Chapter 1039: Chapter 1028: Difficulties
Looking at Xu Ruolan, who rarely showed the tender demeanor of a young daughter in his arms, Ning Fan took a deep breath, inhaling the subtle fragrance of her hair.
After a moment of silence, Ning Fan said, “Actually, you don’t need to stay with me here. There are many things to deal with at the headquarters in Zhonghai City. You can go back early.”
“I’m directing things at the headquarters through video conferences every day. I can’t feel at ease with you alone in Dragon City.”
Xu Ruolan gave Ning Fan an indignant look and said, “Don’t you think about driving me away and sneaking around here to slack off. I’m here to supervise your work.”
“Alright…”
Ning Fan shrugged and said no more.
Actually, given the current situation, he hoped Xu Ruolan could withdraw quickly.
But he wasn’t willing to bring up the assassination attempt that night, just keeping the words to himself.
Without further conversation, the next morning, Ning Fan gently kissed Xu Ruolan’s forehead while she was sleeping, dressed quietly, finished washing up, and headed to the Dragon City Branch Company.
“Are there any leads on the movements of the tax squad?”
Ning Fan looked over at Ouyang Feifei and asked.
Nearby, Qiu Xiuxiu was learning to make tea, mimicking with a convincing stance, learning quite quickly.
“The Shadow Team has already investigated. This time, the team leader is the deputy director of the tax squad named Ma Jianguo, reportedly a tough character.”
Ouyang Feifei handed over a photo, her face showing worry, and said, “Every year, half of Dragon City’s fiscal revenue comes from commercial taxes, so the tax squad’s authority in Dragon City is extremely significant. It’s said this Director Ma has taken down quite a few business companies.”
Looking at the middle-aged man in the photo with a beaming smile and meticulously dressed in a suit, Ning Fan snorted coldly and threw the photo into the trash can.
“On my turf, no matter if it’s a deputy director, even if the director comes, he’ll have to behave himself!”
The tax squad’s investigators didn’t keep Ning Fan waiting too long.
Just as the clock hand swung to nine, as Ning Fan finished a cup of tea brewed by Qiu Xiuxiu and was amused by the strange taste, Ouyang Feifei had already entered the office to report: “The tax squad people have arrived at the company entrance.”
Ning Fan and Ouyang Feifei were already prepared, having arranged for the Shadow Team to thoroughly check the company’s accounts overnight. Although some taxes hadn’t been paid timely, the risk of tax evasion had been completely eliminated.
Therefore, Ning Fan wasn’t flustered, calmly seated in the office, showing no intention to go out and greet them.
Ning Fan wasn’t panicked, which didn’t mean that the people in the various departments under him weren’t anxious.
Upon seeing the tax squad’s official vehicle parked at the company entrance, the rumors and gossip swirling through the company reached a peak instantly.
“It’s the tax squad, as Supervisor Liu and others said. Could it be that General Manager Ning is using the company for money laundering, tax evasion, and is now targeted by the tax squad?”
“It must be like that. I know this person, Deputy Director Ma, reputed for his iron hand, dealing with an unknown number of tax evasion cases each year, with quite a few company bosses being sent to jail!”
Amidst the buzzing discussions, Ma Jianguo led the investigators into the Dragon City Branch Company.
As soon as he entered, his expression turned gloomy.
Even though it was a surprise inspection, the tax squad had given prior notice to Xu Corporation’s Dragon City Branch before departing.
But now, entering the door upon getting out of the car, he couldn’t even see a single person coming to greet him.
This immediately made him displeased.
A full minute passed before an office worker, under Ouyang Feifei’s direction, arrived at the company’s lobby.
“Deputy Director Ma, this way please, the General Manager is waiting for you in his office.”
“Haha, such a grand attitude. When I visit world-class branch companies, it’s always the general manager who comes to greet personally. What’s your general manager’s background?”
Ma Jianguo asked the office worker with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“Uh… I’m not sure about that either, the General Manager hasn’t been in office for long. To be honest, we’re not that familiar with him.”
“Lead the way!”
Seeing he couldn’t get anything out, Ma Jianguo followed the office worker, icy-faced, all the way to Ning Fan’s General Manager office.
“Oh, isn’t it Deputy Director Ma? What brings you here, please take a seat, Xiuxiu, make tea.”
Inside the office, Ning Fan remained seated at the boss’s chair without getting up. Although he instructed Qiu Xiuxiu to make tea, his words were polite, yet he showed no intention of rising to greet Ma Jianguo.
“Haha, there’s no need for tea. I’m here on business this time.”
Ma Jianguo, with a cold face, waved his large hand and said, “Ning Fan, right? I’ve received reports from employees of this branch, alleging that your place is involved in falsifying accounts, tax evasion, is that true?”
“Ah? Who said that, how is that possible!”
Ning Fan’s face showed an angry expression, slamming the table and said furiously: “Slander, it’s absolutely slander, our Xu Corporation has always adhered to the law, never engages in illegal activities, Deputy Director Ma must see the truth clearly.”
“Whether illegal acts exist isn’t for you to decide.”
Ignoring Ning Fan’s explanation, Ma Jianguo instructed his subordinates: “Control the finance office and ledgers immediately, conduct a meticulous investigation!”
“Yes!”
The subordinates responded in unison and filed out.
Normally, investigations wouldn’t unfold so quickly, but Ning Fan’s dismissive attitude had clearly enraged Ma Jianguo.
At this moment, he wasn’t planning on giving this Xu Corporation branch any way out.
“If Deputy Director Ma wants to investigate, I’m naturally not going to obstruct. If there’s nothing wrong, then the tax squad colleagues might be making this trip in vain.”
Ning Fan picked up the tea cup, blew the steam off the rim, and looked smilingly at Ma Jianguo.
Ma Jianguo’s face was livid, not speaking a word to Ning Fan, sitting silently in the office, waiting for his subordinates to report back.
An hour later, the tax squad investigator returned to the office, sweating profusely, leaning close to Ma Jianguo’s ear to whisper a few words.
Ma Jianguo, whose face had been livid, gradually brightened in expression upon hearing the report.
“Alright, you may leave.”
Ma Jianguo waved, letting his subordinate leave.
“If there’s nothing wrong, it’s not for us to decide either. In just an hour’s investigation, my subordinates have discovered as many as five instances of unpaid taxes in your company. Can this be considered law-abiding behavior?”
“I’ll pay the taxes; it’s not even the deadline for paying taxes yet.”
Ning Fan shrugged, smiling as he said.
“Haha, back-paying taxes requires a process as well. In my view, you’re deliberately evading taxes and must be severely punished!”
Ma Jianguo exhaled deeply, crossing his arms with a cold smile.