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

"What do you think about us asking Secretary Sha for support?" Hou Liangping suggested, indicating his intention to seek Sha Ruijin's assistance.

Hou Liangping knew who Sha Ruijin was working for—the Zhong family. Before he came, his father-in-law had promised him that Sha Ruijin was one of their own and that if Hou Liangping encountered any trouble, he could seek help from him. He also warned Hou Liangping not to cause trouble in Handong.

As for anything else, that's all. Things like eliminating the Zhao family or subduing the Han Da gang are definitely not mentioned.

Both of them are connected to Sha Ruijin, and their relationship is quite close. If they could get the other's help, they might be able to get it.

"If this matter involves a member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, and if we tell Secretary Sha, do you think he will agree? We might as well report some of the banks' illegal collection of rebates, and then go through Ouyang Jing to expose the problem from a specific angle."

"Without Secretary Sha's support, even if we wanted to arrest these people, we wouldn't be able to do so without sufficient support!" Hou Liangping nodded, agreeing with Chen Hai's statement.

Chen Hai still had some concerns and said, "But if the two of us don't report this to the Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Procuratorate, wouldn't that be against the rules and the law?"

It's quite rare for two people to know that their actions were against the rules and laws before they even took them!

"Why do we need to report upwards? Why bypass the anti-corruption bureau? It's because the procedures are cumbersome, with layers of reporting and rigid processes. In my opinion, all actions to catch corrupt officials should start with arresting them, then hold a meeting! The provincial and municipal procuratorates are sticking to procedures and missing opportunities."

"Chen Hai, do you want to see Ding Yizhen's story repeated in our Handong? Back then, it was because of the cumbersome procedures, meetings, meetings, and more meetings. Besides, couldn't we have done it with the provincial party secretary's approval?"

Chen Hai thought back to when he let Ding Yizhen escape from the Anti-Corruption Bureau. If he had arrested Ding Yizhen in the Anti-Corruption Bureau, he wondered how many corrupt officials he could have uncovered. Ding Yizhen's case is still under investigation, and they have found out that he changed the land use of Dafeng Factory.

However, the process isn't complete yet. Whether the change wasn't finished because the change fee wasn't paid in full, or because he fled before it could be finalized, no one knows now that Ding Yizhen is dead. The case is still under investigation.

Chen Hai nodded, agreeing with this statement.

The next day at work.

Secretary Bai reported Sha Ruijin's schedule for the day to him, and then said, "Secretary Sha, Chen Hai and Hou Liangping want to come and report to you. Would you like me to arrange a time for them, or simply refuse them?"

In recent days, he has received many people who come to report to Sha Ruijin. Among those who can come to report to Sha Ruijin are members of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, as well as many municipal party secretaries, and at the very least, a department-level official.

Why were these two people, one a deputy director-general and the other a deputy division chief, coming to report to Sha Ruijin? But he knew that Chen Hai was related to Sha Ruijin. Hou Liangping was Zhong Xiaoai's husband before, and Sha Ruijin had visited the Zhong family before. Although he didn't go in, he didn't know what they talked about.

But it's still better to ask.

"Do I have time this morning? Could you make an appointment for me?"

"Yes." The superior asked if there was time in the morning. Even if there wasn't time, time had to be arranged. Besides, it seemed that Secretary Sha valued this matter very much.

After leaving the office, Secretary Bai called Hou Liangping and asked the two of them to come over at 11 o'clock.

Hou Liangping was very happy to hear this. "Thank you, Secretary Bai. Thank you very much."

Xiao Bai was immediately unhappy. Everyone else calls me Director Bai, but you're calling me Secretary Bai. If it weren't for the fact that you're the son-in-law of the Zhong family, I wouldn't bother with you.

"You're welcome."

Secretary Bai immediately hung up the phone, his face full of displeasure. "You're just a deputy director, how dare you call me a director, a 'second-in-command'?"

In the TV series, Secretary Bai was initially prevented from telling Sha Ruijin because Gao Yuliang addressed her as "Secretary Bai." However, Secretary Bai later did notify Sha Ruijin, though it's unclear whether it was Ji Changming or Li Dakang who made the call.

Secretary Bai's "dilemma" is not a direct argument or refusal, but rather the exercise of power through "information gaps" and "time gaps," which means "the sugar I add may not be sweet, but the vinegar I add will definitely be sour."

In the TV series, Gao Yuliang realizes he's in danger and wants to go to Sha Ruijin's office to confess. However, he's stopped at the door by Secretary Bai, and Gao Yuliang habitually calls out "Secretary Bai" again. Secretary Bai coldly asks him what he wants to see Secretary Sha, and Gao Yuliang, embarrassed, can only leave dejectedly.

If Secretary Bai had simply reminded him that "Secretary Sha is waiting for you," Gao Yuliang might have had a different ending!

If Gao Yuliang knew this now, he would definitely say, "I don't care if you're Secretary Bai or Director Bai. Once Sha Ruijin falls from power, you're dead meat. Go and watch the reservoir!"

Hou Liangping failed to detect the displeasure in Secretary Bai's words and was even quite pleased. He immediately called Chen Hai, intending to bring Chen Hai along to report to Sha Ruijin.

Ten forty.

Hou Liangping and Chen Hai arrived at the Provincial Party Committee Office ahead of time.

"Secretary Bai, hello." Hou Liangping's smile was somewhat respectful, but his voice was extremely grating to Secretary Bai's ears.

But the work that needs to be done still needs to be done.

With a dark expression, he led the two to the lounge, not even offering them tea, and simply said, "Wait here. I'll take you in when it's time."

Secretary Bai then left the office. After watching him leave, Hou Liangping couldn't stand it anymore. "This Secretary Bai, he doesn't hold a high position, but he puts on quite a show, giving us both such a hard time."

However, Hou Liangping only dared to say it in secret, and never dared to say it in public.

Chen Hai patted Hou Liangping on the shoulder and said, "Alright, alright, there's no need for us to argue with Secretary Bai."

All of this was directly detected by the listening devices here. When Secretary Bai listened to the entire recording that night, his resentment towards Chen Haihou and Liang Ping reached a new level.

Time passed gradually. Secretary Bai entered Sha Ruijin's office to report.

"Secretary Sha, Chen Hai and Hou Liangping have arrived and are waiting in the lounge." Secretary Bai said after seeing Sha Ruijin close a document.

Sha Ruijin nodded.

"I'll call them in right away." Secretary Bai then called the two men in to report on their work.