Soon, on the way to Yantai.
In the car.
Qi Tongwei received the news almost immediately and quickly briefed Li Hao, who was sitting beside him.
Hearing about the turn of events, Li Hao simply gave a slow nod, looking completely calm.
"Let's head to Yantai first and see what the situation is like when we get there."
With that, Li Hao gently closed his eyes and began to rest and collect his thoughts.
Seeing this, Qi Tongwei said no more.
Since Li Hao had everything under control, all he needed to do was follow his lead, which made things much easier.
However, things do not always go as smoothly as planned.
......
The Jingzhou Anti-Corruption Bureau.
At the entrance.
Hou Liangping, who had just assumed office as the head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, wore a broad smile as he was surrounded by a crowd in the center.
He was currently at the peak of his prestige.
After all, he had just successfully resolved several major corruption cases, all of which would count heavily toward his performance record as the director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau.
The reason he was standing at the entrance of the bureau wasn't exactly to show off—well, perhaps there was a little bit of showing off involved, more or less.
But his main purpose was to handle a major case: the alleged corruption involving the director of the Handong Provincial Public Security Department.
"All right, everyone understands why we're standing out here, right?"
Seeing that the flattery from the crowd had reached its peak, Hou Liangping turned to face everyone around him and asked with a feigned expression of seriousness.
Though he looked serious on the outside, inside, he was blooming with joy.
He could already imagine how dazzling his achievements would be once he investigated and prosecuted Qi Tongwei, and how broad his career path would become!
He had been keeping an eye on this senior schoolmate of his ever since the first day he was transferred to the Handong Anti-Corruption Bureau.
There was definitely something wrong with him!
After all, among the people he had investigated previously, quite a few had maintained a very good relationship with Qi Tongwei before they were brought down!
If subordinates at lower levels were like that, let alone Qi Tongwei at his higher rank!
Just as Hou Liangping was indulging in these fantasies, a sudden voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Director Hou, our people just sent word that Director Qi has just left the Public Security Department and seems to be heading toward Yantai!"
Lu Yike, standing to Hou Liangping's right after checking a message on her communicator, spoke up.
Hearing this, Hou Liangping's eyes lit up. With a wave of his hand, he said confidently, "Hmph! I knew it, my dear senior schoolmate has a guilty conscience!
He was staying put in Jingzhou just fine, so why would he suddenly decide to go to Yantai today? He must have found out we're investigating him and is panicking!
Let's move! Get in the cars, we're closer to Yantai than he is! We'll intercept him right on the road!"
With that, Hou Liangping strode toward the vehicles parked not far away.
The others quickly followed suit.
Only Lu Yike, feeling a sense of unease after hearing what Hou Liangping said, broke into a trot to catch up with him.
"Director, we're acting entirely on suspicion without any solid evidence. Isn't it against the rules to rashly go and arrest a department-level cadre?
Besides, using interception like this..."
Her heart was racing; Director Hou was being far too bold!
"Arrest? Yike, that's not the right word at all! How could we possibly arrest Director Qi?"
Hearing this, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Hou Liangping's mouth.
"We are inviting Director Qi to inspect our Anti-Corruption Bureau! Or rather, I am personally inviting him to be my guest!
After all, we used to be schoolmates, didn't we? I've been in Handong for so long, isn't it only right that we get together?"
Seeing that Lu Yike still wanted to say something, Hou Liangping waved his hand dismissively.
"There's nothing to worry about! I understand Director Qi much better than any of you do! If I say he's corrupt, then he is definitely corrupt!
That conclusion is based entirely on my understanding of his character!
The fact that we don't have evidence right now doesn't mean it doesn't exist; it just means we haven't found it yet!
Just do as I say. If anyone higher up blames us, I'll take full responsibility!"
Seeing Hou Liangping so determined, Lu Yike had no choice but to drop the subject and fell silent.
Once the team boarded the vehicles, they quickly sped off toward the Jingzhou-Yantai expressway toll station.
......
As time passed, Li Hao and Qi Tongwei rapidly approached the entrance of the expressway toll station leading to Yantai.
Inside the car, the driver broke convention to speak up, "Director, someone is blocking the road ahead!"
Hearing this, both Qi Tongwei and Li Hao in the back seat opened their eyes.
"Blocking the road? Who has the nerve to pull a stunt like that in broad daylight?"
Qi Tongwei was somewhat irritated; he hadn't heard of any planned closures or incidents at the expressway toll booths over the last couple of days.
His first instinct was that someone must be attempting highway robbery right here in the open.
To dare block the car of the director of the Handong Provincial Public Security Department—they must have lost their minds!
"Hmph! Once I have them thrown in a cell, we'll see how well I take care of them!"
Qi Tongwei said this largely for Li Hao's benefit.
After all, with such an incident occurring and delaying Li Hao's affairs, he felt he had to make a strong statement.
However, Li Hao remained entirely noncommittal.
Highway robbery was ultimately Qi Tongwei's responsibility to handle, and he couldn't be bothered to accept such a pointless favor!
Besides, he wasn't someone who held petty grudges.
Back when he was abroad, if he encountered robbers like these, he wouldn't even waste words on them—he would simply summon the heavy artillery right away!
Simple and brutal!
As the car drew closer, the anger that had previously filled Qi Tongwei's stomach gradually faded, replaced by confusion.
Hou Liangping?
What was this fellow doing here instead of staying put in his anti-corruption bureau?
When the car came to a stop and Hou Liangping walked toward the back seat, Qi Tongwei rolled down the window.
"Director Qi, it's been a long time!"
Hou Liangping wore a thoroughly fake smile as he spoke first to Qi Tongwei.
Hearing this and sensing Hou Liangping's insincerity, Qi Tongwei frowned slightly. "Waiting for me?"
"Of course I'm waiting for Director Qi. I've been waiting for at least ten minutes, haven't I?"
Hearing this, Qi Tongwei's impatience grew even stronger.
"What do you want?"
"Since we haven't seen each other in so long, I naturally wanted to catch up and have a chat with my senior schoolmate."
As if completely ignoring the look of irritation on Qi Tongwei's face, Hou Liangping kept the smile plastered across his features.
"Cut the crap. If you have something to say, say it. Drop the act."
Noticing that Li Hao beside him was beginning to look impatient, Qi Tongwei felt a slight jolt of alarm and immediately dropped the polite pretense with Hou Liangping.
"Very well, Director Qi. We suspect you of committing serious violations of discipline and the law. Please come with us to the bureau right now to undergo an investigation!"
Faced with Qi Tongwei's bluntness, Hou Liangping dropped his fake smile and turned equally unaccommodating.
Good grief, even at a time like this, he still dared to talk back to him?
"Hou! Liang!ping! Those aren't words you can just throw around casually! Do you have any idea what the consequences are for falsely accusing a department-level cadre?"
Hou Liangping's words provoked a fit of furious laughter from Qi Tongwei inside the car.
Had this promotion to head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau completely scrambled Hou Liangping's brains?