Chapter 821

……Mayor Lin publicly promised, will resolve the wage arrears issue within a week. The person pouring gasoline at the scene, emotions have stabilized. Scene order has been brought under control, no irreversible consequences caused.

Municipal Party Committee Office.

Li Bin, standing behind Wang Qigang, was reporting the scene situation.

「One week? 」

Wang Qigang, standing by the window, suddenly turned his head.

With a half‑smile on his face: 「He dares to say that. Zhao Group owes over two hundred million; where does he get that much money in a week? 」

「Perhaps……he wants to use emergency funds? 」 Li Bin guessed.

「The available emergency funds are only a few tens of millions, a drop in the bucket. 」 Wang Qigang walked back to his desk, sat down, and slowly picked up his teacup: 「Besides, without a Standing Committee resolution, he can't move that money. 」

Saying that, Wang Qigang took a sip of tea.

His tone also became relaxed: 「People a few years younger are just prone to impulsiveness. The scene was pushed to the edge, they'd say anything. One week? I'd like to see what he'll use to pay the workers after a week. 」

Li Bin cautiously asked: 「So… should we…? 」

「Nothing at all. 」 Wang Qigang waved his hand: 「Let Mayor Lin handle it. This is government affairs; our Municipal Party Committee is not convenient to over‑intervene. However……」

He paused.

He then said meaningfully: 「It would be good to remind Zhao Tianyu, since it's cooperating with government work, one should cooperate to the end. 」

「Understood. 」

Li Bin nodded in understanding; the so-called "cooperate to the end" clearly meant cooperating with the investigation and audit by the relevant departments.

The financial audit hasn't ended, so the workers' wages naturally can't be paid out.

On the other side.

Lin Dongfan is obviously not a big fool easily manipulated; why would Zhao Group suddenly halt work and production? Fan Ye knew it as clear as a mirror.

That afternoon.

When Lin Dongfan was withdrawing from the Cloud Peak Mountain Villa construction site, he dialed Zhao Tianyu's phone.

It rang seven or eight times before being answered.

The background noise on the other end was very loud, like being in an entertainment venue.

Lin Dongfan got straight to the point, announcing himself: "General Manager Zhao, I'm Lin Dongfan."

"Yo, Mayor Lin!" Zhao Tianyu's voice carried exaggerated surprise: "What wind is blowing today? It's rare for you to call me personally; what instructions do you have?"

"What's the meaning behind Zhao Group's work stoppage?" Lin Dongfan said calmly.

"Ah, don't mention it." Zhao Tianyu sighed: "The company's cash flow has run into some trouble; I'm also overwhelmed. I'm currently running around looking for friends to help with financing."

"Issues with the cash flow can be understood." Lin Dongfan said: "But the workers' wages can't be delayed; today someone poured gasoline and tried to self-immolate, the situation almost got out of control."

"What?! There's still something like that?!"

Zhao Tianyu feigned surprise, but was actually smirking in secret: "These workers are really too impulsive! Mayor Lin, please rest assured; once I get the financing sorted, I will definitely pay everyone's wages right away."

"Can't wait." Lin Dongfan interrupted him: "I'll give you three days to first settle part of the wages and stabilize the workers' emotions."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the line.

However, Zhao Tianyu wore a smug smile, which Lin Dongfan couldn't see.

This was a smug, triumphant sneer.

"Mayor Lin, it's not that I don't want to pay, it's really… difficult. You know, our company is currently under investigation and audit by the relevant authorities. All funds are frozen; not a penny can be moved."

Lin Dongfan's voice turned cold: "An audit is a normal procedure; it doesn't affect your paying wages."

"An impact, how could it not have an impact?"

Zhao Tianyu feigned grievance: "The audit team said all fund flows must be clarified. At this critical juncture, if I were to use a large sum of money, wouldn't that be asking for trouble? Mayor Lin, I hope you can understand our plight as entrepreneurs; we're just trying to cooperate with the authorities' work."

He said that without leaving a loophole.

Using the audit procedure you, Lin Dongfan, initiated, to block the path of your demand for wage payment.

Turning the tables!

Lin Dongfan gripped the phone, his fingers slightly tightening; the force of his anger was evident.

After a moment of silence.

Lin Dongfan suddenly gave a faint smile: "General Manager Zhao is right; during the audit, we indeed need to be cautious."

On the other side, Zhao Tianyu heard this and was slightly taken aback; he didn't expect Lin Dongfan to say that, and for a moment couldn't figure out what Lin Dongfan was up to.

Lin Dongfan's tone grew more relaxed: "Since General Manager Zhao is so law-abiding, I won't force the issue, but General Manager Zhao..."

He paused briefly.

Lin Dongfan's voice turned cold again: "I have to remind you of something. When you get a chance to serve the people, you'd better seize it. If you miss the opportunity, next time I won't be so polite."

"Mayor Lin, what do you mean by that?" Zhao Tianyu's tone also changed, carrying a hint of anger.

Lin Dongfan spoke frankly: "You understand my meaning; take care of yourself!"

Having said that, he hung up the phone.

Fan Ye was neither angry nor panicked.

On the contrary, a hint of a cold smile even appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Zhao Tianyu thought using "cooperating with the audit" as an excuse could turn the tables? He's just too naive! Such a petty thug's shameless tactic, in the face of real power politics, is laughably childish.

