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

Director Ding, having spent a long time in ministries and commissions and in charge of reporting on the political and legal system, had seen all sorts of storms. Seeing that Section Chief Wang only talked about life and avoided work, he immediately understood that there must be something hidden about this matter.

But after all, he was only the director of the Political and Legal Affairs Department of the Public Security Daily, not the director of the Ministry's Supervision and Audit Bureau. He was well aware of the official philosophy of "not being a fool or deaf person, and not being an old man."

He subtly stepped back half a step, giving the "stage" to Director Wang. If things could be calmed down internally, he would be happy to play dumb; if the young man couldn't help but spill some bombshells, it would be an unexpected windfall for him, whether it was digging up an exclusive story or exchanging it for some political resources.

Seeing that Qi Tongwei remained silent and Director Ding was observing, Director Wang felt all the pressure on him. He took a deep breath and unleashed a series of moves:

"Xiao Qi, you've just made a great contribution, and your reputation has already reached the ministry. The department is preparing to cultivate you as a key talent. Your future is bright. How can you give up so easily?" — This is just empty promises.

"You've just made a contribution and you want to resign? If word gets out, your judicial office director and instructor will definitely be criticized. I heard the leaders in the office have always valued you highly, right?" — This is moral blackmail.

"I'll apply for your commendation and bonus from the department as soon as I get back. I'll make it a special case and get it issued as quickly as possible. Young man, look your best and buy yourself some nice clothes!"—This is an offer of bribery.

"I heard your family isn't well-off, and your parents worked hard to send you to school. You should think more about them when you do things, and you can't act impulsively." — This is forced empathy.

"Look, your injuries haven't healed, and your emotions are unstable. Here's what I'll do: I'll grant you three months' leave to rest and recuperate. We'll talk about resigning later, okay?" — This was a delaying tactic.

A series of combined tactics, employing both soft and hard approaches, were executed flawlessly.

Qi Tongwei knew when to stop, and appropriately showed that he was persuaded, nodding slightly: "Okay, boss. I'll follow your instructions."

This is precisely the initial objective he wanted to achieve in this battle.

Chapter 5 Reunion with Gao Yuliang

The footsteps of Director Ding and Section Chief Wang gradually faded into the distance, and the ward door closed softly.

Qi Tongwei closed his eyes wearily and began to review the silent confrontation in his mind.

This seemingly simple conversation actually tested his ability to maintain perfect balance at every turn. His body, still recovering from a serious injury, was already weak, and the intensive hour-long interview beforehand had already exhausted most of his energy. The subsequent dealings with Director Wang required even greater concentration.

He knew perfectly well that suppressing Qi Tongwei was not Director Wang's original intention. Even if Qi Tongwei spoke recklessly without considering the consequences, at most it would only cause the leaders in the department to have a few complaints about Director Wang—it was understandable that Director Wang couldn't control his emotions if he was a person who had just walked through the gates of hell.

As for forcing a hero registered in the ministry to consider leaving? That responsibility doesn't fall on Director Wang's shoulders. After all, the resignation process hadn't even started yet, and people from other levels were already "doing the work."

As for letting Director Ding of the department see a "family scandal," the resources needed to clean up the mess are not something that Director Wang should have to pay out of his own pocket.

Therefore, the patience and resources that Director Wang is willing to expend must not exceed the threshold of "the cost of any slight criticism from the department leaders".

Looking back now, what did Director Wang sacrifice? A few words of lukewarm advice, an early bonus, and three months of insignificant sick leave—were these losses for him?

If Qi Tongwei hadn't known when to back down and had stubbornly refused to budge, exhausting Director Wang's patience or causing the other party to misjudge his true intentions—for example, believing he was determined to be transferred to Beijing to reunite with Chen Yang—then the situation would have taken a sharp turn for the worse. Once the facade crumbled, there would be no turning back, which was definitely not the outcome Qi Tongwei wanted.

He knew nothing about the high-ranking officials in the political and legal system during this period, nor was he familiar with Director Wang's temperament or bottom line. His earlier probing was tantamount to walking a tightrope. Fortunately, everything went smoothly.

He temporarily kept his police uniform, remaining under the protection of the system, and was even granted three precious months of free time to focus wholeheartedly on his exam preparation. The early bonus was a godsend.

The wages at the grassroots level in the mountainous area are meager; he receives only 620 yuan a month. After working for a year and a half, living frugally and sending money home frequently, his savings amount to just over 4,000 yuan. The bonus for this meritorious service is 10,000 yuan, which is clearly stipulated and no one will deduct it.

