Divorce Application

Gao Yuliang smiled slightly, "Old Ji, the decision regarding the punishment of Hou Liangping was made after discussion and approval by the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee. I have no authority to interfere or modify it, and it's no use you coming to me."

"Why don't you go see Secretary Sha, Lao Ji? He's the one who decided on this punishment."

Ji Changming seemed to have anticipated Gao Yuliang's response. "Secretary Yuliang, I've already spoken to Secretary Sha. He said this is an internal matter for the procuratorate, and as long as Secretary Yuliang has no objection, he has no objection either."

Gao Yuliang immediately understood that this was pressure from the Zhong family in Beijing. Sha Ruijin and Ji Changming had no choice but to clean up Hou Liangping's mess under pressure.

Gao Yuliang was a little confused. Sha Ruijin wanted to take a step up and hoped to get the support of the Zhong family, so they would naturally do their best to help him. Ji Changming was about to retire, so why was he still willing to stand up for Hou Liangping?

Suddenly, I thought of someone!

Gao Yuliang shook his head and reminded Ji Changming, "Old Ji, I remember... you should be retiring soon, right?"

"There are still a few months left. Governor Liu and I will be in the same batch."

"Old Ji, on the verge of retirement, you were willing to take a disciplinary action for Hou Liangping. If I'm not mistaken, it was for Ji Ping'an, wasn't it?"

Upon hearing Ji Ping'an's name, Ji Changming remained silent, but insisted, "This matter has nothing to do with Ping'an. I believe the main responsibility for the Lin Cheng incident lies with me, not Hou Liangping."

"Old Ji, you can't say that. Hou Liangping said it himself at the Standing Committee meeting this morning: it was his order for Lu Yike and Lin Huahua to supervise Zhao Ruilong. What does that have to do with you?"

"Hou Liangping was merely an executor; he didn't have the authority to secretly monitor Zhao Ruilong. It was my decision that made the decision, so the primary responsibility still lies with me!"

Seeing that Ji Changming insisted that he was primarily responsible for the Lincheng incident, Gao Yuliang didn't say anything more. "Alright, I'll discuss this with Secretary Sha and then make a decision. You can go back now."

……

After Ji Changming left, Gao Yuliang straightened his clothes, picked up his thermos, and headed to Sha Ruijin's office.

Downstairs, he also ran into Sha Ruijin's secretary. Secretary Bai looked at Gao Yuliang and asked with a smile, "Secretary Yuliang, what brings you here...?"

"Secretary Bai, is Secretary Sha here? I need to report something to Secretary Sha."

"Secretary Sha is upstairs, Secretary Yuliang, please come with me."

After Secretary Bai reported to Sha Ruijin, Gao Yuliang walked into the office. Sha Ruijin was making tea. Upon seeing Gao Yuliang, he immediately waved and said, "Secretary Yuliang, come and taste my new tea."

Gao Yuliang put down his thermos, took a sip of tea, and praised, "Good tea, Secretary Sha has excellent taste..."

Sha Ruijin put down his teapot and smiled at Gao Yuliang: "Secretary Yuliang, your speech at the Standing Committee meeting this morning was truly resounding!"

Gao Yuliang knew that Sha Ruijin was giving him a warning, and he didn't want to break off relations at this moment, so he said tactfully, "Secretary Sha, I was too anxious about the Lincheng incident, which led to some of my remarks being a bit extreme. I have reflected on myself after the meeting."

Seeing that Gao Yuliang had made a self-criticism, Sha Ruijin couldn't say anything more. After all, it was an indisputable fact that the procuratorate was indeed disorganized and undisciplined in the Lincheng incident!

Sha Ruijin's reprimand of Gao Yuliang was intended to make it easier for Gao to discuss Hou Liangping's punishment. "Secretary Yuliang, Ji Changming from the Provincial Procuratorate contacted me, saying that he is primarily responsible for the Lincheng incident, and Hou Liangping was merely carrying it out. What's your opinion on this?"

"Secretary Sha, to be honest, Lao Ji just came to see me, so I came to discuss this with you right away."

"Secretary Sha asked me for my opinion. I felt that this was an internal matter of the Provincial Procuratorate, and it was difficult to investigate whose fault it was. Since Ji Changming voluntarily applied for disciplinary action, wasn't the disciplinary action against Hou Liangping, the director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, a bit excessive?"

