novelraw Chapter 143 Poverty Alleviation? This is like burning paper money for the dead!
Chapter 143 Poverty Alleviation? This is like burning paper money for the dead!
The office was deathly silent.
Only a few bundles of pink banknotes slipped down from the wall's recesses, falling to the ground with a "thud".
Qi Tongwei closed the black leather notebook.
I tapped the cover lightly twice with my fingertips.
The sound wasn't loud, but to Zhao Donglai it sounded like a thunderclap.
This booklet was a death warrant for 128 officials in the Han Dong bureaucracy.
"Director, the first person on this list is Hou Dezhi, the director of the Budget Department of the Provincial Finance Department." Zhao Donglai swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing. "This man is the money bag that Zhao Lichun promoted. I heard he's about to be promoted to deputy director."
"Promoted to deputy director-general level?"
Qi Tongwei chuckled, took out a lighter from his pocket, and lit it with a "click".
The flames flickered in the dim light, illuminating his angular profile.
"After tonight, he'll only be able to get promoted to sewing machine foreman in prison."
Ye Cunxin leaned against the desk, still playing with the gold bead she had pried out of the wall.
After all that fuss, the neckline of her black pencil skirt was even lower, revealing a large expanse of her smooth, white breasts, which shimmered alluringly with each breath.
Those beautiful legs, wrapped in tattered black stockings, were casually crossed. At the tear at the base of her left thigh, the fair skin was slightly red from the friction, creating a striking visual contrast with the surrounding black stockings.
"Tongwei, one hundred and twenty-eight people."
Ye Cunxin's eyes were alluring, her voice languid and hoarse with a hint of post-coital languor, "How do you plan to arrest me? With such a large police force mobilized across the province, it's impossible to keep it a secret."
She stretched out her foot, clad in a red-soled high heel, the toe lightly brushing against Qi Tongwei's calf, moving upwards until it finally rested on his knee.
His movements were frivolous, yet they revealed a wildness that allowed him to play with his prey.
Qi Tongwei grabbed her ankle with his other hand.
The calluses on my palms rubbed against the delicate stockings, feeling smooth and warm to the touch.
He squeezed hard.
"what……"
Ye Cunxin let out a soft cry, her body went limp, and she almost slipped to the ground, but her eyes became even more watery, as if they were about to drip water.
"conceal?"
Qi Tongwei released his grip, turned to look at Zhao Donglai, his gaze sharp as a knife: "Who said I was going to hide it?"
"Donglai, convey my orders."
"Activate the highest-level emergency plan of 'Operation Fox Hunt'. Notify the heads of the Criminal Investigation Division, the Economic Crime Investigation Division, and the public security bureaus of all cities and prefectures to hold a video conference within ten minutes."
"Tell them that tonight is not a drill, it's war."
Zhao Donglai snapped to attention, his hand trembling as he saluted: "Yes, sir!"
……
Twenty minutes later.
Command Center of the Public Security Bureau of Handong Province.
On the huge electronic screen, there were more than a dozen screens, showing live connections between the heads of public security bureaus from all over the province.
These bureau chiefs, who are usually so imposing, are now sitting upright, not daring to even breathe loudly.
Qi Tongwei stood in front of the command platform.
He wasn't wearing a police uniform jacket, but only a black tactical shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his strong, muscular forearms.
"Everyone, I'm not going to waste any more time on small talk."
Qi Tongwei pointed to the large screen behind him.
The screen changed, displaying a densely packed network of relationships and 128 glaring names.
"This list has just been sent to your respective secure terminals."
"I want you to follow the map within one hour."
"Whether he's sleeping in bed, drinking at a dinner table, or even celebrating his mistress's birthday."
Qi Tongwei braced his hands on the table, leaning forward like a tiger about to pounce: "Bring them all back to me!"
"Everyone on the list must be in the interrogation room tonight. If even one is missing, you can take off your hats and go home to your children!"
There was complete silence on the other side of the screen.
Immediately following this were shouts of "Mission accomplished!" rising and falling.
Disconnect the connection.
Qi Tongwei grabbed the car keys from the table and strode out.
"Director, where are you going?" Zhao Donglai caught up with him.
"Leave the small fry on the list to the lower ranks." Qi Tongwei said without turning his head. "The biggest fish, Hou Dezhi, I'll catch him myself."
Ye Cunxin was already waiting at the door.
She found a men's trench coat somewhere and draped it over her shoulders. The oversized coat concealed her alluring figure, but it couldn't hide her long legs clad in ripped black stockings.
The hem of the trench coat fluttered as she walked, and the glimpses of spring in the air only made people's blood boil.
