Qi Tongwei: Can I be young again?

Looking back now, it was indeed inappropriate.

The dragon-slaying hero eventually becomes the dragon himself; isn't that just a small act of willful abuse of power?

Chapter Four: Father and Son

He never forgot the kindness of his fellow villagers.

When Qi Tongwei was admitted to Handong University, his family was at a loss when faced with the high tuition fees.

It was around this time that several elders held a celebration banquet for him to celebrate his graduation. There were four dishes in total: a plate of peanuts, a cucumber salad, a plate of scrambled eggs, a large bowl of stewed chicken, and the cheapest liquor.

The villagers didn't say anything. Everyone who came contributed at least 500 yuan, and some contributed as much as 2,000 yuan. The food was delicious, and the wine was also very good. When Qi Tongwei and his father came over to toast them, everyone raised their glasses.

After the banquet, looking at the money he had received as gifts and the leftover food and drinks, Qi Tongwei bowed to everyone.

It was thanks to the help of his fellow villagers that Qi Tongwei survived the most difficult year at Handong University. At that time, he secretly vowed that when he made something of himself, he would repay his fellow villagers.

But fate often plays tricks on people.

Later, Qi Tongwei achieved his goal of holding a high position and was always willing to help his fellow villagers. However, it was at that time that he lost his original aspirations and principles.

It was Qi Tongwei's endless tolerance that emboldened the villagers, and some even turned to crime.

Upon careful consideration, Qi Tongwei bears undeniable responsibility.

Would things have been better if he had made his position clear from the beginning and curbed the bad trend from the start?

As I was thinking, the bus stopped.

Upon arriving at the familiar town, Qi Tongwei picked out some fruit and bought some dried goods, then hailed a three-wheeled vehicle and set off for Chunxi Village.

Chunxi Village is where Qi Tongwei was born and raised.

The village's main income comes from aquatic products and tea. Every year from March to May, the mountains are full of people picking tea leaves.

Qi Tongwei would also join in when he was a child.

Don't assume that boys can't pick tea leaves. When Qi Tongwei was a child, he was very fast at picking tea leaves, no slower than professional tea-picking women.

Besides tea, Chunxi Village is also a famous water town.

Crabs in the water are also a source of income for the villagers, but it's not done on a large scale; it's all small-scale and doesn't bring in much money.

Qi Tongwei grew up in this environment.

He excelled in his studies from elementary school onwards. Besides studying, he spent most of his time picking tea or catching wild crabs, leading a fulfilling life.

After a bumpy half-hour ride on a three-wheeled vehicle, Qi Tongwei returned to the village.

Several working women waved and greeted him warmly as soon as they saw him.

Qi Tongwei responded with a smile.

The spring breeze blows.

After passing through the village entrance and walking along the gravel road for about a hundred meters, Qi Tongwei finally saw his two unfinished houses.

The house had a thatched roof and rammed earth walls. It was dark and damp inside, and even the electrical wires had only recently been installed.

On rainy days, basins had to be placed inside the house to catch the rain.

It was raining heavily outside and drizzling inside. The rainwater was hitting the basin, dripping and pattering... Qi Tongwei always remembered this sound.

Chunxi Village is poor, but not this poor. Ultimately, it's because Qi Tongwei's mother died early, and his father is in poor health and needs to take medicine all year round. If it weren't for the help from the villagers, life would probably be even more difficult.

The sky was ablaze with the glow of dawn.

Near the chicken coop, Qi Qingshan was carrying a basket full of wild vegetables and kept throwing them into the coop.

"Giggle..."

There were about thirty chickens in the coop, almost all of which were hens. Their eggs were Qi Qingshan's sole source of income.

"Dad, I'm back."

Hearing the noise, Qi Qingshan turned around and saw his son. He straightened his hunched body with great effort.

"Why are you back at this time of year, when you don't celebrate the New Year or any other holidays?"

Qi Qingshan didn't feel much joy at the arrival of his son; instead, a strange worry appeared in his eyes.

"I missed you, and since the police station was on holiday, I came back to visit," Qi Tongwei said, trying to sound casual.

"It's okay."

Qi Qingshan muttered something to himself, then put down the basket, went into the chicken coop, and grabbed a chicken.

"This hen won't lay eggs. We'll kill it later to give you some nourishment."

"Dad, no need. I eat meat and fish every day at the police station. Let's keep the chicken."

"What's the point of keeping it? It doesn't lay eggs!"

The old man was a stubborn man, and Qi Tongwei knew he couldn't persuade him otherwise, so he could only let him be.

In the evening, the father and son sat facing each other.

Qi Qingshan took out some loose liquor that he had been reluctant to drink, filled a glass for Qi Tongwei, and poured half a glass for himself.

Looking at his father's graying temples, Qi Tongwei felt a pang of bitterness in his heart, but on the surface he had to pretend to be nonchalant.

A strong-willed man never shows his soft side.

"Tongwei, you've lost weight."

Qi Qingshan picked up a chicken leg and put it into Qi Tongwei's bowl.

"No, I just stepped on the scale and I've gained two pounds."

"It's my own son, how could I not know if he's gained or lost weight!"

Qi Tongwei didn't reply. He reached into his pocket, took out a thousand yuan, and placed it on the table.

In the 1990s, his monthly salary was only three hundred.

This 1,000 yuan was a first-class merit award given to him by the province, which was a considerable sum at the time.

Looking at the money, Qi Qingshan's eyes narrowed slightly. "Tongwei, have you fallen? Have you embezzled?"

Qi Tongwei was instantly left speechless, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

"Dad, don't you know my character? This embezzlement thing could never happen to your son."

He paused for a moment after he finished speaking.

At this point, Qi Tongwei had nothing to do with corruption, but what about the future? What about that powerful Director Qi?

The shares of Shanshui Manor are worth hundreds of millions!

It turns out that people really can change under the temptation of power!

“You don’t need to give me money, I have money!” Qi Qingshan pushed the money back. “You work in a big city and need money everywhere. As for me… I just need enough to eat. I have more money than I can spend.”

Qi Qingshan's tone was very firm, and Qi Tongwei didn't know what to say, so he could only put the money away again.

And so, the father and son drank their wine, but had nothing in common to talk about.

Qi Tongwei did not mention the risks of the anti-drug squad.

Similarly, Qi Qingshan did not complain about his suffering.

Both father and son knew how difficult things were for each other.

After downing half a glass of wine, Qi Qingshan hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Let's stay the night and go back tomorrow."

"You really don't want your son to come back?" Qi Tongwei joked.

"Yes, it's annoying!"

After saying that, Qi Qingshan put down his wine glass and turned to make the bed.

He kept Qi Tongwei's bed all this time, and not only that, but even the bedding was the newest in the house.

night.

Lying on the bed his father had prepared, Qi Tongwei slept soundly.

It wasn't until the rooster crowed the next day.

When I woke up, there was a basket of eggs and some tea leaves that my family had roasted on the table.

Next to the eggs, there was also a bowl of congee and pickled vegetables.

Qi Tongwei smiled and began to eat heartily.

In his previous life, Director Qi had eaten all sorts of delicacies, but this porridge with pickled vegetables was the only thing that made him feel incredibly at ease.

Just as he put down his chopsticks, Qi Qingshan, carrying a hoe, pushed open the door. Seeing that Qi Tongwei was still there, he immediately began urging him on.

"It's getting late, let's go back quickly."

Qi Tongwei never expected to be so unwelcome, so he picked up the eggs, said goodbye, and set off again.

Standing at the door, Qi Qingshan watched the receding figure, his gaze lingering on it for a long time...