were asleep, but he wasn't.

He mentally reviewed the audit report, confirming that every number and conclusion was verifiable.

The evidence chain for the problems in Liuhe Town is complete. After the case is handed over to the Discipline Inspection Commission, Fang Zhiwen will not be able to escape punishment.

Although Fang Mingyuan was not mentioned in the report, the Discipline Inspection Commission will follow the clues and he will not be able to escape.

Meanwhile, Fang Mingyuan sat in his office, staring at his phone on the table.

The audit team left, taking with them the problems of Liuhe Town.

Those issues will be in the provincial audit report and on the desk of the provincial discipline inspection commission.

He didn't know if the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection would get involved in the Liuhe Town matter soon, but he knew that time was running out.

He picked up his phone and found Fang Zhiwen's number.

"Zhiwen".

"elder brother."

Fang Zhiwen's voice came from the other end of the phone, sounding somewhat hoarse.

"The audit team has left."

"I know."

"The report is out. All the problems in Liuhe Town are included."

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

"Brother, I think I should turn myself in."

Fang Mingyuan's fingers tightened slightly.

"Zhiwen—"

"Brother, listen to me."

Fang Zhiwen's voice was very calm, so calm that it didn't sound like he was talking about something that concerned his own fate.

"The audit report is out, and the disciplinary committee will get involved soon."

At that time, it won't be a question of whether I go or not, but when they will arrive.

If I turn myself in, it can be considered a voluntary confession.

When the disciplinary committee comes to me, it means the case has been confirmed.

Voluntary confession and being found guilty are different in nature and have different outcomes.

Fang Mingyuan remained silent.

"Brother, this is the only way out, and our last chance."

Fang Mingyuan remained silent for a long time.

He knew Fang Zhiwen was right.

The audit report is out, and the disciplinary committee will get involved soon.

Fang Zhiwen surrendered himself to the authorities, which was a voluntary confession;

When the disciplinary committee came to find him, it was confirmed.

If you confess proactively, you might still be able to save some of your resources.

Once it was confirmed, everything was gone.

Fang Zhiwen wasn't saving him; he was saving himself.

"Brother? Are you listening?"

"exist."

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

"Brother, take care."

The phone hangs up.

Fang Mingyuan looked at the screen; the call lasted less than a minute.

In less than a minute, Fang Zhiwen decided his fate.

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

Fang Zhiwen is going to turn himself in.

He couldn't stop him.

Maybe he shouldn't have stopped him at all.

Fang Zhiwen is right; this is the only way out, and the last chance.

If Fang Zhiwen takes this path, he might be able to save some of his life.

If we don't take this path, we'll have nothing left.

Fang Mingyuan closed his eyes.

He recalled how Fang Zhiwen used to follow behind him when he was a child, calling him "brother".

They were brothers back then.

Now, Fang Zhiwen is going to turn himself in.

He didn't know if they would ever see each other again.

Maybe.

Maybe not.