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

Cheng Du gripped his phone tighter, almost losing his train of thought.

"Mayor Zhao, can you give me another chance? I may not have made any great achievements over the years, but I have worked hard. There are so many complicated situations in Guangming District, and I have always been at the forefront."

Zhao Donglai said, "Whether you're at the forefront or not is no longer my concern, and this isn't something I can decide!"

Cheng Du couldn't help but say, "Mayor Zhao, this is all the fault of my subordinates. I will hold them accountable. If the higher-ups require me to take leadership responsibility, I will. But the punishment shouldn't be too harsh, should it?"

Zhao Donglai's tone became even colder.

"Stop shirking responsibility! Whether the punishment is severe or not, go ask Chang Chenghu, go ask the Shanshui Group, go ask the police car you lent out! Cheng Du, don't blame me for not warning you, things aren't like they used to be. The inspection team is in Handong, and Su Zhe isn't someone to be trifled with. Do you think anyone can cover for you now?"

Cheng Du quickly said, "Mayor Zhao, I'm willing to cooperate with the Municipal Bureau's investigation. Could you please not file a case yet?"

Zhao Donglai smiled.

"Not filing a case? That's not up to me. It's the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection that's going to file a case against you! You should ask Secretary Zhang Shuli and Secretary Li Dakang of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection about this! I do have a suggestion: you should turn yourself in! At least you might get a lighter punishment, and maybe you can even get a clerk position! Otherwise, hmph!"

Cheng Du wanted to say more, but the call had already ended.

The office fell silent.

Cheng Du stared at the blacked-out phone screen, then suddenly reached out and took the half-smoked cigarette out of the ashtray, only to find that the cigarette butt was already soaked.

At this point, I was speechless.

Zhao Donglai is simply insane.

The phone call was completely useless; it was basically just him berating himself...

Is this guy taking his anger out on himself?

Damn it...

Cheng Du threw the cigarette back, turned around and walked to his desk, then pulled out another number.

After the call was connected, an impatient male voice came from the other end.

Who is it?

There was a female voice next to the male voice.

"Young Master Zhao, keep going! You can't keep using phone calls as an excuse every time you give in... If it really doesn't work, try taking your medicine..."

The man's voice roared, "Bullshit! What kind of medicine do I take? I'm as strong as a rock!"

The woman's voice sounded somewhat mournful.

"I saw the packaging..."

"Shut up, shut up, shut up!"

Then the male voice shouted into the phone.

Cheng Du quickly said, "Mr. Zhao, it's me, Cheng Du."

Zhao Ruilong's voice changed immediately.

"Chengdu? Why are you calling me at this time?"

Cheng Duqiang smiled.

"Mr. Zhao, something happened at Dafeng Factory last night. Chang Chenghu was arrested. The investigation into the fake police car and fake police uniform might lead to me. And, as you know... Chang Chenghu is my cousin. He can't keep his mouth shut, and I'm worried he won't be able to handle it."

Zhao Ruilong cursed, "Are you out of your mind? The inspection team just arrived in Handong, Su Zhe is keeping an eye on things in Jingzhou, and Xu Ming is there too. You still dare to let Chang Chenghu carry out forced demolitions?"

He hurriedly explained.

"Mr. Zhao, I wasn't aware beforehand that an inspection team would be on site, let alone that so many high-ranking leaders would be paying attention..."

Zhao Ruilong said coldly, "Alright, stop wasting my breath. You're making me neglect my important business!"

Du Cheng coughed lightly.

Serious business?

The effects of your medication are wearing off...

Zhao Ruilong said, "Don't try to fool me, kid. If you didn't have definite news that you were going to be in trouble, you wouldn't have called me in the first place! If you're going to be a coward, then be a coward to the end and say it clearly. Who told you you were going to be finished?"

Cheng Du heard Zhao Ruilong's words.

I was taken aback.

This young master Zhao is usually quite adept at business, but I never expected him to be so perceptive about people's hearts...

