Names: Uncle Zhao Mengsheng, Father-in-law Pei Yihong

The compound of the Handong Provincial Government.

Lü Liang parked his car and straightened his prosecutor's uniform.

He felt a deep, inexplicable frustration in his heart.

It would be hard for anyone to remain upset if they had their powerful positions snatched away twice in a row.

He thought it would just be an ordinary conversation, but he never expected that Qi Tongwei's secretary, Cai Xiaofei, was already waiting downstairs in the office building.

As the secretary to the executive vice governor, Cai Xiaofei was someone that even a department-level cadre might not be able to make him wait in person.

Today, however, he was specially sent here to welcome him, which inevitably surprised Lü Liang.

Without a doubt, it was all arranged by Qi Tongwei.

Cai Xiaofei was extremely polite in his dealings with people. When he saw Lü Liang approaching, he took half a step forward and was very humble.

"Director Lü, Governor Qi is already waiting in his office. Please come with me."

His tone was gentle and his manners impeccable, making people feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze.

"Thank you for your hard work, Director Cai." Lü Liang nodded in response and followed closely behind into the provincial government office building.

He entered the office of the executive vice governor.

After Lü Liang sat down, Cai Xiaofei skillfully poured a cup of hot tea and gently placed it in front of Lü Liang.

Without lingering for even a second, he quietly left the office, closing the door behind him.

Only Qi Tongwei and Lü Liang remained.

Qi Tongwei's gaze fell on Lü Liang, without any further pleasantries or formalities.

The words cut to the chase, striking at the deepest, most hidden knot in Lüliang's heart.

"Director Lü, I know you're feeling frustrated."

He had two promotion opportunities, each time just one step away from being snatched away by someone else.

Anyone who works diligently would feel bad about this.

Every word and phrase hits the nail on the head.

The grievances that Lü Liang had suppressed for so long surged up instantly.

He worked diligently and conscientiously in the Handong Procuratorate system for decades, never taking sides or forming factions, only focusing on his work.

In the end, those who work hard always suffer losses, while those who lie down or have connections rise to the top.

Lü Liang felt a mix of emotions. "Governor Qi, this is so hard for me, I'm so frustrated."

Qi Tongwei softened his tone, which carried a hint of advice.

"Director Lü, you may feel frustrated, but you can't slack off or be passive in your work."

Do your job properly and don't slack off in the slightest.

In the ups and downs of officialdom, temporary gains and losses are insignificant; opportunities always favor those who are prepared and patient.

This is the wisdom of someone who has been there, and also the hard truth for establishing oneself in the officialdom of Handong.

Upon hearing this, Lü Liang let out a long sigh, unable to contain his emotions any longer, and frankly revealed his true feelings.

"Governor Qi, I understand all these principles, but I'm still not convinced."

When the position of director of the anti-corruption bureau was vacant last time, the quarterly inspection team of the court had already spoken with me and made it clear that I should take over the position.

And what happened? Chen Hai eventually rose through the ranks and became the bureau chief.

His eyes were filled with helplessness.

He shook his head, a hint of helpless self-mockery in his voice.

"Chen Hai's father is Chen Yanshi, a highly respected veteran revolutionary in Handong and the former chief prosecutor of the Handong Provincial Procuratorate."

As an ordinary cadre with no one to rely on, no background, and no connections, what other choice did I have but to accept my fate?

Background outweighs ability, and Lü Liang gritted his teeth and accepted it.

This time, it's the same again.

Lü Liang continued to pour out his pent-up frustrations from the past few years.

"To be fair, Chen Hai was young and promising and quite capable, but he was not experienced enough at the time to shoulder the heavy responsibility of the anti-corruption bureau."

As the deputy director, I did all the work that the director should do and shouldered all the pressure and risks.

All the credit and honors belong to others, while all the hardship and blame are mine. I am human too, and I also feel aggrieved.

