Title: Reborn in Handong, Starting with an Investment in Gao Yuliang

8:40 a.m.

A black sedan with a Beijing license plate slowly drove into the gate of the Hantong Provincial Party Committee compound.

The guards in the gatehouse immediately stood at attention and saluted.

Their movements were synchronized, crisp, and efficient.

The car did not slow down and drove straight toward the No. 1 office building of the Provincial Party Committee.

The entire compound seemed to be paused for a moment.

Everyone walking outside stopped in their tracks, their eyes fixed on the black sedan.

"He's here! Governor Zhong is here!"

Someone upstairs called out softly.

Behind the windows on every floor of the office building, there was a dense crowd of people.

Everyone wanted to be the first to witness the charisma of this important figure from Beijing.

The black Audi came to a steady stop in front of the wide steps of Office Building No. 1.

The car door was not yet open.

A group of people quickly walked out of the gate.

Leading the way was Lu Kangcheng, Secretary of the Handong Provincial Party Committee.

He was wearing a dark gray jacket and his hair was neatly combed.

He had an extremely enthusiastic smile on his face.

Following closely behind Lu Kangcheng were Liang Qunfeng, the Secretary of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, and other members of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee.

The core power structure of Handong Province.

All of them have gathered here at this moment.

The driver quickly got out of the car and opened the rear door of the Audi.

A foot wearing a black leather shoe stepped onto the solid ground.

Zhong Heping climbed out of the car.

He was wearing a well-tailored navy blue suit and had a tall, straight figure.

His angular face carried the unique authority of someone in a position of power.

Lu Kangcheng immediately strode forward and extended his hands.

"Comrade Heping, welcome, welcome!"

Lu Kangcheng's voice was loud and clear, echoing throughout the entire staircase.

"The Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government of Handong have been eagerly awaiting your arrival, and it's finally here!"

Zhong Heping immediately reached out and firmly grasped Lu Kangcheng's hands.

"Secretary Lu, you flatter me."

Zhong Heping's smile was extremely humble, showing no trace of the humiliation he felt after suffering a loss at the hotel yesterday.

"Under your leadership, Handong's economy has developed by leaps and bounds in recent years, making it a benchmark for the whole country."

"I came to Handong this time to learn from you."

The two stood on the steps, their hands clasped tightly together, swaying back and forth.

To outsiders, this was an extremely harmonious picture of a general and his ministers.

However, only the few Standing Committee members who are closest to the Standing Committee can sense it.

The undercurrents of their confrontation.

Lu Kangcheng patted Zhong Heping's hand.

"Comrade Heping is too modest. You are a capable person from the capital."

"From now on, we'll have to shoulder this heavy responsibility for Handong together and take Handong's economy to the next level!"

Zhong Heping withdrew his hand with composure and dignity.

"Secretary Lu, rest assured, I have long heard that Handong has a simple and honest folk culture, and it is a good place to do things and start a business."

Zhong Heping glanced around at the surrounding buildings.

"I came here this time to settle down in Handong and make this my second home."

Settling down in Handong.

These four words were uttered.

The expressions of the several standing committee members standing behind Lu Kangcheng changed subtly.

This is far more than just a polite remark.

This is Chung Heping announcing to everyone.

He is not a passerby who comes to gain experience, but a permanent resident who comes to seize power.

Lu Kangcheng's smile did not fade at all; on the contrary, it became even brighter.

"Good! With Comrade Heping's words, I, as the squad leader, feel much more confident!"

Lu Kangcheng turned to the side and began to introduce the Standing Committee members behind him one by one.

"Come on, let me introduce you to the comrades in our team."

"This is Comrade Zhao Dajiang, the Executive Vice Governor."

Zhong Heping smiled and shook hands with Zhao Dajiang, exchanging pleasantries.

"This is Comrade Shen Zhongxing, Minister of the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee..."

Lu Kangcheng introduced them one by one.

Zhong Heping acted extremely amiable.

Until Lu Kangcheng pointed to Liang Qunfeng, who was standing in third place.

"This is Comrade Liang Qunfeng, Secretary of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection."

Zhong Heping's outstretched hand paused abruptly for half a second in mid-air.

It was that half-second pause.

The atmosphere at the scene instantly plummeted to freezing point.

Zhong Heping’s gaze pierced straight at Liang Qunfeng.

Of course he knew who Liang Qunfeng was.

This is the core backbone of the local forces in Handong, and also Liang Cheng's biological father.

The Liang family father and son were definitely behind yesterday's humiliation at the Lakeside Hotel.

Facing Zhong Heping's extremely imposing gaze, Liang Qunfeng did not back down.

He straightened his back, reached out, and took Zhong Heping's hand.

"Governor Chung, welcome to Handong."

Liang Qunfeng's voice was extremely calm, without the slightest ripple.

Zhong Heping immediately resumed his humble smile.

"Secretary Liang, I've heard so much about you."

"Secretary Liang deserves a lot of credit for the excellent anti-corruption efforts in Handong."

The two touched hands and then separated.

There was no excessive small talk, nor any unnecessary chatter.

But in this brief contact...

Liang Qunfeng could clearly sense the dissatisfaction emanating from the other party.

Lu Kangcheng took in all of this.

He turned around and gestured for him to enter.

"Comrade Heping, let's go inside and talk. Everything is ready."

Zhong Heping nodded and walked into the office building with Lu Kangcheng.

A large group of high-ranking provincial officials followed behind, disappearing into the depths of the building.

……

The provincial party committee leaders had just entered the building.

The courtyard outside instantly erupted in chaos.

The welcoming ceremony that just happened was clearly witnessed by countless eyes.

Various speculations and analyses immediately spread throughout the offices.

In the office's tea room.

Several people were gathered together, having a heated discussion.

"Did you see the way Governor Zhong looked at Secretary Liang just now?"

A bespectacled clerk lowered his voice, his tone extremely agitated.

"That look in his eyes, it was like he wanted to devour someone!"

"Nonsense, everyone knows what happened at the Lakeside Hotel yesterday."

Another chubby director sneered.

"Will Governor Zhong swallow this insult?"

"What do you think will be the first thing Governor Chung does upon taking office?"

The moment the question was posed, everyone's spirits lifted.

"I think he will definitely go and inspect various cities and prefectures first."

The optician's analysis was very logical and insightful.

"When a new official takes office, he should first find out the details of what's going on below and win over a group of his own people."

The portly director shook his head, indicating his disagreement.

"Going down to inspect is too slow; it's like trying to quench a thirst with water from afar."

"I think he definitely appointed his own confidants first, and then replaced the people in the government office with his own cronies."

"Grab the knife handle and pen holder first."

A section chief who hadn't spoken until now took a sip of tea and quietly interjected.

"You're all wrong."

"I don't think he'll do anything today."

Everyone turned to look at the section chief, their faces full of confusion.

"Governor Zhong is a smart man. Now, Handong is under Secretary Lu's control."

The section chief put down his teacup, a wise glint in his eyes.

"If he moves around at this moment, he will only expose his weakness."

These whispers reached Zhong Xiaoai's ears without missing a single word, who happened to be passing by.

Zhong Xiaoai stood at the corner of the corridor, speechless for a moment.

These people don't necessarily work very hard.

When it comes to political analysis, they all get incredibly enthusiastic.

She shook her head, picked up the documents, and quickly walked back to her workstation.

At this moment, she was more nervous than anyone else.

What card will Chung Ho-ping play?

She had absolutely no idea.

Zhong Xiaoai could only pray silently in her heart, hoping that her brother could get through this difficult time safely.