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

Liao Qingyuan was stumped by the question. He had indeed not thought that far ahead, or rather, he lacked such a broad perspective.

“What did he need back then? Support from superiors was certainly essential. But—” Gao Yuliang looked at him with a rare seriousness in his eyes, “No matter what you do, to succeed, support from below is even more indispensable.”

“This incident has blown up so big that you, who are by Tongwei’s side, may not feel it as deeply. But most of the mid- to senior-level cadres in Handong are on tenterhooks. Projects are being investigated, funds are being frozen, will the higher-ups investigate them? Will they be implicated because they handled a certain project in the past? These people are filled with fear and anxiety.”

He held up one finger.

"This time, Tong Wei brought his own food and personally went to Beijing to mediate and quell the incident. Shouldn't those cadres who were on tenterhooks owe him a favor? In the future, whatever he wants to do, as long as it doesn't infringe on their core interests, shouldn't these people give him their full support?"

His voice deepened further.

“Often, ‘full support’ and ‘support’ are two different things. Not to mention ‘full support’ and ‘opposition’.”

Something suddenly dawned on Liao Qingyuan's mind. He blurted out, "Governor Qi didn't exchange resources with Secretary Sha, but instead used this incident to win over the hearts and minds of most of the officials in Handong?"

Gao Yuliang looked at him with a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.

“Only by not exchanging resources can we win people’s hearts. Once we do, it’s like Secretary Sha is making amends for his mistakes, and Tong Wei is just ‘assisting and cooperating,’ and then we can’t win people’s hearts.”

Liao Qingyuan nodded heavily, and the doubts that had been weighing on his mind were finally resolved one by one.

Seeing that he had figured it out, Gao Yuliang refilled his teacup with hot water and softened his tone.

"Xiao Liao, if you stay with Tongwei for another two or three years, then let him go. If you work as a secretary for too long, you'll develop bad habits. That's not a good thing."

Liao Qingyuan did not immediately agree, but cautiously said, "I will follow Governor Qi's arrangements."

Gao Yuliang smiled. Liao Qingyuan still knew when to advance and retreat and understood the proper boundaries, which made him feel a little more admiring.

Liao Qingyuan thought for a moment and then asked a more in-depth question: "Secretary Yuliang, if I were to govern a region in the future and encounter a similar situation, and want to adopt a plan similar to Governor Qi's, how should I strike a balance?"

Gao Yuliang glanced at him, his approval deepening. This question showed that Liao Qingyuan wasn't just thinking about Qi Tongwei, but also considering his own future actions.

“That depends on your own experience and judgment,” Gao Yuliang said. “Everyone’s position, situation, and the cards they are dealt are different, so there is no one-size-fits-all answer.”

He paused, his tone firm.

"But if you're really not sure, just remember four words—better to go left than right."

Liao Qingyuan pondered carefully: "Better left than right?"

"Not letting the interests of the Party and the people be harmed is the premise of everything." Gao Yuliang's voice was not loud, but firm and powerful. "No matter what decision you make, or how you weigh the pros and cons, as long as you hold this bottom line, you will not make a big mistake. Under this premise, you can assess the situation, adapt to circumstances, and make choices. But if you lose this premise, everything you do will be wrong."

Liao Qingyuan pondered those four words in his mind several times, then nodded solemnly.

-

Under the same night sky, a flight from Jingzhou landed at Beijing Capital International Airport.

The cabin door opened, and a night wind rushed in, carrying the dry chill of the north. Qi Tongwei straightened his collar and stepped down the gangway.

Staff from the Handong Province's Beijing office were already waiting at the exit. The office director, surnamed Fang, was in his early forties, wearing black-rimmed glasses and a dark jacket. Upon seeing Qi Tongwei emerge, he quickly went to greet him respectfully.

"Governor Qi, you must be tired from your journey. The car is waiting outside. Shall we go to the Beijing Liaison Office to rest now?"

Qi Tongwei shook his head, his tone calm but unquestionable: "No. Take me directly to the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission's dormitory. Then you can go back and pick me up at seven o'clock tomorrow morning."

Chapter 216 Public Relations

The car came to a steady stop in front of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission's dormitory.

In late autumn in Beijing, the night air was already quite chilly. Qi Tongwei got out of the car, straightened his collar, and walked alone into the gray-white building without the staff from the Beijing Liaison Office following him.

He went up to the third floor, stopped in front of the familiar door, and rang the doorbell.

The door opened quickly. Han Shen was wearing a dark-colored loungewear set, his hair was gray but neatly combed, and he had a gentle smile on his face.

"You're here? Come in."

