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

Li Dakang still had a smile on his face: "It's nothing. I just came down from Secretary Sha's place and wanted to come and sit with Secretary Yuliang. Is Secretary Yuliang busy?"

Instead of answering directly, Luo Xuejun first gestured for him to sit down: "Secretary Li, please sit down first. I'll go see if it's convenient for Secretary Gao."

He made Li Dakang a cup of tea before knocking on the door and entering the inner room.

Gao Yuliang was leaning back in his chair, flipping through the "Veritable Records of the Ming Dynasty," when he heard Luo Xuejun say that Li Dakang had arrived. He frowned slightly and asked, "Li Dakang? What's he doing here?"

"Secretary Li didn't say anything, he just said he came to sit for a while."

Gao Yuliang put down his book and rubbed his temples. During this time, he had gradually come to enjoy the feeling of being idle, and his interest in Ming history had deepened from introductory texts like *The Fifteenth Year of Wanli* to the *Veritable Records of the Ming Dynasty*. But Li Dakang had arrived, and there was no reason to hide from him.

He stood up and walked towards the reception area in the outer room.

Pushing open the door, Gao Yuliang smiled and asked, "What brings Secretary Dakang here?"

Li Dakang was looking around the reception room when he heard the voice and stood up: "It's summer, so naturally the wind blows from the south."

After exchanging a few polite words, the two took their seats. Luo Xuejun poured Gao Yuliang a glass of water and then tactfully withdrew.

Gao Yuliang picked up his cup: "I heard from Xiao Luo that you just came from Secretary Sha's place?"

Li Dakang sighed: "Yes, we talked about some things."

"What do you want?"

Li Dakang laughed: "Secretary Yuliang's personality has changed quite a bit. Before, when I came to you, you would always beat around the bush before getting down to business, but now you're much more direct."

Gao Yuliang smiled and said, "I'm about to retire, and I've come to terms with some things."

“Yes, it’s good to be open-minded,” Li Dakang said. “I wonder if we’ll be able to play chess together in the same sanatorium someday.”

“You’re younger than me, and you still have several years of hard work ahead of you. Let’s play chess together again when you’ve retired.”

"I wonder if we can be in the same sanatorium."

Gao Yuliang sensed something was amiss and asked calmly, "What did Secretary Sha promise you? You still want to go to Shuntian for recuperation?"

Li Dakang laughed, revealing his gums: "That's hard to say."

After saying that, she changed the subject: "Let's not talk about that. Secretary Yuliang, when was the first time we met?"

Gao Yuliang sensed something was amiss, but didn't press for details, so he went along with what he said: "It was that time we went to the United States together to study public administration."

Li Dakang looked nostalgic: "Yes. We were training together in the foreign affairs department back then. Governor Qi was still working at the Economic Commission at the time, and I even asked you to make the connection so we could have a meal together. So many years have passed in the blink of an eye."

Gao Yuliang was also full of memories: "Yes, it's been twenty years."

"Secretary Yuliang, you have a good student."

Gao Yuliang smiled gently: "I miss the days when I was teaching at Han University. Interpersonal relationships were simple, and I could just focus on teaching my students well."

Li Dakang continued, "Looking back, there were only three times in recent years when I was most carefree and innocent—when I was in college, when I was in Jinshan County and only thought about building roads, and when I went to the United States to study."

"Back then, it wasn't the 21st century yet, and the country hadn't developed to what it is today. Going to America was like country bumpkins going to the city..."

“Yes,” Li Dakang said, “I thought to myself at the time that I must study hard and come back to build Handong into a place like America, so that the people can live a good life.”

"Secretary Dakang, you did it."

Li Dakang waved his hand: "It's still a long way off."

"Don't be modest. Your contributions to Jinshan County, Lincheng, and Jingzhou are obvious to all."

“Secretary Yuliang, how could you, a theorist, fall into the trap of a heroic view of history? It’s all about the hard work and struggle of the people.”

After saying that, the two looked at each other and laughed.

Back in the US, after studying during the day, we would sit together and discuss things like this in the evenings, sometimes even resorting to personal attacks.

But they never took it to heart.

Those days seem somewhat hazy when I think back on them now.

"Those were such simple times," Gao Yuliang said. "We went to class during the day, did homework at night, and rode Greyhound buses around on weekends. The food wasn't great, and the accommodations were so-so, but we felt really at peace."

Li Dakang sighed, "Do you remember that pot of rice I cooked in America back then? It smelled so good."

"It's a pity we can never eat it again."

Gao Yuliang opened his mouth, as if to say something.

Li Dakang had already stood up and waved his hand:

"gone."

Without waiting for Gao Yuliang's response, he turned and walked towards the door. His steps were still steady, his back still straight, but this time, there seemed to be a hint of desolation in his expression.

It felt like a farewell.

Gao Yuliang returned to his desk, picked up the book "Ming Shilu" (Veritable Records of the Ming Dynasty), opened it, but couldn't read a single word.

