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

A mountain breeze blows by, carrying the fresh scent of pine forest.

“I brought you here so you could see what your father’s past career was like. The provincial and ministerial levels are too macro-level; this is the most direct way.”

"This is the ideal and cause I have dedicated my life to."

He walked up to the two children, put his arms around their shoulders, one in each hand.

“This is my choice,” he said, his tone becoming more relaxed. “If you have your own ideas and are willing to follow your own path, your mother and I will support you. Whatever you want to do—be a scientist, a teacher, a doctor, an artist, or even just an ordinary office worker—as long as you feel that it is what you want and that it is meaningful, we will support you.”

Qi Huaiyin leaned on his shoulder without saying a word.

“But if you haven’t made up your minds yet,” Qi Tongwei’s voice became steady again, “Dad can tell you a way.”

He paused.

"Follow in my footsteps."

Both children looked up at him.

“I dare not compare myself to Pavel Korchagin,” Qi Tongwei said, his tone calm but firm. “But I have no regrets about dedicating my life to the country and the people. If you are willing, you can continue down this path. Not for my power, not for the glory of any family, but because it is a path worth taking.”

He began reciting classic quotes from "How the Steel Was Tempered": "A person should live his life in such a way that when he looks back on his past, he will not regret having wasted his life or lived a base and vulgar life. Then, when he is about to die, he can say: 'I have dedicated my whole life and all my energy to the most magnificent cause in the world—the struggle for the liberation of mankind.'"

He released the two children, stepped back, and looked at them.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on their young faces and into their bright eyes. Their sixteen-year-old faces still carried the naiveté of youth, but they already possessed their own thoughts and judgments.

"Of course, this is just Dad's suggestion." He smiled. "Ultimately, it's up to you to decide. Whatever you choose, Dad will be proud of you."

Qi Huaiyin suddenly rushed over and hugged him tightly.

“Dad,” her voice was a little muffled, “I think you’re amazing.”

Qi Tongwei smiled and gently patted his daughter's back.

“What’s so great about it?” he said. “It’s just that I’ve been riding the wave of the times and have only gone a short distance.”

Qi Huaiyuan stood to the side, watching his father and sister without saying a word. But something profound was surging in his eyes.

After a while, he stepped forward and extended his hand.

Qi Tongwei paused for a moment, then reached out and grasped his son's hand.

Two hands, one large and one small, were tightly clasped together.

He Xuan stood aside, watching this scene, his eyes also reddening.

She walked over, put one arm around her daughter, and placed the other hand on her husband's and son's hands.

A family of four stood on the mountaintop at the crossroads, bathed in sunlight.

The wind blows, carrying the fragrance of grass and trees, the scent of earth, and the vibrant, upward-moving energy unique to this era.

Chapter 176 New Situation

The May Day holiday had just ended and the inspection team had left, but the atmosphere in the political arena of Handong was not cheerful; instead, it carried a sense of impending doom.

On the second day after the holiday, the Provincial Party Committee convened a provincial conference on Party conduct and clean governance. This was Sha Ruijin's first systematic speech on this topic since arriving in Handong. The main leaders of all cities and provincial departments were present. The main venue in Jingzhou was packed, with branch venues set up in various cities and departments, all listening and watching simultaneously via video conference.

When Sha Ruijin stepped onto the stage, the room was so quiet that you could hear the hum of the air conditioner.

He did not bring a prepared speech.

"Comrades," his voice was not loud, but clear, with an undeniable composure, "I have been in Handong for more than four months. In this past month, I have visited some places, met some comrades, and reviewed some materials. Overall, I feel that Handong has a good cadre team, Handong has a good development momentum, and Handong's future is promising."

He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping across the room.

"But within the good, are there any bad aspects? Beneath the positive momentum, are there any hidden dangers? Behind the promising prospects, are there anything we need to be wary of?"

No one responded. Nor did anyone need to respond.

“Yes,” Sha Ruijin answered himself, “and quite a lot.”

He opened the notebook in front of him, glanced at it, and then closed it again. The movement was very subtle, but everyone present noticed it.

“Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the requirements of the central government for anti-corruption work have been clear, consistent, and unwavering. The fight against corruption has been swift and decisive. However, during my research at the grassroots level, I heard some voices. Some people felt that Handong was a ‘low-lying area’ where the anti-corruption efforts were not as strong as those of the central government. Others felt that things before the 18th National Congress could be ‘turned over’. Still others felt that as long as they retired, they would ‘land safely’.”

His tone was as calm as if he were talking about something trivial, but every word was like a nail, driven into the ears of everyone present.

"These ideas are all wrong."

The air in the room seemed to freeze.

“I am here on behalf of the Provincial Party Committee to offer three points,” Sha Ruijin said, holding up three fingers.

"First, we must resolutely, strictly, and swiftly arrest those who have not restrained themselves or stopped their corrupt practices after the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. No matter who is involved, no matter how great their contributions are, no matter how 'important' they think they are—as long as they reach out, they will be caught. There is no room for negotiation."

His gaze fell on the provincial leaders in the front row, then shifted away.

"Second, we must address historical issues thoroughly. Corruption is corruption; it won't change over time. Those officials who were corrupt before the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China will be dealt with according to the law, provided the evidence is conclusive. There is no such thing as a 'safe landing.' If you've been corrupt, you've been corrupt; it won't be wiped clean just because you've retired, changed positions, or moved to a secondary role."

Someone in the meeting room quietly swallowed.

