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

The distorted relationship he had with Gao Xiaoqin in his past life, which grew in a twisted environment, and his son who was forced to hide in Hong Kong and could not be seen, remained a hidden pain and regret in his heart that he could not let go of.

Having the chance to start over in this life, he was determined to give them a clean and stable environment to grow up in. Although they were only fifteen years old at the time, he was only looking after them from afar as their sponsor and guardian, without any other intentions. However, this concern made him unwilling to leave the capital at this time.

Ultimately, his attention fell on the State Economic Commission.

This place can be considered the greatest extension of Professor Li Yiqing's academic influence into practical departments, where many of his senior colleagues have taken up important positions, creating a natural atmosphere of support.

In the special recruitment program for Peking University students by the State Economic Commission, he was successfully recruited by the Department of Industrial Policy thanks to his outstanding performance and the strong recommendation of Professor Li Yiqing.

His choice of the Industrial Policy Department, rather than the more relevant Enterprise Reform Department, was based on his prediction of the focus of economic development over the next twenty years:

The climax of state-owned enterprise reform will gradually subside, while the formulation of industrial policies, the cultivation of emerging industries, and the response to the global industrial chain landscape will become the key battlegrounds driving high-quality economic development. The experience and vision accumulated here will undoubtedly have greater strategic value for him if he were to take charge of a region in the future.

On their first day of employment, the spacious and brightly lit auditorium of the State Economic Commission was filled with the newly recruited young talents, and the air was thick with a slightly nervous excitement. Qi Tongwei sat in a seat near the front, his expression calm, his gaze steadily fixed on the podium.

The Director of the General Office, who presided over the induction ceremony, announced in a loud voice:

"Now, let us welcome Comrade Zhong Zhengguo, Executive Vice Chairman of the State Economic Commission, with warm applause, to deliver a welcome speech!"

Chapter 34 Sect Gathering

Qi Tongwei remained calm and composed.

For him, this was not an unexpected turn of events. Having already decided to join the State Economic Commission, thoroughly reviewing the personnel structure beforehand was the most basic lesson he could learn.

Zhong Zhengguo, the composed and dignified executive deputy director on the stage, naturally knew that Hou Liangping was not yet officially married to his future father-in-law.

But this relationship did not hinder him.

Firstly, he and Hou Liangping had no real conflict on the surface, and given Hou Liangping's delicate status as a "prospective son-in-law," he would never dare to say anything about such a trivial matter in front of Zhong Zhengguo.

Secondly, Qi Tongwei is no longer a drifting duckweed without any support.

The morning's onboarding ceremony had just ended, and a sense of novelty mixed with a subtle excitement permeated the new colleagues. They chatted and laughed as they walked towards the cafeteria, all eager to try the culinary skills of the ministry's chef.

Qi Tongwei walked and chatted with his two newly acquainted companions, appearing relaxed.

Just then, a voice pierced through the slightly noisy corridor:

"Qi Tongwei!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Han Shenzheng, the director of the General Office who had just presided over the ceremony on the stage, standing not far away, his eyes scanning the scene.

The new colleagues all turned their heads in surprise.

Qi Tongwei reacted quickly, jogging over to Han Shen and bowing respectfully: "Director, did you call me?"

Han Shen wore a formulaic yet friendly smile and casually said, "Don't squeeze in with the crowd at noon. Come to the small canteen and have a simple meal with me. The head chef's braised fish is absolutely amazing."

The voice wasn't loud, but it was loud enough for the other newlyweds nearby to hear clearly.

Qi Tongwei immediately replied, "Yes, Director."

This is the signal.

Within the system, the closeness or distance of relationships is often reflected in these subtle choices of occasion. If they are blood relatives, they should deliberately avoid each other even if they work in the same unit, and they should treat each other like strangers in daily life; but this kind of connection based on alumni or classmates can be openly displayed in front of others, becoming an invisible identity marker.

Han Shen, a department-level cadre who holds real power in the General Office and has worked in the Economic Commission for many years, is a doctoral student recruited by Professor Li Yiqing several years ago. He can be considered the "senior brother" and natural convener of Li's disciples in the Economic Commission.

