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

Hou Liangping frowned when he heard the name Su Zhe.

"Su Zhe?"

Hu Wenbin reminded him in a low voice.

"Director Hou is the deputy head of the Fifth Inspection Team of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, and also the head of the Leading Group for Special Governance of Corruption in Handong."

Hou Liangping waved his hand.

"I know him."

Lu Yike looked at him.

"Does Director Hou know Team Leader Su?"

Hou Liangping smiled.

"We've dealt with them before. Their discipline inspection commission has its own way of working, and our procuratorate has its own professional methods. Just because they can't find out something doesn't mean we shouldn't investigate."

Zhao Wei was somewhat embarrassed.

"Director Hou, the technical limitations are there. It's indeed very difficult to make anonymous cards without real-name information and with short call durations."

Hou Liangping said, "If it's difficult, then we won't investigate? What's the point of having a technical department then?"

Zhao Wei lowered his head and said, "We will continue to investigate."

Hou Liangping nodded in satisfaction.

"That's the right attitude."

Lu Yike said, "Director Hou, I have no objection to the First Investigation Division being in charge of the cash flow. However, I need to obtain the bank statements of Ding Yizhen and his relatives, which requires coordination from the provincial government with financial institutions. The bureau must grant me this authority."

Hou Liangping said, "Here you go."

"We also need to retrieve the accounts of Jingzhou City Investment Group, Shanshui Group, and the companies related to the Guangmingfeng project."

"Can."

"If it involves Shanshui Group, I suggest communicating with the inspection team first. The inspection team is also currently paying attention to the Dafeng Factory and Guangmingfeng projects."

Hou Liangping put down his pen.

"Director Lu, are you an officer from the Anti-Corruption Bureau or an inspection team member?"

Lu Yike looked at him.

"I'm pointing out the risks. If two departments are investigating the same line of work at the same time, without communication, it's easy to collect duplicate evidence and also easy to alert the suspect."

Hou Liangping said, "We'll investigate our own cases, and they can investigate theirs. The anti-corruption bureau can't be held back just because the inspection team is there."

Chen Hai chimed in, "Director Hou, you have a point. The inspection team has a lot of material in hand, and Team Leader Su also has special authority over this matter. If we communicate in advance, we can actually share clues."

Hou Liangping looked at Chen Hai.

"Why are you all so afraid of the inspection team?"

The meeting room fell silent.

Hou Liangping pushed the case file forward.

"Let me repeat myself. The Anti-Corruption Bureau is the law enforcement agency. We are not subordinate to the inspection team. We can communicate and cooperate where necessary, but the leading role in handling the case must remain in our hands."

Lu Yike said coldly, "The initiative is earned through successful cases, not through shouting in meetings."

Hou Liangping stared at her.

"Lu Yike, what do you mean?"

Lu Yike said, "Since Director Hou wants to investigate Ding Yizhen, then come up with a plan. Who will go to Jingzhou City Construction, who will go to the Land and Resources Bureau, who will go to the Shanshui Group, who will be responsible for witness protection, who will be responsible for sealing the account books, and who will be responsible for preventing information leaks? Dividing it into only three groups now is too crude."

Just as Hou Liangping was about to retort, Hu Wenbin's phone vibrated.

Hu Wenbin glanced at it, and his expression changed.

"Director Hou."

Hou Liangping said impatiently, "We're in a meeting. We'll talk about it afterward."

Hu Wenbin stood up, bent down, and handed over the phone.

"Notice from the General Office of the Provincial Party Committee. The Provincial Party Committee will convene a mobilization meeting for the province-wide anti-corruption work at 9:00 AM tomorrow. The principal leaders of relevant provincial departments are required to attend. You are on the list of attendees."

Hou Liangping frowned.

"Anti-corruption mobilization meeting?"

"Yes. Secretary Sha will preside, with Team Leader Xu and Deputy Team Leader Su from the inspection team in attendance."

Hou Liangping's expression darkened further when he heard that Su Zhe was to attend.

