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

His face was frighteningly red!

Chen Luo, who had already walked more than ten meters away, smiled knowingly and then joked, "Director Tian, ​​comrades, one of those four people who just passed by looks quite familiar. He looks a bit like the mayor of Jingzhou City a few years ago."

No, no, I must have mistaken someone else. If it really was the other party, they would definitely recognize me and Comrade Guofu.

And judging from the man in front of them, his face was flushed and his body was trembling uncontrollably; he must have been drunk and couldn't even stand properly. I was afraid he might suddenly fall to his knees as I passed by, since there are quite a few people faking accidents these days.

Tian Guofu had tried very hard to hold back his laughter after hearing Chen Luo's words, but he still couldn't help it and burst into laughter. Lu Yun didn't even bother to act anymore and laughed even louder, while the others tried their best to remain restrained.

As Chen Luo and his group walked further and further away, Huo Chunhua remained standing in the same spot, her face changing from flushed to gloomy in a faster-than-life Sichuan opera face-changing performance. Wu Daoping and the other two beside her wanted to offer some words of comfort, but seeing Huo Chunhua's expression, none of them dared to speak.

And so, the four of them stood there like idiots.

It wasn't until more than ten minutes later that Huo Chunhua said, trembling, "Chen Luo! We'll see!"

After saying that, he turned and left. Wu Daoping and the other two breathed a sigh of relief, finally able to go home.

Meanwhile, after leaving the airport, Chen Luo and the other members of the Standing Committee of Handong said their goodbyes in the parking lot.

This time, instead of choosing the provincial military district as their base in Handong, they opted for a hotel, the Shanshui Grand Hotel, which was formerly known as Shanshui Manor.

In the car, Chen Luo and Tian Guofu sat in the back row.

Hou Liangping was driving in the front seat, Zhong Xiaoai was in the passenger seat, and the rest of the supervisory team members were all sitting in a Toyota Coaster.

The two stared at each other, neither saying a word.

Finally, Tian Guofu couldn't hold back any longer.

"Secretary Chen, were you doing that on purpose just now?"

Chen Luo rolled his eyes and leaned back.

He said calmly, "Secretary Tian, ​​what just happened? What just happened?"

These words stunned Tian Guofu.

We're all on the same side, why pretend?

"It's Huo Chunhua! Secretary Chen, don't tell me you don't know him!"

Chen Luo shook his head. "Secretary Tian, ​​you're wrong. I've never met Comrade Huo Chunhua, and we have no connection whatsoever."

You said he looks like Comrade Huo Chunhua, but I don't think so. After all, I don't know him. But you must know Comrade Lu Yun and others, right?

Since they didn't mention it, it definitely isn't!

Tian Guofu wanted to say something, but Chen Luo didn't give him the chance.

"Besides, even if it really is Comrade Huo Chunhua, he's not at the airport to welcome us. Maybe he's picking up someone else? We can't just be too eager to please him, can we?"

Upon hearing this, Tian Guofu stopped worrying.

"That's true. I've heard Director Xiao mention Huo Chunhua before. Before coming to Handong, he was the Party Secretary of Hai Province."

On the island, people are used to having absolute authority, and the elders in my family have a long history of revolutionary service; they have an arrogant, self-important personality and aren't easy to get along with.

"Personality issues have never been the purpose of our observations, Secretary Tian. Judging from what we just saw, Huo Chunhua cares too much about his face."

He was so afraid of losing face...or being considered inferior. To be honest, this isn't the magnanimity one would expect from a high-ranking official!

Tian Guofu agreed with this assessment.

A high-ranking official must be tolerant and at the very least, learn to endure. Looking at the previous leadership team of Handong, whether it was Sha Ruijin or Zhou Jianjun, even when the struggles were full of troublemakers in Handong, both of them were very tolerant.

This is something even Huo Chunhua's flattery can't match.

"By the way, Secretary Chen, what about Lu Yun? What do you think of him?"

Tian Guofu suddenly brought up Lu Yun again.

Chen Luo fell silent for a moment upon hearing this.

"Actually, compared to Huo Chunhua, putting aside all other factors, I would rather face someone like Huo Chunhua. It doesn't matter if he's a bit stubborn; even if he's too heady, you can control him with a shove of his nose."

But Comrade Lu Yun… a barking dog doesn’t bite. Huo Chunhua, the top leader, has made a mess of Handong, and it’s probably inseparable from Lu Yun’s tendency to cause trouble.

"I sensed it too, a smiling tiger!"

Tian Guofu added.

As they talked, the car arrived at the entrance of the Shanshui Hotel. The Shanshui Manor of today no longer has those messy projects from the past.

The business only includes accommodation, catering, and a golf course, making it a relatively high-end place for negotiating partnerships.

At the hotel entrance, as the car slowly came to a stop, a familiar figure opened the back door before Hou Liangping got out.

"Secretary Chen, Secretary Tian, ​​it's been a long time!"

Chen Luo looked at the newcomer and nodded with a smile.

"Tongwei, you look great! How's your health been these past few years?"

Yes, the person who came was Qi Tongwei. Behind Qi Tongwei, Gao Xiaoqin had two children standing on her left and right.

