Siheyuan: A warm home with wife and children

Damn it, I really don't want to live like this anymore.

Hou Liangping cursed inwardly, but outwardly remained calm and said, "You must be envious of me. My wife has a higher position than me, but her job is much easier."

She does all the cooking and chores every day, keeping the house and surroundings impeccably organized. When I get home after all that work, there's always hot food and soup on the table—it's pure bliss!

"Really? I'm so envious." Qi Tongwei was so happy he almost passed out.

Given his situation at home, everyone in the capital who cares knows it.

Just as Qi Tongwei was thinking about how to embarrass him, Hou Liangping's phone rang.

"Oh dear, he's so serious, the phone just came through as soon as I mentioned it."

Hou Liangping smiled smugly, wanting him to see his family's imperial throne with his own eyes.

When they're out together, as long as he doesn't upset her, Zhong Xiaoai usually gives him, the 'head of the household,' a lot of face.

So Hou Liangping answered the phone right in front of him and even turned on speakerphone.

Then, a accusatory roar came from inside, a deafening roar that could be clearly heard in the corridor.

Uncontrollable laughter rose and fell in the corridor.

Hou Liangping's smug smile, frozen like clay, cracked and spread under Zhong Xiaoai's roaring blows.

Chapter 904 Chen Yanshi's Significance, Hou Liangping Breaks Through Defenses One After Another

Hou Liangping's expression shifted, and he suppressed his anger, turning off the speakerphone and quickly walking outside.

At this moment, he didn't even feel like greeting Qi Tongwei; he just wanted to figure out what Zhong Xiaoai had gone crazy about this time.

What did I do to her that made her call and scold me like I was lecturing my son?

"Zhong Xiaoai, aren't you going too far?"

"That's going too far! I'm going too far! If you don't want me to go too far, then you should be more capable and handle things properly so that no one can find fault with you and drag our family down with you!"

"What's wrong with me? I just arrived in Handong and haven't had a chance to do anything yet!"

"Oh my, you monkey are really something. You've already stirred up a lot of opinions before you even had a chance to do anything. If you do anything else, the phone lines will be ringing off the hook with complaints."

"Complain? What are you complaining about?"

"Tell me, what happened between you and Chen Yanshi?"

Upon hearing the name Chen Yanshi, Hou Liangping's heart skipped a beat.

What followed was intense anger and hatred.

You bastard, you stabbed me in the back, didn't you?

He treated Chen Hai like a brother, yet he was betrayed by Chen Yanshi.

The old man was upset because he hadn't given him face in front of everyone at the Dafeng factory, making him lose face.

That's why he deliberately retaliated by calling the Zhong family in the capital.

"It's not him, it's Sha Ruijin."

Sha Ruijin held Chen Yanshi in high esteem.

Not only because I wouldn't be who I am today without him back then, but also because of his old brothers and comrades-in-arms.

His greatest political capital also comes from his "uncle circle," which is his base.

Therefore, even if it's just for show, he still has to praise Chen Yanshi highly.

This support wasn't just for Chen Yanshi, but also for his old comrades, his old friends, and the support behind him.

Why did Sha Ruijin call him "Uncle Chen" and invite him to his workplace for an expanded meeting, bringing the meeting to just one person, to have Chen Yanshi talk about his past experiences?

All of this is for the same purpose.

All levels of Hantong Province had a thorough understanding of this "task" and praised Chen Yanshi to the skies.

Even Li Dakang, with his dog-like face, treated him with utmost respect.

Unfortunately, Hou Liangping, who came from the capital, embarrassed Chen Yanshi, leaving him with a humiliating situation.

These past few days, Sha Ruijin has been irritable and angry because of everything going wrong.

If you, Hou Liangping, were to run into me at this time, wouldn't that be like blocking your own path and courting death?

"Don't mess with that old man. Show respect to veteran comrades and be patient... You're there to investigate a case, not to make enemies."

As a high-ranking official, even if Sha Ruijin were to join the Zhong family, he would still have considerable autonomy, and the Zhong family would have to respect his opinions and attitudes if necessary.

You, Hou Liangping, are just a lowly anti-corruption section chief.

In the capital, if you throw a brick at someone, nine out of ten people will be higher-ranking than you.

How dare you show disrespect to Sha Ruijin's benefactor? Who gave you the courage, and who told you to do this?

Thinking of the stupid things he had done over the years, and his actions of using the Zhong family's name to tarnish the Zhong family's reputation, Zhong Xiaoai couldn't help but sigh.

I think I was really wrong back then.

If we hadn't chosen him, but instead chosen Qi Tongwei—

Now, Father must have taken that position!

Qi Tongwei, caught in the eye of the storm, had no awareness whatsoever of stirring up trouble.

After taking down Zhao Xiaohui and Zhao Ruilong, he returned to his previous state, remaining calm and composed, maintaining stability without wavering.

No matter who comes to greet him or try to get information, Qi Tongwei only has one sentence.

