Title: Reborn Qi Tongwei, who defies fate by half a move and refuses to kneel

Chapter 135 Bureaucracy, a den of snakes and rats

Several black Audi A6 official cars were parked in front of the muddy field at the entrance of the village. Before the doors were even opened, the air of superiority emanating from the car windows was already wafting out.

The man who came down was in his fifties, with his hair neatly combed, wearing a dark blue executive jacket and shiny leather shoes, which seemed out of place in the surrounding environment that reeked of pig manure.

He frowned, first glancing at the mud at his feet with disgust, then pulled out a clean white handkerchief and covered his mouth and nose, as if the air itself were poisonous.

This is Mayor Zhang Guohua of Yantai City.

He didn't look at Qi Tongwei and Zhao Donglai standing under the eaves immediately.

In his eyes, these people were covered in mud and their clothes were wrinkled. Apart from the woman with the gun who was somewhat conspicuous, the rest were probably just some naive reporter or some ignorant grassroots inspectors.

Zhang Guohua walked straight to Ma Dapao, who was squatting on the ground.

When Ma Dapao saw his savior arrive, in that instant, all his fat muscles seemed to surge with power. He scrambled and crawled towards Zhang Guohua's legs, babbling, "Mayor! Mayor, you've finally come! These people... these people are nothing but bandits! They beat people up! And they stole my phone!"

Zhang Guohua frowned even more deeply, and silently took half a step back to avoid Ma Dapao's mud-covered, dirty hand.

"Stand still! What kind of posture is that?!"

Zhang Guohua gave a low, harsh rebuke, and the imposing aura of a superior made Ma Dapao instinctively shrink back.

Zhang Guohua bent down, and under the guise of brushing off non-existent dust from his trouser legs, leaned close to Ma Dapao's ear, his voice low and audible to only the two of them: "Where's that notebook? It didn't say anything inappropriate, did it?"

Ma Dapao shook his head frantically, his eyes darting around: "No... I didn't say anything! They took the notebook, but I didn't admit to anything!"

Zhang Guohua's gaze softened somewhat. He straightened up and turned around.

Only then did he look at Qi Tongwei properly.

Qi Tongwei sat on the worn-out stool, a half-smoked cigarette between his fingers. His face was covered in grime from the long journey, and with his deliberately made-up, weathered look, he certainly didn't look like a high-ranking official; he looked more like a foreman who had just come down from a construction site.

"Which organization are you from?"

Zhang Guohua, hands behind his back and chin slightly raised, scrutinized the group with the look of someone examining criminals. "Who gave you the authority to conduct this kind of clandestine investigation at the grassroots level without the approval of the municipal party committee and government, and without following proper procedures?"

Just as Zhao Donglai was about to speak, Qi Tongwei raised his hand to stop him.

Qi Tongwei took a drag of his cigarette, exhaled a cloud of bluish-white smoke, and looked at Mayor Zhang through the smoke without saying a word.

This silence greatly displeased Zhang Guohua. In this small corner of Yantai, no one dared to ignore his question like this.

"I'm asking you a question!" Zhang Guohua raised his voice, his tone dripping with official jargon. "According to the Civil Servant Law and relevant regulations on administrative supervision, cross-regional law enforcement or investigations require an official letter from a higher-level department and prior registration with the local Party committee and government! Where are your documents? Your letters of introduction? Your work permits?"

He stretched out his hand and tapped his fingers in the air a few times, as if he were reprimanding a few unruly elementary school students.

"These young people nowadays are simply playing the piano haphazardly! Do they think they can get things done just by being enthusiastic? What about organizational principles? What about procedural justice? What you're doing is not only disrupting stability at the grassroots level, but also creating chaos for our overall poverty alleviation efforts!"

Ye Cunxin laughed when she heard this.

She fiddled with the Glock pistol in her hand, the muzzle intentionally or unintentionally waving in Zhang Guohua's direction, startling the secretary behind Zhang Guohua, who turned pale.