Qi Tongwei entered the house, expertly changed into slippers, and placed his briefcase in the entryway. The living room light was on, and two cups of tea, still steaming, sat on the coffee table. They were clearly freshly brewed.

"Uncle, it's so late, I'm disturbing your rest." Qi Tongwei's tone was respectful but not formal. In front of Han Shen, he didn't need to put on airs as a provincial governor.

"What do you mean by disturbing me? I'm getting old, I don't need much sleep." Han Shen sat down on the sofa and pointed to the seat opposite him. "Sit down. Your aunt went to take care of your cousin's grandson, so I'm all alone here. It's convenient for us to talk."

Qi Tongwei sat down, picked up his teacup, blew on it, and took a sip to moisten his throat.

Han Shen leaned back on the sofa, his gaze sweeping over Qi Tongwei's face. Without exchanging pleasantries, he went straight to the point.

Tell me the details of the current situation.

Han Shen was naturally aware of this trip to Beijing and greatly approved of his decision.

Qi Tongwei knew there was no need to beat around the bush with Han Shen, so he briefly explained the situation regarding the letter from the National Development and Reform Commission, the special audit by the National Audit Office, and the self-inspection requirements from the Ministry of Natural Resources. He spoke slowly but clearly, emphasizing the key points and glossing over what needed to be mentioned.

After listening, Han Shen picked up his teacup, took a sip, put it down, and then slowly began to speak.

“I’m in charge of State-owned Assets now, so you don’t need to worry about it. The National Development and Reform Commission is your home, so it’s easy for you to communicate with them. The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development are also easy to talk to.”

Qi Tongwei looked at him and nodded.

It's not that these matters are easy to handle. Rather, it's that these ministries themselves don't have a strong desire to reopen old wounds. You see, if they were to thoroughly investigate, not only would Handong be in trouble, but the ministry staff responsible for approving these projects back then would also be in a bad way.

However, the whistleblower's materials were detailed, and with Zhao Lichun pushing for it from behind, they had no choice but to proceed.

But this doesn't mean that Qi Tongwei is just going through the motions and giving them a way out.

The price that must be paid must be paid in full.

But as long as you can get through by paying a price, that's already pretty good; it's just a matter of how much. Since Qi Tongwei has come, he's mentally prepared.

Han Shen then changed the subject: "But the key lies with the National Audit Office. Getting past Auditor General Zhu Jinting won't be easy."

Qi Tongwei paused slightly as he drank the water.

Han Shen continued, “The National Audit Office is different from other agencies. They don’t have direct business dealings with the provinces and cities below them, and they are highly independent. Their nature also doesn’t allow them to have close ties with the lower levels—otherwise, how could they maintain the objectivity and impartiality of their audits?”

He paused, his tone becoming more serious.

"Auditor General Zhu Jinting has taken this trait to the extreme. Known as the Iron-Faced Judge, he is notoriously unyielding within the system. It's not an easy task to persuade him."

Qi Tongwei remained silent for a moment. Of course, he knew Zhu Jinting. He had dealt with this man several times before, and each time he had left a deep impression—he didn't drink, didn't socialize, didn't talk about personal relationships, and only spoke of data and facts. In front of him, any attempt to play the emotional card or build connections would backfire.

“The special audit team has already entered Handong,” Qi Tongwei said. “I don’t know what the audit results are yet. They just keep asking for various materials, but they don’t give any conclusions or give any information.”

Han Shen thought for a moment and said, "Go and visit the other ministries first. The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Natural Resources, and the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, one by one. Leave the National Audit Office for last. If all else fails, as long as only the National Audit Office keeps pressing us, the impact can be controlled within a certain range. We won't lose everything."

The two discussed the matter at length. Han Shen analyzed the key figures and crucial moments in several ministries one by one: who could be met, who couldn't; who could negotiate terms, who could only be persuaded through emotional appeals; who needed an exchange of benefits, and who only needed a way out. The analysis was very detailed, down to each person's personality, style of handling affairs, and actual influence within their organization.

As Qi Tongwei listened, he took notes in his mind. He already knew some of the information, but Han Shen's perspective was broader and deeper, allowing him to add details that Qi Tongwei hadn't considered, beyond what he already knew.

We chatted until 2 a.m., when the night outside the window had become as dark as ink.

Han Shen yawned, stood up, and said, "I'll stay here tonight. The guest room is ready."

Qi Tongwei nodded without standing on ceremony. He didn't plan to go home this time either; he didn't have time for sentimental matters right now.

-

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Qi Tongwei got up.

He quickly washed up, changed his clothes, and left with his briefcase. The Beijing office's car was already waiting downstairs. Director Fang stood beside the car, holding a cup of hot soy milk and steamed buns. Seeing Qi Tongwei come out, she hurriedly went to greet him.