"Wait for orders from above."

He is now more like a dagger sent by the capital than a mere figurehead from Hantong Province.

It just sits there over everyone's heads, and yet no one seems to be able to do anything about it.

Even Sha Ruijin hesitated to act rashly in the face of someone wielding the "imperial sword."

This sword, though not yet drawn, is neither properly named nor justified.

Maybe when you open it, you'll find a broken sword inside, which is completely useless.

But no one dared to be so reckless as to risk their official hat to test whether the sword was real or fake.

Decades of effort could be wasted on trial and error.

After being scolded by Zhong Xiaoai, Hou Liangping, whose underwear was exposed, was too ashamed to stay any longer.

After a perfunctory farewell, he went to see Li Dakang again.

When they arrived, Li Dakang was already gone. "Our secretary has gone out on business. Why don't you come back tomorrow?"

Is he coming back today?

"Oh dear, how would I know? What the Party Secretary wants to do is none of my business."

Faced with the ridiculously chubby face before him, Hou Liangping really wanted to punch it.

I always felt that the other person was waiting to see me make a fool of myself.

It's not that he can't control it; it's clearly that Li Dakang wants to use this opportunity to give him a hard time.

After being reprimanded by his wife, Hou Liangping, whose IQ had briefly been elevated, finally realized that he had offended quite a few people before even accomplishing anything on this trip.

He had offended his comrades who were supposed to be in the same trench.

What happened?

Hou Liangping offered a self-criticism, but within minutes he shifted the blame back to the other party.

I'm just doing my job properly and I don't want to associate with them. What's wrong with that?

These people are utterly lacking in vision and responsibility.

They're so petty about such a small thing.

It's a shame that Sha Ruijin, who's supposed to be the top leader, acts like a primary school student, running to his parents to complain whenever something happens.

Recalling how Zhong Xiaoai had scolded him like a dog over the phone in front of Qi Tongwei, Hou Liangping got an erection—

fist!

'Wait till I get back, I'll see how I deal with you in bed.'

Hou Liangping didn't receive any news from Li Dakang, nor did he get a chance to deal with Zhong Xiaoai. Instead, he received a phone call.

"Xiao Ai has gone down with the inspection team. Don't take any action for now. Collect evidence and wait until she arrives."

Hou Liangping felt a chill run down his spine when he received the call; it was clear how little the Zhong family trusted him.

He was clearly sent here, and the inspection team will be arriving soon.

They even forced Zhong Xiaoai in there, just to keep him out?!

Hou Liangping was a little exasperated and slammed his clenched fist hard on the control panel.

"Hey, Director Hou, don't take your anger out on the car. You'll have to pay for it if you break it."

Lu Yike, who had accompanied him all day, now looked at him with disdain.

How did this guy become a section chief? Could it be entirely due to his wife's family's help?

Even if I help out, I should at least have some ability myself.

Judging from his performance that day, he was like trying to plaster mud on a wall without any fear of it slipping off and hitting him in the face.

That girl from the Zhong family probably truly loves him.

Otherwise, how could they have lifted him up like that?

Chapter 905 has an astonishing proportion; the high-level summit.

Hou Liangping indiscriminately fired shots in Handong without distinguishing between friend and foe, demonstrating his sense of justice.

He still wanted to arm wrestle with Chen Yanshi.

Before he could even start, his wife gave him a lecture, and he temporarily shut up.

Back in the capital, the Zhong family was also discussing whether he was up to the job as a front man, and if he really couldn't, they should replace him.

"This person is capable, but he is too aloof and a bit idealistic."

"I said from the beginning that Xiao Ai's choice of this person was not good; he's not cut out to be an official, but he's good at working at the grassroots level."

"Heh, then you shouldn't have agreed in the first place. Why did you pretend to be such a good person in front of Xiao Ai?"

"I……"

"Alright." Vice-Guo Zhong frowned and looked at the second and third brothers.

The two of them are old enough to be buried in the ground, yet they still act like incredibly childish kids.

"Vice-King, what are you thinking?"

Ultimately, he's the one who calls the shots in this family.

The reason Zhong Xiaoai could be so unscrupulous and choose Hou Liangping so freely was because of his father's influence.

“Liangping was just doing his job and didn’t do anything wrong.”

Vice President Zhong first set the tone for the matter, then continued, "Besides, his impartiality precisely demonstrates his work attitude and highlights the tough working style of our inspection team, which is a good thing!"

The two nodded in agreement, but inwardly they were full of disdain.

What good thing? I think you just can't bear to see your precious daughter suffer, so you have to force that good-for-nothing to make amends.

However, there's no need to argue with him over such a small matter.

He said yes, that was it.

"How is Yang Jianguo doing?"

"It seems like he's not making any moves. With the Cabinet backing him up, he naturally has nothing to worry about."

The second son of the Zhong family looked at him with disdain. This guy was only good at technical things; he was a complete novice when it came to politics.

I really don't know what the Grand Secretary values ​​in him.