202: Chapter 202 A chess piece, a ripple

Hou Liangping's car was still parked outside the gates of the Supreme Commission for Discipline Inspection.

For the past few days, in order to keep an eye on Zhao Dehan, the group hadn't really closed their eyes, and now, watching the target walk through the gates of the Supreme Commission for Discipline Inspection on his own, they all felt like they had punched a cotton ball.

Suddenly, Hou Liangping's phone rang.

He looked at the number—it was Qin Siyuan, Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau of the Supreme Peoples Procuratorate.

Hou Liangping quickly got out of the car and pressed the answer button: "Chief Qin, this is Hou Liangping."

A somewhat helpless voice came from the phone: "Withdraw. Don't worry about Zhao Dehan anymore. He went to the Supreme Commission for Discipline Inspection to surrender. Comrades from the Discipline Inspection Commission have already gone to his workplace, his home, and the villa where he hides his money to collect evidence."

Hou Liangping felt a mouthful of old blood stifled in his chest: "Chief Qin, does that mean our work these past few days was all for nothing? I still need that evidence!"

"Evidence, what evidence?"

"The criminal evidence against Ding Yizhen of Jingzhou City, Handong Province!"

Hou Liangping said, feeling depressed: "Chief Qin, this evidence is extremely important; we can't let the Supreme Commission for Discipline Inspection snatch it from us..."

"Liangping."

The tone on the other end of the phone grew heavier: "I will go communicate with the Supreme Commission for Discipline Inspection. As for Zhao Dehan, you should wait for now; I will tell you if there is any relevant evidence. You have been working hard lately, go back and rest today."

"Okay..."

Hou Liangping hung up the phone, returned to the car like a frostbitten eggplant, and ordered irritably: "Withdraw."

Once Zhao Dehan surrendered, the entire process of the case changed.

This case was handled directly by the Supreme Commission for Discipline Inspection, and it was highly likely that it wouldn't end up in Hou Liangping's hands.

He returned home, and the more he thought about it, the angrier he got.

While he was depressed, a call came in from Chen Hai, Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau of the Handong Province Procuratorate.

Hou Liangping hesitated for a moment, then pressed the answer button: "Hello, Chen Hai, what's up?"

"You're asking me what's up?"

Chen Hai's voice came over the phone: "How are things on your end? Have you obtained the evidence? I've been keeping an eye on Ding Yizhen for several days now."

Hou Liangping sighed: "Zhao Dehan surrendered today."

"Huh?"

Chen Hai was clearly stunned for a moment, then laughed: "Isn't that perfect? Have you already obtained the evidence?"

"Obtained what?"

Hou Liangping said gloomily: "He went to the Supreme Commission for Discipline Inspection to surrender, where would I go to get evidence now?"

"This..."

Chen Hai was silent for a while on the other end: "Since that's the case, I'll withdraw the people watching Ding Yizhen for now."

"No!"

Hou Liangping roared: "Absolutely do not withdraw. Add more manpower, lest he gets wind of it and runs away. Today's matter is really strange. Don't worry, I will definitely get the evidence on Ding Yizhen for you."

"Alright, hurry up then. Our Procuratorate has a lot of things going on right now, and the manpower I have available isn't that sufficient."

"Chen Hai, aren't you the Director?"

Hou Liangping laughed.

"Monkey, what kind of way is that to talk? Even if I am the Director, I can't use all my people in one place. Forget it, forget it, I won't talk to you anymore, Deputy Director Lu is here looking for people again."

Immediately after, Chen Hai hung up the phone.

Hou Liangping had stayed up for several days, and now that Zhao Dehan had surrendered, his spirit couldn't hold on any longer.

Exhaustion washed over him, and he collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

In the evening, Zhong Xiaoai entered the house humming a song.

Seeing Hou Liangping sleeping, she couldn't help but call out: "Hou Liangping, Hou Liangping, wake up!"

Hou Liangping sat up groggily: "Xiaoai? Why are you back so early?"

