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“I will issue a document directly, and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate will expel Hou Liangping.” Prosecutor Wei said decisively, but there was no smugness in his tone, only exhaustion. “If Hou Liangping can still keep his job at this point, it will be a blatant slap in the face to Zhou Yuan and Zhang Erhe. When they retaliate, neither of us can withstand it.”

Zhong Zhengguo nodded. He knew in his heart that this was no longer just Hou Liangping's problem. At this point, Hou Liangping's position had become the fuse—if it wasn't dealt with, they would face not only Zhou Yuan and Zhang Erhe's fierce counterattack, but also the punishment that would fall on Haizi.

The sky outside the window was overcast. Zhong Zhengguo looked at the half-withered pothos in the office and slowly said, "Then... let's do it."

Chapter 566 Aftermath

At the entrance of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Hou Liangping walked out dejectedly, clutching a cardboard box. His beard was unkempt, his eyes sunken, and he looked as if his very bones had been removed.

During this time, he was detained at the General Administration for investigation, constantly interrogated—what purpose, motive, and reason led to Zhao Dehan's tragic suicide. He answered and explained again and again, but no one listened. Now the result is finally in—dismissal from public office.

Worse still, Zhao Dehan's family is considering suing him for intentional homicide, and if that happens, he will likely have to stay in jail for a while longer.

From a high-ranking, prestigious director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau to a prisoner whom everyone avoids, Hou Liangping felt a profound sense of loss, as if he had been kicked off a cliff. He carried his suitcase out, and his former colleagues avoided him on the way, as if he carried a plague. Hou Liangping gave a bitter smile, hailed a taxi, and went home.

At home, Zhong Xiaoai has been extremely busy these past two days. She finally managed to get in touch with Zhou Yuan's wife, Zhang Jiao, hoping to ease the tension, but as soon as Zhang Jiao saw her, she slammed the door and left without saying a word.

Zhong Xiaoai then realized that this time they had formed a deadly feud. But she couldn't understand—how could the Ministry of Energy, which was usually as soft as a persimmon, suddenly become an impenetrable wall overnight? And of all people, it was their Zhong family who had run into the line of fire.

Hou Liangping pushed open the door and came in. Seeing Zhong Xiaoai, he said excitedly, "Xiaoai, this isn't my fault. Who knew that crazy Zhao Dehan—"

"How can it not be your fault?" Zhong Xiaoai turned her head sharply, her tone as cold as a knife. "Who among us didn't see that video? There was no conviction yet, and you pinned him down on the table like a criminal! Snatching the keys, throwing away classified documents—Hou Liangping, how could you be so capable?"

Hou Liangping dismissed it: "Isn't this how we always handled cases?"

"Before?" Zhong Xiaoai's face turned pale with anger. "Before, you were a section chief in the Anti-Corruption Bureau, and now you're a suspect who's been dismissed from your post! My dad paved the way and laid out the clues in front of you, but you can't even swallow the meat that's been put in your mouth—what use are you now?"

Hou Liangping's face stiffened, and he opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything.

Zhong Xiaoai took a deep breath, as if she were forcibly suppressing some words: "The Anti-Corruption Bureau fired you, you deserved it."

She said this, then turned and walked towards the door: "You stay here for now, I'm going back to my parents' house. I'll take the child there, you should reflect on your actions."

"Xiao Ai, don't leave me!" Hou Liangping reached out to grab her arm, but Zhong Xiao Ai shook him off forcefully.

She stood at the door, not turning around, her voice calm but cold: "Don't worry, I won't get a divorce anytime soon. You can stay in this house for now. And—don't cause any more trouble, our family can't take your continued antics."

The door slammed shut. Hou Liangping stood there, the cardboard box in his hand slipping to the ground, its contents scattered everywhere, just like his life at this moment, broken and beyond repair.

In the courtyard, under the shade of the jujube tree, Zhou Yuan respectfully poured Zhang Erhe a full cup of tea.

“Dad, about this matter—” Zhou Yuan put down the teapot, “The Supreme People’s Procuratorate has issued a document that everyone involved in Zhao Dehan’s case will be dismissed, including the son-in-law of the Zhong family.”

Zhang Erhe picked up his teacup, but didn't drink it right away. He first smelled the aroma of the tea and nodded slowly: "Hmm, what about the branch offices? Are they empty?"

"It's still empty."

