Early the next morning, Deputy Department Director Zhou arrived at the Public Security Department looking fresh and energetic.
The first thing he did was summon Deputy Department Director Gou Hongtao and give him a savage dressing-down.
"Just tell me, what gave you the right to interfere in the Public Security Management Corps' case, huh? You even dared to take people over there and forcibly release Shi Yuanbo, a suspect in the case. You've got some nerve, Gou Hongtao!"
Gou Hongtao was both bewildered and furious. He had thought Yan Li's remark the night before-"Director Zhou is very angry, and the consequences will be serious"-was just an offhand comment. Besides, even if Zhou Yi was angry, what could he possibly do to him? So after going home, he had put it out of his mind entirely.
He had never expected Zhou Yi to unleash a furious reprimand on him the moment he arrived at work.
"Director Zhou, I was following Department Director Tian's orders, and releasing him was Secretary Hou's instruction. If you've got the guts, don't take it out on me! Go find the department director! Go find the secretary!"
Even the meekest man had his limits. Being treated like a naughty grandson by a young man around his own son's age was more humiliation than Gou Hongtao could bear, so he angrily snapped back.
Zhou Yi shook his head firmly. "I don't believe it. You clearly acted on your own initiative. Don't try to shift the blame onto Department Director Tian, and don't use Secretary Hou's name to fool me. Even if Secretary Hou wanted him released, he would never have told you to do it in a way that violated discipline."
"I..."
Gou Hongtao was left speechless. No matter how he explained it, Zhou refused to believe him,