In name only: I will break the chess game in Handong!

Upon arriving at the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, Wu Chunlin, as was customary, announced the organization's appointment of Zhong Xiaoai. After completing this, Wu Chunlin left. Tian Guofu was not particularly enthusiastic about Zhong Xiaoai either, offering only a few perfunctory words of welcome at the meeting before leaving the matter unresolved.

Different statuses receive different treatment.

In Chen Luo's car, Minister Hao looked out the window at the urban development of Jingzhou City and said quietly, "Handong under Lao Liu's rule looks pretty good."

"Minister Hao, Governor Liu originally wanted to come and pick you up, but he's been quite busy at the provincial government these past few days preparing the government work report, so he asked me to come and pick you up. Let's go to the provincial government now."

Upon hearing this, Minister Hao shook his head.

"Chen Luo, I'm retired now, so please stop calling me 'Minister.' From now on, just call me Principal Hao. Yes, I like that title, Principal Hao!"

Chen Luo smiled and nodded, saying, "Okay, Principal Hao."

"That's right!"

The vehicle drove all the way to the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government and stopped in front of the government building. Chen Luo was about to get out of the car to open the door for Minister Hao when the door was already opened by his secretary, Liu Mingyu, who got out of the driver's seat and ran over.

"This young man has potential!"

Minister Hao stared at Liu Mingyu with a smile. At this moment, Chen Luo chuckled and chimed in, "My secretary may lack other skills, but she's definitely a master at opening car doors."

"Xiao Liu is willing to work, which is better than those old Lius who sit still and act like they're doing nothing. Besides, it's always a good thing for a person to have ambition."

A familiar figure emerged from the government building amidst laughter and conversation; it was Governor Liu.

"Hao Yi, what are you saying, you old bastard?"

"Tsk, I told you, Lao Liu, you're so reluctant to leave. I came to Handong and you didn't even come to pick me up from the airport."

"If Chen Luo hadn't taken time out of his busy schedule to pick me up, were you planning to hide from me all this time?"

"Hey! You're retired and having a lot of free time, but I still have six months left. You know I'm busy right after the New Year. You think I'd pick you up? You'd be lucky if Chen Luo picked you up from the airport. I should have just had the driver take a three-wheeled vehicle to the airport. It would have been a good opportunity for the old man to have a ride and enjoy his retirement."

Chen Luo could only listen to these words without interrupting.

"Alright, alright, stop nagging, Lao Liu."

This isn't the place to talk. Let's go to your office first.

Governor Liu did not refuse, as it was indeed inappropriate to discuss other matters at the main entrance. The three of them went directly to the elevator. As for his secretary, Liu Mingyu, he was not stupid and simply got into the car and waited.

Upon arriving at Governor Liu's office, Governor Liu's secretary made a cup of hot tea for the three of them and then quietly withdrew.

Minister Hao frowned after taking a small sip.

"Hey Lao Liu, even if you don't like me, you don't have to try to fool me with this cheap, low-quality tea, do you?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Luo looked into the cup; the tea leaves seemed familiar.

"Ahem, Governor Liu, could this be the tea that Secretary Sha sent us a few months ago?"

Governor Liu did not deny it.

"I heard this tea is very expensive, over 100,000 yuan per kilogram. How is it? Doesn't it taste pretty good? Old Hao just doesn't know how to appreciate it."

Chen Luo didn't continue the discussion, but Minister Hao complained, "It smells very fragrant, but when you taste it, it's a completely different flavor. And it costs tens of thousands of yuan per kilogram. I think it's just a rip-off to fools."

"Yeah?"

Governor Liu also took a bite, and then his brows furrowed as well.

"It seems the tea recommended by our Secretary Sha isn't all that great. There must be another reason it sells for over ten thousand yuan a kilogram. Chen Luo, do you know anything about it?"

"I heard that this tea was given to me by Yi Xuexi's wife, Mao Ya, when Secretary Sha visited Luzhou a few months ago. I have heard some details during my two months of work in Luzhou."

"Tens of thousands of yuan per kilogram is what merchants are chasing. But when you come to Yi Xuexi's house, all you see is a planning map. Tea, if a merchant thinks it's worth tens of thousands of yuan per kilogram, who can say no?"

"Hahaha, I knew you knew it all along."

Governor Liu smiled and then continued to comment: "However, Yi Xuexi's wife is quite clever."

Unlike Li Dakang's ex-wife Ouyang Qing, there was nothing illegal or unethical about her actions; she simply allowed the merchants to set prices for her tea.

"Go away, I don't understand what you two are saying. Old Liu, you're retiring in six months. Are you going to retire directly or stay in the second line for a few more years?"

Minister Hao interrupted the conversation directly, and Governor Liu's smile vanished upon hearing this, replaced by silence.

"I haven't decided yet."

This answer was exactly what Minister Hao expected.

"Children and grandchildren have their own destinies. You shouldn't hold on any longer. A few more years and the result will be the same, won't it?"

"Let's talk about this later. What about you? I heard from Chen Luo that you're going to be the president of Moon Lake University?"

"I've got nothing better to do anyway."

"Pah! A mission is a mission, there's no point in saying all this."

Old friends catch up in such a casual way, and it wasn't until an hour later that Chen Luo and Minister Hao left the provincial government for Lüzhou.

On the bus, Minister Hao was filled with emotion.

"Old Liu has had a tough time too. Four years ago, he had the opportunity to become the provincial party secretary, but a sudden appointment blocked his path to advancement. Don't be fooled by his cheerful demeanor now; he actually has a knot in his heart that he can't untie."

Chen Luo listened quietly. Life is full of disappointments, which is perfectly normal.

"By the way, Moon Lake University will be recruiting students in six months, so we need to do some good promotion during this time."

When the conversation turned to business, Chen Luo continued, "Necessary publicity is a given, but there's a problem right now: the positioning of Moon Lake University. Should it recruit undergraduates, graduate students, or both? The overseas research institutes that have moved back to China are fully capable of training some master's and doctoral students. They are actually the ones who can grow the fastest."

Minister Hao responded to this question very quickly.

"Of course we need them!"

Two thousand undergraduates, five hundred graduate students, and one hundred doctoral students—as the Second Grand Secretary has said, Yuehu University should make good use of these resources. It's not just about recruiting students; professors from related majors at other universities will also come to Yuehu University to teach and study.

My coming to Yuehu University was actually supported and considered by the higher-ups. With students and professors from various universities coming together, a president of considerable influence wouldn't be able to keep them in check. Do you understand now?

Chen Luo said he understood.

"So your decision to come to Moon Lake University wasn't just a spur-of-the-moment thing..."

"That goes without saying. What retired ministerial-level official would suddenly decide to become a university president?"

With me here, everyone from these universities, no matter who they are, has to keep a low profile. If they don't listen, we'll deal with them directly. We can't allow anyone to mess up our important national projects!

I'm definitely staying in Luzhou for the next few years!