I really don't want to be an official if I transmigrate into Qi Tongwei's life.

Chapter 96 Dying for Ideals

The police reluctantly unlocked Qi Tongwei's handcuffs.

Qi Tongwei stretched his arms and laughed, "Director Xie, I'll be keeping an eye on you. Don't break the law!"

Director Xie flew into a rage, pointing angrily at Qi Tongwei, "Qi Tongwei, don't be too happy yet. This is Shanghai, you're still too green."

Qi Tongwei remained unfazed, chuckling, "Really? I, Qi Tongwei, am eager to test the waters of Shanghai, to see if it's truly impenetrable."

Arrogant, so arrogant! Even the police at the local station were shocked; this guy was a complete madman.

"Get him out of here!"

Director Xie had no choice but to turn a blind eye.

"Director Xie, don't be so agitated. Let me give you a piece of advice: always remember the Party's mission to serve the people, and never take money that you shouldn't."

"Can't you hear me? Throw him out!"

Director Xie was anxious because he had long forgotten the oath he made under the red flag.

"I can walk by myself, thank you, Director. Until we meet again."

With a triumphant look on his face, Qi Tongwei swaggered out of the police station.

After they went outside, Ye Xuan's Mercedes pulled up, but it wasn't her; it was her family's driver.

"Mr. Qi, I'm here to take you to the hotel."

Qi Tongwei got into the back seat and said, "Thank you, driver."

"Mr. Qi, you're too kind."

Back at the Peace Hotel, Qi Tongwei took a shower and had a good night's sleep. The next day, Ye Xuan had something to do, so he didn't go out and waited to have dinner with Song Shuguang that evening.

The two agreed to meet at seven o'clock, but Song Shuguang didn't arrive until eight o'clock.

"Tongwei, I'm sorry, I'll punish myself with three drinks."

"It's okay, senior. I know you're busy. How did that person from last night go? He's not dead, is he?"

Song Shuguang quickly took a sip of tea, parched with thirst. "He's not dead, just blind. Don't feel guilty. That kid is not only a smuggler, but also a wanted criminal with a murder case."

Qi Tongwei smiled. "Senior, if I had a gun, I would have shot him dead. Is smuggling rampant these days?"

Song Shuguang's face immediately turned worried. "To be honest, it's quite serious. Smuggling has caused huge economic losses to the country. I even suspect there's a huge smuggling ring in Shanghai. That kid's very stubborn; he won't say a word."

Qi Tongwei couldn't help but worry about him, "Senior, since you suspect there's a smuggling ring, what's the attitude of the higher-ups?"

Song Shuguang sighed, "I've submitted several reports, but to no avail. Tongwei, to be honest, I'm really upset. I love my country, I love my people, I love my home, and I hope our country will become prosperous and strong soon."

Qi Tongwei poured Song Shuguang another cup of tea. "Senior, after all these years, I didn't expect you to still be so idealistic."

Song Shuguang picked up his teacup and took a big gulp. "Tongwei, actually, I've been quite depressed these past few years. I even regret giving up on pursuing a master's degree. Customs is my dream job; I'm willing to guard the nation's borders. But for some reason, criminals always manage to bypass us."

Immediately, the waiter brought the dishes over.

Qi Tongwei ordered a bottle of Moutai, saying, "Senior, drink less."

"Have a drink, I have to have a drink with you, kid. You've struck it rich, haven't you?"

Qi Tongwei poured two glasses of Moutai, handing one to Song Shuguang, "To be honest, senior, I've really struck it rich."

Song Shuguang was surprised, "You just graduated not long ago, how did you become rich?"

Qi Tongwei picked up his glass. "Come on, senior, drink up and I'll tell you slowly."

"Okay, let's do it."

Qi Tongwei took a small sip; it tasted mellow and sweet. It seems that men all fall in love with baijiu (Chinese liquor) when they reach a certain age, as if it's something they're born with.

"I rescued a Hong Kong businessman who had been kidnapped, and he gave me one million."

Song Shuguang was completely stunned. One million yuan—he couldn't earn that much money in his entire life.

"Then you're going to strike it rich, kid. How about you drink three in a row?"

Qi Tongwei was very excited, "Come on, senior, I'm not afraid of you now!"

"Then let's go!"

Immediately, the two of them took two more sips.

"Good wine, Tongwei. Drinking with you reminds me of my university days. Back then, we were all so passionate in the student union, talking about our ideals and the future. I wonder what happened to everyone else, and how many of them stuck to their ideals."

Qi Tongwei took a bite of his food. "Senior, people change. There aren't many idealists like you anymore."

Song Shuguang felt somewhat saddened because he knew that a friend of his, who was very idealistic, had been imprisoned for embezzlement.

"Tongwei, my daughter has just learned to walk, and I hope to create a bright future for her."

Qi Tongwei picked up a piece of braised pork and said, "Senior, the future is bright. In the future, every family will be able to eat meat three times a day, and many people will be able to live in apartment buildings and drive cars."

Song Shuguang shook his head, probably because he had drunk too much and was a little dizzy.

"Tongwei, are you telling the truth?"

Qi Tongwei raised his glass and clinked it against Song Shuguang's. "Senior, it's all true. There are still many unsung heroes working tirelessly for our country. You will see that day."

Song Shuguang was particularly happy because there were others who, like him, believed that our country would get better and better.

"Tongwei, after hearing what you said, I'm full of confidence now. I'll definitely uncover that smuggling ring. Let's have another drink!"

Qi Tongwei shared a drink with him, saying, "Senior, smuggling gangs are all desperate criminals; you have to be careful."

Song Shuguang laughed, "Tongwei, compared to your hard work today, I'm ashamed of myself."

Qi Tongwei added, "Then I wish you, senior, a speedy success in cracking down on the smuggling ring."

"Dry"

Suddenly, Song Shuguang's pager went off. He glanced at it and realized there was an emergency.

"Tongwei, I'm sorry, I have to go now. Let's drink together again tomorrow."

"It's okay, senior. You've drunk so much, can you handle it?"

"Tongwei, you're underestimating me. I'll be leaving now, but I'll definitely drink with you to your heart's content tomorrow."

"Okay, senior, be careful on your way."

"Why are you being so indecisive? Let's go."

As Qi Tongwei watched Song Shuguang's hurried departure, he felt a strange sadness. A true warrior should be like him, always maintaining idealism.

Qi Tongwei tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep, feeling that something was about to happen.

At three in the morning, Song Shuguang returned home from get off work. As he walked down the stairs, two men suddenly jumped out. One had long hair, and the other had a buzz cut. The long-haired man stabbed him in the chest first, and the buzz-cut man immediately covered his mouth. The long-haired man then stabbed him more than ten times.

Song Shuguang fell into a pool of blood. He crawled forward less than a meter, unwilling to give up. His biggest worry was his wife and children. Slowly, he closed his eyes. In one light, he seemed to see a powerful motherland. He also hoped that Qi Tongwei could find out the truth for him.

Qi Tongwei was woken up by his pager in the morning. It was a message from Ye Xuan, urgent, call back immediately.

Qi Tongwei didn't even have time to put on his shoes before rushing to the front desk and dialing Ye Xuan's number.

"What's wrong, Reporter Ye?"

Ye Xuan paused for a moment, then said, "I just heard from a friend that your senior, Song Shuguang, was murdered last night."

Qi Tongwei was completely stunned; he couldn't accept this fact at all.