"Early?"

Zhong Xiaoai looked mocking: "Have you lost track of time? Look at what time it is."

Hou Liangping rubbed his forehead and checked the time, startling: "I'm sorry, my dear wife, I was just too tired and overslept. I'll go make dinner right away."

Zhong Xiaoai waved her hand: "Forget it, let's go out to eat in a bit. What is going on with you? Why didn't you go to work today?"

"Chief Qin let me rest for a day, out of consideration for how tired we were over the past few days."

Hou Liangping yawned: "The person we've been watching for several days actually went to surrender himself early this morning."

"Oh?"

Zhong Xiaoai was stunned for a moment, then laughed: "You mean Zhao Dehan, right?"

"Yeah..."

Hou Liangping sighed: "That's him, a big corrupt official."

Zhong Xiaoai nodded: "He certainly was greedy. 180 million in cash, not a single cent spent, a whole wall of banknotes."

Hou Liangping's expression was strange: "Wife, how do you know so clearly?"

Zhong Xiaoai laughed: "I was the one who received him when he surrendered, and I personally took people to count it. I'll be busy with this case for a while."

"Huh?"

Hou Liangping's eyes widened: "I watched him for so long, and it ended up in your hands?"

Zhong Xiaoai glared at him: "What, is that a problem?"

"No problem, no problem."

Hou Liangping leaned over and asked: "Tell me quickly, is there any criminal evidence against Ding Yizhen of Jingzhou City, Handong Province?"

Zhong Xiaoai frowned: "Hou Liangping, have you forgotten organizational discipline? How could I possibly tell you about such things?"

"Wife, this matter is of great importance, please."

Hou Liangping said while going over to massage Zhong Xiaoai's shoulders.

Zhong Xiaoai's face stiffened: "No. The case situation is still being organized, and I don't know clearly yet. And even if I did, I couldn't tell you privately. Hou Liangping, have you regressed as you've aged? Treating organizational discipline as a child's game?"

"I..."

Hou Liangping felt aggrieved, but he didn't dare to bare his teeth at Zhong Xiaoai.

They had been married for so many years, and their child was already so big, but Hou Liangping always felt a strange barrier between him and Zhong Xiaoai.

Or rather, there were always things in Zhong Xiaoai's heart that she was unwilling to let him know.

Over the years, he had heard Zhong Xiaoai affectionately humming "It's a Pity That It Wasn't You Who Accompanied Me to the End" many times, with tears even in her eyes.

But no matter how he asked, Zhong Xiaoai would only say it was a woman's sentimentality.

If he asked too much, Zhong Xiaoai would lose her temper, or even go back to her parents' home in a fit of pique.

Hou Liangping had suspected her of having an affair, but for so many years, he had never found any trace of it.

Suddenly, Zhong Xiaoai's phone rang; it was a call from Secretary Zhong.

Zhong Xiaoai quickly pushed Hou Liangping away and picked up the phone to answer: "Dad."

Secretary Zhong's voice came from the phone: "Xiaoai, I heard you've taken over a big case."

"Yes, Dad, a section chief from the NDRC, who took 180 million in bribes," Zhong Xiaoai said.

"This case is an opportunity for you. Do it well, dig deep, dig hard. If you handle it well, I can speak for you and help you advance further."

Zhong Xiaoai curled her lips and said: "Don't worry, Dad, I will definitely go all out."

"Also, be careful to keep it confidential when handling the case, don't let any news leak out."

"Okay, don't worry, I know the discipline."

Zhong Xiaoai said, while subconsciously glancing at Hou Liangping.

After hanging up the phone, Zhong Xiaoai warned Hou Liangping: "My dad instructed me to keep the case confidential. Don't ask any more questions."

Hou Liangping felt helpless and had no choice but to nod.

... Zhong Xiaoai probably never dreamed that this opportunity to handle the case would fall into her hands, and she had to thank the "white moonlight" in her heart.