In name only: The land of Handong, I shall rule its fate.

"Governor Lin, please give me your guidance."

Qi Tongwei pushed back his chair, hurriedly stood up and bent over, his posture so humble it couldn't be more humble.

"Have you ever really gotten to know your father-in-law? Have you ever really gotten to know your two brothers-in-law?"

Lin Zhiyuan didn't answer but asked a question instead.

"I...I..."

Qi Tongwei wanted to speak freely, but suddenly found himself unable to say anything.

Liang Lu's older brother, Liang Heng, is 67 years old, 20 years older than Qi Tongwei. He had already retired and went to work in Beijing before marrying Liang Lu.

After Liang Qunfeng retired, they went to Beijing for recuperation.

The second brother, Liang Hui, is even more mysterious.

He joined the army in Tianlu Province when he was young, and it is said that he retired as a senior colonel.

"Secretary Liang was one of the first professors of political science and law at Han University, a leading figure in the field of justice. He didn't go to Beijing to live with his eldest son in his old age."

"It's not appropriate to talk to you about Liang Heng's job."

Lin Zhiyuan's words left things unsaid.

"As for Liang Hui, you should still remember what Liang Lu's second sister-in-law's surname is, right?"

To Liang Hui.

Lin Zhiyuan did not give a definite answer.

"king…"

Qi Tongwei's throat tightened, as if he had swallowed a fishbone, and his face turned pale.

Do you know what your biggest flaw is?

Lin Zhiyuan asked again.

Qi Tongwei's mind was a complete mess; he was no longer able to think, and he shook his head blankly.

"urgent!"

Lin Zhiyuan narrowed his eyes slightly.

"It's rare for children from poor families to achieve great things, but you're lucky enough to have had two opportunities in your life."

"He was shot three times at Lone Eagle Ridge, and was awarded a first-class merit and listed as a first-class hero by the ministry."

"Regardless of your original intention, you did indeed receive that honor."

"But you're in too much of a hurry."

"Just because the higher-ups didn't immediately transfer you to the capital, you chose to kneel down and propose to Liang Lu."

"This is your first chance and your first missed opportunity."

"The second time was when you were promoted to director of the Political Security Department."

"You're in a hurry again, eager to pledge allegiance to the Zhao family and to express your stance to Zhao Lichun, even going so far as to cry at a grave in public."

"Do you understand now?"

Lin Zhiyuan didn't explicitly reveal the truth, but simply pointed it out gently.

"Governor Lin, I understand a little, but I don't really understand."

Qi Tongwei lowered his head even further.

"Firstly, Beijing is the political center of the country, and countless people are scrambling to get in. Just because you have a first-class merit or are a first-class hero, you're going to be transferred in? Even if you could, you'd still have to wait in line. There were countless heroes in that era, and they were no less capable than you."

"But undeniably, you're a figurehead in the ministry, someone everyone knows. Yet, you first requested a transfer to Beijing after achieving merit, and then, when that failed, you became a live-in son-in-law. What do the ministry and higher-ups think of you?"

Lin Zhiyuan continued speaking.

Qi Tongwei may not be a political genius, but he could definitely have thought of these two points. He doesn't know them now because he's trapped by his obsession and doesn't dare to think about them.

"But Hou Liangping..."

Qi Tongwei was unconvinced.

He was filled with jealousy towards this junior who had also become a son-in-law.

"The Chung family paid the price for him."

Lin Zhiyuan's answer this time was naked and cruel.

"Secondly, you know better than I what the head of the Political Security Department is. The Liang family has already paved the way for you. You have access to countless high-quality resources. Even if some leaders are wary of your past, it's not a big problem."

"But you chose the worst path of all."

"Wail at the grave! Wail at the grave in public!"

"Don't even mention the Liang family, who else besides Zhao Lichun would dare to use you? Even if the Zhao family uses you, they are destined not to respect you."

"You won't even get a white glove!"

Lin Zhiyuan shook his head and put down his teacup.

Qi Tongwei, a grown man, was teetering on the brink of collapse after just a few words.

"Governor Lin, is there...is there any hope for me?"

Qi Tongwei's lips trembled; he finally realized what he had missed.

"Your biggest problem is that you haven't developed your intelligence."

Lin Zhiyuan looked at Qi Tongwei, nodded, and said, "It's not that you haven't read enough books, it's that you've only learned how to read, not how to apply them."

"You should really learn from Gao Xiaoqin in this respect."

"She understands her own level. From taking off her clothes one by one to putting them back on, she has already achieved an upper-middle level within the scope of what she can do."

Lin Zhiyuan's words became increasingly blunt and cruel.

"sit down!"

Lin Zhiyuan's voice had a certain magic that made Qi Tongwei follow him wholeheartedly.

"Would you like to reflect on your life?"

Lin Zhiyuan pushed aside the numerous documents on the table, took out a blank sheet of paper, and spread it out in front of Qi Tongwei.

At the same time, a pen is handed to him.

He gestured for Qi Tongwei to take notes himself.

"I'll do the debriefing; you take notes."

Lin Zhiyuan said with great interest.

"Yes, Governor Lin!"

Qi Tongwei didn't understand the other party's intentions, but he had no choice but to obey.

"Your first eighteen years were unremarkable."

Lin Zhiyuan's first words went straight to Qi Tongwei's throat.

He was a poor but academically gifted student, a graduate student and postgraduate at Wuhan University in the 1980s, but after glancing up at Lin Zhiyuan, he quickly lowered his head to take notes.

I almost forgot.

Sitting in front of me is a monster, a ruthless person who skipped grades at Peking University at the age of 14, graduated with a doctorate in economics at the age of 20, and also went to Huaxia University of Political Science and Law to pursue a master's degree in political science and law.

In comparison, it is indeed quite ordinary.

He admits it!

I recognize it willingly.

Quickly, I wrote it down on the white paper:

Qi Tongwei was born in 1968 and was admitted to the School of Political Science and Law of Handong University in 1985. The first eighteen years of his life were unremarkable.

"You've been extraordinary ever since you got into Hanyang University, do you know why?"

Lin Zhiyuan looked at what was written on the white paper and nodded in satisfaction.

"A gathering of elites at Hanzhong University?"

Qi Tongwei tentatively spoke.

Han University was once recognized as one of the top five universities in China, consistently ranking third or fourth in overall rankings.

"fart!"

"Back then, Han University admitted around 1800 students per year for both undergraduate and graduate programs. Over the years, with the accumulation of students from multiple universities, you can barely be considered above average in terms of academic performance, and that's about it."

Lin Zhiyuan remained silent.

Qi Tongwei clenched his fists. If Lin Zhiyuan hadn't said those words, he would have definitely punched him. But it just so happened that Lin Zhiyuan was the one opposite him.

A bachelor's degree from Hanzhong University of Science and Technology in 86 and a master's degree in 92! That's definitely among the top 0.5% of high-end education in the country.

That's because you met two women.

"One is Chen Yang, and the other is Liang Lu."

Lin Zhiyuan's words were increasingly heart-wrenching.

"Chen Yang is the daughter of the former director of the Jingzhou Public Security Bureau; Liang Lu is even more remarkable, being the daughter of the secretary of the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission."

"And your fate will change."

We've always had a saying, "marrying someone of equal social standing."

"Your family background, Qi Tongwei, is not worthy of any of them. If your virtue does not match your position, disaster will surely follow."

Do you really think you're capable of marrying them?

Lin Zhiyuan and Qi Tongwei, who had raised his head, met each other's eyes, their gazes seemingly piercing through each other's souls.