In name only: The land of Handong, I shall rule its fate.

"It could also be one of Executive Director Lin's people..."

Tong Li smiled cruelly and said.

"Um?"

Sha Ruijin asked, puzzled, "What do you mean?"

"Secretary Sha, do you think that rascal will stumble if we continue the investigation as originally planned? If he does stumble, will you protect him?"

Regarding this question with a clear answer, Sha Ruijin pondered for a long time before saying, "The Zhong family's son-in-law certainly has some abilities, but he's still too inexperienced compared to Lin Zhiyuan. But precisely because of the former, as long as it's not a truly catastrophic situation, I will definitely protect him."

"But what if you don't guarantee it?"

Tong Li asked in return.

"You mean Hou Liangping will seek refuge with Lin Zhiyuan? Or that Lin Zhiyuan will actively recruit him in hopes of gaining the Zhong family's friendship?"

Sha Ruijin's eyes lit up.

"good!"

Tong Li nodded and said, "The more you protect Hou Liangping, the more others will think he's one of yours. But what if you don't protect him and even suppress him?"

"But what about the Zhong family?"

Sha Ruijin frowned.

"Before I came here, Elder Qin told me that Elder Zhong's further advancement was already uncertain, and this time, due to those people's retaliation, all hope is completely lost."

"We can't get to that point."

"Old Zhong's situation isn't much better than Deputy Zhao's."

"Besides, the Zhong family is now begging Elder Qin and the others. I believe Elder Zhong understands the relative importance of a son-in-law versus us."

Tong Li said confidently.

Can!

Sha Ruijin pondered for a long time before nodding.

After all, given his own strategies and plans, unless he uses his ultimate weapon, he is no match for Lin Zhiyuan.

Moreover, the opponents were a group of people.

"Secretary Sha, in addition to this arrangement, we cannot rely solely on defense; offense is the best defense."

Tong Li continued to offer suggestions, saying, "I need the help of the publicity department and the provincial discipline inspection commission."

"Providing assistance is not a problem."

Sha Ruijin frowned slightly. "It's just that the current propaganda minister, Pan Lin, is somewhat aligned with Lin Zhiyuan."

"I know that."

Tong Li, however, appeared confident. "Minister Pan's preference for Executive Director Lin is solely due to the fact that Elder Yan's only daughter, Executive Director Lin's wife, is about to take a position in the provincial propaganda department."

"Neither party has any substantial vested interest."

Ok?

Sha Ruijin slowly typed a question mark. How could he not know that the wife of a member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee had come to Handong to take up a new post?

"Ahem!"

Tong Li pointed out, "Although the appointment of a husband-and-wife team as a standing committee member from a ministry requires filing and preliminary review by the provincial organization department and the provincial discipline inspection commission, and signature by the local provincial party committee leader, when the appointment document is issued, Governor Liu is in charge of the work of the Handong Provincial Party Committee."

"Moreover, Comrade Yan Yan is only proposed for promotion to the rank of division chief, which does not require approval from the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee."

Why does he feel that his beloved gerbil has become noticeably dumber since arriving in Handong? Could it be that he's developing early-onset dementia?

If that's the case, we must keep it a secret at all costs.

"Fine! I won't interfere with your group plans anymore, but don't disappoint me."

Sha Ruijin said decisively, "If you need any support, just come to me."

"Okay, Tong Li will not let you down."

Tong stood up and made a promise.

"Okay, prepare for tomorrow's inauguration ceremony and the provincial party committee standing committee meeting."

Sha Ruijin reminded him.

Lin Zhiyuan, who has been constantly talked about, chose to skip work today and is still shopping with Yan Yan.

He said he skipped work.

In fact, the phone kept ringing one after another.

"Old Lin, I'm back."

Wu Chunlin's voice was still brimming with barely suppressed excitement, "Where did you go? How dare you skip work during hours!"

Lin Zhiyuan held the phone far away and handed it to Yan Yan.

Yan Yan immediately understood, "Senior Wu!"

The person on the other end of the phone was stunned for a long time.

"Junior schoolgirl!"

Wu Chunlin suddenly realized, "I was wondering why this workaholic wasn't in the office. Turns out it was you."

"If you look closely at the timeline, you're a few days later than expected."

"Yeah yeah!"

Yan Yan nodded, "I haven't seen you in so long, Senior Wu. Could you please have a day to spend with us?"

"That's true."

Wu Chunlin was very dissatisfied. "Am I, the organization minister, some kind of villain who ruined the relationship between us comrades?"

"I promise I won't disturb your good time today."

"And I even stopped Yang Wanli, who was also looking for your good senior. Wasn't I kind enough as an older senior?"

"Thank you, Senior Wu."

Yan Yan smiled and said, "My senior and I are shopping right now. I'll buy some wine and food, and you and your wife can come over tonight. My wife and I haven't seen each other for many years, so we can catch up. You two will also have time to talk about work."

"That's a good idea."

Wu Chunlin readily agreed, "However, there should be quite a few people reporting to your senior today, so you should buy more groceries. I'll have your sister-in-law come over to help."

Yan Yan hung up the phone, looked up and asked, "Since you've come to Handong, why do you seem even busier than before?"

"no way!"

Lin Zhiyuan spread his hands, "The development of the entire Handong Provincial Government and its thirteen cities rests on my shoulders."

"yeah?"

Yan Yan rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Wow, my senior, you're the real weightlifting champion of Handong!"

"Even Li Dakang, who shoulders the responsibility of developing the entire city of Jingzhou, has to rank behind you."

Lin Zhiyuan was surprised, "You know about this meme too?"

"Old-fashioned senior!"

Yan Yan said speechlessly, "The speed at which news spreads online is really fast these days, especially videos of your mysterious provincial party committee and government leaders making a collective appearance."

"You guys are all internet celebrities now."

"Just like Secretary Li, the weightlifting champion from Jingzhou; the two brothers from the Fang family, who are not related by blood; Director Qi, who is a bit immature; and Director Jin, who is bold and generous."

"Each name is more impressive than the last, and each one is more interesting than the last."

"Most importantly, everyone thinks that the leadership team in Handong is very open-minded. They are asking about travel tips for Handong, wanting to visit Handong, and some even want to try how delicious the barbecue stalls that the leaders love are."

Yan Yan responded with a smile, and even tugged at Lin Zhiyuan's sleeve, "Senior, you also have a nickname, do you want to know what it is?"

"Spending money like water?"

Lin Zhiyuan said vainly.

"Pooh!"

Yan Yan scoffed at Lin Zhiyuan's shamelessness, "It's clearly a case of losing eight hundred Executive Director Lin!"

"Today's netizens are all incredibly talented."

Upon hearing this nickname, Lin Zhiyuan's face twitched. "I should have been more generous and given myself a better image."

Unfortunately, I really don't have any money in my pocket.

"That eight hundred, I could spend it all by myself for a long time."

Yan Yan grumbled and punched a few times, trying to get pocket money from him, wasn't she?

"Let's go buy groceries."

"The dishes taste really good today. Hai Zi, your cooking skills have improved again."

Hou Liangping praised without reservation.

At home, he was the only one who cooked; he never had the chance to eat anything cooked by others. Under his special psychological influence, even home-cooked meals became incredibly delicious delicacies.

"Why!"

Chen Hai sighed, "In my current state, what else can I do besides honing my culinary skills and taking care of Little Ball?"