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

Chen Hai looked up at Hou Liangping, and was about to speak when Chen Yanshi, who was next to him, suddenly took a step forward.

“Secretary Sha.” Chen Yanshi’s voice was not loud, but it was very clear.

Sha Ruijin looked at him.

Chen Yanshi stood there, his back slightly hunched, but his gaze was steady. He looked at Sha Ruijin and said, word by word, "Chen Hai will not participate."

Hou Liangping was stunned.

Chen Hai was also stunned and turned to look at his father.

Sha Ruijin's eyes flickered slightly, but his expression remained unchanged: "Old Chen, what do you mean by this?"

Chen Yanshi said, "He has already spoken with Secretary Gao Yuliang and wants to teach at a school. Handong University, or the Handong branch of the Prosecutors College. I think it's a good idea."

Sha Ruijin remained silent for a few seconds, his gaze lingering on Chen Yanshi's face for a long time. His gaze was calm, but there was a scrutiny, an assessment, as if he were re-evaluating the old man before him.

"Old Chen," he finally spoke, his tone still calm, "you've consulted quite a few people about Chen Hai's matter, haven't you?"

Chen Yanshi remained silent.

“You’ve looked for my adoptive father, you’ve looked for Li Dakang, and now you’ve come to me again,” Sha Ruijin continued. “You also contributed a lot when Dafeng Factory was being demolished. I originally thought you wanted Chen Hai to have a better future.”

Chen Yanshi was silent for a few seconds, then said, "Secretary Sha, I do hope he can have a bright future. But then I think, a peaceful and ordinary life is also a blessing. I'm getting old, and if Chen Hai goes to teach at a school, I can also enjoy a peaceful and quiet life."

Sha Ruijin gave him a deep look: "Are you really sure? If you miss this opportunity, you might not get another one."

Chen Yanshi shook his head: "Secretary Sha, I know you are a good leader and a person who wants to get things done. What you do requires someone to take the lead and make breakthroughs. Chen Hai is not cut out for that. If he goes, he will get into trouble sooner or later."

Sha Ruijin remained silent.

Chen Yanshi continued, "The night before last, he told me and his mother that he wanted to go to school to teach. I thought about it for days and nights and finally made up my mind. Schools are good, and schools are safe. Although he might earn less, he wouldn't have to live in fear or have to be at the mercy of others. He's happy with his life like this."

Sha Ruijin was silent for a few seconds, then looked at Chen Hai: "Chen Hai, what do you say?"

Chen Hai looked at his father, then at Sha Ruijin, remained silent for a few seconds, and then said, "I'll listen to my dad."

Sha Ruijin nodded and didn't try to persuade him further.

Given his status, countless people would love to work for him but wouldn't have the opportunity; he wouldn't need Chen Hai.

He turned to Hou Liangping: "Hou Liangping, so you're investigating this case all by yourself. Are there any difficulties?"

Hou Liangping straightened his back: "No."

Sha Ruijin patted him on the shoulder: "Okay. Go ahead."

Hou Liangping nodded and turned to walk out. After a few steps, he stopped and glanced back at Chen Hai. His gaze was complex—containing reluctance, disappointment, and an inexplicable envy.

But he said nothing and turned away.

Chen Hai stood there, watching him walk away.

Sha Ruijin was also about to leave. He took two steps, then stopped and looked back at Chen Yanshi.

“Old Chen,” he said, “I will remember what you said today.”

Chen Yanshi remained silent.

Sha Ruijin said, "You're right. Some things do require people to take the plunge, to brave the elements, and to offend people. But you also have to believe that the organization will not mistreat anyone who does practical work. Chen Hai has done a good job over the years. If he ever comes to his senses, he can still come back."

Chen Yanshi nodded: "Thank you, Secretary Sha."

Sha Ruijin said nothing more, turned around and got into the car.

The car started and drove out of the old site of Dafeng Factory.

Chen Yanshi stood there, watching the Coaster drive further and further away until it disappeared at the end of the street.

Chen Hai stood beside him, silent for a long time, then asked, "Dad, why did you suddenly change your mind?"

Chen Yanshi did not answer, but turned around and slowly walked forward.

Chen Hai caught up with him and walked beside him.

After walking for a while, Chen Yanshi suddenly asked, "Chen Hai, do you hate me?"

Chen Hai was taken aback: "What do you hate about me?"

"I hate that I'm autocratic," Chen Yanshi said. "I hate that I never listen to your opinions and manipulate your life."

Chen Hai was silent for a few seconds, then said, "Dad, I don't hate you."

Chen Yanshi stopped and looked at him.

Chen Hai said, “I was standing there just now, listening to you and Secretary Sha talking, and it suddenly reminded me of my childhood. Back then, you taught me to be upright and to do things with a clear conscience. You said that being an official is not about getting rich, but about serving the people.”

He paused, then smiled and said, "Over the past ten years or so, although I've been a terrible official, I've still managed to do some real work. Through my hands, I've actually brought quite a few corrupt officials to justice."

"I have no regrets about my career in the procuratorate."

Chen Yanshi looked at him with a look of heartache in his eyes.

But more than anything, I felt relieved.

It's good that the son has inner peace and contentment.

That's it, I won't force it.

He reached out and patted Chen Hai on the shoulder.

“Let’s go,” he said, “home.”

On the other side, Hou Liangping approached the provincial propaganda department staff member who was accompanying him, offered him a cigarette, and said, "Comrade, could you send me a copy of the photos we took today? I'll get them developed as a souvenir."

