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

He had just woken up when his phone rang.

Hou Liangping struggled to get up, picked up the phone, and saw that it was Zhong Xiaoai calling.

They quickly connected the call.

"Xiao Ai, I was wrong, Xiao Ai, please forgive me. I was bewitched, I deserve to die, but for the sake of the child, please forgive me!"

Zhong Xiaoai ignored Hou Liangping's pleas for mercy.

"Hou Liangping, I'm calling just to let you know that we are now divorced."

From this moment forward, I am no longer your wife, Hou Liangping. As for the house and everything else, don't even think about it.

Also, regarding Haoran, my dad changed Haoran's name yesterday, and now he's called Zhong Haoran!

From this day forward, you have absolutely no connection with the Chung family!

Hou Liangping was stunned.

What do you mean?!

Zhong Xiaoai! Haoran is my son, my son! What do you mean you have nothing to do with me anymore? And what right do you have to force us to divorce without my consent?!

"Why should I? Because my surname is Zhong!"

After saying that, Zhong Xiaoai hung up the phone without lingering, leaving Hou Liangping stunned.

It took him a long time to process the news.

"Hahahaha, you're all inhuman! You all want to harm me! Chen Hai, Zhong Xiaoai, the Zhong family, you want to cut ties with me, Hou Liangping? You won't succeed! You definitely won't!"

It's impossible for anyone who cares about Zhong Xiaoai and Hou Liangping's divorce not to know about it.

Office of the Director of the Provincial Public Security Department.

Yun Haifeng answered the phone at that moment.

"Old boss, are you saying the Zhong family has already severed ties with Hou Liangping? And they've even divorced?"

"Yes, it is said that Hou Liangping personally delivered Zhong Xiaoai's affair to Zhao Ruilong. Of course, we don't know the specific details, but what is certain is that the Zhong family has given up on Hou Liangping."

"Well... old boss, should we just crush Hou Liangping with one finger right now?"

Yun Haifeng's words carried a probing tone.

"Hey, Haifeng, are you stupid? It would be so easy to crush Hou Liangping right now. No rush, no rush. We won't allow the Zhong family to use this trick to clear their name!"

This monkey has been jumping around all these years, but the iron chain on the monkey's body is kept by the Zhong family. Everyone knows that a dog relies on its master's power.

Now they've unlocked the chains and think they can pretend they knew nothing and walk away unscathed? The Zhong family is far more infuriating than this monkey; this isn't over!

"Yes, yes, you're right, old leader!"

"Don't try to evade the issue. Let's not talk about whether it's right or wrong for now. Right now, the Zhong family is just hoping we can crush Hou Liangping right away."

They can vent their anger without lifting a finger, and they still want to gain a reputation for being kind? Don't even think about it!

Not only are we not going to pursue Hou Liangping to the death right now, you also need to find a way to contact him.

This dog, when it really goes berserk, is most likely to bite its owner. It would be best if Hou Liangping gave the Zhong family a good bite!

"Wow! Old boss, that was a brilliant move!"

"Hmm? How tall?"

"Seven or eight stories high!"

"Go away, I'm not going to talk nonsense with you anymore. Remember what I said and go carry out your mission."

After hanging up the phone, Yun Haifeng chuckled. Flattery never fails. Besides, what his old leader said made a lot of sense. If they were to kill Hou Liangping now, wouldn't that be helping the Zhong family clean house?

After a moment's thought, Yun Haifeng came up with a plan.

That afternoon, Yun Haifeng went out, heading straight for the vicinity of Hou Liangping's residence.

At 8 p.m., Hou Liangping left his home in a daze and went to a barbecue restaurant. Just like yesterday, he first ordered several bottles of beer and then two bottles of baijiu (Chinese liquor).

Just as Hou Liangping was about to get drunk to deal with the darkness, Yun Haifeng's police car pulled up outside the barbecue restaurant.

Then Yun Haifeng, dressed in his police uniform, brazenly sat down in front of Hou Liangping.

"Director Hou, it's been years. You don't seem to be doing so well!"

Hou Liangping looked up and immediately recognized Yun Haifeng.

The two met when they were working in ministries, and at that time Yun Haifeng warned Hou Liangping not to overstep his bounds.

Upon seeing Yunhai Peak, Hou Liangping trembled slightly.

"Are you here to get revenge on me?"

Hou Liangping gave a bitter smile.

Yun Haifeng shook his head.

"Director Hou, you guessed right. We originally planned to take revenge on you. I was even transferred to Handong as the Director of the Public Security Bureau, but before I could even make a move, you were tricked so badly by Zhao Ruilong. The Zhong family has already severed ties with you."

You're like meat on a chopping board right now; it would be easy to crush you. Don't you think so?

Faced with Yun Haifeng's enigmatic smile, Hou Liangping let out a long sigh.

"Sigh! What's meant to happen will happen eventually. Now it would be easy for you to crush me..."

After speaking, Hou Liangping took a big gulp of baijiu (Chinese liquor), and the burning sensation in his throat gradually dispelled his fear.

"That's true, but we've changed our minds. You're just a manipulated little monkey. To put it bluntly, the culprit is the Zhong family. What's the point of taking revenge on you?"

Upon hearing this, Hou Liangping, who had previously given up and resigned himself to death, suddenly brightened up.

"Director Yun! What did you just say?!"

Yun Haifeng smiled faintly and repeated, "What's the point of me saying I'd take revenge on you? Taking revenge on the Zhong family is what my backers are really interested in. You're just a side thing."

"Director Yun! I, Hou Liangping, have been foolish all these years! I believed the Zhong family's lies and conducted reckless investigations without regard for the rules. Now I truly know I was wrong!"

Could you please put in a good word for me with those behind me, and give me a chance to change my ways?

Hou Liangping was practically kneeling down, tears streaming down his face, but Yun Haifeng didn't immediately agree.

"Director Hou, it's not impossible to forgive you. You're just a deputy director-level director, only slightly larger than an ant. However... if you want to be forgiven, you have to pay a price, or rather, provide value."

"Director Hou, what value can you offer?"

Yun Haifeng's deep eyes stared intently at Hou Liangping, while Hou Liangping's mind raced.

"Director Yun, I'll provide whatever value you ask for, just please spare my life!"

"Hahaha, Director Hou, you're exaggerating. What do you mean by life or death? This is a society governed by law. Secretary Chen has repeatedly emphasized that we must act in accordance with the law and regulations. Who would dare to do anything to you?"

However, as for the value... right now, the higher-ups really want to see the Zhong and Zhao families clash, but both families seem to be holding back and haven't really gone all out. If Director Hou could provoke them and add fuel to the fire, the higher-ups might be so pleased that they won't pursue your past anymore.

The mountains and rivers seemed to block the way, but then a village appeared amidst the willows and flowers. Hou Liangping was like a drowning man about to be submerged in water; how could he miss such an opportunity?

If it can be done, we should do it; if it can't be done, we still have to do it!

"Director Yun, I'll do it, I'll do it!"

"I, Hou Liangping, will definitely achieve results that will satisfy the big boss behind you!"

"Good! Director Hou, congratulations in advance! Come, drink this glass, may your life from now on be sweet, with no bitterness!"

"Dry!"