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

When Luo Xuejun entered, Gao Yuliang was standing by the window. Hearing footsteps, he turned around and pointed to the sofa in the reception area: "Sit."

Luo Xuejun sat down in the reception area, knowing that Gao Yuliang had something to talk to him about. He only sat on one side, his back straight, his hands on his knees, and he looked a little reserved.

Gao Yuliang sat down opposite him, without taking any documents or pouring tea, and casually asked, "Xiao Luo, how long have you been with me?"

Luo Xuejun already had a guess in his mind, but he knew he had to answer this kind of question seriously and not be perfunctory: "I joined the Luzhou Municipal Party Committee Office at 24, became your secretary at 26, and I'm 41 this year. All told, I've been your secretary for 15 years."

Gao Yuliang did a quick mental calculation, a slight daze appearing on his face. He suddenly realized that time was passing faster than he had expected: "Unconsciously, so much time has passed."

"Yes," Luo Xuejun said, "my rascal is preparing for the college entrance exam this year."

Gao Yuliang was silent for a moment before speaking, his tone now gentler than usual: "All these years I've kept you by my side, not letting you go out into the world. Have you ever felt like you've been holding me back?"

A secretary typically works with a leader for four or five years before being released to take up a substantive position in a local or provincial government department. This is the greatest reward for a secretary and also a way for leaders to extend their power outward.

In the officialdom of Handong, there are not many cases like Luo Xuejun, who have followed the regime for fifteen years and still haven't been released.

In subsequent development, the lack of grassroots experience has already had some negative impacts.

Without pausing, Luo Xuejun blurted out, "Secretary, you're joking. Without you, I, Luo, wouldn't be where I am today. I just turned 40 and I've already reached a position my grandfather couldn't even achieve until retirement. If it weren't for you, I'd be struggling to even be a town head or section chief in Daokou County at my age. Reaching my grandfather's level as deputy county head is a miracle."

Gao Yuliang smiled and said, "It's not that bad, it's not that bad."

Luo Xuejun didn't laugh along; his eyes reddened slightly. "Secretary, you are a benefactor to our family. My modest success is entirely due to the support you've given me. How could I possibly complain?"

Gao Yuliang: "You're being too blatant with your flattery. You should learn more from Qi Tongwei."

"I'm telling the truth," Luo Xuejun said without mincing words, "To put it bluntly, my grandmother, my mother, and my wife, although they are all Party members, are still women, and they still believe in gods and Buddhas. They always go to the temple to pray during festivals."

"I understand."

"My mother told me that every time they visit, their first wish is for the gods and Buddhas to bless you and Teacher Wu with good health and all things going smoothly. They originally wanted to offer you an eternal lamp at the temple, but I told them that you are a staunch materialist and don't believe in that, and besides, it's taboo. So the offering wasn't arranged, but every time we offer incense, the first stick is still offered for the two of you."

Gao Yuliang remained silent.

Luo Xuejun wiped his eyes: "Secretary, I'm not saying this to put on a show, nor to express my loyalty. Having followed you for so many years, I've seen too many people try every means to curry favor with you, and I know those tricks won't work on you. I'm saying this simply to let you know that no matter what your decision is or what you need me to do, my family and I will only feel gratitude, without any complaints or other thoughts."

Gao Yuliang looked at him, his brows slightly furrowed, and asked, "What decision?"

"Vice President Chen has been arrested," Luo Xuejun's tone turned somber. "It's all over the place, everyone's saying your situation is bad. Secretary, if there's anything you need me to do, just let me know, whatever it is."

Gao Yuliang paused for a moment, looked at Luo Xuejun seriously, and then smiled—a genuine smile, tinged with helplessness and a hint of relief: "You're overthinking it."

Luo Xuejun remained unmoved, his expression still grave: "Secretary, I know you better than anyone else what kind of person you are after all these years. But no matter how you try to keep yourself out of trouble, there will always be people who won't let you off the hook. The storms in Handong have never been small in recent years."

"This has nothing to do with you," Gao Yuliang waved his hand, his tone becoming calm. "It's my own business; I don't need you to take the blame, nor am I asking you to do anything shameful. I called you here because there's something else I need to discuss—you need to consider your next move."

