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

In the red-brick building nestled among the green trees, Qi Tongwei met Professor Wang Dayu. Professor Wang was about the same age as Gao Yuliang, but his demeanor was more relaxed and approachable, and his eyes revealed the clarity unique to scholars.

Qi Tongwei respectfully handed over Gao Yuliang's letter of recommendation. This letter of recommendation was different from the last one. After writing the letter in the ward, Professor Gao went to the nurses' station to ask for glue to carefully seal it, so Qi Tongwei did not know the specific contents of the letter.

Professor Wang took the letter and read it carefully. His expression changed as he read, sometimes nodding, sometimes smiling, and occasionally letting out a knowing sigh. After finishing, he gently placed the letter on the table, removed his glasses, and looked at Qi Tongwei with a gentle gaze:

"Yu Liang praised you to the skies in his letter," Professor Wang's voice carried the gentle warmth characteristic of his Jiangnan accent. "He said you are not only brave and resourceful, performing outstandingly in the fight against drugs, but also possess a profound thoughtfulness beyond your years, making you a rare gem."

He paused, then changed the subject slightly: "However, Tongwei, law and economics are ultimately two different paths. Yuliang said you are determined to pursue this, so naturally I will do my best to help you."

Qi Tongwei quickly stood up and bowed deeply: "Thank you, Professor Wang."

Wang Dayu waved his hand, picked up the thermos and poured Qi Tongwei a glass of water, saying, "Sit down for a while, I'll go prepare something and come back shortly."

After saying that, he left the office.

In an unfamiliar environment, especially at a prestigious university like Aurora University, most people would either look around anxiously or feel restless. But Qi Tongwei simply sat quietly, took a short rest, and then took out his Microeconomics textbook from his backpack to continue studying with focused concentration.

About an hour later, Wang Dayu returned carrying a bag. Seeing Qi Tongwei still engrossed in his reading, he nodded secretly, his eyes showing approval. Upon seeing Professor Wang return, Qi Tongwei quickly stood up.

Wang Dayu waved for Qi Tongwei to sit down. He took out a thick envelope from his bag and pushed it in front of Qi Tongwei: "There is ten thousand yuan in here. Yu Liang specifically asked me to give it to you in his letter. He knows that you have just started working and your family is not well-off. You are studying abroad and need money everywhere."

Qi Tongwei was taken aback, then quickly refused, "Professor Wang, this won't do. Teacher Gao has already helped me a lot, I can't accept this money."

Wang Dayu, however, was resolute, his tone carrying the concern typical of an elder: "Take it. This is a token of your teacher's goodwill. He specially came all the way from Handong to make sure you accept it, just in case you don't want to. If you really feel bad about it, you can repay him properly when you've completed your studies. For now, accept it with peace of mind and focus on your studies."

Seeing that Qi Tongwei was still hesitating, he smiled and said, "If you are really uneasy, you can return it to him in person when you go back to Handong. But for now, you have to follow my arrangements."

Qi Tongwei knew that refusing again would be pretentious, so he had no choice but to accept the heavy envelope and said solemnly, "Thank you, Professor Wang, and please also thank Teacher Gao on my behalf."

"That's right." Wang Dayu nodded in satisfaction, then picked up the phone and dialed a number. A short while later, a young lecturer who looked to be in his early thirties, wearing glasses and with a focused expression, knocked on the door and entered.

"Come, let me introduce you." Professor Wang pointed to the person who came and said to Qi Tongwei, "This is Shen Yi, a young teacher in our economics department. He has a very solid theoretical foundation. I asked him to help you sort out the knowledge framework of economics first."

He then instructed Shen Yi: "Xiao Shen, this is Xiao Qi, Qi Tongwei, from Handong. He's Professor Yu Liang's top student and is preparing to apply for a doctorate in economics. Help him find out where he should start."

Shen Yi adjusted his glasses, carefully examined Qi Tongwei, and then gave him a friendly smile: "Comrade Qi, please come with me."

He led Qi Tongwei to a quiet classroom, exchanged brief pleasantries, and then got straight to the point. During the subsequent tutoring, Shen Yi quickly discovered that Qi Tongwei's grasp of classic Western economic theories was indeed superficial, and some basic models and formulas needed to be explained from scratch.

However, when the conversation shifted from books to reality, discussing the ongoing price reforms in China, the rise of township and village enterprises, and the predicament of state-owned enterprise reform, Qi Tongwei's eyes immediately changed. His thinking was extremely active; he often stepped outside the framework of classical theories, combining his observations at the grassroots level to offer seemingly bold yet insightful perspectives.

Shen Yi was surprised by his intuition about the macroeconomic situation, his judgment on the difficulties of reform, and his "premonition" about future development trends.

“Comrade Qi, your theoretical foundation needs to be systematically strengthened,” Shen Yi said frankly, “but your perception and insight into the real economy are very rare. This is very valuable, and many people who bury themselves in books lack this kind of ‘groundedness’ and vision.”

