Nominal: Hou Liangping blocking the door? He was slapped away!

Nine o'clock in the morning.

People carrying enamel mugs walked past in the corridor of the Public Security Bureau of Handong Province. When they saw that the door to the director's office was open, they slowed their pace.

Qi Tongwei stood in front of the counter.

He folded his police uniform neatly, with the epaulets, collar insignia, and cap badge all on top.

The magazine was emptied from the sidearm, the weapon was inspected, registered, and sealed—the movements were so clean it was as if they had been done thousands of times.

The office director stood to the side, holding the handover form, but didn't write anything for a long time.

"Director Qi, this watch..."

"sign."

Qi Tongwei handed over the pen, his left arm still a little stiff, but his cuffs were pressed flat.

The office director's throat bobbed.

"From now on, can we still call you Director Qi here at the provincial department?"

Qi Tongwei glanced at him.

"In the workplace, use your official title. In private, if you're not afraid of Deputy Director Lu correcting you, then do as you please."

A soft cough came from the doorway.

Lu Yike stood there.

She was wearing the deputy director's uniform, her hat brim pulled straight down, her waistline neatly cinched by the police uniform, her ID clip fastened to her side, and she looked like a gun that had just been cleaned.

The office director immediately bowed his head and signed.

Good morning, Deputy Director Lu.

"morning."

Lu Yike walked in, put the medicine bag in her hand on the table, and placed a duty roster next to it.

"Security, stability maintenance, and follow-up cleanup by economic crime investigation teams—I'll take it on."

Qi Tongwei closed the cabinet door.

Click.

The sound wasn't loud.

The people in the office fell silent.

He wore his police uniform for half his life, and now it's just sitting in the closet.

Lu Yike looked at the cabinet door, her eyes a little hot, but her face remained very composed.

"Are you willing to give it up?"

"I have to go, even if I'm reluctant."

Qi Tongwei put the sealed slip into the folder.

"The sword is sheathed, and the people are seated at the table."

"It sounds like we're going to play chess."

"In this game of Handong, Sha Ruijin left behind too many bad pieces."

Lu Yike opened the medicine box and poured out the morning's dose.

"Take your medicine before playing chess."

The two cadres next to him quickly looked at the window, the documents, and the floor tiles.

Qi Tongwei took the water glass.

"Deputy Director Lu, today is my first day at the Provincial Party Committee."

"On his first day as executive vice governor, he should listen to the doctor's advice even more."

"Now that you're in charge of the provincial department, are you going to put me in charge too?"

"The provincial department is in charge according to the law, you are in charge according to your family rules."

The office director's hand trembled, and he almost wrote the form crookedly.

Qi Tongwei swallowed the medicine and put the cup back on the table.

"Fine, it's your responsibility."

Lu Yike's ears burned, but she straightened his tie again.

"Your suit is in the lounge; don't dress like you're going to arrest someone."

Half an hour later.

Qi Tongwei came out of the lounge.

The dark bespoke suit clung to his shoulders and back, his tie was pressed straight, and his leather shoes were polished to a shine.

The sharp edge of the police uniform was toned down, replaced by a composed demeanor as he sat before the chessboard.

Lin Huahua peeked out from the doorway, carrying her laptop bag.

"Director Qi... oh no, Executive Director Qi, with that aura, even the security guards at the provincial party committee compound would have to salute before opening the door."

Lu Yike looked at her.

Lin Huahua immediately stood up straight.

"I'm reporting that the provincial department's information team has been connected to the follow-up cleanup task force."

Qi Tongwei picked up the document.

"Save money, keep an eye on the 23 agency locations for verification."

"clear."

Lu Yike followed to the door.

"Don't push yourself too hard at noon. I've arranged for someone to schedule your left arm rehabilitation until 6 p.m.

Qi Tongwei turned around.

"Deputy Director Lu, is this considered arranging the leadership's schedule?"

"It's considered supervising the patients' lives."

