School Beauty's Invincible Martial Expert

"Director Zhou, this is the procedure," Director Zhao sneered, then said, "Understand? We're a country governed by the rule of law; everything must be done according to the law. This time, you've violated the city's municipal management regulations, and I'm now orally issuing you a rectification notice. If you don't remove these streetlights within three days, then... I'll send people to forcibly dismantle them. By that time, I fear it won't be so simple."

After finishing, Director Zhao turned around and left with two people in tow.

Watching their retreating backs, Auntie Zhou was dumbfounded. Initially, she thought those few were not from the municipal engineering office, but when she saw the military green jeep, she believed it, because that jeep belonged to the engineering office, and it was even the leaders' vehicle.

"Big sister, what should we do now?" Xiaohong asked awkwardly from the side.

"These bastards!" Auntie Zhou cursed angrily, "A bunch of officials, trying to highlight their own authority, are truly capable of all evils. We spent 130,000 yuan to completely update all these streetlights, and now... they want us to take them down, it's utterly shameless."

"It's truly a case of 'an official one level higher crushes you to death,'" Xiaohong cursed.

"So what do we do now?" Auntie Zhou asked hurriedly.

"I don't know!" Xiaohong shook her head, then said, "How about we consult with everyone?"

"Okay!" Auntie Zhou nodded, and as she turned around, she hurriedly said, "Right, go and find Xiao Han too; he's also involved in this matter since he's the investor. We should listen to his opinion and see what he has to say!"

"Okay!" Xiaohong nodded and hurried back to the office to call Xiao Han.

At that moment, Xiao Han was at home. Suddenly, he received a call from the Residents' Committee and immediately rose, heading toward the Residents' Committee. In the Residents' Committee's office, Xiao Han felt that something was off as soon as he entered.

"Auntie Zhou, what's going on?" Xiao Han asked with confusion, "Why is everyone so silent, has something happened?"

"Xiao Han, come and sit," Auntie Zhou called out in a hurry.

Everyone fell silent.

Before Xiao Han could sit down, Old Li from the Family Planning Office, with a cigarette clenched in his mouth, said, "Big sister, actually our biggest mistake was revealing the cost breakdown of this project."

"Oh?" Auntie Zhou responded upon hearing this, "Why? That should be a very normal practice. We took Xiao Han's money, so we ought to give everyone an account, right? Besides, I think the breakdown was quite proper, without any issues."

"That's exactly where the problem lies," Old Li sighed.

"What...?" Auntie Zhou asked urgently, "What on earth is going on?"

"Did you forget what I told you this morning?" Old Li laughed, "Municipal authorities might pay a thousand yuan for a streetlight bulb, but they'll have the supplier issue an invoice for two thousand yuan. But us? We argued until we were blue in the face for a price of two hundred. The bulb is the same model as theirs, but our price is only one-tenth of theirs. Do you think... the municipal authorities can stay seated?"

That hit the nail on the head.

Gasps of surprise echoed.

Everyone immediately understood.

Auntie Zhou was stunned, speechless, and at that moment, she finally realized the reason? No wonder they were so nervous. If this came to light, surely someone would question whether the municipal authorities were guilty of corruption and taking bribes. Such an exaggerated invoice was truly horrifying. Ten times the market price? How many parasites must be feasting on the taxpayer's money behind the scenes?

Xiao Han sat on the side, getting the gist of the situation through their conversation, but he did not interject. After all, this was a matter between the municipal authorities and the Fuxing Community Residents' Committee. As a student, he couldn't get involved in so much; he also couldn't trouble Mo Shaocong over such a matter. Mo Shaocong was probably in Beijing City right now, mingling with the Three Young Masters of the Capital. Mo Shaocong urgently needed to integrate into Beijing's upper circles, needing to forge important connections.

"What... what can we do now?" Auntie Zhou also became conscious of the problem.

"That's their problem!" At that moment, Xiaohong said with a cold laugh, "They are the ones embezzling, who else can they blame?"

"But, they have the authority!" Old Li laughed, "Indeed, the management right of Fuxing Road is ours, but the urban management oversees all the city's projects. In theory, we do need permission from the road authority to replace or repair streetlight poles. However, it's not a big issue if we don't get it, as long as we don't touch their interests. They absolutely won't say anything, after all, it's for the benefit of the country and the people. But now we have touched their interests. Even with a permit, they would find a fault and make us redo it."

"Er..." Auntie Zhou choked up as if a fishbone were stuck in her heart.

