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

The call was connected within ten seconds of being dialed back.

"Hello, is this Director Hou?"

"I am Hou Liangping, and you are?"

"I am Zhao Xiaohui!"

Chapter 213 Forced to Join the Liangshan Rebels, The Decisive Moment

"Miss Zhao, we don't know each other, do we?"

Hou Liangping had barely finished speaking when Zhao Xiaohui got straight to the point.

"I am Zhao Ruilong's second sister, Director Hou. Are you free now? I would like to see you!"

"Ahem, isn't this inappropriate?"

"Shanshui Manor, we'll be waiting for you at 8 p.m.

Zhao Xiaohui didn't say anything else and hung up the phone directly.

Hou Liangping shook his head. Now it seemed that the initiative was in his hands. So what if he went? What was there to be afraid of?

At 8 p.m., when Hou Liangping arrived at Shanshui Manor, Zhao Xiaohui had already prepared a sumptuous feast.

"Director Hou, I've heard so much about you!"

Hou Liangping gave an awkward smile.

"I'm afraid the name 'Miss Zhao' isn't a compliment."

"Smart! Director Hou, you've been abandoned by the Zhong family, yet you still dare to touch the Zhong family's Zhongfu Group. To be honest, I don't quite understand."

"Miss Zhao, there are many things you can't understand."

"Indeed, I understand the saying that there are always people more capable than you, but Director Hou, I won't beat around the bush. Name your price, and we will not hesitate to give you whatever our family can afford!"

"No, Miss Zhao, let me ask your family what they want me to do first. I won't do anything beyond my capabilities, and I won't touch anything that violates the rules or the law."

Zhao Xiaohui smiled faintly.

"Don't worry, Director Hou, we won't cheat you. Our family only has one request: that you don't stop investigating the Zhongfu Group issue, but investigate it thoroughly. If you can also implicate Lin Manjiang and even find out who his protectors are, then we'll consider that you've fulfilled your request."

"Miss Zhao, you make it sound so easy. I'm not stupid. It's obvious that Zhongfu Group has connections with my former father-in-law. Why would I, a deputy director-level cadre, have to fight him to the death?"

"Can I possibly have a good ending?"

"Director Hou, the Zhao family will help you withstand the pressure from the Zhong family. All you need to do is investigate!"

What can I get in return?

"If Director Hou succeeds, our family will help you advance to the next level within two years!"

Hou Liangping rolled his eyes.

"Forget it, your Zhao family is barely able to take care of itself, there's no point in giving such an empty promise."

“Director Hou, you’re mistaken. It’s not the Zhao family, it’s me. I’ve never asked my husband’s family for any help. This favor of yours is nothing to them.”

"you?"

Hou Liangping looked up and met Zhao Xiaohui's eyes, then nodded after a moment of contemplation.

“Miss Zhao is very confident, but I can only guarantee that I will do my best to investigate. I cannot guarantee whether I will be able to find out the truth.”

"It's alright, Director Hou, as long as you've done your best."

Hou Liangping left an hour later. Although Zhao Xiaohui was likely just making empty promises, Hou Liangping didn't care.

Regarding this matter, Director Yun has already agreed to help him secure the position of Chief Prosecutor of Jingzhou Procuratorate.

Secretary Chen reassured him again, saying that he could make a profit by serving three different dishes, and besides, Hou Liangping was also interested in something as exciting as taking revenge on the Zhong family.

At this moment, Hou Liangping seemed to have his own understanding of the word "politics." He had become enlightened!

At 9 p.m., Hou Liangping, who had just left Shanshui Manor, called Yun Haifeng out to report on his progress.

It's still that same barbecue restaurant.

"Liangping, are you saying that Secretary Chen strongly supports you? And even asked you to investigate thoroughly?"

"Yes, I find it strange too. Logically speaking, Secretary Chen should have a very bad impression of me."

After thinking for a moment, Yun Haifeng shook his head.

I think I know why.

I heard that Secretary Chen didn't originally come to Handong; he was supposed to become the deputy director of the Development and Reform Commission. But your father-in-law disagreed and opposed it, so Secretary Chen ended up coming to Handong.

Secretary Chen definitely doesn't like the Zhong family either!

"Huh? Is that so?"

"Well, it could be for other reasons. Anyway, with Secretary Chen's support in Handong, you can investigate the Jingzhou Zhongfu Group branch without any restraint."

They even traced it back to Lin Manjiang and were able to get help from Secretary Chen. Secretary Chen has a lot of influence, no less than my old leaders, especially at the highest levels!

"I understand, Yun Ting. Tomorrow, I will definitely get the person in charge of the Zhongfu Group branch to speak up!"

"Okay, we'll wait for your good news."

Meanwhile, at home, Chen Luo, sitting in his study, was not paying attention to the progress of Hou Liangping's investigation. Instead, he was on the phone with Sun Liancheng, asking him to keep an eye on the work in Lüzhou, as he would not return to Lüzhou until next Monday.

After finishing work, Chen Luo stretched and looked at the time; it was already 10 p.m. He didn't have the habit of staying up late, because staying up late all the time would eventually cause health problems.

A healthy body is an essential component for moving forward, and Chen Luo knew this all too well.

Early Saturday morning, Hou Liangping rushed to the procuratorate and began interrogation. After several hours of continuous interrogation, some staff members finally couldn't help but speak up.

