Chapter 927: with title translation and glossary

"Director Wan, there's no movement from Old Qian's side."

When Director Song knocked and entered the office, Wan Xiaoxing was reviewing Mortal Group's tax files.

Killing a chicken to scare the monkeys, Wan Xiaoxing never shows mercy!

Auditing taxes, Wan Xiaoxing is just as ruthless!

She didn't even lift her head, her gaze fixed on reviewing Mortal Group's tax files: "No movement? Isn't that normal? You came to see me just to report this?"

Old Song hesitated and replied: "Director Wan, there's something… I don't know if I should say it."

"Speak."

Wan Xiaoxing finally lifted her head.

Director Song said: "Old Qian is just average in ability, but he has good relations in the bureau. Suddenly canceling his evaluation eligibility might cause someone to speak up for him."

"Whoever speaks up for him, let them come find me."

Wan Xiaoxing stared directly at Old Song, her merciless gaze silently issuing a warning—if you keep nitpicking, watch out, I'll take care of you too!

This left Old Song feeling gloomy, realizing that the tax bureau now has no room for nice guys to play out.

Wan Xiaoxing is determined to establish her authority.

Whoever blocks her path will be the next Old Qian.

Alas!

A female leader with long hair but short sight is indeed hard to serve!

Old Song let out a quiet sigh, shaking his head as he left, unable to fathom how the wise and mighty Mayor Lin would give such a headstrong, vindictive person the green light.

That afternoon.

Wan Xiaoxing assigned everyone an important task—pull out all of Mortal Group's tax records from the past ten years for a thorough investigation!

The bureau, up and down, instantly became a chaotic mess.

Ten years of tax files—that's several boxes of material! Whatever the leaders say, the staff just do it; no one dares ask why, nor dare to comment further.

The staff privately speculated:

Perhaps it's because Mortal Group's founder Ye Jiaying offended Wan Xiaoxing somewhere. Women, when idle, like to make things difficult for other women.

The next day.

Municipal Party Committee compound.

Wang Qigang sat in his office, listening to Secretary Xiao Zhang report on work.

"On her first day in office, Wan Xiaoxing canceled the merit evaluation eligibility of an old staffer. Now the tax bureau is in an uproar, with everyone feeling insecure and complaints rampant."

"She's acting pretty quickly, huh."

Wang Qigang lifted his tea, smiling as he drank, in a very good mood.

Secretary Xiao Zhang cautiously asked: "I feel she might be acting too hastily; should I remind her?"

"She's now the head of the tax bureau; upon taking office she first rectified lax work habits, and I see her as very pragmatic." Wang Qigang said: "This is her duty; it's not appropriate to interfere arbitrarily."

"That's true; I didn't consider everything."

The secretary nodded, swallowing all his thoughts.

Wang Qigang set down his teacup, a faint smile reappearing at the corner of his mouth.

Wan Xiaoxing's methods are even harsher than he imagined. In Wang Qigang's view, being ruthless is a good thing; only those ruthless enough will climb without regard for consequences—the higher they climb, the harder they fall.

However…

Will Wan Xiaoxing end up battered and bruised? Wang Qigang doesn't care about that. He cares whether Mortal Group's accounts have loopholes—only by uncovering them can he make Lin Dongfan uneasy.

……

Evening, at Lin Dongfan's home.

After dinner, Lin Dongfan leaned on the sofa looking at his phone. Chu Lingxi peeled an orange beside him, occasionally slipping a segment into his mouth.

The TV was on, playing a historical drama that Chu Lingxi had been following for several days.

The female lead was crying, her heartbroken sobs. Chu Lingxi's eyes also reddened, and she forgot to peel the orange in her hand.

"Look, this emperor is too heartless..." she sniffled, then shoved an orange segment into Lin Dongfan's mouth.

Lin Dongfan chewed the orange, murmuring an indistinct "uh," his eyes still on his phone.

Chu Lingxi wiped her wet eyes, leaned over to glance: "What are you looking at? You're so engrossed, it's better than the TV drama?"

"Nothing, just work-related stuff."

Lin Dongfan turned off his phone screen; Chu Lingxi didn't ask further.

After so many years of marriage, she knows Lin Dongfan's rule—no talk of work at home. She also enjoys the peace, since she doesn't understand those official matters anyway.

"Right." She suddenly recalled: "I ran into Old Wan at the hospital today."

Lin Dongfan's brow twitched: "Has Old Wan not been discharged yet?"