At this moment, his invitation to dinner by name in public was self-evident—it was both a signal of acceptance to Qi Tongwei and a way to show Qi Tongwei's "background" to those around him, especially those with discerning eyes.

The small canteen has an elegant environment, and the round table in the private room is almost full.

As Qi Tongwei followed Han Shen in, the people around the table—most of whom were directors and core division chiefs who had sat in the front row during the morning ceremony—stood up to greet him, their eyes lingering on him for a moment.

A quick glance reveals that while this group may not represent half of the Economic Commission, they do include several deputy directors and powerful section chiefs from key departments, making them a force to be reckoned with.

Qi Tongwei recognized several people sitting near the main seat.

Kong Haifeng, Deputy Director of the Enterprise Reform Department, has a lean face and sharp eyes; Jia Tunan, Deputy Director of the General Affairs Department, is refined and easy-going, with a smile often playing on his lips; Xia Xiaojun, Deputy Director of the Investment and Planning Department, is stocky and speaks with a strong voice.

These three were all "senior brothers" whom Professor Li Yiqing had specifically introduced him to after he was assigned to the Economic Commission.

The other few unfamiliar faces, judging from their demeanor and seating arrangement, were clearly core members of this small circle. They might not be disciples of the Li family, but they were certainly partners with close ties and shared interests with Han Shen and others.

Here, we need to clarify a certain logic:

Becoming Li Yiqing's disciple does not automatically grant one entry into the core of such circles; on the contrary, it is precisely because of one's outstanding potential and the importance of one's position that one has the opportunity to be recommended by one's ministry or local government to study under Li Yiqing.

This teacher-student relationship is more of a confirmation and enhancement of their existing qualifications and future prospects; it is icing on the cake rather than turning lead into gold.

Cause and effect cannot be reversed.

Han Shen led Qi Tongwei to his seat and briefly introduced this "new junior brother" to everyone, mentioning his past at Guying Ridge and his background as a student of Professor Li from Peking University, expressing his high regard for him.

Everyone chimed in agreement, and Qi Tongwei humbly said, "Compared to the great strategies and plans of the leaders for the country, it's nothing."

His tone was neither humble nor arrogant.

The meal was a working lunch; no one drank alcohol, and tea was served instead, creating a relaxed and orderly atmosphere.

Han Shen pointed to a man of medium build, with a friendly smile, who looked to be about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, and said to Qi Tongwei, "Tongwei, this is Ning Gaoyuan, your direct superior and the director of the Industry Division of the Industrial Policy Department. You should learn more from Director Ning in the future."

Qi Tongwei quickly bowed and greeted Ning Gaoyuan.

Ning Gaoyuan nodded in response with a smile, his eyes filled with scrutiny and a hint of curiosity.

Qi Tongwei was not the main character at this lunch.

His arrival at Han Shen's place was more like a symbol of fresh blood, a daily ritual to enhance the organization's sense of identity and cohesion. Any vibrant informal group cannot only gather when there is something to discuss; daily interaction, the creation of a positive atmosphere, and the intangible exchange of information are equally important.

For most of the time, key figures such as Han Shen, Kong Haifeng, Jia Tunan, and Xia Xiaojun chatted casually, occasionally touching on subtle changes in the internal dynamics and policy trends of the ministries, or the spirit conveyed at high-level meetings.

Qi Tongwei kept to his duties, mostly just listening attentively, only responding cautiously and clearly when the topic involved himself or when he was asked a question.

He noticed that not only him, but also some of the other members at the table who were of slightly lower rank were listening attentively and carefully considering the seemingly casual conversation.

For those who are in the central positions but not at the top of the decision-making level, such occasions are an important window for them to sense the policy sentiment, grasp internal trends, and even adjust their own work focus.

This is perhaps one of the most direct and valuable benefits they can gain after integrating into this circle, aside from potential promotions.

Lunch will end in about forty minutes.

Before everyone dispersed, Han Shen called Qi Tongwei aside and whispered:

"Don't rush off after the training this afternoon. Let's have a simple get-together at Chunhui Restaurant and Tingsong Pavilion across the street, just a few of us brothers."

Qi Tongwei understood immediately and nodded in agreement.

The afternoon's onboarding training proceeded smoothly.

