Siheyuan: Qi Tongwei Makes a Sudden Landing in the Capital

[Absurdist, trope-subverting comedy | Corrupt Official System | The “worse” he is, the more generous the rewards] Qi Tongwei opens his eyes in the 1930s capital, with a “Corrupt Official System” in his head. “Ding! Host detected beating He Daqing. Classified as ‘tyrannizing the locals.’ Reward: one gold bar!” After beating him, Qi Tongwei turns around and stuffs two silver dollars into He Daqing’s hand. “For medical expenses. Is it enough? If not, just let me know.” He Daqing stares blankly at the money. What kind of lousy beat cop beats someone up and then pays them for it? Next, Qi Tongwei overturns Jia Zhangshi’s stall selling tea eggs. The System chimes again: “Bullying others with your authority. Reward: 100 bullets!” Qi Tongwei pulls out a silver dollar and slaps it into Jia Zhangshi’s hand, adding, “Get a bigger iron pot tomorrow. I’ll come ‘smash’ it again.” Starting out as a despised little beat cop, Qi Tongwei climbs the ranks faster than a rocket: He seizes Yan Fugu’s grain, then turns around and gives him two bags of white flour. He fines Liu Haizhong, then slips him twice as much money. The entire capital curses him as a greedy, evil official, but the people he has “bullied” count their good fortune and wonder aloud: “When will Master Qi come ‘bully’ me again? I’ve already got a pot ready!”