With 14,000 yuan in hand, he could support his focused studies for the next period of time. Once the exams were settled, he would then seek other ways to raise funds. Right now, time was the most valuable currency and should not be wasted on petty gains.

Qi Tongwei had originally been thinking about sending some money home to his parents. His parents were traditional and had no children in their previous life, which made him feel guilty. He was very willing to give them the opportunity to be filial again in this life.

But then I thought, my parents would just save the money if I sent it back, so I should spend it wisely. So I gave up on the idea.

He asked his colleague Xiao Zhang to buy him books such as "Textbook of Political Economy" and "Western Economics," which he devoured, comparing the knowledge in the books with his understanding of the economic changes of the next decade or so, deconstructing and integrating them. He clearly realized that his theoretical foundation was far inferior to that of students with formal academic backgrounds; his unique and greatest advantage was his vision that transcended the times, the foundation upon which he could take unconventional approaches.

He studied in the special care ward for three days. During that time, nurses would often come over and, under the guise of doing it for his own good, take away his books and prevent him from studying.

After all, he was young and handsome, and had the status of a hero. The young nurses were attracted to him, and even if nothing necessarily happened between them, just talking to him would be good.

That day, Qi Tongwei continued reading in his hospital room. He was engrossed in reading when the book in his hands was snatched away again.

“Nurse Lin, I’ve only been looking at her for less than half an hour. If you don’t believe me, ask Xiao Zhang…” He looked up helplessly, but what came into view was not the smiling nurse, but a middle-aged man with a refined demeanor and a dignified expression.

“Professor Gao?” Qi Tongwei was slightly taken aback. Standing in front of his bed was his mentor, Professor Gao Yuliang, the head of the Department of Political Science and Law at Handong University of Political Science and Law.

He clearly remembered that in his previous life at this time, Gao Yuliang was teaching in Jingzhou and had not come to Lincheng to visit him.

Gao Yuliang responded, his gaze already fixed on the book "Western Economics" in his hands. He carefully examined the annotations and thoughts left by Qi Tongwei on the pages, his expression focused. After a long while, he finally turned the book back to its original place and handed it back to Qi Tongwei.

A slight smile finally appeared on his tense face, and he nodded approvingly, "Not bad, Tongwei. You've really improved this time."

Before his rebirth, he and Gao Yuliang had become so distrustful of each other that they were almost at odds, for various reasons, and he hadn't received his teacher's praise in a long time.

Qi Tongwei felt a warmth in his heart and smiled, "You also taught our political classes, it's all about serving the people."

Gao Yuliang nodded, his gaze deep: "I'm not just referring to that. What makes me even more gratified is that after experiencing all these changes, you've been able to settle down and focus on your studies. That's true growth."

Upon hearing this, Qi Tongwei was stunned. In a daze, it was as if he had returned to his previous life, to the scene where he was criticized by Gao Yuliang for his impatience when facing the heavy pressure brought by Sha Ruijin.

Gao Yuliang continued earnestly, “Tongwei, I have never doubted your ability and ambition. But acting too hastily may not be a blessing for your career. I know your background, and opportunities are hard to come by. You want to seize every opportunity you get. This ambition can be a driving force at times, but more often it will become your weakness. You should know that many times, it is better to be slow than hasty, and better to be still than to act.”

These principles had been repeatedly taught by Gao Yuliang in his previous life, but by then Gao Yuliang was arrogant and ambitious, and wouldn't listen. Now, however, he understood and appreciated them differently.

Qi Tongwei composed himself and returned to his original question: "Professor, what brings you to Yantai? Is there some academic conference?"

Gao Yuliang shook his head: "I came here specifically to see you."

Qi Tongwei understood. Following the course of his previous life, if Gao Yuliang were in Yantai on business, he would definitely have come to see him. The change in his itinerary was most likely due to something Liang Lu said to Teacher Wu, which prompted the teacher to make this special trip.

"Have you and Liang Lu completely come out?" Gao Yuliang asked, though it was a question, his tone was already certain.

Qi Tongwei nodded.

Gao Yuliang sighed softly, with a hint of regret and a touch of determination: "Very well, hesitation only leads to more trouble. You shouldn't stay in Handong any longer; there are too many constraints and your development is limited. I have a senior classmate who is a professor in the law department at Aurora University; I recommend you to study for your doctorate under him. A good man should have ambitions beyond his immediate surroundings; you should broaden your horizons and not just focus on this small corner of Handong."

