Nominal: The Handong Game, the Energy System's Counterattack

Hearing Cheng Du's statement, Zhao Dehan nodded with a smile.

Then, with a somewhat serious expression, he looked at Cheng Du and said, "I'm not talking about you, Director Cheng Du, but your ideological awareness really needs improvement."

"What do you mean by 'my life is mine'? We're all cadres of the organization; our lives belong to the organization."

"We all swore an oath when we joined the organization to serve the people!"

"Besides, what use would I be to your life? I just want you to do your job well."

"This is also Governor Zhou's request."

"Secretary Zhao's criticism is correct; my ideological awareness is not high enough."

Cheng Du nodded vigorously, his face filled with excitement. "I will definitely strengthen my ideological study, follow the spirit of the organization, and dedicate myself to it."

Zhao Dehan nodded in satisfaction, indicating that Cheng Du was sensible.

Some things can't be said carelessly. They are all organizational cadres. How could they say such things as expressing loyalty?

Their loyalty can only be to the Party, to the organization, and to the people.

He didn't know about other places, but Zhao Dehan had been in Yanjing for nearly thirty years and had seen plenty of trouble caused by his words.

Sometimes, a casual remark can be a weapon used by an opponent to attack you.

Fortunately, the person Cheng Du had just pledged his loyalty to was himself.

Although both knew who they needed to be loyal to, they could act on it, but they couldn't say it carelessly.

Zhao Dehan patted Cheng Du on the shoulder and said, "Remember, what Governor Zhou and I need are cadres who are honest in their work, upright in their conduct, and law-abiding."

Upon hearing Governor Zhou's name again from Zhao Dehan, Cheng Du nodded excitedly.

He worked in the public security system for twenty years, climbing his way up from the grassroots level. Only he knows how much hardship and grievance he endured.

Over the years, he has watched those with connections and backgrounds rise one by one, while he himself, despite working his hardest, can only stand aside.

Later, he sided with Zhao Ruilong and spent a lot of effort to get the other party to take him in.

He thought his chance had come, but what actually happened?

Zhao Ruilong didn't treat him like a human being at all. He had to do whatever he was told, and if he didn't, he was threatened and suppressed. He lived like a dog.

But things are different now.

The powerful patron Zhao Dehan found for him was a member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee and a vice governor with real power.

How incredibly lucky must a deputy division-level cadre like him have to find such a powerful backer?

"Secretary Zhao," Cheng Du took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind.

He turned and walked to the cabinet behind his desk, taking a key out of his pocket.

Open the cabinet, and inside is a safe.

He squatted down in front of the safe and began to turn the combination lock.

Zhao Dehan walked over and watched as Cheng Du opened the iron door of the safe.

There was no cash or gold bars in the safe, only stacks of neatly arranged folders and a few storage devices.

Cheng Du moved all these things out and placed them on his desk, filling the entire desk.

"What is this?" Zhao Dehan asked.

Du Cheng's voice became low and solemn.

"Secretary Zhao, this is all my records from the past two years." He paused, "Zhao Ruilong had me eavesdropping not only on Secretary Li Dakang, but also..."

"There were also other important officials from Jingzhou City, as well as several people from the Shanshui Group."

Zhao Dehan's eyebrows twitched slightly.

"All the original records are here," Cheng Du said, pointing to the folders and storage devices on the table.

"Recordings, call logs, and location tracking—it's all there."

"I haven't had a single good night's sleep in the past two years. I know that once these things are discovered, I'll be doomed."

"But I dared not refuse to do it, nor did I dare to destroy it, because Zhao Ruilong might ask me for it at any time."

He looked at Zhao Dehan with a resolute, do-or-die attitude.

"Secretary Zhao, I'm handing all of these over to you today."

"From today onwards, I will not leave myself a way out."

Zhao Dehan was silent for a moment, then nodded and said only one word: "Okay."

Cheng Du let out a long breath, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

His eyes were a little red, and his voice trembled slightly: "Secretary Zhao, I did make mistakes and went astray in the past."

"But from today onwards, I will definitely abide by the law and act in a proper manner, and I will never let you down."

Zhao Dehan reached out and patted him on the shoulder. "It's not my trust, it's the organization's trust."

The organization trusted them, but both knew who represented the organization now.

Cheng Du nodded firmly and found a black box.

I put everything in a box and placed it on the table.

By this time, the rain outside the window had stopped.

A sliver of sunlight peeked through the sky, tinting the edges of the clouds a pale gold.

There was a unique, fresh scent in the air after the rain, a blend of earthy and grassy aromas.

Just like his current mood, in the short span of less than two hours, his mood went up and down like a roller coaster.

His life circumstances also underwent a dramatic change.

Zhao Dehan stood in front of Cheng Du's desk, watching Cheng Du pack all the things into boxes.

He carefully locked the box, looking very serious, and even checked to make sure nothing was missing.

His condition is completely different now.

Just half an hour ago, he was a man consumed by despair.

Now, a light has rekindled in his eyes, a certainty and hope that he has found his direction.

"Secretary Zhao, don't worry," Cheng Du said in a low voice, "I will bring all the equipment back and destroy it tonight."

"From now on, I will sever all ties with Zhao Ruilong."

Zhao Dehan nodded. "Besides these, you need to clean up any mess between you and Zhao Ruilong."

"Also, keep a close eye on your cousin, Chang Chenghu. Give him a good talking-to if he needs it, so he doesn't cause you any trouble."

Cheng Du immediately said that he would definitely keep a close eye on his cousin and prevent him from breaking the law.

Zhao Dehan nodded: "What will you say if Zhao Ruilong comes looking for you again?"

Cheng Du thought for a moment and said, "I told you that the Municipal Bureau is keeping a close eye on things lately, and the situation is too tense, so I don't dare to do it anymore."

"If all else fails, I'll..."

"No need," Zhao Dehan interrupted him. "If Zhao Ruilong comes looking for you, just tell him directly that Governor Zhou has taken a liking to you and that you will no longer work for Zhao Ruilong."

Cheng Du was stunned for a moment, then nodded vigorously, a look of almost vengeful satisfaction on his face.

He had long been fed up with Zhao Ruilong.

That spoiled brat, relying on his father's power, acted arrogantly in Handong, and didn't take anyone seriously at all.

In his eyes, Cheng Du was nothing more than a dog that could be driven around at will, given a bone when useful and kicked away when useless.

"But what if Zhao Ruilong keeps pursuing us?"

"I know a little about Zhao Ruilong. If I directly tell him that I will not listen to him anymore, he will definitely not give up."

He could say he was done with Zhao Ruilong, and he could speak very casually, but if the other party didn't give up, he would still feel somewhat uneasy.

"If you tell him, Zhao Ruilong will cause you more trouble and force you to do more things."

"Give me Governor Zhou's name and tell him directly that if he has any complaints or thoughts, he should ask his father, Comrade Zhao Lichun."

"He doesn't even have the qualifications to speak directly with Governor Zhou, you understand?"