Nominal: The Handong Game, the Energy System's Counterattack

After the enlarged meeting of the Standing Committee ended, Qi Tongwei waited patiently until all the leaders had left before awkwardly leaving the provincial party committee building.

He had been hoping for good news at the meeting.

Indeed, there is good news, at least for the entire public security system in Handong, it is fantastic news.

The executive deputy director of the provincial public security department is a high-ranking official at the department level.

The director of the Jingzhou Public Security Bureau has also been appointed as the vice mayor, and his rank has reached the level of a full-fledged department-level official.

After this meeting, the distorted hierarchy within the Handong Public Security System finally showed signs of returning to normal.

However, Qi Tongwei, the director of the Provincial Public Security Department, is still at the department level and has not yet been promoted to vice-provincial level.

But today, sitting in the meeting room, when he heard Vice Minister Zhang read out those two personnel decisions, his mind felt like it had been hit by a hammer, buzzing.

Luo Junzhen, the deputy director who, although he disliked him, still respectfully addressed him as "Director Qi" on the surface.

He rose to the rank of Executive Deputy Director-General, a position equivalent to a full-fledged department-level official.

His current rank is on par with his previous position as director of a department; he is now the executive deputy director, with even greater power, and he was specifically promoted by higher authorities.

As the nominal highest-ranking official in charge of public security in the province, he led the overall work of the Public Security Department.

The executive deputy director is in charge of daily work. If he, as the director, disagrees with Luo Junzhen, Luo Junzhen can go directly to Governor Liu or even Sha Ruijin to report.

What does this mean? It means that Luo Junzhen's business in the provincial government might be even more effective than Qi Tongwei's in the future.

His position as department head may become a mere figurehead.

And then there's Qin Jinhui.

The deputy mayor and director of the public security bureau of Jingzhou City, who is at the same level as Qi Tongwei, is a department-level official.

If a municipal bureau chief has the same rank as a provincial department chief, how will he, as the provincial department chief, be able to direct the work of the Jingzhou Public Security Bureau in the future?

Qin Jinhui could keep Qi Tongwei out of the door with just one sentence: "I report directly to the municipal party committee."

Two officials at the provincial level: one holds power within the provincial government, while the other's presence can be completely ignored in Jingzhou, the central city of the province.

Qi Tongwei has struggled for most of his life, almost losing all his dignity, to get to where he is now, and he's about to reach the threshold of becoming a vice-provincial level official.

But given the current situation, he can't get promoted to deputy provincial governor, but two people of equal rank have appeared before him.

His hands were shaking as he drove his dark green Land Cruiser out of the provincial party committee compound.

He gripped the leather cover on the steering wheel so tightly it creaked, and the veins on his forehead bulged out.

He slammed on the gas pedal, and the Land Cruiser shot forward, startling a taxi in front of him who quickly swerved to avoid it.

For some inexplicable reason, he drove to the vicinity of Handong University. Qi Tongwei parked the car on the side of the road and turned off the engine.

He leaned back in his seat and glanced at the gate of Handong University through the car window.

That was where Qi Tongwei's dream began, and also where his life's humiliation began.

With a wry smile, Qi Tongwei closed his eyes for a moment, took several deep breaths, and then picked up his phone again to dial a number.

"Teacher, it's me."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone before Gao Yuliang's voice came through: "Tongwei, come directly to my office, I'm here."

Qi Tongwei hung up the phone, restarted the car, turned around, and drove towards the provincial party committee compound.

When he entered Gao Yuliang's office, the other party was already waiting there.

Gao Yuliang, wearing his executive jacket, sat behind his desk with two freshly brewed cups of tea steaming on a tray in front of him.

"Sit down." Gao Yuliang pointed to the chair opposite him.

Qi Tongwei sat down without serving tea. He rested his left hand on the armrest, clenching his fist tightly, and supported his knee with his right hand, leaning forward.

His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he swallowed it back.

Gao Yuliang looked at his students and sighed inwardly.

He knew Qi Tongwei's current state; this man usually appeared spirited and decisive in his speech and actions.

But when faced with something truly beyond their control, their inherent unease and anxiety are revealed.

Since he married Liang Lu, Qi Tongwei has seemed to have everything going too smoothly.

Before Liang Qunfeng stepped down, he, as the son-in-law of the Liang family, had risen through the ranks.

With Zhao Lichun protecting him and Gao Yuliang supporting him, he has hardly encountered any real setbacks in the officialdom of Handong over the years.

Now that Zhao Lichun is gone and Sha Ruijin has arrived, this time he has dealt two heavy blows to personnel matters within the public security system, and Qi Tongwei couldn't withstand it any longer.

"Have some tea first," Gao Yuliang said.

Qi Tongwei picked up his teacup and took a sip. The scalding tea went down his throat, making him feel a little better.

"Teacher," he put down his teacup, his voice a little hoarse, "about today's matter..."

"I know what you're trying to say." Gao Yuliang waved his hand. "I saw Luo Junzhen's appointment and Qin Jinhui's appointment."

"What gives Luo Junzhen the right?" Qi Tongwei's voice suddenly rose a notch.

"Shut up," Gao Yuliang said gently, a hint of sternness in his eyes. "Tongwei, calm down."

"Luo Junzhen was promoted to the rank of director-general because he handled the Dafeng Factory incident very well. If something had really gone wrong, the entire Handong Provincial Committee would have had to be replaced."

"This has nothing to do with you, it's not directed at you."

"Besides, Handong is a major economic province. The executive deputy director of the provincial public security bureau should be at the ministerial level."

"What about Qin Jinhui?" Qi Tongwei clenched his fists on his knees.

"A municipal bureau chief, a department-level official? What makes him qualified?"

"Zhao Donglai worked for so many years and only became a deputy director-general, and he's parachuted in and immediately becomes a director-general?"

Gao Yuliang did not answer immediately.

He stood up, walked to a cabinet next to the bookshelf, opened the drawer, and took out a brown paper file folder.

The file folder looked ordinary, with a white strip of paper attached to the seal that read "Qin Jinhui" in printed form, without a signature.

"Take a look at this." Gao Yuliang pushed the file folder in front of Qi Tongwei.

Qi Tongwei hesitated for a moment, then broke the white thread sealing the opening and pulled out the materials inside.

It was a resume, printed neatly with clear entries.

But it's different from a typical cadre resume—it doesn't have a photo, a specific home address, or information about a spouse and children.

The section on work experience contains only a few lines, recording only the work experience of the past year or so.

The places where family members live are all a series of ******!

Then there are rows and rows of achievements.

The achievements were remarkable, but each achievement was only described in terms of time, without mentioning what exactly was done.

First-class merit! Qi Tongwei earned this first-class merit through hard work, and it was written twice on the certificate!

There were also second-class merit awards! Countless third-class merit awards!!

Where did this deity come from?

Qi Tongwei placed the resume on the table and looked up at Gao Yuliang.

The anxiety and anger in his eyes subsided somewhat, replaced by a more complex emotion.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found himself unable to find the right words.