22: Chapter 22 Absolutely Daring

"Smack!"

Sun Shoucheng slammed the table and shouted angrily:

"How dare you! This is not the place for you to lecture me! Let me tell you, you won't get away with what happened today so easily! If you know what's good for you, admit your mistakes and apologize to Liao Sanjin immediately, or I'll lock you up!"

Qin Ruoxi remained calm and said in an even tone:

"Director Sun, are you planning to abuse your power?"

Sun Shoucheng sneered:

"Abuse my power? Hmph, I am the law here! If you don't know what's good for you, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Xiao Bei clenched his fists, ready to explode, but Qin Ruoxi gently pressed down on his hand, signaling him to stay calm.

She looked at Sun Shoucheng and said indifferently:

"Director Sun, are you sure you want to do this? Aren't you afraid that if this blows up, you won't be able to handle the consequences?"

Sun Shoucheng laughed disdainfully:

"Blow it up? You? Let me tell you, in Bishi Town, no one has ever escaped my grasp!"

Seeing Qin Ruoxi and Xiao Bei's stubborn attitude, Sun Shoucheng's anger flared even more. He slammed the table again and shouted sternly:

"Cuff these two ignorant fools! I want to see how long they can keep up that tough attitude!"

Two police officers immediately rushed into the interrogation room, pulled out handcuffs, and handcuffed Qin Ruoxi and Xiao Bei behind their backs.

Xiao Bei struggled, his eyes blazing with anger:

"Sun Shoucheng, this is an abuse of power! Aren't you afraid of being dismissed?"

Sun Shoucheng sneered and said:

"Dismissed? In Bishi Town, no one dares to fire me!"

Qin Ruoxi, however, remained indifferent, a faint smile playing on the corners of her lips.

She shook her head slightly and said calmly:

"Director Sun, the feeling of being handcuffed like a criminal is indeed unpleasant, but I hope you won't regret this later."

"To hell with your regrets..."

Sun Shoucheng was about to mock her further when the door to the interrogation room was suddenly pushed open. A police officer ran in, panicked and pale-faced:

"Director, it's bad! Secretary Qi Zhengming has brought people here and is already at the entrance of the Police Station!"

Hearing this, Sun Shoucheng's expression changed instantly.

"W-what? How could Secretary Qi come here today? I didn't receive any notice of an inspection!"

Sun Shoucheng was puzzled, but he still adjusted his collar, hurried out of the interrogation room, and put on a fawning smile to welcome Secretary Qi Zhengming.

However, as soon as he reached the lobby of the Police Station, he saw the Beijiang County Party Committee Secretary, Secretary Qi Zhengming, walking in with several cadres from the County Commission for Discipline Inspection, his face looking terrifyingly grim.

Sun Shoucheng hurriedly went up to meet him, asking with a fawning face:

"Secretary Qi, why did you come in person? If you had any instructions, a phone call would have sufficed. Why bother..."

"Smack!"

Without a word, Secretary Qi Zhengming raised his hand and delivered a loud slap, striking Sun Shoucheng hard across the face.

Sun Shoucheng stumbled from the blow, clutching his face, stunned and bewildered:

"Secretary Qi, what is this for..."

Secretary Qi Zhengming stared at him coldly, his voice filled with suppressed fury:

"Sun Shoucheng, you have some nerve! Who gave you the authority to abuse your power? Who gave you the guts to arrest people indiscriminately?"

Sun Shoucheng was dazed by the slap. Hearing Secretary Qi Zhengming's questioning, he grew even more panicked and stammered:

"Secretary Qi, you've misunderstood. I was acting according to the law. Someone was obstructing the construction and even started a fight, so I was..."

"Shut up!"

Secretary Qi Zhengming sternly interrupted him, his gaze like a knife. "Where is Mayor Qin? Where did you lock her up?"

"M-Mayor Qin?"

Sun Shoucheng was stunned, his brain unable to process the information. "What Mayor Qin? I haven't seen her..."

Secretary Qi Zhengming snorted coldly, too lazy to waste more words on him, and waved his hand at the Discipline Inspection Commission cadres behind him:

"Go, find Mayor Qin, immediately!"

Several cadres from the Discipline Inspection Commission acted quickly, heading straight for the interrogation room.

Sun Shoucheng finally realized what was happening. His face turned instantly pale, and cold sweat poured down:

"Secretary Qi, the Mayor Qin you mentioned... could it be that woman from earlier?"

Secretary Qi Zhengming glanced at him coldly and raged:

"What do you think? Sun Shoucheng, oh Sun Shoucheng, you have some nerve! You even dared to arrest a mayor; you really are lawless!"

Sun Shoucheng's legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to the ground, his voice trembling:

"Secretary Qi, I... I really didn't know she was Mayor Qin! She... she didn't reveal her identity, I thought she was just a tourist..."

"Didn't reveal her identity?"

Secretary Qi Zhengming sneered. "Mayor Qin sent me a text message an hour ago explaining the situation here. And you? Not only did you fail to investigate clearly, but you also dared to abuse your power and handcuff her! Sun Shoucheng, you really are audacious!"

At this moment, Qin Ruoxi and Xiao Bei had already been brought out by the Discipline Inspection Commission cadres.

Qin Ruoxi's handcuffs had been removed. She rubbed her wrists, her expression still calm, though there was a hint of coldness in her eyes.

Xiao Bei stood to the side, his eyes full of anger. If not for Qin Ruoxi's presence, he would have stepped forward to give Sun Shoucheng a sound beating!

Seeing this, Secretary Qi Zhengming hurriedly stepped forward, his tone apologetic:

"M-Mayor Qin, I am truly sorry. It is my dereliction of duty that has caused you such grievance."

Qin Ruoxi smiled slightly and said in an indifferent tone:

"Secretary Qi, you've come at the right time. The problems in your Beijiang County seem to be even more serious than I imagined."

Hearing Qin Ruoxi's words, Sun Shoucheng felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar. He collapsed to the floor, his face as pale as paper.

He knew that this time, he was truly finished.

Secretary Qi Zhengming glanced coldly at Sun Shoucheng and said to the Discipline Inspection Commission cadres behind him:

"Take this Sun Shoucheng away and open an investigation immediately! Also, take the person in charge of the construction project into custody as well, and thoroughly investigate their illegal activities!"

Several Discipline Inspection Commission cadres immediately stepped forward and hauled Sun Shoucheng up.

Sun Shoucheng struggled, shouting in a hoarse voice:

"Secretary Qi, I was wrong! I was really wrong! Please give me one chance..."

Secretary Qi Zhengming snorted coldly, ignoring his pleas, and turned to Qin Ruoxi.

"Mayor Qin, I will definitely handle this matter seriously and give you and the villagers an explanation."

Qin Ruoxi nodded, her tone calm:

"Secretary Qi, I believe in your ability. However, the problems in Bishi Town are not just about Sun Shoucheng and Liao Sanjin; the chain of interests behind them also needs to be thoroughly investigated."

Secretary Qi Zhengming nodded solemnly:

"Please rest assured, I will investigate to the end and will not tolerate any corruption!"

Xiao Bei stood to the side, watching the scene before him. He felt both relieved and somewhat emotional.

He said to Qin Ruoxi in a low voice:

"Mayor Qin, thanks to you notifying Secretary Qi in advance this time, otherwise we really wouldn't have been able to get away so easily."

Qin Ruoxi rolled her eyes and said:

"What? Do you think I'm like you, only knowing how to solve problems with fists?"