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

"Comrade Chen Luo, among those who came from our Handong team, you are the busiest right now."

Normally, he's either in charge of work at the Central Propaganda and Cyberspace Administration or on temporary assignment in an inspection team, swatting tigers and flies everywhere. Sigh, Shen Xiaotian from Hainan Province really got lucky.

"He's only been transferred a few months ago, and Comrade Chen Luo has already cleared away all the obstacles. Why didn't I receive the same treatment back then?"

Sha Ruijin sounded somewhat resentful, at which point Zhou Jianjun raised an eyebrow and chimed in, "Hey, hey, hey, I said, Sha... Vice Chairman, are you implying that there were corrupt elements in Handong back then?"

"Keep trying to annoy me. The work in the CPPCC is no easier than that in the NPC. Once you go there, you'll be overwhelmed with all the trivial tasks!"

"Tsk, it's okay. I'm still young and have plenty of energy. Who knows, maybe the higher-ups will think I'm hardworking and let me fill a vacant position."

These words shattered Sha Ruijin's illusions.

"Keep daydreaming. Putting everything else aside, if a real position were to become available, Comrade Chen Luo would be the first to choose. Do you think you'd get a chance?"

“Secretary Chen, look, it’s been several years, and Secretary Sha and Secretary Jianjun still like to bicker.”

Tian Guofu shrugged, looking quite helpless.

"It's alright, it's more lively when it's noisy and bustling. Being genuine is always better than having a fake smile when you meet someone."

"That's true."

The group continued chatting, and before long, all the dishes were served. Having not seen each other for a long time, they were bound to have a drink.

Anyway, all of them had drivers and secretaries, even retired Wu Chunlin and Li Dakang had someone to pick them up.

There's no need to worry about anything else.

After a few drinks, the conversation flowed more freely.

"Secretary Chen, our final destinations have been basically determined. What about you? Could you tell us a little something?"

Sha Ruijin asked very directly.

Chen Luo also replied very decisively.

"The higher-ups are still debating where I'll be working next. I really don't know. As long as they don't force me back to Handong as the Party Secretary, I'll be fine with anything."

"Hahaha, the King of Handong, is that right?"

We've all heard other comrades tease us about it, but it's just a joke for fun; after all, the ones at the top are the ones who started it first.

"Sigh, I didn't make any decisions about Handong either."

"Secretary Sha, you've always been the top leader. If we're talking about the white hat of the Prince of Handong, it's definitely Secretary Sha who's suited to wear it."

"Oh, oh, oh, now you're saying you didn't have the authority? I wonder who suggested rushing to promote a bunch of cadres before we left?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Luo touched his nose and then laughed, "Anyway, back then, Secretary Sha, you were the top leader."

Everyone chatted and laughed, reminiscing about the past, some with fond memories, others with sighs.

It was already 9 p.m. when the show ended.

Although everyone drank alcohol, they were not drunk.

After saying their goodbyes, they got into their cars. Chen Luo didn't have his driver or secretary pick him up. The reason was simple: he had been drinking, but Chen Zhengxi hadn't.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Chen Luo watched his daughter insert the key, start the car, and shift gears. He couldn't help but ask softly, "Zhengxi, should we just forget about it?"

Chen Zhengxi curled his lip in response.

"Dad, do you not trust me? My driver's license is brand new."

"Then slow down..."

As soon as Chen Luo finished speaking, the car sped off, and the slight intoxication he had felt earlier vanished.

It took Chen Luo an hour to drive from the restaurant to home, while it only took Chen Zhengxi forty minutes to drive back.

After taking a shower and changing into my pajamas, I picked up my phone and checked the time; it was already 10 p.m.

Taking a deep breath, Chen Luo dialed Zhang Nian's number.

The call was answered after a long time.

"Hey, honey."

"What's wrong, honey?"

Zhang Nian's voice was yawning, clearly indicating that she was tired.

"You haven't been working all this time, have you?"

Chen Luo sat up straight.

"It's okay, it's work, overtime is inevitable."

Chen Luo fell silent and sighed.

"Honey, I won't interfere with the tasks you're doing now, and you don't need to tell me what kind of work you're doing. I support you in making your own choices, but at the same time, you also need to take good care of your health."

"With me at home, Zhengshu and Zhengxi are both very well-behaved. They're older and more sensible now, so you don't need to worry about them."

"Thank you for your hard work, honey..."

The couple chatted about family matters for a while before ending the call.

