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

Li Dakang had heard about Cheng Du's situation; he had definitely done a lot of illegal and disorderly things, but he had cleaned up the mess relatively well and hadn't attracted public attention. Cheng Du wasn't the only cadre like that.

Li Dakang took out his phone and called Zhao Donglai.

"Hey, Donglai, aren't you busy right now?"

"No rush, no rush, Secretary Dakang, please speak!"

"Here's the thing, a guest just came to my place and specifically asked for the promotion of Cheng Du, the deputy director of the Guangming District Municipal Bureau. You're the director, so what do you think? Is Comrade Cheng Du suitable?"

"Secretary Dakang! Please don't agree!"

I remember mentioning Cheng Du's situation to you before. His ability is already at its limit as the branch director. I'm not trying to belittle Cheng Du, but his personality isn't suited for higher positions. If he were to become deputy director, all his relatives and friends would probably be assigned to the unit's cafeteria.

Li Dakang smiled when he heard this.

"I didn't agree to that, but Donglai, I heard that Secretary Chen inspected your municipal bureau yesterday?"

When this matter was suddenly brought up, Zhao Donglai's heart started pounding.

"Secretary Dakang is true. Yesterday afternoon, Secretary Chen came to our municipal bureau to inspect our work for a while and said that our Jingzhou Municipal Bureau has a good work style and does its work very seriously."

"I understand, Donglai. You've done a really good job these past few years. Would you like to take on more responsibilities?"

In other regions, bureau chiefs also serve as deputy mayors. You've had enough time to mature and your abilities have been recognized. I think it's perfectly acceptable to give you this responsibility.

Zhao Donglai was not pleased; instead, his face froze.

"Secretary Dakang...I..."

"You don't need to belittle yourself. It's settled then. I'll bring it up for discussion at the Standing Committee meeting next week."

Li Dakang hung up the phone before Zhao Donglai could refuse.

Seeing this, Zhao Donglai was also helpless.

After thinking for a while, Zhao Donglai still called Chen Luo to report the matter.

Chen Luo's meaning was simple: let Zhao Donglai choose for himself whether to serve as deputy mayor or be transferred to the Public Security Bureau as deputy director (with the rank of director-general).

The two options were essentially two paths, and in the end, Zhao Donglai gritted his teeth and chose Chen Luo's recommendation.

After all, he's not stupid.

Knowing that Li Dakang was only extending an olive branch because of his close relationship with Secretary Chen, he realized that if he really chose the former, he would probably never have a chance to rise in the future!

After doing all this, Zhao Donglai channeled all his frustration into a phone call to Cheng Du.

"Hey, Chengdu!"

Hearing that Zhao Donglai's tone was off, Cheng Du couldn't help but feel uneasy.

"Director Zhao, who is calling?"

"I heard someone wants to recommend you for the position of deputy director of the municipal bureau. Secretary Dakang just told me that you need to train more. I'm calling to tell you that if you work diligently and follow the rules and regulations, your promotion will not be a problem."

On the contrary, those who take crooked and unethical paths will never have the opportunity to shoulder important responsibilities!

Do you understand?

Cheng Du was stunned after being reprimanded by Zhao Donglai; he was completely bewildered.

"Director Zhao, I didn't... I..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Donglai hung up the phone, leaving Cheng Du slumped in his chair with a vacant look in his eyes.

After failing to get a promotion and instead being reprimanded by his direct supervisor, Cheng Du knew that his chances were slim.

But who is the root cause of all this?

Zhong Xiaoai!

She patted her chest and guaranteed that she could improve herself, but now it has developed into this situation. It's a case of losing more than she gained!

"Damn it, if you can't do it, don't talk big. What am I supposed to do now?"

If you keep cursing and swearing, you'll only have to swallow the bitter pill yourself.

Zhong Xiaoai was equally furious when she returned home.

Wherever Zhong Xiaoai goes, she's always fawned over.

But it stopped working after we came to Handong.

I was feeling incredibly depressed.

"Honey, don't be angry. Li Dakang was never a good person. What normal person would let their wife accept bribes? He's not worth getting angry over."

Hearing Hou Liangping's words of persuasion, Zhong Xiaoai calmed down a bit. Hou Liangping then continued, "Wife, how about we don't go out for dinner tonight, but go out and have some fun to relax?"

"OK!"

Zhong Xiaoai also wanted to go out and vent her anger. At 4:30 pm, Hou Liangping took Zhong Xiaoai to a bar. Two glasses of rum were served. Zhong Xiaoai used the alcohol to relieve her depression. And Hou Liangping?

After finishing one drink, Hou Liangping ordered two more.

It wasn't until Zhong Xiaoai's face was flushed red that Liangping suggested, "Wife, how about we go clubbing? We haven't had this much fun in years."

Some of Zhong Xiaoai, still somewhat infatuated, did not refuse.

"OK!"

Half an hour later, in a large disco, Hou Liangping was already leading Zhong Xiaoai to sway and move to the rhythm of the music. At this time, Zhong Xiaoai's alcohol levels were also rising, and she was releasing her emotions in a daze.

Amidst the crowded throng, Zhong Xiaoai didn't notice that Hou Liangping, who had been holding her hand, was gone, replaced by a completely unfamiliar man.

After leaving the hotel, Zhong Xiaoai, still half-asleep, leaned against the man before getting into the car and leaving.

As for Hou Liangping... he was hiding alone in the disco's restroom, clenching his fists tightly. Only he knew the feeling of being cheated on.

But there was nothing he could do; he had no choice!

The night was enchanting, and Zhong Xiaoai's experience in the hotel was more intense than ever before. The thrill and the blissful feeling captivated her.

The next morning, when Zhong Xiaoai opened her eyes, she found herself not at home. She then turned to look at herself, and BOOM!

Zhong Xiaoai's mind went blank. This person wasn't her husband; he was a complete stranger. She tried to get up and leave as soon as she lifted the covers, but her legs wouldn't obey her.

At this moment, the man also woke up.

"What are you doing? Weren't you enjoying it last night, telling me not to stop? Why are you so startled now?"

The man was very calm, handsome, and, importantly, had a youthful physique with well-defined muscles.

"Who are you! What have you done to me!"

Zhong Xiaoai took the initiative, while the man smiled and pulled a video from his phone, handing it to Zhong Xiaoai.

"You took the initiative last night. As for what happened, you can see for yourself."

With just one glance, Zhong Xiaoai's face turned deathly pale. She... had cheated on him?

For a moment, Zhong Xiaoai felt a ringing in her ears and couldn't hear any sounds around her. She didn't even realize that she was naked.

Half an hour later, Zhong Xiaoai left the hotel with a limp. She took out her phone and saw 99 missed calls.

All of these calls were from Hou Liangping. From last night until an hour ago, he made over a hundred missed calls.