Nominal: The pinnacle of power began in the sixth province of Handong.

Xia Qing's prediction was absolutely correct.

Just two days later, Sha Ruijin issued an emergency notice to convene a Standing Committee meeting.

This time, Xia Qing saw Yi Xuexi outside the conference room again.

Unlike before, Yi Xuexi took off his dusty jacket and changed out of his worn-out cloth shoes.

Instead, he wore a spotless business jacket and a pair of gleaming leather shoes.

The Party emblem on his chest shone brightly.

He looked at the Standing Committee members walking towards him, his previous awkwardness completely gone. Instead, he confidently met their gaze and nodded in acknowledgment.

This state reached its peak when he saw Gao Yuliang.

Yi Xuexi raised his chin slightly, looking every bit the victor!

Gao Yuliang didn't react much; he knew who Yi Xuexi was targeting by checking the food court.

Xia Qing was also somewhat surprised by Gao Yuliang's reaction. Judging from this, Gao Yuliang didn't seem to think that Yi Xuexi could find out anything at the food court.

"Secretary Yi, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting!"

Tian Guofu's voice came from behind. Yi Xuexi turned his gaze away from Gao Yuliang, solemnly handed the folder in his hand to Tian Guofu with both hands, and said:

"Secretary Guofu, the inspection results are all in here."

Tian Guofu took the folder, deliberately glanced at Gao Yuliang, and said in a volume that every Standing Committee member who walked to the door to attend the meeting could just hear:

"Great! Look at this heavy bag, we've definitely reaped a good harvest! Secretary Yi, our environmental inspection team must strike hard and thoroughly investigate all the problems in the food court!"

Upon hearing this, every member of the Standing Committee involuntarily looked at Gao Yuliang.

Gao Yuliang, however, seemed not to have heard anything at all. He walked into the conference room on his own and sat down in the seat of the provincial third-level official.

As usual, Sha Ruijin was the last to enter. He sat in the main seat and went straight to the point:

"Comrade Guofu, please report on the findings of the first round of inspections."

"Okay, Secretary Sha, fellow Standing Committee members. According to the results of the first round of inspections by the Provincial Party Committee's Environmental Protection Inspection Team, the Luzhou Crescent Lake Food City has serious ecological and environmental problems." Tian Guofu first set the tone for the inspection results, then coughed twice to emphasize his point, and continued:

"Pollution levels are clearly exceeding standards. From the environmental impact assessment to the project approval process, there are numerous logical inconsistencies and procedural irregularities, as well as a serious lack of oversight. Most bafflingly, how could a project that should have been impossible to approve at first glance have been allowed to lie on Crescent Lake for over a decade? Is there dereliction of duty? Is there corruption involved? This must be thoroughly investigated!"

The room fell silent, and everyone turned to look at Gao Yuliang.

As the former Party Secretary of Lüzhou City who approved the food court project, Gao Yuliang bears inescapable responsibility in this matter.

Gao Yuliang seemed to have anticipated Tian Guofu's move, and said calmly:

"The approval of the food court project was a collective decision made by the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee, with both the Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal Government involved in coordination and implementation. Does Comrade Guofu believe that the entire Lüzhou Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government have neglected their duties and committed corruption?"

Xia Qing couldn't help but laugh. Gao Yuliang's move was brilliant. In the face of Tian Guofu's straightforwardness, he cleverly spread the approval process across the entire Luzhou Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, making it impossible for Tian Guofu to target him personally.

Upon hearing Gao Yuliang's response, Tian Guofu smiled smugly, rummaged through the file folder given to him by Yi Xuexi, and took out several documents, saying:

"And what about this? The environmental impact assessment documents from back then are here. The Luzhou Environmental Protection Bureau was against it, so how did they suddenly change their minds and agree? Secretary Yuliang, back then in Luzhou, which leader had such great influence?"

Another heavy blow.

The Standing Committee members thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle and focused their attention on the two men, Gao Yuliang and Tian Guofu.

"The Environmental Protection Bureau's opinion was based on a professional perspective, which inherently carries a 'one-size-fits-all' approach. The Luzhou Municipal Party Committee and Government, considering the need to protect people's livelihoods, promote development, and increase employment, decided to approve the food court. Comrade Guofu finds this unreasonable and is free to investigate thoroughly."

Gao Yuliang looked up at Tian Guofu, his signature warm smile still on his lips, and said calmly:

"However, as far as I know, Comrade Guo Fu has always been working on the front lines of the Discipline Inspection Commission, and can be considered a native cadre of the Discipline Inspection Commission. It is reasonable that he may find it difficult to understand the considerations of the municipal party committee and government on some key decisions at the moment."

Xia Qing almost burst out laughing, and the other standing committee members couldn't help but chuckle as well.

Gao Yuliang's words were incredibly sharp. He not only defused Tian Guofu's doubts about the procedures into concerns about the national economy and people's livelihood, but also ridiculed Tian Guofu's resume, implying that Tian Guofu had never served as the top leader of a prefecture or city, and only knew how to nitpick over policy and was not flexible, pragmatic, or realistic.

Seeing Tian Guofu's discomfiture, Li Dakang, who had been observing, quickly interjected:

"I also bear some responsibility for the food court project's implementation, after all, I was the mayor of Lüzhou at the time. I proposed that the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection take the lead in thoroughly investigating the approval process for the food court project, which will serve as a warning to me. If any problems are found, I will certainly accept any punishment from the organization."

Xia Qing inwardly cursed the treacherous fellow, Li Dakang seizing the opportunity to jump out, his words like a knife.

What's remarkable about this guy is that he openly admitted to handling the application for the Luzhou Food City project and proactively asked the Discipline Inspection Commission to thoroughly investigate the approval process.

The key point is that the approval was granted after Li Dakang was transferred. At that time, Gao Yuliang was still in Luzhou, so the thorough investigation became an investigation of only Gao Yuliang.

Li Dakang's statement further compelled Gao Yuliang to adopt the same approach: identify problems and accept consequences.

As expected, Gao Yuliang's calm expression finally changed upon hearing Li Dakang's speech. He was still smiling, but the coldness between his brows could no longer be concealed.

He looked at Li Dakang and sneered:

"Why don't we also include those chemical companies you brought to Lincheng in the scope of the inspection? Thoroughly investigate their approval processes?"

Sha Ruijin spoke up at the opportune moment:

"Alright, comrades, we're discussing the issue. Let's not let personal emotions get in and bring in other things that would obscure the current focus."

After saying that, without waiting for Gao Yuliang's reaction, he directly said to Tian Guofu:

"Comrade Guofu, let the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection take the lead in thoroughly investigating the approval issues of the food court project. At the same time, have the inspection team order the food court to rectify the situation within a specified period and bring the pollution levels below the standard values. If the rectification is not effective, it should be demolished immediately."

"Furthermore, any problems discovered during the project approval process, regardless of who is responsible, will be thoroughly investigated."

Sha Ruijin's final words startled all the Standing Committee members.

Sha Ruijin has now directly pointed his gun at Gao Yuliang.

As expected, Gao Yuliang's lips moved slightly upon hearing this, but he remained silent, simply taking off his glasses and wiping them quietly.

"Alright, since that's the case, then the meeting is adjourned..."

"Secretary Sha, please wait a moment, I also have a work report to give."

Just as Sha Ruijin was about to pack up and adjourn the meeting, Xia Qing raised her hand and spoke.

This aroused everyone's curiosity...