The country entrusted me to buy an aircraft carrier, Hou Liangping, do you dare to investigate?

He took a deep breath, trying to suppress his anger, and said in an icy tone, "Hou Liangping, you have disappointed me greatly! I originally thought you were a young man with ideals and ambitions, but I never expected you to be so stubborn and arrogant! Who do you think you are? Do you really think you can change anything? Let me tell you, in this world, there are some things that you cannot change. You had better face reality and stop being so deluded!"

"Face reality?" Hou Liangping looked at Tian Guofu with a sneer. "Secretary Tian, ​​what kind of reality are you talking about? Is it the reality of corruption and bribery? Is it the reality of right and wrong being reversed? Let me tell you, I will never accept such a reality!"

"Don't accept it? What can you do? What can you change?" Tian Guofu smiled contemptuously. "Hou Liangping, you're too naive! Do you think you can stand against the entire officialdom by yourself? Do you really think you can bring those corrupt officials to justice? Let me tell you, you're wrong! You've overestimated yourself and underestimated the darkness of this world!"

Tian Guofu's words were full of sarcasm and disdain, as if mocking Hou Liangping's overestimation of his abilities. He walked up to Hou Liangping, looked down at him, and said, word by word, "Hou Liangping, listen to me carefully. You've been transferred back to the capital. As for this case, you shouldn't get involved anymore. Leave it to someone else! You'd better behave yourself, or you won't be able to bear the consequences!"

After saying that, Tian Guofu ignored Hou Liangping and strode out of the room, leaving Hou Liangping standing there alone, his fists clenched and his eyes burning with rage.

Hou Liangping felt a surge of anger rush to his head. He knew he had been tricked and abandoned. He was like a pawn, manipulated by those in power. He was furious, he was resentful, but what could he do?

Hou Liangping slumped in his chair, like a lump of mud. Tian Guofu's last contemptuous glance felt like a red-hot knife, slowly torturing him. This trip to Handong was a complete failure!

Before he arrived, those old guys in the anti-corruption bureau were all making sarcastic remarks, their comments constantly mocking his arrest by the National Security Bureau. He was determined to bring Huang Feipeng down this time, no matter what, so he could shut those people up when he got back.

But reality slapped him hard in the face. He was like a clown, manipulated by power, and in the end, he was labeled "paranoid" and "arrogant."

"Recognize reality, don't be stubborn..." Tian Guofu's words echoed in his ears like a curse, dragging him into an endless abyss.

Yes, what is reality? Reality is that he, a mere section chief, is nothing but a fart in front of those high-ranking and corrupt officials!

The thought of his colleagues' gloating expressions and his superiors' disappointed looks upon returning home made Hou Liangping feel suffocated. He was like a trapped beast, struggling futilely in a cage of despair.

Hou Liangping leaned back in his chair, his eyes blankly staring at the ceiling, his mind replaying Tian Guofu's last contemptuous look and sarcastic words.

"Damn it, these hypocrites!" Hou Liangping couldn't help but mutter a curse under his breath.

He knew that he had failed completely this time. Not only had the case made no progress, but he had also been transferred back to the capital and become a "stray dog" in the eyes of others.

"No, I can't just give in like this!"

Hou Liangping suddenly stood up. He knew that now was not the time to be depressed. In times like these, he needed to pull himself together and not let those who wanted to laugh at him get away with it.

He pushed open the door and went out.

The scorching summer sun beat down on the earth, and cicadas chirped incessantly in the trees, as if mocking his incompetence.

Hou Liangping took a deep breath, trying to calm the turbulent emotions in his heart.

He strode forward, the trees along the road rushing past him, just like his chaotic thoughts at that moment.

"Ryohei!"

A familiar voice came from not far away. Hou Liangping suddenly looked up and saw Zhong Xiaoai standing not far away, looking at him anxiously.

The moment Hou Liangping saw Zhong Xiaoai, he felt his last line of defense crumble. He quickly walked up to Zhong Xiaoai and pulled her into his arms.

"Xiao Ai..."

Hou Liangping's voice was choked with emotion, and Zhong Xiaoai could feel his body trembling and the deep sense of powerlessness emanating from him.

"It's alright, it's alright, I'm here."

Zhong Xiaoai gently patted Hou Liangping's back, softly comforting him. At that moment, she seemed to feel the immense pressure and pain in her husband's heart, and her heart ached for him.

"Why are you here?" Hou Liangping released Zhong Xiaoai, took a deep breath, and tried to appear calm.

"I heard you were transferred back, and I was worried about you, so I came over right away." Zhong Xiaoai looked at Hou Liangping's haggard face and said with heartache, "I've heard about the case. Don't blame yourself too much; it's not your fault."

"Sigh, I was too impulsive this time and fell into their trap." Hou Liangping shook his head with a wry smile. He knew in his heart that he was also responsible for this incident. He had underestimated the cunning of his opponents and overestimated his own abilities.

"By the way, how's Zhao Ruilong doing? Have you found any clues?" Hou Liangping suddenly remembered something and quickly asked.

Zhong Xiaoai was stunned for a moment, a hint of panic flashing in her eyes, but she quickly concealed it.

“Zhao Ruilong…he…he…” Zhong Xiaoai stammered, unable to speak.

"What's wrong with him?" Hou Liangping felt a bad premonition rise in his heart. He stared intently at Zhong Xiaoai and asked, word by word, "Tell me quickly, what's wrong with him?"

“Zhao Ruilong… he escaped, went to… went to Hong Kong…” Zhong Xiaoai lowered her head, not daring to look Hou Liangping in the eye.

"what?!"

Hou Liangping felt a sudden darkness before his eyes and almost fainted.

"He...he escaped?!" Hou Liangping's vision blurred, and he staggered a few steps, almost falling to the ground. He grabbed Zhong Xiaoai's arm with such force that it hurt her. "How could he get away? What is he doing in Hong Kong? Who let him escape?!"

Zhong Xiaoai's eyes welled up with tears from his grip, but she knew Hou Liangping was on the verge of a breakdown, so she could only grit her teeth and whisper, "Liangping, calm down. Things have already come to this..."