Luo Xuejun's expression changed, and he subconsciously said, "Secretary, I'm not going anywhere. I'm leaving. You can stay here—"

"I'm about to retire, what are you still doing following me?" Gao Yuliang interrupted him, his tone neither too harsh nor too gentle. "After following me for so many years, you should go out and see the world. This is for your own good."

Luo Xuejun paused for two seconds, then said, "I'll go with you to the CPPCC and continue to be your secretary."

"Child's talk." Gao Yuliang shook his head. "Originally, I was planning to release you right now. I don't plan to do anything big now; I just want to get through this final stage smoothly. I don't need you by my side to follow every little detail. While I still have a breath left, I want to help you get on your horse and see you off for the rest of your journey."

He paused, his tone turning somber: "But as you've seen, Chen Qingquan just had his accident, and people outside are watching me closely. Sending you out now would only make things worse; some people would scrutinize your every move, looking for ways to sabotage you. Sending you out now would actually harm you. So I have no choice but to have you stay with me for a while longer, until the situation stabilizes."

Luo Xuejun lowered his head, his voice a little hoarse: "Thank you, Secretary."

"Once the situation becomes clearer," Gao Yuliang continued, "I will arrange a good place for you, and I will also put in a good word with Qi Tongwei."

This sentence, though spoken casually, was understood by Luo Xuejun. Qi Tongwei was the future governor of Handong Province, and even further down the line, the provincial party secretary. Gao Yuliang had used his last bit of strength to push him in that direction—this was the best explanation he could give.

Luo Xuejun didn't mention going to the CPPCC again. Bringing it up now would only seem hypocritical if he was determined to go with Gao Yuliang to the CPPCC.

He looked up and said, "I'll follow your instructions."

"Okay," Gao Yuliang said, "Do you have any thoughts about your future plans? Tell me."

Luo Xuejun: "I'll follow your arrangements. The ones you choose for me are definitely more suitable than those I choose myself."

"Slippery." Gao Yuliang nudged him. "There are essentially two paths: one is to become a standing committee member or deputy mayor in a prefecture-level city, and the other is to find a deputy position in a department or bureau within the province. Which one do you prefer?"

These two paths are: one is to go to a local area, which offers more room for maneuver but is highly competitive; the other is to stay in the provincial capital, which is more stable but has a lower ceiling for growth.

To put it more bluntly, given his resume and abilities, unless he encounters a major opportunity, he has virtually no chance of becoming a full-fledged department head if he stays in the provincial department.

Luo Xuejun's mind raced, going over the two options in his head several times, but ultimately he came up with the same five words: "I'll follow your arrangements."

Gao Yuliang looked at him and asked, "You really want to listen to me?"

"You know me best. Your choice will definitely be more accurate than if I make it up myself."

Gao Yuliang paused for a moment and said something very direct, unusually so: "To be honest, among the people I've met, your talent isn't outstanding. Compared to Qi Tongwei, you can't compare, and compared to many people in the Handa gang, you're still a bit weaker. That's why I haven't let you go all these years."

"Going to a local government post means competing with those hungry wolves and tigers for positions. You won't win, and you won't be able to handle it. It's better to stay in the province, work steadily, and live a more comfortable life. Of course, if you want to take a chance and think it's worth venturing out, that's fine too; I won't stop you."

These words were spoken frankly, without embellishment or denigration; they were simply stating the facts, a truly candid remark.

Luo Xuejun nodded without pausing: "I'll do as you say and stay in the province."

"Okay," Gao Yuliang said, "I'll keep an eye out for suitable openings and let you know when they become available."

"Thank you, Secretary."

Gao Yuliang waved his hand, and Luo Xuejun stood up and walked towards the door.

As he reached the door, he paused, glanced back at Gao Yuliang, who had already picked up a document from the table and was looking down at it. His profile appeared calm in the light from the window, as if he had already figured everything out.

Luo Xuejun gently closed the door and went out.

He returned to his outer office and sat down.

The words I said inside just now went through in my mind again.

His mother, his grandmother, and his wife always asked for the first stick of incense for Gao Yuliang when they offered incense—and that was true, without a single misrepresentation.

This was something his grandfather had requested when he was alive. His grandfather repeatedly emphasized to his wife, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter-in-law the immense kindness Secretary Gao had shown the Luo family, and that the whole family should be grateful from the bottom of their hearts.

He also questioned, saying that Secretary Gao couldn't see it.

