Nominal: Energy sector enters Handong, breaking the deadlock

Hou Liangping stretched out his hand and said confidently, "My dear wife, I promise I will do it."

Zhong Xiaoai didn't say anything, but took her phone out from under the sofa, opened the camera app, and said, "Come on, let's take a group photo. We won't have a chance to take one if we really go to Handong."

Hou Liangping cooperated and moved closer, their two faces squeezed into the camera lens.

When the flash went off, Hou Liangping turned his head and kissed Zhong Xiaoai on the cheek.

"Hou Liangping!" Zhong Xiaoai laughed and nudged him, "Just kidding."

"I've finished writing the report." Hou Liangping handed over the paper version of the report.

Zhong Xiaoai laughed happily, her ears turning red. "What time is the flight?"

"I have to go tomorrow. Dad said that the Standing Committee needs to go through some procedures, and he will convene a special Standing Committee meeting for me to go through the procedures." Hou Liangping scrolled through his phone and started booking a plane ticket.

It has to be the earliest train.

"So fast?" Zhong Xiaoai's smile froze for a moment.

"Secretary Sha has made all the arrangements." Hou Liangping stood up, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Xiao Ai, if I leave, what will happen at home..."

"I'll take care of things at home." Zhong Xiaoai also stood up. "Monkey, stop worrying. Just do what you need to do. Don't come back to see me until you've made some progress in Handong."

Before Hou Liangping could say anything more, Zhong Xiaoai had already walked into the bedroom.

He stopped at the door without turning around. "What's that monkey standing there for?"

"Huh?" Hou Liangping followed.

"The report is submitted, what do you say?" Zhong Xiaoai went into the bedroom and started taking off her earring. "I'll take half a day off tomorrow to take you to the airport."

Hou Liangping watched Zhong Xiaoai's retreating figure.

"Thank you, my dear wife." Hou Liangping smiled ingratiatingly. "I'll change my clothes right away."

Zhong Xiaoai turned around and glared at him. "Stop joking. Take a shower first! Otherwise, don't get into bed."

"Alright! My dear wife." Hou Liangping glanced at the woman and quickly went into the bathroom.

The sound of rushing water filled the air.

Jingzhou City, Handong Province.

The No. 2 courtyard of the Provincial Party Committee.

Warm lights were on in the living room.

A dark gray tablecloth was laid on the long dining table.

The two wine glasses still held about half a glass of red wine, and the candlelight flickered in the wind.

Liang Sichen put the steak into the oven and glanced back at Song Yunhui sitting at the table.

He had just answered the phone, his brow still furrowed.

"What? Something else?" Liang Sichen added a little more to her cup.

"It's nothing. Just a small matter." Song Yunhui looked up and saw Liang Sichen's profile in the candlelight. His expression softened considerably. "It's rare to have a quiet meal like this. Let's enjoy our candlelight dinner."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the gate of the courtyard slammed shut.

Song Yunhui picked up his wine glass, then paused.

It really ruined my good mood.

Liang Sichen smiled, holding her wine glass, "Go and take a look."

Song Yunhui put down his chopsticks, walked through the living room, and pushed open the courtyard gate.

Xiao Gangyu stood outside the door, carrying two bags in his hands.

"Governor Song, I apologize for being so forward." Xiao Gangyu, wearing a dark blue jacket, smiled broadly. "The lights are on in the courtyard, so I guessed you hadn't rested yet. I brought some things from my hometown in the countryside since I was passing by."

Song Yunhui glanced at the two bags but didn't touch them. "Inspector Xiao, come in and talk."

Xiao Gangyu carried the bag into the courtyard, but stood at the door without daring to sit down inside.

Liang Sichen came out of the house and nodded to Xiao Gangyu, "Prosecutor Xiao, it's late at night and chilly, hurry up and come inside."

"Okay, thank you, Professor Liang." Xiao Gangyu placed the bag on the floor tiles by the door, bowed slightly, and said, "Governor Song, Professor Liang, I really have nothing else to say, I just came to thank Governor Song. I've waited at least ten years for this opportunity."