He then pulled an envelope from his pocket, as if it had been prepared beforehand: "This is my letter of recommendation; I've already made the arrangements."

Qi Tongwei took the heavy letter and remained silent for a long time. In his past life, he and Gao Yuliang had gone astray together and wronged many people, but upon reflection, this teacher had never mistreated him.

However, he finally raised his head to meet Gao Yuliang's serious yet undisguisedly concerned gaze, and said firmly:

"Teacher, I'm not going to Shanghai."

Chapter 6 Letter of Recommendation

Gao Yuliang frowned slightly and advised gently, "Staying in Handong will be fraught with difficulties, and going to Shanghai to pursue a doctorate will open up a whole new world for you!"

He picked up the book "Western Economics" from Qi Tongwei's bedside table and tapped the spine with his fingertips: "Tongwei, you need to change your mindset. Just like what the Western Economics book you're reading says: Don't be bound by sunk costs. Your so-called golden rice bowl is not worth clinging to. The merits you earned with your life at Guying Ridge will be recorded in your archives forever. That is your true capital."

His gaze was deep, and his words were earnest: "Withdrawing in time is the best course of action. When you graduate with your PhD from Aurora University and are assigned a job, you'll start as a section chief. That's much better than you toiling away in Handong."

Qi Tongwei smiled slightly. As expected of master and disciple for so many years, even their solutions to the problem were identical. For him in his past life, this was indeed the optimal solution. But for the reborn Director Qi, it was only second-best.

In politics, Shanghai ultimately cannot compare to Beijing—it's the political center, teeming with ministries, and the level of connections and opportunities is incomparable. As for universities, Aurora University is far inferior to Peking University, both in terms of its academic atmosphere with its many renowned scholars and the network of connections formed by classmates. And in terms of academic specialization, during the turbulent era of reform and opening up, economics' influence on the nation's destiny far surpassed that of politics and law.

Thinking of this, Qi Tongwei shook his head firmly. Before Gao Yuliang could continue to persuade him, he raised the book "Western Economics" in his hand, his eyes burning with determination:

“Professor, I also plan to pursue a doctorate, but I want to apply for a doctorate in economics.”

Gao Yuliang's brows furrowed even deeper. This was a huge leap. He had originally thought his disciple was studying economics simply to broaden his knowledge, but he hadn't expected him to be planning to "change schools."

It wasn't that he had any sectarian prejudice. Qi Tongwei had studied law diligently for six years—four years of undergraduate studies and two years of master's studies, graduating early—and had already accumulated a solid foundation in the field. With his own recommendation letter and this achievement, entering Aurora University to pursue a doctorate in law was a natural progression.

The letter of recommendation was written for his senior, who was also a law professor, while Qi Tongwei's achievements were presented to the law school of Aurora University by his senior.

However, if one wants to switch to economics, the connections one has built up over the years will be difficult to utilize. After all, this is not the era of academic cliques twenty years later. Most scholars today still maintain their integrity and value academic inheritance when recruiting doctoral students, rather than viewing them as cheap labor as future generations would. Economics professors will rigorously examine the professional foundation of their students.

After pondering for a long time, Gao Yuliang finally spoke, asking the most crucial question: "Why do you want to study economics?"

Qi Tongwei was prepared for this. He sat up straight, his expression solemn: "Teacher, during the anti-drug operation at Guying Ridge, I witnessed firsthand the true face of that drug-producing village. While those villagers are certainly hateful, upon closer examination, aren't they also pitiable? Almost everyone in the village, young and old, was involved in the drug production and trafficking chain. At its root, extreme poverty drove them to take the risk. I realized that simply arresting them won't eradicate the problem. Only by developing the local economy and providing people with legitimate ways to get rich can we fundamentally eliminate the breeding ground for drugs. This is the only way to solve the problem."

I am willing to start from scratch and make greater contributions to the country and its people!

Gao Yuliang gazed at his student's resolute face, a look of satisfaction gradually appearing in his eyes. As a teacher, what could be more gratifying than seeing students find their lifelong aspirations through practice?

"Do you have paper and pen?" Gao Yuliang suddenly asked, his tone different now. "I'll rewrite this letter for you."

