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

Even though everything was completely different from back then, Liang Lu was still in a daze.

The power here remains the same.

She felt as if she had returned to more than 20 years ago, when her father was still the deputy secretary of the provincial party committee, and she was still a carefree girl under her father's protection.

Yes, as long as you're not married, you're still a girl even in your 30s.

"Tell me, what's the matter?"

Liang Lu hesitated for a moment, then recounted what had happened at home.

After listening, Wu Huifen remained silent for a while, then put down her teacup, looking troubled.

“Lulu, Lao Gao and I have always remembered Secretary Liang’s kindness to us.” Her voice was gentle, as gentle as a knife wrapped in cotton. “But as you know, Lao Gao is about to retire. Now everything is being prepared in accordance with Governor Liu’s plan, with stability as the top priority and a safe landing. I can talk to him about your family’s situation, but I guess… we can’t be of much help.”

Liang Lu's smile froze.

She felt a tightness in her chest, but dared not show it. She tried to maintain a smile and said, "I understand, I understand. Secretary Gao is going through a sensitive period right now, I know."

Wu Huifen nodded and said nothing more. The living room remained quiet for a while.

Liang Lu felt uneasy all over. The sofa was too soft to sit on; the tea was too hot to drink; the sunlight was too bright and dazzling. She wanted to leave, and had just opened her mouth to say, "Then I won't bother you anymore," when Wu Huifen suddenly stood up, walked to the desk, and came back with a file folder.

"Lulu, don't go yet." Wu Huifen took a stack of documents out of the file bag and handed them to her. "Take a look at this."

Liang Lu took it and glanced down—a photo, resume, and academic credentials. The photo showed a young man, thin, wearing glasses and a white shirt, who looked quite refined.

"This is……"

“Xiao Liao, Liao Qingyuan.” Wu Huifen’s tone became lighter, as if the heavy conversation from just now had never happened. “Governor Qi’s secretary. He’s thirty-eight years old, divorced, and has a daughter who lives with her parents in their hometown. He’s reliable, steady, and knows his place.”

Liang Lu was stunned.

“Fangfang has returned from abroad and is now working in Handong,” Wu Huifen said, her face bearing a motherly expression that was both proud and anxious. “What Lao Gao and I are most worried about now is her marriage. We’ve been observing this Xiao Liao for a long time and think he’s a good match. Although he’s not particularly handsome, he’s a reliable person. We don’t put on airs like high-ranking officials; as long as the young couple lives a good life, that’s more important than anything else.”

Liang Lu held the photo, her fingers trembling slightly.

She suddenly remembered that many years ago, Wu Huifen had spoken to her in the same way. At that time, she was a counselor at Handong University, and Wu Huifen had sat opposite her, holding a stack of materials, analyzing the strengths of this man and the weaknesses of that man.

Every word seemed to be helping her, but every word also told her—these people are not good enough for you, you deserve better.

“Sister Huifen,” Liang Lu’s voice was a little hoarse, “this Xiao Liao… is quite a catch.”

“Yes,” Wu Huifen said with a smile, “we are hoping that Fangfang can settle down soon.”

Looking at Wu Huifen's smiling face, Liang Lu felt a turmoil in her heart.

That's not what you told me back then.

But Liang Lu didn't dare utter a single word of those words. She could only sit there, nod, smile, and say, "Not bad," "Pretty good."

Wu Huifen talked a lot more. She talked about how Liao Qingyuan and Qi Tongwei got together, how Gao Fangfang and he met, how the two of them were getting along well, and how Wu Huifen herself was very satisfied. Every word seemed to be sharing joy, but every word was like a needle pricking Liang Lu's heart.

Liang Lu sat there for almost two hours, which felt like an eternity.

Finally, Wu Huifen glanced at the clock on the wall and stood up.

"Lulu, Lao Gao will be back soon, so I won't keep you any longer. I'll talk to him about your family matters."

Liang Lu quickly stood up, picked up her bag, and followed Wu Huifen outside.

Wu Huifen saw her to the door, stood on the steps, and watched her walk towards the parking lot. Her face wore her usual gentle smile, but slowly, the smile became meaningful.

Liang Lu continued walking towards the parking lot. After walking a few steps, she suddenly heard the sound of a car approaching from behind. She instinctively moved to the side of the road and glanced back.

A black Hongqi sedan, bearing the license plate Han A0004, drove in from the main gate of the villa area. The privacy glass in the back completely blocked out the view inside, making it impossible to see anything.

But Liang Lu knew who was sitting inside.

Villa No. 4 is not far from Villa No. 3; it's the residence of the Executive Vice Governor. Qi Tongwei lived there after being transferred back to Handong. Liang Lu stood there, watching the black Hongqi car drive past her. The car didn't slow down or swerve as it passed, as if it hadn't even seen the person standing by the roadside.

The car was parked in front of Villa No. 4. The back door opened, and a person got out of the car.

Liang Lu stood a dozen meters away, watching that figure. Tall and capable, wearing a dark jacket, yet still as dazzling as he had been back then.

After he got out of the car, he stood beside it and seemed to look around.

Liang Lu subconsciously reached out and touched her face, checking if her makeup was intact, her hair was neat, and her clothes were tidy. Her fingers stopped abruptly when they touched her cheek.

She didn't know why she did it.

Qi Tongwei's gaze swept over the direction in which she was standing.

