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

Chapter 215 Prelude to the Storm

Gao Yuliang took out a dedicated phone line and called Zhao Lichun.

"Yuliang, what's wrong?"

Zhao Lichun sounded to be in a good mood, but Gao Yuliang knew it was because of his trust in him.

Gao Yuliang deliberately feigned a conflicted and helpless expression, and said:

"Old boss, we're in a bit of trouble... Hou Liangping found another ledger in Liu Qingzhu's house..."

Upon hearing the word "ledger," Zhao Lichun's heart sank.

The relaxed mood vanished completely, replaced by seriousness and gloom:

"Hou Liangping? That son-in-law of the Zhong family? He got his hands on the account books?"

Gao Yuliang then reported to Zhao Lichun, after making some alterations, about Hou Liangping obtaining the account book and showing it off in front of him.

In particular, Hou Liangping's malicious attitude towards the Zhao family was fully emphasized.

Finally, I'll pretend to be troubled and emphasize one last thing:

"Sigh, it's one thing for me to be listed in the ledger, but Ruilong has such a bright future ahead of him..."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Lichun became even more enraged.

Even after Gao Yuliang took Gao Xiaofeng away, he continued to do his best to help Zhao Lichun.

This made Zhao Lichun even more convinced that Gao Yuliang was a grateful person, and he had no doubt about him.

As a result, Zhao Lichun completely failed to think deeply about every word Gao Yuliang said.

In his view, this was Hou Liangping's way of provoking the Zhao family after obtaining the account book!

Gao Yuliang was a complete victim!

"That damned Zhong family, always resorting to these petty tricks! Yu Liang, thank you for telling me, but don't worry about what happens next."

Zhao Lichun made a promise.

"Thank you, thank you for your care, former leader!"

Gao Yuliang spoke sincerely over the phone.

After hanging up the phone, Gao Yuliang regained his composure, stood up, and felt that the current situation was somewhat familiar.

Last year, Xia Qing did the same, weaving a large net for Hou Liangping.

And now, I've done the same thing.

However, this time, it may truly be the end for Hou Liangping.

……

Beijing.

After finishing his call with Gao Yuliang, Zhao Lichun immediately called Zhong Zhengguo.

Zhong Zhengguo was very surprised to receive Zhao Lichun's call, but he still maintained a facade of harmony, answered the phone, and greeted him amicably as "Brother Zhao".

But Zhao Lichun on the other end of the phone was far less polite, speaking in a chilling tone:

"Zhong Zhengguo, do you want your good son-in-law to send this old man to his coffin?"

These words sound like an accusation, but they are actually a blatant threat.

Zhong Zhengguo shuddered. In the operation against the Zhao family, the Zhong family had always maintained a subtle distance, trying not to step into the limelight, but instead letting the Ni family take the lead against the Zhao family.

Therefore, although the Zhao family was fully aware of the Zhong family's actions, the two families still maintained a friendly relationship in the eyes of outsiders.

So much so that now, when Zhong Zhengguo hears Zhao Lichun's harsh choice of words, he can't help but think quickly in his mind.

What did Hou Liangping do?

Wasn't that kid demoted to the Federation of Literary and Art Circles? How come he still managed to offend Zhao Lichun?

Zhong Zhengguo did not completely abandon Hou Liangping, but Hou Liangping's actions in Handongqian were indeed unpopular. Coupled with Xia Qing's strong suppression, Zhong Zhengguo chose to retreat in order to advance. He planned to let Hou Liangping go to the Federation of Literary and Art Circles to recuperate for a period of time, and then restore him to his original position through other means once the situation stabilized.

Unexpectedly, this good-for-nothing son-in-law couldn't even get through these few months of peace and quiet, and insisted on causing trouble at this critical juncture, even provoking Zhao Lichun!

Zhong Zhengguo quickly formulated a set of the most friendly and humble words in his mind, and said with a smile:

"Brother Zhao, what makes you say that? I've been busy preparing for my youngest son's birthday these past few days and haven't been able to attend to anything in Handong for a long time. Has Liangping done something foolish again? I apologize to you in advance."

Zhao Lichun recalled that the Zhong family had indeed been busy preparing for their youngest son's birthday these past few days. It wasn't impossible that Zhong Zhengguo was too busy to take care of Handong.

Coupled with Zhong Zhengguo's attitude, Zhao Lichun's anger subsided considerably, but his tone remained icy as he said:

"Let's meet in person at 12:30 pm, the usual place."

Before Zhong Zhengguo could refuse, Zhao Lichun hung up the phone.

Zhong Zhengguo's expression returned to its previous seriousness. He instructed the servants to prepare clothes while calling his daughter, Zhong Xiaoai.

"Hello, Dad?"

"Xiao Ai, tell me honestly." Zhong Zhengguo's tone was full of authority:

"What has Hou Liangping done this time?"

Zhong Xiaoai looked bewildered. She didn't know why her father had suddenly come to interrogate her, so she could only tell the truth: she knew nothing about what Hou Liangping had done.

Upon hearing Zhong Xiaoai's answer, Zhong Zhengguo didn't ask any further questions, simply hummed in response, and hung up the phone.

Zhong Xiaoai became increasingly confused and quickly called Hou Liangping in Handong, only to find his phone switched off.

A bad feeling began to ferment in Zhong Xiaoai's heart.

At night, Zhong Xiaoai went home after get off work.

As soon as I entered the door, I saw my father, Zhong Zhengguo, sitting on the sofa, staring straight at the television that was not turned on. The ashtray on the table was piled up like a small mountain.

Zhong Xiaoai realized something was wrong, so she carefully sat down next to Zhong Zhengguo and whispered:

"dad."

Zhong Zhengguo took a deep breath to calm his turbulent emotions and tried his best to make his tone sound relatively calm as he said:

Today, Zhao Lichun and I had a meal together.

Zhong Xiaoai was stunned. Why was her father having dinner with Zhao Lichun? Was this a new arrangement?

"He told me something at the dinner table."

Zhong Zhengguo didn't let his daughter guess; instead, he told Zhong Xiaoai everything he had overheard at the dinner table.

As Zhong Xiaoai listened, her pupils widened even more. Despite it being the cold early spring season in the north, large beads of sweat seeped from her forehead.

Even after Zhong Zhengguo finished speaking, Zhong Xiaoai was still in a daze, unable to believe what she had heard.

Hou Liangping... got the account book?

A ledger filled with evidence of crimes committed by Zhao Ruilong, the Han University gang, and even Gao Yuliang…?

Such a thing, let alone holding it in your hand, just knowing its whereabouts is extremely dangerous.

Hou Liangping simply held onto the account book and even swaggered over to Gao Yuliang to tell him about it, which was tantamount to telling the whole world, "I have the account book and I have evidence of the Zhao family's crimes."

How could Zhao Lichun possibly let this go?

Zhong Xiaoai suddenly remembered that Hou Liangping's phone had been switched off at noon today.

Could it be that...

Seemingly sensing Zhong Xiaoai's thoughts, Zhong Zhengguo said expressionlessly:

"Hou Liangping is fine. I asked Xiao Li from the Federation of Literary and Art Circles to check on him. He just locked himself in his room and turned off his phone."

Xiao Li is naturally the head of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Chairman Li.

Hearing her father's words, Zhong Xiaoai breathed a slight sigh of relief, but another terrible thought swept over her mind.

Was it really just a coincidence that Hou Liangping got his hands on the account book?

Or……

Someone naturally and perfectly delivered the account book into Hou Liangping's hands!