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

Hou Liangping seemed to sense Chen Hai's disappointment, as his wife had taken Chen Hai's place. He said, "This is a great achievement. It involves a provincial party committee. If we can drag a provincial party committee down with us, we'll give Secretary Sha a position in the provincial party committee."

"Moreover, this case is a major one, involving nearly a billion yuan." Hou Liangping didn't want to keep the evidence; he wanted to use Chen Hai to solve this big case.

It would be fine if they were just transferred to other departments within the procuratorate, because at least they could still handle corrupt officials. But if they were transferred to the court or the public security department, that wouldn't work.

The courts mainly handle cases, while the public security departments mainly maintain public order and conduct criminal investigations, targeting ordinary people. Moreover, it would be extremely difficult for him to transfer the police officers in the public security departments without the knowledge of Qi Tongwei and his superiors.

If he were transferred out of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, it would be extremely difficult to take action against Jingzhou Bank.

Upon hearing about this case, Chen Hai immediately became uneasy. It involved a member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee and was related to over a billion yuan. No matter how you looked at it, it was definitely a major case.

After considering it, Chen Hai realized that securing a position on the provincial party committee standing committee would essentially give Sha Ruijin a new position where he could place his own people. He had made such a significant contribution, and since the provincial party secretary was his brother, it would be very easy for him to advance his career.

However, the members of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee are cadres under the direct management of the Central Committee, so even if they are to be arrested, it would be done by the Organization Department of the Central Committee and the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. It seems that it has something to do with the two of them!

"A member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee is a centrally-managed cadre, we can't touch him!" Chen Hai frowned. He knew this was a great achievement, but it also meant that it could directly drown him.

"We're not targeting centrally-managed cadres, it's just that their wives are involved in cases! That might implicate them," Hou Liangping said.

He wasn't investigating a member of the provincial party committee standing committee; he was only investigating a vice president of a bank, which was still within their authority.

Chen Hai hesitated. He wasn't like Hou Liangping. Hou Liangping was a hothead. Investigating the family members of a centrally-managed cadre was almost like investigating the cadre himself, and it was practically like declaring war on him.

If you can't defeat the other party, you're very likely to face their vicious retaliation.

Seeing Chen Hai's hesitant expression, Hou Liangping said, "Someone has reported this case, and the evidence is very comprehensive. We could even arrest him directly; it's like feeding us meat right in front of our mouths. We can't hesitate!"

"Hai Zi, think about it. If you handle this big case, our Handong Anti-Corruption Bureau will definitely become famous nationwide, and you, as the deputy director, will definitely be promoted. I can also get a better position after I leave our Anti-Corruption Bureau."

"I won't hide it from you anymore. Jingzhou Bank is engaging in illegal lending for the sake of loan rebates. This isn't just about harming a few dozen or a few hundred people; it involves billions of yuan, the savings of hundreds of thousands of families in Jingzhou!"

"Jingzhou Bank illegally lent money to those businessmen; what we're doing now is saving those families in Jingzhou!"

If there's one thing that attracts Chen Hai about Hou Liangping, it's undoubtedly that innocent sense of justice. In some ways, the two are quite compatible.

One is someone who was protected by his father, the chief prosecutor, since childhood. When Chen Yanshi retired, Gao Yuliang took over the position. Now, there's even a provincial party secretary as his godfather. How can a person's life be so good?

With these people around, who would dare to make a move?

The other type is the son-in-law who lives with his wife's family, with the Zhong family helping him clean up his messes. Sometimes, even if he breaks the rules, the family will let him off the hook because of the Zhong family. Both sides have the most basic and idealistic sense of justice.

From this perspective, the two are a perfect match.

"I agree." In the end, Chen Hai still agreed to the request. Chen Hai had been operating in the anti-corruption bureau for so long, and he still had some people on his side.

The two sides exchanged views for a while before Hou Liangping finally left.

Hou Liangping and others met Zhong Xiaoai around lunchtime. Zhong Xiaoai first met with several chief prosecutors, and then the deputy director reported on his work.

After all, so many people had made appointments to report on their work. Hou Liangping's position was the lowest, so he was naturally at the very end of the line. If he made an appointment, he would have to wait until after 5 p.m.

"Xiao Ai, what brings you to Handong?" Hou Liangping greeted Zhong Xiao Ai with great familiarity, serving her food, choosing dishes that Zhong Xiao Ai liked.

This scene was witnessed by many people.

It's not that they don't want to be "phoenix men" (men from humble backgrounds who achieve success), it's just that they lack the channels and have no other options. Putting aside other factors, they at least feel that they are much stronger in certain aspects.

Isn't it just flattery and fawning? If you had a wife who was a high-ranking official, and whose family had connections, who knows how much flattery she would do?

But later on, Hou Liangping had to write a thousand-word report to get into bed, had to have superb cooking skills, and also take care of children. Suddenly, everyone stopped envying Hou Liangping, because it was just too damn frustrating.

If I had that ability, I might as well join the Han University clique. After all these years, I'm still just a section chief, while others have already become department-level cadres.

Zhong Xiaoai noticed that although everyone around her was eating and not looking in their direction, they seemed to be listening intently. Even though they were several meters away, who knew if anyone could hear them?

"I was sent here by my superiors, what can I do? Come to my office later." Zhong Xiaoai looked somewhat displeased.

"Yes." Hou Liangping nodded quickly.

Seeing that there was nothing to say here, everyone obediently ate their lunch and took a nap.

After lunch, Hou Liangping went to Zhong Xiaoai's office. He already knew what she was thinking: she wanted to integrate the Han University gang.

Was this idea your own?

"Xiao Ai, are you trying to integrate Teacher Gao's resources? This idea was mine. You can't just leave me like this!" Hou Liangping protested, feeling wronged.

"You said you wanted to integrate Professor Gao's resources, so let me ask you one question: you've been in Handong for more than ten days now, have you ever gone to see Professor Gao or visited him? Have you visited any of the senior students in Handong?" Zhong Xiaoai's question completely stumped Hou Liangping.

Hou Liangping thought about the time he had been in Handong and realized that he really hadn't done anything. He only went to drink with Qi Tongwei because he couldn't refuse Qi Tongwei's request.

He doesn't have that many friends; he only has Chen Hai.

"That's not my fault! It's really because of these senior students from Handong..." Hou Liangping looked down on his teacher Gao and the other senior students from the bottom of his heart. He was like a pheasant climbing up a sycamore branch, really thinking he was a phoenix.

Gao Yuliang, a vassal of the Zhao family gang, and Qi Tongwei, if it weren't for Liang Lu, what would he be? He would look down on the other senior students even more.

You can't expect people to flock to you while you're looking down on them, can you?

Zhong Xiaoai couldn't help but smile knowingly. "What do you mean? You haven't even gone to visit him. All these years, have you ever contacted Teacher Gao? If you can't even handle this, how are you going to subdue the Han University gang? Come with me tonight to visit Teacher Gao. I've already made an appointment with him."