“It can’t stay empty forever.” Zhang Erhe put down his teacup and tapped his fingers twice on the table. “You should first give the Haizi a heads-up and let them know that the original staff will move in. If it stays empty forever, there will be a vacuum in supervision, and sooner or later the higher-ups will hold you accountable. They will be the ones who suffer the consequences, and you will share in the blame—understand?”

"Okay, Dad, I'll take care of it tomorrow."

"As for Zhong Zhengguo's side," Zhang Erhe narrowed his eyes, his gaze falling on the vines climbing the wall in the distance, "let's leave them to their own devices for a while. The Zhong family wants to join forces with the Wang family to take what Zhao Lichun left behind in Handong. If we keep targeting the Zhong family, the Wang family will be isolated and vulnerable to being devoured by Zhao Lichun. It's better to let them have their way for a while, accept the Zhong family's terms, and let them fight Zhao Lichun—when they're both exhausted, then we can strike decisively and sweep the Zhong family into the dustbin of history."

Zhou Yuan listened attentively and nodded: "I understand, Dad."

Zhang Erhe glanced at him: "Have you learned anything from this experience?"

"I've learned it."

"That's fine then. I can take care of you for a while, but not forever. You're a grandfather now, so you should have your own opinions. The higher-ups entrusted you with this responsibility, not so you could be a gofer." Zhang Erhe's tone wasn't harsh, but every word carried weight.

Zhou Yuan lowered his head: "I know."

"Keep an eye on Liu Xinjian of Handong Oil and Gas—that kid is Zhao Lichun's man, and he'll cause trouble sooner or later. If all else fails, kill him beforehand, so the Zhong family can't find another excuse to get their hands on the energy system."

"Understood, Dad."

Zhang Erhe picked up his teacup, took a sip, and suddenly a slight smile appeared on his lips: "I'll take your mother to Handong in a couple of days. There's something I need to take care of there."

Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes inwardly—you're not doing anything, you're clearly just here to watch the show. Do you really think Liu Changsheng didn't tell me what was going on? But he didn't show it on his face, and just smiled and replied, "Then take care of yourself on the road."

He'd said all he needed to say, and Zhou Yuan had plenty to do! Zhang Erhe waved for Zhou Yuan to leave, but just as he reached the courtyard gate, Zhang Erhe's voice came from behind him again: "Zhou Yuan, wait."

Zhou Yuan turned around: "Dad, is there anything else?"

"Have you made arrangements for Zhao Dehan's wife and children?"

"It's all arranged, Dad. Zhao Dehan's funeral was handled by the ministry. I took the lead, and everyone in the ministry donated money. The funeral was conducted in a dignified manner, and there haven't been any problems with the family for the time being."

Zhang Erhe nodded, tapping his fingers twice on the table: "Once Zhao Dehan's matter is completely settled, you take a few people from your team and personally visit his family. We need to make it clear that Zhao Dehan shed blood for our Ministry of Energy, and we can't let his family feel cold. From now on, you need to take good care of his mother and son's lives, and don't let Zhao Dehan curse us for not handling things properly."

"I understand, Dad," Zhou Yuan replied earnestly. "Don't worry, I'll keep a close eye on things."

Zhang Erhe waved his hand, signaling him to leave.

Zhou Yuan was truly gone this time. His footsteps faded into the distance, and the courtyard gate closed softly. Zhang Erhe sat alone under the jujube tree. The tea in front of him had gone cold, but he didn't refill it. He just stared at the empty cup, as if talking to himself, or as if saying to someone in the wind: "A kind heart cannot command an army, and righteousness cannot manage finances... Old sayings, they are truly true."

The wind in the courtyard rustled through the treetops, making the leaves whisper like a silent echo.

P.S.: This meat is so mushy, even a god couldn't save it! I'll have to work my butt off tonight!

Chapter 567 Laughing at Myself

In the main conference room of the Provincial Party Committee of Handong Province, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee was about to convene. At 9:30, all attendees had arrived. The door opened, and Provincial Party Secretary Sha Ruijin walked in just before the appointed time. Everyone stood up in unison. Sha Ruijin slowly looked around before speaking, then waved his hand, indicating that everyone should sit down.

The documents were already laid out on the table; they were hastily printed—Sha Ruijin had his secretary, Bai, distribute them only half an hour before the meeting began. The title was particularly eye-catching: "Strengthening the Construction of Cadre Conduct."

Sha Ruijin picked up the document and said in a calm tone, "Comrades, I have been filled with mixed feelings over the past month. Less than a month after taking office, a deputy mayor at the deputy provincial level simply 'ran away,' making our Handong Province a hot topic. Therefore, in light of some typical cases recently reported by central ministries and commissions, we have decided to hold this special meeting on work style."

