The country entrusted me to buy an aircraft carrier, Hou Liangping, do you dare to investigate?

Qi Tongwei's transfer is both a threat and an opportunity for him. He must find out as soon as possible who is manipulating all of this.

"Could it be...?" A terrible thought flashed through Gao Yuliang's mind. He suddenly stood up and paced back and forth in the study.

At the same time, Li Dakang was also shocked when he received Qi Tongwei's call.

"Secretary Dakang, thank you for your continued concern. I've been transferred to work in the capital. I hope you'll give me your guidance in the future!" Qi Tongwei's voice was as enthusiastic as ever, but Li Dakang detected a hint of pride and boastfulness in it.

"What?! Transferred to the capital?!" Li Dakang's tone was filled with disbelief. "When did this happen? How could it be so sudden?"

"Hehe, I just received the notification myself. We'll talk about the specifics when we get to the capital. Secretary Dakang, please take care!" Qi Tongwei said before quickly hanging up the phone.

Li Dakang gripped his phone, his brow furrowed. Qi Tongwei's transfer reminded him of a conversation they had once shared. At that time, Qi Tongwei had revealed to him that he had a powerful backer who could help them advance their careers.

“Secretary Dakang, as you know, I’ve been ostracized and have had a hard time moving forward in Handong for so many years. But I believe that as long as we join hands, we can definitely break this deadlock!” Qi Tongwei said confidently at the time, “The people behind me can provide us with all the help we need!”

Li Dakang hadn't taken Qi Tongwei's words to heart at the time. He always believed that to establish oneself in officialdom, one needed to rely on one's own efforts and abilities, not on currying favor with any powerful figures. But now, Qi Tongwei's sudden transfer forced him to re-evaluate the matter.

"Could it be... that Qi Tongwei is telling the truth?" Li Dakang's resolve began to waver. If Qi Tongwei really had such a powerful backer, should he...?

Li Dakang fell into deep thought.

Gao Yuliang and Li Dakang both called Qi Tongwei one after the other, ostensibly to congratulate him, but actually hoping to get more information out of him.

"Tongwei, congratulations! You're so young and promising! I didn't expect you to be transferred to the capital so quickly. You have a bright future ahead of you!" Gao Yuliang's voice sounded exceptionally warm, as if he had completely forgotten all the unpleasantness between him and Qi Tongwei.

"Secretary Gao, you flatter me. I am still far from perfect and will have to rely on your guidance in the future!" Qi Tongwei could naturally tell the insincerity in Gao Yuliang's words, but he did not point it out and just responded perfunctorily.

"Tongwei, you're unfamiliar with the capital, so if you need any help, just ask. Don't be shy!" Gao Yuliang continued to probe.

"Thank you for your concern, Secretary Gao. I don't need any help right now. I'll visit you again once I'm settled in." Qi Tongwei calmly deflected Gao Yuliang's probing.

After hanging up Gao Yuliang's call, Qi Tongwei's lips curled into a cold smile. He knew that Gao Yuliang must be as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, but he was determined not to let him have his way.

"Trying to get information from me? Hmph, no way!" Qi Tongwei thought to himself. "Once I'm in the capital and have established myself, I'll deal with you all slowly!"

Li Dakang then called, his tone much more sincere than Gao Yuliang's, but also full of doubt and curiosity.

"Tongwei, congratulations! It's a good thing you've been transferred to the capital; you'll have more room for development in the future." Li Dakang's tone carried a hint of envy.

"Thank you, Secretary Dakang. I was just lucky to have stumbled upon such a good opportunity," Qi Tongwei said modestly, but he knew in his heart that this kind of "luck" was not something everyone could encounter.

"Tongwei, tell me honestly, is this transfer because..." Li Dakang hesitated, knowing that some things were inconvenient to say over the phone.

"Secretary Dakang, don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Qi Tongwei understood what Li Dakang wanted to ask, but he didn't answer directly. Instead, he said meaningfully, "Some things will naturally fall into place when the time is right."

Hearing this, Li Dakang became even more certain of his guess. It seemed that Qi Tongwei indeed had a powerful force operating behind him, and this force was very likely…

Li Dakang's breathing suddenly became rapid, and a complex expression flashed in his eyes, a mixture of shock, fear, and a hint of... anticipation.

As dawn broke, the morning air in Handong still carried a hint of coolness. A thin mist hung over the city like a veil, concealing the undercurrents swirling beneath its surface.

Inside the office building of the Handong Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection, one office was brightly lit. A thick smell of smoke permeated the air, almost visible to the naked eye, making one's throat itch. Several potted plants on the windowsill were also wilted by the smoke, their leaves drooping listlessly, as if silently protesting against the smoky environment.

Hou Liangping sat at his desk, looking as if he had aged ten years. His already thin face was now even more gaunt, his eyes sunken and bloodshot, his beard unkempt, making him appear extremely haggard. The ashtray in front of him was piled high with cigarette butts, as if telling the story of his deep-seated anxiety and unease.

Hou Liangping felt as if he had been thrown into an endless abyss. For the past two days, he had been locked in a windowless room with only a hard bed and a table. The dim light constantly scorched his nerves. Apart from the person who brought him food, no one spoke to him, let alone told him what had happened.

He relived the night he was taken away, trying to piece together the truth from the jumbled fragments of memory. Only Huang Feipeng, Zhao Ruilong, and Qi Tongwei were present that night. Could it be that one of them had reported him?

Huang Feipeng, a businessman, is a profit-driven and insatiable individual. Hou Liangping had previously discovered a huge amount of money being transferred between him and the Shanshui Group, but lacking concrete evidence, he could only let him off the hook for the time being. Could it be that Huang Feipeng, in desperation, is striking first?

Hou Liangping shook his head, dismissing the idea. Although Huang Feipeng was cunning, he didn't have the guts, much less the ability, to use such a large amount of power to control himself.

So, is it Zhao Ruilong? That seems more likely. As the son of the Party Secretary of Handong Province, Zhao Ruilong has always been a powerful figure in Handong. He has close ties with the Shanshui Group, and is involved in various business dealings both openly and covertly. Hou Liangping's investigation touched upon his interests, and he has both the motive and the ability to eliminate this thorn in his side.