"Take me with you."
Ye Cunxin caught up in her high heels, naturally took Qi Tongwei's arm, and pressed herself against him.
Those full, soft breasts pressed tightly against Qi Tongwei's arms, exuding an amazing elasticity.
"I love watching these kinds of raids," she whispered in Qi Tongwei's ear, her breath sweet as orchids. "If you behave well, there will be a reward when we get back."
Qi Tongwei glanced at her, a wicked smile playing on his lips: "Fine, then let me show you whose bed this 'poverty alleviation fund' from Handong has ended up in."
……
Jiulonghu Resort, Jingzhou City.
This is the most upscale den of iniquity in Jingzhou City. It's a membership-only place where the cost of one night is enough for an average person to live on for a year.
At this moment, the No. 8 VIP room was filled with smoke and the smell of alcohol.
Hou Dezhi, director of the Budget Department of the Provincial Department of Finance, was embracing two scantily clad young women, holding a microphone, and singing "Borrowing Five Hundred Years from Heaven Again".
His face was flushed from drinking, and his fat face was shiny with oil.
"Director Hou, your voice is just like Pavarotti reincarnated!"
Several businessmen nearby were raising their wine glasses, showering him with sycophantic flattery.
"That's right!"
Hou Dezhi let out a drunken hiccup, his fat hand groping the girl's thigh in his arms. "Let me tell you, once the poverty alleviation funds from Yantai arrive, our 'ecological pig farming' project will start distributing dividends again."
"Hou Chuying is wise!"
A businessman obsequiously offered a cigar, "But I heard that madman Qi Tongwei has been investigating Yantai lately, could it be...?"
"What's there to be afraid of!"
Hou Dezhi, a cigar dangling from his lips, said disdainfully, "What is Qi Tongwei anyway? Isn't he just a gigolo who climbed the social ladder by relying on women?"
"Yantai is Zhao family territory. He dares to touch it? He'd be lucky to get the guts!"
"Come on, let's drink! Tonight, anyone who doesn't get drunk is disrespecting me, Hou!"
"Bang!"
The heavy, soundproof door to the private room was suddenly kicked open violently from the outside.
The loud roar startled Hou Dezhi, who was singing, causing him to drop the microphone from his hand, which emitted a piercing whistling sound.
"Who is it! Do you have a death wish? Do you know who I am?"
Fueled by alcohol, Hou Dezhi suddenly stood up, pointed at the door, and began to curse.
A man and a woman were standing at the entrance.
The man was tall and had a cold face. He was carrying a black minigun.
The woman had a seductive figure, wearing a trench coat and long legs in black stockings, yet she exuded an air of nobility and murderous intent that made people afraid to look directly at her.
"Director Hou, you have a nice voice."
Qi Tongwei stepped across the threshold, his leather boots making a dull thud on the expensive carpet.
He looked around the private room.
The table was covered with unopened Louis XIII bottles and plates of untouched Australian lobsters.
This is what is known as a "public servant".
"Qi...Qi Tongwei?"
Hou Dezhi instantly sobered up halfway.
He recognized the face.
In today's officialdom of Handong, this is a living Yama (devil in human form).
"How did you get in? Where are the security guards? Where are my bodyguards?!" Hou Dezhi roared, his voice trembling with fear.
"Stop shouting."
Ye Cunxin strolled in slowly, waving her hand dismissively to dispel the smell of smoke in front of her.
She walked to the table, picked up a bottle of Louis XIII and looked at it. "Thirty thousand a bottle. Director Hou, this whole table of wine is enough to build a road in Yantai Heishi Township, isn't it?"
"Who are you? It's none of your business!" Hou Dezhi cursed.
Ye Cunxin's eyes turned cold.
"Snapped!"
She swung a bottle and smashed it hard on Hou Dezhi's head.
The glass shattered, and amber-colored liquor mixed with blood flowed down Hou Dezhi's fat cheeks.
"ah--!"
Hou Dezhi screamed and squatted on the ground, clutching his head.
The two girls who were serving drinks were so frightened that they screamed repeatedly and huddled in the corner, trembling with fear.
Qi Tongwei walked over and stepped on Hou Dezhi's fat belly, grinding it hard.
"Didn't you just say I wouldn't dare touch the rock platform?"
Qi Tongwei looked down at Hou Dezhi, who lay there like a dead dog, his voice icy cold, "Now, I've made my move. What are your objections?"
"Qi Tongwei! This is an abuse of power! I am a provincial-level cadre, I'm going to call Secretary Zhao! I'm going to call the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department!"
Hou Dezhi was still struggling, trying to take out his phone.