Qi Tongwei understood that this so-called "perception" was precisely the result of his vision that was twenty years ahead of his time. What he needed was a guide like Shen Yi who could help him quickly build a theoretical framework so that he could transform those vague "premonitions" in his mind into rigorous and credible academic expressions.

At the end of the tutoring session, Shen Yi closed his notebook and said sincerely, "Discussions with you have been very fruitful, and we've generated a lot of new ideas. Next, we'll help you build a foundation while we try to systematize these ideas, which may lead to a valuable introductory essay."

He handed Qi Tongwei a reading list: "These are essential foundational textbooks. Get through them as soon as possible. We'll continue next week at the same time."

After Shen Yi left, Qi Tongwei returned to the guesthouse. Gazing at the unfamiliar Shanghai night view outside the window, holding the envelope containing ten thousand yuan in his hand, he felt completely at peace. Gao Yuliang's wholehearted assistance, Wang Dayu's thoughtful arrangements, and Shen Yi's meticulous guidance had cleared away the biggest obstacle on his path to education. The rest of the journey depended on himself; in these limited three months, he had to forge his own way to Peking University.

Chapter 8 The Liang Family

The guesthouse in Shanghai in 1995 was simple in facilities but clean and tidy, and the rooms were spacious. However, the price was staggering—52 yuan a night, almost equivalent to three days' wages for him. This was not originally in Qi Tongwei's plan, but since Professor Wang had already made arrangements, he couldn't refuse his kindness.

The following morning, one of Professor Wang's master's students came to the guesthouse. Following Professor Wang's instructions, he took Qi Tongwei to look for suitable accommodations around the campus. After viewing several places, they finally chose a room that was reasonably priced, quiet, and only a ten-minute walk from Aurora University.

A monthly rent of 200 yuan is not cheap in these days. If it were Qi Tongwei, who had just come from the mountain village, he would definitely have chosen the factory dormitory for 80 yuan a month—even though it was noisy and the night shift workers always made so much noise that it was impossible to sleep.

But now Qi Ting knows that the purpose of money is to spend it where it should be spent, rather than simply saving it.

At that time, the rental market was not very active. If it weren't for Professor Wang's endorsement, these shrewd Shanghai landlords might not have been willing to rent their houses to an outsider who did not work in Shanghai.

Xenophobia in Shanghai has a long history.

After settling in, Qi Tongwei resumed his simple, routine life from his student days. Professor Wang provided him with some meal tickets, and he would get up before dawn every day, have breakfast at the cafeteria, and then immerse himself in the library, diligently studying the extensive collection of books at Aurora University. Every morning or afternoon, when Shen Yi had time, he would come to help him organize his knowledge and answer his questions.

During these two months, Qi Tongwei absorbed economics knowledge voraciously, and his skills improved by leaps and bounds. Meanwhile, in Jingzhou City, thousands of miles away, the Liang family was experiencing a completely different situation.

Liang Qunfeng has two sons and one daughter. His youngest daughter, Liang Lu, is a counselor at Handong University; his eldest son, Liang Yu, is the deputy director of the Provincial Supervision Department's office; and his second son, Liang Jin, is the deputy warden of Handong Provincial Prison. Both are hovering on the edge of deputy division-level positions, and despite being nearly forty, they have yet to achieve anything significant. Given their age and Liang Qunfeng's background, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they are "hopeless cases."

Although all three were indeed of mediocre talent, this was partly due to Liang Qunfeng's deliberate suppression. Surprisingly, Liang Qunfeng at this time bore a resemblance to Chen Yanshi, consistently maintaining an upright and incorruptible image. The Liang family lived a simple life, far from the luxurious lifestyle outsiders imagined.

This is not hard to understand. A large number of officials, while still having opportunities for promotion, can indeed manage to pass through billions of dollars without getting a single penny on their hands.

But how many of them, knowing they have no hope of promotion and are destined for the CPPCC or NPC, can maintain their original aspirations?

Liang Qunfeng is clearly not among them. He is nearly 60 years old, and with the central government advocating for younger leadership positions, his chances of promotion are slim. The desires he has suppressed for many years are beginning to stir, and he is even planning to "go all out" and retaliate against himself.

He is currently in a dangerous period of transition.

Previously, Liang Lu could hardly benefit from her father's influence. With her master's degree, although her abilities were limited, she was more than capable of being a lecturer who simply read from the textbook. Why then is she still just an ordinary counselor? It was Liang Qunfeng who personally called the school leaders and suppressed her promotion.

Of course, Liang Lu herself didn't care much—the lecturer's salary was only about 200 yuan more, but the work was much harder than that of a counselor.

The teacher who deceived Liang Lu back then was certainly despicable. But if Liang Qunfeng were truly a power-abusing, tyrannical figure, why would he have abandoned Liang Lu as soon as he went abroad? Given his personality, he should have clung tightly to the Liang family.