Before Gao Yuliang could figure out any results, he received a notice the next day at work that Sha Ruijin was going to convene an emergency standing committee meeting.

Chapter 195 The Candidate (5.5k)

The provincial party committee's temporary standing committee meeting was announced very suddenly.

At 8:30 a.m., Bai Jingwen began calling each member of the Standing Committee one by one, saying that Secretary Sha had convened a meeting at 10:00 a.m. to discuss the selection of the Secretary of the Jingzhou Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection. The calls were brief, without any further explanation, but those who received the calls understood that the word "temporary" meant that Sha Ruijin did not want to give anyone too much time to prepare.

The news that Zhang Shuli, secretary of the Jingzhou Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection, was taken away by the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection last night has only just begun to circulate within the circle.

Zhang Shuli had worked in the discipline inspection system for over a decade, rising from the district discipline inspection secretary to the municipal discipline inspection secretary in Jingzhou City, accumulating considerable influence. However, even the deepest roots couldn't withstand direct action from the provincial discipline inspection commission. Tian Guofu's explanation was "suspected of serious disciplinary violations," without specifying the details. But the fact that Sha Ruijin convened a special meeting of the Standing Committee to discuss a successor indicates that Zhang Shuli's case was significant and that Sha Ruijin didn't want a vacancy in the position.

10:00 AM, Provincial Party Committee Meeting Room.

Everyone has arrived.

The oval table was packed with twelve chairs.

Sha Ruijin sat in the main seat, with Qi Tongwei to his right and Gao Yuliang to his left. Tian Guofu, Wu Chunlin, and Li Dakang were lined up in order. In front of each of them was a thin document—a preliminary list of candidates for the position of Secretary of the Jingzhou Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection, prepared by the Organization Department.

There are only two people on the list.

One is Zhao Zhigang, director of the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Office of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection. He has worked in the discipline inspection system for twenty years and is highly competent, but he has always worked at the provincial level and has no experience in local work. The other is Qian Feng, executive deputy secretary of the Jingzhou Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection. He worked under Zhang Shuli for six years and is familiar with the situation in Jingzhou, but his relationship with Tian Guofu is not good.

Sha Ruijin tapped on the table, and the conference room fell silent.

"Comrades, I've called you all here today on short notice because of one thing—the selection of the Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission of Jingzhou City." His voice was not loud, but very clear. "I won't say much about Zhang Shuli's matter; the Discipline Inspection Commission is investigating it. Jingzhou is the provincial capital, and it bears great responsibility. This position in the Discipline Inspection Commission cannot be vacant. Today's meeting is to decide who will take over."

He looked at Wu Chunlin: "Comrade Chunlin, please introduce the situation first."

Wu Chunlin opened the materials in front of him and cleared his throat: "Okay, Secretary Sha. Based on the initial communication between the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department and the Discipline Inspection Commission, we have initially selected two comrades as candidates. The first one is Zhao Zhigang, male, fifty-two years old, director of the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Office of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission. He has worked in the Discipline Inspection Commission system for twenty-one years, has strong professional skills, and is experienced in handling cases. He has presided over many cases..." He read out a long resume, with numbers, years, and positions, reciting it meticulously.

"The second one is Qian Feng, male, 49 years old, the executive deputy secretary of the Jingzhou Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection. He has worked in the discipline inspection system for seventeen years, is familiar with the situation in Jingzhou, has a clear understanding of the number of cadres under the city's management, and has a good mass base..."

After Wu Chunlin finished reading, he closed the document and looked at Sha Ruijin.

Sha Ruijin nodded, but did not immediately express his opinion. Instead, he looked around and said, "Everyone, please speak up. The position of Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission of Jingzhou City is of great importance. It is not just a matter for the Organization Department. Everyone here should give their opinions."

The meeting room was silent for a few seconds.

Gao Yuliang picked up his teacup, took a slow sip, put it down, and then adjusted his glasses. This was the prelude to his speech, something everyone present was familiar with.

"Let me say a few words first." His tone was calm. "Comrades Zhao Zhigang and Qian Feng are both good cadres. Comrade Zhao Zhigang is very competent. In his years at the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, he has handled several significant cases, so he is capable. But in the work of the Commission for Discipline Inspection, competence alone is not enough; one must also be politically astute. The situation in Jingzhou is complex. The position of Secretary of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection means facing Jingzhou's municipal-level cadres, the top party and government leaders of various districts and counties, and those seasoned veterans who have been working at the grassroots level for decades. Whether a cadre without local work experience can hold his own after going down there is a question."

He paused for a moment and looked at Wu Chunlin: "I'm not negating Comrade Zhao Zhigang. I'm saying that the special nature of this position requires us to consider it carefully."

Wu Chunlin nodded but did not reply.