Grandpa told himself: This isn't something you do for others to see, and you shouldn't show it off. This is something you do for yourself, so that your gratitude towards your leader is genuine.

As his secretary, you'll be spending every day with your boss. Subconscious reactions and subtle gestures can't be faked, or rather, with your level of skill, you wouldn't be able to fake it in front of Secretary Gao.

Therefore, it's important to create a similar atmosphere at home to avoid making mistakes. If your wife doesn't understand and complains that you neglect your family due to work, or complains that Secretary Gao didn't help you with some personal matters, will you bring your emotions into your work? Will you react in any way?

Pretending is a bad strategy; sincerity is the surest way to win.

Therefore, he was genuinely grateful, and his willingness to do something for Secretary Gao was sincere.

But when Secretary Gao said it wasn't necessary, he was genuinely relieved.

This is human nature.

When the conversation turned to his future plans, he was well aware of his own capabilities and thought that being a deputy in the provincial department would be a good option.

This was something he had never even dared to dream of before, until that young assistant county magistrate arrived at the crossroads.

My life is coming to an end, and all that's left is to do what my grandfather and father did: lay a foundation for the next generation.

I wonder if my son will be able to get into Handong University this year.

-

Inside the door, Gao Yuliang began to review the documents again.

He read two lines, then stopped, put the document on the table, leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and sat there for a while.

Luo Xuejun didn't find what he just said, about his family burning incense, vulgar, nor did he consider his willingness to do things for himself to be a performance.

He can still distinguish between people who have been with him for fifteen years.

Those words are true.

This, in fact, is what made him silent.

Having spent so many years in officialdom, I've seen too many clever faces, too many meticulously calculated statements, and too many figures who disappear at crucial moments.

People like Luo Xuejun, who have no outstanding talents or strong backgrounds, but who have honestly followed him for fifteen years without ever causing any trouble or doing anything to embarrass him for personal gain, are actually more rare in officialdom than those who are clever.

He just said that your qualifications are average and you're not among the top people, which is true.

However, loyalty, self-awareness, and restraint of ambition are also talents.

If he insists on pushing for other positions, Luo Xuejun could first be transferred to a post as a deputy mayor, and then return a few years later to a marginal post as a department-level official. There is still hope for him.

But he didn't make that decision.

The reason, of course, is because of her future son-in-law, Liao Qingyuan.

They are about the same age and have similar resumes. Compared to each other, Liao Qingyuan was not supported by his family, but this also made him more resilient and ambitious.

Moreover, Liao Qingyuan has experience as a township and deputy county head, and he also has a connection with Qi Tongwei, so he will definitely go further in the future.

Although Qi Tongwei wouldn't abandon his trusted secretary, as his father-in-law, he certainly had to show his appreciation and make some sacrifices.

He will definitely reserve his political resources for his son-in-law.

As for Ronaldinho, let's find him a good job later.

It's not like he lost out.

Chapter 187 Temporary Presiding Officer

The news of Liu Changsheng's hospitalization was spread in the most discreet way possible.

Without any announcement or notification, Liu Changsheng's secretary, Fang Qing, made a phone call to the main leaders of various departments on a Monday morning, saying that Governor Liu was unwell and undergoing examination and treatment. During his hospitalization, Comrade Qi Tongwei would be in charge of the daily work of the provincial government.

That was all he said, followed by "The Provincial Government Office will issue a separate notice," and then the call ended.

After hanging up the phone, the directors of each department sat in their respective offices, none of them speaking immediately, each pondering the matter in their minds.

Then, work and life continued as usual.

When the news reached the provincial party committee, Bai Jingwen, before Sha Ruijin entered his office, slipped the matter into the very front of the day's morning news materials and reported it to Sha Ruijin.

After listening, Sha Ruijin hummed in agreement, took the materials, went into his office, and closed the door.

When the news reached Gao Yuliang, Luo Xuejun came in to report. Gao Yuliang put down his pen, adjusted his glasses, and asked, "Which hospital?"

Luo Xuejun immediately replied, "I inquired and found out it's the Department of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases at the Provincial Hospital."

Gao Yuliang nodded and said, "Understood." Then he picked up his pen again and continued to review the documents.

When the news reached Tian Guofu, he flipped through the materials at hand without saying anything. After a while, he called his secretary and asked him to arrange for Hou Liangping to come in the afternoon to report on the work progress.