In name only: I will break the chess game in Handong

"You? You haven't forgotten why I sent you to Handong, have you? Tell me, is that you in the video?! You've disgraced the Zhong family for eight generations!"

"I didn't mean it, Dad..."

"You didn't do it on purpose? You're still trying to deny it? Who forced you? In the video, you were clearly... clearly enjoying it! I'm too ashamed to even say it, it's so embarrassing!"

Your grandfather fainted from anger when he found out about this. You'd better pray he's alright, otherwise…!

Before Zhong Xiaoai could continue explaining, the call was abruptly ended. Zhong Xiaoai was completely stunned, and the feeling of the world turning white left her at a loss for what to do.

After a long while, Zhong Xiaoai, pale-faced, finally made a phone call to Zhao Ruilong.

"Zhao Ruilong!"

As soon as the call connected, Zhao Ruilong was met with Zhong Xiaoai's roar, which startled him.

“Secretary Zhong, why are you shouting like that?”

"Missing me? Let me tell you, I've had my fill of old women like you once."

Hearing Zhao Ruilong still joking, Zhong Xiaoai's anger was completely ignited.

"Zhao Ruilong, you're asking for it! You actually released my video, do you know what that means?!"

Zhao Ruilong was stunned by these words.

"Secretary Zhong, explain yourself! What video are you referring to!"

"I was caught in Chen Hai's... video!"

Zhao Ruilong's heart skipped a beat. He wasn't really stupid. He could just use this method to control Zhong Xiaoai. If it really got out, it would be a fight to the death.

"Secretary Zhong, I swear! I, Zhao Ruilong, truly did not release any of your videos!"

"I'm not stupid. If word gets out, wouldn't that be a lose-lose situation?"

Hearing this, Zhong Xiaoai calmed down a bit.

"You really don't have it?"

"Heaven and earth bear witness! Secretary Zhong, you know perfectly well what I'd gain if word got out?"

"Then who exactly leaked it!"

"Secretary Zhong, don't worry, let me check."

Zhao Ruilong's face was grim after hanging up the phone. He only wanted to control Zhong Xiaoai, not to die together with her!

After much deliberation, Zhao Ruilong still felt that only Chen Hai had this opportunity.

The call was made directly to Chen Hai.

"Hey, Chen Hai, I'm asking you, did you release the video of you and Zhong Xiaoai?"

Chen Hai immediately denied it upon receiving the call.

"Young Master Zhao, I'm not stupid. Why would I upload a video? It wouldn't do me any good, would it?"

Is Chen Hai's statement reasonable? Yes, it is. From a profit perspective, neither he nor Chen Hai would release the video.

"That's strange. Let's leave it at that for now. I'll have someone investigate!"

After hanging up the phone, Zhao Ruilong quickly ordered his men to investigate the source, but they still found nothing.

In a secluded corner, in the office of the Provincial Public Security Department Director, Yun Haifeng stood ramrod straight.

"Don't worry, old leader, the Zhong and Zhao families will definitely not suspect us in this matter."

"Hmm, Haifeng, you did a good job. I heard that the Zhong family member fainted from anger. Hahaha, that's satisfying. The next step is to make the two families fight to the death. Are you confident?"

"Reporting to the leader, we are determined to complete the mission!"

"Good, that's spirited! Once you've completed your mission, I'll personally speak up for you and help you get a vice-provincial position. You definitely won't be treated unfairly."

"Hehe, old boss, you know I don't really care about these rewards..."

"Go away, if you didn't care, you wouldn't have volunteered. Do a good job, we have faith in you. By the way, the mission must be completed, and the work at the provincial department cannot be done carelessly. Remember to maintain good relations with Comrade Chen Luo, understand?"

"Understood, understood! You can rest assured, senior leader!"

"Okay, I'm hanging up."

"Goodbye, boss!"

In a very good mood, Yun Haifeng started humming a little tune.

"Back when my team first started, we only had a dozen or so men and seven or eight guns."

I was chased by the Imperial Army and completely disoriented. Thankfully, Sister Aqing told me to hide inside the water vat… This straw-covered house actually served as a windbreak… Once you're gone, the tea gets cold. What's the point of being thorough or not!

Some people died, some took the blame, some were angry, some were confused, and some were overjoyed.

2:40 PM.

A provincial party committee meeting was held.

The meeting had two main topics: one was a discussion on ensuring fairness in the Handong civil service examination, and the other was a progress report on Handong's work at this stage.

When Chen Luo arrived at the small conference room of the provincial party committee, he was the last to arrive, but he was not late. After taking his seat, Li Dakang whispered something in Chen Luo's ear.

"Secretary Chen, have you heard about Zhong Xiaoai's matter?"

