Chapter 928: Audit Working Papers

The Tax Bureau Inspection Section's lights stayed on for three nights.

Wan Xiaoqing sat in the office, with Mortal Group's ten-year tax records spread out before her.

The desk was piled high, leaving only the windowsill for the tea cup.

She turned the pages slowly, but examined each page carefully, missing no numbers, dates, seals, or signatures.

But the further she went, the more irritable she became.

The accounts are too clean!

Ten years, exactly ten years, Mortal Group's tax records show no fault.

Also, the accounts generated when Mortal Group absorbed Zhao Group look somewhat messy, but that's a mess left by Zhao Group, not Mortal Group's problem.

The accounting firm's audit report is very clear: procedures compliant, accounts clear, no illegal or non‑compliant behavior.

Wan Xiaoqing closed the last ledger, leaned back in her chair, and stared at the ceiling.

No problem!

No problems can be found.

She is unwilling to accept it.

It's not aimed at Ye Jiaying; she's unwilling to just go back and report like this.

The whole Inspection Section is working overtime with her; if they find nothing in the end, how will others view her? That vase who rose through connections, after all this effort, has no ability at all.

She picked up the phone and dialed the number of Inspection Section Chief Wang Jianye.

"Have the working papers arrived?"

Wang Jianye's voice sounded weary: "Director Wan, Lanqiao Accounting Firm has replied. They say the working papers are too many, needing time to sort. The earliest is next week."

Wan Xiaoqing frowned. "Next week? Are they stalling?"

Wang Jianye said: "Hard to say; Lanqiao Accounting Firm is well known in Jianglan, cooperating with many large enterprises. Mortal Group is a major client, the working papers involve trade secrets, so it's normal they don't want to hand them over."

"Send another notice."

Wan Xiaoqing further instructed: "Make the wording stricter, just say this is a normal tax audit procedure, please cooperate. If they continue to delay, handle it as obstruction of official duties."

Wang Jianye hesitated. "Director Wan, won't this cause too big a fuss? Mortal Group hasn't found any problems yet; we'll offend the accounting firm first..."

He didn't finish speaking.

Wan Xiaoqing's face darkened: "Section Chief Wang, you're the Inspection Section chief; auditing taxes is your duty. When to audit taxes shouldn't depend on the firm's face."

After a few seconds of silence on the other end, a voice came: "Understood, I'll take care of it right away."

"Act swiftly!"

After hanging up, Wan Xiaoqing stood up and walked to the window.

Outside the window was Wuzhou's nightscape, lights blazing, Mortal Group's office building not far away.

She stared at that building.

In her mind, only one thought kept turning: In this world, there are no accounts that can't be audited, only people who don't want to audit.

Mortal Group is such a huge operation; over ten years, how could there be no problems at all?

Either the accounts are too beautifully done, or she hasn't examined them closely enough.

Wan Xiaoqing returned to her desk and reopened the audit report on Mortal Group's acquisition of Zhao Group.

The report is written professionally, with solid data and clear logic, no flaws to be found. Yet the more perfect something is, the more uneasy it makes her feel.

Wan Xiaoqing set the report down, picked up a pen, and wrote one line in her notebook: Audit Working Papers.

Then she drew two horizontal lines beneath it.

Once the working papers arrive, she'll be able to know—whether Lanqiao Accounting Firm has been covering up something for Mortal Group.

……

The next morning, in the Municipal Party Committee compound, Wang Qigang's office.

Secretary Xiao Zhang knocked and entered, holding a document.

"Secretary Wang, the Tax Bureau has new developments again. Wan Xiaoqing has sent a second notice urging Lanqiao Accounting Firm to hand over the audit working papers. The wording is very tough, saying that if they don't cooperate, they'll be dealt with as obstruction of official duties."

Wang Qigang took the document, glanced at it, and laughed: "This Wan Xiaoqing is tougher than I imagined."

Xiao Zhang chuckled along: "They've been auditing Mortal Group's accounts for so long and still found nothing. She's getting a bit anxious, eager to prove her ability."

"Being anxious is good; anxiety drives harsh measures, and harsh measures let you grasp the crux of the problem."

Wang Qigang set the document down, lifted his teacup, and took a slow sip.

An air of leisurely ease.

Xiao Zhang hesitated, then added: "But as things stand, Mortal Group's accounts really have no problems. If nothing turns up, how will she wrap up?"

"If nothing turns up, that's a problem with her work ability."

"Whatever the case, whether or not they find anything, it's the Tax Bureau's business and has nothing to do with him, Wang Qigang."

Xiao Zhang understood implicitly, nodded, and said nothing more.

A faint smile also appeared on Wang Qigang's lips.

Wan Xiaoqing is this knife, sharper than he imagined.

The blade is sharp; it advances on its own without him needing to exert force.

As for whether the blade will break, he doesn't care.

He only needs this knife to stab a few holes before it breaks.

……-

In the afternoon, at the Tax Bureau Inspection Section.

Wang Jianye hung up the phone, his face not looking good.

The liaison from Lanqiao Accounting Firm sounded polite, but the meaning was clear: the working papers can be handed over, but procedures must be followed, time is needed, they can't be rushed.

He took the phone records and went to knock on Wan Xiaoqing's door.

"Director Wan, the accounting office is still stalling. They say there are too many drafts, not enough staff, and the earliest they can finish is a week."

Wan Xiaoqing lifted her head, eyes sharp. "One week?"

Wang Jianye forced himself to speak: "They said that if we're in a hurry, we can send a few people to their office, and they'll cooperate with the review."

Wan Xiaoqing fell silent for a few seconds.

Sending a few people to the accounting office? Is this meant to divert people, or to muddy the waters?

"No need." She stood up: "I'll go myself."

"You'll go yourself?"

Wang Jianye froze for a moment.

Wan Xiaoqing picked up the briefcase on the desk: "Exactly, I want to see what they're actually hiding."

Just as she reached the doorway.

Wan Xiaoqing suddenly turned back: "Section Chief Wang, you keep watch in the bureau. Keep investigating Mortal Group's accounts—don't let any clue slip."

The door closed.

Wang Jianye stood where he was, staring at the closed door, a sudden prickle running through him—this female bureau chief is even crazier than he imagined!

Five minutes later.

Wang Jianye squatted in the office toilet.

While smoking, he sent a message to Xiao Chen, the secretary of the Municipal Affairs Office: "Secretary Chen, the sky is falling—there's really no stopping it, and now I have no idea what to do."

"Did Secretary Wang give her a death order?" Xiao Chen replied.

Wang Jianye replied: "Hard to say, who knows? Anyway, she's dead set on investigating Mortal Group—nothing can stop her."

"Thanks for your hard work, keep a close watch."

"Not hard at all, this is what I should do."

After sending the last message, Wang Jianye secretly let out a breath, thinking that once this battle is over, maybe it'll finally be my turn to hold my head high? I just don't believe Mayor Lin will lose—after all, he's a princeling of the Jing circle.