"The issue of work style is essentially an issue of Party spirit. Leading cadres must establish a correct view of performance, avoid formalism, avoid becoming detached from the masses, and even more so, avoid handling complex contradictions in a simplistic and crude manner."

The meeting room was unusually quiet. Everyone was focused on their own thoughts, listening intently as Sha Ruijin spoke eloquently. After he finished explaining the contents of the document, he looked around at everyone again and said, "Before we officially begin today's discussion, I've invited an old revolutionary, a senior figure, to talk to you about the Party spirit during those turbulent years."

The door opened again, and Chen Yanshi walked in. He was still wearing that Zhongshan suit, his hair neatly combed—though it was thinning. He clutched an old file folder tightly in his hand, his gaze sweeping across the long table, his eyes filled with a sigh. "That damned Zhao Lichun, he suppressed me in every way before, and then he even tried to force me to retire as a department-level official. A kind person? Kind my ass!"

After many years, standing in front of this conference table again, looking at the group of people sitting around it—each of whom had been a higher-ranking official than him before retirement—now only able to listen obediently to him speak, Chen Yanshi felt particularly satisfied.

Sha Ruijin personally invited him to sit down: "Old Chen, please tell me about it."

Chen Yanshi sat down on the stool, his hands gripping the edge of the table. He blinked a few times and slowly began to speak: "Comrades, I'm getting old, but my memory is still pretty good. Back then, to join the Party, I changed my age to be two years older. But at that time, joining the Party wasn't for becoming an official; it was for going to the battlefield."

I was in a suicide squad; those were serious cases of risking your life. Our generation never thought about houses, money, let alone sitting here as a high-ranking leader.

At this point, he gave Li Dakang a special look. Li Dakang rolled his eyes, cursing inwardly: This old bastard, it's just about the Dafeng Factory, why is he staring at me like that?

Seeing Li Dakang lower his head, Chen Yanshi smiled. "You, Li Dakang, weren't you so arrogant? Want to demolish Dafeng Factory? Now try being arrogant again!" Suppressing his smugness, he turned and retorted, "We risk our lives so that ordinary people can live a better life today, don't we?"

This label is heavy, but no one dares to interrupt—anyone who interrupts such a conversation is considered a bad element.

Chen Yanshi continued, "But now things are different. Life is better, but some cadres have forgotten their roots and are dealing with the people's affairs and the workers' affairs more and more brutally. When the people have difficulties, instead of thinking about solving the difficulties, they go to the police and the armed police."

This makes me ask myself: were the things we did back then wrong? Comrades, I'm heartbroken. How many years has our country been established? Cadres like me are still here, and Handong has already become like this… Comrades, I'm heartbroken, truly heartbroken.”

Seeing that Chen Yanshi's topic was getting further and further off track, Sha Ruijin quickly picked up his cup and took a sip of water: "Thank you, Elder Chen, thank you very much." He put down his cup and said, "The old comrade's experience is both an education and a reminder for us."

At this point, he intended to have the staff take Chen Yanshi down...

Clap clap clap—Governor Liu Changsheng, who had been sitting as still as a clay sculpture, actually started clapping slowly, standing up as he did so.

"Old Chen's words really resonated with me," Liu Changsheng said earnestly. "The development of Handong is inseparable from the selfless dedication of veteran revolutionaries like Old Chen. So I think it was very necessary for Secretary Ruijin to invite Old Chen to speak to everyone. I never expected that Secretary Ruijin's thoughts would overlap with mine."

He paused, then glanced around the room: "I've also invited a retired cadre from Beijing. This retired cadre was one of my former superiors. Everyone knows my resume and knows who this former superior is—he is Comrade Zhang Erhe, the former Minister of Energy. Before retiring, Mr. Zhang served as the Minister of Energy, but he was indifferent to fame and fortune. He retired completely, unlike some comrades who don't stay in office after retirement."

After saying this, Chen Yanshi's face turned red. Wasn't Liu Changsheng supposed to be waiting to retire? How dare he be so bold as to make sarcastic and mocking remarks about me?

The conference room door opened, and Zhang Erhe walked in.

Unlike Chen Yanshi, who was dressed formally, Zhang Erhe wore an ordinary shirt, black trousers, and a pair of cloth shoes—two pairs made by Jia Zhangshi every year, delivered to the courtyard on time.

Sha Ruijin quickly went up to him: "Hello, Mr. Zhang!"

"You're from Ruijin, right?" Zhang Erhe nodded with a smile.

