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

Zheng Xipo stood up excitedly.

"Mr. Chen, if you can really help the factory solve this problem, all 1300-plus employees will remember your kindness."

Chen Yanshi waved his hand.

"Don't try to pull that. I'm not asking for anyone's sympathy. I just can't stand seeing ordinary people being bullied! If an official doesn't stand up for the people, he might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes!"

Zheng Xipo smiled ingratiatingly.

"Mr. Chen, what you said is very insightful! I must learn from it!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than footsteps came from the courtyard gate.

Chen Hai walked in.

He didn't drive into the yard; he parked his car outside, carrying a briefcase, and looked rather listless.

As soon as Chen Yanshi saw his son arrive, he immediately waved.

"Chen Hai, you've come at the right time. Old Zheng is here. I just told him about your upcoming appointment as deputy chief prosecutor at the provincial procuratorate."

Chen Hai stopped in his tracks.

Zheng Xipo quickly got up.

"Director Chen, no, Prosecutor Chen, congratulations!"

Chen Hai looked embarrassed.

"Mr. Zheng, please don't call me that."

Chen Yanshi didn't notice anything amiss and was still laughing.

"What's there to be embarrassed about? The organization promoted you because they value you."

Chen Hai walked to the stone table and put his bag down.

"Dad, stop talking."

Chen Yanshi then noticed that his son's expression was off.

"What's wrong? You look so dejected. Didn't Secretary Sha arrange everything?"

Chen Hai took the documents out of his bag and handed them to Chen Yanshi.

"The latest disciplinary action has been taken."

Chen Yanshi took it and turned to the first page.

The smile on my face vanished after reading just two lines.

"A serious warning?"

"Demoted to the level of a full-fledged division chief?"

"How is this possible!"

Zheng Xipo stood to the side, so embarrassed he almost scratched his toes into the ground.

He was just saying he was going to become the deputy chief prosecutor, but now it's written in black and white in the document that he's been demoted.

This scene is heartbreaking.

Chen Yanshi slammed the document on the stone table.

"Nonsense! What is Xiao Jinzi doing? He promised me one minute and did this the next? He's ungrateful!"

Hearing the commotion from inside the house, Chen's mother quickly came out.

"Old Chen, what are you yelling about now?"

Chen Yanshi picked up his phone.

"I'll call him right now!"

Chen Hai quickly stopped him.

"Dad, stop hitting him."

"Why don't you fight?"

Chen Yanshi got angry.

"Even if Sha Ruijin is the provincial party secretary, he can't bully people like this! He promised me something, then went back on his word. Is that what you call getting things done? Does he have any shame?"

Chen Hai said helplessly, "Dad, even Secretary Sha can't do anything about this!"

"The inspection team put too much pressure on me, and Secretary Sha couldn't withstand it in the end, so he changed his mind and had to deal with me again."

Chen Yanshi opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything for a long time.

Zheng Xipo held the cup, unsure whether to sit or stand.

He had just thought he had found a true Buddha.

As soon as the true Buddha manifested, it was suppressed by another, even larger Buddha.

It seems the inspection team is more capable after all...

What's the point of having a little gold? It's all for nothing!

......

Yanjing.

Hou Liangping's home.

Two dishes were placed on the table.

One dish is scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and the other is shredded pork with green peppers.

Zhong Xiaoai came home late from get off work. She changed into slippers and had just sat down when Hou Liangping handed her a bowl of rice.

"Honey, come on, let's eat."

Zhong Xiaoai glanced at him.

"Why are you being so attentive today?"

Hou Liangping smiled.

"Isn't it because I'm in a good mood?"

Zhong Xiaoai picked up her chopsticks.

"At the deputy director-general level?"

Hou Liangping immediately sat up straight.

"The organization has already had a formal discussion with him. He's a second-level inspector, with the待遇 (treatment/benefits) of a deputy director-general level official."

After he finished speaking, he coughed deliberately.

"From now on, our family will have two deputy directors."

Zhong Xiaoai picked up a piece of egg and slowly ate it.

"You hold a nominal deputy director-general position."

Hou Liangping's smile faltered for a moment.

Zhong Xiaoai continued to deliver the finishing blow.

