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

Say anything.

But one thing is agreed upon: this democratic life meeting will involve some major actions.

The pressure and emotions were transmitted from top to bottom. The section chiefs and department heads in the provincial government didn't know what was going to happen above them, but they could feel the oppressive atmosphere of an impending storm. Even their voices became lower and their steps quickened.

In this atmosphere, the meeting began as scheduled.

The meeting room was still the same. An oval table, thirteen chairs, and the Party flag and the oath of joining the Party hung on the wall.

Sha Ruijin sat in the main seat, a notebook open in front of him and a pen in his hand. His gaze swept quickly across the faces of the Standing Committee members present—Gao Yuliang, Li Dakang, Qi Tongwei, Liu Changsheng, Tian Guofu, Wu Chunlin… Each familiar face now wore just the right amount of seriousness.

It was exactly nine o'clock. He tapped on the table.

"Comrades, let's start the meeting now."

The meeting room fell silent.

Sha Ruijin began, his voice low but each word clear: "The democratic life meeting is an important institutional arrangement of our Party. Its history can be traced back to the Yan An period. In 1942, during the Yan An Rectification Movement, the atmosphere of criticism and self-criticism began to take shape. In 1980, the Fifth Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee adopted the 'Several Guidelines on Political Life within the Party,' which formally established the democratic life meeting system. Over the decades, this system has been continuously improved and has become an important part of our Party's political life."

"Why hold democratic life meetings? There are three reasons: First, it is a 'purifier' for intra-party political life, allowing us to regularly clean our rooms, remove dust, and maintain our health. Second, it is a 'tonic' for leading cadres, enabling us to identify shortcomings through criticism and self-criticism and prevent minor problems from escalating into major issues. Third, it is a 'glue' for team unity—true unity is not just about everyone being nice to each other, but about being open and honest with one another."

He paused, his gaze becoming even more serious.

"At today's meeting, I hope everyone will do three things: First, put aside your burdens and don't be afraid of losing face or offending people. Second, be serious and address the issues head-on, not just scratching the surface. Third, act with impartiality; criticism should be for the purpose of helping comrades, not for attacking anyone."

He looked around and said, “After the last Standing Committee meeting, I mentioned to Comrade Dakang and Comrade Yuliang that we should hold this meeting. At that time, Comrade Dakang took the initiative to ask to speak first.”

Li Dakang nodded: "Yes. A lot has happened recently, and I would like to take this opportunity to do some self-analysis. I welcome criticism from my comrades."

After he finished speaking, he leaned forward slightly, ready to speak.

Sha Ruijin raised his hand and pressed it down: "Comrade Dakang, wait a moment."

Li Dakang paused for a moment, then sat up straight.

Sha Ruijin said, "I thought about it later. If I don't take the lead in this kind of meeting, the comrades will inevitably have concerns and won't be able to open up. In the end, it will just become a formality. So I'll speak first. Comrade Dakang will be second, and Comrade Yuliang will be third. As for the rest, just speak freely."

Li Dakang smiled and agreed, and Gao Yuliang also smiled and nodded.

The atmosphere in the meeting room eased slightly. But everyone was weighing the options—what did it mean that Sha Ruijin was the first to speak? It meant that he had firmly grasped the initiative, that he was going to set the tone for the meeting, and that… what he was about to say wouldn't be light.

Sha Ruijin opened his notebook, glanced at it, and then looked up.

"I've been in Handong for a while now. At today's meeting, I'll start with self-criticism."

He paused, his voice softening: "The first problem is that the investigation and research were not in-depth enough. After coming to Handong, I visited some places and looked at some projects, but to be honest, I did more of a cursory look and less in-depth research. There are some situations that I don't understand thoroughly enough. For example, the Crescent Lake Food City in Luzhou. I know it has pollution problems, but the extent of the pollution and how strong the public's reaction is. There is a gap between what I knew before and the actual situation."

He glanced at Gao Yuliang and said, "Comrade Yuliang is better than me in this regard. He worked in Luzhou and is more familiar with the situation there than I am. I should learn from him more in the future, immerse myself in the work, and thoroughly understand the situation."

Gao Yuliang smiled and waved his hand: "Secretary Sha is too modest."

Sha Ruijin continued, "The second problem is that my work methods are sometimes too hasty. I always want to get things done quickly and resolve them as soon as possible, but sometimes haste makes waste. For example, with the demolition of Dafeng Factory, I was pushing too hard, which put a lot of pressure on the lower levels and inevitably led to some mistakes. Fortunately, Comrade Chen Yanshi helped with the work, otherwise things might not have been able to be salvaged."

He paused, a hint of self-deprecation in his voice: "People have mentioned my temper before when I worked elsewhere. I'll probably stay the same after coming to Handong. My comrades should remind me often to be discouraging when necessary."

Li Dakang added, "Secretary Sha is very decisive. Sometimes we at the lower levels can't keep up, which is our problem."

Sha Ruijin waved his hand: "Don't try to smooth things over for me. I know my own problems."

