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

"The Anti-Corruption Bureau is handling this."

Hou Liangping held up the official document and his work ID at the door, allowing the security guard to check them at will.

Cool!

Returning home in wealth and honor is like wearing brocade at night.

He could no longer return to his hometown in Handong, but he still acted with impunity in the capital.

But the gatekeeper's face remained cold and expressionless, offering no emotional support whatsoever. He simply nodded and said, "You may go in!"

"Director Zhao's office is on the 6th floor. Please do not wander around. There is a registration desk at the elevator entrance. Please follow the rules."

Hou Liangping felt nauseous, as if he had swallowed a fly. He put away the documents and certificates, turned around, and walked into the courtyard.

Not long after.

Zhao Dehan was escorted out by Hou Liangping. Throughout the entire process, the Energy Bureau was as quiet as if it were an uninhabited area, and no one appeared to stop them.

A window on a high floor.

The three stood side by side, coldly observing what was happening. Strangely, Director Hao was standing on the left, not in the center.

"Mr. Zhang, this son-in-law of the Zhong family is far too arrogant!"

"Director Hao said bitterly."

But he almost couldn't suppress the smile on his lips.

"Let this mischievous monkey investigate; I'm sure the contents of that villa will satisfy him."

Mr. Zhang raised his hand to wipe the corner of his mouth, a cold glint in his eyes. "I just hope his father-in-law will be satisfied too."

"President Zhang, Director Hao, will Zhong Mingde be unable to cover this up?"

Deputy Director Wang, who was on duty tonight, asked cautiously.

Inside the Imperial Capital Villa, there's now more than just the 2.4 million yuan in embezzled funds…

What if things escalate?

Even President Zhang himself might not be able to protect himself, let alone Hou Liangping's father-in-law, Zhong Mingde.

"Heh, doesn't the Zhong family still have an ancestor?"

Mr. Zhang smiled nonchalantly, "It's a good opportunity to teach them a lesson."

"One group of people are our helpers, washing dishes and guarding the door, while another group treats this place like a showcase for their political achievements. They really think we're easy targets like turtles and bastards!"

Deputy Director Wang remained silent, not daring to speak.

These two bodhisattvas didn't tell him that he was going to play such a big game before the plan started!

He just wanted to be safe.

"Scared?"

President Zhang glanced at him coldly, "Go back and submit your resignation now, I'll approve it! Considering our years of camaraderie, I'll guarantee you a safe landing."

Deputy Director Wang gave a bitter smile.

Will he agree?

Once he agrees, he'll be fine, but his children will lose all hope of pursuing official careers.

They don't even get a sinecure!

"I will listen to General Manager Zhang and Director Hao."

However, neither Director Zhang nor Director Hao took Deputy Director Wang's statement to heart at all, their eyes still fixed on Hou Liangping's departing car.

"Mr. Zhang, things should start to get chaotic tonight. Once they realize what's happening, they'll definitely retaliate against us."

Director Hao suggested, "We must implement the new rules and regulations as soon as possible, even if it can't solve the root cause, it can at least address the symptoms."

Mr. Zhang nodded:

"That naughty monkey who doesn't know any rules. If everyone were as sensible as Xiaolin, that would be great."

Lin Zhiyuan?

He has absolutely nothing to do with being sensible!

Director Hao's lips twitched.

Hou Liangping's car had already arrived at the Dijingyuan villa area and was heading straight for a certain building.

"Director Zhao, you're not saying you're not familiar with this area, are you?"

Hou Liangping raised an eyebrow and asked.

"Go ahead and search."

As if resigned to his fate, Zhao Dehan simply found a chair and sat down.

Hou Liangping frowned.

The beautiful expectation of having corrupt officials under control and listening to their tearful confessions has once again been ruthlessly shattered.

But Zhao Dehan showed no sign of resistance, so he could only suppress his displeasure.

"Hou has made a discovery."

The officers from the First Investigation Division, who had conducted the searches, reported, "Large amounts of cash were found in wardrobes, refrigerators, and under beds, and... and several bookshelves in several rooms were lined with walls of money."

"Based on our past experience, this is a conservative estimate."

Xiao Lei took a deep breath, his voice trembling with excitement mixed with a hint of fear, and concluded, "The cash in this villa is estimated to exceed 5 million!"

Five hundred million?

This is real cash, not just numbers in a bank account. Most listed companies can't come up with such a huge amount of cash flow.

"Arrange for a banknote counting machine to be brought in to count the money."

Hou Liangping immediately realized the seriousness of the situation. "From now on, including myself, everyone must go to the toilet in pairs."

This is to prevent cadres from failing the test, and also to protect these young cadres from going astray.

"yes!"

Everyone responded in unison.

They may have their share of personal flaws, big and small, but none of them who make it into the Anti-Corruption Bureau are truly incompetent.

"Hou has made a discovery."

Another investigator brought over a thick notebook. "This was found on the bedroom ceiling; it's suspected to be the suspect's ledger."

"You haven't seen it, have you?"

After putting on gloves and receiving a clear answer, Hou Liangping carefully took the notebook and turned to Zhao Dehan, asking, "Director Zhao, is this your ledger?"

"Director Hou, why don't you just open it and see for yourself?"

Zhao Dehan scoffed, "Of course, as a comrade, or at least a former comrade, I advise you not to open it."

"At your rank, you're not qualified to look at its contents."

"Even calling your father-in-law, Zhong Mingde, over won't work!"

Zhao Dehan seemed to have all his energy drained away. He slumped in his chair and tried to comfort him in the tone of "a dying man's words are good."

"Director Hou, he's trying to provoke you."

"Don't fall into his trap."

The investigators quickly tried to dissuade them.

Zhao Dehan's rank was not high, but his position was too special; a single ledger could blow up the entire anti-corruption bureau.

"You're just a section-level cadre, can't I, as the head of the anti-corruption bureau, even look at your accounts?"

Hou Liangping's fingers brushed along the edge of the notebook, but with his fingers spread open, there was no sign of him turning the pages.

Zhao Dehan turned his head away and let out a disdainful sneer.

Hou Liangping breathed a deep sigh of relief. How could he not know what the ordinary staff knew? But he was unwilling to lose face in front of his subordinates, which was why he had just tested them.

Sure enough, there was something wrong with the ledger.

Suddenly.

A shadow loomed over us.

Then came the alarmed warnings from the investigation officers and the dull thud of a chair hitting the ground, but Hou Liangping had already been tackled by Zhao Dehan who suddenly sprang up.

"Heh heh, Hou Liangping, you dare investigate me? You and the Zhong family can both go to hell to keep me company!"

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Zhao Dehan picked up the ledger that had fallen to the ground, opened a page, and slapped it directly onto Hou Liangping's face.

There were no further acts of violence after that.

Only chilling laughter, like the murmurs of a devil, echoed in the empty villa.

"Why do you all have to force me!"

"Why is everyone forcing me? I just want to be a law-abiding cadre, change my own and my family's fate, and do something for the people!"

"Why are you all forcing me!"

Zhao Dehan was pinned to the ground by the investigation officer, but he was still howling deep in his throat, like a desperate lone wolf.

Jingle Bell!

The phone rang urgently.