Time seemed to have been fast-forwarded, and two months had passed in the blink of an eye. In December, the whale market was already bitterly cold.

In Haishi, although it was cold, it wasn't cold enough to cause a heavy snowfall.

Inside a building in the Haishi Military Region, Zhang Nian sat in an office chair, directing the traders of Dongsheng to carry out their work.

After more than half a year of planning.

WW's transportation, oil, electricity, logistics, finance, and almost all other important industries are gradually being penetrated by Dong Sheng.

What followed was using money to pave the way.

Those with weak wills all fell into the water, while mainland staff in Taiwan continued to be promoted to important positions.

In just over half a year, Zhang Nian has poured in a whopping 800 billion US dollars, and more will need to be added later.

Ye Ziqing did not back down from this and continued to raise funds.

Portland, Ye Family Manor.

“Grandpa, if we give Dongsheng another 500 billion US dollars this time, we should be able to complete the layout.”

Upon hearing this, Old Master Ye, who was sitting in the main seat, nodded.

"Once you've started, you can't give up halfway."

Whether it succeeds or not, the effects have already been seen.

Last month, I received a call from higher authorities informing me that my family could now travel normally.

Hearing this, Ye Ziqing smiled happily.

"So, does that mean I can go to Whale City tomorrow?"

"Couldn't we go before?"

"That's different. It's uncomfortable to be watched. You feel uneasy and have to be careful in everything you do. It's boring."

Now I'm free; I don't have to worry about causing trouble for anyone I meet.

"You're going to Whale City, not to see Chen Luo, are you?"

Ye Ziqing did not shy away from the question.

"I have that idea, but Minister Chen is so busy with work, how could he possibly have the chance to meet an ordinary person like me..."

Hearing this, Old Master Ye fell silent. He knew that Ye Ziqing and Chen Luo were doomed to be apart back then, and even now that they were free, it would still be difficult for them to meet.

One reason is that Chen Luo isn't the type to be fickle, and another is that once someone reaches the ministerial level, even if the Ye family is free, they won't run into each other easily.

"Ziqing, if you really see him, please remember to thank Minister Chen for me."

"We'll see. I haven't decided whether I'll go or not yet..."

Chapter 536 Sewage Treatment Plant, Chen and Jia's Duo

After Ye Ziqing finished speaking, she went straight back to her room.

In fact, Ye Ziqing knew very well what was going on.

Even if she goes to Whale City, Chen Luo won't see her. He'll be lucky if they can chat for a few minutes on the phone.

The cold wind was biting, but this winter was warmer than usual. On the 27th of the twelfth lunar month, Zhang Nian returned.

The family had a happy reunion for the New Year, but on the third day of the Lunar New Year, Zhang Nian still left.

Chen Luo didn't ask about the specifics of the mission, nor did he have time to. Just after the New Year, the organization began making some major personnel changes.

Tian Guofu left the Supervisory Committee, but the position he vacated eventually fell into the hands of Jia Renli.

Jia Renli was transferred from his position as deputy secretary of the Jingshi Municipal Party Committee and secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission to deputy director of the Supervisory Commission. His rank was also promoted from deputy provincial level to ministerial level. It can be said that his speed was no slower than Chen Luo's.

Huai Ren City is under the jurisdiction of Zunyi City in Guizhou Province.

A middle-aged man walked out of the city government building with a dejected expression, clutching a form tightly in his hand, his breathing unusually rapid. Suddenly, his expression changed, revealing both helplessness and anger.

"Is there any justice left?!"

My sewage treatment plant!

We invested 800 million, and you guys just take it back whenever you want, saying it doesn't comply with regulations.

"These officials are truly two-faced. Since they won't let me have an easy time, and since there's no way to appeal, then they might as well stop worrying!"

After leaving Huai Ren City, the man returned to Chongqing City, where he then contacted media reporters to make his ordeal public and hired online trolls to amplify the story.

It quickly became a trending topic online.

[Occupied factory in Guijiu Town, Huairen City!]

Such an incident undoubtedly attracts a lot of attention, especially when the factory owner looks helpless and heartbroken in front of the camera, showing all the materials he has submitted for years of rights protection and petitioning, only to end up with nothing.

The discussion gradually grew louder and louder...

Meanwhile, in Huai Ren City, in the Party Committee and Government building, in the Secretary's office, Party Secretary Lu Xiaojun also saw the online report and couldn't help but frown.

"This Zhou Qiang actually dared to make a big fuss!"