"I say, Mayor," Ye Cunxin leaned against the doorframe, her tone full of sarcasm, "that in this place, people can't even get enough to eat, and the houses leak when it rains. Instead of asking about the people's lives, you come here asking for letters of introduction? Is this procedural justice meant to protect these corrupt officials or these poor people?"

"presumptuous!"

Zhang Guohua's face darkened, and he pointed at Ye Cunxin, angrily rebuking her: "You little comrade, how dare you speak like that? No respect for your elders! Don't you understand any rules? Which police academy did you graduate from? Give me your badge number! I need to have a serious talk with your superiors!"

"Are you looking for our manager?"

Qi Tongwei finally spoke.

He stubbed out his cigarette and stood up from the stool. As he rose, an invisible sense of oppression instantly spread out, the aura cultivated from years of battlefield experience and the power he wielded, which could not be concealed even in the most tattered clothes.

"Mayor Zhang, right?" Qi Tongwei patted the ash off his cigarette, his voice flat. "Did you lead and organize this poverty alleviation work in Heishi Township?"

Zhang Guohua was taken aback by this question that turned the tables on him, and then a surge of anger welled up inside him.

"I am the mayor of Yantai City. All the city's work is naturally carried out under the leadership of the municipal party committee and government! Do I need to report this to you?" Zhang Guohua sneered. "On the contrary, you are breaking into private homes, detaining grassroots cadres, and restricting their personal freedom! You are committing crimes!"

Qi Tongwei ignored his accusations and instead pointed to the so-called breeding base.

"Twelve million."

Qi Tongwei looked into Zhang Guohua's eyes. "Did you approve this money?"

Zhang Guohua's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't expected these people to investigate so thoroughly, even knowing the specific amounts. But being a seasoned veteran, he remained calm and collected.

"The use of special funds is subject to strict approval procedures and auditing systems! Every penny spent is traceable!" Zhang Guohua stated matter-of-factly in an official tone.

"As for the project's delays, that's due to a variety of reasons! Land transfer issues, market fluctuations, and force majeure! How can you laymen make a conclusion about such complex situations with just a glance?"

"Complex?"

Zhao Donglai couldn't stand it any longer, so he took a step forward, his burly body forming a wall in front of Zhang Guohua.

"The common people drink muddy water, while the township head smokes Zhonghua cigarettes! Is this what you call complicated?" Zhao Donglai cursed. "I think the only complicated thing is who actually pocketed the money, and how many layers it went through!"

Zhao Donglai's shout made Zhang Guohua's eardrums ring.

Several of his entourage tried to step forward, but were glared at and stopped by a single look from Zhao Donglai's SWAT officers. Although those officers were in plainclothes, the menacing aura they exuded, as if they had crawled out of piles of corpses, was far beyond what these office secretaries could match.

Zhang Guohua was so angry that his hands were shaking.

"Great! Excellent!"

Zhang Guohua pulled out his phone, slamming his finger into the screen. "Which unit are you from? Such a temper! Are you a cop or a thug? I think you're just here to cause trouble! You're a criminal gang!"

He dialed a number directly; it was the phone number of the director of the Yantai City Public Security Bureau.

"Old Liu! Bring men to Heishi Township immediately! Yes! Bring SWAT officers! Fully armed! There's a group of unidentified armed men here, impersonating public officials, causing trouble, and even threatening government cadres with guns! This is extremely serious! Arrest them immediately!"

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Guohua felt confident again.

He looked at Qi Tongwei, a cold smile playing on his lips: "Don't bother with my words. In Yantai, if you're a dragon, you'd better coil up; if you're a tiger, you'd better lie low!"

"No matter who's behind you, and no matter which department in the province you're supposedly an undercover investigation team from, this isn't over!"

"Any investigation that hasn't been signed off on is an illegal investigation! Any action that hasn't been approved by the municipal party committee is an illegal action!"

These words were spoken with such conviction and authority.

Standing nearby, Ma Dapao felt confident once again. The mayor had already put things this way, even calling in the special police; what trouble could these out-of-towners possibly cause?

