Nominal: Starting with an entrance exam for a PhD in Economics at Peking University

Nominal: Starting with an entrance exam for a PhD in Economics at Peking University

Author: Old Thief Watching the Knife

Synopsis: Taking a gunshot to his death unexpectedly transports Qi Tongwei back to the time when he was shot three times and risked his life to fight drug trafficking.

Reborn, he decides to leave Handong and stop working within the political and legal system, moving towards a larger platform.

Chapter 1 Echoes of Lone Eagle Ridge

"No one in this world can judge me! Fuck God!"

"boom--!"

Gunshots rang out in the valley of Lone Eagle Ridge, echoing hollowly and desperately. This was the first page of Qi Tongwei's heroic saga, and now it was also the final chapter he had written himself.

Yes, until the organizational procedures are completed, he remains the renowned Public Security Bureau Chief of Handong, a shining anti-drug hero in the personnel file.

"Bang...bang..."

Before his consciousness completely plunged into darkness, a question flashed through his chaotic mind: How... were there two more gunshots?

……

When consciousness returned, the pungent smell of disinfectant was the first thing to hit his senses. He opened his eyes, and the familiar ceiling of the special care ward of the First People's Hospital of Yantai City came into view.

Why is it that, even after nearly thirty years, he still remembers everything here so vividly—from the bedside table to the table and chairs in the corner?

This place was a purgatory where his old beliefs had completely collapsed and were forcibly reshaped by reality. He earned a commendation from the Ministry of Public Security and the prestigious title of "Anti-Drug Hero" with three bullets, but he still couldn't pry open a single crack in the power structure to transfer to the side of his beloved. Only then did he realize with bitter pain: a hero, in the face of power, is nothing more than a convenient tool.

A deputy director of the Provincial Public Security Department, surnamed Wang, led a team to offer condolences. If it were the young Qi Tongwei, full of hope back then, he would surely have been extremely excited, thinking that he had finally opened the door to fate with his blood and life.

But now, the body houses a soul scarred and battered by half a lifetime of political ups and downs. He could see through the cold, perfunctory facade beneath Deputy Director Wang's friendly smile with a single glance. The high-sounding official jargon and platitudes were utterly disregarded; even the formalities were ignored. The visit turned into a series of staged photos. As for his future plans and needs, the other party remained completely silent.

This extremely abnormal indifference went unnoticed by the naive young man back then, but reality will soon teach him a lesson in the cruelest way.

The deputy director had barely left when the phone in the special care ward rang.

Qi Tongwei clearly remembered that it was Liang Lu who called.

To be honest, this woman wasn't ugly; in fact, she was quite beautiful. With delicate features and an elegant figure, even by today's standards, her background and demeanor were top-notch. At Handong University, she was the dream girl of countless people, a stark contrast to the haggard, aging woman she later became, worn down by jealousy and resentment.

But all of this cannot conceal the fact that she is a worn-out shoe that has been played with by others; it cannot conceal the fact that she used her father's power to coerce him; and it cannot change the fact that Qi Tongwei does not love her high and mighty "gift" at all.

He answered the phone.

On the other end of the phone came Liang Lu's deliberately gentle voice: "Hello~ Tongwei, are you feeling better? Uncle Wang came to see you just now and said you're recovering well, that's great. I made you some chicken soup with morel mushrooms, I'll bring it over to you later."

Years of marriage (even if it was just in name only) had given him an intimate knowledge of her. He immediately recognized the hidden purpose in her voice—it was always the same tone she used whenever she needed something from him or wanted to assert her "ownership." Although her voice sounded younger and softer now, it still made his stomach churn, causing him physical discomfort.

"vomit--"

"Tongwei? What's wrong? Quickly ring the bell to call a doctor! I arrived at the Yantai Guesthouse last night, and I'm having the driver bring me here now, I'll be there right away!"

The body was severely injured and weak, and once he started gagging, it was hard to stop. This aggravated the wounds, and a sharp pain instantly struck, leaving him drenched in cold sweat.

Xiao Zhang, a colleague from the anti-drug squad who was taking care of him, rushed forward and patted his back while anxiously asking, "Brother Qi, Brother Qi, are you alright? I'll go get a doctor!"

While retching violently, Qi Tongwei suddenly grabbed Xiao Zhang's wrist and squeezed out broken words through clenched teeth: "Ugh... no... 'call'... it's 'please'... please ask the doctor... to come over."

Xiao Zhang nodded hurriedly, and only then did he let go. No matter how his status changed, Qi Tongwei's sincerity towards others never changed. He treated his fellow villagers and subordinates the same way, as well as strangers, and it never changed because of his status or position.

The doctor arrived, and there was another commotion. Once the ward was quiet again, Qi Tongwei lay back on the bed and began to calmly contemplate his future.