He continued, “The third problem is that we are strict with our cadres, but we don’t care enough about them. After I came to Handong, I talked to some comrades and learned about their situations, but overall we talked more about work and less about their thoughts. Some comrades have difficulties at home, and some have ideological problems. I didn’t know about these problems in a timely manner, and I didn’t care enough about them.”

He looked at Liu Changsheng and said, "Comrade Changsheng has worked in the provincial government for so many years and has made great contributions. I haven't communicated with him enough. I should listen to his opinions more often on some matters."

Liu Changsheng smiled and nodded: "Secretary Sha is too kind."

Sha Ruijin then looked at the other Standing Committee members and said a few words to each of them. Finally, he closed his notebook and said, "That's all for now. Criticism is welcome."

The meeting room was silent for a few seconds.

No one spoke first.

Sha Ruijin wasn't in a hurry; he just sat there and waited.

Li Dakang spoke up.

"Secretary Sha, let me say a few words."

Sha Ruijin nodded: "Comrade Dakang, please speak."

Li Dakang said, "I basically agree with what Secretary Sha just said about the investigation and research not being in-depth enough. But I would like to add one more point - Secretary Sha is sometimes too busy, and those of us who want to report our work can't get a turn. Sometimes we have some important information that we want to communicate with you in a timely manner, but your schedule is too full, and we have to wait for several days."

Sha Ruijin nodded and made a note in his notebook: "That's a good question. I'll pay attention to that in the future and allocate more time for everyone."

Gao Yuliang then spoke up: "Let me say a few words as well. Secretary Sha just mentioned the problem of being too hasty in his work methods, and I deeply agree. Secretary Sha came down with a mission and wanted to get things going as soon as possible, and we all understand that feeling. But sometimes, being too hasty can easily lead to mistakes. For example, at the last Standing Committee meeting when personnel issues were discussed, Secretary Sha's attitude was very clear, which is certainly a good thing, but it also makes it easy for those below to speculate on the superior's intentions, which is not conducive to fully promoting democracy."

That's a very skillful way of putting it. On the surface, it's criticism, but in reality, it connects "impatience" with "a clear stance," thus accomplishing the task of criticism without offending anyone.

Sha Ruijin nodded after listening: "Comrade Yuliang is right. I will pay attention to that in the future and listen to everyone's opinions more."

But Sha Ruijin changed the subject, pointing to Gao Yuliang and Li Dakang and saying, "I just said that we need to be thorough. Although the criticisms from Comrade Dakang and Comrade Yuliang were correct, they were too lenient."

Tian Guofu raised his head, looked at Sha Ruijin, then at the others, and then said, "Secretary Sha, since you asked me to speak, then I will say a few words."

Sha Ruijin nodded: "Comrade Guofu, please speak."

Tian Guofu said, "After Secretary Sha came to Handong, he impressed everyone with his decisiveness, his willingness to get things done, and his ability to get things done. We have all witnessed this. But I have noticed a problem and would like to bring it up."

He paused, then said slowly and deliberately, "We all know that Secretary Sha likes to play basketball. You've been in Handong for a month, and the tennis court in the provincial party committee compound has been converted into a basketball court. It's not a big deal in itself, but what will the people below think? They'll feel that whatever the new secretary likes, we have to arrange it immediately. If you like basketball today, we convert it into a basketball court; if you like something else tomorrow, will we convert it into something else?"

Sha Ruijin's expression shifted slightly, but he remained silent.

Tian Guofu continued, “I’m not saying playing basketball is wrong; leading cadres should also exercise. But this kind of ‘guessing what the higher-ups want’ mentality is something to be wary of. You might just casually say you like playing basketball, and the people below will treat it like a royal decree. Today they’re changing the basketball court, tomorrow they’re changing this and that. If this continues, the political environment will be in trouble.”

After he finished speaking, he picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said nothing more.

The meeting room was silent for a few seconds.

Sha Ruijin nodded and made a note in his notebook: "Comrade Guofu raised a good question. I do like playing basketball, but I didn't ask anyone to change the court. I don't know what the people below me did. What does this show? It shows that someone below is watching my words and actions, thinking about them, and trying to please me. I need to be wary of this issue."

He paused, a hint of self-reflection in his voice: "I will be more careful in the future and talk less about my personal preferences in public. I also ask the comrades in the Discipline Inspection Commission to pay more attention to this trend of 'guessing what the superiors want' and to promptly remind them when any signs of it appear."

Tian Guofu nodded and said nothing more.

There was silence for a few more seconds.

Qi Tongwei spoke up: "Secretary Sha, I'd also like to make a suggestion."

Sha Ruijin looked at him: "Comrade Tongwei, please speak."

Qi Tongwei said, "Secretary Sha's work style is evident to all. But I noticed a detail that I would like to bring up for your reference."

He paused, then said calmly, "When you're working, you like to point at people."

Sha Ruijin was taken aback.

Qi Tongwei continued, “I’m not nitpicking. But pointing at someone, in our culture, carries a somewhat condescending connotation. You may not mean it that way, it’s just a habit, but the person being pointed at may feel uncomfortable. Over time, it inevitably makes people think that you have a patriarchal style and don’t respect people.”