"Did you hear me?!" Ma Dapao spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva, glaring fiercely at Zhao Donglai. "Which hand hit me just now? When Director Liu gets here, I'll personally cripple that hand of yours! Damn it, daring to mess with me like that, don't you even bother to find out who Mayor Zhang is?!"

Ye Cunxin shook her head helplessly as she watched this scene.

"This place is absolutely rotten." She holstered her gun, her eyes filled with disgust. "A den of snakes and rats, officials colluding with each other. No wonder the poverty alleviation funds didn't even leave a trace; the root of the problem is rotten here."

"That's normal."

Qi Tongwei looked at Zhang Guohua, who was still adjusting his collar, with a cold gaze. "When bureaucracy becomes a protective umbrella, and procedural justice becomes a fig leaf, such people will multiply like maggots."

"Most officials either choose to remain silent to protect themselves, or they choose to go along with the corrupt practices."

Qi Tongwei took two steps forward, closing in on Zhang Guohua.

"Anyone who dares to step forward, anyone who dares to lift the lid, you lot will use your power to kill the nail that sticks out. That's your ecosystem, isn't it?"

Zhang Guohua, his sore spot hit, blushed and retorted, "Stop lecturing me! Who do you think you are? This is no place for you to preach!"

Qi Tongwei stopped in his tracks.

He looked at Zhang Guohua with no anger in his eyes, only a calmness as if he were looking at a dead man.

"No need to make the call."

Qi Tongwei's voice wasn't loud, but everyone present could hear it clearly: "I am now formally informing you, Zhang Guohua, that you are under investigation. Until the investigation team issues its conclusion, you will be placed under 'shuanggui' (a form of internal party discipline), which will restrict all your freedom of movement and suspend you from all duties."

The air was quiet for a second.

Immediately afterwards, Zhang Guohua burst out laughing as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world.

"You're putting me under investigation?"

Zhang Guohua pointed at his own nose, laughing so hard he almost fell over. "Are you out of your mind? Do you know who I am? I'm a provincial-level cadre! A full-fledged department head! If you want to touch me, the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection needs to file a case, and the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee needs to discuss and approve it! What makes you think you can? Just because you talk to me?"

He sized Qi Tongwei up and down, his eyes full of contempt: "Are you qualified? Even if you're a section chief from the provincial department, you'd still have to call me 'leader'! Want to get rid of me? Tell your superiors to go and report to Secretary Gao of the Provincial Party Committee first! Young man, don't be too arrogant, or you'll bite the hand that feeds you!"

"Exactly!" Ma Dapao chimed in, his face full of smug arrogance. "What a piece of trash! A mayor under investigation? I bet you've had too much fake alcohol! When Director Liu gets here, he'll put you under investigation and send you to the detention center first!"

"Let's see who dares!"

A loud shout, like a thunderclap from a clear sky.

Zhao Donglai could no longer tolerate it. He took a step forward, pulled the black leather wallet out of his pocket, opened it, and shoved it fiercely in front of Zhang Guohua's face.

"Open your dog eyes and see clearly!"

Zhao Donglai's voice carried a murderous glint, "I am Zhao Donglai, the director of the Jingzhou Public Security Bureau! Look closely at the national emblem on this! Look closely at the police rank on this!"

The police badge on that black badge gleamed in the setting sun.

The photo above shows the burly man with a menacing face and a menacing aura. His title is clearly written as: Director of the Jingzhou Public Security Bureau.

Zhang Guohua's smile froze on his face.

Director of the Jingzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau.

That person is a powerful figure at the deputy director-general level, the "knife handle" of the provincial capital. Although he is half a rank lower than the mayor, the amount of power and influence behind him are two different things!

Moreover, Jingzhou is the provincial capital, and Zhao Donglai is a favorite of Secretary Sha Ruijin and a role model for the entire provincial public security system!

"Director Zhao...?"

Zhang Guohua's voice changed slightly, and his arrogant official demeanor instantly crumbled by half.