Gao Yuliang continued, “Comrade Qian Feng has worked in Jingzhou for so many years, he is familiar with the situation and the people, and he can get started quickly. But there are also problems—he worked under Zhang Shuli for six years, and when Zhang Shuli had problems, did he, as the executive deputy secretary, bear any responsibility? Should he recuse himself? I think this issue needs to be clarified.”

That was a clever way of putting it. It neither strongly supported nor strongly opposed either person, but pointed out the weaknesses of both, and then passed the buck back to the point.

This aligns with Gao Yuliang's current positioning as a non-stick pan.

Sha Ruijin listened without commenting, then looked at Qi Tongwei and asked, "Comrade Tongwei, what do you think?"

Qi Tongwei leaned back in his chair, his expression calm, and his tone unhurried: "I agree with Comrade Yuliang's assessment—this position requires someone familiar with the local situation. Jingzhou is the provincial capital, with a large cadre team and complex relationships. If someone unfamiliar with the situation goes down there, it will take half a year just to get a clear picture of the situation. During these six months, the work of the Discipline Inspection Commission cannot stop; we cannot afford to delay."

He paused for a moment, then said, "But I also agree with another of Comrade Yuliang's assessments—Qian Feng worked under Zhang Shuli for six years, and the extent of Zhang Shuli's problems is still under investigation by the Discipline Inspection Commission. If Qian Feng is involved, even if it's just due to negligence, putting him in this position will put him in a passive position in the future."

"So, what does Governor Qi mean?" Tian Guofu interjected.

Qi Tongwei smiled and said, "What I mean is, neither of these two people is quite suitable."

There was a moment of silence in the conference room.

Sha Ruijin looked at him, his eyes revealing no emotion: "Comrade Tongwei, is there a more suitable candidate?"

Qi Tongwei shook his head: "I'm not the Minister of Organization, and I don't have a list. I'm just stating the facts—since we're holding this Standing Committee meeting and appointing this person, we need to find someone who is impeccable in every aspect. Zhao Zhigang lacks local experience, and Qian Feng poses a potential risk. The fact that these two candidates are being presented shows that the Organization Department's initial screening needs to be broadened further."

This was said very politely, but the meaning was very clear—I am not satisfied with either of the two people you mentioned.

Wu Chunlin's expression changed slightly, but he didn't say anything. As the head of the organization department, it would be embarrassing for him to have his nominee questioned, but Qi Tongwei was now the acting governor, and his words carried different weight.

Li Dakang remained silent. He sat there, the documents in front of him open, but his gaze wasn't on them; instead, he seemed lost in thought, as if daydreaming.

Sha Ruijin noticed this and called on him by name: "Comrade Dakang, you are the Secretary of the Jingzhou Municipal Party Committee. Your opinion is very important for this position in the Discipline Inspection Commission. Speak up."

Li Dakang raised his head, his gaze swept around the conference room, and then fell back on Sha Ruijin's face.

"Secretary Sha, comrades," his voice was steady, but less sharp than usual, "I certainly hope that the position of Secretary of the Jingzhou Discipline Inspection Commission will be filled as soon as possible. After Zhang Shuli's incident, the work of the Discipline Inspection Commission cannot stop. The districts, counties, and municipal departments below are all watching. But I don't know much about the two comrades proposed by the Organization Department, so I can't make a rash statement."

He paused, then added, "I'll only mention one thing—whoever comes must be capable, daring, and unafraid of offending people. The cadre team in Jingzhou has accumulated some problems over the years, and the Discipline Inspection Commission needs to take action. If the Discipline Inspection Commission secretary who comes is a peacemaker, then it's better not to replace him at all."

This statement was frank, but it was essentially saying nothing at all. It neither supported Zhao Zhigang nor Qian Feng; it merely made a vague request.

For all discipline inspection cadres, the most basic requirement is that they are not afraid of offending people.

This requirement is essentially nonexistent.

Sha Ruijin nodded and did not ask any further questions.

At this point, Tian Guofu spoke up.

“Secretary Sha, I’d also like to say a few words.” His voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear. “Just now, Comrade Yuliang and Comrade Tongwei both raised a key issue—this position requires familiarity with the situation, but also cannot be too entangled with the interests of Jingzhou. To be honest, it’s difficult for Zhao Zhigang and Qian Feng to meet this requirement at the same time.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the faces of everyone present.

"So, I have an idea."

The atmosphere in the meeting room shifted slightly. Tian Guofu was the secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission, and his opinion carried considerable weight in the selection of the secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission for Jingzhou City. He had remained silent until now, indicating that he had come prepared.

Sha Ruijin looked at him and said, "Comrade Guofu, please speak."

Tian Guofu said, “I suggest that we transfer a cadre from outside. This person should meet several conditions: First, he should have local work experience, understand the grassroots, and be able to win people’s respect; second, he should have experience in discipline inspection and supervision work, or at least be able to withstand scrutiny in terms of integrity; third, he should dare to confront tough issues, not be afraid of offending people, and not have any entrenched connections in Jingzhou.”