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

Chapter 234 Cutting Hou Liangping

Minister Zheng Guo?

Zhong Zhengguo?

My father-in-law handed over this completely fictitious document to Liang Yuan?

What does that mean?

Hou Liangping's body began to tremble uncontrollably. He imagined all sorts of possibilities in his mind, but could not give himself a satisfactory explanation.

Did my father-in-law receive this material from someone else, believe its contents, and then hand it over to Liang Yuan for investigation?

Or……

Was this fabricated evidence made by my father-in-law?

Why? By what right?

Hou Liangping dared not think any further; he could only desperately try to explain himself to Liang Yuan.

Liang Yuan listened indifferently, ruthlessly interrupting Hou Liangping's explanation, and said:

"If the materials don't explain the problem, then... what about these?"

Liang Yuan pushed three more bank cards onto the table and said coldly:

"You always stay in dormitories in Handong, right? I sent people to search your single dormitory at the Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and we found a small bundle on the curtain rollers. Inside were these three cards. And the holder of these three cards is none other than you, Hou Liangping, with a total amount of 125 million yuan."

Hou Liangping suddenly picked up the bank card on the table; the cold card felt like a sharp blade, piercing his heart.

If we're talking about the materials used in the whistleblower report, it's possible that Chung Cheng-kuo listened to slander.

With the addition of these three bank cards that happened to be discovered, Hou Liangping could conclude that...

This is a trap.

Someone set him up in a trap he couldn't escape.

Could it really be Zhong Zhengguo?

A chill rose from the soles of Hou Liangping's feet and shot straight to the top of his head.

He didn't understand Zhong Zhengguo's intentions in doing this, or what benefits it would bring to the Zhong family.

Seeing Hou Liangping deep in thought, Liang Yuan gave instructions:

"Based on the contents of the materials, the bribery you secretly conducted through Huilong Group and Shanshui Group, including the personnel involved, the amounts involved, and the timelines, all closely match the records in the ledger. Hou Liangping, we now suspect that you are the mastermind behind the events described in the ledger."

Hou Liangping's composure snapped.

And just at the right moment, the bribery he had never committed matched the account book.

This is an attempt to shift the blame for the ledger's failure onto oneself!

However, the current situation leaves Hou Liangping speechless.

With such conclusive evidence, how can one possibly defend themselves?

With things having come to this, Hou Liangping could only say in despair, his voice trembling with tears:

"Secretary Liang, I was the one who handed over the ledgers. If I were truly the instigator of all this bribery, why would I hand over the ledgers and cut off my own escape route?"

Liang Yuan was taken aback, then smiled and said:

"The thief crying 'stop thief!' isn't that the most sophisticated way to whitewash one's image?"

"..." Hou Liangping's face was ashen.

Everything is already set in stone.

Or rather, the person who did all this had enough influence to make those involved intentionally go with the flow and believe that Hou Liangping was the instigator the ledger pointed to.

Based on this influence and the known clues, Hou Liangping was certain that this was an arrangement made by his father-in-law, Zhong Zhengguo.

Why...

Why is Chung Cheng-kuo treating himself like this?

Unexpectedly, instead of falling to the Zhao family, he was harmed by the Zhong family.

Hou Liangping took out his phone, intending to make a call and ask.

Liang Yuan stopped him and said:

"I think it's inappropriate for you to make a phone call given your current position."

"I want to tell my wife..." Hou Liangping said weakly.

"We'll notify the family. Let's talk in the consultation room," Liang Yuan said, extending his hand.

Hou Liangping opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything.

After a while, he placed the phone in Liang Yuan's hand, and without saying a word, walked towards the interview room.

……

Beijing.

Zhong Xiaoai hurriedly ran home.

As soon as I entered, Zhong Zhengguo was already waiting in the living room.

Zhong Xiaoai looked at Zhong Zhengguo and was startled.

My father's hair turned mostly white overnight.

"Dad, your hair..."

Zhong Xiaoai said worriedly, and Zhong Zhengguo waved his hand and said:

"It's alright."

Zhong Xiaoai sat down next to Zhong Zhengguo, hesitated for a long time, and then asked in a low voice:

"Dad, Liangping... he's been captured by Liang Yuan."

Zhong Zhengguo remained silent.

"I heard that they received evidence from the capital that... Liangping colluded with businesses during his tenure in Handong, accepting bribes while simultaneously offering them."

