In name only, I, Gao Yuliang, will sink Handong at worst.

The strongest reactions came from older cadres. They argued that it was wrong for them to enjoy a little reward after a lifetime of hard work, since they weren't being given positions of real power.

The retirement pension will only be a few thousand dollars more later. These people have more connections because they knew more leaders in their early years. Many of these old leaders have long since retired, but they can still help ask around.

What angered these people even more was Sha Ruijin's promotion of Zhong Xiaoai. Zhong Xiaoai was parachuted in from Beijing to Handong and promoted from deputy director to director level. No one else got promoted, but Zhong Xiaoai did.

All the blame was directed at Sha Ruijin and Zhong Xiaoai. Before Zhong Xiaoai even took office, she was already met with hostility from everyone. Even the people from Han University didn't recognize her. Now, Zhong Xiaoai was completely tied to Sha Ruijin.

After taking over the Han University gang, with the help of classmates and teachers, he climbed to a higher position and directly blocked the way.

But Zhong Xiaoai in Beijing was unaware of all this, as was Sha Ruijin, who was gloating in the provincial party committee office.

The minutes and video recordings of the Standing Committee meetings will all be uploaded to Beijing.

These people are so bored; their main job every day is to watch the Standing Committee meetings and give their opinions.

The video of Gao Yuliang directly confronting Tian Guofu's Han University clique at the Standing Committee meeting and opposing the suspension of personnel appointments and removals was watched by the higher-ups.

Everyone secretly harbored their own thoughts. Gao Yuliang and the students below might very well be a force to be reckoned with. They wanted it, they still wanted it!

Sha Ruijin's first initiative to convene a Standing Committee meeting, and the fact that he had to lead the vote to secure seven votes—barely a majority—was already a failure beyond measure.

"Old Zhao, how did you manage to subdue Gao Yuliang and the Han University gang? This Gao Yuliang seems like a bookish type, but I never expected him to be so ruthless—he knows when to overturn the table and when to turn hostile!"

"The Standing Committee of the Hantong Province is watching with the most enthusiasm. Does the Hantong Province Standing Committee have many meetings on a regular basis? Democratic life meetings would also be fine!"

He's been here for so long, and most of his time has been spent watching the provincial party committee standing committee meetings with this group of people; it's not very interesting.

Seeing Handong's was very interesting. Seeing Sha Ruijin get his comeuppance was hilarious; everyone just loves to make fun of him.

Old Zhao isn't someone who can't take a joke.

"The reason I was able to govern Handong for so many years is simple: I was kind and honest. You still have much to learn."

Zhao Lichun couldn't help but stand up and pat Li Lao on the shoulder. Li Lao was Sha Ruijin's father-in-law. He said, "Our job is to serve the people, not to promote or improve the benefits of cadres who are about to retire. I think you shouldn't be here to retire; you should just retire."

"I wouldn't dare freeze the appointments of over two hundred cadres in Handong. For so many years, many leadership reshuffles have involved hasty promotions, promotions with problems, and replacements arranged before leaving. But I, Old Zhao, am honest and kind!"

"There aren't many of my people on the list. The credit is all genuine; they're all veteran cadres, all members of the provincial standing committee. Sha Ruijin offended more than just me; he offended the other standing committee members. It's just a matter of whether they say it or not. I gave Sha Ruijin a favor, and if he doesn't want it, what can I do?"

Old Li was, after all, the deputy director in charge of Zhao Lichun. Now Zhao Lichun had directly turned against him and patted him on the shoulder. Old Li was already planning to settle scores with Zhao Lichun and his family, so what was wrong with patting him on the shoulder?

Zhao Lichun directly confronted him with a scathing retort.

There are really not many problems on these promotion lists, and freezing personnel during leadership transitions is a standard practice.

There's nothing wrong with that point, but the statement about getting old directly offended others.

Gao Yuliang's opposition was understandable. After all, he had been the troubleshooter several times and really didn't want to continue, especially since his disciple was on the list.

Sha Ruijin always had a smile on his face when approving provincial party committee documents; when you're happy, everything seems to go well!