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

Chapter 29 Exploring the Bottom

Xia Qing's figure gradually disappeared into the night in Building No. 2 of the Provincial Party Committee compound.

Upstairs in Building One, Sha Ruijin stood quietly by the window, watching everything unfold.

Inside the office, Tian Guofu sat on the sofa and joked:

"It seems Minister Xia has just returned from the Mountain and Water Manor."

"Don't worry, Xia Qing only went to the Shanshui Group to inquire about the Dafeng Factory, and she didn't go into the manor; she ate at a roadside stall." Sha Ruijin sat back down at his desk, took out a few Wuyi Mountain Da Hong Pao tea leaves, put them into his thermos, and said:

"He won't covet benefits he shouldn't have, and he won't leave himself vulnerable to criticism."

Tian Guofu quickly stood up from the sofa, grabbed the kettle, and went to Sha Ruijin's side, adding water as he spoke:

"Secretary Sha, that's not what I meant. The Shanshui Group is deeply entrenched and adept at winning people over; isn't Ding Yizhen a prime example?"

Sha Ruijin savored the aroma of tea wafting towards him, smiling without saying a word.

Tian Guofu underestimated Xia Qing.

Just now, Sha Ruijin received a message on his phone.

Xia Qing reported to Sha Ruijin in detail about his day's itinerary, especially what he said after meeting Gao Xiaoqin.

This open and transparent working style put Sha Ruijin at ease.

This further convinced him that Xia Qing would not do anything against the rules.

What Sha Ruijin wants now is stability in the Dafeng Factory situation.

Important positions must be filled in order to appease the workers at Dafeng Factory.

As for the resettlement fee, we can discuss it with the Shanshui Group gradually.

Sha Ruijin wouldn't ask too many questions about the specific measures; he only had one principle.

Regardless of how the Dafeng Factory and the relationship between Handong and Shanshui Group are handled.

The economy cannot afford to decline.

The overall situation must not be destabilized.

Stability is paramount.

Sha Ruijin had already decided that if Xia Qing couldn't recommend a suitable candidate to fill the vacancies left by the group of cadres who had been taken away by Hou Liangping...

Sha Ruijin would then personally talk to Hou Liangping and reinstate those officials to their original positions.

However, this would severely damage Xia Qing's credibility, especially in his core competency of selecting and appointing personnel.

This is also why Sha Ruijin specifically asked Xia Qing to go to Guangming District to investigate the performance of cadres in fulfilling their duties, and why, after the 116 incident, he asked Xia Qing to find someone to fill in for him.

Let's see just how capable Xia Qing really is.

As for Dafeng Factory, matters concerning the economy and people's livelihood will be handled by the vice governor in charge of the economy and Li Dakang at that time.

Xia Qing only needs to handle the cadre issues.

Sha Ruijin had planned everything, but a hint of dissatisfaction surfaced on his face when he thought of a certain person:

"This Hou Liangping is really breaking the rules. A good knife should be held even tighter."

……

Xia Qing returned to her residence and collapsed onto the sofa, exhausted.

The matter is not yet resolved.

Now that we have enough leverage, it's just a matter of how to use it.

Xia Qing decided to probe the other party's strengths and weaknesses before officially implementing the plan.

So he dialed Ji Changming's number.

"Hello, Minister Xia!"

Ji Changming answered the phone very quickly, which suggests that he had saved Xia Qing's number after their last conversation.

Seemingly aware of Xia Qing's purpose for calling, and already feeling slightly apologetic, Ji Changming spoke up before Xia Qing could ask:

"I'm sorry, Minister Xia, Liangping... he acted a bit impulsively. I did advise him to release the person, but he certainly has the authority to investigate officials at the division level..."

Ji Changming then recalled the time when Hou Liangping acted without authorization and snatched people from the Organization Department.

I received a call from Zhong Xiaoai late at night.

The other party addressed him as "Old Ji" repeatedly, displaying extreme rudeness and accusations against Ji Changming.

Even after Ji Changming revealed the absurd things Hou Liangping had done, Zhong Xiaoai insisted that he not be suspended from his post.

Ji Changming didn't intend to know how things were handled afterwards.