PS: In the TV series version, the seal was torn off by the court; here, for the sake of the plot, the original version is used.

Chapter 165 Divorce

When Zhong Xiaoai got home, it was already 11 p.m.

The living room was dark, with only a sliver of light shining through the crack in the study door. She changed her shoes, placed her bag in the entryway, and stood in the darkness for a while without turning on the light immediately.

tired.

It's not physical exhaustion, it's mental exhaustion.

The inspection team worked around the clock, conducting interviews during the day, organizing materials at night, and holding meetings in the early hours of the morning to analyze the situation. She hadn't slept more than four hours in three days. Today, after finally finalizing the interim report on the Wang Dalu case, Team Leader Zhang let her go home to get some sleep, as she had to rush back early tomorrow morning.

She rubbed her temples and was about to go to the bedroom when the study door suddenly opened.

Hou Liangping stood at the door, his face filled with barely suppressed excitement.

"Xiao Ai, you're back?"

Zhong Xiaoai glanced at him, nodded, and continued walking towards the bedroom without saying a word.

Hou Liangping caught up with her, following her closely: "Xiao Ai, I have something to tell you."

"Let's talk about it tomorrow, I'm tired."

"Just a few words," Hou Liangping stopped her. "Good news, fantastic good news."

Zhong Xiaoai stopped and looked at him. The light from the study shone on Hou Liangping's face, his handsome face full of childlike smugness. She knew that expression all too well—back in the prosecutor's office, he always looked like this after solving a case.

"Go ahead and say it," she sighed and sat down on the sofa.

Hou Liangping sat down next to her, leaned closer, and said in a low voice, "I'm going to be reinstated."

Zhong Xiaoai was stunned for a moment.

“No,” Hou Liangping laughed first, “It’s not a reinstatement, it’s a new assignment. It’s even more important than being the head of the anti-corruption bureau.”

Zhong Xiaoai looked at him without saying a word.

Hou Liangping couldn't hold back any longer and blurted everything out: "Today at Dafeng Factory, Secretary Sha personally met with me. He wants me to continue investigating the Qingshan Gas Field case. Not in the name of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, but directly under his supervision in a clandestine investigation. Do you know what that means? It means that once we find irrefutable evidence, it will be an absolute major achievement!"

After he finished speaking, he looked at Zhong Xiaoai expectantly, waiting for her to show a surprised expression.

But Zhong Xiaoai did not.

She just looked at him, her eyes filled with a complex mix of surprise, worry, and a hint of inexplicable disappointment.

"When did you meet Secretary Sha?" she asked.

"This morning. At Dafeng Factory," Hou Liangping said. "He went to inspect it, and the day before yesterday he specifically asked Secretary Bai to notify me to go too, and Chen Hai was there as well."

"Chen Hai went too?"

“Yes. But he didn’t answer.” Hou Liangping’s tone was complicated. “He listened to his father and wanted to go teach. He chickened out.”

Zhong Xiaoai was silent for a few seconds, then asked, "Why didn't you discuss it with me?"

Hou Liangping was stunned: "What are you discussing?"

"Let's discuss whether or not to take this case," Zhong Xiaoai said. "Such a big deal, you knew about it the day before yesterday, why didn't you tell me? You made the decision all by yourself?"

Hou Liangping's excitement slowly faded, replaced by a wronged expression: "I didn't have a chance, did I? You were in the inspection team, busy every day, barely able to answer the phone. I didn't even know you were coming back today, how could I have time to discuss it with you?"

Zhong Xiaoai looked at him without saying a word.

Hou Liangping felt a little uncomfortable under that gaze, but he still forced himself to say, "Xiao Ai, this is an opportunity. Investigating Liu Changsheng, investigating the Zhao family—these are huge cases! If I succeed, who will dare say that I, Hou Liangping, live off my father-in-law?"

Zhong Xiaoai remained silent.

Hou Liangping leaned closer, his tone softening, with a hint of ingratiation: "Xiao Ai, let me try once, okay? Just this once. If it really doesn't work, I'll obediently go back to the Supreme People's Procuratorate, study the theory, and become your yes-man, and never cause any more trouble."

Zhong Xiaoai finally spoke, her voice calm: "Hou Liangping, are you really that naive?"

Hou Liangping was stunned.

"Do you think you're still an independent individual at this point?" Zhong Xiaoai said. "You're the Zhong family's son-in-law. Every move you make is, in other people's eyes, at my father's behest. If you investigate Liu Changsheng, what will people think? They'll think my father is trying to get rid of Liu Changsheng. If you investigate the Zhao family, people will think my father is dealing with Zhao Lichun. Have you thought about these things?"

Hou Liangping said, "This is my personal decision. What does it have to do with my father-in-law? I don't need his help."

Zhong Xiaoai laughed, but it was a cold laugh: "Hou Liangping, are you kidding me?"

Hou Liangping's expression changed.

Zhong Xiaoai said, "If it weren't for my dad, do you think your investigation of the Qingshan gas field would have resulted in just a suspension? Liu Changsheng could have taken you down in 24 hours, and he could have sent you to jail in 48 hours. You're still alive and talking to me here. Do you think it's just because you're lucky?"

Hou Liangping's face turned very ugly.

“I’m not greedy or corrupt,” he said. “How did they send me in?”

Zhong Xiaoai looked at him, her eyes filled with a deep sense of helplessness.