Hidden Cards and Follow-up Moves

Night falls at the Jingzhou Stadium.

Under the dim light, Qi Tongwei learned that Gao Yuliang had filed for divorce and became as anxious as an ant on a hot pan: "Teacher, the more anxious you are at this time, the more you mustn't be. Do you think your marriage with Gao Xiaofeng is so easy to end?"

"Do you think Zhao Lichun will let you off so easily?"

Gao Yuliang's lips curled into a slight smile as he said, "Tongwei, it's not just me; you also need to completely sever ties with Shanshui Manor, clean up your mess, and leave no stain!"

Qi Tongwei frowned and shook his head, saying, "Teacher, you're thinking too simply. With the arrival of Provincial Party Secretary Sha Ruijin, everyone in Handong Province knows that Zhao Lichun is finished, but we can't get off the boat now."

"Tongwei, you're overthinking it."

"I just spoke with former Party Secretary Zhao Lichun on the phone today. He agreed to my divorce application and also agreed to your withdrawal from the Shanshui Group shares. As for the 116 fire and Chen Hai's car accident, Shanshui Manor will bear all the responsibility!"

"How is this possible?" Qi Tongwei looked astonished, hardly believing his ears!

Gao Yuliang looked at Qi Tongwei meaningfully, "Tongwei, you're still too young. There are no eternal friends, only eternal interests. Do you understand?"

Qi Tongwei pondered for a long time, still unable to understand why Zhao Lichun had compromised. He analyzed, "Teacher, even if the Zhao family is willing to take responsibility for everything that happened, you shouldn't have applied for a divorce from Sha Ruijin. That would be like alerting the enemy!"

"Sha Ruijin is definitely suspicious now and will focus his investigation on your marriage. Your relationship with Gao Xiaofeng can't be kept secret any longer!"

"Can't hide it? It's been hidden for a long time!"

Gao Yuliang snorted coldly, "When the photos of me and Gao Xiaofeng appeared in the Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, it was already impossible to hide it anymore. Do you think you can still pretend that nothing happened?"

"Also, have you considered who sent those photos, whether there are any backups, or any other evidence?"

"This marriage is like a bomb that could explode at any moment. Rather than waiting for it to explode, it's better to defuse it as soon as possible!"

Gao Yuliang said with a solemn expression, "The best way now is to divorce Gao Xiaofeng as soon as possible, give up all the property, and learn from Li Dakang, pretending to know nothing when questioned, thus minimizing the risk!"

Qi Tongwei realized the seriousness of the situation and immediately assured him, "Teacher, don't worry, I will arrange your divorce with Gao Xiaofeng right away. I guarantee everything will be settled by tonight!"

Gao Yuliang reminded him, "Tongwei, you also need to clean up your own mess. The road ahead is long, you can't afford to be covered in mud, understand?"

Thinking of the mess he had made, Qi Tongwei frowned even more, his face turning grim. "Teacher, I'm not like you. I need some time to withdraw..."

Gao Yuliang interrupted, "There's no rush. You have a year. You're safe for a year; no one can touch you!"

"A year? What do you mean, a year?" Qi Tongwei asked, looking completely bewildered.

"You gave excellent command during the Lincheng incident last night. The Ministry of Public Security has decided to award you a First-Class Merit Medal and make it public nationwide. For one year from the date of the announcement, you will be honored as a police hero, and no one will touch you."

Qi Tongwei's eyes widened, filled with disbelief. "This? This can earn me a first-class merit medal? Weren't those three shots I took back then for nothing?"

……

On his way back, Gao Yuliang closed his eyes and pretended to sleep, his mind filled with thoughts. He knew that once he applied for a divorce from Sha Ruijin, Gao Xiaofeng would definitely not be able to keep it a secret!

As long as someone has leverage over you, many people, including Provincial Party Secretary Sha Ruijin, Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary Tian Guofu, Procuratorate Chief Prosecutor Ji Changming, Anti-Corruption Bureau Chief Hou Liangping, and Central Commission for Discipline Inspection Chief Zhong Xiaoai, will not let you off the hook!

It seems I've been driven to the brink!

Gao Yuliang gripped his phone tightly, hesitant about whether to use his trump card!

This trump card, he never revealed a single bit about until he was taken away by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection in his previous life. It was precisely because of this hidden trump card that 80% of the Han University gang was able to survive after he was placed under investigation!

In the third quarter, Handong Province experienced its first economic slowdown, and the end of Sha Ruijin's political career was closely related to this economic storm!

This economic storm was rife with officials from the Han University clique!

"Given a second chance at life, I want to fight for myself this time!"

Gao Yuliang made up his mind and dialed a cell phone number he hadn't called in a long time. The call was quickly answered...

After a long silence, a voice came from the other end of the phone: "Yuliang, have you figured it out?"

"I've figured it out. Come to my house and we'll talk in detail."

"good!"

The concise language gave Gao Yuliang even more confidence in this desperate counterattack!

After returning home, Gao Yuliang asked Teacher Wu to cook a few dishes, and he also took out his treasured Moutai liquor. Not long after, the doorbell rang.

Gao Yuliang opened the door, exchanged a smile with the acquaintance outside, and said, "Chunlin, let's talk upstairs!"

Wu Chunlin, the provincial Party committee's organization minister, followed Gao Yuliang upstairs. As soon as the door closed, Wu Chunlin complained, "Old Gao, I told you long ago, so what if Sha Ruijin comes? As long as we two brothers work together, even the provincial Party secretary will have to bow down!"

"If it weren't for your strong insistence on avoiding conflict, and Sha Ruijin's decision to freeze the personnel appointments of 125 cadres in Handong, I wouldn't have agreed!"

Gao Yuliang poured Wu Chunlin a cup of tea and explained with a smile, "Chunlin, I understand how you feel, but you have to understand one thing: Sha Ruijin represents the will of the higher-ups. Besides, the provincial party secretary is in charge of personnel matters. It's understandable that a new broom sweeps clean and freezes personnel appointments."

"I understand him, but does he understand me? Freezing the personnel appointments of 125 cadres in Handong Province—our provincial party secretary isn't just targeting those 125 cadres, but also has a lot of complaints about me, the organization minister."

Wu Chunlin was furious when he thought of Sha Ruijin freezing the personnel appointments of 125 cadres. He was full of resentment and kept complaining.

Gao Yuliang smiled. "Chunlin, are you ready? Once you break ties with Sha Ruijin, there's no turning back!"

"Old Gao, what's our relationship? Your question is pointless!" Wu Chunlin lit a cigarette and muttered, "It's not that there's no turning back now, it's just that from the moment I was born, from the moment I was transferred to Handong, factions naturally formed!"

Just then, there was a knock on the door, and Wu Huifen came in carrying a plate of washed crystal grapes, saying, "Don't just talk, Chunlin, have some grapes. I just bought them, they're very fresh."

Wu Chunlin looked at Wu Huifen and smiled, "Cousin, don't bother, I came after I finished eating..."

……

Unbeknownst to Gao Yuliang, Hou Liangping was at the procuratorate at that moment, staring wide-eyed at the marital records of Gao Yuliang that Lu Yike, the head of the first division of the anti-corruption bureau, had found. "What does this mean? Gao Yuliang and Teacher Wu divorced six years ago?"

"That's right, Gao Yuliang and Wu Huifen not only got married six years ago, but they also remarried shortly after their divorce!" Lu Yike said with certainty.

Hou Liangping was overjoyed and asked excitedly, "Who did you marry?"

Lu Yike revealed a playful expression, "Director Hou, you could rack your brains and still not figure out who married Gao Yuliang!"