"Governor Qi, breakfast is served."

Qi Tongwei took the soy milk, took a sip, and said, "Let's go. Let's go to the Development and Reform Commission first."

For the next two days, Qi Tongwei worked like a finely tuned machine, running from one ministry to another.

The process with the Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) was the smoothest. He had worked there before, had old colleagues and superiors, and was well-connected, making it easy to talk to them. The NDRC's deputy director in charge of investment was an old acquaintance; upon meeting, there was no small talk, and he went straight to the point: "Old Qi, what are your demands in Handong?"

Qi Tongwei said, "Could the items on the letter be changed from 'comprehensive verification' to 'self-inspection within a time limit'? Verification is when the top checks the bottom, while self-inspection is when you check yourself. The result is the same, but it looks better on the surface and is easier to follow the procedures."

The deputy director thought for a moment and said, "Okay. But your self-inspection report must be well-written. You can't just do a shoddy job."

Qi Tongwei nodded: "Don't worry about that."

There were some minor hiccups with other ministries, but overall things went smoothly.

Given Qi Tongwei's current rank and status as a sect's holy son, there was no situation like Zhao Dehan refusing to let the vice governor in; everyone was very friendly.

In two days, all ministries except the National Audit Office were dealt with.

On the last afternoon, he went to the National Audit Office.

The National Audit Office building is located in the XC district. It's a gray-white, square, and austere building, devoid of any superfluous decorations. The security guard at the entrance verified his identity, made a phone call, and allowed him to enter. Qi Tongwei walked in alone, without any entourage.

Zhu Jinting's office was on the eighth floor. The corridor was quiet, and the lights were a cold, white. His secretary led him in, poured him a glass of water, and then left, closing the door behind him.

Zhu Jinting sat behind his desk, wearing a dark gray jacket. His hair was gray, his face was thin, and he wore reading glasses. On the table in front of him lay a document, densely packed with numbers, which looked like a draft of an audit report.

Seeing Qi Tongwei enter, he took off his reading glasses and placed them on the table. He didn't get up, but simply raised his chin and pointed to the chair opposite him.

"Governor Qi, please sit down."

His tone was neither warm nor cold, and there was no small talk or polite conversation.

He sat down in the chair, his back straight, and took the initiative to speak:

"Auditor Zhu, I apologize for bothering you. I'm here today to report on some recent developments in Handong Province."

Zhu Jinting looked up at him, waiting for him to continue.

Qi Tongwei didn't beat around the bush. He knew that any embellishment was superfluous in front of Zhu Jinting. He directly stated the current situation in Handong Province—after Li Dakang was taken away, morale in the officialdom was low; the project inspections triggered by the NDRC's letter were making investors hesitant; major projects such as the Guangming Peak project and the shantytown renovation faced the risk of stagnation; the capital chains of provincial state-owned enterprises had reached their limit; if there was no room for maneuver, Handong's economy might experience a precipitous decline by the end of the year.

He spoke objectively, without exaggeration or concealment. Every figure had a source, and every judgment was based on evidence. He spoke as if he were giving a work report.

After listening, Zhu Jinting remained expressionless: "Governor Qi, you don't need to tell me these things. The National Audit Office doesn't handle these matters."

Qi Tongwei looked at him.

"The National Audit Office's special audit team has been stationed in Handong, and their work is underway. Based on the current feedback, the debt problem of state-owned enterprises in Handong Province does exist, but it has not yet reached an uncontrollable level." Zhu Jinting's tone was very calm, as calm as a still lake. "An audit is an audit. Our responsibility is to investigate the situation thoroughly and report to our superiors objectively and impartially. As for how to handle it, that's a matter for our superiors."

Qi Tongwei knew that this was Zhu Jinting's bottom line—auditing was only responsible for "investigating," not "judging." He did not interfere with his superiors' decisions, nor did he allow anyone to interfere with his audits.

“Auditor Zhu, I don’t mean to affect the objectivity and impartiality of the audit team.” Qi Tongwei carefully chose his words, speaking a little slower than usual. “I just want to ask—could we slow down the progress a little? We don’t need to change any conclusions or modify any data. We just need to extend the timeframe and give Handong a chance to catch its breath.”

He paused.

"Once this sensitive period passes, the Handong Provincial Government will fully cooperate with any necessary audits. We will provide whatever you need to investigate; we will deliver any materials you require as soon as possible. But right now—Handong simply cannot withstand any more storms."

Zhu Jinting's gaze sharpened:

"Governor Qi, are you teaching me how to conduct an audit?"

Qi Tongwei did not back down.