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

In the Yanjing lounge, Zhong Xiaoai made three phone calls, all of which were rejected.

She looked at Hou Liangping's number on her phone. She originally wanted to call later, but thinking of Hou Liangping's stubbornness, she dialed the number anyway.

Hou Liangping responded quickly.

"How is it?"

Zhong Xiaoai sounded tired.

"It didn't work out."

Hou Liangping couldn't believe it.

"Didn't it work? How could that be? Our Chung family..."

Zhong Xiaoai said coldly, "First of all, it's our Zhong family! Liangping, you can't always rely on the Zhong family! You should know that the Zhong family has my eldest brother. Don't even mention you, even I can't get much in terms of connections and resources! Everyone is willing to give us face only because of my surname Zhong, but that doesn't mean that Father or my eldest brother can give us much support! Besides, do we even deserve this so-called support?"

Secondly, stop making a scene. I've already spoken to Sha Ruijin, the Party Secretary of Handong Province, and he was very blunt. This disciplinary action was decided in front of all the leading cadres in the province. Do you think I can overturn it with a few phone calls?

Hou Liangping gripped his phone tightly, pressing his fingertips against the edge of the screen.

"That Su Zhe, it's all his fault... It was him last time, and it's him again this time! What the hell did I do to offend him?"

suddenly.

Zhong Xiaoai was silent for a moment, then said, "You really offended him. I just asked my colleagues about Su Zhe. Before he came out on inspection, he was handling Zhao Dehan's case."

"What?"

Hou Liangping was slightly surprised, then frowned and said, "What happened to his handling of Zhao Dehan's case? Didn't he fail and hand it over to me in the end? Xiao Ai, although you're from the Discipline Inspection Commission, there are some things you might not like to hear. When it comes to fighting corruption, our Anti-Corruption Bureau is still the most professional... Over the years, how many officials have fallen because of us..."

Upon hearing Hou Liangping's words, Zhong Xiaoai instantly lost her composure.

How can someone be so oblivious to their own limitations?

"Enough! Hou Liangping, you should know exactly what happened in Zhao Dehan's case! The evidence is so complete, and he has been under surveillance and could be arrested at any time. We gave it to you to promote you to deputy director. Do you really think you need any ability to handle this kind of case?"

Whether the Discipline Inspection Commission is professional or not is none of your business!

Moreover, according to the latest meeting's directives, the Anti-Corruption Bureau might merge with the Discipline Inspection Commission at any time! You'd better leave yourself a way out when you speak now.

When Hou Liangping heard Zhong Xiaoai get angry, he finally stopped arguing.

the other side.

Zhong Xiaoai couldn't help but sigh.

"Liangping, you were protected too well in Yanjing."

"I'm warning you, don't mess with Su Zhe again."

Hou Liangping remained silent.

Zhong Xiaoai said again, "Did you hear me?"

Hou Liangping gritted his teeth and said, "I heard you."

"If you hear this, write a self-criticism first. The punishment is already too late; at least try to prevent it from escalating."

"For now, don't mess with Su Zhe. I don't know his background yet! But a 28-year-old deputy director-general level official—you should understand what that means. He may not have a family background, but I don't know about other aspects! In Beijing's elite circles, there are no newly rich without reason. The waters behind this are very deep..."

Do you understand?

Hou Liangping couldn't help but ask, "Even you don't know his background?"

Zhong Xiaoai shook her head.

"I don't know! This person has always kept a low profile. You know, being a division-level cadre is already the ceiling for ordinary people... To break through that ceiling, especially at such a young age of 28... I don't believe he doesn't have powerful connections! So you absolutely must not provoke him again!"

"good..."

Hou Liangping was somewhat frustrated and sighed.

......

In the afternoon, the atmosphere in the meeting room of the Party Leadership Group of the Provincial High People's Procuratorate was even more unpleasant than the conversation in the morning.

Ji Changming sat in the main seat, while the director of the political department placed the provincial party committee's disciplinary documents in front of each party member. Hou Liangping sat to the side, with a newly written self-criticism draft spread out in front of him.

The file title is eye-catching.

Decision on Giving Comrade Hou Liangping a Serious Warning

Hou Liangping stared at the headline for a long time, feeling a tightness in his chest.