As he followed Qi Tongwei's directions to find paper and pen, he earnestly advised, "You can't study in isolation. You still need to go to Shanghai; staying in Handong is too unpredictable. I'll ask my senior to introduce you to an economics professor for guidance. Even if you don't pass the exam the first time, you can try again next year."

He spread out the letter, his tone gentle yet firm: "Life is a long journey, and you are still young. Now that you have set your goals, be down-to-earth and take it one step at a time. Don't be as impatient as before."

Qi Tongwei handed over his pen, the one he used for taking notes; the letter was in the bedside table drawer. Gao Yuliang hunched over his desk and began writing furiously, but paused after writing the first few words, clearly considering his choice of words.

A huge weight lifted from Qi Tongwei's heart. Gao Yuliang's sudden visit was not in the plan, but the result far exceeded expectations. He had originally planned to visit Gao Yuliang after he had recovered enough to ask him to introduce him to an economics professor at Handong University to help him organize his knowledge.

After that, he planned to return to Qijia Village to avoid the hustle and bustle, and at the same time, he would study hard and write a paper on the development of local economy in China as a "stepping stone" based on his advanced vision.

Gao Yuliang's arrangement at this moment was undoubtedly more thorough. Handong University's economics program wasn't particularly strong to begin with, and getting too close to renowned scholars could easily lead to leaks and complications. His teacher's willingness to go to such lengths for him was truly a great favor. He looked down at the envelope in his hand, a warm feeling welling up inside him.

Upon closer inspection, the envelope was not sealed. Gao Yuliang was a steady and reliable person and would not make such a mistake. The fact that it was not sealed meant that he could also view it.

Gao Yuliang caught a glimpse of his movements out of the corner of his eye, but paid no attention and continued to concentrate on writing.

On the other side, Qi Tongwei gently pulled out the letter paper, and the teacher's vigorous and elegant penmanship leaped onto the paper:

Brother Dayu:

See the letter.

I would like to formally recommend my student, Qi Tongwei, to you. He is one of the most outstanding graduates of the Department of Political Science and Law at Handong University in recent years and is currently a grassroots police officer in our province.

Tongwei excelled academically and morally during his time at university, serving as president of the student union and completing his master's degree ahead of schedule with top marks. He possesses a solid theoretical foundation, quick thinking, and a particular talent for dialectical analysis, making him a truly promising individual.

He was seriously injured during a drug bust but still managed to single-handedly dismantle a drug manufacturing den, earning him a commendation from the Ministry of Public Security. Such courage and responsibility are truly rare among young cadres.

I guarantee with my academic integrity that Tongwei is an upright and rigorous scholar, and will certainly live up to the expectations of Aurora University. Given time, he will undoubtedly make significant contributions to the field of law.

However, he tends to be a little hasty in his actions, and I hope you will not hesitate to offer your guidance.

All the necessary materials have been prepared. I would appreciate your assistance. Specific details will be discussed after he arrives in Shanghai.

Best regards

教安

Di Yuliang

On a certain date

Looking at this heartfelt letter of recommendation, Qi Tongwei couldn't help but sigh: the feelings at this time were the most sincere. Teacher Gao had not yet entered the political arena, and he himself had not succumbed to reality. Neither of them had been alienated by power.

What will become of his relationship with his teacher in this life? He can only hope that they will not repeat the mistakes of his previous life.

Chapter 7 Zhen Dan

The train traveled eastward with a rhythmic thud, the scenery outside the window gradually changing from the rolling hills of eastern Handong to the fertile plains of the Jiangnan water towns. Qi Tongwei, still recovering from his injuries, sat by the window. Although somewhat weak, his entire mind was immersed in his macroeconomics textbook. The carriage was filled with the mingled smells of tobacco, sweat, and food, but he seemed oblivious, only occasionally scribbling notes along the margins, making the most of every second.

It was already evening when I arrived in Shanghai. Stepping out of the bustling train station, a wave of heat, carrying with it the city's unique atmosphere, hit me—a faster pace than Handong, a denser flow of people, and the air thick with the salty smell of the sea and the stench of gasoline. The distant whistles of ships echoed from the direction of the Bund. Although Shanghai at this time was not even as prosperous as Jingzhou twenty years later, it was already beginning to take shape as an international metropolis. English words were starting to appear on the shop signs along the streets, and the clothing of pedestrians was becoming more fashionable and diverse.

Qi Tongwei had no time to savor the charm of the city. Following the map, he took two buses and headed straight for Aurora University.