University Real Estate Management Department...
"Tongwei, Teacher has already submitted the application materials. Director Song told me that as soon as suitable housing becomes available, it will be allocated to us first. I think he seems like a very nice person, so let's not bother him further. Otherwise, in case... you know!"
As soon as they stepped into the lobby, Wu Huifen started getting cold feet. She was terrified that Qi Tongwei might not know his place and turn a good deed into a disaster.
If they somehow offended Director Song, when would her days of standing guard like an estranged wife waiting for her husband ever end?
"Look, Teacher Wu, you wait here for me. I promise I won't argue with him. Have a seat, I'll be right back."
Without waiting for Wu Huifen, who was pacing back and forth like an ant on a hot pan, Qi Tongwei headed straight for the director's office.
Knock, knock, knock—
"Come in."
Qi Tongwei pushed the door open. Seeing no one else in the office, he walked up to Song Hongzhuo and tapped on the desk.
This swaggering attitude successfully enraged Song Hongzhuo. Slapping the desk, Song stood up and roared, "Who are you? What do you want?"
Qi Tongwei slowly raised his eyes. "Sit down!"
His voice was neither loud nor rushed, yet it made Song Hongzhuo shudder all over.
Good lord, what kind of background did this young man have? That look in his eyes was terrifying—just like the head of the Provincial Public Security Department!
Song Hongzhuo adjusted his glasses and asked cautiously, "And you are?"
"Sit down..."
Song Hongzhuo obediently sat back down in his chair.
The corner of Qi Tongwei's mouth curled into an amused smile. "Song Hongzhuo, native of Han, born in 1952, parents divorced in 1960, entered a vocational normal school in 1968, started working in 1971."
Leaning his hands on the desk and pushing his upper body forward, Qi Tongwei stared straight into Song Hongzhuo's eyes. "On March 21, 1972, you received your first gift in life, and from then on there was no stopping you. From October 1972 to June 1981, over a span of nine years, you accepted a total of nearly 900 yuan worth of property and valuables."
By this time, Song Hongzhuo's face was ashen and he was drenched in cold sweat. He wailed internally: *Impossible, absolutely impossible! Aside from myself, who else in this world could possibly know about these things?*
"Now, do you still want to know who I am?"
"Or should I talk about things after '81? Tsk tsk... Just three years, and you really moved up in the ministry."
Song Hongzhuo's heart hammered wildly. Sweat streamed into his eyes, blurring his vision, but instead of wiping them, he gripped his glasses frames tightly and pushed them straight again, over and over.
Moved up in the ministry? Back then it was taking bribes for nine years to get nine hundred, but now it was taking ten times nine hundred in a single year—he sure as hell had moved up.
"What... what on earth do you people want?"
Song Hongzhuo used the word "you people" because he was certain Qi Tongwei was not acting alone.
How old could Qi Tongwei possibly be? In '72 the kid was only six years old—what did he know? There had to be someone behind him, someone with backing, and massive backing at that.
Seeing that the man was practically on the verge of wetting himself, Qi Tongwei didn't beat around the bush. "First, sort out the housing issue for Gao Yuliang and Wu Huifen. We can talk about the rest later."
Walking around the desk to stand right in front of Song Hongzhuo, Qi Tongwei bent down and patted Song's sweat-slicked face.
"Do you have any idea how many resources it takes to investigate a person's life trajectory? You're just a petty section chief in a public institution—why on earth would anyone investigate you?"
"Let me give you a hint: Wu Huifen has a very good close friend whose surname is Liang—the Liang from the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission. Do you... understand now?"
Qi Tongwei loved Liang Lu with a profound depth; every single moment he was thinking of her—and digging traps for her.
As a distinguished alumnus of Handong University of Political Science and Law, Liang Qunfeng commanded immense prestige in Handong. Even if people hadn't met him, they had certainly heard of him.
Song Hongzhuo wiped away his sweat. Never had he imagined that his own little misdeeds could alarm the lofty Secretary Liang. He hastened to promise, "Don't you worry. Tomorrow—no, right now, I'll go take care of it immediately."
Qi Tongwei let out a grunt of acknowledgement, then added, "Remember, keep it confidential. Also, the housing allocation standards must be of the highest grade, but strictly without exceeding the limit!"
"Understood, understood..."
After sending off Qi Tongwei, the proxy for this great Buddha, Song Hongzhuo felt his knees turn to jelly, devoid of all strength. He slumped straight to the floor.
"So... so grand! What did I ever do to deserve this? All you had to do was make a phone call, would I dare refuse to handle it for you?... This, this, this..."
Liang Qunfeng had no idea that someday in the future, a corrupt element, after being investigated, would howl at the top of his lungs: "I am Secretary Liang's man! I want to see Secretary Liang! Take me to see Secretary Liang right now!"
...
As soon as Qi Tongwei stepped downstairs, he was blocked in the stairwell by Wu Huifen.
"Well? You didn't offend Director Song, did you?"
Right now, the two of them were separated by two steps, and Wu Huifen only reached his chest, looking like a little kid. Qi Tongwei reassured her, "Don't worry, Teacher Wu. Director Song is a very nice person; he said he'll have everything sorted out for you within three days."
"Really?!" Wu Huifen bounced with excitement, spreading her arms as if she wanted to hug Qi Tongwei.
Qi Tongwei sidestepped slightly to maintain a distance between them. "You should hurry up and go share this good news with Teacher Gao."
"Look at me, Teacher lost her composure there." Wu Huifen's face flushed slightly, but inwardly her favorable impression of Qi Tongwei rose to an even higher level.
Sensible, disciplined—truly wonderful!
At that moment, Song Hongzhuo came downstairs carrying his briefcase. Catching sight of the two of them, he immediately pledged, "Teacher Wu, rest assured. Serving the talented teachers of our university is my bounden duty. I'm going right now to process it for you."
"Thank you, thank you, Director Song."
Song Hongzhuo looked at the expressionless Qi Tongwei and squeezed out an ugly smile. "What Director Song? That sounds not at all intimate. From now on, you can just call me Little Song."
With that, he hurried downstairs and left.
Watching the direction of his departure, Wu Huifen was somewhat bewildered. "What's wrong with Director Song today? Why is he being so polite?"
Qi Tongwei smiled. "Maybe he's seen the light."
"Seen what light?"
"Seen that power comes from the people, of course."
"You rascal, there's no filter on that mouth of yours. You mustn't say things like that in front of outsiders."
"Mistress, you're not an outsider."
Leaving the Real Estate Management Department behind, Wu Huifen still found it hard to believe that the problem which had plagued her for a full year had just been resolved like this.
It was simply miraculous.
She wanted to ask Qi Tongwei how he had pulled it off, but all she got in return were evasive clichés.
Wu Huifen didn't press further; she could only silently pocket this debt of gratitude.
If you aren't in the water, you can never understand the terror of drowning—especially with Gao Yuliang not yet having stepped into the political arena, leaving Wu Huifen truly helpless with nowhere to turn.
"Tongwei, come with me to find your teacher. Let's all go out for a meal together, and your Mistress will properly thank you."
"Eat now?" Qi Tongwei smiled and declined. "I'd rather save room and wait until the two of you move into your new home for the housewarming banquet. Then I can taste Teacher Wu's cooking."
Wu Huifen was trying to figure out how to express her gratitude, but Qi Tongwei genuinely didn't care about such things. In his past life, Teacher Gao had constantly stayed behind the scenes to clean up his messes.
Qi Tongwei felt a deep, heartfelt gratitude; a small matter like this was simply not worth mentioning.