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

Qi Tongwei really wanted to shout, "I can do it!"

But I dare not.

Back then, he was just a poor boy from a mountain village. Even his travel expenses and living expenses were raised by the villagers. How could he have the ability to marry the daughter of a deputy minister or deputy director-level leader?

He was far from being able to find a son-in-law among those who passed the imperial examinations.

"Governor Lin, how did you manage to do that back then?"

Qi Tongwei looked down and then up again, meeting Lin Zhiyuan's gaze with curiosity and a desire to learn.

As fellow sons-in-law, it's not unreasonable to share our experiences, right?

"I am 29, a full-fledged official."

Lin Zhiyuan replied simply.

But this time Qi Tongwei understood the meaning: Lin Zhiyuan had gained confidence first and then received help; this was the true meaning of "catching a son-in-law under the banner of succession."

And he…

He's just a freeloader.

Silence is Cambridge tonight.

Qi Tongwei felt a bit emo.

"Imagine you have a precious daughter, and one day some blond-haired guy rides a motorcycle and brings her home, asking you, 'Old man, is it safe to leave your motorcycle downstairs?'"

Are you angry?

Lin Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow and asked.

"Of course..."

Qi Tongwei instinctively replied, but stopped himself as soon as he opened his mouth. To the Chen and Liang families, he was just that blond-haired kid.

No! That's not right!

Liang Lu married him; it was the Chen family who couldn't accept it.

"Governor Lin, I'm going to Lone Eagle Ridge..."

Qi Tongwei was trembling all over; he seemed to have understood something.

The person who assigned him to the Guyingling Judicial Office back then was probably not Liang Lu and the Liang family, whom he had hated for half his life, but Chen Yanshi, who had invited him to the Chen family for meals and provided them with relief many times.

Does Chen Yang know about that?

Then Qi Tongwei gave a bitter smile. What did it matter whether she knew or not? In the end, she never returned from the capital.

"Is there anything you can't understand?"

Lin Zhiyuan expressed his incomprehension, saying, "Liang Lu wants you as a person. Why did she transfer you to a remote judicial office? We won't see you all year round."

"Suppression? Are there no more low-level jobs in Jingzhou that are meant to torment people?"

"To intimidate, to assert the Liang family's authority? In four years, Liang Lu hasn't accepted any other suitors. You don't actually think no one wants to pursue Liang Lu, do you?"

"Again."

"It's difficult to be transferred from a local area to the capital, but it's easy to be transferred back to Handong from the capital. Has Chen Yang returned?"

Qi Tongwei clutched his head in anguish, his fingers running through his hair, making a hissing sound on his scalp.

"I don't understand, I don't understand. I've tried so hard, why won't Chen Yang take a single step back?"

The dignified Director of the Public Security Bureau is now crying like a child.

"resource!"

Lin Zhiyuan coldly uttered two words. Since he had already said it, he might as well be more explicit: "This kind of thing can't be brought up in the open, but it does exist."

"But Chen Yanshi was stubborn and incompetent, and even his former comrades-in-arms had few who could share his views."

"He only managed to get a position as a full-fledged department head by virtue of his seniority."

"He has so many resources, but he also has two sons. Chen Shan joined the army early on, not to mention Chen Hai, what about him?"

"Chen Hai's abilities are clearly inferior to yours."

"Once Chen Yang marries you, you'll automatically be labeled as a member of the Chen family. Will he give his resources to his excellent son-in-law or his youngest son?"

"Resources tend to accumulate; the strong will become more numerous, while the weak will remain weak."

"At that time, he probably couldn't even make the decision himself."

"It would be better to eliminate this possibility from the start."

"Let's go back to the unspoken rules of resource allocation. It's a step-by-step demotion system. Chen Yanshi retired as a full-fledged department director. With Chen Hai's abilities, he'd be at most a division chief or even a deputy division chief now. He'll end up with a sinecure as a deputy department director before he retires."

"But now, he's a 43-year-old deputy director-general level official, serving as the director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau of the Provincial Procuratorate."

"It'll probably take another two years."

"Naturally, one would rise to the position of deputy chief prosecutor in charge of the anti-corruption bureau, a member of the Party committee, and reach the level of a full-fledged department head."

"You're no worse than Director Qi, who kneels and cries at graves."

"This is not the kind of power that you, Teacher Gao, and Chen Yanshi possess."

Understood!

Everything is clear.

Qi Tongwei wiped away his tears, but his eyes were red and bloodshot. Chen Yang was going to the capital for a marriage alliance.

That bastard Chen Yanshi used his own daughter to buy a bright future for his youngest son.

"I'm sorry, Governor Lin."

"I lost my composure in front of you."

Qi Tongwei regained his composure. After a good cry, he was still the powerful Director of the Handong Public Security Bureau.

At least for now.

"Take a look at this."

"I don't know if this is good news or bad news for you."

Lin Zhiyuan took a letter out of the drawer and pushed it over.

"..."

Qi Tongwei opened the envelope, puzzled, only to find Chen Yang's family information inside.

Chen Yang: Divorced (Single)

Married in 96;

They divorced in 02 due to having no children for many years.

Qi Tongwei, who had finally regained his composure, trembled again. 96 was the year he knelt down to propose, and 02 was the year he cried at the grave.

Qi Tongwei didn't know if it was a coincidence or if Chen Yang was actually trying, but in the end he completely gave up on him.

Qi Tongwei's already wavering will wavered once again, and he came up with a third option: to win Chen Yang back.

His eyes held hope.

But when Qi Tongwei looked up, he saw Lin Zhiyuan's deep, unfathomable eyes, as if he were looking at prey.

My mind went completely blank.

Qi Tongwei's rusty political intelligence has unexpectedly gained the upper hand for once. This is not just giving him another choice, but giving him another weakness to exploit.

"Governor Lin... I'll do whatever you say."

"I was a cadre trained by the organization, but I went astray for a moment due to evil thoughts. Now I only want to be a qualified organizational cadre, and I will definitely stand firmly by Governor Lin's side."

Qi Tongwei quickly stood up to express his stance.

"The last sentence is not bad."

Lin Zhiyuan smiled, but the smile wasn't deep. "Since you said you'd listen to me, then I'll tell you."

"First, if you don't have official business, go home to your and Liang Lu's home. I don't care about your relationship as a couple, but you should appear harmonious on the surface."

"Second, send Gao Xiaoqin in."

"Third, bring your son from Hong Kong back and raise him under the guise of adoption. As for how to convince Liang Lu, you can figure that out yourself."

With each sentence Lin Zhiyuan spoke, Qi Tongwei's heart clenched, especially the second one.

That was his soulmate!

The only woman in the world who truly understands all his inner suffering and has had a similar experience.

Fourth, a woman should put on the clothes she takes off herself, and similarly, a man should regain the face he has lost.

"Put all your energy into this from now on."

Lin Zhiyuan, seemingly oblivious to Qi Tongwei's inner struggle and humiliation, continued speaking, finally pointing his finger to the "anti-gang crime" report:

"I want the land of Handong to be peaceful and prosperous."

"Yes, Governor Lin!"

Qi Tongwei stood up and saluted.

He had no other choice.