The older one was twelve or thirteen years old; Chen Luo had met him before—it was Qi Lin.

I've met the little one before; her name is Qi Yuan. However, when Chen Luo left Handong, the little girl was only about two years old. Now she's almost five, and she's very cute with her eyes blinking.

"Secretary Chen, thank you for your concern. I'm in good health, but I'm getting old and don't have as much energy as before."

Chen Luo paused for a moment. Eight years had passed, and Qi Tongwei was fifty-five years old, no longer young.

At this moment, Hou Liangping and Zhong Xiaoai also got out of the car.

"Senior, it's been a long time!"

Qi Tongwei smiled and nodded. He had long since let go of his grudges against Hou Liangping and Zhong Xiaoai.

One thing he had to admit was that Hou Liangping, whether he was petty or sarcastic, ultimately upheld his principles. For that, he deserved to be promoted. Compared to those who couldn't uphold their principles, he was quite good.

"Secretary Chen, Secretary Tian, ​​Liangping, Xiao Ai, and the other comrades, don't stand there, let's go upstairs first."

Without hesitation, the group quickly went upstairs.

In the restaurant, everyone was having a late-night snack. At the middle table, Qi Tongwei looked very happy.

"Secretary Chen, Secretary Tian, ​​I never thought I would see you two again in my lifetime!"

Thank you! Really, if it weren't for Secretary Chen giving me the opportunity, and Secretary Tian giving me the time, I... might still be in prison right now.

Qi Tongwei spoke with heartfelt sincerity, but Chen Luo and Tian Guofu exchanged a glance and did not join the conversation.

"Tongwei, how is Secretary Yuliang?"

When Chen Luo asked about Gao Yuliang, Qi Tongwei smiled.

"The teachers have been quite busy these past two years. Fangfang gave birth to twins the year before last. The young couple is also busy with work, so they asked the teachers to help take care of them. But they are enjoying it."

"At the age of sixty, enjoying the company of his grandchildren, Secretary Yu Liang is truly enviable."

Tian Guofu sighed, and Chen Luo joked, "Secretary Tian, ​​don't be in such a hurry. You're not far from retirement age. Why don't you give the organization a report in advance?"

"Haha, no thanks. Enjoying my grandchildren is nice, but I still want to continue to shine and serve the people!"

Chapter 492 Truly Petty

The next morning, Chen Luo and Tian Guofu, along with several staff members, went to the Hantong Provincial Party Committee, while Hou Liangping and Zhong Xiaoai were the ones actually investigating the museum's embezzlement.

On the bus, Tian Guofu looked out the window at the street scene and sighed.

“Secretary Chen, it’s been four years since I left Handong, and I’m only now realizing that Jingzhou hasn’t changed much in these four years.”

Chen Luo also looked out the window at the street, but his focus was clearly different.

"There's no development, so how can there be any change..."

Secretary Guofu, take a look at this street.

If I remember correctly, I discussed with Secretary Dakang two years ago when I left Handong that this central axis should be widened.

They changed the lanes from six to eight, but not only is there no change, the roads also look dirty.

"Sigh! The current Party Secretary of Jingzhou is nowhere near as good as Secretary Dakang."

Tian Guofu paused for a moment.

"What a pity about Secretary Dakang..."

When Li Dakang was mentioned, Tian Guofu's mood visibly somber.

"Everyone has their own destiny. Ouyang Qing's problem is not too serious, but it's not insignificant either."

It's just a matter of whether or not you step on the scale.

The current standard for evaluating cadres prohibits the promotion of those with problems. Even a small stain is enough to prevent Secretary Dakang from reaching the vice-provincial level.

Secretary Dakang resigned from his post less than six months after I left Handong.

At the time, I didn't quite understand why one shouldn't retire early, even if they couldn't advance to the next level.

Now I understand, Huo Chunhua and Lu Yun's decision to come to Handong was a terrible one!

It's exhausting to fight all the time..."

"Sigh, this gives me a headache too. The supervisory committee will be re-elected in about six months. Whether I will be transferred to another position or retire has not been discussed by the higher authorities yet, but some veteran comrades have already contacted me privately."

"Oh? They've got their eye on your current location?"

"Who says otherwise... I understand that feeling too. The further you go in the surveillance system, the more like a thousand troops crossing a single-plank bridge."

It's normal for older generations to hope their children and grandchildren can get into government departments, and to contact them in advance to understand their situation.

But... some of my older colleagues are really shameless. What kind of rubbish are they recommending to me? Do they really think just anyone can sit in my position?

They kept making promises and promises, but I, Tian Guofu, have never been corrupt in my life. Even at the very end, they still wanted to drag me down with them.

Some people have changed their original intentions.

Chen Luo nodded. That's human nature. When people are young, they have lofty ambitions and noble character, but the mentality of older comrades who are nearing retirement or have already retired is most easily changed.

You feel you've dedicated most of your life to this, so what's wrong with enjoying yourself? What's wrong with thinking about your children?

"By the way, Secretary Chen, when we arrive at the Handong Provincial Party Committee later, how do you plan to face Comrade Huo Chunhua?"

Chen Luo frowned when Huo Chunhua was mentioned.