He said helplessly, "It was...it was Vice Mayor Zhao Donglai...He called and berated me, then told me to just wait, Secretary Li Dakang is going to strip me of my police uniform!"

Zhao Ruilong frowned and said, "Vice Mayor Zhao Donglai? Zhao Donglai has been promoted to vice mayor?"

Cheng Du said, "Yes...it was mentioned just a few days ago, shortly after the inspection team arrived..."

Zhao Ruilong snorted.

"It seems Li Dakang has also sensed the danger... He's really going all out!"

Cheng Du was taken aback for a moment, then asked, "Young Master Zhao, what does this mean?"

Zhao Ruilong said calmly, "According to the usual unspoken rules, in areas where the inspection team visits, promotions of leaders at least at the provincial or ministerial level are temporarily frozen, to prevent the inspection team from uncovering any problems that would make things difficult for both the province and the local government..."

Now that Li Dakang is seizing this opportunity to secure Zhao Donglai a deputy director-level position, it shows that he wants to completely control Zhao Donglai... Li Dakang is probably worried that the inspection team might cause some big trouble, and he has no one else to rely on... Zhao Donglai is probably his most useful henchman.

Upon hearing Zhao Ruilong's words, Cheng Du couldn't help but admire him, saying, "Young Master Zhao, it's all thanks to your discerning eyes! How could outsiders possibly understand such a thing?"

Zhao Ruilong scoffed, "Nonsense! Although I'm not in politics, what does my father do? Over the years, how many things have I done for these officials in Handong? Calling me Handong's underground organization minister wouldn't be an exaggeration! Even the ones on the surface don't have as much influence as me! I see through all the petty tricks of officialdom!"

talking.

Zhao Ruilong said coldly, "Zhao Donglai insulted you, so did you feel guilty and admit your mistake?"

Cheng Du blushed.

"Mr. Zhao, I was stunned by Zhao Donglai's scolding, and I did admit my mistake..."

Zhao Ruilong sneered.

"Scolding you is too lenient. If it were me, I'd slap you! You're feeling guilty after I scolded you a couple of times? What an idiot! Just push the blame onto the auxiliary police officers below you. It's just a matter of police cars and uniforms, right? Don't you, the bureau chief, know that? The worst they can do is give you a warning or a major demerit. What else can they do?"

"If you apologize to Zhao Donglai, do you think he doesn't know you're feeling guilty? He'll cooperate with the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection to thoroughly investigate you. Can you withstand the investigation?"

Cheng Du said bitterly, "Mr. Zhao, what should we do now? Li Dakang has lost his temper, and Zhao Dong said I'm waiting to be stripped of my police uniform. The Municipal Bureau and the Discipline Inspection Commission are both going to make moves."

Zhao Ruilong said irritably, "What's the use of you coming to me? The inspection team is in Handong right now, and I don't even want to go there. What are you doing, sending me there?"

Cheng Du's hand rested on the edge of the table.

"Mr. Zhao, you can't just abandon me... I've been following you around like a whiz all these years..."

Zhao Ruilong said in a deep voice, "Can you stop talking nonsense on the phone?!"

Cheng Du immediately shut up.

Zhao Ruilong then said, "Go find Gao Xiaoqin now and ask her to contact Qi Tongwei for you. Qi Tongwei is the director of the Provincial Public Security Department. As long as he is willing to intervene, Zhao Donglai will have to leave some room for maneuver."

Cheng Du quickly asked, "President Zhao, will Director Qi help me?"

Zhao Ruilong said, "Whether he helps you or not depends on him! Go and beg him first, and we'll talk about it later if you can't get help."

Cheng Du quickly replied, "Okay, I'll go find General Manager Gao right away."

Zhao Ruilong added another sentence.

"Remember, don't say anything carelessly, especially don't mention me!"

"Aren't you and Director Qi brothers?"

"Brother, you bastard! Brothers stab each other in the back! Do as I say!"