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

The key is not how it is said, but who holds the power of discourse and the standards of judgment.

Gao Yuliang nodded in admission of guilt: "Secretary Dakang, that's a good question. It's something I need to reflect on. My limitations, coupled with blindly following superiors rather than adhering to facts, led me to make a historic mistake. Secretary Sha, don't worry, I will definitely analyze myself thoroughly at the meeting."

Sha Ruijin smiled: "That's right, Comrade Yuliang. It's good that you have this understanding. I can also see that this democratic life meeting will definitely have a good effect."

The three of them dispersed.

Gao Yuliang, holding a water glass, walked towards his office with a serious expression.

His secretary, Xiao Luo, followed closely behind him, whispering, "Governor Qi is waiting for you in your office."

Gao Yuliang paused slightly, his expression softening a bit: "I understand."

Back in his office, Qi Tongwei proactively brewed Gao Yuliang a fresh cup of tea.

Seeing the heavy atmosphere, Xiao Luo took the initiative to lighten the mood: "Governor Qi, why did you do my job? If Secretary Gao finds out that it doesn't matter whether I'm there or not, my job will be in danger."

Qi Tongwei chuckled and pointed at him, "When you were my secretary, you weren't this glib. Where did you learn this from?"

After saying that, he glanced at Gao Yuliang sideways.

Gao Yuliang laughed too: "You're making fun of me now. Are you saying you learned that from me?"

Xiao Luo quickly tried to smooth things over: "No, I've learned a lot from the two leaders. This bit of glibness is just my nature."

After exchanging a few lighthearted jokes, Luo Xuejun tactfully left, closing the door behind him.

Only Gao Yuliang and Qi Tongwei remained in the office.

Qi Tongwei took a sip of tea: "Teacher, what did Secretary Sha say to you and Secretary Dakang when he asked you to stay?"

Gao Yuliang sank into the sofa and let out a deep breath: "They said they were going to hold a democratic life meeting."

He then gave a brief account of the conversation the three had after the meeting, mainly mentioning Sha Ruijin's different attitudes toward Li Dakang and himself.

After listening, Qi Tongwei saw Gao Yuliang's solemn expression and tried to lighten the mood, saying with a smile, "It seems the waters in Handong are getting deeper and deeper; you, teacher, can't control them anymore."

Gao Yuliang laughed too: "I'm an old sailor. If I can't handle it, how can you?"

Qi Tongwei: "The waves are getting bigger and bigger; even the most experienced sailors can't control the situation. Nobody can."

Gao Yuliang asked with great interest, "Even Sha Ruijin won't work?"

Qi Tongwei shook his head: "Secretary Sha stirred up the storm, which only started it, but the direction and end of the storm are beyond his control. He overestimated himself."

Gao Yuliang: "Tell me your thoughts."

Qi Tongwei put down his teacup: "Through the investigation and this personnel reshuffle, Secretary Sha has gained a preliminary understanding of Handong. The next step, naturally, is to take decisive and sweeping actions."

"Those who are attentive in Handong can see that Secretary Sha's focus, or rather, his current focus, is not on economic development, but rather on personnel adjustments."

" Coupled with the unsparing criticism of Zhao Lichun at the Standing Committee meeting, it's clear that the focus is on taking action against the remnants of the Zhao faction."

Gao Yuliang nodded, signaling him to continue.

Qi Tongwei continued, "Now Sha Ruijin has his eye on the Luzhou Food City, but the investment in this project is less than one-tenth of that of Guangmingfeng. Why would he personally pay attention to it? As long as he expresses his opinion, even Yi Xuexi, the former director of the development zone, can demolish it, without even waiting for him to become the acting mayor of Luzhou."

"Sha Ruijin is keeping an eye on the food court to send a warning and alert the enemy. Anyone who stands up to oppose him or try to trip him up will be ruthlessly swept into the dustbin of history. This is also Sha Ruijin's way of forcing the remaining forces of the Zhao family to choose sides again."

Politics is about making as many friends as possible and as few enemies as possible.

Sha Ruijin's move, like his previous freeze on personnel adjustments, is full of his unique domineering style.

He held a knife and asked: "Do you want to be my friend? If you don't, you'll be my enemy."

Of course, the word "friend" is pronounced as "servant".

Gao Yuliang: "What if the Zhao family doesn't make any moves in the food court?"

Qi Tongwei continued, "If the Zhao family doesn't make a move, he'll target their next project. If that doesn't happen either, he'll move on to the next one. If this continues, the Zhao family's supporters will eventually lose all support."

Just like in his previous life, Gao Yuliang repeatedly pushed Qi Tongwei to the vice-provincial level; it was the same logic. He once told Wu Huifen, "If I back down as soon as the Discipline Inspection Commission opposes me, who else will be willing to follow me?"

Gao Yuliang laughed: "So, according to you, Sha Ruijin's open scheme is unsolvable, how come it couldn't be controlled?"

Qi Tongwei also laughed: "Professor Gao, you know him better than I do. With the political wisdom and skill of former Party Secretary Zhao Lichun, how could he possibly follow Sha Ruijin's script?"

When someone gives you two options that you don't want and asks you to choose one, your optimal solution is to choose neither.

Choose C.

Gao Yuliang nodded: "What do you think the old Party Secretary will do?"

Qi Tongwei looked at Gao Yuliang: "Teacher, how could I possibly guess what former Party Secretary Zhao Lichun was thinking?"

Gao Yuliang laughed, "You sly fox. I think Xiao Luo's little bit of cleverness came from you."

Qi Tongwei laughed along, "Then who did I learn from? Teacher Li Yiqing is a renowned gentleman of impeccable character, famous both domestically and internationally."

Gao Yuliang laughed heartily: "I can't compare to Professor Li, but I'm also known throughout Handong Province for my upright character. Your slyness is probably just your nature."