"I hold an actual position. Deputy Director of the Office, a de facto deputy director-general level position! And I'm your superior!"

Hou Liangping gave a dry laugh.

"Honey, what are you saying? You're always my boss, how could I dare to compare my rank with yours?"

Zhong Xiaoai gave a soft hum.

"You were able to get this handled because of the large sums of money involved in Zhao Dehan's case. But Ding Yizhen has fled, and the notification letter has reached the Supreme People's Procuratorate's Discipline Inspection Group. Don't think it has no impact at all."

Hou Liangping was somewhat unconvinced.

"That's because Handong didn't handle it well. If I were sent, Ding Yizhen wouldn't be able to escape."

Zhong Xiaoai put down her chopsticks.

"You still think that way?"

When Hou Liangping saw that her expression was off, he quickly composed himself.

"I'm not trying to shirk responsibility. I just believe that efficiency is key in handling cases."

"Efficiency is not about doing things recklessly."

Zhong Xiaoai's tone became calmer.

"Liangping, you've been working at the Supreme People's Procuratorate for years. People may have been accommodating to you, but that doesn't mean they respect you. If you want to move up, you have to produce results that will shut people up."

Hou Liangping fell silent.

Those words stung him.

He was known as the "top case-handling expert of the Supreme People's Procuratorate's Anti-Corruption Bureau," a title that was widely circulated outside, but he wasn't entirely unaware of what people in the bureau said behind his back.

It's just that no one dares to openly criticize them.

Ding Yizhen's escape was something he sensed as soon as the inspection team's notification arrived.

Although Qin Siyuan helped him suppress the disciplinary inspection team, his tone had changed.

Zhong Xiaoai picked up her chopsticks again.

"Don't be too quick to be smug. The honorary deputy director-general position is just a stepping stone, not a real position."

Hou Liangping's heart stirred when he heard the word "position".

All he wants is a position.

Substantive position.

He can manage people, handle cases, and make others call him "Director Hou."

Instead of a prestigious-sounding rank like "second-level inspector".

......

The next morning.

Anti-Corruption Bureau of the Supreme People's Procuratorate.

Director's Office.

As soon as Hou Liangping entered the room, he saw Qin Siyuan reading a report sent from Handong.

"Director Qin, you wanted to see me?"

Qin Siyuan looked up and waved.

"sit."

Hou Liangping sat down.

Qin Siyuan put the documents aside and began to speak casually.

"Liangping, isn't Chen Hai from the Anti-Corruption Bureau of the Handong Provincial High Procuratorate your classmate?"

Hou Liangping's face immediately darkened.

"They are classmates, but I don't have any such classmates."

Qin Siyuan smiled.

"What, you have such a big problem with that?"

Hou Liangping snorted.

"Ding Yizhen escaped from him, and I almost got myself implicated. Director Qin, how can I not have objections?"

Qin Siyuan scoffed inwardly.

You really know how to do accounting.

All the credit is yours.

The pots and pans all belong to other people.

If you hadn't made those random phone calls and forced them to arrest people, they wouldn't have ended up in such a terrible situation.

However, he didn't say it aloud.

"Chen Hai is in a bad situation this time too. He was dismissed as the director of the anti-corruption bureau, received a serious warning within the party, and was demoted to the level of a division chief."

Hou Liangping was taken aback.

"Demoted to the level of a division chief?"

"right."

Qin Siyuan picked up the teacup.

"Handong handled this quite severely. The position of director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau has also become vacant. Ji Changming was still telling me today that he has a headache because it's really hard to find a suitable person for a position like the Anti-Corruption Bureau in a short time."

Hou Liangping felt a surge of warmth in his heart upon hearing this!

Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau of the Supreme People's Procuratorate of Handong Province.

Deputy Director-General (substantive position).

If I were in that position...

Wouldn't that mean I could be on equal footing with Xiao Ai?

It won't be like it is now...

You have to ask for permission and report before you can do anything...

I'm so frustrated!

Thinking of this, Hou Liangping moved forward and sat down.

"Director Qin, I think I'm qualified for this position!"

Qin Siyuan paused for a moment as he held up the teacup.

coming.

That's what he wanted to hear.

But on the surface, you still have to put on an act.

"you go?"

Hou Liangping nodded.

