If a deep investigation is carried out, more than half of the companies couldn't withstand the scrutiny.

Tianyang Group wasn't new to inspections, but they were never handled like this. Regardless of whether the visitors were from the district or the town, they'd always give him a heads up in advance.

It's the first time someone directly comes to check the accounts in the finance department like this.

That's why Ji Liyang sensed something unusual...

"Go and ask Director Hong to come to my office."

"Okay, I'll go right away." The assistant nodded, turned, and left, but just after taking a few steps, Ji Liyang called him back.

"Wait a moment!" Ji Liyang stood up from his chair, walked a few steps inside the office, then waved at the assistant, "You don't need to call him. I'll go down personally later."

The assistant paused but didn't ask more questions, just responded and left the office.

After the assistant left, Ji Liyang picked up the phone on the table and dialed a number, but after waiting for over half a minute, he was greeted only by an unanswered tone.

Ji Liyang's expression gradually became serious, feeling increasingly that something was off.

Putting the phone away, he left the office and took the elevator to the conference room on the eighth floor.

In the spacious conference room, more than twenty temporary task group members sat around a table piled high with documents. A middle-aged man at the head of the table was distributing assignments.

Seeing Ji Liyang leading the assistant at the door, the middle-aged man paused his work and strode over: "Oh, Chairman Ji, didn't your staff say you weren't in the company, yet you came in person."

Ji Liyang could easily tell it was a pretext, but he didn't expose it, replying with a smile and extending his hand: "Haha, heard you were here, so I rushed back from outside. It's been a long time, Director Hong."

Director Hong reached out to shake his hand: "It's been a few months; we've all been busy lately."

Ji Liyang glanced around the room and continued, "Let the subordinates handle the work; let's sit in the lounge room and have some tea."

Director Hong looked troubled, but after thinking it over, nodded: "Alright, I'll try your tea."

"Haha, please do."

As they spoke, both went to a lounge across the room, where the assistant brewed tea for them and sensibly closed the door as he left.

With no outsiders in the room, Ji Liyang casually addressed him as "Old Hong," saying: "Old Hong, why didn't you notify me beforehand, so I could prepare a more comfortable space for your work group?"

Although it seemed like small talk, Director Hong noticed a hint of dissatisfaction and smiled wryly: "Don't blame me; this inspection was ordered by Deputy Secretary Chen from the district personally."

"Before departure, Old Chen repeatedly ordered no one to play tricks, so my hands were tied..."

"Old Chen?" Ji Liyang softly murmured, analyzing the intent behind these actions.

Director Hong took a sip of tea and tentatively asked, "Did you provoke him recently?"

Ji Liyang shook his head: "Even though we are not on the same side, there hasn't been any conflict usually; this maneuver..."

Director Hong glanced at him, providing the crucial hint: "This was done hastily. It's said that Old Chen approached the secretary directly this morning, and the two settled the inspection after talking for a few minutes in the office."

Upon hearing this, Ji Liyang hesitated, but didn't doubt the truth of his words.

Firstly, he had a previous connection with Director Hong, and secondly, such things weren't secret within the unit.

The odd thing was the suddenness of it all.

He bore no grudge against Old Chen previously; even if opposing factions wanted to target him, they shouldn't act so abruptly...

Moreover, while such inspections might cause him some trouble, it's merely a hassle, not enough to harm his core interests; he couldn't figure out why the opposition would act this way.

"Alright, that's all I can say for now; I have to get busy." Director Hong said, setting down his teacup and preparing to leave the lounge.

Ji Liyang symbolically raised himself slightly: "Okay, I'll have the secretary put two boxes of tea in your car later."

Director Hong waved his hand without looking back: "No need; I've had too much tea lately, can't sleep at night."

Watching Director Hong's departing figure, Ji Liyang's expression grew even more solemn.

Although Director Hong didn't have much sway in the district, nobody who reached that position was simple; they all possessed extremely keen political intuition and information channels.

This matter surely isn't so straightforward...

Thinking of this, Ji Liyang took out his phone again, making several calls.

He needed to figure out the current situation and then defensively plan accordingly, as he possessed more than just one group of companies, with many industries not publicly disclosed.

Just then, the phone he had just placed down lit up again with a call from a construction company below.

"Hello, Chairman Ji, just now people from the Quality Supervision Bureau came, citing that our project doesn't meet safety production standards, and directly issued a stop-work order. I've contacted my previous connections, but they're hesitating and unwilling to say anything directly..."

Ji Liyang frowned, holding the phone, and coldly uttered a few words: "Got it, just halt operations for now."

This wasn't over; more calls came in immediately after hanging up.

Frustrated, Ji Liyang directly pressed the power button, then picked up another phone, once more attempting to dial that earlier number, yet there was still no response...

"Xiao Gu!"

The assistant waiting outside heard the call and entered: "Chairman."

"Go find President Qi and let him keep an eye on the company's affairs. I have to go out for a while." Ji Liyang stood up and instructed.

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