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

Zhong Zhengguo felt extremely heavy-hearted when he returned home.

Pushing open the gate of the courtyard house, Zhong Zhengguo saw his father sitting at the entrance of the main room from a distance, holding a cane in his hand.

Old Zhong's eyes were slightly closed, but he opened them after hearing Zhong Zhengguo push him away.

His cloudy gaze pierced straight into Zhong Zhengguo.

He didn't speak, nor did he make any accusations, but Zhong Zhengguo felt uneasy.

He lowered his head and walked towards his elderly father. When he reached Old Zhong, he knelt down on the ground with a thud.

"dad!"

Old Zhong didn't reply, but instead raised his cane high and struck Zhong Zhengguo on the back. Zhong Zhengguo felt no pain from the powerful blow, and his heart felt even more desolate.

His father is old...and doesn't have the strength he used to have.

After whipping Zhong Zhengguo several times, Old Zhong finally threw his cane to the ground, panting heavily.

"Jung-guk, you're so foolish!"

How many times have I told you? You should leave room for maneuver in your dealings with others. Don't push people to their limits, but you've done just that.

They're pushing Zhao Lichun to the brink of death.

Even a rabbit will bite when cornered. Don't even mention not being 100% sure; you shouldn't do something like this even if you are!

What will others think of the Chung family? Do you know what they said to me on the phone last night?

"I'd say you, Zhong Zhengguo, have lost your mind, abandoning the interests of the organization and the people for your own personal gain."

"Dad, I was wrong!"

Zhong Zhengguo spoke very sincerely, and Old Zhong could only sigh.

"Sigh! It's pointless to be right or wrong now. It's better to step down. It's lonely at the top! Your personality isn't suited to climbing any higher."

How is Xiao Ai doing in Handong?

Zhong Zhengguo only looked up after hearing this.

"One of my conditions for retirement was that the Handong authorities should not make things difficult for Xiao Ai. She should have been released by now."

As for whether he can remain in his position as deputy secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission, it seems unlikely.

"You and your daughter are alike, both of you like to hide things. This time, the Zhong family has really messed up. For the next ten years or so, you must keep a low profile, especially after I'm gone..."

"Dad, you'll live to be a hundred!"

Old Zhong rolled his eyes.

"Your dad is already ninety-nine, and living to a hundred is no problem, so please stop cursing me..."

Zhong Zhengguo fell silent.

In Handong, with the end of the struggle between the Zhong and Zhao families, some issues will finally be resolved.

On Friday, Chen Luo returned to Jingzhou.

I arrived in Jingzhou at 10:20 a.m. and instead of going directly to the Provincial Party Committee, I went to the First People's Hospital of Handong Province.

Pushing open the door to Qi Tongwei's hospital room, you find him leaning against the bed looking at his phone.

Upon hearing the noise, he quickly turned his head and saw that it was Chen Luo. Qi Tongwei immediately got up from the hospital bed.

"Secretary Chen, you've arrived! Please, have a seat."

Watching Qi Tongwei busily moving chairs for him, Chen Luo smiled but didn't say anything until he sat down.

"It seems you're recovering well, Tongwei. Your nimble hands and feet are no problem for daily life."

Qi Tongwei smiled and nodded.

"Yes, the recovery is going well, but I can't lift anything heavier than 30 pounds with my arms, so it's impossible for me to work now."

"I came here to tell you that you can be discharged from the hospital now. Tomorrow, go directly to the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection to see Secretary Guo Fu."

Qi Tongwei was excited to hear this; he was finally able to be discharged from the hospital, where he had been feeling suffocated.

Looking up, Qi Tongwei was overjoyed.

"Secretary Chen, has there been a result from above?"

Chen Luo smiled and nodded.

"Secretary Zhao Lichun has already retired early. Oh, and Zhong Xiaoai's father has also retired early."

"Wow! Two seats are now empty?"

Chen Luo didn't reply, but got up and went to the door.

"I won't say anything else. You can handle your discharge procedures yourself. I have to go back to the provincial party committee for a meeting."

After saying that, Chen Luo left.

At the same time, Qi Tongwei's phone rang.

Upon opening it, I found it belonged to Gao Xiaoqin.

Qi Tongwei, who had been all smiles, suddenly fell silent.

"Feed Xiaoqin..."

"Tongwei, I'm going back to the mainland tomorrow. I'm bringing our son with me this time."

"Why are you bringing the child? Let Xiaofeng continue..."

"Qi Tongwei! That's your son! Now that he's growing up, you'll probably have to retire soon. You can't let your aunt Xiaofeng raise him forever, can you?"

"I……"

"Stop with the 'you, you, you'. I'll probably have to serve another two years in prison after I get back, and it's hard to say if I'll get a suspended sentence. I'm leaving the child with you to raise. It's time for you, as the father, to take responsibility."

What else could Qi Tongwei say?

"Alright, bring her back. As for Xiao Feng..."

"Xiao Feng isn't coming back. She knows that Secretary Yu Liang doesn't like that child, and besides, Xiao Feng has gotten used to it in Hong Kong over the years."

After chatting for a few more minutes, Qi Tongwei hung up the phone.

"Sigh, never mind that for now, I have to go to the Discipline Inspection Commission tomorrow..."

2:40 PM.

The small conference room of the Provincial Party Committee.

The topic of discussion at this Standing Committee meeting was rather unique.

Sha Ruijin was still the last to arrive.

"Comrades, things have been quite lively in Handong lately! Both of these state-owned enterprises, namely Handong Oil and Gas Group and a branch of Zhongfu Group, are now under investigation."

The above means that both companies have over 10,000 workers, and we in Handong cannot simply stand by and do nothing. Both companies are located in Jingzhou, and from now on, Handong will be responsible for them.

Upon hearing this, Li Dakang frowned slightly.

Both of these state-owned enterprises are currently in poor condition, and since they are both located in Jingzhou, it is highly likely that this is his task.

"Comrade Dakang, do you have confidence?"

Suddenly, Sha Ruijin called his name, and Li Dakang could only nod with a smile.

"Secretary Sha, to be honest, I do have some confidence, but Jingzhou's finances are currently in a difficult situation. These two state-owned enterprises have been suffering heavy losses for years, and taking them over now requires investment..."

In short, I'm willing to take it over, but I don't have the money.

This is not a problem for Sha Ruijin.

"Jingzhou doesn't need to worry about the funding."

"That's fine then!"

Chen Luo wasn't very interested in these two state-owned enterprises. In short, they were troublesome. Corruption doesn't start at the top; it's deeply rooted at the bottom. Taking over these two state-owned enterprises meant spending time on in-depth reforms. More importantly, the positioning of these two state-owned enterprises was different from what Luzhou needed.

"The second topic, the investigation into Comrade Zhong Xiaoai, has yielded results."

Comrades, please share your opinions.

Although Zhong Xiaoai's problem was forced upon her, it still affected the image of cadres in Handong.

"Secretary Sha, let me say a few words first."

Tian Guofu spoke first.

"Comrade Zhong Xiaoai is the deputy secretary of our provincial discipline inspection commission. Logically speaking, as the secretary of the discipline inspection commission, I should sympathize with Comrade Xiaoai's plight and care about her psychological trauma."

But given the current situation, it's really inappropriate for Comrade Xiao Ai to continue serving as the Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection. The lower-level cadres don't take Comrade Xiao Ai seriously anymore; there's a lot of talk about it!