"Xiao Chen..."

On the way back to the office, Lin Dongfan instructed his secretary: "Contact Su Qingyu from Green Wild Landscaping; I want to see him."

Xiao Chen blinked: "Su Qingyu, Zhao Tianyu's brother-in-law?"

"Yes."

Lin Dongfan said: "Tell him I want to hear a report on the 'Urban Greening Improvement Project.' Have him bring the relevant materials and come to my office within half an hour."

Half an hour later.

Su Qingyu hurried into the mayor's office.

The boss of Green Wild Landscaping was dressed formally today, in a dark suit with a perfectly tied tie, holding a thick briefcase.

Yet the faint beads of sweat on his forehead betrayed his inner nervousness.

"Mayor Lin, did you summon me?"

Su Qingyu stood before the desk, bowing slightly. Although he was the Zhao family's son-in-law, he was not as reckless and arrogant as Zhao Tianyu.

Lin Dongfan pointed to the opposite chair: "Mr. Su, please have a seat."

His tone was courteous, but Su Qingyu's heart pounded.

He knew all too well the tactics of this mayor before him—Zhou Hongwei, Yuan Ben Zhong, Tang Yuchao—each a cautionary tale.

"I heard Green Wild Landscaping wants to bid on the greening project for the new district's main thoroughfare?" Lin Dongfan got straight to the point.

"Yes, yes." Su Qingyu hastily pulled a proposal from his briefcase: "This is our preliminary design; please review it, Mayor Lin..."

Lin Dongfan did not take the proposal.

He leaned back in his chair, calmly gazing at Su Qingyu: "The proposal will be reviewed later by the relevant departments. I asked you here today to discuss something else."

"……???"

Su Qingyu's heart skipped a beat; he couldn't immediately guess Lin Dongfan's intentions.

Lin Dongfan's tone was casual, like small talk: "Mr. Su, you've been doing business in Wuzhou for quite a few years, right?"

"Ten…… twelve years." Su Qingyu, nervous, stumbled over his words.

"Twelve years, not easy." Lin Dongfan nodded: "To have grown Green Wild Landscaping to its present scale shows you indeed have unique talent in management."

"Mayor Lin, you flatter me."

"Don't rush, let me finish. I've recently reviewed some materials and found that Green Wild Landscaping seems to have had some irregularities in recent projects."

"……!!!"

Su Qingyu's face changed slightly; his heart raced with panic.

Lin Dongfan took a document from the drawer and pushed it toward Su Qingyu: "For example, in the 2019 West City Park renovation project, your winning bid was 8.6 million, but the final settlement was 12 million. What accounts for the extra 3.4 million?"

Sweat beaded on Su Qingyu's forehead: "That…… that was due to added work volume, with change orders……"

"Change orders?" Lin Dongfan flipped the file, pointing at a line: "But the audit report shows the signatures approving these 'added work volumes' were those of Yuan Ben Zhong."

The office fell into dead silence.

Su Qingyu opened his mouth, breaking out in cold sweat from nerves, unable to speak further.

"And there's this……" Lin Dongfan turned another page, speaking slowly: "In 2020, for the new district river dredging project, Green Wild Landscaping, as a subcontractor, received 37 million from the Zhao Group, but according to the accounts you filed with the tax bureau, the project's cost was only 21 million."

Lin Dongfan lifted his gaze to Su Qingyu, pressing further: "Where did the remaining 16 million go?"

"……!!!"

Su Qingyu's hands began to tremble.

He tried to lift the water cup before him, take a sip of tea to steady himself, but almost knocked it over.

"Mayor Lin…… these…… these are just historical legacies……" Su Qingyu forced himself to explain: "Back then the industry wasn't standardized; everyone did it this way……"

"Really?"

Lin Dongfan smiled.

He added: "What if I now have the tax bureau and audit bureau form a joint team to conduct a full audit of Green Wild Landscaping's accounts over the past five years? Mr. Su, how many irregularities do you think they'd uncover?"

Those words struck like a heavy hammer, slamming hard into Su Qingyu's chest.

Anyone who's been dealt with knows that if a thorough investigation were launched, not only Green Wild Landscaping but even he himself, Su Qingyu, would be locked up.

"Mayor Lin……"

Su Qingyu's voice took on a pleading tone: "We've grown the company big and strong, also to contribute to Wuzhou's GDP; we're all working for the city's development……"

"I know." Lin Dongfan closed the file, his tone softening: "That's why I asked you to talk, instead of sending the relevant authorities straight to your door."

Facing the tense-suited Su Qingyu,

Lin Dongfan then offered a hint of goodwill: "Mr. Su is a smart person; he should understand what I mean."

"……!!!"

Su Qingyu remained silent for Along time.

Finally, he lifted his head, eyes complex: "Mayor Lin, what do you want me…… to do?"

"Quite simple."

Lin Dongfan could be described as chatting and laughing easily.

Remaining calm and composed: "Go back, work on your brother-in-law's thinking. Tell him not to just keep his head down doing wrong; sometimes he also needs to look up and see the road."

"I…… understand……"

Su Qingyu realized that Lin Dongfan was openly warning him not to take the wrong path.