Qi Tongwei at the start: Not relying on Liang Lu, but winning by a single move against Heaven.

The meeting was suddenly interrupted, and everyone in the meeting room looked towards the door.

Qi Tongwei's gaze turned icy, and his face showed displeasure.

Seeing that Qi Tongwei did not speak, Zharta immediately got up and walked to the door, reprimanding him in a stern voice.

"That's so rude... Don't they know they're having a standing committee meeting? They didn't even knock... What happened?"

The staff member was taken aback and realized that he had been too rash. He blushed and quickly explained.

"Secretary Qi, leaders, I'm sorry, I was just too anxious..."

The local people heard that the county was going to resume the water diversion project... so they came to the county government building to cause trouble... they even came to the door..."

Qi Tongwei was taken aback upon hearing this, and asked in a deep voice.

"The county is building a water diversion project, a project to benefit the local people... Why are the people making a fuss?"

The staff member looked at Qi Tongwei with a pained expression and said softly.

"They say... there's a Dragon King in the White Dragon River... if we build an irrigation canal, the Dragon King will be angry..."

His voice grew softer and softer as he spoke, and finally, he gritted his teeth and said just one sentence.

"Secretary Qi... I... I can't explain it clearly either... Please go and take a look..."

Seeing the staff member's hesitant expression, Qi Tongwei pushed back his chair, stood up, and said in a deep voice.

"Let's go. Let's go see... see what's going on with the Dragon King..."

The group arrived at the office building lobby, and before they even stepped out of the main gate, they saw that the courtyard was full of people.

Several security officers were holding hands, trying their best to stop the crowd from rushing into the office building.

Qi Tongwei quickly walked to the door, took the megaphone from Zharta, and shouted loudly.

"Dear fellow villagers, please be quiet and don't cause any disturbance!"

I am Qi Tongwei, the Party Secretary of Fuyuan County. If you need anything, just tell me…

He stood at the entrance of the building and called out several times before the crowd gradually calmed down.

A young man clenched his fist and asked a question loudly.

"Secretary Qi...I heard the county is going to tamper with the Bailong River, is that true?"

As his voice faded, the courtyard gradually quieted down, and everyone turned to look at Qi Tongwei.

Qi Tongwei glanced at everyone, nodded slightly, and answered in a deep voice.

"You're right, the county is going to restart the Bailong River water diversion project..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was immediately interrupted by an old man shouting.

"It can't be repaired! It absolutely can't be repaired... There's a Dragon King in the White Dragon River."

"If you disturb the White Dragon River, the Dragon King within will be enraged... and will punish you..."

Qi Tongwei frowned slightly, looked at the old man, and said with a smile.

"Old man...the destruction of the Four Olds happened in 1966, where did the Dragon King come from?"

If there really is a Dragon King, why doesn't he send more rain to Fuyuan...to water the crops more...?

After saying that, he paused slightly, his voice becoming very solemn.

"We Communists are all atheists; we don't believe in any demons or monsters..."

We're able to live a good life not because of any gods, but because of the Party and the People's Government..."

Before Qi Tongwei could finish speaking, the old man interrupted him again.

"If it weren't for the Dragon King, why did the culvert collapse a few years ago? It was the Dragon King's punishment..."

His words resonated with many people, and the county government compound was thrown into chaos once again.

Qi Tongwei looked at the indignant crowd and did not stop them. Instead, he shouted loudly.

"Alright! Since no one wants to build the irrigation canal, and everyone's afraid of the Dragon King... then let's not build it!"

As he finished speaking, the commotion in the crowd subsided, and cheers and applause filled the air.

Qi Tongwei looked at the crowd, waved his hand, and continued speaking.

Let's wait for the rain together... let's fetch water together to plant crops, buy water and make a living...

If there's even a slight drought, everyone will continue to go up the mountain to fetch water...

Let's just stay here and guard these 400,000 mu of farmland, and continue living a hard life...

As his voice faded, the crowd gradually quieted down, and the commotion ceased.

Seeing that everyone had quieted down, Qi Tongwei lowered his voice and continued speaking.

