The meal ended in a hurry.
Qi Tongwei didn't let Zhong Xiaoai pay, instead, he paid for the meal himself.
Although this meal cost almost a third of Qi Tongwei's monthly salary.
“We have rules at work, we can't take advantage of the people.”
Qi Tongwei explained with a smile to Zhong Xiaoai, who was looking at him with resentment.
Zhong Xiaoai sighed, “Alright, consider this a debt you owe me, I'll treat you next time.”
Qi Tongwei looked at his phone and said, “It's getting late, I have another appointment. Let's call it a night?”
Despite her reluctance, Zhong Xiaoai nodded.
Before leaving, Qi Tongwei reminded her, “Things haven't been peaceful in Dongshan lately. The New Year is coming soon, so go back to the Capital early!”
He waved his hand and turned to leave.
Zhong Xiaoai watched Qi Tongwei's back, a trace of reluctance in her eyes.
Time, how could it fly by so fast?
While Zhong Xiaoai was lost in her thoughts.
Thousands of miles away in the Capital, Hou Liangping was looking at the picture of Qi Tongwei and Zhong Xiaoai, a handsome couple, on his WeChat.
He was furious, gnashing his teeth!
Qi Tongwei! You dare touch my woman! I will not let you get away with this!
He cursed viciously in his heart.
Immediately, he called Qiu Jun.
“Brother, no need to say anything, keep following Qi Tongwei!”
“Be careful not to let him discover you! Find out what he's up to next!”
Qiu Jun was taken aback, “No, Monkey, didn't you just want to investigate whether Qi Tongwei had anything to do with your goddess?”
“You already got the photos, why do you need me to keep tracking him?”
Hou Liangping said with a gloomy face, “I want you to help me investigate whether Qi Tongwei is corrupt!”
Qiu Jun was startled, “Monkey, it's just a love rival, no need to make a big deal out of it. You want to ruin him?”
Hou Liangping said coldly, “Earthworm, you know how much Zhong Xiaoai means to me. If anyone is to blame, it's Qi Tongwei for provoking someone he shouldn't have.”
“Zhong Xiaoai, is not someone Qi Tongwei can afford to touch!”
Qiu Jun had never seen Hou Liangping so sinister and cruel.
For a woman, he would destroy a rising star?
Or perhaps, this is Hou Liangping's true nature?
In this moment, Qiu Jun realized the gap and chasm between him and Hou Liangping.
In the eyes of those in power, they would be brotherly with you when there's no conflict of interest.
But once you touch their interests, they will instantly crush you under their feet!
“Earthworm, did you hear me?”
Hou Liangping said impatiently.
Qiu Jun was startled and quickly said, “Okay, okay, I'll continue to investigate this Qi Tongwei for you, alright?”
Hou Liangping was finally satisfied, “Thanks brother, once it's done, I'll ask my old man to say something to your leaders. You'll be promoted a level ahead of schedule next year, no problem!”
Qiu Jun was ecstatic.
He had been Hou Liangping's roommate for so many years.
He knew very well that Hou Liangping's old man was one of the few people who stood at the top of the pyramid in the political and legal system. Even his spit could shake the ground.
With his help, Qiu Jun's promotion was guaranteed!
“Thank you brother, you can count on me. If you need anything, just tell me. I, Earthworm, will go through fire and water for you!”
Qiu Jun quickly pledged his loyalty.
...
As night fell, Qi Tongwei arrived at the Binjiang Park by the river as promised.
He sat on a park bench, looking at the shimmering river in the distance.
A long line of anglers stood along the river, fishing.
At this moment, a middle-aged man wearing a tracksuit and a baseball cap came to Qi Tongwei's side and sat down naturally.
This person was none other than Zhao Jialiang.
“Lin Yaodong invited me to stay in Taizhai for a few days, and to spend the New Year there.”
Zhao Jialiang sneered, “I'm afraid it's not a New Year's dinner, but a Hongmen Banquet!”
Qi Tongwei then shared his analysis, “Ma Yunbo has also reported that Lin Yaodong wants to ship out a batch of goods on New Year's Day.”
“He wants to invite you to stay in Taizhai now, his goal is to control you, to prevent you from leaking any information......”
“It seems like Lin Yaodong is finally losing his patience, and he's going to make his move before the New Year!”
Zhao Jialiang was excited.
After being undercover for so long, he was finally about to close in on his target, he couldn't help but be thrilled!
But he also knew that entering Taizhai alone would be extremely dangerous.
If he made a mistake, or if there was a miscommunication between inside and outside, he might be exposed.
Furthermore, even if the crackdown was successful, his identity would undoubtedly be exposed.
If Lin Yaodong was furious, he might be desperate enough to make an example of him...
Thinking of this, Zhao Jialiang sighed and said slowly, “There's something I've been keeping to myself. Apart from Old Li, I've never mentioned it to anyone.”
He looked at Qi Tongwei, “In fact, Li Fei is my biological son.”
Qi Tongwei already knew this, but he didn't show it. He continued to listen to Zhao Jialiang.
Zhao Jialiang continued, “Li Fei's mother was a drug enforcement officer. She died during a mission, after being injected with a large amount of hallucinogenic drugs.”
“I used to be a sailor. After learning of my wife's death, I decided to take revenge......”
“I have been undercover for so many years, I believe I have done right by Li Fei's mother. But I failed Li Fei.”
“I missed his entire childhood. I was such a terrible father......”
He took out a card from his pocket and handed it to Qi Tongwei, “This is all my savings over the years.”
“Don't worry, this money is clean, I've kept track of every penny. If something happens to me, please give it to Li Fei.”
Qi Tongwei sighed, everyone has their own choices, and every choice deserves respect.
He took the bank card and asked, “Should we arrange for you to see Li Fei before the operation?”
Zhao Jialiang shook his head, “No need, I know Li Fei. If he knew our relationship, he might do something reckless, and then we'd be finished!”
Qi Tongwei nodded and took out a bottle of universal antidote from his pocket and handed it to Zhao Jialiang.
Zhao Jialiang took the thumb-sized glass bottle and asked in confusion, “What is this?”
“This is an antidote. You must remember, once you enter Taizhai, if Lin Yaodong injects you with drugs, you have to take the antidote beforehand. It will keep you conscious.”
Zhao Jialiang was startled, but upon further thought, Lin Yaodong really might do something like this!
Zhao Jialiang nodded and solemnly put the antidote away.
They discussed the operational details and contact methods, and then parted ways.
On the side of the road, in the distance.
Qiu Jun was sitting in his car, putting away his SLR camera with a telephoto lens.
He pressed the playback button, looked at the photos of Qi Tongwei and Zhao Jialiang exchanging bank cards and what looked like ‘drugs’, and said triumphantly.
“I didn't expect this Qi Tongwei to be a dirty cop. He dared to trade drugs in broad daylight!”
“Once I get back and check the identities of the people he was dealing with, I'll immediately launch a formal investigation into Qi Tongwei!”