In the 1990s, opportunities abounded. He was confident that by venturing into business, with his vision ahead of his time, he could become incredibly wealthy.

But he quickly dismissed the idea. Wealth without the protection of power is nothing but a castle in the air, a money bag for the powerful to take at will.

The only path I can take is through politics!

Having been given a second chance at life, he is determined to firmly grasp power in his own hands and never again be a pawn to be manipulated!

Having decided to enter politics, he faced two crucial choices: whether to remain in the political and legal system or to stay in Handong.

This is essentially a problem. To stay in the political and legal system, one must be deeply rooted in Handong. He had an intimate knowledge of the personnel connections and major cases here, which was a huge advantage. But at this time, his mentor Gao Yuliang was still teaching at Handong University, and the entire Handong political and legal system was still dominated by Liang Lu's father, Liang Qunfeng.

In my memory, one of the reasons why Teacher Gao was able to enter politics was the relationship between Teacher Wu and Liang Lu. And his "earth-shattering kneeling" to marry Liang Lu also became a bridge for communication between Gao Yuliang and Liang Qunfeng.

If he remained in the political and legal system, Liang Qunfeng would be an insurmountable mountain for him. Given the vast difference in their status, he had no right to negotiate and could only act as a subordinate, following the same path as in his previous life, at best going a little further and more smoothly.

This raises another issue: the ceiling for advancement in the political and legal system is too low. Even at the top, he would only reach the position of his mentor, Gao Yuliang—Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission. As for the "Gao-Li pairing" that his mentor once had within reach, it was absolutely impossible for him. At least his mentor had experience governing a region, while a pure background in the political and legal system is a fatal weakness.

This system is extremely closed; it's difficult for outsiders to get in, and it's also difficult for those inside to get out, especially at higher positions.

Unless he's willing to waste his time, waiting until Liang Qunfeng retires or his influence completely dissipates before making any moves, how precious are opportunities in a political life? A single step behind means a lifetime of setbacks. How can he afford to squander a full decade of his prime in endless waiting?

Despite a disastrous start in his past life, he still managed to rise to the position of Director of the Public Security Bureau, a feat that could be described as "defying fate by half a move." Now that God has given him a second chance, he is determined to conquer fate!

He was about to embark on a more difficult, yet broader, path.

In his previous life, at this time, he had no connections, no resources, no mentors to guide him, and Teacher Gao was not involved in politics, limiting his perspective. He could only rely on the stubbornness of a rural boy, blindly forging ahead, hoping to stand out from the crowd with outstanding performance, but in the end, he suffered setbacks and was forced to submit.

Now he understands: standing out from the crowd is not the optimal solution; the optimal solution is to leave the flock.

He decided to apply for a doctoral program in economics at Peking University.

The Liang family wields absolute power in Handong, easily able to confine him, a lowly narcotics police officer, to his current position. However, if he voluntarily relinquishes his civil servant status, the Liang family will be powerless against him within the established rules. And once he leaves Handong, the Liang family's influence outside the rules will be significantly diminished.

Admitting to Peking University's doctoral program in economics will allow one to enter the local party and government system in the future, achieving a crucial transformation from "vertical" (functional departments) to "horizontal" (local government). The future development space and possibilities will grow exponentially.

He shook his clothes on a towering hill and washed his feet in a ten-thousand-mile-long stream. Thinking of this, he suddenly felt the world expand around him.

As for whether he could pass the exam… he was absolutely confident. In his previous life, he had personally experienced the entire wave of reform and opening up and joining the WTO. Although he was in the political and legal system, his vision and experience far surpassed that of ordinary people. What he lacked was simply systematic theoretical knowledge. He was pondering where to find some economics books to cram for his studies when a knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.

The door was pushed open, and Chen Hai and Hou Liangping appeared in the doorway, their faces full of concern.

Behind them stood two more people.

One of them was his former lover, Chen Hai's older sister, Chen Yang.

The other was Liang Lu, carrying a thermos, with a polite smile on her face, but her eyes held a deeper meaning.

Chapter 2 A Swift Sword Cuts Off the Ties of Love

Chen Yang's gaze was fixed on the pale face on the hospital bed. Looking at the layers of bandages wrapped around her lover's body, tears silently streamed down her face.

Chen Hai and Hou Liangping had not yet graduated and were still students in the Department of Political Science and Law. When they saw Liang Lu come in, although they were ashamed of Liang Lu's actions, they both called her Teacher Liang.

Liang Lu nodded slightly, pushed past the three people, walked to the bedside, and said with a smile:

"I heard that Tong Weili was injured while performing meritorious service, so I came to express my condolences on behalf of Handong University." She spoke naturally, as if it were perfectly normal for a counselor to come and express condolences on behalf of the entire university.

