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

They were just talking about how Zhao Ruilong had a good father. Compared to this real young master, Zhao Ruilong seemed incomparable! This is what a good father is, and his son is on the right path. Zhao Ruilong becoming a businessman is truly speechless. What's the use of wealth? None of the three people walking by were interested in money!

Zhao Zhongxin had lost interest in everything; he just needed to climb the ranks step by step, one step every two years.

Gao Yuliang was simply greedy for power and didn't want to lose it, which is why he stubbornly persisted down this dark path! He couldn't bear to part with power!

Li Dakang only cares about GDP. He doesn't need friends or a wife. All he wants is political achievements. He has no interest in anything else!

"Gentlemen, what is this?"

Zhao Zhongxin asked, as if to say, "How did you two end up together?"

"Hey, we were talking about Zhao Ruilong, where's Young Master Zhao?"

Gao Yuliang smiled and said!

"Yes, this young master Zhao has really been stirring up trouble in Handong lately!"

Li Dakang also said that the three of them started talking about Zhao Ruilong. The reason was simple: Zhao Ruilong was causing a storm because of the three of them!

Invite Zhao Zhongxin to dinner at Shanshui Manor, and then spread the word!

He then personally went to the municipal party committee dormitory to find Li Dakang and try to rescue Chen Qingquan!

Inviting Gao Yuliang to dinner again caused even the most mild-mannered Gao Yuliang to swear!

Whether they should say it or not, all three of them are related to Zhao Ruilong; they can be said to be in the same boat!

Gao and Li appeared to be chatting, but in reality, they were on the verge of exchanging barbs. However, they both shared one point: they were both belittling Zhao Lichun. Both of them had severed ties with Zhao Lichun and were speaking to him without any politeness.

"I knew it! We have internal strife there, but things are very harmonious in Handong!"

Gao Yuliang's smile was forced and insincere!

"Yes, could it be that he forged an imperial edict? But I still have to say, Secretary Yuliang, I really don't know anything about Chen Qingquan's matter. I don't have that kind of free time! The municipal party committee has too many things to deal with!"

Li Dakang also refused to back down, insisting on a reason he didn't know!

"I know that for officials who knowingly break the law, even if you conspire with me, I'll still just say one word: arrest them. Just because he was my secretary doesn't mean he can act with impunity! There's no such thing as a free lunch!"

Gao Yuliang was being sincere. The main problem was that Chen Qingquan had already been arrested, so there was no way for him to bail him out!

Li Dakang nodded, but Gao Yuliang also retaliated!

"Your wife, Ouyang Jing!"

"Ex-wife, Secretary Yu Liang, Ouyang Jing and I are already divorced. We were divorced before your student Li Kangjian arrested her!"

Li Dakang offered a reminder, and Gao Yuliang smiled and changed his tune.

"If your ex-wife Ouyang Jing really boards the plane and leaves, Secretary Dakang, do you think this is a good thing for you?"

Li Dakang remained silent for a while. He felt that this was a provocation. This Gao Yuliang was really willing to suffer any loss!

"Shouldn't I thank you, Secretary Gao! Thank you for your student stopping my car?"

"Secretary Dakang, you really should thank our Han University clique. If it weren't for my junior Li Kangjian blocking your car, what would you be now? A corrupt official with family members residing abroad? Do you think you still have a political career?"

Zhao Zhongxin spoke up, saying that although it was a lucky accident, Li Dakang should indeed thank him for this!

Upon hearing Zhao Zhongxin's mention of the "Han University clique," Li Dakang felt a chill run down his spine. "You guys are really admitting it? Everyone knew about the Han University clique before, but nobody acknowledged it. And now, as the executive director, with Governor Liu retiring and you in line to succeed him, you're bringing up the Han University clique!"

"Alright, then I thank you, Han University gang. So, are you going to protect Hou Liangping to the end as well?"

"Hou Liangping, he..."

Li Dakang glanced at Gao Yuliang and Zhao Zhongxin, somewhat hesitant. Gao Yuliang then spoke up.

"What? Where did Hou Liangping go digging soil again?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhongxin laughed, while Li Dakang said...

"This Hou Liangping has gone into the mountains and crossed rivers; his matter is very serious!"

Li Dakang also knew that Zhao Zhongxin might only have a good relationship with Qi Tongwei, and his relationship with Hou Liangping might not be that good.

Upon hearing this, Gao Yuliang remained silent for a moment before speaking.

"If Hou Liangping really has a problem, I won't show him any favoritism!"

Then Sha Ruijin saw the three of them together and felt a chill run down his spine. Could this Li Dakang have joined the Han University gang?

If these three join forces, will the Zhao family's ship still capsize? Handong is truly impenetrable!

But hearing the three of them talking about Zhao Ruilong, he breathed a sigh of relief; as long as they hadn't joined forces, that was good!

This meeting had nothing to do with Zhao Zhongxin at all; it was all about Yi Xuexi's achievements. Seven or eight provincial party committee members stood up one by one to claim the map, and Zhao Zhongxin was beaming with joy.

As for cadres like Yi Xuexi, well, it's only because of Zhao Lichun that he's in this position. If it were anyone else, he'd probably just be an aid worker in Tibet. How could they possibly give him an official post? It's infuriating.

Later, when the conversation turned to cadre and personnel matters, Zhao Zhongxin, who was sitting next to Gao Yuliang, tapped Gao Yuliang's shoe with his own to signal him to be quiet!

Gao Yuliang understood Zhao Zhongxin's meaning and remained silent. He simply kept clapping.

Finally, Sha Ruijin kept Gao Yuliang and Li Dakang behind. Zhao Zhongxin knew that Sha Ruijin wanted to give the two a warning. In the original work, keeping the two behind might be to choose his second-in-command, that is, the governor, or to make them the first to stick their necks out.

Zhao Zhongxin had no intention of staying; he hated democratic life meetings too! To put it bluntly, it was just a meeting of criticism and self-criticism—who likes that stuff!

Meanwhile, Gao Yuliang and Li Dakang were also terrified when they heard about this democratic life meeting; nobody likes such a meeting! So both of them were making excuses!

"Maybe next time, Secretary Sha, I've been very busy lately!"

"Yes, next time, next time for sure, I'll be the first to speak!"

This "next time" means there won't be a next time. It's the 32nd of every month, the 8th of every week. When was the last time the provincial party committee held a democratic life meeting? More than 20 years ago! They like to hold these meetings for their subordinates, but they themselves don't want to be subordinates at these meetings!

"No way! I've been in Handong for over three months and haven't driven even once. We can't keep putting it off. Okay, you're the first to speak! Comrade Yuliang, you're second!"

Sha Ruijin waved his hand and said with a smile, leaving the two of them speechless.

"Alright, Secretary Sha, I'll speak first!"

Li Dakang could only laugh and say that he really wanted to slap himself twice for saying he wanted to be the first to speak!

Gao Yuliang could only nod.