Chapter 449: The Liang Family Compromises

In Liang Jianguo's view, this was simply reckless; ruining someone's future, in any dynasty, is the way to forge a deep, irreconcilable enmity.

Even if one must forge an enmity, one must first inquire thoroughly into the other party's background; if one can crush them outright, one should never give them a chance.

Now it's a mess: not only have they thoroughly offended the other party, but they have also let them gain power. If this Qi Tongwei really makes something of himself in the future, what will become of his Liang Family?

"Hmm, Jianguo, you needn't worry too much; your father here can at least hold on for another ten years."

"In ten years, no matter how fast Qi Tongwei rises, he cannot reach my height. By then, you and your brother will at least be Department-level Officials; there is absolutely no need to fear Qi Tongwei."

"Father, Qi Tongwei is not currently a cause for concern, but have you thought about the people behind him? If you aren't an official in Sijiucheng, you will never know the importance of background."

"To be able to easily transfer Qi Tongwei into the Ministry of Public Security, the person behind him, if not a Minister, is at least at the level of a Vice Minister with real power."

"Officials in the capital are half a rank higher than local officials, and on top of that, they surely have allies; it wouldn't be difficult for them to bring down our Liang Family."

"So Father, while they haven't started settling scores yet, hurry and admit fault. It might be difficult to move you, but dealing with me and my older brother would be easy."

"Unless we act with absolute perfection, but in the officialdom, where are there any evergreens? It is impossible for us to act strictly by the book."

Liang Jianguo was the second son in the family, but his political acumen was not low, which is why his father had used connections to send him to Sijiucheng.

As for the eldest, Liang Jianshe, he had no head for officialdom and was arranged to be under his father's nose for easier care; now he was merely a Deputy Bureau Chief at the Transportation Bureau, a pure figurehead.

Liang Qunfeng fell silent. He also knew that what his son said was not false. He was able to reach the position of Provincial Top Three not because he was particularly outstanding, but because he had stood on the right side.

"Fine, Father knows what to do."

Liang Qunfeng pondered for a moment and called Zhao Lichun. As fellow Provincial Standing Committee Members, their relationship was quite good, and Zhao Lichun also knew the specific details of the Oriental Group.

"Secretary Zhao, it's me, Liang Qunfeng."

"Oh? Secretary Liang?"

Zhao Lichun knew in his heart that it was likely about the Qi Tongwei matter. Although he didn't know why Liang Qunfeng had suppressed Qi Tongwei back then, he knew that Liang Qunfeng was now suffering from a headache.

"It's like this, Secretary Zhao: my daughter had some conflict with a student from Handa University, and without my knowledge, she used my connections to suppress him."

"Oh? There is actually such a thing?"

"Yes, my daughter was spoiled by me. Actually, that student is not an outsider; he is the godson of the General Manager of the Oriental Group."

Liang Qunfeng cursed Zhao Lichun in his heart for playing dumb; he was probably clearer on the ins and outs of this than anyone else.

"So that's how it is. And Secretary Liang's meaning is?"

"I was thinking that since you, Secretary Zhao, dealt with the Oriental Group quite a bit back in the day for the sake of our Handong's development, I wanted to ask you to be a peacemaker."

"……"

Zhao Lichun originally did not want to wade into these muddy waters, but in the future, Liang Qunfeng might be a source of support for his own bid to conquer Handong.

"Fine, I will ask for you first, but I cannot guarantee anything."

"Good, good, good, then I will trouble you, Secretary Zhao."

It wasn't that Liang Qunfeng didn't know Zhang Ping'an's phone number; he was afraid that if he called and things turned sour, there would be no room for negotiation left.

After hanging up, Zhao Lichun did not hesitate and dialed Zhang Ping'an directly.

"Hello? Is that Brother Zhang? It's me, Zhao Lichun."

In the past, Zhao Lichun could communicate with Zhang Ping'an as an equal, but now he dared not be arrogant.

Although Zhang Ping'an looked to be only forty, Zhao Lichun knew he was nearly sixty, more than ten years older than him, so calling him 'Brother' was nothing.

