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

"It's no easy feat to implement the rule of law without compromise, Comrade Donglai. I remember you've been in this position at the Municipal Bureau for five years now; you have a wealth of experience in political and legal work!"

Chen Luo's tone was somewhat subtle, while Zhao Donglai's eyes suddenly flashed.

"To be honest, Secretary Chen, it's been exactly five years and three months!"

Chen Luo smiled and patted Zhao Donglai on the shoulder.

"It's quite sturdy. Would you like to add some weight to it?"

Zhao Donglai was stunned by such a blunt question, and he began to stammer.

"Secretary Chen...Can I do this?"

Do you think you can do it?

Chen Luo did not answer directly, but just stared at Zhao Donglai quietly, and Zhao Donglai instantly understood the meaning behind it.

"Secretary Chen, I can do it!"

Saying this means he has already gotten close to Chen Luo.

"Let's go, and see the current spirit and work results of your municipal bureau."

Chen Luo left the Jingzhou Municipal Bureau after only an hour of inspection. Since Zhao Donglai was willing to align himself with him, Chen Luo couldn't possibly turn him away. To be fair, Zhao Donglai's work ability was not bad either.

As for whether they are genuinely inclined to get closer... Chen Luo doesn't really care, as long as Zhao Donglai can do his job well.

Meanwhile, the Guangming District Public Security Bureau of Jingzhou City.

Director Cheng Du has been waiting for almost a month, but he still hasn't received the result he wanted.

Secretary Zhong clearly said he'd help me get promoted within a month, but now...

With a gloomy expression, Cheng Du chose to take the initiative to ask. On Friday afternoon, just before the end of the workday, Cheng Du drove to the entrance of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and waited for half an hour before seeing Zhong Xiaoai carrying a bag walk out of the building.

Standing by the roadside, it looked like they were waiting for a bus.

With a sprint, the police car came to a steady stop in front of Zhong Xiaoai, and then the window was rolled down.

"Secretary Zhong, are you waiting for your ride? Shall I give you a ride?"

When she saw that it was Cheng Du, Zhong Xiaoai was stunned for a moment, but she did not refuse and got into the car.

"Secretary Zhong, where are you going?"

"Go to the disciplinary committee's residential compound."

Zhong Xiaoai remained calm, but Cheng Du couldn't help but ask questions as soon as he started the car.

"Secretary Zhong, you mentioned last time that I should be promoted within a month... Did you not know about this?"

Zhong Xiaoai rubbed her temples. She understood now. It turned out that the other person's meeting was not a coincidence. It wasn't that Zhong Xiaoai didn't want to keep her promise, but that she had been busy with other things and forgot for a while.

"I keep my promise. I'll get it sorted out for you in the next few days. Just wait for my news."

"Oh! Thank you, Secretary Zhong!"

In an instant, Du Cheng smiled broadly and felt full of energy.

After the car pulled up to the apartment building, Zhong Xiaoai got out and Cheng Du happily turned around and went home.

Upon opening the door, Zhong Xiaoai once again saw a table full of dishes and Hou Liangping wearing an apron.

"Liangping, isn't this unnecessary? The two of us can't finish all this food. Besides, you'll be going back to work next Monday. If you spoil my palate now, I'm afraid I won't be able to eat in the company cafeteria anymore."

Although Hou Liangping responded to Zhong Xiaoai's teasing with a smile, he didn't say a word until he brought the last dish to the table. Then he said, "Xiaoai, I just think you're working too hard right now. You should eat something good to nourish yourself when you get home."

That being said, Hou Liangping's true thoughts were quite different.

"Xiao Ai, I'm sorry. In order to keep our family together and to prevent me from being targeted by those people, I can only ask you to make do with this. Eating the meal I cooked is my way of making up for it..."

He murmured to himself, but on the surface, Hou Liangping and Zhong Xiaoai's life was still as sweet as ever.

The next day was Saturday.

Although she wasn't working, Zhong Xiaoai left home early in the morning.

Hou Liangping stood on the balcony, took a deep breath, and then took out his phone to dial Zhao Ruilong's number.

"Hey, Zhao Ruilong!"

"Tsk tsk, it seems our Director Hou has thought things through. I must say, Director Hou is very pragmatic!"

"Zhao Ruilong, I agree to your request, but remember this: I will not allow you to use this to blackmail me again!"

"No problem, Director Hou. We're all men, a promise is a promise. We definitely won't bother you again!"

"Okay, then you wait for me to create an opportunity..."

After hanging up the phone, Hou Liangping sat limply on the ground, questioning whether his choice was truly the right one.

Zhong Xiaoai, who had just left home, had no idea that she had been targeted by Zhao Ruilong and her husband. At that moment, she was on her way to visit Li Dakang at the Jingzhou Municipal Party Committee building.

11:00 AM, the office of the municipal party secretary.

After Zhong Xiaoai entered, Li Dakang's secretary, Xiao Jin, slowly withdrew to give the two of them space to talk.

However, Xiao Jin did not close the door and stood guard outside, after all, Zhong Xiao Ai was a lesbian.

"Hello, Secretary Dakang, I'm Zhong Xiaoai!"

Li Dakang remained seated on the sofa without getting up, calmly nodding and saying, "Comrade Xiao Ai, you said on the phone that you had something to discuss with me, the Party Secretary of the Municipal Committee, but I don't know if it's about the Discipline Inspection Commission or something else..."

If it were anyone else, Li Dakang wouldn't have met them at all, but Zhong Xiaoai has a powerful background, so Li Dakang couldn't just ignore her.

"Secretary Dakang, that's how it is. I'm here to recommend someone to you."

? ? ? ? ?

Li Dakang frowned slightly, but still gestured for Zhong Xiaoai to continue.

"I plan to recommend Cheng Du, the director of the Guangming District Public Security Bureau, to Secretary Dakang. He's a good and conscientious worker. The municipal bureau is still short of a deputy director, isn't that possible?"

Now that things have come to this point, even a fool would understand what Zhong Xiaoai meant.

"Comrade Xiao Ai, when did your Discipline Inspection Commission become the Organization Department? I can understand why you're arresting Cheng Du, but recommending him..."

"Secretary Dakang, I..."

Before Zhong Xiaoai could continue, Li Dakang said quietly, "Logically speaking, if this Comrade Cheng Du can be favored by Secretary Zhong, then I, as the municipal party secretary, can indeed choose to promote and give him important responsibilities."

However, regarding Secretary Zhong's matter, we still need to consider the opinion of Director Zhao Donglai of the Jingzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau, since the Jingzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau is the direct superior of the branch bureau.

Zhong Xiaoai wanted to continue, but Li Dakang didn't give her a chance at all.

"How about this, Secretary Zhong? I'll discuss it with Director Donglai over the next couple of days. If he thinks it's suitable, then we'll let Cheng Du take the position of deputy director. If Director Donglai doesn't think it's suitable..."

As the Party Secretary of the Municipal Committee, I can't just run the government by making absolute decisions, can I?

Upon hearing this, Zhong Xiaoai almost lost her composure. How many times has Li Dakang dictated the situation?

"Alright, then I'll have to trouble Secretary Dakang!"

Zhong Xiaoai left feeling frustrated, while Li Dakang shook his head dismissively.

"Someone like this can be the deputy secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission? Some people are truly blind!"