This time, it was Hou Liangping, the son-in-law of the Zhong family, who came.

Every sentence is true, every word expresses grievance.

Another point is that Hou Liangping's first job after graduation was at the Handong Provincial Procuratorate.

At that time, Lü Liang was considered Hou Liangping's superior.

Qi Tongwei listened quietly, his expression calm, without interrupting.

Only after Lü Liang had fully expressed his feelings did he slowly speak, his tone resolute, and give his promise.

"Director Lü, the past is the past, there's no point in dwelling on it."

We still have a long way to go.

I completely understand how you feel, and I fully acknowledge your efforts and abilities.

I will have Secretary Gao Yuliang personally recommend to the Provincial Party Committee that you be promoted to the position of Executive Deputy Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau.

Although he is not the top-ranking bureau chief, he has made real progress.

Lü Liang raised his head, his eyes filled with surprise, and the gloom that had been weighing on his heart was swept away.

"Thank you, Governor Qi! Thank you for your support!"

This kindness is more valuable than a thousand words of comfort.

At that moment, Lü Liang immediately understood who was superior and who was inferior, and he saw through the coldness and indifference of human relationships.

As the top leader of the provincial party committee, Sha Ruijin was aloof and only cared about the overall balance, never taking into account the grievances and sacrifices of grassroots cadres.

No matter how diligent and hardworking you are, in the eyes of the other party, you are nothing more than a pawn that can be used or discarded at any time.

In contrast, Qi Tongwei knows how to cherish talent, is willing to protect his own shortcomings, and dares to promote others.

We don't care about the past or background; we only care about ability.

This is a true talent scout, someone truly worth following.

A man will die for one who understands him; Lü Liang's heart has completely turned to him.

After saying goodbye to Qi Tongwei, Lü Liang walked briskly out of the provincial government building, looking refreshed and full of energy.

The No. 3 courtyard of the Provincial Party Committee is quiet and elegant.

The air in Gao Yuliang's study was filled with the aroma of tea, creating a relaxed atmosphere.

Qi Tongwei and Gao Yuliang sat facing each other, the master and apprentice chatting over tea.

When the topic of Lü Liang's appointment came up, Gao Yuliang remained calm and immediately expressed his opinion.

"Tongwei, there's no problem with this."

Lü Liang's abilities, qualifications, and sense of responsibility fully qualify him for the position of Executive Deputy Director.

Even if he were promoted to the position of bureau chief, he would be fully capable of it. I strongly recommend him, and I will handle the connections at the provincial political and legal affairs commission level.

With Gao Yuliang saying this, the matter is basically a done deal.

Qi Tongwei nodded slightly. "Okay, teacher."

Gao Yuliang picked up his teacup, then changed the subject, talking about the current personnel changes, "Tongwei, Hou Liangping is about to be parachuted into Handong to take up a post."

The monkey's methods are extraordinary; this gives us another capable ally, significantly strengthening our forces.

Qi Tongwei gently shook his head, "Teacher, Hou Liangping has never been one of us, nor will he ever become one of us."

If you think about it carefully, the recent personnel changes in Handong are quite obvious in their intentions.

First, Tian Guofu was parachuted in as the secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission, then a minor official from the province was brought in, and now Hou Liangping has been appointed to head the Anti-Corruption Bureau.

The strategy of meticulous planning and gradual infiltration aims to thoroughly tighten the power structure in Handong and disrupt the existing factional balance.

Like boiling a frog in lukewarm water, the situation is gradually escalating, with deadly intent lurking beneath the surface.

Upon hearing this, Gao Yuliang frowned slightly, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly nodded.

"Tongwei, what you say is indeed true. I originally thought that Hou Liangping was my student, Gao Yuliang, and one of the three outstanding figures of Han University."

"Teacher, you treat the monkey as your beloved student, but the monkey may not necessarily respect you as his teacher," Qi Tongwei said directly, without holding back.