"It's Secretary Zhao. I haven't congratulated you on your promotion yet."

"Eh~ Brother Zhang, you're being too formal. With our friendship of so many years, just calling me 'Brother Zhao' is fine."

"……"

Zhang Ping'an had not expected that the move to transfer Qi Tongwei would have such a strong aftermath, to the point that even Zhao Lichun was being so polite to him.

"Hahaha, good, then I will be bold and call you Brother Zhao."

"Haha, right. To be honest with you, Brother Zhang, the reason for this call is that someone came to me to act as a peacemaker regarding your godson, Qi Tongwei."

"Oh? Is it the Liang Family?"

"Yes, Secretary Liang Qunfeng. He was unaware of this matter and only found out later," Zhao Lichun said awkwardly.

Liang Qunfeng's words were only enough to fool a child; if he were unaware, who would suppress a top student for no reason?

Zhang Ping'an did not intend to do anything to Liang Qunfeng; after all, he was not in the officialdom, and the mere act of suppressing Qi Tongwei was not enough to topple a Provincial Top Three like Liang Qunfeng, unless there was other strong evidence.

"Hehe~ Brother Zhao, everyone knows why this matter started. If even the primary culprit is not dealt with, it will be very hard for me to answer to my godson."

"Indeed, Brother Zhang's words are reasonable. I will communicate this with Secretary Liang."

Zhao Lichun also felt that Zhang Ping'an was right; if even the primary culprit wasn't dealt with, why would the other party let it go?

It was just that Liang Lu was Liang Qunfeng's youngest daughter; he feared that Liang Qunfeng wouldn't have the heart to deal with her.

"Good, then I will trouble you, Brother Zhao."

After hanging up, Zhao Lichun sighed softly; he feared he would not be able to pull Liang Qunfeng over as a source of support.

Composing himself, Zhao Lichun called Liang Qunfeng again and explained Zhang Ping'an's opinion.

"Good, many thanks, Secretary Zhao. I understand what I must do."

Hearing Liang Qunfeng's reply, Zhao Lichun was slightly surprised; he hadn't expected him to compromise.

How could Zhao Lichun know that without Liang Jianguo's analysis, Liang Qunfeng likely wouldn't have compromised so easily.

Liang Qunfeng sat in his office with his eyes closed for a long time before preparing to go to Liang Lu's home, the house Hou Liangping had bought in the Oriental Residential Complex opposite the Procuratorate.

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Coming."

"Father-in-law?"

Hou Liangping was startled; this father-in-law had a mediocre opinion of him, so he rarely came here.

"Hmm, is Lu at home?"

"She is, she is. Please, come in."

Hou Liangping was wearing an apron at this moment, having just been busy in the kitchen with dinner, and now he hurriedly busied himself making tea for Liang Qunfeng.

"Dad? Why are you here? If there's something the matter, you could have just called and I would have gone back."

"I came over to talk to you about something."

"Go ahead."

"Regarding your job reassignment, from now on you should just be a virtuous wife and good mother at home or work as a teacher at the residential compound's kindergarten."

"Dad? What are you saying? Is this because of that matter with Qi Tongwei?"

"There is no room for discussion on this matter; everything started because of you, and it must end because of you, otherwise your two brothers will also be affected."

Although Hou Liangping was busy in the kitchen, he had heard the gist of it and was deeply shaken; he had not expected the influence of Qi Tongwei's godfather to be so great that even his own father-in-law, a vice-ministerial level official, had to compromise.

Liang Lu was full of disbelief at this moment, but looking at her father's serious and helpless face, she also understood that there was no room for negotiation in this matter.

The next morning, amidst the surprised gazes of a group of people, Liang Lu resigned from her job at Handong University.

Others might not be clear about it, but Gao Yuliang knew it perfectly well, and he was once again shocked by the influence of Qi Tongwei's godfather.

Also shocked was Chen Yanshi, who had already learned the ins and outs of the matter from Gao Yuliang, so how could he not know that this was Qi Tongwei's godfather exerting his power.