In name only: In the name of Zhao Mengsheng's son!

Go ahead and open it up. Anyway, it's all old news, and we've already covered it all up in the democratic life meetings over the past few years! At worst, we'll just tear the wound open again for Li Dakang to see!

And so, the provincial government began its monthly democratic life meeting again, filled with criticism and self-criticism!

Sitting in the main seat, Li Dakang felt the air itself smelled sweet; he hadn't felt this way in a long time, as if he had returned to three years ago, to the time when he was the Party Secretary of Jingzhou! They're back, all back—the old villages, bah, the old power, they're all back!

Although Zhao Donglai was also present, Li Dakang directly told him not to speak. First, he and Zhao Donglai had a past relationship; second, Zhao Donglai was now Zhao Zhongxin; and third, unlike other officials who ignored their former bosses after climbing the social ladder, Zhao Donglai still respected him quite a bit!

So as soon as Zhao Donglai stood up, Li Dakang made him sit down!

Zhao Donglai also breathed a sigh of relief. Not many people are willing to talk about this kind of thing. He was truly worthy of the respect he had shown Li Dakang in the past!

Li Dakang was happy, Zhao Donglai was happy, but the people in the provincial government were unhappy. This Li Dakang was simply, simply inhuman!

They could tolerate Zhao Zhongxin's treatment of them, since they couldn't afford to offend him. But Li Dakang, who only had the added advantage of being a member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, was doing the same thing. That was something they couldn't stand!

But Li Dakang didn't care. He just wanted to have some fun. "It's been three years. Do you know how I've spent these three years?"

I don't care what you think, all I care about is how comfortable I am! This is a rare opportunity. Zhao Zhongxin, this homebody, never goes anywhere. Every day he just goes between three points: the provincial party committee compound (his home), the provincial government (his work), and Honglangmang (leisure). It's really outrageous. If Li Dakang were to become the governor, he would want to go to the cities and counties below every day to check things out. It's not to show off or anything. Don't ask, the only question is that he wants to boost the province's GDP. I, Li Dakang, only recognize GDP, and it must be clean and green GDP.

He's known as the "Gross GDP Prince"!

"Executive Li! This is a report from our Public Security Bureau! Please take a look!"

Zhao Donglai walked in with some documents in his hand. Li Dakang glanced at him, paused, and then said, "!"

"Donglai, you don't need to show me what the governor approved. Also, come to my house tonight; I have something private to discuss with you!"

"Okay, sure, go ahead!"

Zhao Donglai thought about his personal matters for a moment, then nodded. After all, this was his former boss, and he, Zhao Donglai, shouldn't ask. He was a kind and honest man, the kindest man in Handong!

After Zhao Zhongxin and Zhang Dongxin met the principal, the principal immediately offered to treat them to a meal, which Zhao Zhongxin and Zhang Dongxin naturally accepted!

After all, the principal is an acquaintance, and one of the top students in the second level. In other words, he's in the same group as their father!

"Heh heh, you two rascals, back when I was the head of the Dongcheng District branch, a dozen or so of you were arrested by my men. When I walked in, I saw they were all familiar faces! You two had bullied a martyr's family's child back then. I was initially furious and thought I could put you in a juvenile detention center, but after making some inquiries, I found out that the kid wasn't exactly a pushover either. I remember his surname was Zhong, right? Zhong Zhengguo's nephew!"

The principal was overjoyed and drank two more glasses. He already had a good relationship with their father, and these two boys were boys he had watched grow up and had even been arrested by him!

Hearing the principal's words, Zhao Zhongxin and Zhang Dongxin felt somewhat embarrassed. Zhao Zhongxin was speechless, because he hadn't transmigrated yet when the beating happened, and he had to bear the infamy himself! Truly speechless!

"Oh, Uncle Wang, which boy doesn't fight and be tough when he's young? Besides, you know that kid isn't exactly a good guy! We've been behaving ourselves at school, but that kid bullied my brother-in-law's cousin. Do you think we could tolerate that? And we've paid the price too. Look at the scar on my head from the beating my grandpa gave me!"

Zhang Dongxin lifted his hair to show the principal the scar on his head!

"Serves you right! You hit him, that's one thing, avenging my brother is no big deal, but you even burned him with cigarette butts! Luckily, the old lady of the Zhong family is an honest person and knows that her grandson was also wrong, otherwise she would have taken her first-class merit to the armed forces department to report you, and see if you would have been skinned alive!"

At this point, the principal paused, then pointed at Zhang Dongxin and laughed and scolded him!

"You think you're being honest? You're the worst! You were smoking, drinking, and getting into fights when you were a teenager. If it weren't for your dad getting you into the army and putting you on the right path, you'd be a local gangster in the Beijing area by now! Who knows, one day your dad might turn on you and arrest you!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhongxin couldn't help but laugh so hard he almost dropped his chopsticks! The principal turned around and glanced at Zhao Zhongxin, saying in a somewhat annoyed tone, "..."

"He said he wasn't talking about you, right? You're no pushover either. Back in our parents' eyes, you two were just there to scare the kids, weren't I right? The two bullies of Dongcheng District!"

Zhao Zhongxin was speechless. He had transmigrated just before starting university, and he really didn't want to take the blame! But he had no choice; he had enjoyed someone else's family, comfortable life, and endless future, so he had to bear the responsibility!

"Uncle Wang, stop talking, stop talking! We were just bored and had nothing better to do before. But now that you've caught us, we've reformed quite well!"

Zhao Zhongxin smiled, raised his glass, and toasted, saying that the principal nodded in agreement. Although these two were a bit spoiled and reckless when they were young, being spoiled doesn't mean they lacked ability.

To reiterate, even if their fathers have reached their current positions, if the two individuals themselves lack real talent and ability, do you really think the Organization Department is your personal fiefdom, that giving them a nominal post is enough if they lack the ability? If they want to become high-ranking officials, they need to demonstrate their achievements!

"Haha, you! Come on, have another drink!"

The three of them were having a good time drinking, while the vice principal was helpless when he saw that Zhao Zhongxin and Zhang Dongxin were not at their residence. Well, two more troublemakers. He couldn't handle them, so he could only ask the principal to put them in a tighter position. But the principal was nowhere to be found!

A phone call was made to the principal's secretary. Oh, it turns out the principal had taken the two of them out for a meal and drinks. Oh well, it's alright now!

Then came the all-inclusive bath and massage service. As an uncle, he paid for everything. Before leaving, Zhang Dongxin even got himself and his brother-in-law a membership card, all paid for with the principal's money!

However, I still went back to school that night. Rules are rules, and they must be followed!

(This is the first chapter today; I'll start writing the second chapter now!)