Qi Tongwei: Sign-in relationship started during student days

Chapter 978 Dilemma

"Alright, enough with the chit-chat, let's get down to business!" Qi Tongwei pounced like a tiger.

Just as the two were about to engage in their first encounter on the sofa, a news report on television froze them in their tracks.

"On August 28, according to German media reports, a mayor of a Chinese city openly solicited prostitutes during a business trip to Germany, and then refused to pay for the services, becoming the subject of a 'nude photo scandal'."

German media commentary: Is this the modern governance of an "ancient civilization"?

With power and belts both loosened, another absurd drama unfolds in China's officialdom.

Berlin – Reporter Friedrich von Sarcastically reports: A mayor, touted as a "public servant," has become a laughingstock after being photographed nude in a brothel for refusing to pay his bill. Who would believe, had they not witnessed it firsthand, that this was the act of a modern government official from a country that prides itself on its "civilized manners"?

……

What a big deal!

Qi Tongwei felt a chill run down his spine. That damned Li Yongbao, he's ruthless!

Qi Tongwei lost interest in sex and made an international long-distance call to Munich Mayor Ude to report the news.

Ude was also taken aback. "How could this be? Wasn't Tang dead? How did this news come out?"

Qi Tongwei didn't explain the intricacies to the other party, but only asked them to help suppress the news as soon as possible.

Ude said, "Don't worry, this matter will also affect me. If those reporters dig deeper, I won't fare well either."

I'll make arrangements right now to suppress this news.

You can rest assured that there won't be any more news like this in Germany.

After all, he is a descendant of the vice president, so his family's influence is considerable.

Qi Tongwei thanked him and hung up the phone.

After hanging up the phone, Qi Tongwei rubbed his temples, feeling irritable and agitated.

In fact, he had prepared for the worst from the very beginning.

He anticipated extensive media coverage of Lee Young-bo, but he also had contingency plans.

This can basically minimize the impact; at most, you'll get a couple of criticisms.

But things are different now.

If it has an international impact, then its nature becomes extremely serious.

Damaging the national image—this label is unacceptable!

At the very least, he, as the leader of the delegation, should be held accountable.

According to the Red Star Party Disciplinary Regulations, those who, in foreign-related activities, cause adverse political effects and damage the dignity and interests of the Party and the state, shall be given a disciplinary sanction of removal from Party posts or probation within the Party, and in serious cases, may even be expelled from the Party.

To give a very simple comparison, at the Olympics, race walker Wang Liping's coaching staff left before the competition was even over.

Ultimately, all members of the coaching staff were held accountable, their coaching qualifications were revoked, and the head coach of track and field was transferred.

The problems he faces now are more serious than those of Wang's coaching staff. If the higher-ups take this seriously, he could be in big trouble.

The only saving grace is that information is not as advanced as it would be in later generations; otherwise, the consequences would have been far beyond what he could have afforded.

Liang Lu comes from a political family, so she naturally understands the importance of the matter.

"Tongwei, don't worry. Our Shengtian Group still has some friends over the years. I'll help you make some moves and minimize the impact."

"Yes, thank you for your hard work. Now, I need to go back and report to the Provincial Party Committee."

"Go ahead, I'll call you later."

"Okay." Qi Tongwei finished dressing and left the room.

Back in his room, Qi Tongwei immediately notified his secretary and convened an emergency meeting.

While waiting, a report was also sent to the distant Hanjiang Provincial Committee.

This matter is beyond his control; only the power of the state can be used to mitigate its impact.

Upon receiving Qi Tongwei's report, Pei Yihong quickly established an emergency response team, which he personally led, with relevant departments cooperating in the process.

On the one hand, we immediately contacted the German side to verify the situation and negotiate a solution; on the other hand, we activated the public opinion monitoring mechanism to closely monitor the dynamics of domestic and foreign media, guide public opinion in a timely manner, and prevent the situation from escalating further.

“Tongwei, this matter could be a big deal or a small deal, you need to be prepared,” Pei Yihong said in a serious tone. “You are currently abroad, so use any methods you can. If this matter can be spread within a limited scope, it will be easier to handle.”

China's desire to join the WTO has always placed great importance on its national image, which is essentially a red line.

"Understood. I am also actively working with all parties to suppress the situation. Tomorrow I will try to communicate with several French newspapers and media outlets."

Pei Yihong pondered for a moment and said, "If funding is needed, the provincial party committee can prepare a special fund."

This incident was not good news for Pei Yihong either. It would be best to suppress it and not report it.

"I will."

……

The following day, Qi Tongwei attempted to gain international understanding and support for the delegation's work by contacting the editors-in-chief of several well-known French newspapers.

However, as he visited each of them, he had not yet been able to begin any "friendly" communication.

Upon hearing the purpose of the visit, these Western media leaders either responded with indifference or offered polite excuses, their words revealing undisguised contempt and rejection.

"Sorry, but we in the media must remain fair and truthful. You must pay the price for what you've done!"

Some people were even kicked out before Qi Tongwei could even show any "sincerity".

He knew in his heart that these people weren't incorruptible, but rather that they looked down on them from the bottom of their hearts.

They are unwilling to listen to a voice from China, let alone understand the difficulties and efforts of a country undergoing a difficult transformation and yearning to be treated equally by the world.

They look down on this great Eastern power that emerged from poverty and weakness, they look down on its still immature system, and they look down on its relatively weak voice on the international stage.

This is a microcosm of the real predicament that China faced in Europe and America in 1999.

That year, China had not yet joined the WTO. Although its economy was making steady progress in the wave of reform and opening up, it was still regarded as an "outlier" in the Western-dominated international order.

The political system has been misunderstood, the development path has been questioned, and the national image has been deliberately demonized.

The tone of Western mainstream media's reporting on China is often based on Cold War thinking and ideological bias—it's either a "human rights issue" or a "threat rhetoric."

Even a normal diplomatic activity or an attempt at technological cooperation is often misinterpreted as "expansionist ambitions".

In May of the same year, NATO, led by the United States, bombed the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia without cause, pushing this hostility to its peak.

Three Chinese journalists were killed and dozens were injured, sparking national grief and outrage.

However, in mainstream Western media, this blatant act of aggression was downplayed as a "mistaken bombing," with some media outlets even defending the violence, claiming it was "unavoidable collateral damage."

At that moment, China was almost completely isolated in international public opinion—few voices spoke out for justice, and few media outlets were willing to objectively present the truth.

Qi Tongwei's setbacks were a common occurrence for countless Chinese diplomats, scholars, and entrepreneurs in the Western world during that era.

This group of people never wanted you to develop. They are used to the Western-centric order of the past century and are happy to see a backward, divided, and dependent China, rather than a rising, confident, and independent Eastern power.

Therefore, given such a great opportunity, they still seize it to embarrass you—exaggerating in their reports and making sarcastic remarks in their comments.