Qi Tongwei laughed: "Perhaps. I'm certainly not a gentleman; a gentleman is one who practices self-discipline even when alone."

The concept of "being cautious when alone" refers to being careful and meticulous when one is alone.

Who was Gao Yuliang? He knew that his disciple was subtly asking him whether he was true to himself.

He gave Qi Tongwei a deep look, his eyes filled with a mixture of relief, satisfaction, pride, and a hidden gratitude.

He laughed:

"Then I'll shamelessly call myself a gentleman!"

Chapter 158 After the Meeting (Part Two)

Qi Tongwei still tested Teacher Gao a bit.

Since ancient times, there has been a basic requirement in officialdom: civil officials should not be greedy for money, and military generals should not be afraid of death.

Conversely, it is acceptable for civil officials to be a little afraid of death as long as they are not greedy for money; it is also normal for military generals to be a little greedy for money as long as they are not afraid of death.

Of course, after the modernization of the army, soldiers are no longer the military generals who are personally dependent on others in the traditional sense, but the requirements for civil officials remain the same—do not be greedy.

As long as you don't get greedy, in most cases you can get out unscathed.

Fourteen years ago, he timed it perfectly, gently pushing Mr. Gao when his values ​​were crumbling, thus helping him avoid the trap he was in. But fourteen years have passed, and no one can guarantee what changes might have occurred.

Now that Gao Yuliang had given an answer, Qi Tongwei felt a little relieved.

As long as Gao Yuliang himself is clean, no matter how deeply the so-called food court digs, it will never uncover Gao's true nature.

At most, it's just a work mistake, at most it's "historical limitations"—these are the easiest terms to use to gloss over things in officialdom.

Moreover, given Gao Yuliang's cautious nature, the decision must have been made collectively.

This is really useful for shirking responsibility.

At this point, the two stopped their conversation.

Qi Tongwei did not offer any comfort to Gao Yuliang.

Although Gao Yuliang appeared somewhat embarrassed at the Standing Committee meeting, he did not need comforting, much less so from his disciples.

At this point, Teacher Gao saw comfort as nothing more than sympathy, and sympathy is charity given to the weak.

Gao Yuliang never considered himself weak.

After chatting briefly, Qi Tongwei got up to say goodbye and went back to the provincial government to handle official documents.

These two men had a lot of complicated matters to attend to, but unlike Qian Wenzhao's "complicated matters," they were truly complicated—Qi Tongwei was involved in every aspect of the province's economic work, key projects, and coordination.

The same applies to Gao Yuliang.

Gao Yuliang escorted him to the office door and then called to Luo Xuejun, who was waiting outside, "What are the plans for this afternoon?"

Luo Xuejun quickly relayed the afternoon's schedule: "At 3 PM, there's a symposium at the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission about the special campaign against organized crime; at 4 PM, President Lin of the Provincial High Court will be here to report on his work; at 5 PM, Prosecutor Ji from the Provincial Procuratorate has scheduled a time to report on the progress of several key cases recently; and at 6:30 PM, the Provincial Law Society is hosting a banquet and has invited you to attend..."

After listening, Gao Yuliang pondered for a moment, then waved his hand and said, "Cancel them all. I won't see anyone this afternoon. I'll think about some things by myself in the office."

On the one hand, he really needed to think carefully about the future development of Handong and himself; on the other hand, it was also a way of showing weakness to Sha Ruijin.

After all, with Sha Ruijin leading the charge, they had already launched an attack on Gao Yuliang at the Standing Committee meeting. If Gao Yuliang acted as if nothing had happened, how could Sha Ruijin feel a sense of accomplishment?

This means that everything receives a response.

This show of weakness certainly comes at a price; it damages one's authority.

However, the authority of superiors is often built upon the damage to the authority of subordinates.

Moreover, Gao Yuliang in this life is more composed than in his previous life, when he had no way out and had to put on a tough front.

Therefore, he decided to back down in response to Sha Ruijin's move.

Let's see how far this fire started by Sha Ruijin will burn.

Luo Xuejun paused for a moment, but still nodded: "Okay, Secretary Gao. What about Director Xiao Gangyu? He contacted me this morning, saying he wanted to report to you about something very important."

Gao Yuliang's eyes flickered slightly, but he quickly regained his composure: "I won't see you."

Luo Xuejun then said, "Secretary Gao, you haven't eaten yet?"

Gao Yuliang smiled and said, "I won't eat it. There are sugar-free cookies that Teacher Wu prepared in the office."

"Okay," Luo Xuejun replied, then left and gently closed the door behind him.

Gao Yuliang returned to the sofa and sat down again. He closed his eyes and gently rubbed his temples with his fingers.

Just as Qi Tongwei said, the waters in Handong are getting deeper and deeper, but fortunately, his hands are still clean, so he can remain somewhat at ease.

But he knew one thing: he had indeed approved the food court project back then. Regardless of the reasons or the "historical limitations," he still had to bear some of the responsibility.

But this incident won't damage his foundation.

As for Zhao Ruilong...

Gao Yuliang's expression became somewhat complicated.

This young master Zhao has become increasingly audacious in recent years. After the food city project, he acquired numerous projects in Handong, spanning energy, real estate, and finance—his influence can be seen everywhere.

He had once advised Zhao Ruilong to tone it down. But Zhao Ruilong wouldn't listen, instead laughing and saying, "Secretary Gao, don't worry, with my old man here, nothing will happen."

At that time, Gao Yuliang had a vague feeling that this young man would cause trouble sooner or later.

But he didn't expect the problems to arise so quickly.

He picked up the phone, intending to call Zhao Ruilong and remind him to behave himself. But he stopped just as his finger touched the receiver.