Chen Luo didn't speak, but just smiled and raised his eyebrows, and Li Dakang immediately understood what he meant.

At this moment, Sha Ruijin spoke up.

"Comrades, today's meeting will mainly focus on the following two matters..."

After discussing the serious matters, we moved on to the gossip segment.

"Secretary Guofu, what's the deal with Zhong Xiaoai from your provincial discipline inspection commission? If it's just a rumor, I'll have the comrades in the publicity department suppress it and issue a denial. But if it's true, I'm afraid Secretary Guofu will need to have a serious talk with Zhong Xiaoai."

Yang Yanhua, as the propaganda minister, was the most qualified to speak on this matter, while Tian Guofu simply smiled and shook his head.

"Minister Yang, I'm not quite sure."

I've heard it's fake, but others say it's true. Apparently, it's a smear campaign, but it could be true. I've already had the disciplinary committee investigate.

That's as good as saying nothing at all.

Sha Ruijin was clearly unaware of this matter.

"Comrade Yanhua, Comrade Guofu, what are you talking about? What Zhong Xiaoai? Is there something wrong with this comrade? Does the Discipline Inspection Commission need to investigate?"

Chapter 195 A Desperate Struggle, Zhong Hou Splits

This is a very awkward question. How should we explain it to Sha Ruijin?

In the end, Governor Liu smiled and took out his phone, then handed the contents to Sha Ruijin.

"Comrade Ruijin, you'll see for yourself."

He took the phone with a puzzled look on his face, and after reading the whole thing, Sha Ruijin was completely stunned.

Zhong Xiaoai... she's really playing tricks!

"Ahem! So that's what happened. Um, Comrade Guofu, your Discipline Inspection Commission must thoroughly investigate whether this is true!"

"Yes, Secretary Sha!"

Some of the Standing Committee members who weren't very well-informed and weren't interested in gossip before, became curious after Sha Ruijin said that something had happened to Zhong Xiaoai that made Sha Ruijin cough like that.

You'll know what you need to know right after the meeting.

The only person who wasn't interested was Gao Yuliang.

The reason is simple: his daughter, Gao Fangfang, is returning to China today, and he has already prepared to pick her up at the airport later.

At 6 p.m., Zhong Xiaoai fled the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and returned home as if she were escaping, while Hou Liangping also returned home amidst the pointing fingers of others.

Upon opening the door, Hou Liangping's anger flared up the moment he saw Zhong Xiaoai sitting blankly on the sofa.

"Zhong Xiaoai, you're shameless!"

"Now everyone calls me the king of cuckolds, how am I supposed to face people in the future?"

Faced with Hou Liangping's accusations, Zhong Xiaoai's blank expression vanished abruptly, replaced by burning anger.

Reaching out and grabbing a cup from the coffee table, Zhong Xiaoai threw it at Hou Liangping without hesitation.

With a bang, the cup smashed onto Hou Liangping's forehead, shattering as blood seeped from his forehead.

"Hou Liangping, how dare you criticize me?"

"If you and Zhao Ruilong hadn't framed me, would I have ended up like this?"

Hou Liangping winced in pain, touched the blood flowing from his forehead, and no longer had any reservations about Zhong Xiaoai.

"You bitch, you dare hit me?"

Rushing forward, Hou Liangping slapped Zhong Xiaoai across the face. Zhong Xiaoai didn't back down either, her nails digging deep into Hou Liangping's face, leaving scratches everywhere.

The two started fighting without any regard for their image, until the phone rang.

After calming down and catching their breath, the two looked at the phone on the table. It was a call from Zhong's father.

Zhong Xiaoai's eyes were filled with tears as she stared intently at Hou Liangping. Her reputation was now in jeopardy, and she had no intention of tolerating Hou Liangping any longer.

She started crying as soon as she answered the phone.

"dad!"

Originally, Mr. Zhong called to give Zhong Xiaoai a good scolding, but as he listened to his daughter's sorrowful cries, his anger gradually subsided.

"Why are you crying? You still have the nerve to cry?"

"Dad, I... I really didn't betray my wifely virtue, it was Hou Liangping! He cheated on me first and Zhao Ruilong caught him red-handed. That beast actually got me drunk and gave me to Zhao Ruilong for his own future. I... I'm innocent too!"

After hearing his daughter's explanation, Mr. Zhong was like a volcano about to erupt, while Hou Liangping, who had overheard this in the room, had calmed down and realized that he had done something very foolish.

"Let Hou Liangping answer the phone!"

As soon as her father gave the order, Zhong Xiaoai turned on the speakerphone and faced Hou Liangping.

"Dad, he's right here in the house. Just now... just now he even had the nerve to hit me!"

"Hou Liangping! Do you want to die?!"