212: Chapter 212 Whoever reports Zhao Yang for embezzlement and bribery will be investigated.

Lin Huahua leaned over to look, her eyes widening immediately: "Wow! My idol!"

"Hey, hey, hey." Lu Yike looked disgusted, "Don't lick my screen, move away, and wipe your mouth."

Lin Huahua grinned, her eyes still glued to the screen: "Is it really him? He's transferring here from Shanghai? To be our Chief Prosecutor?"

Lu Yike smirked: "Of course. Why else would I be this happy?"

Lin Huahua patted her chest: "That's fantastic. Sister Yike, thank you for giving the task of picking him up to me. How about... I go tomorrow, and you take a rest?"

Lu Yike rolled her eyes at her fiercely: "In your dreams. I'm warning you, be reserved tomorrow. Don't let my senior think that I've brought up a bunch of fangirls!"

"Then... can I get off work on time today?" Lin Huahua asked.

"Do you have something to do?"

Lin Huahua nodded: "I'm going to buy some cosmetics to spruce myself up for tomorrow. Chief Prosecutor Zhao is from Shanghai, after all; we can't embarrass the Handong Procuratorate. Sister Yike, you should spruce yourself up too, what do you think?"

Lu Yike thought for a moment: "Fine, let's go together after work, and I'll treat you to a facial treatment."

"That's great, Sister Yike."

When the three-person core leadership of Handong Province—Secretary Sha Ruijin, Governor Liu, and Secretary Gao Yuliang—were in a meeting, they received the notification almost simultaneously. Upon hearing it was Zhao Yang, Secretary Gao Yuliang couldn't suppress a smile; the usually composed professor almost laughed out loud on the spot.

Governor Liu Guoliang had actually received the news a bit earlier than the other two, and he intentionally observed their reactions.

It was evident that Secretary Sha Ruijin and Zhao Yang had never crossed paths, and his impression was limited at best to the level of "Zhao Yang is very young and a capable cadre."

Secretary Gao Yuliang's reaction puzzled him, and he couldn't help but ask: "Secretary Gao, do you know this Comrade Zhao Yang?"

Secretary Gao Yuliang realized he had lost his composure, quickly adjusted his expression, and said: "This Comrade Zhao Yang graduated from Handong University."

Hearing this, Secretary Sha Ruijin's heart skipped a beat. Before coming, the Elder had already instructed him that the Handong University clique was an important force of the Zhao family faction and had to be broken. But now, before he had done anything, another Handong University protégé had arrived, and in such a key position as Chief Prosecutor of the Procuratorate. He steadied himself and smiled faintly: "Could it be that this Chief Prosecutor Zhao is also a student of Secretary Gao?"

Secretary Gao Yuliang quickly shook his head: "By the time Zhao Yang graduated, I had long since left Handong University. Secretary Sha, in the future, if there are leaders from Handong University present, please don't mention that Zhao Yang graduated from Handong University."

Secretary Sha Ruijin and Governor Liu were both stunned: "Why is that?"

Secretary Gao Yuliang then recounted the past event of how Handong University had moved the unpopular discipline of Criminal Investigation entirely to Handong University of Political Science and Law, and finally said: "As a result, Handong University lost its Criminal Investigation department, and Zhao Yang, a cadre in the legal System who had presided over the 'Joint Laboratory of Intelligent Investigation,' led the 'Great Firewall' project and the 'Intelligent Procuratorate System,' and repeatedly rendered outstanding service, was removed from the Handong University alumni list and became a double Prodigy of Handong University of Political Science and Law and Shuimu University in the Imperial Capital."

Secretary Sha Ruijin and Governor Liu both laughed after hearing this.

Hearing this gossip coming from Secretary Gao Yuliang, who was a professor from Handong University, the bitterness was palpable.

"So that's what happened, no wonder Secretary Gao laughed." Secretary Sha Ruijin also felt relieved—it was good that he wasn't part of the Handong University clique.

Those from Handong University of Political Science and Law didn't have a leading figure like Secretary Gao Yuliang and couldn't form any power base, so they were nothing to fear.