The case of Jingzhou Zhongfu Group's branch embezzling 500 million yuan of shantytown renovation funds has been confirmed, and the issue of embezzling state-owned assets, resulting in the loss of billions of yuan in state-owned assets, has also been resolved.

But that's not all. They were just the executors. Their confessions all pointed to one person: Lin Manjiang.

Hou Liangping was not in a hurry to take action against Lin Manjiang, as that level was beyond the reach of the Handong Procuratorate. After organizing all the evidence, Hou Liangping sent a copy to Yun Haifeng, a report to Ji Changming, and half a copy to Zhao Xiaohui.

After receiving Hou Liangping's message, Zhao Xiaohui clicked her tongue in admiration. Hou Liangping was quite skilled at interrogation; he had secured the evidence in just one day.

After handing the evidence over to her father, Zhao Xiaohui awaited a response from Handong.

The question is whether to continue reporting it or suppress it. If it's suppressed, then it can only mean that the Zhao family is the one who reports it to their superiors.

Upon receiving the evidence, Zhao Lichun's gloom of the past few days vanished. He was genuinely afraid that Liu Xinjian would be unable to withstand the pressure and confess everything.

"Well, Zhong Zhengguo, how dare your Zhong family keep an eye on our family? This Zhongfu Group has gone even further than my son!"

The scales of victory, which had originally tipped in favor of the Zhong family, have now suddenly been pulled to the same level.

In Handong, after Ji Changming reported the evidence to Chen Luo, Chen Luo simply called Tian Guofu and told him to handle it officially. Tian Guofu then leaked the evidence to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Zhongfu Group is in dire straits, and Zhong Zhengguo is extremely busy. The ten days are almost up.

"Who is it! Who is helping the Zhao family!"

Zhong Zhengguo was extremely frustrated. He swore that the Zhao family could not possibly obtain this evidence.

But over the years, their family has offended far too many people, and Zhong Zhengguo has only guessed that there are several targets.

Now it's impossible to stop. Zhong Zhengguo's body trembled, and he could only gamble! He gambled that Lin Manjiang wouldn't be investigated so quickly, and that Liu Xinjian would be the first to succumb to the pressure and expose the Zhao family.

Chapter 214 Liu Xinjian Confesses to His Own Act

Weekend in Hong Kong.

After arriving in the port, Gao Xiaoqin took Tang Chuchu to her younger sister Gao Xiaofeng's residence.

As for why Tang Chuchu was brought along, the reason is simple: Tang Chuchu had been vomiting and feeling nauseous from time to time for the past few days.

Gao Xiaoqin, having given birth to a son herself, already had a vague suspicion in her mind.

Gao Xiaofeng lives in a small villa. The sisters have been very happy to see each other these past two days.

In the morning, after getting up, Gao Xiaoqin went to the living room to play with her son. Her son with Qi Tongwei had always been raised by her younger sister, Gao Xiaofeng.

Just as they were teasing each other, Tang Chuchu came downstairs. As soon as she sat down on the sofa, she couldn't suppress her disgust when she saw the steak on the table.

He immediately ran into the toilet and vomited.

At this moment, Gao Xiaoqin also came up behind her and gently patted Tang Chuchu's back.

"Miss Tang, this has been going on for three days in a row. Do you think it's possible that you're pregnant?"

Tang Chuchu simply smiled faintly at this.

"Mr. Gao, it is possible, but... we need to go to the hospital for a check-up to find out for sure."

"That's easy. I'll go to the hospital with you later. Oh, and don't blame me for not reminding you."

Zhao Ruilong doesn't want this child to be born. If you're really pregnant, it means Zhao Ruilong will be abandoned by the Zhao family. If you trust me, then let me negotiate with the Zhao family patriarch. Of course, to be frank, I also have my own purposes. I want the Zhao family to hold Zhao Ruilong accountable for the illegal and criminal activities of the Shanshui Group.

Tang Chuchu nodded upon hearing this.

"Mr. Gao, believe it or not, even if I were really pregnant, I wouldn't be able to escape your grasp, would I?"

Besides, I have no feelings for Zhao Ruilong. Mr. Zhao is a relatively honest businessman, but also a pervert.

"I'm not exactly a good person. I know if I'm pregnant, Mr. Gao will definitely use it as leverage. That's okay, because I've used it as leverage too."

Seeing that Tang Chuchu was so sensible, Gao Xiaoqin couldn't help but offer a few more reminders.

“Miss Tang, if you really are pregnant, you may not be able to keep the child. The Zhao family will most likely give you a sum of money, and from then on, you will have no relationship with this child.”

Tang Chuchu paused in surprise.

Then he looked up and stared straight at Gao Xiaoqin.

"Sister Xiaoqin, please help me!"

Gao Xiaoqin shook her head.

"No rush, let's go to the hospital for a check-up later. It's too early to make plans now."

Meanwhile, the struggle between the Zhong and Zhao families has reached a fever pitch. The Zhong family's investigation team has been trying to get Liu Xinjian to talk for the past few days, but Liu Xinjian is stubborn and refuses to listen to reason.

Meanwhile, the report submitted by the Handong Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection regarding the problems of Lin Manjiang, the Party Secretary of Zhongfu Group, also led to a double-regulation investigation of Lin Manjiang.