116: Chapter 116 Cherishing and Protecting Talent

At this point, Deputy Bureau Chief Tang gave Li Dakang a meaningful look, as if explaining something, then raised his hand and pointed his index finger upward: "The problem is... someone from above has sent word."

He deliberately emphasized the word "above," then shrugged helplessly: "The County Public Security Bureau is also helpless in this matter."

Li Dakang's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

He put down his chopsticks and swept his gaze back and forth between Deputy Bureau Chief Tang and Qi Tongwei.

This sudden piece of information clearly caught him off guard; Director He Guodong had only mentioned that the County Public Security Bureau was blocking it, never mentioning resistance from higher levels.

Qi Tongwei's face turned deathly pale in an instant, and his Adam's apple bobbed with difficulty.

He picked up his teacup and drained it in one gulp, as if trying to use the bitter tea to suppress the bitterness in his heart: "Secretary Li, Deputy Bureau Chief Tang, this matter... was indeed a mistake I made when I was young and headstrong..."

Qi Tongwei's voice was low as he finally revealed the hidden pain he had kept buried in his heart for years.

It turned out that when he was studying at the Jiang Province Police Academy, he had fallen in love with a female student at the same school, but the relationship soured before long; his girlfriend had a change of heart and went off with another male student at the academy.

This was originally just an ordinary romantic entanglement, but back then, Qi Tongwei was blinded by love and stubbornly believed that the other party had used underhanded means to "snatch his love away."

During one confrontation, that male student, relying on his prominent family background, mocked Qi Tongwei severely, his words filled with contempt for his rural background: "A poor country boy like you, do you even deserve to compete with me?"

This humiliation completely shattered Qi Tongwei's psychological defenses.

In a fit of rage, he took action to teach the other party a lesson, but the price of that impulsive moment far exceeded his imagination.

Only when he learned that the powerful young man's father was the then-captain of the Public Security Department's Public Order Brigade in Jiang Province did Qi Tongwei realize he had stirred up a hornet's nest.

Had it not been for his teacher running around on his behalf and utilizing connections built up over many years, he likely wouldn't even have been able to keep his student status.

Even so, when it came to graduation assignments, the other party still secretly caused trouble, having him exiled to the remote and impoverished Guantian Township Police Station.

What was even more infuriating was that the other party had specifically sent word to "pay special attention" to Qi Tongwei, clearly intending to nail him to this backwater forever and let his police career end in such a dismal way.

Qi Tongwei looked up, tears of unwillingness flashing in his eyes: "I am not afraid of hardship, but I cannot accept... being nailed to death here like this."

As his voice faded, the private room fell into a long silence.

The light and shadows from the chandelier traced outlines of varying depth on everyone's faces, like an oil painting with heavy, set colors.

Li Dakang's gaze suddenly turned sharp; he understood all too well what this "special attention" meant: it was to completely lock a young man's future in the most remote grassroots level and let him exhaust his youth in this backwater.

Li Dakang looked at Deputy Bureau Chief Tang with a piercing gaze: "Deputy Bureau Chief Tang, you have seen Qi Tongwei's performance in Guantian Township over these years with your own eyes. If it is because of some... personal vendetta, to bury such a good talent..."

He didn't finish the sentence, but the implication was crystal clear.

Deputy Bureau Chief Tang, who had been immersed in officialdom for so many years, naturally understood the weight of the "needle hidden in silk" in those words.

It was both a cherishing of talent and a warning against improper practices.

Qi Tongwei's breathing involuntarily quickened.

He gazed at Li Dakang's profile; within those sharp, well-defined contours seemed to lie the possibility of breaking through the shackles of fate.

The grievances accumulated over many years and the hope that had just emerged surged within his chest like scalding waves.

In Deputy Bureau Chief Tang's mind, he weighed the pros and cons rapidly; Li Dakang's words sounded understated but actually concealed a sharp edge.

This rising political star's influence had long since radiated throughout the entire Anjiang County.

"Secretary Li's insight is profound."

Deputy Bureau Chief Tang bowed slightly, his tone solemn: "I will resubmit Qi Tongwei's situation for discussion at the Bureau Party Committee meeting."

He deliberately emphasized the word "resubmit."

A faint, elusive smile appeared at the corner of Li Dakang's mouth: "Then I will have to trouble you, Deputy Bureau Chief Tang. If Bureau Chief Xiao has any questions..."

He picked up his teacup and swirled it gently: "He is welcome to come and have tea with me at any time."

These words made Deputy Bureau Chief Tang breathe a sigh of relief.

He had long wanted to give Qi Tongwei a hand, but he hadn't dared to act due to pressure from above.

Now with Li Dakang as a sturdy tree to shelter behind, he could finally stand tall and speak up.

"Secretary Li, please rest assured!"

Deputy Bureau Chief Tang's voice rose suddenly, and as he turned to Qi Tongwei, his eyes held the affection of an elder: "The case files for the cases Qi Tongwei has solved in the past two years would stack up as high as a person's waist."

"If such a talent were buried, I, as the supervising bureau leader, would be the first to refuse!"

Qi Tongwei's Adam's apple bobbed violently, and his eyes reddened slightly.

He thought back to the past three years, every night spent staking out until dawn, and every instance of persistence while making visits in the biting wind.

It turned out that someone had been silently remembering all his efforts.

Li Dakang gently swirled the teacup in his hand, then suddenly changed the subject: "Deputy Bureau Chief Tang, Guantian Township's development momentum has been good recently, but the accompanying public security cases have also doubled compared to the same period last year."

A gleam of light flashed in Deputy Bureau Chief Tang's eyes, and he immediately replied: "Secretary Li is right! The Guantian Township Police Station currently only has eight authorized personnel, yet it has to manage eleven administrative villages and an industrial park; manpower is indeed extremely tight."