Since we had decided to stop holding back our strength, the work proceeded with the swiftness of a sharp blade cutting through tangled hemp. In less than half an hour, Xiao Yudid arrived; having the Feilong brand car was truly convenient.

While eating, everyone finalized the plans: settle matters at Liangshan over the next two days, then Li Qi would report to the Central Committee, followed by my promotion—step by step, achieving our goals.

After the six-thousand-year journey half a year ago, this tenure at Liangshan was another long period away from home. The women couldn't bear the agony of missing me any longer. Regardless of what method I used to 'climb' onto the political stage, the ladies didn't care anymore. We possessed strength now; let others say what they would.

Due to the tight schedule, Zhou Qiang hadn't fully implemented everything Zhao County Magistrate confessed yesterday, but it was no longer necessary. In the afternoon, Li Qi, coordinating with Xiao Yudid, separately interrogated Secretary Ma, Xie Sen, and the leaders from the Finance Bureau and Transportation Bureau. Before they could finish three sentences, Xiao Yudid waved them out one by one, then dispatched the Super Soldiers to accompany the troops brought by Zhao Fen and Zhao Fang to conduct raids.

According to the information recorded in their minds, they found a hoard of bankbooks, gold, and jewelry in each home. Furthermore, household registration checks confirmed that the family members of many had indeed gone into hiding overseas. The small Liangshan County was harboring a large contingent of parasites. The county government, which looked dilapidated on the outside, was actually a major base for corruption and lawlessness—truly infuriating to anyone who heard about it.

Xie Sen had initially intended to resist using the influence he held, but upon seeing the soldiers armed with live ammunition, he completely abandoned that notion. Moreover, there were those black-clad bodyguards; they carried credentials belonging to the Central Military Commission’s Direct Special Operations Group, suggesting that being shot by them would leave no grounds for appeal.

My main worry had been the peripheral organized crime elements because their movements were very stealthy. These human scum from the government reported for work looking respectable every day, making them easy targets. However, Xiao Yudid quickly located the hideouts of Xie Lei and Liang Kuan through the mental information gleaned from Xie Sen and the others. Two squads of soldiers were immediately dispatched to sweep that group clean. The only pity was that the report indicated Liang Kuan and Xie Sen had left for the provincial capital early this morning, allowing them to slip away once again.

Adhering to the principle that underworld matters should be settled through underworld methods, I notified Zhu Da and Cai Bao'er to personally travel to the provincial capital to eradicate the forces of Liang Kuan and Xie Lei remaining there and in Shimen, preventing future trouble for me.

As night descended, Li Qi had finished drafting the report for the Central Committee. One-tenth of the government personnel were implicated, and moreover, some officials in Shimen and the provincial government who had taken kickbacks were also dug out. They would be handled according to state regulations—after all, Li Qi was the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Supervision, so this matter fell under her purview.

The report also heavily detailed my contributions. Coupled with Premier Qiao and Chairman Li’s protection, I was confident that this promotion was inevitable. Finally, I wouldn't have to publish newspapers or stoke boilers for cooking.

The evening called for a celebration. The women couldn't bear to leave the others at home alone, so one phone call summoned them all over. The total count reached eighteen: Long Nü, Zhao Fen, Zhao Fang, Fang Yanmeng, Xiao Chuchu, Yi Xiaorou, Hua Qingqing, Xu Jing, Cheng Susu, Xiao Yudid, Su Xue, Ouyang Qian, Li Qi, Alina, Zhang Xiaoya, Zhou Ni, Yun Yao, and Ning Shixuan—their order was arbitrary. My dormitory couldn't even hold them all; several had to stand in the hallway. This spectacle left Zhang Feng utterly stunned, his jaw slack, especially seeing Long Nü, who embodied the strengths of them all, rendering him speechless and mentally bewildered.

Secretary Liu, although he conspired with Secretary Ma to frame me, was fortunate enough to escape serious consequences because he hadn't participated in the corruption cases. Furthermore, I didn't wish to bicker over such minor matters with him, and his tenure was short, leaving no criminal record. However, when he witnessed a cluster of indescribably beautiful girls crowding around me affectionately, he actually ran back to his quarters and wept. Today's events unfolded too suddenly, and given his history of romantic failures, his pain and turmoil were understandable.

As for Lan Feng, under Xu Jing’s special 'care,' he departed Liangshan. Naturally, nothing happened as he might have imagined—he shouldn't count on Xu Jing having any interest in him. It was more likely that whether he would ever see Xu Jing again was questionable. This time he truly lost the woman and the battle, having given his girlfriend away to me for nothing.