Zhong Zhengguo remained silent, but upon hearing certain keywords, he seemed to be triggered and began to cough violently.

Zhong Xiaoai paused for a long time, looked at Zhong Zhengguo, and said, her voice trembling with tears and a hint of hatred, word by word:

"I've verified with the committee... the person who submitted the materials is you... Chung Cheng-kuo."

"Cough cough! Cough cough cough cough!" Zhong Zhengguo could no longer control the surging emotions in his heart, accompanied by a violent coughing fit, like a sudden storm.

The living room returned to calm.

The difference was that there were more bloodstains mixed with saliva on the ground.

Zhong Xiaoai silently took out a tissue to wipe the floor, and then went to the kitchen to get Zhong Zhengguo a cup of hot water.

After doing all this, Zhong Xiaoai, her eyes red, sobbed:

"Dad, why...?"

"Sigh..." Zhong Zhengguo didn't speak, but just stared blankly at the ceiling light and let out a long sigh.

"Is this Zhao Lichun's idea?" Zhong Xiaoai asked in a hoarse voice.

Chung Cheng-kuo nodded heavily, then shook his head, his voice revealing exhaustion and age:

"He provided the evidence; I merely embellished it... If we hadn't done that, Shuhuan's life would have been ruined. And our Zhong family would have been ruined as well."

"But Liangping is your son-in-law, practically your son." Zhong Xiaoai's eyes were red, her voice filled with barely concealed anger as she pointed behind her and said:

"Does Liangping have to be sacrificed for Shuhuan? Dad, have you thought about what will happen to me, what will happen to your grandson?"

The thought of his beloved grandson brought another wave of bitterness to Zhong Zhengguo's heart.

In recent days, in order to overcome the hurdle in his heart, he has hardly slept a wink.

Even now, after finally making up her mind, she is plunged into endless pain again by her daughter's tearful complaints.

But once the arrow is released, there's no turning back.

I am not choosing or abandoning any particular person.

Rather, it was simply a decision made in the best interests of the Zhong family in the face of the bigger picture.

Correct.

If I really have to choose.

I would only choose the Chung family!

Zhong Zhengguo's emotions gradually calmed down. He looked at Zhong Xiaoai and said calmly:

"Alright, it's come to this, there's no need to bring it up again. Liangping's sacrifice has brought peace to the Zhong family, and that's enough... Afterwards, I will immediately arrange for someone more suitable for you."

Zhong Xiaoai's eyes widened in disbelief that her father would utter such cold-blooded and heartless words!

She said angrily:

"Dad! This isn't fair to Liangping!"

"Unfair? Hasn't our Zhong family been harmed enough by Hou Liangping? Tell me yourself, over the years at the Supreme People's Procuratorate, how many stupid things has Hou Liangping done? Every time, I've had to clean up his messes!" Zhong Zhengguo said, then realized his words were inappropriate, coughed twice, and continued:

"Take his investigation of Hou Yong, for example. Do you know who Hou Yong is? He's from the energy sector! Even if he's just a division-level cadre, Hou Liangping can't possibly mess with him! Doesn't he even consider what it takes for a division-level cadre to remain in power in Beijing for so many years?"

Not yet satisfied, Zhong Zhengguo took a sip of water and continued:

"Furthermore, when he arrived in Handong, he offended both Li Dakang and Xia Qing. Leaving Li Dakang aside, who is Xia Qing? I have to think twice before speaking to him, but he dared to give Xia Qing the cold shoulder and act arrogantly! Let me tell you, the position of the Handong Provincial Procuratorate Chief Prosecutor was handed to Xia Qing because of Hou Liangping's nonsense! In all his time in Handong, besides offending people everywhere, has he done anything worthwhile? His current predicament is entirely his own fault! He even thought he could be on par with Xia Qing!"

Chung Cheng-kuo grew increasingly angry as he spoke, and finally made the decision:

"It's good that this happened; we can cut ties with him to prevent the Zhong family from being harmed by him! From today onwards, you are not allowed to contact Hou Liangping again. Everything he does has nothing to do with the Zhong family!"

"Dad, Dad!" Zhong Xiaoai cried out in sorrow, but Zhong Zhengguo ignored her and went straight to his study.

Zhong Xiaoai was left alone in the living room, weeping bitterly, accepting the dead end that had befallen her and Hou Liangping.