23: Chapter 23 is just a prop?

Reporter Li Fei and Cameraman Bai Zhuang crouched down and snuck toward the small side door.

The side door was likely meant for workers to use as a temporary entrance and exit.

At this moment, because of the sudden loud noise in the workshop, the workers were all gathered inside.

In their haste, the workers hadn't noticed that the door was left wide open.

Seeing this, Reporter Li Fei was overjoyed.

"Quick! Get into this position!"

Reporter Li Fei beckoned, signaling for Cameraman Bai Zhuang, who was standing behind her, to hurry over, giving him the best vantage point.

Noticing the worry on his face, Reporter Li Fei chuckled softly. "What? Still worried?"

Cameraman Bai Zhuang didn't say a word, focusing on setting up his camera.

However, judging by his expression, he looked quite reluctant.

Reporter Li Fei shifted her gaze to the interior of the workshop, her eyes lighting up once again. As she looked, she comforted Cameraman Bai Zhuang:

"You don't really think these are real, do you?"

"If these were real, Xu Hao would have been arrested long ago. How could he still be standing there so calmly?"

Reporter Li Fei shook her head and continued her analysis:

"Didn't Director Guo Fan of 'The Wandering Earth' say it before? They've started a partnership with Xu's Heavy Industry. These things... they're definitely props for that movie!!"

Reporter Li Fei waved her microphone, speaking with absolute certainty.

Real weaponry and equipment would never be produced so easily by a heavy industry enterprise.

Setting aside the key technologies involved...

Daring to build weapons privately—that's a crime!!

The viewers in the livestream room also nodded repeatedly in agreement upon hearing Reporter Li Fei's analysis.

"Exactly, exactly! How could these be real fighter jets, mechs, and battle vehicles? They're definitely props..."

"You guys are just finding out? Anyone with eyes can see they're fake."

"But I have to say, these props are made so realistically, they look just like the real thing!!"

"The cameraman is such a coward. He got scared by some movie props and even talked about being arrested and going to jail, hahaha..."

"Reporter Li Fei: Can't carry a teammate this bad..."

"..."

After Reporter Li Fei's analysis, Cameraman Bai Zhuang's movements as he adjusted the camera slowed down slightly.

Thinking about it carefully, it did seem to make sense.

Right, how could real military products appear in a heavy industry enterprise that was on the verge of bankruptcy and riddled with scandals?

If they were truly military products, wouldn't the authorities have stepped in to protect Xu's Heavy Industry?

Furthermore.

Military products were complexes of high-end technology.

How could a small heavy industry enterprise possibly build them?

Cameraman Bai Zhuang rubbed his nose awkwardly. Recalling his overreaction just now, he found it quite laughable.

To be scared like that by some movie props—how embarrassing...

Knowing that the mechs, fighter jets, and Doomsday Vehicles in the workshop were all props, the worry in Cameraman Bai Zhuang's heart vanished.

He gripped the camera firmly, found a good angle, zoomed in, and captured every detail inside the workshop.

The viewers in the livestream room were instantly treated to a feast for the eyes.

Some had already started screen recording to save these images.

Even though they were fake, they were incredibly realistic.

It was quite nice to record them for appreciation.

...

Inside the workshop.

Xu Hao, who had rushed over upon hearing the noise, arrived at the workshop along with other high-level core members and the comrades from the Long Tax Bureau.

"Director Ma, I'll go ask what the situation is. Please wait a moment."

Xu Hao turned back to say a few words to Director Ma Wenkang of the Long Tax Bureau, then walked toward the production line.

He had been reconciling accounts in his office when he received a call from security saying that comrades from the Long Tax Bureau had arrived.

Xu Hao had immediately dropped his work to go welcome them.

He intended to have them conduct a detailed investigation into Xu's Heavy Industry's tax situation.

But who would have thought that on the way back to the office, a loud bang would suddenly erupt from the workshop?

Without a word, Xu Hao and the others hurried to the workshop.

And that led to the current scene.

Ma Wenkang nodded, signaling for Xu Hao to attend to his business first.

Standing beside Ma Wenkang was the accompanying staff member, Xiao Gao—Gao Zimin.

A young comrade who had just passed the civil service exam, he was assisting Ma Wenkang on this assignment.

"Director Ma, this... is there really a problem with Xu's Heavy Industry's taxes?"

Gao Zimin was of average height, wore a pair of glasses, and held a file under his arm.

Having been assigned to investigate Xu's Heavy Industry's tax issues, he had come along with Director Ma.

Looking at the situation in the workshop, he lowered his voice and asked Ma Wenkang.

Ma Wenkang shook his head. "Xu's Heavy Industry is an old-brand heavy industry enterprise. Although its operations haven't been optimistic these past few years, they have always paid their taxes in full."

Ma Wenkang replied.

Since he had become the director of the local Long Tax Bureau, Xu's Heavy Industry had already been established and producing here.

Over the past decade or so, although Xu's Heavy Industry had enjoyed policy benefits, their tax payments had never been short; they were always paid on time and in full every year.

"But there are many rumors online saying that Xu's Heavy Industry has serious tax evasion issues. This..."

Xiao Gao looked hesitant and asked in confusion.

"Is whatever they say automatically true? Is there an actual investigation? Is there data to support it?"

Ma Wenkang countered, his tone turning a bit more serious.

These past few days, the matters concerning Xu's Heavy Industry had been causing a huge stir.

Especially regarding the point of tax evasion, many netizens were tagging the Tax Bureau, demanding they go down and inspect.

Under pressure from above, coupled with Xu Hao's proactive invitation...

...they had come to inspect today.

Even though he knew himself that Xu's Heavy Industry had no history of tax evasion.

But regardless of whether there was a problem, an inspection still had to be done.

At the very least, it provided an explanation to the higher-ups and the general public.

Hearing Ma Wenkang say this, Xiao Gao closed his mouth and said no more.

He had just entered the government sector and didn't understand many things.

Following Director Ma was also a way to gain experience and see how his senior handled problems.

Ma Wenkang watched as Xu Hao walked toward the workshop where the mechs, Doomsday Vehicles, and fighter jets were parked, and he felt quite curious himself.

After hesitating for a moment, he followed.

Standing beside Xu Hao, his eyes were filled with curiosity and amazement.

fighter jets! Mechs! Doomsday Vehicles!

This...

He couldn't help but ask Xu Hao:

"Chairman Xu, are these all movie props?"

He had also seen news online saying that Xu's Heavy Industry had partnered with a film company.

Presumably, these should all be movie props.

"Uh... Yes! That's right! They're movie props..."

Hearing Ma Wenkang's question, Xu Hao was slightly stunned for a moment before answering:

"But to make the 'props' more realistic, these props are all capable of moving."

Ma Wenkang nodded, but he couldn't help but swallow hard.

"They look... a bit unlike props..."

The props were indeed very realistic, and they could even move.

If someone didn't know better, they would probably think they were real.

Just the size of these props alone was similar to real fighter jets and battle vehicles, or even larger.

Furthermore.

The texture of the exterior was also very close to the coating of real fighter jets and battle vehicles.

Xu Hao just laughed off Ma Wenkang's words, brushing them aside.

"Hey, then what was the cause of that explosion just now? Was there a problem with production?"

Ma Wenkang hadn't forgotten that they had been drawn here by that loud noise.

"Oh... I just checked. During the load test for the transport vehicle, the tire load was too high, and it blew out..."

He had gone forward to check and found that a tire on the Giant Transport Vehicle had exploded.

"A tire blew out?"

Ma Wenkang was stunned, his face full of confusion.

Aren't these props?

How can a tire even blow out?!