"No." Chu Lingxi slipped another orange segment into Lin Dongfan's mouth: "He looks fine, but he's got something on his mind, and he kept me company complaining for half a day."

Saying that, Chu Lingxi sighed.

She continued: "Old Wan kept talking about his daughter Wan Xiaoxing, saying she takes a wild path, does things with high ambitions but low ability. Now that she's bureau chief, it might not be a good thing; he worries she'll go astray."

Lin Dongfan didn't respond.

Chu Lingxi continued: "I told him, Wan Xiaoxing becoming bureau chief is the organization's recognition of her ability. Old sir, don't overthink it; just take care of your health."

"What did he say?" Lin Dongfan asked.

Chu Lingxi wore an expression of helplessness: "He just shook his head, saying I don't understand."

"So do you understand or not?" Lin Dongfan asked, smiling with interest.

Chu Lingxi slightly furrowed her brows: "Maybe… perhaps… I really don't understand. He pulled me aside and said a lot, but I truly can't figure out what he's thinking."

"Come on, tell me; I'll help you analyze." Lin Dongfan said.

Chu Lingxi said: "Just saying, this child Xiaoqing has high aspirations; since childhood she couldn't stand losing. When she was in school, if she didn't do well on a test, she could lock herself in her room and cry all night. After starting work, it's even more so—she wants to be first in everything."

"Having ambition is a good thing," Lin Dongfan said.

It seemed to resonate, and Chu Lingxi instantly regained interest: "Exactly, I think so too. But Wan Lao also said she has high aspirations but low ability— isn't that contradictory? So is Wan Xiaoqing someone with high aspirations but low ability, or someone who strives for progress? I'm about to get dizzy from Wan Lao going in circles, feeling all confused."

"Not contradictory," Lin Dongfan said.

Chu Lingxi became confused again: "How is it not contradictory? Think about it— how could someone who strives for progress have high aspirations but low ability?"

"Wanting to progress and actually having the ability to progress are two different things," Lin Dongfan analyzed. "Wan Xiaoqing has worked at the tax bureau for many years, and Wan Lao, as her biological father, has resources and connections, yet he never thought of pushing her upward— there must be a reason for that."

"What reason?" Chu Lingxi grew more confused the more she listened.

Lin Dongfan spoke bluntly: "If Wan Xiaoqing's personal ability is limited, and on top of that she is overly utilitarian, forcibly promoting her wouldn't be a good thing."

"Then when Wang Qigang promoted her exceptionally, why didn't you stop him?" Chu Lingxi puzzled over it, staring foolishly at Lin Dongfan.

Lin Dongfan laughed and pinched her nose: "Silly girl, you really don't understand worldly affairs."

"Who says I don't understand worldly affairs? In school I got along great with everyone." Chu Lingxi laughed, hugging Lin Dongfan's arm, wishing they could be together all day.

Lin Dongfan laughed: "You know jack about worldly affairs. Wan Lao not coming to our house through the back door shows he understands the greater good, but that doesn't mean he truly doesn't want his daughter to rise rapidly. Now the organization is actively promoting Wan Xiaoqing exceptionally; if I stepped forward to stop it, wouldn't I become a heartless, unrighteous petty person?"

"So does Wan Lao actually want Wan Xiaoqing to be promoted, or not?" Chu Lingxi asked.

Lin Dongfan furrowed his brow: "From the standpoint of a retired official, he doesn't want to see people whose hearts are set on fame and profit occupying important positions. But from a father's standpoint, he surely also wants his daughter to one day rise rapidly, to leap onto a branch and become a phoenix."

"Isn't that very contradictory?" Chu Lingxi asked.

Lin Dongfan nodded solemnly: "It's very contradictory; the only way to resolve the contradiction is to damn the contradiction."

"Husband, are you going to scold me?" Chu Lingxi looked bewildered again.

Lin Dongfan got up, picked Chu Lingxi up and hoisted her onto his shoulder, then walked toward the bedroom: "This issue requires us to go back to the room and hold a little meeting, to communicate deeply..."

"Oh no, I haven't even taken a shower yet— put me down first."

"We'll shower together after the meeting."

Today my throat feels uncomfortable, Lin Dongfan pocketed half a bottle of mint candy from Yang Qing's car.

After eating one just now I realized, Yang Sansui is no good! That damn fellow not only carries Viagra on him, but he also sells dog meat under the guise of mutton! He actually put Viagra in a mint candy bottle.

Damn it! Now I'm full of anger.