“Old Wang! I hope your supply and marketing cooperative didn’t have these problems before, and I hope these problems won’t occur in the future, do you understand?” Tao Jiadong said seriously.

"Understood," Director Wang replied, forcing a smile.

Director Wang genuinely didn't understand what trouble the supply and marketing cooperative had recently gotten into.

However, Tao Jiadong is not one to speak without reason.

Director Wang decided that he would start the investigation as soon as he returned to the office.

"Old Wang, I believe you are a law-abiding comrade, you..." Tao Jiadong rambled on, chatting with Director Wang for a few words before letting the man go.

Tao Jiadong frowned as he watched Director Wang leave.

Tao Jiadong brought these things up with Director Wang to try and alert him, to see if Director Wang would reveal anything.

As a result, Director Wang was completely dumbfounded.

Could it be that... there's nothing wrong with the supply and marketing cooperative's accounts? Was he just having a false alarm?

No, no, no, Brother Qingshan wouldn't say anything carelessly.

There must be something wrong with the supply and marketing cooperatives, and it's a big problem.

However, Wang Qingquan was too incompetent; someone tampered with things right under his nose, but he was completely unaware.

After returning to his unit, Director Wang quickly summoned Old Chen from the personnel department to his office.

After closing the door, Director Wang quietly repeated to Old Chen what Tao Jiadong had just told him.

After he finished speaking, Director Wang asked, "Old Chen, you're quick-witted. Help me analyze this. Where should I start? Mingming, I think everything is normal at our supply and marketing cooperative!"

"Director Wang, I think we should continue with the inventory this month, starting today instead," Old Chen said after thinking for a moment.

Old Chen looked down on Director Wang.

In the past two years, he has only focused on trying to please his superiors, while turning a blind eye to some of the shortcomings of the company.

Now, Tao Jiadong has made his point crystal clear.

Abuse of power for personal gain and embezzlement.

Aren't these two words directed at Director Wang and the warehouse keeper respectively?

Director Wang even said he didn't know where to start, what a joke.

“Don’t we usually do the accounting on the 28th of every month? If we suddenly move it forward, the staff will be scrambling and might complain,” Director Wang said.

"I'm just offering a suggestion; you can decide how to proceed." Old Chen was exhausted.

It was Wang Qingquan who sought his advice, and it was Wang Qingquan who raised objections after he offered his suggestions.

If that's the case, why did Wang Qingquan seek his advice?

"Alright. Old Chen, go and inform the warehouse to hand in the accounts before they leave work this afternoon." Director Wang made the decision immediately when he saw that Old Chen's expression was not good.

"Director, I have some things to do. Please have someone else do it!" Old Chen refused.

The warehouse isn't under their personnel department's jurisdiction. Why should they let him do something that offends people?

Director Wang really has a clever plan.

Recently, there have been rumors in the supply and marketing cooperative that Old Chen is Director Wang's "perpetual lackey".

Although Lao Chen did offer some suggestions to Director Wang a few times, it was only because Director Wang forced him to do so!

"Oh? Then you go ahead with your work, I'll go by myself," Director Wang said with a laugh.

Director Wang isn't oblivious; he's just used to exploiting people.

Seeing that Old Chen was unhappy, Director Wang didn't dare to push him too hard.

Qian Youliang covered for Lao Jia last night.

Today is a normal shift for Qian Youliang.

After waking up in the warehouse in the morning, Qian Youliang didn't go home. Instead, he went to the company canteen for breakfast and then went back to work at the warehouse.

Before yesterday, Qian Youliang thought that with such a large warehouse and so many items, it would be impossible to tell if something was missing.

This morning, perhaps my mindset changed.

Qian Youliang would glance at the place where the cloth was stored every now and then. The more he glanced, the more uneasy he became.

What made people even more anxious about having money and food was soon about to happen.

"Qian Youliang, check the warehouse accounts this morning and bring them to my office this afternoon," Director Wang said.

"Afternoon? No way." Qian Youliang shook his head vigorously.

"Why not? If you have anything that hasn't been recorded, just add it this morning, won't that be fine?" Director Wang glared at him, clearly displeased.

"Wang... Director Wang, the ledger is locked in Lao Jia's drawer! I don't have the key, so I can't access the books!" Qian Youliang hurriedly explained.

"Then smash the lock. Anyway, you have to hand over the accounts to me before you leave work this afternoon." Director Wang's tone carried a hint of anger.

"Director Wang, this is so sudden! Don't we usually do the accounting on the 28th of every month? You've brought it up earlier without a word, and we weren't prepared at all," Qian Youliang said, craning his neck in protest.

Qian Youliang knew that once he handed over his ledger, Director Wang would have someone take the ledger and count the inventory overnight.

The current inventory simply cannot withstand an inventory check. Qian Youliang plans to delay for now.

"What? Do I, the director, need to report to you in advance when assigning tasks? Qian Youliang, who do you think you are?" Director Wang said angrily.

"Director, please be reasonable. If I break Lao Jia's lock, what will Lao Jia think of me? Aren't you just making me have a conflict with Lao Jia?" Qian Youliang still wanted to struggle.

"You're right," Director Wang nodded. He suggested, "Then go to Old Jia's house at noon and get the key back."

“Okay, I’ll go find Lao Jia at noon.” Qian Youliang’s face lit up with joy.

Then he'll just say he couldn't find Lao Jia. Wouldn't that just drag things out for another day?

A day from now, Hu Yong should be able to come up with a solution... right?

"If you don't find Lao Jia by noon, break the lock when you come to work this afternoon, and hand in the ledger to my office before you leave work this afternoon. Understand?" Director Wang said this and turned to leave.

Having money and grain felt like falling into an ice cave.

It's been less than seven hours since I left work this afternoon.

Can Hu Yong scrape together more than 2,600 yuan in seven hours?

Meanwhile, on Liang Xiaohe's side...

Early in the morning, Liang Xiaohe took a bus to the county town carrying a large bag of hair ties.

Yesterday, Hu Yong said that the hair ties weren't selling. Liang Xiaohe didn't believe him and decided to go there herself.

A small vendor surnamed Sun set up a stall at the entrance of the department store.

Liang Xiaohe contacted him first.

When Sun Rui saw Liang Xiaohe from afar, he quickly tidied up the hair tie on the ground and ran away.

"Brother Sun, Brother Sun, wait a minute!" Liang Xiaohe hurriedly chased after him.

"Comrade Liang, it's you!" After being caught up by Liang Xiaohe, Sun Rui had no choice but to stop.

"Brother Sun, how's business lately?" Liang Xiaohe's heart skipped a beat, but she still asked with a smile.

Last time, Sun Rui addressed Liang Xiaohe as "Xiaohe sister" repeatedly.

Today, however, it was a cold, insincere "Comrade Liang." Liang Xiaohe had a bad feeling.

"It's alright, I earn a few dollars a day, enough to make ends meet," said Xiao Sun.

"Didn't you say you were going to order another 20,000 units last time? I brought them all today," Liang Xiaohe said with a smile, pointing to the large bags on the ground.