After the training, Qi Tongwei first went back to his temporary dormitory to tidy up, changed out of his meticulously tailored suit, chose a casual jacket with a good texture, and took out a simple tin can from his luggage—containing the first harvest of this spring's Qijia Village tea mountain, carefully processed premium Yunwu Maojian tea.

Only then did he calmly head to the agreed-upon restaurant.

He arrived first, and the private room was empty. This was expected.

He was not impatient. He called the waiter and asked for a pot of boiling water. He sat quietly by the window and waited, watching the street scene outside as the lights came on.

About half an hour later, Han Shen arrived together with Kong Haifeng, Jia Tunan, and Xia Xiaojun, chatting and laughing.

Qi Tongwei immediately stood up to greet him.

The way it's addressed has subtly changed this time:

"Senior Brother Han, Senior Brother Kong, Senior Brother Jia, Senior Brother Xia."

This was naturally because Han Shen had already set the tone for the evening's gathering at noon—it would be a sect gathering—so he naturally followed suit, addressing the other person as "senior brother."

Otherwise, he would naturally address him by his official title, since Secretary Yu Liang of his previous life had repeatedly instructed him to use his official title when working.

Chapter 35 "The Peking University Faction"

Han Shen took the seat of honor without hesitation and waved to everyone to make themselves at home.

Qi Tongwei naturally sat at the end of the table.

The senior colleagues first asked him, as is customary, about his feelings on his first day at the company. Qi Tongwei replied politely, "Everything is fine. I'm working hard to adapt and learn."

After exchanging pleasantries, Qi Tongwei stood up and used the tea leaves he had brought to brew tea for everyone.

The clear tea liquor was poured into a white porcelain cup, and a delicate and rich aroma immediately filled the air.

As the director of the General Office, Han Shen has extensive experience in receiving guests and is particularly sensitive to the art of tea and wine.

He picked up the teacup, first observing its color, then gently inhaling its aroma. After taking a sip, he raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.

"Huh? When did this restaurant change its tea? This Maojian tea... has an excellent aroma and a good aftertaste, unlike ordinary tea."

Qi Tongwei smiled and replied:

"Senior Brother Han, this isn't tea from a restaurant. This tea is my 'graduation thesis'."

He then recounted in detail how, with his advice and the support of research funding, Qijia Village painstakingly cultivated the tea plantation, introduced the Yunwu Maojian tea variety, and how the villagers poured their hearts and souls into it until this spring when they finally reaped their first meager but excellent harvest.

The story contains a sense of local sentiment, a blend of academic and practical elements, and a poignant reflection on the hardships of starting a business.

These words resonated with several of the senior students present.

Professor Li Yiqing is rigorous in his scholarship and has extremely high standards. When they were pursuing their doctorates, they all went through tremendous hardship. Their dissertations were polished repeatedly, requiring their utmost dedication.

Qi Tongwei's experience of writing his thesis on his hometown soil, although in a different field, instantly evoked shared memories for everyone, with its dedication and pursuit of breakthroughs.

The atmosphere at the table immediately became much more lively, and several senior students shared various interesting stories and hardships they had encountered while writing their theses.

Qi Tongwei interjected and asked questions at appropriate times, his attitude respectful and sincere, naturally immersing himself in this nostalgic exchange, no longer just a newcomer listening in.

After the nostalgic warmth subsided slightly, Qi Tongwei got up and poured Han Shen another cup of tea.

He spoke casually, as if it were just a casual remark:

"Senior Brother Han, I have a favor to ask of you."

Han Shen's nostalgic expression paused slightly, but his smile remained, though his eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.

"Oh? What is it? Tell me about it."

Qi Tongwei's expression remained unchanged, and his voice was steady:

“Next year, when production increases, I’m worried that sales won’t keep up. I even begged my teacher to order 5 jin. Could our ministry help us sell 10 or 20 jin to help our fellow villagers?”

He deliberately limited his request to a small amount of procurement, speaking casually as if it were just a trivial matter.

Han Shen, being a man of great stature, immediately discerned the underlying meaning—to leverage the "golden reputation" and stable channels of the Economic Commission's procurement to endorse the tea of ​​his hometown, open up sales channels, and even enhance brand value.