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

Hou Liangping's face turned green when he heard Zhong Xiaoai's words.

Another meeting?

He couldn't help but advise, "Xiao Ai... if you're in a meeting, don't go out to make the call. We can talk after the meeting... you still need to follow meeting rules and regulations!"

Upon hearing this, Zhong Xiaoai paused for a moment, then shook her head and said, "It's nothing, it's just a meeting of the executive vice president, not a high-ranking leader. Okay, I'm out now. So, what's up?"

Hou Liangping hesitated for a moment, then said, "It's like this... I didn't attend the provincial anti-corruption mobilization meeting held by the Handong Provincial Party Committee this morning."

Zhong Xiaoai, who had been leaning against the wall, frowned upon hearing this and said:

"You didn't go?"

"I held a special meeting at the Anti-Corruption Bureau regarding the Ding Yizhen case."

Did you ask for leave?

"I've asked the General Affairs Department to communicate with the conference organizers."

"Did you ask for leave?"

Hou Liangping, annoyed by the questions, said in a low voice, "I didn't go through the formal leave application process."

"And then? Why are you looking for me?"

Hou Liangping blushed slightly, but still said, "I was harassed by Su Zhe from that inspection team. He called me out on the spot at the meeting, saying I was absent without reason, and forced Sha Ruijin and Tian Guofu to punish me. It's already been decided, a serious warning..."

Zhong Xiaoai snorted.

"Hou Liangping, you just reminded me to abide by meeting etiquette and discipline. I thought you had become more composed after you learned in Handong. It turns out you were the one who messed things up first."

Hou Liangping's face was grim. He said, "I never expected them to escalate things to this extent."

Zhong Xiaoai couldn't help but shake her head.

"Hou Liangping, you're really something."

Hou Liangping's face darkened. "Don't scold me yet. Things haven't reached the point of no return. Can you help me coordinate and see if we can withdraw the punishment, or change it to a reprimand and education... The disciplinary action is just too serious..."

Zhong Xiaoai laughed in exasperation.

"I told you long ago that Handong is not Yanjing, but you insisted on going."

"I went to Handong for work."

"When you were in Yanjing, at least you had the Zhong family name on your side, so even if people didn't like you, they would still have some respect for you! Now that you're in Handong, who will take you seriously?"

Hou Liangping found it grating and couldn't help but say, "Xiao Ai, I'm being targeted right now, it's not as simple as me breaking the rules."

Zhong Xiaoai asked coldly, "Is it true that you didn't ask for leave?"

"It's true, but I was in a special meeting."

"Has the notice for the provincial party committee meeting been issued?"

"It's been sent."

Is your name on the conference attendee list?

"have."

Are the inspection team members and members of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee present?

"exist."

After asking these questions, Zhong Xiaoai sighed.

"Then tell me, when Su Zhe called you out on the spot, which part of his statement was unjust?"

Hou Liangping was speechless for a moment before saying, "He could have handled it after the meeting, why did he have to drag me out at the meeting? He just wanted to embarrass me."

"You need to leave an empty seat in front of hundreds of cadres first before they will choose you."

"Doesn't he know I'm a member of the Chung family?"

Zhong Xiaoai closed her eyes briefly and said angrily, "Hou Liangping, are you still thinking about this?"

Hou Liangping couldn't help but say, "Did I say something wrong? Su Zhe is also a cadre in the Discipline Inspection Commission system. Doesn't he know the weight of our Zhong family? I don't have any deep-seated hatred for him, yet he's constantly making trouble for me! Isn't he just looking for trouble?"

Zhong Xiaoai snorted.

"Liangping, your punishment is a small matter, but you've dragged the Zhong family down with you! How dare you speak ill of the Zhong family like that!"

Hou Liangping said urgently, "That's why I came to you."

"What am I supposed to do?"

"Could you please put in a good word for me...?"

"Xiao Ai, I've just arrived in Handong. If I get a serious warning, how am I supposed to lead the team? Lu Yike is already disobedient to me, and Chen Hai's people are laughing at me. If this punishment is handed down, how am I supposed to continue as the bureau chief?"

Zhong Xiaoai said irritably, "So now you realize the situation is bad?"

Hou Liangping lowered his voice.

"I know this was not handled properly, and I will be more careful in the future, but I really can't accept this punishment."

Zhong Xiaoai sighed.

"Let me call Su Zhe first."

Hou Liangping breathed a sigh of relief, and his tone hardened.

"Make it clear to him that this isn't just about me. He's gone too far, and it's not good for anyone..."

Zhong Xiaoai said coldly, "Shut up."

Hou Liangping immediately stopped talking.

After hanging up the phone, Zhong Xiaoai found a number.

She found this number in her company's address book.

When the call connected, Su Zhe was reviewing materials in the conference room at the inspection team's residence.

Zhou Bingguo stood to the side, reporting on the situation at Dafeng Factory, while Yang Hong held a bank statement comparison sheet waiting for him to sign it.

Su Zhe saw the caller ID and paused his finger on the screen for a moment.

"Director Zhong, hello."

Upon hearing this address, Zhong Xiaoai's tone became more formal.

"Team Leader Su, is this a convenient time to talk?"

Su Zhe closed the documents in his hand and waved to Zhou Bingguo and Yang Hong.

The two immediately left the meeting room.

Su Zhe said, "It's convenient, Director Zhong, please go ahead."

Zhong Xiaoai didn't beat around the bush too much.

"I am Liangping's lover, and I just found out about Liangping's situation."

"Um."

"He did not handle things properly this morning and did not strictly follow the leave application procedures, and I will not defend him on that point."

Su Zhe leaned back in his chair, picked up a pen, and wrote two words in the corner of the document.

"Since Director Zhong isn't defending him, then what was the purpose of this phone call?"

Zhong Xiaoai softened her tone and said, "Team Leader Su, Liangping has just arrived in Handong and is not familiar with the local work pace. He was also eager to push forward the Ding Yizhen case, which is why he made this mistake. I would like to ask that, considering we work in the same system, you could leave some room for maneuver in your subsequent handling of the matter."

Su Zhe remained silent.

Zhong Xiaoai continued, "Of course, I will remember this kindness. In the future, if there is anything you need to communicate with in our workplace, I will definitely do my best to cooperate."

Su Zhe put down his pen and said calmly, "Director Zhong, I have two points to correct."

Zhong Xiaoai said, "You go ahead."

"First, the decision to discipline Comrade Hou Liangping was made by the Handong Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection in accordance with procedures, and was approved by Secretary Sha Ruijin of the Provincial Party Committee. I have no right to interfere."

Zhong Xiaoai pursed her lips tightly.

Su Zhe continued, "Secondly, even if I had the power to interfere, I wouldn't plead for Hou Liangping. His unexcused absence from the provincial anti-corruption mobilization meeting is a fact. As a leading cadre, especially a department-level cadre, shouldn't he possess this most basic quality?"

Zhong Xiaoai's face darkened.

"Su Zhe, I'm only telling you this because we're colleagues. You don't have to be so rude."

Su Zhe said calmly, "It's not that I'm being impolite, it's just stating the facts."

"Is there really no room for negotiation?"

Su Zhe smiled.

"No discussion!"

Zhong Xiaoai said angrily, "You're leaving no room for maneuver in your actions; you'll regret it later!"