"And what about tonight?"

Lu Yike pursed her lips.

"I'll check up on you tonight."

Lin Huahua lowered her head and pretended to look at the computer, her shoulders trembling from holding her breath.

10:00 AM.

The Provincial Party Committee compound in Handong.

The conference room was full of people.

The heads of the provincial development and reform commission, finance department, public security department, housing and urban-rural development department, transportation department, financial affairs office, and several other departments promoted by Sha Ruijin all had thick stacks of official documents on their desks.

When Qi Tongwei walked in, the hushed discussion stopped.

He didn't sit in the main seat or exchange a few polite words; he simply placed the folder on the table.

Snapped.

"Meeting."

Just as the secretary was about to read the agenda, Qi Tongwei raised his hand to stop him.

"Let's talk about the approval process first."

A director with neatly combed hair opened the documents, speaking in a very steady tone.

"Executive Qi, according to the cross-regional joint law enforcement approval rules issued by Secretary Sha last year, new projects involving Luzhou and Lincheng must undergo seven levels of joint signing."

Another deputy director took over.

"There is also an emergency notice with Article 3, which states that enterprises involved in military-civilian integration industries should, in principle, suspend their entry into the park for three months for risk monitoring."

"We suggest playing it safe."

"Yes, something just happened in Handong, we can't afford to be reckless."

After those few words were spoken, many people in the meeting room lowered their heads and drank their tea.

They're all too familiar with that line.

Let's play it safe, wait and see, and do some research.

Ultimately, the project failed, and the responsibility was spread out.

Qi Tongwei picked up the stack of documents and flipped through them one by one.

"Supplementary Opinions on Cross-Regional Joint Law Enforcement Approval"

"Letter of Temporary Suspension of Entry into the Database for Key Projects"

"Urgent Notice"

"Filing Procedures for the Financial Risk Observation Period"

He would read out one copy of a document and then throw it onto the table.

The papers were slapped on the table like blunt knives being thrown out.

Which of these documents passed the legality review?

The director frowned.

"Executive Qi, these were all arrangements made by the main leaders of the Provincial Party Committee at the time..."

"I asked about legality review."

The director stopped.

An official from the finance department added in a low voice.

"Meeting minutes are available."

Qi Tongwei looked over.

Can meeting minutes replace provincial government regulations? Can they replace filing with the People's Congress? Can they replace a company's right to operate legally?

No one responded.

Qi Tongwei turned to the third page of the "Emergency Notice".

"The third point is that all military-related supporting enterprises will be suspended from entering the park for three months for observation. The reason given is to prevent risks."

He looked up.

"Two companies in Luzhou have passed the military's background checks, and the three industrial parks in Lincheng have completed their financial due diligence. What else do you need to observe?"

The director picked up the teacup, then put it down again.

"Executive Qi, our main concern is public opinion."

"Public opinion?"

Qi Tongwei closed the file.

"Who will pay the workers' wages after a three-month work stoppage? Who will cover the bank interest? Who will bear the responsibility for the delays in military and civilian projects?"

The director's face stiffened.

"The procedures must be followed."

"Does the program protect those who get things done, while shielding those who shirk responsibility?"

The room fell silent.

Qi Tongwei took a new document from his secretary.

"Starting today, all seven temporary checkpoint documents, including the Emergency Notice, are hereby repealed."

Someone looked up.

The director got anxious.

"Executive Director Qi, this is causing too much noise. What if something goes wrong..."

Which projects have you been in charge of?

"I'm in charge of approval and coordination."

"How many projects have been successfully implemented?"

The director opened his mouth.

Qi Tongwei stared at him.

"Not a single one."

The secretary projected the statistics onto the screen.

The Luzhou project was stuck for forty-seven days.

The Lincheng project was stuck for 52 days.

The three companies' application materials were returned nine times, with reasons ranging from the color of the seal to the order of the attachments—quite a variety of reasons indeed.