"We're investigating a case; we don't have time to attend a meeting."

Hu Wenbin said in a low voice, "Director Hou, you generally can't be absent from provincial party committee meetings like this, especially since you've just taken office."

Hou Liangping leaned back in his chair.

"What do those officials know about fighting corruption? They just sit on the stage reading from a prepared script, giving a few speeches to raise awareness and solidify responsibilities, but in the end, aren't we the ones doing the actual work? It's bullshit!"

Hu Wenbin smiled apologetically.

"Director Hou, that's what you say, but the meeting notice has already been sent to the provincial court."

Hou Liangping waved his hand.

"Ignore it. We'll continue the project meeting tomorrow morning."

Hu Wenbin cautiously said, "Director Hou, how about I ask for leave? Just say the Ding Yizhen case is urgent."

Hou Liangping glanced at him.

"Take leave? With so many people attending, no one will notice if I don't go. But if I take leave, the provincial leaders will see my name. They'll say I'm not actively participating in the meeting, which will be even more troublesome."

Hu Wenbin didn't know how to respond for a moment.

Hou Liangping thought for a moment.

"Tell the people in the provincial party committee office to move my nameplate a little to the side. To the back, to the side. That way, if I'm not there, no one will be staring at a corner."

Lu Yike raised her head.

"Director Hou, this is inappropriate."

Hou Liangping's face darkened.

"Director Lu, do you even care whether I attend the meeting or not?"

Lu Yike said, "This is a provincial party committee meeting, and the inspection team is also in attendance. You just arrived in Handong, and you've already missed the first provincial-level anti-corruption mobilization meeting without any reason. If this is pointed out, it won't just affect you personally."

Hou Liangping sneered.

"Are you hoping I'll be singled out?"

Lu Yike snorted, "I hope the bureau doesn't make any more of a fool of itself."

Hou Liangping closed his notebook.

"That's all for now. Each group should come up with a detailed plan tonight, according to the assignments I just gave you. As for tomorrow's meeting, I have my own plans."

Hu Wenbin hesitated and said, "Director Hou, what about the conference arrangements..."

Hou Liangping stood up.

"Do as I say. Place the table card a little off-center, so no one can see it at a glance."

The conference room door opened.

Hou Liangping walked out.

Hu Wenbin stood there, holding his phone.

Lu Yike looked at Chen Hai.

Did you hear that?

Chen Hai rubbed his temples.

"I heard you."

Lu Yike said, "I don't need to say anything this time, do I?"

Chen Hai sighed.

"Old Hu, you'd better try to persuade him again."

Hu Wenbin had a bitter face.

"Director Chen, how can I possibly persuade him?"

Lu Yike clipped the notebook together.

"If you can't persuade him, just do as he says. Tomorrow the stage will be full of provincial leaders. If you find any empty seats, Hou Liangping will know what meeting etiquette and discipline really mean!"

Hu Wenbin's face turned pale.

"Director Lu, don't scare me."

Lu Yike walked to the door and stopped.

"I'm not trying to scare you. Call the conference organizers now and ask them to move the nameplates a little off-center. Make sure to say that Director Hou personally requested it."

......

The next morning at 8:30.

Outside the auditorium of the Hantong Provincial Party Committee, vehicles drove into the compound one after another.

Key officials from provincial government departments, municipal and prefectural party committees, political and legal systems, discipline inspection and supervision systems, state-owned assets systems, and financial institutions arrived one after another.

At the entrance of the auditorium, conference staff checked the list, distributed materials, and guided attendees to their seats.

Ma Qing, deputy director of the Conference Affairs Division of the Provincial Party Committee General Office, stood by the entrance, holding a seating chart in his hand.

The young cadre next to him whispered, "Director Ma, the nameplate for Director Hou Liangping of the Anti-Corruption Bureau of the Provincial High Procuratorate was moved slightly off-center by the General Affairs Department last night."

Ma Qing frowned.

What does "slightly off-center" mean?