Qi Tongwei: Sign-in relationship started during student days

Chapter 1118 Investigation Ceases

Through the rearview mirror, Hou Liangping could clearly see the barely concealed joy on the faces of the officials from Yantai City who were seeing him off.

This is the true situation of those who fight corruption—people have always respected them, feared them, and harbored deep resentment towards them.

Normally, Hou Liangping would have observed the expressions of this group of people with great interest, using his years of experience in handling cases to silently judge who would be the next target.

But today, he had no interest in anything at all.

Firstly, the seven consecutive days of fierce fighting had already exhausted him.

Secondly, his thoughts had already drifted to the provincial capital and to that mysterious Central Commission for Discipline Inspection investigation team.

He had no idea what awaited him next.

He really wasn't sure if it was his senior from school who was making the move.

Because he had never gotten the better deal from Qi Tongwei.

All he can do now is control his body, force himself to close his eyes, conserve his energy, and face the coming storm with absolute clarity.

The wind carried fine sand, which lashed against the car window, making a soft, monotonous crackling sound.

Hou Liangping leaned back in the back seat, closed his eyes, and soon, soft snoring began to rise intermittently.

The five-hour drive passed in a flash.

The driver smoothly parked the car at the bottom of the granite steps of the main gate of the Provincial Procuratorate. Hou Liangping pushed open the car door, and a spring breeze rushed into his neck. He subconsciously pulled his prosecutor's uniform overcoat tighter around him.

The shoulders of his coat were still covered in dust from the rocky terrain, and the cuffs of his trousers bore mud stains from his on-site evidence collection. These were the badges of his hard work over the past few days, and also the most simple and authentic image of an anti-corruption officer.

He couldn't understand how someone as dedicated to solving cases and incorruptible as himself could one day become the subject of an investigation.

Hou Liangping raised his hand to straighten the badge on his collar, and was about to step onto the steps when his gaze suddenly sharpened.

Beneath the national emblem, several figures stood silently, watching him intently.

The leader was a young woman dressed in a dark gray suit. She was tall and straight, with a cold expression and piercing eyes that were fixed on him.

Hou Liangping recognized her—Zhong Xiaoai, deputy director of a department of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, and also the head of the central investigation team that was parachuted into Handong to secretly lead the investigation into him.

She was also a good friend of his wife's younger brother.

What was bound to happen has finally happened.

Hou Liangping showed no fear as he stepped onto the stairs. At that moment, a surge of tragic heroism welled up within him, as if he were a warrior bravely facing death for his ideals and beliefs.

"Hello, Comrade Hou Liangping."

Without exchanging any unnecessary pleasantries, Zhong Xiaoai took out a formal document with a bright red seal from the folder and handed it to him.

"I am Zhong Xiaoai, the head of the central investigation team. Based on the clues we have and with the approval of our superiors, we are now taking legal measures to investigate you at the designated time and place. Please immediately cease all work and cooperate with our investigation."

As soon as he finished speaking, the prosecutors who were passing by gasped in surprise and stopped in their tracks, their faces filled with shock and disbelief.

Hou Liangping remained remarkably calm. "Director Zhong, does this mean I've been placed under investigation?"

Zhong Xiaoai nodded: "You can understand it that way."

"I need to know the reason!" Hou Liangping's voice turned serious.

"Once you arrive at the designated location, we will explain everything to you one by one."

Hou Liangping took a deep breath. He knew that once he stepped into the checkpoint, he would be completely cut off from the outside world. He had to seize this last chance to contact his wife, Zhao Xiaohui, and explain the situation; only his wife could save him now.

“I can cooperate with the investigation, but I need ten minutes. I have the core case files, classified evidence, and a list of untransferred case-related funds and items in a special case in Yantai City. These are directly related to the subsequent prosecution of the case, and the consequences will be serious if they are interrupted.”

“No.” Zhong Xiaoai refused without hesitation, her tone leaving no room for negotiation. “All the work you handled has been handled by a designated person who has been assigned to liaise with the Party Group of the Provincial Procuratorate. The case files, evidence, and case progress will all be taken over by someone, and it will absolutely not affect the handling of the case.”

Comrade Hou Liangping, the investigation team's orders are effective immediately, with no grace period and no exceptions.

When his first request was rejected, Hou Liangping immediately made a second one: "Then can I make a phone call home? My wife and children are waiting for me to come back so we can reunite. I don't want them to worry unnecessarily."

"I'm afraid that won't work. From now on, you must cease all external communications. We will notify your family members in accordance with regulations."

Hou Liangping nodded slowly, his expression open and firm: "Okay, I will cooperate with the organization's investigation, and I believe the organization will find out the facts and clear my name. But I'll make this clear—if anyone uses the guise of an investigation to frame and persecute others, the law will never allow it."

"The truth will come to light after the investigation." Zhong Xiaoai gestured for him to get in the car. "Comrade Hou Liangping, please get in."

