Nominal: Hou Liangping blocking the door? He was slapped away!

The door to the provincial party secretary's office was pushed open forcefully.

Zhao Lichun strode in and threw the folder in his hand onto the executive desk.

Splash!

The documents were scattered all over the table.

Chen Huai followed behind, carefully closing the door, not daring to even breathe loudly.

The door lock had just been fastened when a crisp sound rang out from inside the room.

"Snapped!"

Chen Huai's eyelids twitched twice.

The purple clay teapot that Zhao Lichun usually treasured most, which he claimed was made by Gu Jingzhou himself, was now in pieces on the desk.

Tea splashed onto the carpet, steaming hot.

It was boiling water, poured onto the dark red carpet, looking like a pool of blood.

Zhao Lichun stood behind the table, his chest heaving, his hand still in the gesture of waving.

"A dog that can't be tamed."

Zhao Lichun gritted his teeth and squeezed out these words.

Chen Huai huddled in the corner, head down, pretending to be invisible.

Anyone who goes up to cause trouble at this point is a fool.

Wu Chunlin's betrayal was more distressing to Zhao Lichun than the heavy black notebook.

That was betrayal.

In front of the entire provincial standing committee, he slapped Zhao Lichun hard across the face.

"Go, sweep it up."

Half a minute later, Zhao Lichun pointed to the fragments on the ground.

Chen Huai felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly ran to the bathroom to get a broom and dustpan.

He squatted on the ground, picking up the fragments of purple clay one by one, his hands trembling slightly.

This fall cost at least several million.

Even tens of millions.

But in this room, money is the least valuable thing.

Zhao Lichun sat back down in his chair and reached for his cigarette case.

My hands were shaking a bit, and it took me two tries to light the cigarette.

He took a deep breath, and the pungent smoke filled his lungs, clearing his groggy mind considerably.

The defeat at the Standing Committee meeting was a foregone conclusion.

The things Shen Zhong was holding were too hard.

A head-on confrontation would only drag him down with him.

Especially that Shen Zhong, who completely disregards official etiquette and is always threatening to use force and even go to a military court.

These hotheads are the hardest to deal with.

"Boss, the water's ready."

After cleaning the floor, Chen Huai brewed another cup of tea and brought it over, using a plain white porcelain cup instead.

Zhao Lichun didn't take it, he just waved his hand.

"Chen Huai, what do you think Shen Zhong is up to?"

Zhao Lichun looked at the ceiling and exhaled a smoke ring.

Chen Huai considered his words carefully: "I think he wants to establish his authority. A new broom sweeps clean, but this fire is burning a bit too brightly."

"To establish authority?"

Zhao Lichun gave a cold laugh.

"He's trying to overturn the table; he's trying to tear a hole in the sky over Handong."

"Since he doesn't want to live a good life, then none of us should."

Zhao Lichun stubbed out the cigarette he hadn't finished smoking.

The cigarette butt was crushed to powder in the ashtray.

The main battlefront is not easy to fight now.

Zhou Weiguo was guarding outside with his troops, and Shen Zhong had a military background to protect him. Unless he really committed a serious crime of treason, they couldn't touch him.

But just because Shen Zhong can't move doesn't mean that the people around him can't move.

Zhao Lichun narrowed his eyes.

He went through the complex web of social relationships in his mind.

This person is an orphan, without parents.

But in Handong, he had a wife.

He Xia.

The newly appointed Party Secretary of Hexi District, Jingzhou City.

"Chen Huai, how's He Xia doing in the Hexi District lately?"

Zhao Lichun suddenly asked a question.

Chen Huai was taken aback, then realized: "I heard he's very diligent and is currently conducting research, planning to implement several projects that benefit the people."

"A project to improve people's lives?"

Zhao Lichun smiled.

His smile was sinister.

"Public welfare projects are good, but they cost a lot of money, take a long time to show results, and don't really boost GDP."

"Isn't this kind of cadre having too much free time?"

Chen Huai understood instantly.

This is nitpicking.

Moreover, they find fault with things that no one can find fault with.

In Handong, if you're bad at managing the economy, that's your original sin.

No matter who your husband is, if your political achievements are unremarkable, there's always a reason to punish you.

Zhao Lichun picked up the red secure telephone on the table.

Without the slightest hesitation, he dialed a number directly.

That was the private line of Li Dakang, the Party Secretary of Jingzhou City.

beep - beep -

The phone was answered after ringing twice.

"Secretary Zhao."

Li Dakang's voice came through, stiff and businesslike.

Even after witnessing Zhao Lichun's humiliation at the Standing Committee meeting, Li Dakang still maintained the basic respect a subordinate should have for a superior.

But it's limited to respect.

"Dakang, still busy?"

Zhao Lichun's voice showed no trace of his previous rage; instead, it conveyed a sense of concern from a leader.

"Just got back to the office, about to look at a few documents."

Li Dakang replied.

"Yes, you should take care of yourself."

Zhao Lichun paused for a moment, then changed the subject.

"At the Standing Committee meeting just now, Comrade Shen Zhong raised many opinions. Although his approach was radical, some of his points are still worth reflecting on."

Li Dakang didn't respond.

He's not stupid; responding to something at a time like this could easily lead to trouble.

Zhao Lichun didn't seem to mind and continued, "However, the military doesn't really understand the complexities of local work. Aren't some cadres' family members living too comfortably in their local areas, thanks to their husbands' influence?"

Li Dakang frowned: "What does the secretary mean?"

He Xia from Hexi District.

Zhao Lichun uttered this name.

"I heard she's been doing some kind of research lately, for months, and hasn't gotten a single decent project off the ground."

"Dakang, Jingzhou is the provincial capital, and every inch of land must generate benefits."

"The Hexi District has such a prime location; wouldn't it be a waste of resources to let someone who only talks the talk occupy the position without doing any work?"

"As the Party Secretary of the city, you are responsible for the city's economy."

"We can't give her special treatment or lower the standards just because she's a member of the Standing Committee's family."

Zhao Lichun's words hit Li Dakang right where it hurt.

Li Dakang hates two types of people the most in his life.

One type is corrupt officials.

One type is the incompetent official who occupies the position but does nothing.

As long as you can't bring GDP to Jingzhou or bring about change, even if you're related to the Emperor, Li Dakang dares to take you down.

"I understand, Secretary Zhao."

On the other end of the phone, Li Dakang's voice deepened.

"I will keep an eye on the work in Hexi District."

"Not for attention."

Zhao Lichun emphasized his words.

"It's for supervision."

"Young people should be given more responsibilities. If they can't handle it, we'll replace them. Jingzhou doesn't support idlers."

After saying that, Zhao Lichun hung up the phone.

He leaned back in his chair, looking at the chandelier on the ceiling.

A cold smile slowly crept onto his lips.

Shen Zhong, you're good at fighting.

But when it comes to power politics, you're still a bit green.

Let's see how you protect your wife.