Qi Tongwei: Sign-in relationship started during student days

Chapter 1117 Chen Yanshi's Evaluation

The old leader pressed on: "Besides, as his father-in-law, the fact that he promoted you all the way during your term of office is bound to attract criticism for nepotism, which does not comply with the principle of avoidance in cadre appointments."

Now is the perfect opportunity to make him back down temporarily, which will silence public opinion and benefit both of you!

"this…."

"Stop here. The most important thing now is to cool down public opinion in Handong, quell the anger of the central government, and ensure the smooth progress of the leadership transition."

Whether you suspend Hou Liangping from his duties for investigation, issue an internal warning, transfer him out of the anti-corruption bureau, or demote him, you can decide the severity yourself; you can handle it however you like.

As long as we can give the outside world and our comrades an explanation, and suppress the overwhelming public opinion and criticism, that's enough!

Zhao Lichun frowned, his expression shifting between light and dark: "Old leader, I understand what you mean."

However, if I personally punish my own son-in-law, I worry that I'll have even less control over the situation in the future.

In officialdom, there are times when you can step down, and times when you can't.

He has always been known for his assertiveness; will taking this step back affect his authority?

The old leader thought Zhao Lichun was still reluctant to part with his precious son-in-law, and his tone became stern.

"It's better to lose your son-in-law than to lose your own official position and your political life!"

Lichun, listen to me carefully! By protecting Hou Liangping, you are pushing yourself off a cliff and ruining your future!

If you are transferred from Handong by the central government, dismissed from your post, and completely lose power because of this incident, what good will come of him, a mere anti-corruption bureau chief, without your protection?

They'll only die a worse death!

But once you successfully rise to power and become the top provincial party secretary, with absolute power in your hands, wouldn't it be a simple matter of just saying a word to overturn Hou Liangping's case, compensate him, transfer him back to a core position, or promote him?

"Do you know what's the most useless thing in officialdom? It's emotions."

The most valuable thing is the location!

With a position, you have everything; without a position, you are nothing!

First secure your position, then consider everything else. Discard anything or anyone that gets in your way decisively; don't let a single pawn ruin the entire game!

The old leader's words were a wake-up call for Zhao Lichun.

The question of whether the throne of power or the dignity of a son-in-law is more important is obvious.

Having spent decades in officialdom, Zhao Lichun was inherently ruthless. In the face of power, family ties were nothing more than disposable tools. Hou Liangping had gone from being a stepping stone to a stumbling block, so naturally, he had to be kicked aside.

As for her daughter, Zhao Xiaohui, she will surely understand.

Zhao Lichun took a deep breath, the last trace of emotion in his eyes vanished, leaving only coldness and determination. Speaking into the microphone, his voice was firm: "I understand, old leader. Rest assured, I will handle this matter properly. It will not affect the overall situation of the leadership transition, nor will it let you down."

"Within three days, I will suppress all rumors, handle Hou Liangping's matter properly, and give you a satisfactory result!"

"Okay, I'll trust you this once." The old leader's tone softened. "Remember, at this crucial moment of leadership transition, not a single step can be wrong. One wrong step, and the whole thing is lost. You'd better take care of yourself."

The call ended abruptly, followed by a short busy tone.

Zhao Lichun sat frozen in place, like a cold sculpture. The office was deathly silent, save for the howling wind outside the window.

He slowly put down the microphone, his fingertips turning white, and lit a cigar.

A rising mist blurred his sinister face.

He felt no remorse for sacrificing Hou Liangping; all he cared about now was how to preserve his power and position in the most perfect way with the least cost, and smoothly ascend to the top.

Hou Liangping is indeed his son-in-law, but in the face of power, one can abandon not only a son-in-law, but even a daughter.

……

The lights at the Yantai Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection's case-handling site have been on for five consecutive days and nights.

Hou Liangping rubbed his throbbing temples, pushed the thick stack of case files in front of him to the side of the table, and pressed his fingertip heavily on the three bolded names of "Guo Huai Ren".

Outside the window, the spring breeze carries rain, which keeps pattering and is quite annoying.

For five whole days, Hou Liangping and his team worked countless sleepless nights, sorting through tens of thousands of financial records and interviewing dozens of relevant people, but they still couldn't get any solid evidence to definitively convict Guo Huai-ren.

All the clues seemed to be cut off by an invisible hand. Every step forward felt like hitting a thick layer of cotton, leaving one powerless.

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the dark night sky over Iwata City.

As an anti-corruption vanguard who came from Jingzhou, he has handled countless major cases, faced vicious corrupt officials, and encountered coercion and temptation, but he has never felt so powerless as he does now.

Guo Huai-ren's influence in Yantai was too deep, and the network of interests behind him was too wide. He could sense that a powerful force was secretly obstructing the investigation, making it impossible for him to move forward.

"Director Hou, the latest transcripts have been compiled, but we still haven't found a breakthrough." A team member pushed open the door, his face full of exhaustion. "Guo Huai-ren's wife still insists that she acted on her own initiative and that it has nothing to do with Guo Huai-ren."

However, according to Guo Huai-ren's subordinates at the time, Guo Huai-ren never gave them any hints.

Hou Liangping nodded, his voice hoarse from staying up all night: "Continue the investigation. Screen all related personnel again. Don't let any clue slip by."

