Nominal: Energy sector enters Handong, breaking the deadlock

"It's not Handong that's in trouble." Zhong Zhengguo stood under the light, his wrinkles appearing even deeper. "There's always someone insatiable. Monkey is there, that's what he does."

Qin Siyuan hung up the phone and sat in the study for a few minutes.

My phone screen went dark and then lit up again; it was a message from my secretary asking if we wanted to reschedule the meeting for tomorrow morning.

He replied with two words: "As usual."

Then I found Hou Liangping's number.

"Ryohei, are you asleep?"

"Director Qin, not yet." The voice on the other end of the phone was very clear.

"Let's go up to the rooftop," Qin Siyuan laughed. "Take a pack of cigarettes, I've finished mine."

Ten minutes later, Hou Liangping arrived.

Qin Siyuan stood by the iron railing, the wind blowing from the north.

The city lights shone brightly, red, yellow, and white, stretching to the horizon.

Hou Liangping took out half a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, pulled one out and handed it over, lighting it with a lighter.

The flame flickered in the wind, and Qin Siyuan leaned closer, took a drag, and the cigarette butt lit up.

"Your childhood friend, he's gone?" Qin Siyuan exhaled a puff of smoke, his eyes still fixed on the distance.

"He's gone." Hou Liangping lit a cigarette for himself and stood half a step behind Qin Siyuan. "It was just an economic dispute. I gave him directions to go back to Handong. He's an impatient guy, so he drove off that very night."

Qin Siyuan didn't speak, his hand holding a cigarette resting on the railing, the ash scattered by the wind.

"Director Qin, I didn't handle this matter well tonight." Hou Liangping paused, "Having someone bring things to my house in the middle of the night is not a good thing."

"No need for explanations since the items were confiscated." Qin Siyuan flicked away his cigarette ash. "You did a good job. At times like this, a clean entrance is more important than a clean interior."

Hou Liangping nodded but didn't reply.

The wind blew in from the back of my neck, feeling cool.

"Chen Hai has been promoted to deputy chief prosecutor, you know that, right?"

"I've heard about it."

"Do you have any thoughts on the position of Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau?" Qin Siyuan turned around, leaning against the railing, the cigarette in his hand almost burned down to the filter. "The Supreme People's Procuratorate recommended you, and Chen Hai also nodded in approval. My second uncle, your father-in-law, and I all think you're suitable."

Hou Liangping stubbed out his cigarette on the concrete railing. "Director Qin, you want me to go to Handong?"

"Don't want to go?" Qin Siyuan smiled. "If you don't want to go, I'll find someone else. There are plenty of people who want to go. If it weren't for my recommendation, you might not have had the chance."

"Director Qin, that's not what I meant." Hou Liangping quickly pulled out his cigarette case, his hand reaching into his pocket for a lighter. "I'm going. I've wanted to go to Handong for a long time. I went to Handong University. I know a little about the situation there."

It took two tries to light the lighter.

Hou Liangping handed Qin Siyuan a cigarette, lit one for himself, and took a deep drag. The smoke filled his lungs, causing him to cough.

"Have you thought it through?" Qin Siyuan narrowed his eyes. "Handong is not like here. Here, if you make a mistake, someone above will cover for you. But in Handong, one wrong step and you lose everything."

"I've made up my mind." Hou Liangping raised his head. "If there's a problem in Handong, I'll go and solve it. What kind of person are you, hiding in an office if you're not on the front lines of the anti-corruption work?"

Qin Siyuan looked at him for a few seconds, then smiled, "You have the same drive as your second uncle back in the day."

He pulled a few sheets of paper from his inner pocket. "The paperwork was completed overnight, and the secretary just delivered it. You must talk to Xiao Ai tonight. If she calls me and makes a scene, I won't help you; you'll remain the section chief. Beg Xiao Ai to go easy on you. Hurry up. Don't just stand there."

Hou Liangping took the document. The matter had come quickly, but he was not surprised.

After his setback with the energy sector, he knew that this circle couldn't contain him.

"Director Qin, I won't put you in a difficult position."

"Whether you let me pass or not, I've said everything I needed to say." Qin Siyuan patted his shoulder. "Let's go home. Xiao Ai is waiting."

When Hou Liangping returned home, Zhong Xiaoai was already in the living room.

She hadn't changed out of her loungewear; she was still wearing that light gray suit and high heels, just sitting on the sofa scrolling through her phone.

He heard the door open, but didn't even look up.

"I'm back."

"You're back." Hou Liangping changed his shoes, put his arm around Zhong Xiaoai's shoulder, and said, "Xiaoai, why are you still wearing a suit so late? Change your clothes, shall we go to sleep?"

"What's it to you?" Zhong Xiaoai struggled slightly. "Take your hand away."

Hou Liangping didn't let go, moving his fingers slightly behind her neck and pressing down with just the right amount of pressure. "Wife, I need to ask you something."

"What is it?" Zhong Xiaoai's tone was still indifferent, but her shoulders were noticeably relaxed.

"The position of director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau has become vacant in Handong." Hou Liangping bent down, rested his chin on Zhong Xiaoai's shoulder, and breathed warmly into her ear. "Director Qin wants me to go there."

Zhong Xiaoai's finger stopped on the phone screen. "You think we can just go like that?"

"I came back to discuss this with you." Hou Liangping moved his hand forward, avoiding her collarbone, and circled between her shoulder and cervical spine. "If you don't agree, I won't go. I won't go even if the sky falls."

"Come on," Zhong Xiaoai tossed her phone onto the sofa. "Do you think I don't know what you're up to? You've been keeping an eye on things in Handong for a while now. That Cai guy, what's his name again? Didn't he wait for you outside our house tonight?"

"Cai Chenggong. I had everyone stop everything outside." Hou Liangping walked around to the front, squatted down, and looked up at her. "He is him, and I am me. I went to Handong for the case, not for him."

"For the case, for advancement," Zhong Xiaoai said, looking at Hou Liangping. "It's definitely not for me."

Hou Liangping grew anxious and grabbed her hand. "How can it not be? If I stay here, I'm at the mercy of those people in the Energy Department every day, and when I go home, you'll have to worry about me. If I go to Handong, no matter how difficult it is, at least I can do something meaningful. Don't you want your husband to be able to hold his head high when he goes out into the world?"

Zhong Xiaoai pulled her hand away and turned her face away. "When have you ever been bent over? You, Hou Liangping, are like a rooster wherever you go."

"Then you'll let me go?" Hou Liangping leaned forward again, his face almost touching her knees.

Zhong Xiaoai was silent for a moment, then suddenly stuck out three fingers and poked his forehead. "Monkey, you can go. I have three conditions."

Hou Liangping felt confident of success and said, "Go ahead."

"First, a phone call every day. It has to be a video call. I need to know where you're staying, whether you've eaten, and whether you've lost weight."

"Okay." Hou Liangping thought it was all a minor matter.

"Secondly, don't hide from me who's causing trouble for you in Handong. If you're unsure about something important, call me, Dad, or your second uncle. Don't try to handle things alone."

Hou Liangping felt a sense of being pampered by his wife, and said, "I'll listen to you."

what!

This feeling is actually quite nice.

"Third," Zhong Xiaoai looked down at Hou Liangping, her emotions a little complicated, "You must be transferred back next year. Regardless of whether it works out there or not, you have to find a way to come back within a year. I can't stand being separated from you forever."