Ji Changming moved his teacup aside and said, "Comrade Liangping, please do your self-examination first."

Hou Liangping looked up and glanced at Ji Changming.

"I've already written the quarterly report."

"read."

Hou Liangping picked up the inspection draft, his voice tense.

"This morning, I failed to attend the provincial anti-corruption mobilization meeting convened by the Provincial Party Committee as required, and did not strictly follow the leave application procedures, violating meeting discipline and causing a negative impact. I deeply reflect on this..."

First, I shouldn't have rushed to convene the special meeting to advance the Ding Yizhen case, based on my initial intention to expedite the pursuit and recovery of assets from corrupt officials who have fled overseas...

Secondly, it wasn't because I disrespected the provincial party committee meeting or the inspection team...

The more Hou Liangping read the script, the more Ji Changming felt something was wrong, and he couldn't help but furrow his brow.

"stop."

Ji Changming put down the pen in his hand.

Hou Liangping looked up.

"Quarterly inspection?"

Ji Changming looked at him and said, "Liangping, rewrite this self-criticism."

Hou Liangping's expression changed.

Why?

"The inspection report is not part of the defense materials."

"I am not making a defense; I am simply explaining the situation."

Ji Changming asked, "The Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection asked you to write a profound self-criticism, but you've spent the entire piece emphasizing that you did it for the sake of your work. Is that what you call profound? What you should be doing is reflecting on your mistakes, not making excuses for your problems!"

Ji Changming looked at the other party members in the conference room.

"Comrades, you should also speak."

Executive Deputy Chief Prosecutor Huang Zhenyu said calmly, "Comrade Liangping, the disciplinary decision has been made. Your personal understanding should lean towards disciplinary awareness, not on objective reasons."

Political Department Director Ding Peng also said, "The Provincial Party Committee General Office keeps meeting minutes, and the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, and the inspection team also need to review the inspection materials. If you submit this draft, it might be considered that your understanding is inadequate... You don't want to be required to make further rectifications because of a lack of understanding, do you?"

Hou Liangping put the manuscript back on the table.

"Chief Prosecutor Ji, I have a question. From now on, will the Provincial High Procuratorate's Anti-Corruption Bureau have to consider Su Zhe's opinion before handling any case?"

The meeting room fell silent.

Ji Changming's face darkened.

"What do you mean?"

Hou Liangping knew that what he said was inappropriate, but he had been suppressed for a long time and was feeling very uncomfortable.

"I just feel that the inspection team can supervise, but they can't cross the line."

Ji Changming picked up the disciplinary document and turned to the last page.

" Figure out your own boundaries first before discussing other people's boundaries!"

Hou Liangping didn't say anything more.

Ji Changming said, "The self-examination materials will be rewritten tonight and submitted to the Political Department for review tomorrow morning. The Provincial High Procuratorate Party Group's opinion will be implemented in accordance with the Provincial Party Committee's disciplinary action. In addition, Comrade Hou Liangping will be given serious criticism and education! I hope you will realize your mistakes as soon as possible and reflect deeply! At the same time, a criticism and education conference will be held in the Anti-Corruption Bureau, where Comrade Hou Liangping will still be required to make a self-criticism!"

Hou Liangping looked up, somewhat incredulous.

"Does he/she still need to review this at the Anti-Corruption Bureau?"

Ji Changming said, "You are the director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau. Your unexcused absence from the provincial party committee meeting has tarnished the reputation of the entire Anti-Corruption Bureau. How can you mitigate the damage if you don't make a self-criticism within your own unit?"

Hou Liangping's face was grim.

"Isn't a quarterly inspection going too far?"

Ji Changming looked at him and said, "Do you remember how you criticized Comrade Chen Hai at the anti-corruption bureau meeting?"

Hou Liangping was embarrassed.

Ji Changming continued, "You demand that others learn from their mistakes; now it's your turn."

No one responded in the meeting room.

Looking into Ji Changming's cold eyes, Hou Liangping finally lowered his head and said, "I obey."

Ji Changming nodded.

"Meeting adjourned. Oh, by the way, your next self-criticism draft needs to be printed out and shown to us, the members of the Party Committee, before you submit it! What kind of rubbish is this?!"