Then, he turned around and walked straight into the villa. His gaze didn't linger on this side for even a second.

The door closed.

Liang Lu stood on the road, her hands raised to her face, like a sculpture.

Chapter 181 Xiao Gangyu's Actions

Having exhausted all avenues for help, the three Liang siblings voluntarily surrendered themselves to the Discipline Inspection Commission, causing quite a stir in the officialdom of Handong.

Despite the shock, so much has happened in Handong this year that everyone has gotten used to it.

Inside the provincial party committee compound, people were still hurrying to and fro, each with their usual expressions—smiling when they should, serious when they should, greeting each other when they should. Only privately, there were more whispers among them.

"The Liang family is probably not going to make it through this time."

"Who can argue with that? When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter; when the wall collapses, everyone pushes it down."

"I heard that Liang Jin confessed to a lot of things, which involved..."

"Shh, don't talk nonsense. It's not settled yet."

These words wouldn't reach Sha Ruijin's ears. Even if they did, he wouldn't care. What he cared about right now wasn't these idle gossips, but rather how to make his next move.

The Liang family's affair was merely an interlude in his plan, another major fire he started upon taking office.

However, Qi Tongwei took advantage of this fire and stirred up a distorted wind, making the fire burn even brighter.

But no matter how prosperous it is, it must not be allowed to deviate from its path.

He picked up the phone on the table and dialed a number.

"Comrade Guofu, what's the progress on Liu Xinjian's case?"

On the other end of the phone, Tian Guofu's voice sounded tired but clear: "Hou Liangping is still interrogating him. This Liu Xinjian is still hoping to get away with it, hoping someone will bail him out. He won't budge."

Sha Ruijin was silent for two seconds: "We need to hurry. If we drag this out, things will change."

After a pause, Sha Ruijin continued, "But we must also pay attention to the methods and approaches, and ensure that they can withstand the test of history."

Tian Guofu solemnly agreed.

He knew that Sha Ruijin wouldn't make this call for no reason, which showed that even as the provincial party secretary, he was under considerable pressure at this moment.

However, we still need to find a way to break through Liu Xinjian's psychological defenses, but we cannot resort to underhanded tactics.

-

Meanwhile, in Qi Tongwei's office, Liao Qingyuan was also giving a report.

Huang Qiaosong is still Qi Tongwei's secretary, but some matters have been handed over to Liao Qingyuan.

"Boss," Liao Qingyuan said in a low voice as he closed the door, "the matter concerning the Liang family is basically settled. Liang Yu's problem isn't too serious; she'll have to return the money, write a self-criticism, and receive a disciplinary action within the Party. Liang Jin's problem is more serious; she might be transferred to the judiciary. Liang Lu... on the other hand, is relatively clean financially."

"Regarding Secretary Liang, his retirement benefits have been reduced to the level of deputy section chief. However, considering his advanced age, he is allowed to continue living in his current sanatorium at his own expense."

Qi Tongwei nodded without saying anything.

“There’s one more thing,” Liao Qingyuan said, lowering his voice even further, “Director Xiao Gangyu… said he wants to meet with you.”

Qi Tongwei's hands kept moving.

“Tell him it’s not work-related, I’m not seeing him,” he said calmly.

Liao Qingyuan responded and turned to leave.

"Qingyuan," Qi Tongwei called out to him, "how are you and Gao Fangfang doing lately?"

Liao Qingyuan paused for a moment, a barely perceptible smile flashing across his face.

"It was alright," he said. "We went to the science museum together last weekend."

"What do you mean by 'not bad'?" Qi Tongwei rarely joked. "Does Professor Gao have any objections?"

Liao Qingyuan rarely showed a hint of embarrassment: "Secretary Gao... hasn't officially expressed his opinion yet. Teacher Wu, on the other hand, is quite enthusiastic and keeps inviting me to his home for dinner."

“Take it slow,” he said. “Good things come to those who wait.”

Liao Qingyuan nodded and left.

Qi Tongwei leaned back in his chair and stared out the window for a while.

Xiao Gangyu.

He was familiar with this name.

In his previous life, he was one of Zhao Ruilong's cronies and even orchestrated the framing of Hou Liangping.

The first time I heard this name in this life was when Teacher Gao came to Beijing to attend Hou Liangping's wedding and told him that Xiao Gangyu had married Liang Lu, hoping to persuade him to let go of his resentment.

Later, he disappeared from Qi Tongwei's life, disappeared from his busy resume.

Until Qi Tongwei returned to Handong.

Xiao Gangyu, using his previous position as the Director of the Public Security Bureau, is struggling in the mire, trying to find a lifeline.

Qi Tongwei slowly picked up the pen on the table, twirled it twice, and then put it down.

Xiao Gangyu's approach to him was a fatal mistake.

This person should know this better than anyone else—his history with the Liang family is known to everyone in the officialdom of Handong.

But he still sent Liao Qingyuan to deliver a message, indicating that he had no other options left.

When a person is at their wit's end, they may do things that seem absurd. This is not surprising.

Qi Tongwei picked up the document awaiting approval, calmed himself down, and continued approving it.

He doesn't need to worry about Xiao Gangyu's affairs.

Just watch it fail on its own.

With the Liang family's affairs settled, he now needs to focus all his energy on the economy of Handong, and successfully taking over from Governor Liu is the first step.