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

As Liang Yu watched the street scene rushing past the window, a complex mix of emotions welled up inside her. There was fear, anger, and a deep sense of powerlessness.

He suddenly remembered a line from one of his favorite Hong Kong movies: "What goes around comes around."

I never expected it to hurt so much when I returned it.

Upon arriving at the Discipline Inspection Commission, he was led into an interrogation room. The room was small, containing only a table and a few chairs. The windows were high, preventing sunlight from entering. On the wall hung the Party flag and the oath of joining the Party, their red background and gold lettering appearing somewhat glaring under the fluorescent light.

Two discipline inspection officials sat opposite each other, one asking questions and the other taking notes.

"Comrade Liang Yu, please tell us about your position and specific business at Handong Trading Company."

Liang Yu took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady: "My wife is the legal representative of the company, holding 40% of the shares. The daily operations are mainly managed by the general manager; we don't participate much in the specific business..."

"Not very involved?" The manager opposite him looked up, his gaze sharp. "Then please explain why you are required to sign off on all of the company's important contracts and major financial transactions?"

Liang Yu was taken aback for a moment, then retorted, "My wife signed them all; it's just a formality. The general manager is still handling the actual business."

"Just going through the motions?" The disciplinary official's voice wasn't loud, but every word landed like a nail on the table. "Comrade Liang Yu, we've already conducted handwriting analysis on your company's documents, and all your wife's signatures and annotations are yours. Furthermore, company employees have said that your wife never handles business at the company; she always takes documents home. How do you explain that?"

"Your wife is the legal representative of the company, owning 40% of the shares, and you sign all the important documents. What is your role in the company? Are you the actual controller?"

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Liang Yu's forehead.

He suddenly realized that he had been too comfortable all these years, so comfortable that he had forgotten basic vigilance. He thought that with his father around, no one would dare to touch the Liang family. He thought that as long as no one directly intervened, no one could find any fault with him.

But he forgot that the people in the Discipline Inspection Commission are there specifically to find fault with others.

"I..." He opened his mouth, wanting to explain something, but his mind was a mess.

“Comrade Liang Yu,” the cadre on the other end of the line said, his tone softening slightly but still serious, “we invited you here today in the hope that you will take the initiative to explain the situation. The organization will treat those who voluntarily confess and actively cooperate leniently. This is both policy and an opportunity.”

Liang Yu lowered her head and looked at her hands.

"I... need to think about it." His voice was very soft, as if he were pleading.

"Okay." The disciplinary official nodded. "I'll give you time."

The Liang family's case is not among the targets of the Discipline Inspection Commission. They will handle it strictly according to procedures and will not use any other means.

The news of Liang Yu being taken away spread throughout the entire circle in less than half a day.

The most panicked person was Liang Jin.

Liang Jin is almost sixty this year. The once powerful second young master of the Liang family in Jingzhou has now been "exiled" to the Retired Cadres Office, where he holds a sinecure as a deputy section chief. His daily work consists of playing chess, drinking tea, and chatting about health and wellness with retired comrades.

He thought life would continue like this.

I'm a coward at work, what does it have to do with my time off?

But when Qi Tongwei arrived, he immediately asked Chen Yanshi to re-educate him, which Chen Yanshi managed to avoid by feigning illness.

There was no further news after that, and I thought the matter was over.

Now, the gun is finally pointed at him.

He called Xiao Gangyu.

"Brother-in-law, my elder brother has been taken away by the Discipline Inspection Commission." Liang Jin's voice was very low, as if afraid of being overheard, but he couldn't hide the trembling inside.

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone.

"I know," Xiao Gangyu said steadily. "Don't panic."

"How can I not panic?" Liang Jin's voice suddenly rose, almost shouting, "I'm next!"

"Second Brother!" Xiao Gangyu's voice became stern. "Calm down! What can you do in your current state?"

Liang Jin was startled by the shout, and his hand holding the microphone trembled. He took a few deep breaths and forced himself to calm down.

"Brother-in-law, what should I do?" His voice was trembling with tears. "Please help me..."

“There won’t be too much of a problem with your brother.” Xiao Gangyu’s tone softened. “He’s a figurehead at the company, but he doesn’t get involved in the actual business. At most, he’s engaging in illegal business activities, but that’s not a big deal. You should be the one worrying about yourself.”

Liang Jin's heart sank.

“Those scumbags you associated with back in the prison system, those scumbags you did,” Xiao Gangyu’s voice lowered even further, “some evidence might still exist. Even though so many years have passed, if someone wants to dredge up old dirt…”

He didn't continue.

Liang Jin's hands began to tremble, so much so that she could barely hold her phone.

“And,” Xiao Gangyu continued, “you know in your heart what money you’ve taken over the years that you shouldn’t have taken.”

Liang Jin's mind went blank. He knew Xiao Gangyu was right. But he also knew that what he had in his hands wasn't something he could simply get rid of.

"Brother-in-law, could you please contact Secretary Gao for me..." His voice was almost pleading. "Secretary Gao and Dad have a long-standing relationship. Surely he wouldn't just stand by and watch me die, would he?"