"Go ahead and hit."
Qi Tongwei loosened his legs, pulled over a chair, and sat down with an air of authority.
"I'll give you five minutes. Whoever you can call, I'll arrest."
At this moment, Ye Cunxin walked to Qi Tongwei's side, her body went limp, and she sat directly on his lap.
Her trench coat slipped off one shoulder, revealing a black camisole underneath and her deep cleavage.
In front of everyone in the room, she wrapped her arms around Qi Tongwei's neck, brought her red lips close to his ear, and flirted with him as if no one else was around.
"Wasn't that bottle of wine cool?"
Qi Tongwei held her waist with his big hand, and through the thin fabric, he could feel the heat of her skin.
"Not enough force, next time aim for the main artery."
Hou Dezhi held the phone, his hands trembling like a leaf.
He dialed the phone number of Zhao Lichun's secretary.
Shut down.
I dialed the phone number of the Executive Deputy Minister of the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee.
Unable to connect.
He dialed the number of "Liu Sheng," the person he had been in contact with on a one-way basis.
It's also turned off.
All the powerful connections and networks seemed to vanish into thin air at that moment.
An unprecedented despair overwhelmed Hou Dezhi like a tidal wave.
"Can't get through?"
Qi Tongwei sneered, pulled the black leather notebook from his pocket, and threw it on the table covered in drinks.
"No need to continue. They should all be on their way to the interrogation room by now."
When Hou Dezhi saw the notebook, his eyes almost popped out of their sockets.
That's Liu Sheng's account book!
That's their lifeline!
"How did it end up in your hands... how could it be..." Hou Dezhi slumped to the ground, his face ashen, a wet patch on his crotch, and a strong smell of urine emanating from it.
"take away!"
Qi Tongwei didn't want to look at that lump of rotten flesh again.
Zhao Donglai led several special police officers in and rushed in. Without saying a word, he handcuffed Hou Dezhi behind his back and dragged him out like a dead pig.
"Qi Tongwei! You'll die a horrible death! Secretary Zhao will not let you get away with this!"
Hou Dezhi's mournful howls gradually faded into the distance.
The private room finally quieted down.
Qi Tongwei stood up and dusted off his trench coat.
"Let's go, next game."
Ye Cunxin got off him, straightened her skirt, and her ripped black stockings stood out conspicuously under the light.
"Where to?"
"The Provincial Party Committee compound."
Qi Tongwei walked to the window and looked at the dark night outside.
In the distance, sirens wailed incessantly, and the entire city of Jingzhou seemed to be in an uproar.
"With so many people arrested tonight, it's likely that most of the provincial party committee standing committee members will be absent tomorrow morning."
"I need to deliver a gift to Sha Ruijin."
"This gift list is too generous; I'm afraid he won't dare to accept it."
Ye Cunxin walked behind him, hugged his waist from behind, and pressed her cheek against his broad back.
"What's there to be afraid of?"
"At worst, we'll just poke a hole in the sky."
"Anyway, I'll make it up for you."
Her hand slipped inside the seam of his tactical shirt, her fingertips lightly tracing his abs, carrying a clear suggestive meaning.
"And tonight's reward..."
Qi Tongwei turned around and slammed her against the glass of the floor-to-ceiling window.
This is the ninth floor.
Outside the window, the lights of thousands of homes in Jingzhou shone brightly; below, the traffic flowed bustling.
"Give it to me now."
He lowered his head and kissed those chattering red lips fiercely.
Just as their breaths mingled and they were lost in passion.
The red secure phone in Qi Tongwei's pocket suddenly started vibrating wildly.
This bell will only ring in the event of a state of extreme emergency.
Qi Tongwei paused, his eyes instantly regaining their clarity and coldness.
He released Ye Cunxin, who was panting and flushed, and answered the phone.
On the other end of the phone, Zhao Donglai's voice came through, trembling with anxiety.
"Director! Something's happened!"
"What happened?"
"When we were arresting the deputy mayor of Luzhou involved in the case, we were ambushed! The enemy had heavy firepower, using only standard-issue weapons! And..."
Zhao Donglai paused for a moment, his voice filled with fear.
"Moreover, they silenced the deputy mayor on the spot! He was shot in the head! It was done by a professional assassin!"
Qi Tongwei's pupils suddenly contracted.
To silence them.
Professional assassin.
It seems that the interests involved in this ledger are deeper than he imagined.
The person hiding behind the scenes got anxious.
"Seal off the scene, I'm coming right away."
Qi Tongwei hung up the phone, his murderous intent even more intense than the night outside the window.
"It seems this long night has only just begun."