Just as Qi Xiaowei and his group were about to clash with the guards of the Fragrant Palace, a middle-aged man with a stern face, wearing a black overcoat and a fur scarf walked over quickly and sternly stopped the guards.
"Director Qian." The guards quickly put down their weapons and respectfully stepped aside, making way for a passage.
Upon seeing the person who had arrived, Qi Xiaowei raised an eyebrow.
Although most of the other person's face was covered by a scarf, judging from their eyes, this seemed to be someone he knew! Even though he hadn't seen the other person for twenty years, that familiar gaze instantly awakened Qi Xiaowei's long-dormant memories.
The person who arrived was none other than Qian Dong, his partner from when he was a junior police officer in Haidu.
He was also his best friend. When the two were carrying out a secret mission, they unfortunately encountered a sudden crisis. In order to cover Qi Xiaowei's retreat, Qian Dong was seriously injured and had to be urgently transferred away from Haidu for a long period of recuperation and treatment.
It was that accident that led to him receiving a major demerit from the police department and being reassigned to a remote town to guard a fishpond.
It was because of this that he realized he was being targeted by his superiors. In order not to implicate his former brother, he took the initiative to cut off contact with him.
Over the years, whenever he thought of these things, he felt guilty. After all, this was his good brother and savior, yet he didn't say a word and simply disappeared without a trace.
But he had no choice but to do it for the sake of the other person's future!
Although he had not contacted Qian Dong over the years, he had been keeping track of news about him.
He was genuinely happy for Qian Dong every time he received a merit award or was promoted.
He still remembers that two years ago, when he saw in the newspaper that Qian Dongsheng had been appointed as the deputy director of the Haidu City Police Department, he was so happy that he couldn't sleep all night.
He often secretly rejoiced that it was the right choice to cut off contact with the other party in time; otherwise, given those people's methods, Qian Dong, who was close to him, would have had a problem not only getting promoted but also being able to establish himself in Haidu.
Upon seeing his old friend again, Qi Xiaowei was filled with emotion and overjoyed.
During this special period, as the deputy commander of the "Cold Relief Militia Regiment" of Tianyu Base, he commanded tens of thousands of armed personnel and no longer needed to worry about those so-called nobles.
He can now openly and honestly reunite with his old friends!
"What's going on with you guys?" Qian Dong's voice pulled Qi Xiaowei back to reality, and his gaze refocused on Qian Dong.
He remained silent, watching the other person intently. He wanted to see how his old friend would handle the situation and whether he still remembered his original intentions.
“Director Qian, this man claims to be the chief of a district police station under Zhongyang City and wants to see the commander,” the guard captain explained. “And despite our repeated warnings, they won’t leave.”
"And then what? You plan to shoot them dead right here?" Qian Dong asked in a deep voice.
"This..." The guard captain was speechless for a moment, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
"Hehe, my old friend, after all these years, is still so upright. He always steps in to right wrongs." Qi Xiaowei thought to himself, a smile unconsciously creeping onto his lips.
However, Qian Dong's next words instantly froze Qi Xiaowei's smile.
"Do you know that the commander is still taking a nap? If you disturb the commander, can you take responsibility?" Qian Dong said in a deep voice.
Upon hearing this, the guards were horrified and quickly said, "Yes, yes, Director Qian, it was our oversight. Thank you for reminding us."
"Director Qian, what's your opinion...?" the guard captain asked tentatively.
"Idiot, do I need to teach you this?" Qian Dong said coldly. "First, control them and drag them outside to deal with them. Don't dirty the snow in front of the Fragrant Palace."
"Understood." The guard captain quickly responded and then directed his guards to step forward.
One by one, the guards raised their rifle butts, ready to smash the windows of the sled.
"A bunch of beasts!" Qi Xiaowei roared angrily.
Qian Dong, who had already turned to leave, paused upon hearing this and quickly called out, "Wait!"
Upon hearing this, the guards immediately stopped what they were doing and looked at Qian Dong with puzzled expressions.
Qian Dong's brows were furrowed, as if he was recalling something.
"Old man, you still dare to talk back even when you're about to die!" the guard captain shouted at Qi Xiaowei, raising his gun as if to smash it at him.
"Get lost!" Qian Dong kicked the guard captain, sending him staggering several steps and almost falling to the ground.
The captain of the guard looked up in astonishment, not understanding what he had done wrong.
"Director Qian, what is this...?" the guard captain stammered, a sense of unease creeping into his heart.
Qian Dong ignored the guard captain.
A sudden thought struck him, and he laughed, "Haha! You must be Lao Qi!"
"Heh~!" Qi Xiaowei sneered, "I'm just a nobody, I can't possibly be worthy of Director Qian's services."
Qian Dong seemed oblivious to Qi Xiaowei's sarcasm. He said with a straight face, "Old Qi, you've changed. Back then, you were known throughout our team—no, our bureau—for your fearlessness in the face of power. I still vividly remember your stubbornness and sense of justice back then. What, have you learned to flatter and fawn now?"
Qi Xiaowei did not respond to Qian Dong, but only chuckled twice, a laugh that sounded particularly ironic in this setting.
However, Qian Dong didn't seem to care. His expression changed, and he put on a smile again: "Old Qi, I heard you want to see the commander?"
"Yes, but they think my official rank is too low, saying I'm not qualified to meet them, and they even threatened to kill me," Qi Xiaowei said with a mocking expression.
"Hehe, the Commander is indeed not someone that just anyone can meet. Let alone the head of the district police station, even the mayor of an ordinary prefecture-level city is not qualified to meet the Commander," Qian Dong explained. "But you are different. We worked together under the Commander back then, so we are old acquaintances. You don't know, after you left, the Commander often mentioned you. He really misses you!"
"Is that so?" Qi Xiaowei sneered. "It's truly an honor for me that such a big shot as Commander Zhou would remember me!"
"Old Qi, I never expected to hear you say that," Qian Dong laughed. "Alright, enough said, let's go see the commander. He'll be very happy if he knows you came to see him!"
As Qian Dong spoke, he reached out to pull open Qi Xiaowei's car door.
Upon discovering that the car doors were locked, he said with a wry smile, "Old Qi, didn't you want to see the commander? Outside vehicles are not allowed into the Xiang Palace Villa area. You'll have to come with me on foot."
Upon hearing this, Qi Xiaowei's heart stirred. His purpose in coming here was to see Zhou Xuemin. This was not a personal grudge, but a task assigned to him by Chen Yu.
Since Qian Dong was able to get him in smoothly, what else did he have to hesitate about?
After thinking it through, Qi Xiaowei smiled faintly and said, "Since Director Qian is so hospitable, then I, Qi Xiaowei, will respectfully accept your offer."
He gently pressed the unlock button, and the car door slowly opened.
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