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone.

“Xiao Jin,” Xiao Gangyu finally spoke, his voice a little hoarse, “I will talk to Secretary Gao. But you also need to be mentally prepared. The current situation cannot be resolved by connections.”

"What do you mean?"

“It means,” Xiao Gangyu said, word by word, “that what is owed must be repaid. If you are to repay, Liang Lu is also to repay.”

"What do you mean!"

The phone hangs up.

Liang Jin sat blankly on the sofa, the receiver still in his hand, the dial tone coming from it. He slowly put down the phone and stared blankly at the ceiling. Outside the window was a gray sky over Jingzhou, with no sun or clouds in sight, only a lifeless gray expanse.

He began to regret it. He regretted provoking Qi Tongwei back then, and regretted not leaving himself more options when his father still had power.

It's all Liang Lu's fault! If Liang Lu hadn't been so horny and provoked Qi Tongwei back then, she would have been too busy living a life of luxury and pleasure to have bothered a mere county magistrate's assistant!

But it's too late to say anything now.

He stood up and paced back and forth in the living room. After a few laps, he sat down again. He sat for less than a minute, then stood up again. Anxiety gnawed at his heart like worms.

What does Xiao Gangyu mean? Does he want to sever ties with the Liang family?

He's dreaming!

He wanted to call his older brother, but his brother was still working at the Discipline Inspection Commission.

He wanted to call his father, but what could his father possibly do?

Liang Jin suddenly felt like a mouse trapped in a cage, surrounded by walls, with no way out.

He jumped up, rushed into the study, and opened the safe. Inside were several ledgers, a stack of Swiss bank deposit slips, and several passbooks. He stared at these things for a long time, reaching out his hand and then pulling it back.

Destroy? Transfer?

He recalled Xiao Gangyu's words: "What is owed must be repaid."

But if he confesses everything, his life will be over.

If they don't explain...

His hands were trembling, and beads of sweat dripped from his forehead. He stood there, motionless, like a statue.

Time passed by, second by second.

Finally, he locked the safe again and sat down on the floor in dejection.

He can't.

He couldn't bring himself to confess to the disciplinary committee, nor could he destroy the evidence.

If it were truly destroyed, he would truly have nothing left.

He could only wait.

Perhaps a savior will suddenly appear, or perhaps Qi Tongwei will suddenly take pity on us?

After hanging up Liang Jin's call, Xiao Gangyu sat in his office for a long time.

He married Liang Lu, who is twelve years older than him, this year. With the support of the Liang family's influence, he is now the director of the Public Security Bureau at a young age. He can be said to be one of the most powerful provincial-level officials in Handong, and he is only forty-five years old.

He has a bright future ahead of him, and he cannot be dragged down by the Liang family.

He picked up the phone and dialed a number.

"Secretary Gao, it's me, Xiao Gangyu."

On the other end of the phone, Gao Yuliang's voice was calm: "Director Xiao, what is it?"

"Secretary Gao, I'd like to talk to you about Liang Lu."

Gao Yuliang was silent for a few seconds, then said, "You can do it."

When Xiao Gangyu arrived at Gao Yuliang's office, it was already afternoon.

Gao Yuliang sat on the sofa, a cup of tea in front of him. He didn't sit behind his desk, but chose the reception area—a subtle signal. Sitting behind a desk meant business was business; sitting in the reception area could be either business or a private conversation.

"Sit down." Gao Yuliang pointed to the sofa opposite him.

Xiao Gangyu sat down and, without exchanging pleasantries, went straight to the point: "Secretary Gao, you should know about Liang Lu's affair with Qi Tongwei back then."

Gao Yuliang nodded.

“Now that the Liang family is in trouble,” Xiao Gangyu said in a low voice, with a hint of probing, “I want to... settle things with Liang Lu.”

Gao Yuliang looked at him without saying a word.

“Liang Lu and I have been separated for many years and we no longer have any marital feelings,” Xiao Gangyu quickly added, “similar to Secretary Dakang’s situation.”

He didn't continue.

Gao Yuliang picked up his teacup and slowly took a sip.

Xiao Gangyu has been labeled as Liang's son-in-law for so many years, and now he wants to use divorce to sever ties. This plan is clever, but it's too naive.

You can't only stop having feelings for your spouse when you're no longer of any use to them.

"Regarding this matter," Gao Yuliang put down his teacup, his tone indifferent, "it's no use coming to me."

Xiao Gangyu smiled wryly: "Secretary Gao..."

Gao Yuliang waved his hand, interrupting him.

“Gangyu,” his voice was low but clear, “you’ve been with me for so many years, you should understand some things. The Liang family’s current problems cannot be resolved by divorce. Nor can they be solved by asking someone to intercede.”

Xiao Gangyu remained silent.

“What’s coming will come eventually,” Gao Yuliang said. “What we can do now is not to pull strings or ask for favors, but to wash our hands clean. We should confess what we need to confess and return what we should return. We should have a better attitude and try to get lenient treatment.”

"As for the divorce, once this matter is over, as long as you can persuade Liang Lu, I have no objection."