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

Hou Liangping and Zhong Xiaoai were still scheming.

After leaving the hall, Chen Luo and the others took their seats.

Old Master Lu sat at the head of the table, with Lu Zheng'an and Minister Lu on his left and right sides respectively. Next were Governor Liu and Chen Luo, Gao Yuliang and Director Liu (Liu Mingyu's father), Li Dakang and Wu Chunlin. The nine of them sat at the table.

"Mr. Lu, are you still in good health?"

Gao Yuliang greeted Elder Lu with a smile, to which Elder Lu simply shook his head slightly.

"I'm ninety-eight years old. In terms of physical strength, I'm definitely not as good as you young people. But there's one thing that you young people can't compare to me, and that's my eyes!"

Some people, I can tell at a glance whether they are human or ghost, and I can also tell whether they have good deeds or bad karma.

Xiao Gao, in this life, you should walk the right path. The path of honesty and integrity is wider, don't you think?

Old Lu spoke calmly, with a kind smile, his eyes, though cloudy, revealing wisdom and unfathomable depth.

Gao Yuliang felt a chill run down his spine.

What does it mean to "walk the right path"? Does it mean he's on the wrong path now?

Gao Yuliang's smile froze instantly, at which point Governor Liu stepped in to smooth things over.

"Mr. Lu, your words are profound!"

A thousand-mile dike can be breached by an ant hole; if you choose the right path, it will lead to the heavens; if you choose the wrong path, you will sink into the quagmire.

The luckier ones manage to struggle out, even if they're covered in filth; the unluckier ones simply wither and die in the mud.

"That's right, Xiao Liu, you understand it perfectly!"

Some things are better left unsaid.

The wedding ended three hours later.

Chen Luo stood by the roadside, holding the hands of the two little ones on either side. He had just had a few drinks and was now waiting for his wife to drive over from the parking lot.

While waiting, a familiar voice sounded behind me.

"Secretary Chen!"

Turning around, I saw Li Dakang.

"Secretary Dakang."

Li Dakang was slightly out of breath; he had run over there.

"Secretary Chen, I need to explain to you about the demolition of old residential areas in Guangming District last time."

I truly had no idea that Yi Xuexi and Chen Hai were so audacious as to forcibly relocate residents without any resettlement compensation or guarantees. I only considered that human life was of paramount importance and didn't thoroughly investigate the situation. I apologize, Secretary Chen.

Chen Luo remained calm in the face of Li Dakang's explanation.

"Secretary Dakang doesn't really need a special explanation. I'm not the type to complain about others over such a small matter."

However, Secretary Dakang, Yi Xuexi and Chen Hai are troublemakers, and their future actions are likely to be quite significant. Secretary Dakang will be quite busy.

Just then, Zhang Nian drove up.

"Secretary Dakang is gone."

Chen Luo got into the car with the two little ones.

"Take care, Secretary Chen!"

Li Dakang watched Chen Luo's family leave, pondering the deeper meaning behind Chen Luo's words.

Are you busy?

He shook his head; he'd already experienced it several times!

............................................................

Revenge is always a top priority, and after returning home, Hou Liangping and Zhong Xiaoai began investigating Tang Chuchu's specific information.

Meanwhile, at the First People's Hospital of the province, Qi Tongwei can now speak without any problems and can even walk around briefly, but he still feels weak in both arms and has a tightness in his chest.

He's been torn these past few days between protecting himself and taking on everything.

As if possessed, Qi Tongwei picked up the phone beside his hospital bed and dialed Gao Yuliang's number.

Gao Yuliang, who had just returned home, was stunned when he saw the caller ID "Tong Wei".

"Hello, Tongwei?"

"Teacher, it's me!"

"How are you recovering? I've been so busy lately that I haven't had a chance to visit you..."

Qi Tongwei didn't pay attention to such details, but bluntly said, "Teacher, I've received information that the higher-ups already know what we've been doing all these years."

Gao Yuliang, who had originally intended to appeal to Qi Tongwei's emotions, was instantly stunned by Qi Tongwei's words.

What does it mean that the higher-ups know?

"Disciplinary Committee!"

Even with just those two simple words, Gao Yuliang's hand trembled as he held the phone.

"Tongwei, what are your thoughts?"

Gao Yuliang's tone became low, his forehead was covered with wrinkles, and his eyes showed confusion, disbelief, and deep worry.

"Teacher, the option given to me is to confess and turn myself in. Do you think I should choose that?"

Gao Yuliang paused for a moment.

What are the consequences of turning yourself in?

"Impact? Not really, it's just early retirement, since my health doesn't allow me to continue working."

At this moment, Gao Yuliang was caught in a dilemma.

Surrender or struggle to the end?

After a long silence, Gao Yuliang let out a heavy sigh.

"Tongwei, if you can save yourself, then turn yourself in. Confess everything you need to. I'm already 61, so even if I go to jail, it doesn't matter to me for the rest of my life."

Upon hearing this, Qi Tongwei smiled.

"Hello, teacher!"

After hanging up the phone, Qi Tongwei's last bit of hesitation vanished. He found Chen Luo's number and dialed it.

Also at home, Chen Luo frowned when he saw Qi Tongwei's call before answering it.

"Hello, is this Director Qi?"

"Secretary Chen, it's me!"

"Why are you calling me instead of resting properly in the hospital?"

"Secretary Chen, I plan to turn myself in."

Upon hearing this, Chen Luo paused for a moment, his mind racing.

"Should we confess everything or take all the blame?"

Chen Luo asked some tricky questions.

"Take the blame for my teacher."

"Ahem, Tongwei, there's no rush. You haven't fully recovered yet. You can talk to Secretary Tian about the situation after you're discharged from the hospital."

"Secretary Chen, is that you?"

You don't need to worry about the specifics.

You're staying in the hospital!

"Well, they say it takes a hundred days to recover from a broken bone, so you'll continue to recuperate for three more months. That's settled!"

After saying that, Chen Luo hung up the phone before Qi Tongwei could refuse.

If Zhong Xiaoai hadn't come to Handong, Chen Luo wouldn't have stopped Qi Tongwei from turning himself in and confessing.

But not now! Zhao Lichun can't fall yet; he has to keep fighting!

"Looks like we need to hurry."

Shaking his head, Chen Luo was already sitting in his study, his fingers lightly tapping the table. His eyes were slightly closed. Chen Luo was adept at economics, and equally skilled at personnel matters. As for power struggles...

After thinking for a moment, Chen Luo took out his phone and made a call to someone.

In the Hong Kong-style restaurant, Wangbeilou, Mr. Liu was discussing business when his phone rang. He picked it up and saw it was his senior, Mr. Chen. He immediately gestured for his client to be quiet and then went to a private room to answer the call.

"Hey, senior, aren't you busy with work in Luzhou? How come you have time to call me? This is like a new bride getting into her bridal sedan chair for the first time!"

Liu Sheng joked, while Chen Luo took a deep breath and directly stated his purpose.

"Is Zhao Ruilong still in Hong Kong?"