Having been given a second chance at life, Gao Yuliang knew too much about Hou Liangping's past, making it incredibly easy for him to get rid of Hou Liangping.

Moreover, Gao Yuliang did not want to completely condemn Hou Liangping; he wanted to take good care of this "beloved disciple."

Gao Yuliang's plan was simple: he would compromise with Hou Liangping on this issue and then take the opportunity to file for divorce.

Sha Ruijin was overjoyed to hear this. Gao Yuliang was really too cooperative, saying everything he wanted to say.

"Secretary Yuliang and I are thinking the same thing. So, Secretary Yuliang, what punishment do you think would be appropriate for Hou Liangping?"

Gao Yuliang seemed to be thinking for a moment, then said, "How about this, Secretary Sha, we'll suspend Hou Liangping from his duties temporarily and give him a party warning. What do you think?"

"Okay, let's do as Secretary Yu Liang says. We'll suspend Hou Liangping from his duties for a month to reflect on his actions, and then give him a party warning..."

Sha Ruijin readily agreed, as this result was enough to satisfy the Zhong family. After all, Hou Liangping's actions were too outrageous; even setting aside the Zhong family, the punishment of being removed from his party post was too lenient!

In high spirits, Sha Ruijin jokingly said, "Secretary Yuliang, after watching the Standing Committee meeting this morning, I thought you had a problem with Hou Liangping."

"How could that be, Secretary Sha? Hou Liangping was my student. He was the student council president back in school, and I was the one who promoted him." Gao Yuliang said regretfully, "It's because I love him so much that I hate him so much!"

Sha Ruijin joked, "Secretary Yuliang's expression of 'deep love turns to deep resentment' is quite apt!"

Seeing that an agreement had been reached on Hou Liangping's matter, Gao Yuliang immediately said, "Secretary Sha, there is a private matter I would like to report to the organization and to you."

"Secretary Yuliang, is there anything we can help with or that we can resolve?"

"Secretary Sha, this is a family matter, and I don't need the organization to help me resolve it." Gao Yuliang pushed up his glasses and murmured, "Secretary Sha may not know that I've been having some relationship problems for many years."

"We've kept this a secret for our daughter's sake, but now that she's grown up, I want to end this marriage."

Upon hearing Gao Yuliang's words, Sha Ruijin's eyes widened in surprise, and he exclaimed, "What? You want a divorce too?"

"We've long lost our feelings for each other. Rather than being trapped under the same roof, it's better to break free sooner and give each other freedom. What do you think, Secretary Sha?" Gao Yuliang asked earnestly.

"I'm just a little surprised. I haven't been in Handong for long, and Li Dakang got divorced. Now you, Gao Yuliang, are also getting divorced. I'm afraid people will say that I, the provincial party secretary, am a home-wrecker."

After making a self-deprecating remark, Sha Ruijin nodded in agreement, saying, "However, Secretary Yuliang is quite right. Without feelings, it's better to get a divorce and free both parties than to be trapped under the same roof."

After saying that, Sha Ruijin joked, "But Secretary Yuliang, Li Dakang got divorced, and his ex-wife was immediately found guilty of corruption. You can't be like Li Dakang, with your ex-wife running into trouble right after the divorce, can you?"

Although it was just a joke, Gao Yuliang became wary inside, but smiled and assured him, "Secretary Sha is joking again. I believe Secretary Dakang doesn't know about his ex-wife's corruption, otherwise he definitely wouldn't have covered it up and would have upheld the law impartially."

"Well said, I think so too." Sha Ruijin was in a great mood and beckoned to Gao Yuliang, "Don't just stand there, have some tea, have some tea..."

After Gao Yuliang left, Sha Ruijin's smile gradually faded, and his deep eyes were filled with contemplation. Finally, he picked up the phone on his desk and dialed a number!

"Old Ji, immediately launch an investigation into Gao Yuliang's marital issues, especially into Teacher Wu's, and see if any illegal or disciplinary violations have occurred!"

"If it's inconvenient for the procuratorate, Hou Liangping has already been suspended from his duties, so let him take charge. You can assist him privately!"