Life doesn't offer many decades.

He left the Handong Provincial Procuratorate in a disgraceful manner back then.

Now, it has finally returned.

Song Yunhui waved his hand, "Comrade Gangyu, Comrade Lao Ji is getting old and will be retiring soon."

The organization has also considered this, and you are the most suitable candidate.

There's still a long way to go from second-in-command to first-in-command.

If you do a good job, it will be a natural progression for you to take over Lao Ji's position.

You have to work hard yourself!

Xiao Gangyu nodded. "Governor Song, I'll listen to you. Without your approval, I, Xiao Gangyu, would be an outsider. I'll remember this favor. These are wild vegetables and mushrooms that my relatives back home dug up themselves. They're not worth much. They're just for the freshness, please try them."

Song Yunhui glanced at the contents of the bag.

A few sprigs of fresh wild vegetables, two packets of dried hazel mushrooms, and a few ginseng roots with black soil still clinging to their roots.

"I'll accept the gift." Song Yunhui paused, "But this is a one-time exception. If it were anything else, I wouldn't accept it. You should understand that."

"No, that won't do," Xiao Gangyu quickly explained. "Governor Song, although I've never worked under you before, everyone in the province knows your rules. If I brought two cartons of cigarettes and two bottles of wine, I wouldn't even have the face to show my face."

Liang Sichen brought over two cups of hot tea and placed them on the coffee table. "Prosecutor Xiao, please sit down and have some tea. Where are you from?"

"Linhekou is a poor, remote mountain village." Xiao Gangyu sat down on the sofa, only taking in half of his bottom. "The roads are difficult to travel, and it's hard to transport goods out of the village. The young people in the village don't want to go back."

"Linhekou," Liang Sichen repeated thoughtfully, "I've heard that the mountain products there are indeed quite good, but they don't have good sales channels."

"Teacher Liang knows about this too?" Xiao Gangyu's eyes lit up. "Of course. The products are good, but they don't fetch a good price. I came here this time also to ask Governor Song for a favor. If the province has any poverty alleviation demonstration projects, please consider our area."

Song Yunhui and Liang Sichen exchanged a glance.

Song Yunhui shook his head. "Let's see it in person first. Don't rush."

Liang Sichen turned around and went to the locker, taking out a box from it.

"Prosecutor Xiao, I just arrived today. These are local specialties from Beijing. Take them back for your family to try." Liang Sichen handed over the box.

Xiao Gangyu quickly declined, "This won't do. Teacher Liang, this is too precious."

"Let's try something new." Liang Sichen didn't give him a chance to refuse. "It's called reciprocity, it's nothing."

Xiao Gangyu accepted it, saying, "Then I'll shamelessly accept it. Governor Song, Teacher Liang, I, Xiao Gangyu, will definitely work hard in the future and live up to Governor Song's expectations."

After exchanging a few more polite words, Xiao Gangyu finally stood up.

Song Yunhui and Liang Sichen escorted the person to the gate of the courtyard.

Xiao Gangyu declined several times, expressed his gratitude, and then disappeared into the night.

The gate closed, and Song Yunhui stood at the entrance for a while. A light flashed under the streetlight in the distance, like something reflecting light.

He didn't pay much attention and turned to go back into the house.

"Sishen, this kind of thing will happen a lot more often in the future." Song Yunhui carried the bag of wild vegetables from the ground into the kitchen and placed it by the sink. "Keep the things outside the door. It doesn't matter who brought them. No matter what they are, you can't accept them."

Liang Sichen picked up her wine glass again, took a sip, and said, "I understand, Mr. Song. But Prosecutor Xiao, who worked his way up from the bottom, has had a tough job. Gao Yuliang is also getting on in years; he needs to find someone to back him up."

"He's relying on the organization, not me." Song Yunhui walked to the dining table, relit the candles, and said, "Alright, this candlelight dinner has lost all its charm."