Qi Tongwei: Sign-in relationship started during student days

The atmosphere was somber.

Hou Liangping didn't want to stay any longer, so he took his leave.

Zhao Lichun nodded slightly.

Hou Liangping got up and left with Zhao Xiaohui. When they reached the door, Zhao Lichun called out to them again.

"Liangping, you should investigate quickly and close the case as soon as possible. I will help you deal with things here. Remember, follow the procedures. Do not touch Guo Huai-ren without solid evidence."

Hou Liangping nodded emphatically.

……

The night in the provincial RD compound is so quiet that you can hear the sound of camphor tree leaves being rustled by the wind.

Guo Huai-ren stood in front of the French windows of his study, an unlit cigarette between his fingers, his gaze fixed on the dim street lamp outside the window.

His slightly hunched back was reflected in the glass. His navy blue cashmere sweater wrapped around his slightly overweight body, and the white hair at his temples was particularly glaring under the desk lamp.

This is his third year as vice chairman of the provincial people's congress. After being away from the core of power, he has not been so preoccupied as he is today.

It all started with a phone call at 8:30 in the morning.

He had just changed his clothes and was about to leave for his shift at the National People's Congress.

After stepping down from his frontline position, he actually valued the ritual of going to and from get off work on time even more.

Just as my hand touched the doorknob, my phone suddenly rang, displaying a string of unfamiliar numbers on the screen.

Guo Huai-ren frowned and hung up immediately. These days, there are more nuisance phone calls than people petitioning the government.

But that number was like a stubborn plaster, and it immediately called back.

He patiently answered the phone, and a somewhat familiar male voice came through the receiver, deep and gloomy, telling him that the anti-corruption bureau was investigating him.

He just found it ridiculous at the time.

Although he was relegated to the seemingly "easy" position of RD, his power remained unchanged.

Back then, he was promoted by the old Party Secretary Liang Qunfeng. The old Party Secretary, relying on the Liang family's connections, managed to bring together the team left behind by the old Party Secretary.

Over the years, this force has become even more cohesive than when Liang Qunfeng was in office. Even as he approaches retirement age, his subordinates still follow his lead without question.

This is mainly due to Qi Tongwei's influence.

Qi Tongwei's current status in Chinese politics is so high that he can shake the political landscape with a single stomp of his foot.

Guo Huai-ren was the old leader who promoted Qi Tongwei from the grassroots level back then, and everyone knows about this kindness he showed.

Therefore, his subordinates did not look down on him after he stepped down; on the contrary, they became even closer to him.

Not to mention his subordinates, even the provincial leaders had to address him with great respect as Director Guo.

Under such circumstances, someone told him that the anti-corruption bureau was going to investigate him. How could he believe that?

But what he saw and heard at work today forced him to believe it.

As soon as his car left the RD compound, he keenly sensed that someone was following him.

To verify his hypothesis, he even had the driver turn around, but unexpectedly, the car behind him followed closely.

He made a phone call to a subordinate in the transportation bureau, who investigated and confirmed that it was indeed the vehicle belonging to the provincial procuratorate.

He then arranged for people to gather information, and eventually found out some things.

It was that young deputy director of the anti-corruption bureau, supposedly because of some things that happened in Yantai City back then.

He thought it over carefully and realized he didn't have any problems.

There was neither greed nor corruption.

He has always maintained impartiality in handling issues, so why would the anti-corruption bureau want to investigate him?

The clock on the wall slowly pointed to ten o'clock.

The indicator light on the red secure telephone remained quietly lit.