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

"That's right, Senior Brother Qi still likes me, his junior brother."

"Teacher, let me tell you, that meal yesterday must have cost at least tens of thousands of yuan," Hou Liangping added with a smile.

"If you ask me, to welcome me back, just buy a few crabs, steam them, buy a bottle of good wine, and go to any roadside stall."

"The current Director Qi is too concerned about his reputation as a director. I only sat down after he begged and pleaded with me."

Gao Yuliang probably realized that this meal was probably too extravagant, which made the monkey have some opinions about Qi Tongwei.

"Your senior brother is still a sentimental person. He always keeps you and Chen Hai in his heart."

He probably came here today with the intention of testing me.

"Haha, the teacher is right, it's just too grand, I can't get used to it." Hou Liangping laughed heartily, seemingly unconcerned.

"Teacher, at yesterday's welcome dinner, my senior introduced me to Gao Xiaoqin, the owner of the Shanshui Group."

As Hou Liangping said this, he paid attention to the changes in Gao Yuliang's expression.

Unfortunately, the other person's expression didn't change when they heard Gao Xiaoqin's name.

"Let me tell you, this Boss Gao Xiaoqin is no ordinary person. She seems to be very familiar with all these cadres."

"Some cadres even acted very, how should I put it, somewhat ingratiatingly towards her, tsk tsk tsk."

Speaking of Gao Xiaoqin, Hou Liangping deliberately shook his head and said that it was unbelievable that these cadres in Handong would fawn over a businesswoman.

Hearing Hou Liangping's words, Gao Yuliang felt very uncomfortable.

Qi Tongwei, this eldest disciple, still lacks discipline in his actions.

Inviting an anti-corruption bureau official to dinner, inviting so many officials from the political and legal system, and bringing Gao Xiaoqin along.

They even arranged it in such a sensitive place as the Mountain and Water Manor. Are they afraid that others won't know that Qi Tongwei has problems?

Gao Yuliang would call on Qi Tongwei whenever he had the chance, and he wouldn't listen to a word Qi Tongwei said lately.

As expected, Hou Liangping's next words confirmed Gao Yuliang's suspicions.

"When I went to Yanjing, my senior had not yet returned to Jingzhou, and I had not seen him for many years."

"This time, through close contact and observation, I discovered that my old senior and Gao Xiaoqin from the Shanshui Group..."

"The relationship seems a bit too intimate, unlike the usual interactions between government and business."

After saying this, Hou Liangping felt the atmosphere in the room become a bit tense. He looked up and met Gao Yuliang's somewhat serious face.

The sudden change in Gao Yuliang's expression, a mere deputy secretary of the provincial party committee, immediately put Hou Liangping under immense pressure.

Hou Liangping knew that Gao Yuliang might be a little unhappy, but he still stared at Gao Yuliang with his neck stiff.

He expected to be reprimanded or refuted by Gao Yuliang.

But after looking at the stubborn Hou Liangping for a few seconds, Gao Yuliang suddenly smiled, and there was something in that smile that Hou Liangping couldn't understand.

"Liangping, you've been in Yanjing for so long."

"You haven't learned anything else, but you're much more tactful in your speech and actions than before, and you even know how to use some clever tricks."

"You weren't like this in college. Back then, you spoke directly to your teachers and said whatever came to mind."

"The environment changes people," Hou Liangping laughed, but he didn't even realize that his back was covered in a fine layer of sweat.

"Alright, stop with the nonsense. Tell me, what did you discover?"

Gao Yuliang smiled and told Hou Liangping not to probe him with words.

He should just say what he wants to say. Hou Liangping is far from being good at playing mind games with me.

Hou Liangping gave an awkward smile, "Teacher, I've been showing off my limited skills before an expert."

"However, I came here today because I genuinely want to hear your judgment."

"The case of Ding Yizhen is under great scrutiny from above; it's being watched closely by both the provincial and municipal authorities."

"I'm under a lot of pressure, so I wanted to talk to you. You're very experienced and have a more comprehensive view of things than I do, so there might be things I haven't noticed."

Gao Yuliang nodded. "Then tell me, what exactly did you discover?"

"We did discover something while investigating Ding Yizhen's escape case."

"We found that on the night Ding Yizhen fled, Gao Xiaoqin's private mobile phone from the Shanshui Group received a text message from the provincial party committee's base station."

"This number is very strange. It was only used once that night, and after the call, it was permanently turned off, and there are no records of its use since."

"Shanshui Group has a lot of business dealings with Ding Yizhen, so it's plausible that Gao Xiaoqin tipped him off."

"But the question is, how did Gao Xiaoqin get this information? Who told her?"

"The coverage area of ​​the provincial party committee's base station is extremely small, limited to the interior of the provincial party committee compound and the surrounding core area, where there are not many people."

"Moreover, only a handful of people knew about Ding Yizhen's affairs that night."

Gao Yuliang did not respond. He picked up the chess piece again, rubbed it in his hand, and looked at the chessboard, but did not look at the game.

Just now, Hou Liangping said that Qi Tongwei had thrown a welcome banquet for him and that Qi Tongwei and Gao Xiaoqin had a close relationship.

No wonder. After several seconds, Gao Yuliang finally spoke: "Do you think the person who sent the message to Gao Xiaoqin was your senior brother, Qi Tongwei?"

Gao Yuliang directly asked Hou Liangping if he suspected Qi Tongwei was the one who tipped off Ding Yizhen on the night he fled.

"Teacher, I don't believe the senior would do such a thing either."

Hou Liangping wasn't stupid; he couldn't just say he suspected Qi Tongwei.

Although he looked down on Qi Tongwei, he knew how much Qi Tongwei meant to Gao Yuliang.

"I'm just reporting what I know to you."

"As the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, you have the authority to guide the work below. Ding Yizhen's case is of great importance, so I'm just reporting to you."

"But after meeting my senior yesterday, and considering what we found out, I can't help but have my doubts."

Based on the clues Hou Liangping currently has, Qi Tongwei is indeed the first person he suspects.

Logically, upon hearing that one's trusted protégé has been listed as a prime suspect...

Gao Yuliang would inevitably be nervous, and even if he tried to hide it, he would still reveal subtle flaws.

To Hou Liangping's surprise, Gao Yuliang remained calm and showed no sign of panic.

"Your suspicion has some merit, but to doubt him simply because he and Gao Xiaoqin are a bit close is to underestimate your senior."

Gao Yuliang looked relaxed and took a sip of tea.

"You have no idea, this Shanshui Manor is quite famous in Jingzhou, I'm not kidding you, little monkey."

"Before the Eight-Point Regulation, I, your teacher, also ate there a few times."

"Gao Xiaoqin has a wide circle of friends, so it's not surprising that Qi Tongwei is familiar with her."

"You may have heard recently that he's been extremely cautious lately, almost to the point of obsession, in his pursuit of promotion to vice-governor."

"Under these circumstances, Tongwei would absolutely not have had such a motive, nor would he ever do something so risky and dangerous."

He shook his head gently, his tone resolute.