He looked at Zhao Donglai with disbelief, then glanced at Qi Tongwei, who remained calm and collected.

If the person acting as a lackey and henchman is Zhao Donglai.

So who is this man who has been sitting on the stool the whole time and just gave the order to "double-regulate" him?

In this Handong Province, besides the bigwigs in the provincial party committee, there is only one other person who can make Zhao Donglai, the "Tiger of Jingzhou," willingly serve as his pawn and obey his orders with such respect.

A name that has recently become a household name and strikes fear into the hearts of many in the officialdom of Handong.

Cold sweat trickled down Zhang Guohua's temples.

"This...how is this possible..." Zhang Guohua swallowed hard, his legs starting to feel weak.

Just then, a piercing siren broke the silence on the dirt road at the village entrance.

More than a dozen police cars roared in, their red and blue flashing lights illuminating the dilapidated little village as if it were daytime.

Before the car had even come to a complete stop, dozens of fully armed special police officers and regular police officers jumped out, carrying riot shields and batons. The officer in the lead, wearing a white shirt, shouted as he rushed over.

"Don't move! Cover your heads and squat down!"

"Who dares to assault a police officer! Who dares to threaten Mayor Zhang! Surround them!"

The group of police officers from Yantai City surrounded Qi Tongwei and his companions in an instant, creating an impenetrable barrier.

Director Liu, who was in charge, took the lead and wanted to make a good impression on the mayor.

"Mayor Zhang! You've been frightened!"

Director Liu jogged over, pointing at Zhao Donglai and Qi Tongwei and yelling, "Cuff these two ringleaders! They've gone too far! Daring to cause trouble in Yantai!"

Several young special police officers, handcuffed, were about to rush up.

Zhao Donglai coldly watched the police rushing towards him, without moving. He simply raised the identification in his hand even higher, his eyes sweeping across Director Liu's face like knives.

"Liu the Pockmarked, haven't seen you in years, you've gotten quite the brat, huh? You're even going to arrest me?"

Upon hearing this nickname, Director Liu slammed on the brakes and nearly tripped over his own feet.

He stared intently at the familiar dark face and the familiar ID, and was instantly petrified, as if struck by lightning.

He graduated from the provincial police academy, and Zhao Donglai was his senior! Moreover, when the provincial public security system held meetings, he was the one who had to serve tea and water to Zhao Donglai!

"Director Zhao... Director Zhao?!"

Director Liu's voice was like a rooster being strangled, letting out a sharp, strange cry.

He glanced at Zhao Donglai, whose face was full of anger, and then at Zhang Guohua, whose face was deathly pale. His mind went blank for a moment, and he instantly realized that this was a battle of gods.

"Stop! Everyone stop! Put your guns away!"

Director Liu turned around and roared at his subordinates, his back instantly soaked with cold sweat.

He turned around, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace, and rubbed his hands together as he moved closer to Zhao Donglai.

"Oh dear! This...this is like the flood washing away the Dragon King's temple; the family doesn't recognize each other anymore!"

Director Liu, with a forced smile, reached out to shake Zhao Donglai's hand. "Senior Brother Zhao, why didn't you let us know you were coming to Yantai? If I had known you were handling a case, I wouldn't have dared to bring anyone here! It's a misunderstanding, a complete misunderstanding! We're all on the same side, all on the same side..."

"Who's with your own people?"

A cold voice suddenly interrupted.

Qi Tongwei walked over slowly, his leather shoes making a soft sound on the muddy ground, but each step felt like stepping on Director Liu's heartbeat.

He stood there, his gaze sweeping over Zhang Guohua, over Director Liu, and over the group of policemen holding shields, looking bewildered.

"My soldiers are here to protect our country and uphold justice."

Qi Tongwei reached out and gently straightened Director Liu's crooked tie, a movement that made Director Liu tremble all over.

"You are here to protect the homes of corrupt officials and to oppress the people."

Qi Tongwei suddenly tightened his grip on Director Liu's tie, forcing him to stand on tiptoe.

"We are not on the same path."