"Old Zhang, how did Governor Changsheng manage to invite you here? If he had told me earlier, I would have personally come to pick you up. A few years ago when I was in Bianxi, the oil and gas project was successfully signed thanks to your insistence on arranging it to be located in our province."

Zhang Erhe patted his arm: "That's because you guys did a solid job. I was just going with the flow."

"Come, come, Mr. Zhang, please have a seat." Sha Ruijin's attitude was much warmer than when he had spoken to Chen Yanshi earlier, and he personally helped Zhang Erhe to the table.

Liu Changsheng watched from the side, feeling a bit resentful—this was his old boss! But Sha Ruijin seemed oblivious to his resentful look and continued the introduction: "Old Zhang, this is Governor Changsheng, you're familiar with him, so I won't say much. This is Secretary Yuliang, who serves as the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of our Handong Province."

Gao Yuliang stood up, bowed, and shook hands: "Hello, Mr. Zhang!"

“Secretary Yu Liang, I’ve long admired you.” Zhang Erhe said with a smile, “There are many people in the country who can transfer from teaching positions to administrative positions, but not many can truly make a name for themselves. I’ve heard of your name, Secretary Yu Liang, for a long time.”

Gao Yuliang nodded, appearing unperturbed by praise or criticism.

Sha Ruijin introduced the team members again, but Zhang Erhe only glanced at Li Dakang a couple more times when he got to him—after all, he had heard of the reputation of "Handong Non-stick Pan" long ago.

After the introductions were finished, Sha Ruijin said, "Since you're here, Mr. Zhang, why don't you give us a lesson?"

“Forget about the class.” Zhang Erhe waved his hand and glanced at Liu Changsheng. “That kid Changsheng is just causing me trouble. I’m an old man who’s retired and just wanted to live a peaceful life, but unfortunately he dragged me here as a negative example.”

Everyone in the room laughed at these words. Compared to Chen Yanshi's arrogant demeanor just now, Zhang Erhe seemed exceptionally approachable.

Chen Yanshi looked somewhat angry—"You weren't acting like this when I was speaking just now." So he deliberately raised an eyebrow, "May I ask, comrade, what year did you join the Party?"

“Compared to you, I joined the Party relatively late.” Zhang Erhe raised an eyebrow. “I joined the Party in 1954.”

"Oh, that's nine years later than me," Chen Yanshi said with a hint of arrogance.

“However…” Zhang Erhe continued unhurriedly, “Because of the nature of my work, I couldn’t reveal my identity. To be honest, I should have joined the Party at the end of 1948 when I was doing underground work in Beijing. But back then, the rules were strict; if you weren’t old enough, you couldn’t join, even if you concealed it.”

After saying this, Chen Yanshi's face immediately turned red. He had just been boasting about how he had concealed the fact that he joined the Party at the age of two, and although this matter was not investigated later, hearing people say this now made him feel like he was being mocked.

Chapter 568 Exposed in Public

"Comrade Ruijin asked me to say a few words." Zhang Erhe picked up his cup, took a sip, and then put it down.

"Actually, I feel quite ashamed. Our work experience and life experiences may not be applicable today. The country has been developing, and the social problems you are facing are completely different from what we faced back then. So, forcing you to implement our experience would only harm you."

After these words were spoken, everyone's eyes turned to Chen Yanshi—just moments ago, Chen had been boasting that their experience was still valuable even today. Chen Yanshi's face flushed red: Was this bastard Zhang hired by Liu Changsheng specifically to frame him? Why was he doing everything against him?

Zhang Erhe continued, "So, if some people use their seniority to criticize you, just put them aside. You still have to do your own job. As for whether you do it well or not, others will judge for you. Just focus on doing one thing well, and be worthy of the Party and the people."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone applauded. Li Dakang, in particular, clapped while looking at Chen Yanshi. They were both retired, but look at him—a vice-national level leader, retiring without a second thought, showing no attachment to power; unlike Chen Yanshi, a retired chief prosecutor at the department level, still making a fuss about setting up a "second procuratorate," what a load of rubbish.

Chen Yanshi's gaze swept across the faces of the Standing Committee members opposite him. When he saw Li Dakang's eyes, he instantly flew into a rage and slammed his fist on the table: "Li Dakang, what kind of look is that?"

Li Dakang got angry at the shout: "Old Chen, I think Old Zhang is right. What's wrong with clapping?"

"Back in the day, I, Chen Yanshi, carried explosives to blow up a bunker..." Chen Yanshi was about to erupt.