Nominal: Energy sector enters Handong, breaking the deadlock

Liang Sichen smiled. "It doesn't matter, as long as I'm with you. What do you say?"

Song Yunhui put his arm around Liang Sichen's waist. "Let's not eat anymore, we've had our drinks. Let's go to sleep."

The wine glasses swirled, and the two drank the nuptial wine.

Song Yunhui blew out the candles and carried the woman into the bedroom.

On the roadside outside the courtyard, Tian Guofu put his phone in his pocket.

He suddenly saw Xiao Gangyu while taking a walk.

In the dead of night, Xiao Gangyu, carrying two bags, sneaked into Song Yunhui's house.

Tian Guofu leaned against a tree, switched to night mode, and took more than a dozen photos in a row.

The video recorded three segments. When Xiao Gangyu went in, he had another box in his arms.

"The gift has been delivered to the governor's house." Tian Guofu's mind was racing with calculations.

They quickly arrived at the courtyard where Sha Ruijin lived.

The light at the entrance to the courtyard was on, and the door was half-closed.

Tian Guofu hesitated for a few seconds at the door before raising his hand to press the doorbell.

I waited for almost half a minute, but no one answered.

He pressed it again.

The dogs in the yard started barking first.

Then came the sound of footsteps.

The door opened, and Sha Ruijin appeared, wearing pajamas, her hair a little messy, her face expressionless.

"Guofu, what time is it?" Sha Ruijin's voice was a little hoarse, clearly indicating that he had just gotten out of bed.

"Secretary Sha, there's something going on." Tian Guofu lowered his voice and tried to enter the room, but Sha Ruijin blocked him.

"Let's talk here." Sarekin showed no intention of letting him in.

"I just passed by Governor Song's house." Tian Guofu took out his phone, opened his photo album, and said, "Xiao Gangyu went to his house. He was carrying two large bags of things. He stayed inside for more than twenty minutes, and when he came out, he had another box in his arms. I took a picture."

Sha Ruijin didn't answer the phone; he just looked at Tian Guofu.

"Guofu, Guofu, is this all you've come knocking on my door for?"

Tian Guofu was taken aback. "Secretary Sha, this is a gift from Xiao Gangyu to the Governor. I think I should report this to you."

"What do you think?" Sha Ruijin repeated the words. "Listen to what you said. Xiao Gangyu went to Song Yunhui's house and brought some things. You took photos and videos, and then came to see me in the middle of the night. Guofu, are you just bored out of your mind?"

Tian Guofu's face flushed. "Secretary Sha, that's not what I meant. I was worried that Xiao Gangyu might be corrupting Governor Song..."

"What's going on here?" Sha Ruijin frowned. "Old Xiao, the Executive Deputy Procurator-General, was chosen through a collective decision by the Provincial Party Committee. He went to report to Comrade Yunhui, bringing some local specialties from his hometown. Is that unusual? Tell me, what's unusual about it?"

Tian Guofu opened his mouth, but no words came out.

"If you want to report something, follow the proper procedures. If you want to raise issues, write a report. What kind of behavior is it to send a few unclear videos here in the middle of the night?"

"Secretary Sha, I didn't mean to report you," Tian Guofu quickly tried to cover up. "I just felt I needed to let you know. In case..."

"Then I thank you for your 'what if'." Sha Ruijin raised his hand to signal him to stop talking. "I don't even need to look at the stuff you photographed. Xiao Gangyu took it in and came out with extra stuff. Judging from the packaging, Song Yunhui actually lost money. What does that mean? It means that he knows his limits better than you. You, on the other hand, are just bored out of your mind."

Tian Guofu put his phone away, his face flushing red and then turning pale.

He had hoped to gain favor with Sha Ruijin, but instead he was scolded.

"Secretary Sha, I understand." Tian Guofu lowered his head. "I was oversimplifying things."

"Go back and delete the video." Sha Ruijin's tone softened. "I'll pretend you were never here tonight. But be careful in the future. You're the secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission; many people are watching your every move. Don't let them turn around and report you for violating other people's privacy."

"I understand." Tian Guofu nodded and turned to leave.

"Wait a minute," Sha Ruijin called out to him again.

Tian Guofu stood still.

"The Supreme People's Procuratorate has recommended Hou Liangping to take over as director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau. He will assume office tomorrow." Sha Ruijin looked at him. "According to organizational procedures, the Standing Committee meeting will be held at 3 PM tomorrow. You should notify the General Office to prepare the meeting materials. Then, the democratic life meeting will be held. You should go and notify everyone, making sure you are notified."

Tian Guofu thought for a moment, and then a thought suddenly came to him. "Secretary Sha, I think we can't just hold democratic life meetings behind closed doors."

Two comrades from outside should be invited to attend.

Some things are better said by outsiders.

Because there are some things we cannot say lightly.

"Who should I look for?"

"Old Chen Yanshi, and there's another one, Secretary-General Qian," Tian Guofu said, already calculating in his mind. Chen Yanshi was senior and upright, while Secretary-General Qian was shrewd and diplomatic.

With one being assertive and the other gentle, their presence at the meeting ensures the political climate remains on track.

We must be absolutely certain of victory.

Sha Ruijin hesitated for a moment, then said, "Alright, I'll leave it to you to invite him. Find out how Old Chen is feeling, and personally call Secretary Qian."

Both of them need to arrive tomorrow afternoon.

"Don't worry, I'll contact them as soon as possible. I guarantee everything will be arranged properly." Tian Guofu nodded, turned around, and strode out.

Sha Ruijin stood at the gate of the courtyard, watching Tian Guofu's figure disappear into the night.

The dog barked softly twice in the yard, and the night wind blew in, rustling the leaves.

The door closed.

Only the wind is still blowing.

The next day.

The airport's departure area was bustling with people.

"Monkey, you're not allowed to talk to little girls alone, do you hear me? Especially at night!"

Zhong Xiaoai straightened Hou Liangping's collar, then took the file bag from his hand and checked it again.

ID card, transfer order, letter of introduction, mobile phone, wallet.

Nothing is missing.

Hou Liangping reached for the file folder. "Honey, don't worry, I'm going to work, not on a blind date."

"Blind dates? I'll break your legs! Work is out of the question too." Zhong Xiaoai slapped the file folder back into his arms. "If a young woman asks for directions, you can point them out, but you can't walk with her. If she offers you water, you can say thank you, but you can't sit down and drink it. And if she asks for your phone number, that's even worse."

"What if a female colleague comes to me to report on her work?"

"Report standing up."

"What if she has difficulty walking?"

"Send a male comrade here."

Hou Liangping opened his mouth, but swallowed his words in the end, "Wife, your demands are a bit high."

"Am I demanding?" Zhong Xiaoai poked his chest with her hand. "You're handling cases at the procuratorate, you'll run into all sorts of people. Handong isn't our backyard, it's a dangerous place, who knows what kind of people might pop up around you."

Some people wanted him to go, while others didn't.

Some even hoped that he would stumble and fall as soon as he arrived.

Zhong Xiaoai didn't say anything more. "Monkey, don't be reckless when you get there."

Hou Liangping felt a sense of boundless freedom, thinking, "When have I ever been arrogant?"

Zhong Xiaoai shook her head. "Every time you say that, you're already putting on a brave face."