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

But after Zhao Zhongxin's joking remark, Dong Ru joined in and chatted happily with Zhang Wanxin and Li Kangjian. Only Zhong Xiaoai sat there like a muggle, just smiling along!

"No, why did you come here? This place is no good; every step you take here will be a regret!"

Gao Yuliang quickly replied, "How could Zhao Zhongxin agree!"

"No, no! I have to admit defeat! I'm already screwed! Surrendering means I've already lost half the battle!"

"I just let you take back your move, you should let me have it this time!"

Listening to the two arguing heatedly, Wu Huifen was speechless. Could playing chess really get this intense?

I could only shout one sentence!

"Let's eat! Stop chatting!"

Everyone then gathered around the table! Gao Yuliang and Zhao Zhongxin came out, their faces flushed! At this moment, all teacher-student affection had vanished; only the desire to win remained!

There was laughter and cheerful conversation on this side. Hou Liangping was having a great time at the Shanshui Manor. Although he was recently unhappy that Zhao Zhongxin and Gao Yuliang had promoted Qi Tongwei from Deputy Director of the Public Security Bureau to Deputy Mayor of Jingzhou and Party Secretary of Guangming District, and felt that he should also be promoted and that he shouldn't favor one over the other, he didn't ask about it. This was because Li Kangjian hadn't been transferred yet, and the sword of Damocles was still hanging over his head. He had to wait until Li Kangjian left before he dared to ask for a promotion!

Because Qi Tongwei can do it, it means he can too! To be honest, he had already figured it out. As long as Zhao Zhongxin was willing to give him a hand, what would Sha Ruijin dare to say? But dissatisfaction is just dissatisfaction; he still had to be Zhao Zhongxin's dog!

Hou Liangping is completely unaware that everyone knows he is the murderer, but he still thinks he has gotten away with it!

If he had visited Gao Yuliang today, he would have known he had been ostracized! He dared not see Gao Yuliang these days, for Gao Yuliang would only question him whenever he saw him!

"Has Ding Yizhen found a new home? I heard he went to Africa!"

Damn it, even Hou Liangping was speechless. Ding Yizhen is probably just bones now. Go look for them; they might still be useful for drumming.

He did want to see Zhao Zhongxin, but Zhao Zhongxin shut him down with one sentence: Governor Liu is retiring soon and he needs to hand over the reins! He doesn't have time!

Hou Liangping also felt that Zhao Zhongxin's behavior was normal. He and Zhao Zhongxin had always had a good relationship. If Zhao Zhongxin became the governor, Sha Ruijin would not be able to stop his promotion. It was only a matter of time.

So, aside from working at the Public Security Bureau, Hou Liangping stayed at the Shanshui Manor. As for Liang Lu, he told her to get the hell away from him! He felt disgusted just looking at Liang Lu, and thinking about her made him feel that Zhao Zhongxin should help him. Liang Lu had ruined his life, and he was being retaliated against by Liang Lu because of his good relationship with him! So Zhao Zhongxin had to help him.

Hou Liangping had even been working on Zhao Ruilong for some time, urging him to let the government demolish the Luzhou Food City to save face for the government. He thought that the provincial party committee would look at him more favorably. He was telling Zhao Ruilong to demolish it, since he didn't have any shares in the Luzhou Food City anyway, so he was sure he could say so without any hesitation!

Zhao Ruilong only replied with one word!

Fuck you!

Of all Zhao Ruilong's businesses, this food court is the most stable! After all, it's backed by Crescent Lake, the scenery is beautiful, and it's famous in Handong, no, the entire Jiangnan region. It basically caters to wealthy people every day; how could it not make money? What level are you, Qi Tongwei? What's your status? You want him to demolish it? You think you can just say whatever you want and expect me to demolish it for free? Is your father the former Secretary of the Handong Provincial Party Committee, or am I?

In fact, Zhao Ruilong had already wanted to give up on the Luzhou Food City, because his father had also told him it was a ticking time bomb. But Zhao Ruilong insisted on arguing with Luzhou about the demolition compensation. He was thinking of asking for an exorbitant amount. This was a money-counting machine, no, a money-printing machine. If the government wanted to buy it out, they should at least give him twenty years' worth of revenue, right? Three years' worth of revenue? Are you trying to fob me off?

So Zhao Ruilong is in Hong Kong, but he's arguing with the Luzhou Municipal Party Committee. The Luzhou Municipal Party Committee wants him to come back, but he refuses. He won't return to Handong until Li Kangjian is transferred out of Handong!

To be honest, Li Kangjian was putting too much pressure on him. This kind of rich kid doesn't lack a bright future or a smooth road ahead, but rather merit. Isn't he already a huge merit right now? He has no choice but to go back! Absolutely no way he'll go back!

However, Sha Ruijin had already spread the word that if Li Kangjian hadn't been transferred to Handong, he would have been dealt with soon. Liu Sheng, that political broker, had also recently received this news and was preparing to sell it to Zhao Ruilong!

Finally, a few days later, it was announced that Governor Liu was retiring. The Standing Committee was moved to tears, and all the Standing Committee members, whether out of genuine emotion or other reasons, gave him a warm round of applause!

On the very day Governor Liu retired, the central government issued a document appointing Zhao Zhongxin as acting governor and concurrently as deputy secretary of the provincial party committee! The vacant position of executive vice governor was temporarily unfilled. Li Dakang was indeed a suitable candidate, but Sha Ruijin and Zhao Zhongxin had already discussed transferring Governor Liu's son to Handong to succeed him as secretary of the Luzhou municipal party committee. The transfer would take several more months, partly to avoid any appearance of impropriety. Although everyone knew this, things still had to proceed normally.

Although the term of office is only for one year, and he can't be transferred if he doesn't pass this test, no one will stop Zhao Zhongxin because of his status, unless the people in the Organization Department don't want his official position!

In this case, the Party Secretary of Lüzhou City will become the Party Secretary of Jingzhou City, ranking higher. Then, Li Dakang will become the Executive Vice Governor, ranking fourth or possibly fifth in the provincial government, because apart from the first, second, and third places, which are fixed, the others are ranked according to seniority.

With Zhao Zhongxin's status, he was practically an uncrowned king. No one would flaunt their seniority in front of him. Therefore, Zhao Zhongxin was fourth in the provincial party committee, even surpassing Gao Yuliang in rank. Furthermore, since Governor Liu wasn't actively involved, Zhao Zhongxin represented the provincial government, making him the second-in-command. He appeared to be the youngest and last to join the provincial party committee, but his ranking was indeed high! Don't ask why; the answer is: my dad is sixth in the national server of King of Glory, and my father-in-law is seventh! You dare to challenge me to a free-for-all fight in the provincial party committee? Win, and your future is over; lose, and your future is over too!

But Li Dakang is different. His license plate is 00009. There are 13 people in the provincial party committee, meaning he's ranked ninth. Even the secretary of the Luzhou municipal party committee ranks ahead of him. Even if he becomes a standing committee member, his ranking will only be eighth. Because Governor Liu left, a new provincial party committee will be formed. If he moves forward, everyone else will have to move forward too. However, Li Dakang is quite powerful. He was Zhao Lichun's secretary before, and now he's Shajiabang's top lieutenant. Other provincial party committees don't dare offend him much, so his ranking will definitely be higher, probably after Tian Guofu! Of course, later it depends on who Sha Ruijin favors more; whoever that person becomes fourth!