Hou Liangping said no more, took one last look at the gleaming national emblem on the roof of the provincial procuratorate building, and strode towards the black official car parked by the roadside.

Before opening the car door, he suddenly turned around, his sharp gaze fixed on Zhong Xiaoai, and said meaningfully, "Team Leader Zhong, I hope you can be fair and objective, and not be misled by those with ulterior motives."

Qi Tongwei had once saved Zhong Xiaoai's life, and his biggest worry was that she would take the opportunity to settle personal scores and fabricate charges against her.

Zhong Xiaoai met his gaze, her tone calm yet each word carrying immense weight: "On behalf of the Central Investigation Team, I am loyal only to the facts, to discipline, and to the law."

"That's good."

The car door slammed shut, shutting out the neon lights of the provincial capital, the gazes of colleagues, and the gossip of the outside world.

The vehicle started smoothly, drove away from the provincial procuratorate, and sped towards the designated review point in the suburbs.

The carriage was deathly silent.

Hou Liangping leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and focused his mind, rapidly reviewing every experience and detail of his time as deputy secretary of the Jiangchang County Party Committee.

He understands better than anyone else.

From the moment he was stopped, he went from being an investigator wielding a sword to being the subject of investigation.

A contest concerning loyalty, innocence, bottom line, and justice has only just begun.

……

Forty minutes later, the car drove into a courtyard hidden in the mountains.

The iron gate slowly opened and then slammed shut, completely isolating all outside sounds.

This is the designated review point at the specified time and location.

Hou Liangping was led into a simple room, complete with a table, chairs, bed, paper, and pens. There were no blind spots in the surveillance, but there was also no way to contact the outside world.

Zhong Xiaoai and an assistant followed closely behind, while two staff members stood guard outside the door. The door closed gently, and a fierce contest officially began.

Hou Liangping sat down first, his back straight and his gaze frank: "Team Leader Zhong, now you can tell me, what exactly is it about me, Hou Liangping, that warrants the Central Investigation Team's personal involvement?"

Zhong Xiaoai sat down opposite him, placed a stack of materials on the table, and said calmly and objectively: "Comrade Hou Liangping, the investigation team's review of you mainly revolves around three issues."

"First, during your tenure as deputy secretary of the county party committee in Jiangchang County, you are suspected of abusing your power to illegally operate a tourism development project that was originally beneficial to the country and the people and was properly planned, and maliciously distorted it into a tool for a few unscrupulous businessmen to seek huge profits. Ultimately, it became an illegal place for hiding filth, prostitution and disorder, causing extremely bad social impact."

Second, during your tenure as the director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Jingzhou City, you violated the principles of fairness and impartiality, engaged in selective and purposeful anti-corruption efforts, applied different standards to different individuals in handling cases, and inconsistently applied disciplinary standards, which seriously damaged the credibility of the discipline inspection and supervision organs and the judicial organs.

Third, there are large amounts of unexplained funds flowing through your name and related accounts, with unusual fund transfer patterns, suggesting you may have accepted benefits from related parties, and there is serious suspicion of disciplinary violations and illegal activities.

After listening, Hou Liangping suddenly laughed, his laughter full of sarcasm and coldness: "Good, very good, you guys really went to great lengths to fabricate so many baseless charges against me."

Zhong Xiaoai frowned slightly: "Comrade Hou Liangping, please watch your words. The investigation is only based on facts, not on any individual."

"The facts?" Hou Liangping suddenly raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as a knife, staring directly at the other party. "What are the facts? Let's not talk about the first two points for now, let's talk about the third point: when have there been any large sums of unexplained funds in my bank cards?"

From the day I started working, my salary, subsidies, and family income and expenses have been meticulously recorded. There has never been a single transfer of money from an unknown source, not even one that seemed illogical! On what grounds have you fabricated this charge against me?

Zhong Xiaoai remained expressionless and gestured to her deputy. The deputy immediately stepped forward and gently pushed a printed copy of bank account opening information and transaction records in front of Hou Liangping.

The account holder's name and ID number are clearly and accurately recorded on the paper.

The bank name, account number, and recent records of large sums of money deposited into the account are listed in a clear manner. The amounts are huge, the sources are unclear, and each transaction is like a piece of evidence that has been written in advance.

Hou Liangping's gaze fell on the paper, his pupils suddenly contracting. He carefully scanned every number and every line of information, then looked up, his eyes filled with unbelievable absurdity: "This card... I've never opened it! I've never seen it before! Someone has framed me!"

Zhong Xiaoai said calmly, "The account opening procedures are complete, the identity information is real, the signature and image data are complete, and the bank system has a complete record. Procedurally, this card was opened by you."

"Complete?" Hou Liangping suddenly stood up, his chest heaving slightly with anger. "Does having complete paperwork mean I did it?"