Guo Huai-ren has been entrenched in Yantai for so many years, it won't be so easy to find something to hold against him.

We must be extremely careful, leaving no stone unturned.

"Yes!" the subordinate replied and left.

Hou Liangping continued gazing into the distance for a while until his eye fatigue subsided. Then, he mustered his energy and prepared to sit down and re-analyze the case files. Suddenly, his personal cell phone vibrated in his pocket.

The name flashing on the screen eased his tense expression slightly—it was his wife, Zhao Xiaohui.

During the week he was handling the case in Yantai, he had very few contacts with Zhao Xiaohui. Each time, they would exchange a few hurried words of everyday conversation before hanging up and returning to work.

Hou Liangping pressed the answer button, trying to keep his tone relaxed: "Xiao Hui, it's so late, why aren't you asleep yet?"

On the other end of the phone, Zhao Xiaohui's voice was not as gentle as usual; instead, it carried an extremely suppressed heaviness, and even a slight, imperceptible tremor.

"Liangping, is it convenient for you to talk now?"

"It's convenient, you tell me."

"I have something extremely important to tell you. You need to be mentally prepared and stay calm," Zhao Xiaohui said solemnly.

Hou Liangping's heart sank. He had been married to Zhao Xiaohui for many years and knew his wife's personality best. She was calm and composed and would never panic like this unless something terrible had happened.

"what happened?"

"According to reliable sources, the working group of the National Commission for Discipline Inspection quietly entered Handong Province a few days ago. It is said...it is said..."

"What do you mean?" A sense of foreboding rose in Hou Liangping's heart.

"They've supposedly come to...investigate you."

"What did you say?"

Hou Liangping almost thought he had misheard. His fingers, which were gripping the phone, suddenly loosened and almost slipped from his palm.

He stood frozen in his seat, his mind blank, the only sound the rapid thumping of his own heartbeat that made his eardrums ache.

Investigate him?

Did the National Commission for Discipline Inspection secretly enter Handong to investigate Hou Liangping?

The news was so sudden and absurd that he was completely unable to react for a moment.

He is deeply rooted in the front line of anti-corruption, upright and honest, and handles corruption cases while upholding the bottom line of discipline and law. Why should he be investigated?

“Liangping, I know it’s hard for you to accept right now, but this is absolutely true.” Zhao Xiaohui’s voice was trembling with tears, but she forced herself to remain calm. “I only confirmed this through reliable connections. After the working group moved in, they quietly retrieved all your information, including all the cases you handled in Jingzhou and Handong, your personal resume, family assets, and social relationships. They are investigating everything.”

Hou Liangping leaned back in his seat, stunned, as if the blood in his body had frozen instantly.

He recalled the difficulties he faced on Yantai, the obstacles he encountered while investigating Guo Huai Ren, and the subtle threats and probing. These memories suddenly connected, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

It turned out that it wasn't that he couldn't investigate Guo Huai Ren, but rather that someone had laid a trap behind the scenes and targeted him first.

"Xiao Hui, do you think it could be him...?" Hou Liangping forced himself to calm down.

"It's hard to say," Zhao Xiaohui said, unsure. "My friend told me that someone submitted a joint letter of complaint to higher authorities."

Hou Liangping sneered, "A joint letter of complaint—who would sign it if no one was pushing it from behind?"

Hou Liangping has concluded that it was his senior classmate who was behind it all.

Besides him, who else has such power?

Besides him, who else would be so bold as to report the governor's son-in-law?

Moreover, he had experienced such a tactic several years ago.

That incident caused him to leave the position of Deputy Secretary of the Jiangchang County Party Committee in disgrace.

What kind of fate do they want him to suffer this time?

These identical methods made him realize that he was definitely involved with that senior student.

Hearing Hou Liangping say this, Zhao Xiaohui became even more suspicious and repeatedly regretted, "I told you long ago not to provoke him, not to provoke him, but you just wouldn't listen."

"What's the use of saying all this now, Xiao Hui? We only have one path left to take: take down Guo Huai Ren and exchange our bargaining chips with my old senior."

Otherwise, we'll suffer a crushing defeat.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiaohui fell silent for a long time before finally uttering the words that most devastated Hou Liangping.

“Liangping…, Dad just told me to inform you that you must immediately stop all work at Yantai and return to Handong Province to await possible questioning from the organization.”

boom--

These words struck Hou Liangping like a thunderbolt.

Should we stop operating the rock platform?

Shock, confusion, anger, and grievance surged into his heart in an instant, making his chest feel tight and almost suffocating.

He clenched his fists, his knuckles pressing hard against the wall, the cold touch unable to suppress the raging storm in his heart.

"I refuse." Hou Liangping's voice suddenly rose, filled with barely suppressed excitement. "The Guo Huai-ren case is about to have a breakthrough, I can't leave! I have no problems, I have nothing to hide, why should I go back to be questioned?"

"Liangping, calm down!" Zhao Xiaohui cried anxiously. "Dad is protecting you. You're sitting on a volcano right now. If the investigation continues, it will only get more troublesome."

Everyone is watching you now, watching for you to make a mistake.

So your most important thing right now is to avoid giving others any leverage against you, do you understand?

His wife's words were like a bucket of cold water, waking Hou Liangping from his extreme shock.