He glanced at the people present: "You may have pointed out all of the comrades here. You may not say it, but who knows what you are thinking?"

The meeting room was so quiet you could hear someone breathing.

Sha Ruijin was silent for a few seconds, then smiled.

The smile was complex, like a mix of self-mockery and感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a feeling of deep emotion).

“Comrade Tongwei, that’s a good point,” he said. “I do have this habit. When I was working in other places before, some people mentioned it to me, but I didn’t take it too seriously. Now that you’ve mentioned it, I realize it’s a problem.”

He looked at everyone present and said sincerely, "It was wrong of me to point at people. Whether it's a habit or not, whether I meant it or not, the behavior itself was inappropriate. I will definitely change in the future, please supervise me. If I do it again, you can remind me on the spot."

He closed his notebook and looked at Li Dakang: "The atmosphere just now was quite good. I gained a lot of inspiration. Comrade Dakang, it's your turn."

Li Dakang took a deep breath and opened the notebook in front of him.

The atmosphere in the meeting room subtly shifted.

Everyone knew that Li Dakang's speech today would not be lighthearted.

Li Dakang spoke, his voice lower than usual: "Secretary Sha, comrades, I have been preparing for this meeting for a long time."

He paused, glanced at the notebook, and then looked up.

“Recently, a lot has happened to me. My ex-wife, Ouyang Jing, is under investigation for suspected job-related crimes; my daughter, Li Jiajia, accepted a large sum of money from Wang Dalu, although it was eventually found out that it was a setup, but the damage has already been done; and the Jingzhou Guangming Peak project has also encountered some procedural problems.”

His voice trailed off: “Each of these things has made me reflect and become a wake-up call.”

"My first responsibility is to examine my failure to properly manage my family," Li Dakang said. "I was indeed unaware of Ouyang Jing's situation. But being unaware doesn't absolve me of responsibility. She is my wife—my ex-wife—but she has been my partner for decades. Her problems reflect that I haven't cared enough for her, and I haven't supervised her enough."

"The second thing I need to examine is my lack of education for my children." He continued, "During the years Li Jiajia has been abroad, I have had very little contact with her, and I have basically ignored her situation. The fact that Wang Dalu was able to set up such a scheme for so many years and so deeply shows that I, as a father, have been extremely negligent."

"The third thing I need to examine is my work style," he said. "During my years in Jingzhou, I was indeed a bit domineering. I always wanted to make the decisions myself and couldn't listen to different opinions. The problems with the Guangming Peak project's procedures were partly due to Comrade Sun Liancheng's poor execution, but the root cause was me—I was too strict, so the people below didn't dare to let go and didn't dare to report problems in a timely manner."

He closed his notebook, looked up, and gazed at the Standing Committee members present.

“These lessons have all been painful. I am willing to accept the organization’s criticism and the supervision of my comrades. I will definitely change in the future, and I ask for everyone’s help.”

After he finished speaking, the meeting room was silent for a few seconds.

Sha Ruijin nodded and looked at the others: "Everyone, please feel free to share your opinions about Comrade Dakang."

Tian Guofu was the first to speak: "Comrade Dakang, I agree with everything you just said. But I have another question—are you really completely unaware of Ouyang Jing's matter?"

Li Dakang met his gaze and said, word by word, "Comrade Guofu, I swear on my Party spirit that I truly had no idea about this."

Tian Guofu nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

Gao Yuliang spoke up: "Comrade Dakang, I'd like to add something. You just mentioned a strong work style, and I agree. But I think being strong isn't the problem; the problem is that you sometimes protect your own too much. Ding Yizhen worked under you for so many years; before the incident, did you notice any problems? Did you actively suppress any reports?"

That's a very sharp statement.

Li Dakang's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.

“Comrade Yuliang, that’s a good question,” he said. “I do bear responsibility for Ding Yizhen’s matter. He was a cadre from Jingzhou, and when he got into trouble, I, as the municipal party secretary, couldn’t escape responsibility. It was indeed because I wanted to protect the project. That was my mistake, and I admit it.”

Gao Yuliang nodded and said nothing more.

Liu Changsheng spoke up: "Comrade Dakang, your achievements in Jingzhou over the years are evident to all. However, there are some things that you haven't handled thoroughly enough. The problems with the Guangming Peak project, although procedural, also reflect loopholes in your management. I hope you can pay more attention in the future and do your work more meticulously."

Li Dakang nodded: "Comrade Changsheng is right, I will definitely pay attention."

Then, the other standing committee members also spoke. Some said he was too micromanaging, which prevented his subordinates from working freely; others said he was strict with his cadres but didn't care enough about their difficulties; still others subtly mentioned that he had offended many people over the years and should pay attention to maintaining unity.

Li Dakang listened attentively and took notes, maintaining a sincere expression throughout.

Finally, Qi Tongwei spoke.

"Secretary Dakang, I'd also like to say a few words."

The meeting room fell silent. Everyone stared at Qi Tongwei—the conflict of interest between these two was obvious to everyone.