Qi Tongwei looked at Liang Lu in front of him. He had been in and out of Han Dong for so many years. He had seen fools and bad people, but not many who were both foolish and bad. Most of them were second or third-generation rich kids.

Foolish people can live their own lives, and bad people can live comfortably, but those who are both foolish and bad, without a strong background to back them up, will be ground to dust by reality long ago.

Zhao Ruilong is one, Liang Lu is another, and Liang Lu's two older brothers are also one.

She grew up in a military compound and was exceptionally beautiful, always the most admired school beauty from high school to university. For her, there was almost nothing she couldn't get—until she met Qi Tongwei.

A teacher once pursued her passionately, but after using her family's resources to go abroad, he broke up with her without a second thought, leaving her alone in China to face the pain of a miscarriage and the gossip. This experience instilled resentment towards men in her, and led her to set her sights on Qi Tongwei.

Qi Tongwei was the most outstanding man in her life: handsome, academically excellent, and the student council president of Handong University—practically the ideal man for every girl on campus. Liang Lu had always only ever wanted the best, and men were no exception. She was determined to conquer him, to prove to the man who had abandoned her—that even without him, Liang Lu could find a better man.

Another reason is her love for Chen Yang. She's the kind of person who's bad in a simple way; once she's been hurt, she can't stand seeing anything beautiful.

Now that they've decided to leave the Handong circle, there's no need to indulge Liang Lu anymore. Qi Tongwei raised his eyes, his voice calm yet icy:

"Teacher Liang, I like young women and I'm not interested in women who are almost forty. Don't waste your time."

Although Qi Tongwei had refused before, his status and character meant that he always declined politely.

Now, the words "old woman" were like a needle, piercing Liang Lu's heart right in front of Chen Yang. Her face instantly darkened.

"you……"

Qi Tongwei interrupted her directly and continued, "My family has had only one son for three generations. My father said I must give birth to at least one son."

Liang Lu's face was pale. She was infertile after her miscarriage, and Qi Tongwei's words were undoubtedly rubbing salt into her wounds. Her feigned gentleness could no longer be maintained, and she said with a face full of venomous hatred:

"Stop being so presumptuous. I hope you go back to Yantai and continue to work hard." The word "continue" was emphasized, clearly indicating that they would continue to target him.

After saying that, he slammed the door and left. A moment later, a loud bang was heard, indicating that the thermos had been thrown away.

Hou Liangping said, "Good job, Senior Qi. I've disliked her for a long time. You and Sister Chen Yang were doing so well, but she had to interfere."

Chen Hai, being rather mature, looked worried, concerned that Qi Tongwei's job transfer might cause further complications.

Chen Yang stepped forward and gently took Qi Tongwei's hand, choking back tears as he asked, "Does it hurt?"

Before she could finish her question, tears streamed down her face: "What nonsense am I talking about? How could I not feel pain after being shot three times?"

Chen Hai stepped forward and said, "Sister, don't be too sad. The doctor said that Senior Qi won't have any aftereffects this time. He has done a great service this time, and you two can be together."

Chen Yang just shook his head and kept crying.

Qi Tongwei had long seen through everything. He touched Chen Yang's face; after all, she was his lover, his first love, and he had truly loved her for seven years.

It's been almost 20 years since I last saw her.

But time has passed, and he had buried that love deep in his heart. Now that God has given him a second chance, he must act decisively and seize the time to review his economics knowledge.

He withdrew his hand and said coldly, "Chen Yang, let's break up."

Chen Yang trembled, buried his face in the blanket, and his shoulders shook violently.

Chen Hai was both shocked and furious: "Senior Qi, what do you mean by this? Just because you can't go to Beijing? You're going to break up with my sister?"

"Are you secretly resentful of my dad? Do you blame him for not helping you when it came to job assignments?" Chen Hai asked. He'd been pondering this question ever since meeting Chen Yang, and it was perhaps the only answer he could think of. "I'm not happy about it either. But that stubborn old man always thinks he's making a contribution wherever he goes..."

Qi Tongwei glanced at Chen Yang and said with a smile, "On the one hand, I've offended the Liang family, so they definitely won't let me go to Beijing. With the excuse of 'local talents will be given priority training,' and without a powerful figure in the ministry pushing for it, it will definitely just fizzle out."

"More importantly, there was no legitimate reason."

Chen Hai and Hou Liangping were taken aback. A legitimate reason?

"Local areas also need talent. It's unacceptable for anyone who excels locally to be snatched up and transferred by the central government. Don't local areas need development? Don't the higher-ups need the cooperation of their subordinates?"

Chen Hai instinctively retorted, "But my sister is in Beijing."

Qi Tongwei scoffed: "What reason would you give for transferring there? To date?"

Chen Hai was stunned.

He recalled the policy that addressed the issue of couples living apart—a channel originally intended for families facing genuine difficulties, but which often became a shortcut for those in power to manipulate things.