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

Su Zhe glanced at the unopened meeting minutes on the table and chuckled.

"Director Chung, please rest assured, I will not regret it."

Zhong Xiaoai felt a tightness in her chest from those words.

Are you sure?

"Sure."

"Did you know that Liangping is a cadre sent to Handong by the Supreme People's Procuratorate?"

"Know."

"You know about his family situation too?"

Su Zhe picked up his pen and reopened the materials on the table.

"Director Chung, disciplinary action is based on facts, not family relationships."

Su Zhe continued, "I suggest Director Zhong also be mindful of boundaries. As a discipline inspection cadre, it's inappropriate for you to call members of the inspection team who are supervising local work to plead for the family members of someone who has been disciplined."

Zhong Xiaoai's face flushed, and her voice hardened.

"Team Leader Su, I was just communicating the situation."

"The situation has been clearly communicated."

After Su Zhe finished speaking, he didn't say another word.

After hanging up the phone, Zhong Xiaoai stared at the screen, unable to put her phone down for a long time.

She had met many tough-tempered officials in Yanjing, but Su Zhe, who didn't even give face to the Zhong family, really infuriated her.

This Su Zhe...

Who exactly is this deity?

Zhong Xiaoai frowned and thought for a long time. If it was a young man from the Beijing elite circle like herself, then she would definitely know him.

Since you don't know him, he probably doesn't have any connections...

Su Zhe...

You just wait!

I'll give you a list sooner or later!

However, Zhong Xiaoai still needs to solve the problem at the moment.

Since Su Zhe won't listen to me.

Then let's try looking for someone else.

soon.

She dialed Ji Changming's number.

Ji Changming had just returned to the Provincial High Procuratorate office and was preparing to have the Political Department draft materials for the Party Group meeting.

The phone rang. He saw the number, frowned, but still managed to put on a smile.

"Hello, Comrade Zhong Xiaoai."

Zhong Xiaoai got straight to the point.

"Old Ji, you need to think of a way to deal with Liangping's situation, right?"

Ji Changming stopped halfway through serving the tea and put the teacup back on the table.

Old Ji?

I am the Chief Prosecutor of the High Procuratorate of Handong Province.

How could it be a young girl like you calling me Old Ji?

Your Zhong family is powerful, but you're only a deputy director-level official!

Your husband still works under me, and this is how you show respect to your superiors?

Despite inwardly cursing, Ji Changming suppressed his anger and patiently said, "Director Zhong, the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection have already made a decision on this matter. The Provincial Procuratorate is only cooperating in its implementation... We don't have much decision-making power here."

Zhong Xiaoai snorted, "Old Ji, Liangping was doing this for work. He wasn't going out to eat, drink, or have fun, and he certainly wasn't absent from work without cause! This punishment is too unfair for him."

Ji Changming suppressed his temper and said, "Director Zhong, the provincial party committee has already made a conclusion on the nature of this matter, and the provincial discipline inspection commission has issued a disciplinary decision... There's really no point in you calling me like this."

Zhong Xiaoai couldn't help but say, "At most, I'll just give a reprimand and some education. Why the serious warning?"

"You are the Chief Prosecutor of the Provincial High People's Procuratorate, and Liang Ping is the Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau of your Provincial High People's Procuratorate. Shouldn't you protect this leading cadre sent down by the Supreme People's Procuratorate?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Changming was furious.

If you call me Chief Prosecutor Ji, or at least Comrade Ji Changming, I might still want to protect Hou Liangping.

Since you're calling me Lao Ji now, then I'm sorry, Lao Ji won't protect anyone.

Ji Changming placed the newspaper on top of the documents and said calmly, "Director Zhong, I understand how you feel. But today, Secretary Sha has given his approval, and Secretary Tian has also made his decision. There's nothing I can do about it."

Zhong Xiaoai said, "You really don't have any ideas at all?"

"If you absolutely must find someone, you can only find Secretary Sha."

"Old Ji, you're just shirking responsibility."

"I was referring to authority, Director Chung."

Zhong Xiaoai choked for a moment.

Ji Changming added, "And I'd also like to remind you that the inspection teams are keeping a close eye on things now. If the punishment is reversed immediately after it's been given, the prestige of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, and the Provincial Procuratorate will all be affected. I think the chances of it being reversed are slim."

Zhong Xiaoai fell silent.

Ji Changming continued, "Director Zhong, I believe that what Comrade Hou Liangping should do most now is to deeply reflect on his mistakes, write a thorough self-criticism, stabilize the anti-corruption bureau team, and focus on his own professional work! Instead of going around trying to find someone to smooth things over, what do you think?"

Zhong Xiaoai said coldly, "I understand."

He then hung up the phone without any hesitation.

After hanging up the phone, Ji Changming put it down, somewhat angry.