Governor Liu muttered to himself: "Secretary Gao, I owe you a favor. Next time I see the President of Handong University, there will be plenty to talk about."

Secretary Gao Yuliang and Secretary Sha Ruijin both laughed, and for a rare moment, the three of them appeared somewhat harmonious.

Wu Chunlin, the Head of the Organization Department of the Handong Province Provincial Party Committee, also received the notification at the same time.

He flipped through Zhao Yang's Materials, blinded by the thick stack of achievements.

Look at the age: thirty-seven.

Look at the rank: Department-level—soon to be Deputy Provincial-level.

He knew exactly which tier Zhao Yang belonged to without even thinking. For a moment, he even felt a bit choked up.

Zhao Yang came from the grassroots and lost his family in his teens. Starting as an undercover hero, he worked his way up, armed with technical skills, prioritizing practical work, and forcefully charged his way to this position.

And he, Wu Chunlin, had also been diligent and cautious, only reaching where he was today.

The most important thing—both were from humble backgrounds.

Being able to squeeze into that tier coming from a humble background, Wu Chunlin even felt he could stand a little straighter.

As he looked, Wu Chunlin suddenly wore a strange expression and quickly dialed the number of the Head of the Organization Department in Shanghai: "Hello, Old Yu, I've read the information on Comrade Zhao Yang; it's very detailed, and he is an excellent comrade. But did you guys forget his property-related information? I've heard that Zhao Yang is quite wealthy; don't be careless about economic matters."

A burst of laughter came from the other end of the line: "You're asking about Zhao Yang's financial situation? You don't have it there? I don't have it here either."

"Ah?" Wu Chunlin was stunned, "Old Yu, are you joking? Zhao Yang worked in Shanghai for so many years, how could there not be any?"

"If you want to see Zhao Yang's financial situation, you need a rock-solid reason, then report it to the Highest Organization Department, and after it's approved, apply to the Central authorities."

Wu Chunlin thought he was hallucinating: "This... this... why?"

"The Highest Organization Department should have told you about this, but Zhao Yang left too hastily, and they might not have notified you yet. In short, don't worry about his financial situation. By the way, you should also remind the comrades at the Discipline Inspection Commission later—if there are any reports about Comrade Zhao Yang's economic issues, like corruption or bribery, you can directly investigate the whistleblower."

"This... why is that?" Wu Chunlin was even more confused.

The tone on the other end of the line revealed a bit of pride: "To use the words of our Shanghai officialdom—if one day Shanghai's economic growth stagnates, just put a knife to Zhao Yang's neck and force him to swipe his card in Shanghai; it would at least boost the annual GDP by one percentage point."

Wu Chunlin quickly calculated in his mind and gasped: "He has tens of billions?"

"I'm talking about cash that can be used at any time."

Wu Chunlin pressed his chest and took a long while to calm down before squeezing out: "Where did he get so much money? Is the Central Bank run by his family?"

"I don't know either. So... definitely don't go looking for trouble regarding economic issues."

"Fine, I'll remember that, thank you."

After hanging up the phone, Wu Chunlin took a while to recover before standing up. He wanted to find Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary Tian Guofu to give him a heads-up, but after thinking about it for a moment, he sat back down. Tian Guofu had come with Secretary Sha Ruijin, so they might have channels for this and wouldn't need him to remind them at all. It would avoid making it look like he was rushing to curry favor as soon as the new secretary arrived, which would be too immature.

All of Handong Province was preparing for Zhao Yang's arrival. As for Zhao Yang, just before getting off work, he was called into the office by Prosecutor Qin Wenxuan, who had arrived travel-worn.

Zhao Yang placed a large plastic bag full of Zhonghua cigarettes on Prosecutor Qin Wenxuan's desk: "Prosecutor Qin, I don't have time to say goodbye to everyone one by one. Please help me distribute these to everyone."

"Fine. Sit down." Prosecutor Qin Wenxuan closed the door and lowered his voice, "In the Imperial Capital, I met with Elder Feng and several other leaders. They entrusted me to tell you a few things."