Tian Guofu sat down next to him and put his teacup on the table.

"Is this called approval, or is it just a tedious process?"

Ji Changming flipped through the files.

"There are quite a few procedural flaws; it can be transferred for review later."

The director's forehead was covered in sweat.

"Executive Qi, I have no ulterior motives."

"Lazy governance to protect oneself is also a problem."

Qi Tongwei pushed the appointment and removal recommendation to the Organization Department.

"The director of the Provincial Government Project Approval Coordination Office is suspended from duty pending investigation. The Development and Reform Commission will temporarily take over the duties, and the approval lists for Luzhou and Lincheng must be resubmitted by 3 p.m. this afternoon."

The director stood up.

"Executive Qi, what you've done..."

"sit down."

After saying those two words, he didn't dare to say anything more.

Qi Tongwei did not raise his voice.

But the oppressive feeling pressed down from the head seat to the last seat, and even the sound of turning over documents became less frequent.

"What Handong lacks now is not people who can write risk warnings, but people who can build roads, start factories, and pay wages."

He opened the second plan.

"The Luzhou Military Electronic Supporting Industrial Park will be launched this week."

"The Lincheng Intelligent Equipment Support Base will be officially established this week."

"The provincial finance department allocated special interest subsidies, and the financial affairs office took the lead in completing the first batch of credit approvals within three days."

"The Public Security Bureau is responsible for maintaining stability, while the Economic Investigation Department simultaneously investigates the background of the companies, uncovers the shell companies, and dismantles them directly."

Lu Yike sat in the side seat, her cap badge shining brightly under the light.

"The provincial department has prepared a special team to conduct risk screening wherever the approval process goes."

Qi Tongwei glanced at her.

"Deputy Director Lu, thank you for your hard work."

"It's my duty."

Lin Huahua was typing on the keyboard in the back row, her fingers moving so fast they seemed to be using an abacus.

"Executive Qi, the grassroots platform has received the draft abolition notice and is awaiting your signature."

"hair."

11:40.

The repeal notices for seven documents have been issued.

In Luzhou, the first call came into the provincial government's duty room.

"Is the materials window open?"

"It's open."

"Do we still need to submit that observation period explanation?"

"No need, proceed directly to the trial."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, followed by someone shouting in a low voice.

"Old Liu, bring the stamp. We can get it done today!"

At the entrance of Lincheng Industrial Park, several company executives parked their cars in a row.

People who were originally going back to wait for news ran back to the lobby with their materials.

Grassroots cadres also got motivated.

Someone put their lunchbox aside and started stamping the documents while shouting.

"Next."

"All attachments are complete. Enter the system."

"Don't make businesses make a third trip."

Four o'clock in the afternoon.

The first batch of credit granting lists was sent back to the Provincial Party Committee.

The project data, which had been suspended for more than a month, jumped up, like a blocked sluice gate opening.

Tian Guofu looked at the screen and couldn't help but chuckle.

"This fire burns well."

Ji Changming put his glasses back on.

"Fire should be used to burn the weeds that are in the right place, not the proper crops."

After signing the last directive, Qi Tongwei's left arm ached and felt tight.

Lu Yike pushed the door open and came in, carrying medicine and a thermos.

"It's time."

Qi Tongwei looked at the room full of cadres.

"Deputy Director Lu, please give me some face."

"Face belongs to the organization, medicine belongs to me."

Tian Guofu lowered his head and drank his tea.

Ji Changming coughed.

Lin Huahua turned around, holding her laptop bag.

"I went to sync the data, but I didn't see anything."

Qi Tongwei took the medicine.

"Does the nighttime check-in still count?"

Lu Yike unscrewed the cup lid.

"Calculate."

"Investigate what?"

"We'll check if you've been eating on time, if you've been signing up for night shifts without permission, and if you've been treating patients like superhumans."

Qi Tongwei took a sip of water.

"You're really meddling."

"You acknowledge it."