During the evening’s celebratory feast, Zhou Qiang kept me company. Zhang Feng Zhen was also present, considered a good friend I had made in Liangshan, though his nerves seemed slightly frayed; looking at the gathering of beauties, he didn't even remember to drink. Midway through the meal, Li Qi took a phone call and immediately pulled me aside.

“Husband, Premier Qiao just called me. I sent the report to him via the network this evening, so Premier Qiao knows everything that happened here. He asked me to relay to you that your new appointment will come down in the next day or two. You will be the new County Magistrate of Liangshan. Such an unprecedented promotion bypassing layers of hierarchy is extremely rare, but we have done a great deed for the people, so no one else would dare to find fault.”

I replied, “Justice speaks for itself. Even if I’m not a perfectly good person, I am fortunate not to do the self-serving deeds of Secretary Ma. Even if others wanted to pick a fight, they’d have to consider their excuses. At most, I’m just too amorous.”

Li Qi smiled, hooking her arm through mine, and gazed at the bright moon outside, sighing, “Time flies so fast, almost a year has passed in a blink. Husband, tonight we’ve booked out all the rooms at the Liangshan Hotel. Be as romantic as you wish; life is best enjoyed when one is at their peak. We don't need to cast aside love for empty fame and petty gains. For us, love is the number one priority; everything else is secondary.”

I pulled Li Qi into my embrace. “The fact that you think this way shows you’ve matured. Tonight, I will make you a true woman, and then you will experience the taste of love more deeply. Perhaps this way, that perverse psychological tendency of yours might even be corrected.”

Li Qi asked, “Can you bear it? Wouldn't you feel empty if no one was disciplined by you? Men inherently possess a desire to discipline; I know you have it, but you just refuse to face it.”

Fang Yanmeng and Su Xue suddenly jumped out from behind us, shouting, startling Li Qi. Fang Yanmeng exclaimed, “Enough putting on a bedroom drama here! Come drink, and then we’re heading upstairs for a collective session! Nobody escapes tonight.”

Li Qi pleaded, “Can I go first?”

Fang Yanmeng laughed, “Looks like you can’t wait. Whatever you want; our Husband has endless energy. I guarantee he can take care of every single one of us tonight.”

Su Xue cautiously suggested, “Shouldn’t we go home? I always feel a girl’s first time should be in a very intimate setting. This place feels so foreign. How about going home? We are very quick; it won't take more than a few minutes.”

Fang Yanmeng called out to the other women who were happily drinking, “Sisters, sisters! Su Xue suggests we go home to celebrate. What does everyone think?”

Xiao Chuchu replied, “Whatever is fine now that transportation is so convenient.”

Yi Xiaorou agreed, “Husband hasn’t been home in a long time. We achieved a great success this time; we should go home and see the place.”

I picked up Li Qi, saying, “You all keep eating; we’ll leave first.”

Su Xue reached out to grab me. “Hey, you impatient rogue! Wait, I have one more thing to ask you.”

“What is it?”

Su Xue leaned mysteriously close to my ear, “What number are you on now? Don't forget about me on the sixteenth.”

“It’s fifteen now. Do you want it? If not, I’ll give it to Li Qi.”

“No need, but the spot right next to Qi Qi Jie is mine; don't give it to anyone else.”

I readily agreed, “OK! Why don’t we all go together? We can play 3P.”

Su Xue objected, “3P isn't a big deal, but I want to be with Qianqian. As long as Chenchen agrees to 4P, I’m not afraid.”

Li Qi, held in my arms with her neck looped around mine, laughed at Su Xue, “I didn’t realize you were so open-minded. I really should learn from you.”

Su Xue shot back, “Aren’t you even more open? Playing with those imported perverse things.”

Li Qi reached out and caressed Su Xue’s full chest. “Someday I’m going to try you too, let you experience that ecstasy.”

Su Xue dodged Li Qi’s hand. “Qi Qi, you need to be careful. We three sisters are united. If we play, you might be the one being played with, hehe.”

Li Qi understood immediately that Su Xue was referring to her extraordinary relationship with Ouyang Qian and Xu Chen. If the three of them worked together, she, the single entity, might be the one played with. “Husband, they three are bullying me. You have to help me then.”

I assured her, “Don’t worry. I will definitely bully them back then. But don't joke about Chenchen; our relationship is very pure.”