“Third,” Sha Ruijin raised his voice slightly, “no matter which gang or faction he belongs to, before Party discipline and national law, there are no gangs, no factions, only Party members and non-Party members, only law-abiding citizens and lawbreakers.”

He paused, his gaze sharp.

"Some people say that the waters of Handong are deep. I'm not afraid of deep waters. What I'm afraid of is that some people know there are crocodiles in the water, but pretend they can't see them."

This statement was like a stone thrown into a calm lake.

After the meeting, the office building of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection was brightly lit.

Tian Guofu sat in his office, a transcript of Sha Ruijin's speech spread out in front of him. He had already read it three times.

Sha Ruijin's words boil down to two words: breaking the deadlock.

What kind of impasse? It's about breaking the unspoken "rules" that have been ingrained in the officialdom of Handong for many years—if you don't touch me, I won't touch you; I won't investigate your affairs, and you shouldn't ask about mine; retirement means safety, and a job transfer means passing the test.

This kind of "rule" is more effective than any written regulation. Because it's not written on paper, it's engraved in people's hearts. Passed down from generation to generation, from one administration to the next, it eventually becomes a kind of "political correctness"—whoever breaks it is considered to be ignorant of the rules.

Now, Sha Ruijin is going to break it himself.

Tian Guofu closed the documents, picked up the red phone on the table, and dialed a number.

"Comrade Hou Liangping, please come to my office."

Hou Liangping arrived quickly, carrying a file folder.

He was still handsome, but he no longer had the relaxed air of someone who had just arrived in Handong, wearing a leather jacket and whistling. His hair was messy and unkempt. He looked a bit颓废 (颓废 is a difficult word to translate directly, but it conveys a sense of listlessness, apathy, and a lack of motivation), but his eyes were bright, like those of a hungry wolf.

"Sit down." Tian Guofu gestured to the chair opposite him. "Did you listen to Secretary Sha's speech today?"

"I listened." Hou Liangping sat down, his back very straight. "I listened to it at our Discipline Inspection Commission's branch meeting."

Any thoughts?

Hou Liangping thought for a moment and said, "It's time to get serious."

Tian Guofu nodded and asked, "How's the investigation of Liu Xinjian that I asked you to do?"

Hou Liangping opened the file bag he had brought and handed the materials inside to Tian Guofu.

Tian Guofu nodded slightly. This Hou Liangping at least had some sense.

The materials listed various problems Liu Xinjian had during his tenure at Handong Oil and Gas Group: illegal decision-making, transfer of benefits, relatives engaging in business, and corrupt lifestyle... Each item was accompanied by a time, place, and name, and even several blurry photos were attached.

Tian Guofu read through the materials page by page, then looked up and said, "The materials are very detailed."

"The whistleblower is a retired accountant who has worked for Liu Xinjian for over ten years," Hou Liangping said.

Tian Guofu frowned: "Has it been verified?"

“We have already verified part of it,” Hou Liangping continued. “The part that has been verified is enough for us to take measures against him.”

Tian Guofu: "Liangping, you're in charge of this case."

Hou Liangping stood up: "Yes."

"Follow the procedures." Tian Guofu's voice was calm. "The evidence must be solid, and the procedures must be compliant. This case must stand the test of history."

Hou Liangping nodded and turned to leave.

He took a deep breath as he walked out of Tian Guofu's office.

It was rainy in Jingzhou, and the May wind still carried a chill, but he felt full of energy.

It's time for me to show my skills.

three days later.

Liu Xinjian sat in his spacious office, a document awaiting his signature in front of him.

He held this position for six years. In those six years, he witnessed countless people come and go, and handled far too many shady deals. Sometimes, waking up in the middle of the night, he would wonder, how far can this path really take?

But as soon as it got light, those thoughts evaporated like dew.

The door to the chairman's office suddenly opened, and Hou Liangping, wearing a dark jacket and holding a folder, led the way. Behind him were three uniformed police officers with serious expressions.

“Liu Xinjian,” Hou Liangping said calmly, “I am Hou Liangping, deputy director of the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Office of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection. There is something I need you to do with us to assist in an investigation.”

Liu Xinli immediately threw the documents in his hand and on the table at Hou Liangping, and ran towards the next-door meeting room as he did so.

By the time Hou Liangping and his entourage arrived, Liu Xinjian was already perched on the windowsill, shouting, "Don't come any closer, or I'll jump!"

Hou Liangping was previously targeted for investigating the Qingshan gas field, and now he is representing the Discipline Inspection Commission to approach him again; the implication is self-evident.

Hou Liangping tried to appease him by sending a summons, but Liu Xinjian wasn't stupid and told him to stop trying.

But putting everything else aside, Hou Liangping is very experienced in apprehending suspects.

He stirred Liu Xinjian's emotions by mentioning his past experiences and the contributions his grandfather and maternal grandmother made to the revolution. Liu Xinjian then began to loudly recite the Communist Manifesto to mask his fear.

"A spectre is haunting the land of Europe—the spectre of communism..."

As he recited, "The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win," a police officer who had secretly circled around from behind pulled him down.

The news of Liu Xinjian's arrest spread like wildfire throughout the officialdom of Handong.

Some people applauded, some were terrified, some frantically searched their belongings and burned materials overnight, and some made phone calls to various connections—but on the other end of the line, either no one answered, or if they did, they said, "I can't handle this."

Zhao Ruilong was drinking at a club in Beijing when he received the news. After listening to it, he remained silent for a long time, then smashed his glass on the ground.

"grass."

Gao Yuliang was reviewing documents in his office when he received the message.