Chapter 812: and translation of title, then ===GLOSSARY=== with list of named entities appearing in these lines

"The Land Bureau, as a key department for project approval, faces high integrity risks." Lin Dongfan looked at him, his tone calm, "In your bureau, have you carried out any targeted warning education?"

"Yes, yes!"

Yuan Ben Zhong hurriedly replied: "We have integrity study every month, and we hold warning education meetings every quarter. Last Friday we also organized viewing of an anti-corruption documentary; the effect was good, and the comrades were deeply moved."

He answered flawlessly, with a sincere expression on his face.

Lin Dongfan nodded: "That's good. Leading cadres should take the lead, manage themselves, manage their families, and manage those around them. Especially outside working hours, they must pay even more attention to their words and deeds."

"Yes, Mayor Lin is right; we will surely implement it thoroughly."

Yuan Ben Zhong nodded repeatedly, but in his heart he was cursing.

He thought, "So what if Lin Dongfan is a princeling from the Jing circle? You can only put on a show in meetings, and calling my name—what can you do? What can you do to me? Damn!"

The meeting continued.

After Lin Dongfan finished speaking, Wang Qigang also gave an emphatic speech—nothing more than the usual platitudes about "raising political standing" and "building an ideological barrier."

One and a half hours later, the meeting ended.

The officials filed out one after another.

As soon as Yuan Ben Zhong walked out of the meeting room, several familiar bureau chiefs surrounded him, seemingly seeing in him the hope of "ignoring the new mayor."

"Old Yuan, got any plans for tonight?"

"I heard a new private cuisine restaurant opened in the South City; the food is good."

"Bureau Chief Yuan, how's your luck lately? Want to play a couple rounds this weekend?"

……

Yuan Ben Zhong dealt with these invitations all the while with a smiling face, but his contemptuous glance flicked toward Lin Dongfan, who was speaking with Shi Liantang.

The two stood in the corridor corner, speaking in low voices that couldn't be made out.

But Yuan Ben Zhong noticed that Shi Liantang was holding a file bag, his expression quite solemn.

Yuan Ben Zhong's heart skipped a beat for no reason.

But he soon consoled himself: What's there to fear? The disciplinary commission people only go after small fry. He, Yuan Ben Zhong, has been in the Land Bureau for so many years; any dirt he should have wiped clean is already spotless.

"Bureau Chief Yuan, what are you thinking about?" said the Planning Bureau's Chief Li, patting him on the shoulder.

"Nothing." Yuan Ben Zhong came to: "I have plans tonight; another day, another day we'll definitely get together."

After seeing everyone off, he hurried toward the elevator.

He needed to leave quickly.

For some reason, after seeing Shi Liantang of the disciplinary commission appear, he suddenly felt that Lin Dongfan's calm reaction today seemed a bit off.

7:30 p. m.

Yunshui Yao Private Club.

This is an enterprise under the Zhao Group, not open to the public, receiving only specific guests. In the heavenly-character-shaped large private room, a mixture of Moutai liquor aroma and cigar smoke filled the air.

Yuan Ben Zhong leaned against the leather sofa, his legs propped on the edge of the coffee table, his leather shoes polished to a shine.

Two young women in high-slit cheongsams sat on either side of him; one used her slender jade-like hands to peel grapes for him, while the other held a wine cup to his lips.

"Bureau Chief Yuan, try this wine—fifteen-year-old Moutai, specially reserved for you." Su Qingyu sat opposite, smiling broadly.

Yuan Ben Zhong took a sip, narrowed his eyes to savor it for a moment, then nodded: "Not bad, quite mellow."

He reached out and slapped the right-hand girl's thigh.

The girl let out a coquettish cry, then leaned even closer.

"Old Su."

Yuan Ben Zhong exhaled a smoke ring: "The plot in East City will go to the meeting next Tuesday. I've already approved the plan to raise the floor area ratio from 2.0 to 2.8. I've also greeted the planning department; we'll just go through the procedures then."

Su Qingyu's eyes lit up; he quickly raised his wine cup: "Bureau Chief Yuan, thank you so much! I toast you!"

"No rush." Yuan Ben Zhong waved his hand, signaling the girl to pour more wine: "After the floor area ratio is adjusted on this plot, how much more profit can you make?"

Su Qingyu thought for a moment, lowered his voice: "According to current market prices, the additional floor area… at least this much." He held up three fingers.

"Thirty million?" Yuan Ben Zhong raised his eyebrows slightly.

"Three hundred million."

Su Qingyu corrected.

Yuan Ben Zhong's eyes lit up instantly, his smile growing more pleased: "All right, Old Su, your Zhao Group does big business."

"It's all thanks to Bureau Chief Yuan's blessing."

Su Qingyu smiled obsequiously, pulled a thick kraft paper bag from his briefcase, and gently pushed it toward Yuan Ben Zhong: "This is a small token; there will be a bigger thank-you after the matter is settled."

Yuan Ben Zhong didn't look at the paper bag; he just tapped it with his fingertip to feel its thickness, then smiled satisfied: "You handle things; I'm at ease."

He paused, then suddenly remembered: "By the way, has that widow at Bibo Tan stopped causing trouble?"