"You're afraid of the Dragon King, but aren't you afraid of not having water to drink? Aren't you afraid of going through another hard life?"

You may fear the Dragon King, but I don't. Because I know there are no gods, no Dragon King.

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, more than 80,000 reservoirs have been built across the country. Which reservoir has a dragon king?

Even if there is a Dragon King, he still has to work for the common people...

As his voice faded, the old man who had spoken earlier continued to ask questions.

"Then tell me, why did the culvert collapse three years ago? What else could it be but the Dragon King's punishment?"

Qi Tongwei sighed and said in a deep voice.

"The elderly man mentioned the accident three years ago..."

I can tell you definitively that it wasn't some Dragon King's punishment, nor was it an accident...

That was a man-made disaster. Not only do you want to know the truth about it, but I do too.

The higher authorities have launched an investigation, and I believe the truth will come out soon, and everyone will be given an explanation...

After Qi Tongwei finished speaking, the discussion started again, but it was much quieter than before.

The old man looked at Qi Tongwei and spoke again, but his tone had softened considerably.

"Officer Qi...we understand what you're saying. The water diversion project is for the good of the people..."

But what if there's a Dragon King? Who will bear the consequences of his punishment?

Qi Tongwei glanced at the old man, then scanned the crowd.

Hundreds of eyes were fixed on him, their expressions varied, all waiting for his answer.

He frowned slightly, his expression becoming very serious, and said in a loud voice.

"What should we do? If the Dragon King punishes us... I'll take the blame! I, Qi Tongwei, will take it all!"

The moment the words "I'll take responsibility" were uttered, the crowd erupted in uproar.

Qi Tongwei glanced at the crowd and continued speaking.

"During the last culvert repair, Chief Engineer Tang was trapped inside forever. He was a hero of Fuyuan..."

I, Qi Tongwei, am no hero, but I am willing to take over Chief Engineer Tang's responsibilities.

I personally went down into the culvert to supervise the construction of this water diversion culvert.

If the Dragon King punishes me, let me stay in the culvert forever...

He paused, raised the megaphone, and surveyed the entire venue.

"Now that everyone is here, I'll take this opportunity to say something."

If I, Qi Tongwei, cannot bring water to Fuyuan and make Fuyuan a county rich in water...

I'm too ashamed to wear this official hat anymore. I'll go to the fields with you to plant garlic..."

These words sparked even more discussion in the county government compound, but no one mentioned the Dragon King again.

Amid the murmurs, another man asked a question.

"Secretary Qi... I've heard about you. People in Leishan County call you County Chief Batur."

I believe what you say, but I have one question...

He paused slightly, his face flushed slightly, and asked in a deep voice.

"I just want to know, the county is building an irrigation canal...it's ruining my land, what are we going to do..."

Qi Tongwei nodded to his fellow villager and continued speaking.

"Thank you to this fellow villager for raising this question."

I hereby make a promise to everyone, and please go back and pass it on.

If the county requisitions land or occupies houses, it will compensate the people in accordance with the law.

Before the water diversion project begins, a detailed compensation plan will be distributed to each township...

He paused slightly, looked around at the crowd in the courtyard, raised the megaphone again, and shouted.

"Fellow villagers, I, Qi Tongwei, am not good at empty words. I ask you all to think..."

Should our generation leave a living water source for future generations?

I also urge everyone to think about this: who ensures ordinary people have enough to eat, making them the masters of their own destiny...?

I'm not forcing anyone to express their opinion now. Let me know after you've thought it through.

Whom should you believe? The Dragon King, the Party, or the People's Government...?

After he finished speaking, the crowd fell silent.

The old man who spoke first gritted his teeth and raised his arm to shout.

"There's nothing more to say... For my grandson, even if there really is a Dragon King, I'll fight him to the death..."

After saying that, he ignored everyone else, squeezed out of the crowd, and walked out of the county committee compound.

As the crowd gradually dispersed, Qi Tongwei frowned and whispered to Zharta.

"Investigate...to see if it's spontaneous or if someone is instigating it..."