After that incident, Hou Liangping became even more reckless and impulsive. He would often investigate and arrest people as soon as he sensed something was amiss, sometimes even before completing the necessary procedures.

This really gave Ji Changming a headache.

Out of consideration for Zhong Xiaoai, and because Hou Liangping, though impulsive, hadn't actually done anything as outrageous as snatching someone last time, Ji Changming turned a blind eye.

The reason Hou Liangping took away several top officials from Guangming District this time was because he suspected that officials in Guangming District had business dealings with Shanshui Group, and he arrested them in order to investigate corruption.

In terms of authority, investigating officials at the disciplinary level was indeed within Hou Liangping's jurisdiction.

Now that Xia Qing has personally called, Ji Changming has no choice but to bite the bullet and act as a peacemaker.

Unexpectedly, Xia Qing showed no intention of accusing Ji Changming. Instead, after calming Ji Changming down, she asked:

"Will Director Hou be in the compound tomorrow? I'd like to come and see him."

"To see...him? You came here in person? Minister Xia, this is inappropriate." Ji Changming's tone changed upon hearing that Xia Qing was coming to the courtyard to find Hou Liangping in person, and he said repeatedly:

"I'll inform him and have him come to the Organization Department to see you."

Xia Qing immediately rejected Ji Changming's proposal and said that she would arrive at Hou Liangping's office at nine o'clock the next day, and instructed Ji Changming not to make a fuss or hold any reception.

Ji Changming had no choice but to agree.

After hanging up the phone, Ji Changming felt as if a storm was brewing.

No matter what Xia Qing said, "It's nothing, it's nothing."

But anyone would be uneasy if a powerful and capable organization minister personally came to visit them.

If it really comes, it would be strange if you weren't terrified.

Xia Qing's request to meet Hou Liangping will definitely lead to a lot of trouble.

Sigh, how did we end up in the procuratorate with Hou Liangping, such a difficult person?

Ji Changming only wanted a peaceful retirement; he could only pray that Hou Liangping would not provoke Xia Qing.

What he didn't know was that Xia Qing took the initiative to meet Hou Liangping in order to preemptively strike.

Go and see for yourself what kind of person this son-in-law sent by the Zhong family really is.

Commonly known as bottoming out.

How skilled are they? How capable are they?

If you lack ability and don't know how to conduct yourself properly...

Even if we punish him, the Chung family won't have much to say, right?

After all, Xia Qing personally visited a son-in-law of the Zhong family.

This in itself is a huge favor to the Zhong family.

This is an even bigger compliment, firmly pinning a high hat on the Zhong family!

……

The next day, at nine o'clock in the morning.

Xia Qing was very punctual and, accompanied by Ji Changming, arrived at Hou Liangping's office.

As soon as he entered the door, Ji Changming frowned.

I already reminded Hou Liangping this morning that Minister Xia is coming.

Hou Liangping readily agreed.

I only realized it after I entered the room.

Hou Liangping didn't take it seriously at all.

He was engrossed in a pile of files on his desk when he heard someone push the door open, but he didn't even look up.

I didn't make tea, nor did I tidy up the office.

What's most incomprehensible is...

In the entire office, there was only one office chair under Hou Liangping's buttocks.

There wasn't another chair to be found!

Even the most emotionally unintelligent person knows basic etiquette for entertaining guests.

In Ji Changming's view, Hou Liangping's behavior...

It's blatant disregard for Xia Qing!

Does this kid really not know who Xia Qing is?

Just as Ji Changming was about to erupt, he saw Xia Qing, seemingly unaffected, step forward and say with a smile:

"Director Hou, hello! I'm Xia Qing from the Organization Department."

Hou Liangping seemed to just realize what was happening, quickly looked up, forced a smile, and said:

"Oh dear, Minister Xia! I'm so sorry, I was looking at the transcripts of the conversations with those officials from Guangming District and didn't notice you were here."

Xia Qing raised her eyebrows involuntarily when she heard the words "Guangming District".

When Ji Changming heard Hou Liangping bring this up, he became even more certain that the kid was planning to provoke Xia Qing.

What happened? Why did he do that?

The atmosphere was tense from the very beginning!