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

At that moment, Hou Liangping was still studying discipline and rules in the office of Ji Changming, the chief prosecutor of the procuratorate.

Just then, the phone rang.

Sitting in his office chair, Ji Changming glanced at Hou Liangping sitting on the sofa and said, "Answer the phone when it rings."

Hou Liangping nodded, saying it was a self-criticism and study, but in reality, Ji Changming had never really cared about Hou Liangping. These disciplinary decisions he made were for Chen Luo's benefit. If things really got serious, Ji Changming was afraid that he might accidentally receive a call from Zhong Xiaoai in Beijing.

Who told Hou Liangping to be so stingy?

As soon as the call connected, Secretary Bai's voice came through.

"Hello, is this Director Hou Liangping?"

"I am Bai Jingwen, Director of the First Secretariat Division of the Provincial Party Committee General Office. Secretary Sha wants to speak with you about something."

Secretary Bai's words sounded very official, but when Hou Liangping heard them, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

After subtly turning on speakerphone, Hou Liangping replied, "Secretary Bai, you said Secretary Sha wants to talk to me? He wants to hear my work report?"

Secretary Bai paused for a moment, then frowned.

But I still patiently explained.

"Yes, Director Hou. Secretary Sha will be available in an hour. Please come to the Provincial Party Committee as soon as possible."

After saying that, Secretary Bai hung up the phone.

Ji Changming heard everything clearly throughout the entire process.

And that's exactly the result Hou Liangping wanted.

After hanging up the phone, Hou Liangping smiled and looked at Ji Changming, saying helplessly, "Old Ji, could I end my self-criticism and study session a little earlier? Secretary Sha wants to talk to me and hear my work report."

Ji Changming gave Hou Liangping a deep look.

He exhaled a breath of stale air and said, "Since this is Secretary Sha's instruction, then you should hurry up and report to the Provincial Party Committee."

Upon hearing this, Hou Liangping got up and left, leaving Ji Changming sitting in his seat shaking his head.

He felt that being an official was becoming tiring...

"Hang in there for another year..."

After muttering to himself, Ji Changming finally perked up and began to examine the documents.

An hour later, Hou Liangping arrived at Sha Ruijin's office door, guided by Secretary Bai.

"Secretary Sha, Director Hou from the Anti-Corruption Bureau has arrived."

As soon as Secretary Bai finished speaking, Sha Ruijin's voice immediately came from inside the room.

"Come in!"

Upon hearing this, Secretary Bai pushed open the door, gesturing for Liangping to enter. After Liangping had completely entered, Secretary Bai gently closed the door.

A secretary's job requires keen observation skills.

It is even more necessary to understand the leader's thoughts. When cadres like Hou Liangping and Tian Guofu, who are trusted by Sha Ruijin or have private conversations with him, come to serve as secretaries, one must learn to avoid suspicion.

However, if it's someone who would put Sha Ruijin in a difficult position, such as someone who comes to seek official positions or projects, then that would be problematic.

Secretary Bai would need to take the initiative to accompany the other party, and even take out a small notebook to pretend to take notes so that the other party would not be able to say it.

These are things that leaders won't say; it's all up to the secretary to figure out on their own.

Only Sha Ruijin and Hou Liangping were in the office.

For an ordinary department-level official, facing the top provincial leader Sha Ruijin in this situation would be incredibly stressful.

However, Hou Liangping was naturally bold... More importantly, his father-in-law was of a higher rank than Sha Ruijin, and he was already used to the pressure from those in higher positions.

"Please sit down, Comrade Hou Liangping."

Sha Ruijin gestured for Hou Liangping to sit down and talk, and Hou Liangping obediently sat down in the chair opposite Sha Ruijin.

"Thank you, Secretary Sha!"

Nodding, Sha Ruijin continued, "Comrade Hou Liangping, you've been in Handong for several weeks now. How familiar are you with the work of the Anti-Corruption Bureau during this time?"

Hou Liangping answered quickly.

"Reporting to Secretary Sha, I am now familiar with the work and personnel of the Anti-Corruption Bureau. However, lately the bureau has been handling mostly minor cases, dealing with cadres at the section chief and deputy division chief levels, which are not very challenging."

Sha Ruijin's eyes lit up.

"Liangping, this case, big or small, requires our attention. Director Zhong of Handong is quite concerned about you. This is your first time presiding over work in a department-level position, so you must keep a steady mindset."

I heard that you had a confrontation with Secretary Chen of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission at the No. 1 Primary School in Jingzhou a few days ago?

This kind of thing is unacceptable. We, as Party members and cadres, cannot rely on our high rank or some power to recklessly flaunt our status and act arrogantly. You must correct this.

Hou Liangping could only accept Sha Ruijin's admonition with a smile.

"Secretary Sha, you're right. I was probably just starting out at the time and my mindset wasn't very stable, but I've realized my mistake now."

Seeing that Hou Liangping had already said that, Sha Ruijin did not continue the topic, but instead chose to talk about serious matters!

"Comrade Liangping, a fire broke out in Guangming District, Jingzhou City last night. Workers from Dafeng Factory even clashed with the police. The reason behind this is that the shares of Dafeng Factory were mortgaged to Shanshui Group by the boss, Cai Chenggong."

The story behind this is probably not simple.

I think your anti-corruption bureau needs to thoroughly investigate the truth behind this!

Before arriving in Handong, Hou Liangping already knew his mission.

When he heard about the Shanshui Group, he knew it was time for Hou Liangping to show his skills!

"Secretary Sha, rest assured, our Anti-Corruption Bureau will definitely investigate the equity dispute between Shanshui Group and Dafeng Factory thoroughly!"

Seeing that Hou Liangping understood his meaning, Secretary Sha's smile became even brighter.

"Okay, I'll wait for good news from your anti-corruption bureau!"

After finishing the important business, Sha Ruijin brought up a more sensitive topic.

"By the way, Comrade Liangping, I see from your file that you graduated from the Department of Political Science and Law at Handong University. Back then, our Provincial Party Committee Deputy Secretary Yuliang was still teaching, wasn't he?"

Hou Liangping instantly perked up.

"That's right, Secretary Sha! Back then, Secretary Yuliang was my law professor, and even the current Director of the Provincial Public Security Department, Qi Tongwei, is my senior."

"People are prone to acting on impulse, Comrade Liangping. If you had to choose between truth and your teacher, what would you choose?"

The glaring questions directly struck Hou Liangping's sensitive nerves.

"Secretary Sha, I love my teacher, but I love truth more!"

Sha Ruijin was very satisfied with this answer.

"Alright, Comrade Liangping is a man of strong principles. Let's end our conversation here. The Anti-Corruption Bureau's work must begin as soon as possible."

"Yes, Secretary Sha!"

Only after watching Hou Liangping leave did Sha Ruijin shake his head and mutter, "It seems the Zhong family's cultivation of this son-in-law has stopped here. But then again, who can truly trust someone who would lay a hand on their teacher or senior?"

Sha Ruijin just treated this as something to watch for fun.

After all, he himself was also troubled by this problem, the difference being that Sha Ruijin has now reached the level of the top leader.

Some unimportant voices, like those from Chen Yanshi, he could have easily chosen to ignore, but he'd been putting on an act for decades and had just gotten a little too into it...