"Probably not." Su Qingyu speculated: "I've had people watch her; she's been staying home these past two days, hasn't gone to the petition office—I guess she's resigned herself."

"That's fine if she's resigned."

Yuan Ben Zhong snorted coldly, then leaned back into the sofa: "That ungrateful wretch—giving her 100,000 and she still thinks it's too little. If I weren't worried about bad repercussions, I wouldn't give her a penny."

"Yes, yes, Bureau Chief Yuan, you're merciful." Su Qingyu echoed repeatedly.

As they were speaking, the private room door was lightly knocked.

A middle-aged man in a suit pushed the door open, smiling: "Bureau Chief Yuan, Mr. Su, sorry to disturb. I'm the club manager, surnamed Zhao."

Yuan Ben Zhong didn't even lift his eyelids: "What's up?"

Manager Zhao rubbed his hands, speaking carefully: "Just now the front desk got a call saying it was from the municipal disciplinary commission, wanting to retrieve our club's consumption records from the past three years……"

Before his words finished, Yuan Ben Zhong's wine glass clattered onto the coffee table.

The two girls jumped in fright, quickly standing up and retreating to the side.

Su Qingyu's face also changed: "The disciplinary commission? What did they say?"

"Just said to retrieve the records, cooperate with the investigation." Manager Zhao lowered his voice: "Bureau Chief, Chief Su, according to your two opinions... what should we do?"

Yuan Ben Zhong remained silent for a dozen seconds, then suddenly laughed: "Just investigate if we investigate. We're here eating and drinking, normal consumption—what's there to fear?"

Yuan Ben Zhong looked at Manager Zhao.

He then asked: "Your club's records should be very "standard", right?"

Manager Zhao immediately understood: "Bureau Chief, rest assured, all our consumption here is recorded according to the "actual" figures that occurred. We absolutely protect guests' privacy."

"That'll do." Yuan Ben Zhong waved his hand: "Go handle the Discipline Inspection Commission; give what should be given, and don't mention a word of what shouldn't be given."

"Understood, understood." Manager Zhao nodded and bowed as he retreated.

As soon as the door closed, Su Qingyu immediately leaned in: "Bureau Chief, the Discipline Inspection Commission this..."

"They want to investigate me."

Yuan Ben Zhong snorted in laughter.

Arrogantly and firmly: "They don't have that capability yet. Lin Dongfan just arrived, wants to establish his prestige, so he has to put on a show. Check the consumption records? Go ahead and check. I, Yuan Ben Zhong, eating and drinking in Wuzhou, am I afraid of being investigated?"

He lifted his wine cup again.

In a relaxed tone: "Old Su, just put your heart at ease. I've sat in this position for so many years, what storms haven't I seen? A few little brats from the Discipline Inspection Commission can't stir up any waves."

Su Qingyu forced a smile, but the string in his heart was already taut.

He knew Yuan Ben Zhong too well; this person spoke lightly on the surface, but surely was also nervous inside—otherwise he wouldn't have set down his wine cup so heavily just now.

"Bureau Chief..." Su Qingyu probed, asking... "Why not... we keep a low profile lately? Let's talk after this wind passes."

"Low profile?"

Yuan Ben Zhong glanced at him: "Old Su, I'm telling you, at times like this, the lower your profile, the more people think you have something to hide. Eat what you should eat, drink what you should drink, play what you should play, openly and aboveboard—then there's nothing to worry about."

He stood up.

He straightened his suit: "All right, I have a few things to do, I'll leave first. Those two cheongsam girls just now—arrange for them to be sent to the hotel I often go to."

"Sure thing, you can rest assured." Su Qingyu hurriedly rose to see him off.

Watching Yuan Ben Zhong swagger out of the private room, Su Qingyu's smile gradually faded.

He walked to the window.

Watching Yuan Ben Zhong's special car drive away from the club downstairs.

He pulled out his phone and dialed the number of his elder brother-in-law Zhao Tianyu: "Big brother, it's me. Just now the Discipline Inspection Commission wanted to check the consumption records of Yunshui Yao... yes, that place Yuan Ben Zhong often goes to. Hmm, I know how to handle it... okay, you also be careful on your end."

After hanging up, Su Qingyu stood by the window, looking at the nightscape of Wuzhou city, his brow furrowed.

He suddenly recalled Chen Lao Ban before he jumped into the river, the last time that man came to beg him for help. That honest, simple man knelt on the ground, kowtowing until his forehead turned blue, begging him to say a word on his behalf.

At that time, he, Su Qingyu, also felt compassion.

He once said to Chen Lao Ban: "Old Chen, it's not that I won't help you. Bureau Chief Yuan is someone you know—once his temper flares, no one can dissuade him. Go back first; wait until his anger subsides, then I'll speak up for you."

But who would have thought, he died just a few days later.

Su Qingyu helplessly shook his head, tossing these regrettable thoughts out of his mind.

When it comes to business, talk about business.

Doing business in Wuzhou, you must abide by Wuzhou's rules. And Wuzhou's rule is simply: you cannot offend someone like Bureau Chief Yuan.