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

"This is the first Standing Committee meeting since we returned to Handong after the New Year!" Sha Ruijin said with a broad smile.

"Comrades, Happy New Year! This is our first Standing Committee meeting of the new year..."

Sha Ruijin spoke in his usual official manner, and everyone except Zhao Zhongxin and Gao Yuliang offered him flattery.

Sha Ruijin glanced at Gao Yuliang. He already knew that Gao Yuliang had met with Zhao Mengsheng in Beijing and that Gao Yuliang was going to serve as governor of a neighboring province. He couldn't help but look at him with higher regard. Gao Yuliang now had a brighter future than him. Putting aside his relationship with Zhao Mengsheng, Gao Yuliang was a few years younger than him, and both of them were at the ministerial level. Their political careers were much longer than his!

However, Sha Ruijin had no intention of switching allegiances. After all, traitors never have a good ending. Sha Ruijin looked at Gao Yuliang with envy and at Zhao Zhongxin with jealousy. Zhao Zhongxin was more than ten years younger than him, yet he was already nearly as successful as him. What was Sha Ruijin doing at forty-seven? He had just entered the provincial standing committee, while Zhao Zhongxin was already a minister. In a few years, Zhao Zhongxin would go to the central government to serve as a minister, and then Sha Ruijin would be like him now, serving as the provincial party secretary. In a few more years, he would become the mayor of a municipality, the party secretary of a municipality, and then in the central government!

Sha Ruijin has no chance of joining the team; he's too old, and retirement is guaranteed! Right now, Sha Ruijin is just thinking about working hard for two more years. If he can get promoted to Level 2, great; if not, retirement is acceptable! Youth is wonderful!

After the Standing Committee meeting adjourned, the members of the Han University gang first went to wish Gao Yuliang a Happy New Year, and then went to Zhao Zhongxin's house. It was indeed much more comfortable at Zhao Zhongxin's house, where everyone could chat about some men's topics. It wasn't the same at Gao Yuliang's house!

Zhang Wanxin hadn't returned to Handong yet when Zhao Zhongxin immediately waved his hand and declared, "Red Romance! It's on me!" Gao Yuliang didn't want to go at first, but Li Kangjian dragged him there. In the end, he was the one who didn't want to leave and wanted to stay longer—it was so comfortable! Of course, it was all formal!

"It's best to avoid these places!"

Gao Yuliang looked at the Red Romance Club and couldn't help but shake his head!

"Teacher Gao, what are you saying! We're doing a proper massage, just relaxing, not learning a foreign language. Why are you so nervous!"

Li Kangjian laughed heartily as he spoke! Qi Tongwei chimed in with his own words!

"Yes, Professor Gao, you're overthinking it!"

Zhao Zhongxin booked the entire day, and no one else bothered him. Some were getting scrubbed, others getting massages, all thoroughly enjoying themselves! And no police came to investigate any prostitution. First, there was no prostitution involved; second, damn it, Zhao Donglai is the Director of the Public Security Bureau. If the police came today, how could he face anyone here?

"Where am I? I'm definitely in Handong. I'm the deputy chief prosecutor in Handong now!"

Zhao Zhongxin came out for some fresh air and overheard Li Kangjian making a phone call! Judging from his tone, it seemed to be Zhong Xiaoai calling!

"I don't want to talk to you anymore. I'm not going back to Beijing. Either you come to Handong, or we'll stay separated like this!"

Li Kangjian hung up the phone in a huff, then turned around and saw Zhao Zhongxin, and laughed again!

"Hey, senior! Come on, I have a cigarette! It's too stuffy in there, isn't it!"

"Yeah, Kang, are you on the phone with your wife?"

Zhao Zhongxin lit a cigarette, smiled, and said!

"Yeah, it's nothing serious!"

Li Kangjian waved his hand without saying anything else. He didn't want Zhao Zhongxin to know that Zhong Xiaoai was arguing with him because he stayed in Handong!

"Just say what you need. If your wife doesn't want you to stay in Handong, my father needs a few secretaries. Why don't you go?"

Zhao Zhongxin said with a smile. Li Kangjian was a little excited when he heard this, but he quickly suppressed it.

"No, senior. I know Professor Gao is going to be promoted soon, and Tian Guofu will definitely take his place. You don't like Tian Guofu, and the public security, procuratorate, and judiciary in Handong are originally part of our Handong University faction. How can we let him interfere? I'm definitely staying in Handong!"

Li Kangjian felt that Zhao Mengsheng's side was indeed very good, but he wanted to become a member of the Crown Prince's faction, not Zhao Mengsheng's person. Although the future would be similar, once he left, his status in Zhao Zhongxin's eyes would definitely decline!

"Yeah, that's true!"

Zhao Zhongxin nodded. He hadn't told anyone about Gao Yuliang's situation, but Li Kangjian had deduced that Gao Yuliang was going to be promoted just from the fact that Gao Yuliang had met his father once. Then he connected this to Tian Guofu, who would succeed Gao Yuliang. Some people don't need to be taught!

That's talent. Some people just can't learn no matter how much you teach them, while others can understand everything at a glance! Everyone likes smart people!

"If I don't go home after get off work, I must be out socializing. Where else could I go? Um, I'll tell you later!"

Zhao Donglai also came out while on the phone. He saw that it was Lu Yike calling, and when he saw Zhao Zhongxin there, he hung up the phone again!

"Governor! Ah Kang! Come out for some fresh air!"

"Oh, you're henpecked, Director Zhao. You can't do this! Lu Yike is just a greenhorn in my hands. How come you're acting like this, Director Zhao?"

Li Kangjian looked at Zhao Donglai with a mischievous grin, and Zhao Donglai blushed.

"What do you know? This is love. I love her, that's why I give in to her. Otherwise, I'd make her salute me at home every day, if I wanted to!"

"Really? It's already recorded. I'll let Lu Yike listen to it tomorrow at work!"

Li Kangjian laughed and took out his phone, which made Zhao Donglai anxious.

"Hey bro, don't do this! I'm telling you, you can't get me into this! I was just kidding!"

"Just kidding, I didn't record it. Look at you, so anxious. You still say you're henpecked? This is just an engagement, not even married yet, and you're already being controlled like a henpecked husband. Look at buddy! His wife's back in Beijing, and he's living the high life now!"

Li Kangjian was being sarcastic, looking down his nose at Zhao Donglai, leaving Zhao Donglai speechless.

"Alright, alright, that's enough for today. We've played for four hours. Everyone, go home!"

Zhao Zhongxin smiled and waved his hand!

"Alright!"

The two replied and left.

"Go home? It's only nine o'clock. Let's play a little longer!"

When the topic of leaving came up, Gao Yuliang became unhappy. "You young people really know how to have fun!" he exclaimed. He didn't want to go home!

Li Kangjian looked at Gao Yuliang, somewhat speechless. "You were the one who didn't want to come, but I dragged you here. Now that we're going home, you don't want to go home! Sure enough, people who wear glasses are all secretly passionate!"

"Hey, let's get a card for Teacher Gao, I'll pay for it. Teacher Gao can come back tomorrow, otherwise it'll be boring for you to play here alone!"

Li Kangjian said with a smile, unaware that his spending information was sent directly to Zhong Xiaoai's phone!

"Red Romantic Club: 4988!"

Zhong Xiaoai was dumbfounded. Red Romance, costing 4988? What kind of crazy scheme is Li Kangjian up to?!