Nominal: Who isn't a son-in-law?

While the atmosphere in Chu Shijun's office was cheerful and harmonious, the atmosphere in Gao Yuliang's office was rather somber.

"Playing nonsense!"

Gao Yuliang took off his glasses and threw them on the table. He then took out a cigarette, lit it, pointed at the two people standing across the table, and said in a deep voice:

"Is it really such a coincidence that you, a deputy chief prosecutor and a deputy director of the anti-corruption bureau, are both sick and need to take leave?"

Across the table, Xing Yun'er and Lü Liang stood side by side. Their usual imposing presence as deputy chief prosecutors and deputy directors of the anti-corruption bureau of Handong Province was completely gone. Both had their heads down and their hands pressed tightly against their trouser seams.

Seeing their timid demeanor, Gao Yuliang raised his hand and tapped the Wanli fifteenth year edition of the imperial calendar he had just opened on the table, frowning as he said, "Speak! Deputy Chief Prosecutor Xing, Deputy Director Lü, you are both veterans of the Handong Procuratorate system. How come you're acting like naive young people who have never seen the world?"

As soon as they finished speaking, the two looked at each other and saw panic in each other's eyes.

After a moment of silence, Xing Yun'er took a deep breath, forced herself to take half a step forward, and said in a very low voice, "Secretary Gao, we...we're really worried because recently the procuratorate and the anti-corruption bureau have had a lot of trouble. Prosecutor Ji and Prosecutor Lin have been hospitalized one after another, Prosecutor Li was dismissed, and both former directors of the anti-corruption bureau, Chen Hai and Hou Liangping, were expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office...we're really uneasy about this."

"Work has been a bit rough these past few days, and I haven't been able to sleep well at home. I need to take sleeping pills to fall asleep, so we're thinking of taking some time off to recuperate and avoid the limelight."

"Avoid the limelight?" Upon hearing this, Gao Yuliang's gaze towards the two men suddenly turned sharp as a knife.

"Shouldn't we use a different word? You're not asking for leave, you're asking for a transfer, right? You think the prosecutor's office or the anti-corruption bureau has bad feng shui, and you're afraid you'll be the next ones to get into trouble, afraid of being an innocent victim, is that it?"

The two men trembled. Clearly, Gao Yuliang's words were like a knife to their hearts, precisely striking at their thoughts.

Lu Liang could no longer hold back. His voice was filled with grievance and fear as he hurriedly explained, "Secretary Gao, we're not afraid of death, it's just... it's just that what's happened lately has been too frightening."

"Look, Prosecutor Ji and Prosecutor Lin were hospitalized out of the blue. Prosecutor Li, Director Chen, and Director Hou have been investigated, some have been dismissed, and some have been expelled from the Party and removed from their posts. We are really scared."

Lü Liang was heartbroken, his eyes fixed longingly on Chen Hai's position as director of the anti-corruption bureau.

He believed that Chen Hai had Chen Yanshi behind him and a good relationship with Chief Prosecutor Ji, so he would be able to leave soon.

When the time comes, who else but him will be the director?

However, after two bigwigs were parachuted in this year, the situation in Handong has changed.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau of the Procuratorate has been getting into trouble frequently. After Chen Hai was demoted, he presided over the work for a few days, and people thought it would be his turn.

Then Hou Liangping arrived.

Not long after the initial shock, Hou Liangping, the new bureau chief, was gone—not just demoted, but expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office. How terrifying!

At this point, there was no doubt that the director wouldn't be parachuted in. To maintain stability, his chances of being promoted as deputy director were very high, but he dared not take this hot potato.

It should be noted that Ouyang Jing is still detained in the bureau, and Chen Qingquan will be transferred over for questioning in a few days. These two are directly related to two members of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee.

How many heads does Lü Liang have? Xing Yun'er, who's right next to him, is even more afraid of him now.

So the two of them thought about it and decided to ask for leave, or if that didn't work, they would be transferred to another position.

So, before Xing Yun'er could even approve Lü Liang's leave request, Gao Yuliang made a phone call and brought the two of them here.

"Secretary Gao, don't even mention us, you don't know, right now the people in the procuratorate and the anti-corruption bureau are all on edge. Some of the older comrades are even inquiring about suitable positions in other units."

Xing Yun'er's voice grew softer and softer.

"Transfer? Request leave?"

*Slap*

"Turn your head off!"

Gao Yuliang picked up the water glass on the table and threw it away. He, who was usually calm, could no longer hold back at this moment.

At the Standing Committee meeting, he could calmly and eloquently debate with the assembled scholars.

But he couldn't control his temper when facing his subordinates.

He abruptly stood up, his hands on the table as he glared at the two men, his anger barely contained. "As deputy chief prosecutors and deputy directors of the anti-corruption bureau, you wield public power and bear the heavy responsibility of upholding judicial fairness in Handong. Now, with just a 'scared,' you're going to shirk your duties? You're going to desert?"

"Ji Changming is faking illness, Lin Jianguo is faking illness—it's because they have something to hide, they're afraid to face the responsibilities they should bear! They're about to retire and don't want to cause trouble, which is understandable. Do you think we Standing Committee members don't know this?"

"Li Beiguo was dismissed from his post, and Chen Hai and Hou Liangping were expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office. They made mistakes and violated Party discipline and state laws; they deserved their punishment!"

"Now, instead of reflecting on your work, instead of thinking about how to uphold the bottom line and do your job well, you're superstitious about bad feng shui, and you're thinking about taking leave, transferring, and shirking responsibility! Do you deserve the uniform you wear? Do you deserve the trust that the organization and the people have placed in you?"

"When have you ever considered the sentiments of those in the political and legal profession? When have you ever thought about the development of the rule of law in our great Handong?"

"hehe"

At this point, Gao Yuliang chuckled and said self-deprecatingly, "As your direct superior in the public security, procuratorate, and judicial system, if you're all so anxious, then what about me, the secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission who shoulders the responsibilities of the political and legal systems of thirteen cities in Handong Province? Should I also ask for leave or be transferred? Or am I supposed to do all your work by myself?"

Xing Yun'er was scolded until her face turned red, and she lowered her head even further.

Lü Liang trembled all over, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

"Let me tell you," Gao Yuliang took a drag of his cigarette, his gaze sweeping over the two men, the smoke drifting into their faces as he spoke.

"The officialdom of Handong is not a place you can come and go as you please. The positions of the procuratorate and the anti-corruption bureau are not safe havens for hiding away corruption and avoiding trouble. Since you have taken these positions, you must shoulder this responsibility, and you must rise to the challenge even if there are mountains of knives and seas of fire ahead!"

He paused, his tone softening slightly, and sat down in a chair: "As for what you say about bad feng shui, I, Gao Yuliang, don't believe it, nor do the organization and the people! True feng shui is your bottom line, the legal principles and justice in your hands. As long as you uphold your bottom line, perform your duties diligently, do things cleanly, and live honestly, no disaster or misfortune can befall you."

"Now, I'm giving you two choices. First, put away your messy thoughts, go back to work first thing tomorrow morning, and do your job properly. I'll let bygones be bygones, and I'll pretend that what happened today never happened."

"Secondly, if you're still thinking about taking leave, transferring, or deserting, then just submit your resignation. I, Gao Yuliang, will not try to stop you, but you'll have to bear the consequences!"