Old Ji?

Old Ji...

You Zhong family members are really amazing...

At that moment, he suddenly looked up at the director of the political department.

The political commissar cautiously asked, "Quarterly inspection, should the materials be written according to the original opinion?"

Ji Changming rubbed his temples.

"Write it exactly as originally suggested, without softening a single word. Hmm... the tone is still too mild; it needs to be criticized more severely! At the meeting, let all the Party members express their opinions! Let Comrade Hou Liangping blush and sweat a little; there's nothing wrong with that!"

The director of the political department nodded, then suddenly couldn't help but ask:

"Isn't this a bit too harsh on Comrade Hou Liangping...? After all, he's a leading cadre sent down from the Supreme People's Procuratorate. Shouldn't we also consider the opinions of those above us...?"

boom--!

Ji Changming slammed his hand on the table.

His face was full of anger.

"What are you worried about? Hou Liangping is capable of making any mistake now, he doesn't even respect the Provincial Party Committee. You still want to consider whether you're being too harsh on him? What would be considered not harsh? Let Hou Liangping stand on my table, point his finger at me, Ji Changming, and call me 'Old Ji,' would that not be harsh?"

The director of the political department was startled.

Why is the quarterly inspector suddenly so angry...?

"Okay...okay, Mr. Ji, please don't be angry, I'll get on it right away! I'll do everything you say!"

......

Zhong Xiaoai stood in the corridor, replaying Su Zhe and Ji Changming's words in her mind.

Ultimately, having no other choice, I decided to call Sha Ruijin.

Sha Ruijin is the provincial party secretary, and Zhong Xiaoai is the deputy director of the discipline inspection commission's office; it would be very easy for her to find the phone numbers of these leaders.

When the call is connected.

Sha Ruijin was in his office listening to Zhou Qing, director of the Provincial Party Committee Office, report on the implementation of the measures following the meeting.

Secretary Xiaobai handed over the phone and whispered, "Secretary Sha, it's a call from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection."

Sha Ruijin frowned.

He took the phone and waved to Zhou Qing.

"Hello, I am Sha Ruijin."

On the other end of the phone, Zhong Xiaoai's voice came through.

"Secretary Sha, hello. I'm Zhong Xiaoai... and also... Hou Liangping's wife. I'm sorry to bother you, I'm here about Comrade Hou Liangping..."

Sha Ruijin was somewhat annoyed.

He was originally the son-in-law of the Qin family, and it was only through the Qin family's support that he got to where he is today.

Even though everyone knew he was extremely capable, Sha Ruijin remained incredibly sensitive.

They value face more than ordinary people.

So what if you, Zhong Xiaoai, are the daughter of the Zhong family?

You are, after all, only a deputy director-level official!

You can have no problem having Zhong Zhengguo or your older brother Zhong Xiaochun make this call.

But what level are you, Zhong Xiaoai, to dare to casually call a provincial party secretary?

Sha Ruijin frowned and said, "Comrade Zhong Xiaoai, if it's about disciplinary action, the Provincial Party Committee has already reached a conclusion."

Zhong Xiaoai paused for a moment, then said, "Secretary Sha, Liangping did indeed have a procedural oversight regarding his leave request today, but he did it to advance the Ding Yizhen case and had no intention of disrespecting the Provincial Party Committee. Could the punishment be considered leniently?"

Sha Ruijin picked up the meeting minutes from the table, his gaze falling on the printed page of Hou Liangping's empty seat photo.

"Comrade Zhong Xiaoai, Comrade Hou Liangping's problem is not procedural negligence, but a matter of discipline, which cannot be tolerated."

Zhong Xiaoai said, "Secretary Sha, he has just arrived in Handong and needs an adjustment period."

Sha Ruijin said calmly, "Then he's adapting far too slowly. If Comrade Hou Liangping feels wronged, he can appeal according to organizational procedures, but the Provincial Party Committee will not change its decision because of a private phone call."

Zhong Xiaoai wanted to say more.

Sha Ruijin continued, "This matter ends here. Please also tell Comrade Hou Liangping to correct his position, obey the organization's decision, and focus his energy on his work and rectification."

Zhong Xiaoai held her phone, her tone stiff.

"I understand, Secretary Sha."

Sha Ruijin said, "Okay."

The phone hangs up.

Sha Ruijin handed his phone to his secretary, Xiaobai, his expression already grim.

Zhou Qing re-entered the room and cautiously asked, "Secretary Sha?"

Sha Ruijin pushed the materials on the table over.

"The disciplinary document for Hou Liangping will be issued before this afternoon. Additionally, it is required that the Party Group of the Provincial Higher People's Procuratorate prepare a written report on the content of the special meeting regarding Hou Liangping and submit it to the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, and the inspection team."

Zhou Qing nodded.

"Yes."