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

Faced with questioning.

Chen Hai remained silent, like an old, stubborn rock.

Answer me!

Hou Liangping grabbed the man by the collar with both hands and lifted him up, roaring, "You all call me Monkey, but I am not the Great Sage Equaling Heaven who wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace and dared to change the world. I dare not investigate this or touch that, but I always protect my bottom line. I will not touch anything that I should not touch."

"Chen Hai, what about you?"

Tell me, why have you become like this twenty years from now?

Hou Liangping questioned repeatedly.

"The human heart is biased; it grows on the left side."

Chen Hai finally spoke, tears streaming down his swollen eyes, "You, me, and Qi Tongwei are known as the Three Heroes of Han University, but ever since we were in school, I've known that my abilities are inferior to yours. I am who I am today because of my father and sister."

"Facing my dad's demands."

"Do you think I can refuse? I'm really just following the procedures and handling the case. But I can't stand being nagged. If he nags me a few more times, I'll have my subordinates investigate more thoroughly, and then the funding will run into problems."

"I really didn't know it was an abuse of public power for private gain."

Chen Hai raised his trembling hands, as if to convince himself, "I did nothing wrong. I only increased the investigation funding by more than ten million. I didn't embezzle any money. I'm much better than the others."

"Monkey, wouldn't you agree to the demands made by your father-in-law and Zhong Xiaoai?"

Chen Hai questioned him through tears.

Hou Liangping looked at Chen Hai, who was in tears, in his hands and felt an indescribable irritation. He threw the man to the ground and said firmly, "My dad and Xiao Ai would never make such unreasonable demands."

Because if they can't do it, what can Hou Liangping possibly do?

"Where are Lu Yike and the others?"

Hou Liangping squatted down and asked, "As their director, do you even know what problems they might be involved in?"

"You ask? I simply don't know."

Chen Hai gave a bitter smile. "Do you know why most of the anti-corruption bureau's cadres come from high-ranking official backgrounds?"

"I suggested it to Lao Ji, and Lao Ji agreed."

"I myself come from a high-ranking official's family, so I understand all too well that only we can go further on this front. Compared to a fearless and dauntless sharp knife, the little bit of dust on that knife is insignificant."

Hou Liangping was stunned for a moment, then he understood.

In Chen Hai and Ji Changming's eyes, as long as the children of high-ranking officials with powerful backgrounds and pure morals were willing to wield a sharp knife, they would not care how many threads were wrapped around them.

Essentially, it's about using job positions as bait to get one group of people to fight against another.

Hou Liangping's eyes twitched.

Wasn't he the same, coming from a family where he lived with his wife's family?

"Chen Hai, I won't come looking for you anymore. I don't think you want to see me either."

Hou Liangping stood up again, straightened his disheveled clothes, and said, "But as for Lu Yike and the others, you'd better pretend you know nothing about it."

"If you don't want to kill more people."

Chen Hai didn't get up, but responded softly, "I know."

"That's what I'm telling you."

If word gets out that a former anti-corruption bureau chief was spying on internal information of the provincial procuratorate, the first person to suffer will be the one who sent the message. This will be followed by another round of purges of the procuratorate, which will be a real purge.

Jingle Bell!

Hou Liangping's cell phone rang without warning.

"Secretary Sha, what are your instructions?"

Hou Liangping recognized the caller and quickly answered the call while walking outside.

The sound of the door being pulled open was exceptionally clear, quite unlike the sound of the office door being opened.

"Comrade Liangping, are you not at the procuratorate?"

"Sha Ruijin asked."

"yes!"

Hou Liangping didn't hesitate and lowered his voice, "Secretary Sha, I'm here to see Chen Hai."

"I was just about to leave."

Sha Ruijin's cheerful voice rang out, "I've heard that you and Chen Hai were college roommates. I didn't interrupt your reunion, did I?"

"Perfect."

"I need to talk to you about something."

Sha Ruijin cut straight to the point, "Comrade Liangping, I have just finished the Standing Committee meeting. The Standing Committee members unanimously agreed that the Economic Crime Investigation Division of the Public Security Bureau should send people to Chuzhou to verify the details of the Chen family's situation."

I want you to come with me.

Hou Liangping eagerly expressed his willingness.

"This is going to be a tough battle."

"Because you took Gu Beilou away for investigation in public, the Chen family must have become alert. Be careful to travel in plain clothes and not let the Chen family discover your whereabouts."

"Many of the Chen family members are involved in business, and the Economic Crime Investigation Division will take over this part."

"But Elder Chen once served as the school principal, and a group of his former students and associates are now serving in Chuzhou. Your primary target is them."

"Try to find out all of their backgrounds. If there are any problems, don't let even one of them get away with it."

"The chain of evidence must be clear."

"But Mr. Chen is a retired ministerial-level cadre under the management of the central government. The Handong side cannot conduct a direct investigation. They should pay attention to the scope and depth of the investigation, and avoid touching anything involving Mr. Chen."

Sha Ruijin patiently taught him step by step.

If someone like Ouyang Jing were to appear...

He really can't afford to get hurt anymore.

"Secretary Sha, rest assured, I will definitely follow your and the Provincial Party Committee's instructions."

Hou Liangping assured him.

"good!"

Sha Ruijin was very happy.

Regardless of the outcome of Hou Liangping's work, the sheer confidence he displayed gave him immense emotional value, prompting him to immediately offer high praise verbally.

"Liangping, turn on the speakerphone."

Sha Ruijin's way of addressing him became increasingly affectionate, and he said in a gentle voice, "I need to talk to Chen Hai. You don't need to avoid me. Just be there and testify that it has nothing to do with official business."

"Okay, Secretary Sha."

Hou Liangping responded.

"Rui...Brother Ruijin!"

Chen Hai spoke in a trembling voice, to be honest, he was not familiar with this person.

It was as early as when he was just learning to speak.

Sha Ruijin had already left Handong and had not contacted the Chen family again, not even for work or marriage.

"Hai Zi, I went to see Auntie yesterday."

Sha Ruijin's words carried the gentleness of an older brother to a younger brother: "Auntie is getting old and her health isn't good. Little Piqiu also needs someone to take care of her. You have to cheer up."

You're forty-one.

"You're not a fourteen-year-old child who needs others to cater to your emotions."

"Don't let me and your aunt down again."

"that's all."

Sha Ruijin hung up the phone, and only a dial tone came from the receiver.

Hou Liangping glanced coldly at Chen Hai, who was still lying on the ground, said nothing, opened the door and walked out.

Only a heavy slam of the door remained.

You can faintly hear Hou Liangping seemingly making a phone call and chatting enthusiastically.

"Hey, senior."

Hou Liangping's tone was quite pleasant as he softly asked, "I heard the provincial department is sending someone to Chuzhou on business?"

Yes, that's right.

"Senior, I've also received a mission to go to Chuzhou."

"Could the provincial department personnel give me a ride along the way?"

"Thank you, senior."

"Let's have a meal together when I get back from Chuzhou."