Official excuse: I've put you on patrol in Handong, and the whole province is in a panic.

When Zhao Dehan was led to the refrigerator and saw it full of banknotes, he screamed like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

Hou Liangping suddenly turned his head: "You admit this is your refrigerator?!"

Zhao Dehan seemed to have been struck in a vital spot by this sharp shout. His whole body trembled, and the feigned composure and grievance on his face instantly collapsed.

His legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud, pounding his fists on the cold floor and bursting into tears, his face covered in snot and tears.

"I didn't dare spend a single penny! I'm a farmer's son... I'm terrified of poverty..."

......

At midnight, the interrogation room of the Anti-Corruption Bureau was brightly lit.

Zhao Dehan slumped in the interrogation chair, his face ashen, his spirit completely broken.

Faced with overwhelming evidence, his previous sophistry and performance became a joke.

At this moment, he poured out his problems as if pouring beans from a bamboo tube.

Hou Liangping sat in the presiding judge's seat, a broad smile on his face, guiding the interrogation. The court clerk beside him quickly took notes.

"Besides these, a deputy mayor of Jingzhou City named Ding Yizhen also gave me money in order to secure project approval..." Zhao Dehan said, panting heavily.

"Ding Yizhen?" Hou Liangping's spirits lifted, and he immediately pressed for details, "The specific time? Location? Amount? How was it delivered? Explain clearly!"

Zhao Dehan tried hard to recall the details and recounted them in detail.

The interrogation lasted a long time. When Hou Liangping finally emerged from the interrogation room, it was already late at night.

He rubbed his throbbing temples, his face showing fatigue, but his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Ding Yizhen..." Hou Liangping murmured the name, his face beaming with joy.

The breakthrough in Zhao Dehan's case has unexpectedly implicated a powerful deputy director-level official in the local area!

This is a wonderful surprise, an even bigger fish! If we can take down Ding Yizhen while we're at it, the credit will be...

Taking a deep breath to calm his excited emotions, Hou Liangping straightened his clothes and immediately called Director Qin Siyuan.

Such important progress must be reported to the leadership immediately.

On the other end of the phone.

Qin Siyuan's exhausted voice rang out.

After all, it's 3 a.m.

"Ryohei? What's up?"

Hou Liangping was visibly excited.

"Director Qin! I have some good news to report!"

Under my decisive command and accurate judgment, we have successfully broken through Zhao Dehan's psychological defenses, and he has confessed to the crime of accepting huge bribes! Furthermore, in the subsequent in-depth interrogation, we have made a new and significant breakthrough! Zhao Dehan has identified a key bribe-giver as Ding Yizhen, the current Vice Mayor of Jingzhou City and Secretary of the Guangming District Committee!

On the other end of the phone.

Qin Siyuan was already very unhappy and exhausted.

Hearing Hou Liangping's voice now, I feel an indescribable sense of disgust.

"Decisive command? Accurate judgment?"

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection has already investigated Zhao Dehan's case thoroughly, with a nearly complete chain of evidence and even the crucial surveillance video. It's like they've presented a cooked duck to you, Hou Liangping, and all you're responsible for is the final arrest and interrogation.

How much "decisive command" and "accurate judgment" does Hou Liangping need in all of this?

Even a dog could bring Zhao Dehan back.

How dare you promote yourself like that?

Qin Siyuan always disliked Hou Liangping's persistent sense of superiority and narcissism.

It's as if all the credit is rightfully his.

No matter how disgusted he felt inside, Qin Siyuan couldn't show it on his face.

Who can blame Hou Liangping for marrying such a good wife?

He is the son-in-law of the Zhong family!

Hou Liangping's father-in-law, Zhong Zhengguo, is a man so powerful that it's hard to even curry favor with him!

That's why I swallowed my pride and went to great lengths to "coordinate" the Zhao Dehan case, which was about to become a "big peach" (a metaphor for a highly desirable but ultimately unattainable target), from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. I called it "strengthening systemic cooperation," but in reality, it was just to give Hou Liangping credit so that he could be promoted to deputy director-level position based on this outstanding achievement.

