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

Chen Luo finally breathed a sigh of relief after ending the call.

Although he and Minister Wang knew each other, they weren't close. The position of provincial public security director was a vice-provincial level cadre. Why should he recommend someone?

Just take it with a grain of salt.

Every radish has its own pitfall; Chen Luo is only a deputy provincial-level official now. The real reason for recommending him is that he can't see his own position and is getting carried away.

As for who the higher-ups will appoint as the Director of the Public Security Bureau, Chen Luo doesn't really care. He has already placed Zhao Donglai in the provincial department. If the new director cooperates with his work, that's fine; if not, he'll have Zhao Donglai keep the other side in check.

Jingzhou, Shanshui Manor.

Zhao Ruilong also woke up very late. He had taken drugs yesterday and completely drained his body, so he needed to replenish it properly.

The table was covered with various highly nutritious ingredients. Besides Zhao Ruilong, there was another person, Tang Chuchu!

As for why Tang Chuchu was at the Mountain and Water Manor, it was naturally because Zhao Ruilong admired Tang Chuchu's methods. Such a woman might not be as good at business as Gao Xiaoqin, but she certainly had other abilities...

"Mr. Zhao, please try this; it's extremely nutritious!"

Tang Chuchu served Zhao Ruilong attentively, which made Zhao Ruilong enjoy it immensely.

Although Zhong Xiaoai brought him some pleasure last night, she is, after all, over forty years old.

Trying it once in a while is fine, but if you were to eat it every night, Zhao Ruilong felt that Tang Chuchu, who was by his side, was better.

"Chuchu, you're so sensible!"

"Mr. Zhao, what are you saying? I'm your employee, so it's only natural that I'm sensible."

Zhao Ruilong was in a great mood upon hearing this, and he reached out and pulled Tang Chuchu into his arms, giving her a kiss.

Hou Liangping got off work at 6 p.m.

Hou Liangping returned home with a gloomy look in his eyes. He glanced at the messy shoes on the floor and knew that his wife, Zhong Xiaoai, had returned. He quietly went to the bedroom door and looked at Zhong Xiaoai lying on the bed sleeping. He was furious.

However, patience was Hou Liangping's fundamental skill.

Despite his anger, he still went to the kitchen and prepared dinner. Around seven o'clock, he came to Zhong Xiaoai's bedside again. Hou Liangping had a sensitive nose and smelled a strange odor coming from Zhong Xiaoai.

Trying to tell himself not to get angry, Hou Liangping gently nudged Zhong Xiaoai.

"Xiao Ai, get up and eat."

In a daze, Zhong Xiaoai mumbled, "Chen Hai, didn't you eat? Is this all you've got?"

boom!

These words uttered in his sleep completely enraged Hou Liangping.

He slapped Zhong Xiaoai directly on the back.

Zhong Xiaoai was awakened by the sudden attack.

Upon seeing that it was her husband, Hou Liangping, Zhong Xiaoai slapped him across the face without hesitation.

"Hou Liangping! You piece of trash!"

How dare you? How dare you hand me over to Zhao Ruilong? I'm asking you! Do you want to live?!

Zhong Xiaoai couldn't pretend she didn't know she'd been tricked by Hou Liangping, and the first thing she did upon waking was to settle scores.

Hou Liangping was stunned by the slap and feigned ignorance, asking in confusion, "Xiao Ai, what are you talking about?"

"Still pretending?"

Zhao Ruilong has already told me everything about your situation.

You forced yourself to have a relationship with Tang Chuchu behind my back, and then you got me drunk and dragged me into it too.

Do you know how much you've driven me crazy lately?!

Having said all that, Hou Liangping knew that continuing to pretend was pointless, so he simply gave up.

With a slap, another slap landed on Zhong Xiaoai, leaving half of her face swollen.

"Zhong Xiaoai, you shameless woman, how dare you say that?"

I gave you to Zhao Ruilong, but what about you? You've almost become addicted after just one or two times, haven't you? You didn't come back all night last night, can you honestly say you didn't go to…”

"Shut up!"

Zhong Xiaoai interrupted Hou Liangping's accusations, slowly sat up from the bed, and looked coldly at Hou Liangping.

"I order you to shut up!"

Hou Liangping was taken aback at first, but then he laughed without a care in the world.

"Zhong Xiaoai, what time is it and you're still acting like a spoiled princess? Yes, I schemed against you, I cheated on you, so what? What can you do to me?"

"If you dare to mess with me, I'll expose everything that's happened to you, ruin your reputation, and if I don't fare well, neither will you!"

"You dare!"

"Hahahaha, what a joke, Zhong Xiaoai, you think I wouldn't dare? We've already given up, who cares about anything else?"

I'm really angry right now!

You can satisfy which wild men, while I need to submit a report to get things done.

I'm telling you, from now on, you have no choice!

I want to try Chen Hai's experience too!

"Hou Liangping, get out of my way! Don't come any closer!"

Hou Liangping gradually silenced Zhong Xiaoai's voice.

From initial rejection to tears, Zhong Xiaoai has now truly seen through Hou Liangping's true nature: a man driven solely by profit!

In the morning, Hou Liangping stretched his limbs and got out of bed; the feeling of being liberated and singing was wonderful.

Hou Liangping had never felt so comfortable, letting his true nature flow at his own pace and according to his own preferences; he felt almost ethereal.

Zhong Xiaoai slowly sat down at the dining table, and felt nauseous looking at the two fried eggs on the plate.

His gaze was sinister, filled with resentment as he looked at Hou Liangping, but Hou Liangping didn't care about that look at all.

"Xiao Ai, eat up. You used up a lot of energy last night, so it's important to replenish it."

Zhong Xiaoai remained silent, and Hou Liangping didn't care; he knew Zhong Xiaoai's personality all too well.

He's willing to endure any hardship for the sake of his reputation.

To some extent, Hou Liangping has already grasped Zhong Xiaoai's weakness.

"No need for you to remind me, Hou Liangping. Just remember this: don't give me a chance, or I'll be the first to kill you!"

Faced with Zhong Xiaoai's harsh words, Hou Liangping didn't care at all and said, "That's your freedom, but Haoran is still young. If you want him to lose his parents when he's young, then go ahead and do it."

The eerie harmony ended during breakfast.

Just as they were about to leave the house, Liangping reached out and blocked Zhong Xiaoai's way.

"What are you going to do now?"

"Isn't it time to return my salary card?"

Hou Liangping looked at Zhong Xiaoai calmly. Since their marriage, Zhong Xiaoai had always kept Hou Liangping's salary card. She would give him some pocket money every month. According to Zhong Xiaoai, men are prone to going bad when they have money.

But Hou Liangping no longer wanted to endure it; he had had enough of being penniless.

"you!"

Zhong Xiaoai looked at Hou Liangping's unwavering gaze and understood that his mind was made up.

She took a bank card out of her bag and threw it at Hou Liangping, then pushed Hou Liangping aside and walked out.

Hou Liangping wasn't angry. He squatted down and picked up the bank card. He was eager to see how much money he had saved over the years.

Upon arriving at the bank, Hou Liangping entered his PIN. Although he hadn't touched the bank card for several years, he still remembered the PIN by heart. As the balance was displayed, Hou Liangping's face instantly darkened; there was only 12 yuan in the card.

For over a decade, his salary and bonuses had all been deposited into this card. Even if it were just seven or eight hundred thousand, let alone a million, Hou Liangping would have accepted it. But...