"I'm currently at the deputy director-general level, and being transferred there to serve as the director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau of the Handong Provincial High People's Procuratorate is a suitable rank. Besides, I'm already familiar with the situation in Handong and know many of my colleagues there, so I can get up to speed quickly."

Qin Siyuan was overjoyed.

That was his purpose in talking to Hou Liangping!

You know what, you really do know, if Hou Liangping were to go over there, wouldn't we be one less troublesome person?

Giving him half-finished cases to run around with is just too much of a jerk...

I'm practically becoming Hou Liangping's pre-made meal cooker!

But if we don't find him any good cases, there aren't any good cases for him to handle either!

Will this shipment take three to five years to arrive?

Now is the perfect time to transfer this guy from a nominal position to a real one, which can be considered a promotion for him!

Moreover, the Chung family also has to remember their personal favors!

Qin Siyuan almost shouted in his heart, "It's a deal! Double happiness is coming!"

However, Qin Siyuan also had his own concerns.

He glanced at Hou Liangping.

"Liangping, have you thought this through? You were transferred back to Yanjing from Handong. Going back now would be difficult due to organizational procedures. Also, you and Comrade Xiao Ai are living apart, which is another problem."

Hou Liangping laughed and said, "It's alright. I'll go to Handong for two years, and once I've achieved some results, I'll be transferred back... I know that being separated from my family for so long isn't a solution..."

Qin Siyuan almost choked on his tea.

Nima!

I know you're a second-generation son-in-law, but can you please not make it so obvious?

It's like saying you go somewhere to get some gilded plating and then automatically come back.

Does this organization belong to your family?

Qin Siyuan knew that Hou Liangping had now been thoroughly convinced of his intention to become the bureau chief, but he still coughed lightly and said, "This matter is not urgent."

Hou Liangping became anxious.

"Director Qin, I'm in a hurry."

Qin Siyuan's face hardened.

"There's no use in rushing."

Hou Liangping wanted to speak again.

Qin Siyuan raised his hand to interrupt.

"Go back and ask Comrade Xiao Ai for instructions first."

Hou Liangping was taken aback.

"Why are you asking her for instructions? This is organizational work."

Qin Siyuan shook his head.

"Liangping, if Comrade Xiao Ai doesn't agree, why can't you go to Handong? You need to convince your family first. If she has no objections, then come and see me."

Hou Liangping was a little embarrassed.

"Director Qin, I'm also a deputy director-level cadre now."

Qin Siyuan nodded.

"Therefore, it is even more important to emphasize family unity."

Hou Liangping: ......

That sounds reasonable, but why does it feel so frustrating?

Qin Siyuan added another sentence.

"Also, there's a central inspection team in Handong now. If you go there, you'll inevitably have to deal with them... You should also be careful about that!"

Hou Liangping's face darkened.

"Is that the inspection team that sent the notification letter to the discipline inspection team?"

"right."

Hou Liangping sneered.

"Does their disciplinary committee even know anything about anti-corruption investigations? I'd like to see what they're capable of if we really run into each other."

Qin Siyuan felt a headache coming on.

Remind them immediately.

"Liangping, don't underestimate the inspection team. Chen Hai was brought down by just a few words from them. It was the inspection team assigned by Old Sun!"

Hou Liangping disagreed.

"Director Qin, solving cases isn't about connections, it's about ability."

Qin Siyuan looked at him, feeling utterly exhausted.

Before you say that, can you please clear yourself of any connection with your father-in-law?

However, this still cannot be said.

"Alright, go back and discuss it with Comrade Xiao Ai first. Don't make decisions on your own; you can't make this decision, and neither can I!"

Hou Liangping stood up.

"Okay, I'll talk to her tonight."

He walked to the door, then turned back and added another sentence.

"Director Qin, you'd better keep an eye on this position in Handong for me."

Qin Siyuan waved his hand.

"Don't worry, let's talk to your family first."

After Hou Liangping left, Qin Siyuan leaned back in his chair and finally let out a long sigh of relief.

He picked up the phone and dialed the office.

"Could you help me check the appointment and removal procedures for the position of Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau of the High Procuratorate of Handong Province? Also, could you contact Comrade Ji Changming and tell him I need to ask him about some information?"