She had done a good deed for the country and the people, and yet she was being harassed for it. Auntie Zhou felt very uncomfortable inside. Her opinion of these officials had further declined. In fact, she dealt with the government quite a bit and had a good impression of them. Some government leaders and Auntie Zhou had no business dealings, so they were quite polite, readily agreeing to help the community whenever asked.

However, this time the municipal authorities had chilled Auntie Zhou's heart.

"No," Auntie Zhou suddenly said, "I absolutely cannot let them just dismantle our streetlights like this."

"Then what do we do?" Xiao Han asked.

"I'm going to the Municipal Committee to find someone," Auntie Zhou said through gritted teeth. "We finally got the streetlights replaced, the poles refurbished, how can we just let them take it down? I'm definitely not happy about this."

"Neither am I!" Xiaohong said.

"We're all not happy!" The crowd spoke up one after another.

They all seemed righteously indignant.

Xiao Han stood by and watched them, this matter indeed touched upon the interests of the municipal government, and with any carelessness, leaders of the municipal government were at risk of being placed under investigation. If someone with ulterior motives discovered this, and then sent a report to the Provincial Committee, not only the leaders of the municipal government would face issues, but also the leaders of the Municipal Committee could become implicated. Thus, this matter also made them realize the crux of the problem.

"Auntie Zhou, can I help you with anything?" Xiao Han asked curiously.

"Forget about it!" Auntie Zhou shook her head and then said, "You're still just a kid. I'm already very grateful that you could offer so much money this time. The residents of Fuxing Community can avoid the dark roads all thanks to your support!"

"You're welcome!" Xiao Han shook his head, then said, "If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving first!"

"Sure!" Auntie Zhou nodded and said, "You go back first. There's nothing for you here anymore!"

Xiao Han nodded, then turned and left.

The eve of the Chinese New Year, the day for pasting couplets.

The residents of Fuxing Community had already begun to paste couplets on their doors. Meanwhile, the community staff were still toiling over the streetlights on Fuxing Road. Xiao Han was filled with respect for them. Walking back, he saw red couplets on the doors, filled with festivity.

"Xiao Han!" Just as he reached his front door, he saw a lively figure standing there on the roadside.

Xiao Han glanced at her, she looked familiar, but he couldn't quite place her. He looked at her with puzzlement and asked, "You... who are you?"

"I'm a reporter from Linjiang TV Station, my name's Jiang Ling." Jiang Ling walked towards Xiao Han gracefully.

Jiang Ling was fair-skinned and beautiful, with a tall figure. Dressed in black, which was very slimming, she had a hint of a smile on her face. She approached Xiao Han, then extended her hand and shook his with polite friendliness.

"We... we've met somewhere before!" Xiao Han tried hard to remember.

"Think about it some more!" Jiang Ling said playfully, batting her eyelashes.

"Oh!" Xiao Han's mind was sharper than others, and he suddenly had an epiphany, "The day of the college entrance exams, you asked me a question in the meeting room, didn't you?"

"Hehe, what else?" Jiang Ling giggled.

"I don't remember!" Xiao Han's only memory of her was that. On the first afternoon of the college entrance exams, he was one of the first to come out, and Jiang Ling had asked him a few inconsequential questions. It seemed that she thought he wouldn't get into a university, so she didn't interview him.

"Ah, you really do forget important people." Jiang Ling gave a shallow smile and said, "But, you might truly not remember. That day at Linjiang No.1 Middle School, your speech was brilliant, and I was there in the audience. Moreover, I read your college entrance essay, which was very touching and full of genuine emotion. At that time, I really didn't expect that you would become the national top scorer. Otherwise, I would have taken a few photos, and then run a news piece."

"Jiang Ling, what do you want with me?" Xiao Han suddenly remembered her self-introduction from that afternoon. Once the events came back to him, they were unstoppable.

"Wow, you still remember my name?" Jiang Ling was somewhat surprised.

"Of course!" Xiao Han nodded.

"I'm here today to offer you a personal interview!" Jiang Ling smiled, "Are you interested?"

"Not interested!" Xiao Han shook his head.

"You..." Jiang Ling was taken aback. Typically, someone would jump for joy if they were invited by a TV station for an interview. Yet, this guy didn't jump for joy; instead, he rejected her invitation. Jiang Ling suddenly felt a blow to her self-esteem, and she quickly said, "Why not?"

"No reason, just not interested!" Xiao Han smiled.

"Then... then let's say I'm inviting you to do an interview, okay?" Jiang Ling said hastily.

"To tell the truth, we've only met once, it seems we're not very familiar, right?" Xiao Han's words nearly made Jiang Ling choke with indignation.