Because of this, Qin Siyuan had agreed to many conditions from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, so he owed them a favor.

Speaking of which, Hou Liangping is a complete waste!

I'm already 42 this year, working in a place as high-level as the Anti-Corruption Bureau, with my father-in-law helping me and me desperately trying to get him credit, it's still so difficult for me to get promoted to deputy director!

Even this time, they can only give him a nominal deputy director-general position!

That is, a level-two inspector.

no way!

Hou Liangping's reputation and abilities were extremely poor at the grassroots level. When the Organization Department came to investigate, he couldn't even pass the democratic evaluation!

No matter how hard the bureaus try, or how much effort the Supreme People's Procuratorate puts in, they can't suppress all dissenting voices.

The only thing we can do is try to give him credit to appease public anger...

Ugh!

I've done so much, and this bastard not only doesn't appreciate it, but he's also here bragging about himself.

It's one thing to praise your own products, but to keep me from sleeping in the middle of the night?

Is it necessary to make a phone call now if it's not an urgent work report?

idiot!

How arrogant are they!

He cursed Hou Liangping countless times in his heart.

But Qin Siyuan still managed a relatively gentle smile on his face.

"Well done, Comrade Liangping! I knew it was the right decision to entrust this arduous task to you! You have certainly lived up to the organization's trust! You have made a major breakthrough so quickly and even followed the clues to expose corrupt local officials!"

With your ability and drive, you're number one among the investigation division chiefs in our General Bureau! You truly deserve to be called the most outstanding investigation division chief in our Anti-Corruption Bureau!

Hou Liangping's face lit up even more after Qin Siyuan's enthusiastic praise.

"Thank you, boss! I will definitely continue to work hard in the future!"

Qin Siyuan sighed.

I won't dare to help you get credit next time!

"Good! That's right!" Qin Siyuan said with a smile. "This case has an extremely negative impact and involves a particularly large amount of money. You've done a great service! I'll prepare the materials right away and recommend you for commendation!"

Upon hearing the words "request for commendation," Hou Liangping's heart began to race.

This means that his promotion to deputy director-general level is practically a done deal!

Qin Siyuan changed the subject and returned to the issue of Ding Yizhen: "As for Ding Yizhen... since he was implicated in the Zhao Dehan case, we must investigate him thoroughly! However, since it involves a deputy director-level official in the local area, the procedures must be even more rigorous."

So, regarding the relevant procedures, I'll convene a meeting with the relevant departments as soon as we open tomorrow morning to discuss them and approve them for you as quickly as possible! Then, you can send the legal documents to the Handong Provincial Procuratorate and have them carry out the arrest and subsequent investigation. Don't worry, the credit for this will definitely go to you, Hou Liangping! Nobody can take it away from you!

Hou Liangping was overjoyed upon hearing this. He could achieve great merit and be promoted without having to travel to Handong in person. He only needed to speak up in Yanjing, and the credit would be his for the taking. It couldn't be better!

He could almost see the appointment document for deputy director-level positions beckoning to him.

"Thank you, Director! I will definitely continue to work hard!"

Hou Liangping straightened his back and made a loud promise.

Hang up.

Hou Liangping let out a long sigh of relief, feeling his steps become much lighter.

He's finally going to be promoted to deputy director-general!

Thinking back on all these years, I've worked my butt off on the front lines of investigation, solving countless cases to get to where I am today.

His wife, Zhong Xiaoai, with her strong family background, was already the deputy director of the General Office of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, a deputy director-level cadre.

I'm finally close to catching up with her in terms of level.

Although the process was arduous, I ultimately succeeded through my own abilities.

He took out his phone, wanting to send a message to Zhong Xiaoai to share his joy, but when he checked the time, it was already three in the morning...

forget it.

I called Lao Qin right away.

It's best not to mess with your wife.

Those who are not to be trifled with...

Let's talk about it tomorrow.