They were simply blinded by Liang Qunfeng's mask. Even that spot for studying abroad was obtained by him after he tricked Liang Lu into getting pregnant, and then instigated her to blackmail Lao Liang.

Although the trend of going abroad was at its peak at the time, most of those who actually profited were from the middle class, and even 30 years later, the middle class no longer profited.

Liang Qunfeng spent his whole life hunting eagles, only to have his eyes pecked out by a sparrow in the end.

From that time onward, the Liang family never had a peaceful day again.

It's not scarcity that's the problem, but inequality. Liang Lu was able to use her pregnancy to demand benefits, and although her two older brothers didn't have that ability, they could still use their children to curry favor—bringing their two grandsons around in front of the old man every day.

Liang Qunfeng doted on his two grandsons, but found his two sons an eyesore. However, they were his own flesh and blood, and he couldn't very well arrest them.

Later, Liang Yu and Liang Jin realized that their father didn't like them, so they simply stopped coming themselves and only sent their two daughters-in-law with their children to visit. This left Old Liang completely helpless.

With no hope of promotion, and fearing further trouble at home if he didn't loosen his grip, he finally relented and arranged several gray-area transactions for his two sons that skirted the edge of the law.

Once this door is opened, it's hard to close it again. Besides, using power to get things done does have a certain thrill. Liang Qunfeng couldn't help but think to himself: I've fought wars my whole life, can't I enjoy myself a little?

Now, the two brothers keep a close eye on Liang Lu. The moment she steps into Liang Qunfeng's provincial government villa, the two brothers are sure to follow. If Liang Lu wants to send Qi Tongwei to a mountainous area, the two brothers demand construction projects; if Liang Lu tries to prevent Qi Tongwei from being transferred, the two brothers demand his position…

Their voices complemented each other perfectly.

That day, Liang Lu returned from Lincheng and stormed into Liang Qunfeng's villa. Liang Qunfeng hadn't come home from get off work yet, and the tea that the nanny, Aunt Feng, had brewed was still warm when his two sisters-in-law arrived with their children.

Liang Lu rolled her eyes at them. She was always spoiled and never cared about other people's feelings. Now that she was angry, she spoke without restraint: "Sister-in-law and second sister-in-law are really well-informed. Aunt Feng's job is easy. She can earn three times the money for one job."

The Liang Yu and Liang Jin families do not live in the provincial party committee villa. The provincial party committee compound is not like an ordinary residential area. The fact that the two sisters-in-law can arrive so promptly every time after being notified by the security guards must be due to Aunt Feng tipping them off.

Aunt Feng smiled awkwardly, served tea that had been prepared for Liang Lu and her two sisters-in-law, and then bowed and withdrew. Miss Liang had a bad temper and would always say something sarcastic to her, sometimes even cursing loudly.

But there's no other way. I can't just give up the money for the sake of my pride. Isn't the money they gave me money?

The two children went off to play by themselves. The three women, the aunt and her sister-in-law, chatted idly in the living room, with the two sisters-in-law mostly praising Liang Lu.

Liang Lu was distracted and indifferent. The two exchanged a glance, secretly resentful: she was just relying on the old man's favor.

Once the old man's gone, we'll see how we deal with you.

As evening fell, Liang Qunfeng returned home from get off work and saw three people sitting in the living room. He immediately felt a headache coming on—nothing good could be coming.

Ignoring everything else, Liang Lu cut to the chase: "Qi Tongwei is so ungrateful! Dad, could you erase his credit this time? You can give it to someone else!"

Chapter 9 Conspiracy

Hearing his daughter's thoughtless request, Liang Qunfeng frowned deeply, but did not immediately react. He took off his glasses and slowly wiped the lenses with a soft cloth, using this to calm his emotions and make himself appear more profound and unfathomable.

“Xiaolu,” he put his glasses back on, looking calmly at his daughter, his tone carrying the composure of someone who had long held a high position, “you can’t act on impulse. Your request is too childish.”

Before Liang Lu could retort, Liang Qunfeng raised his hand to stop her and continued, "I just received news that the Ministry of Public Security is considering recognizing Qi Tongwei's deeds as a first-class hero and role model of the national public security system. Do you know what that means?"

He glanced at his two daughters-in-law present, his gaze finally settling on Liang Lu's face: "This means that he is no longer just a hero of Handong Province, but also a banner that the Ministry of Public Security wants to raise. At this critical juncture, if you take action against him, you are not only slapping Handong Province in the face, but also slapping the Ministry of Public Security in the face. Do you think your father has such great power that it is necessary for him to take this brunt of the criticism?"

He used a vivid analogy, his tone carrying an unquestionable air of authority: "It's like having a dog at home, and you're craving it, wanting to slaughter it and eat it. But then, your superiors hear about it and say they'll come to see this 'honored dog' in a few days. What do you do? Not only can you not touch it, you have to give it extra good food these few days, making sure it's in top form. Once the superiors have seen it and the heat has died down, whether you stew it or braise it is entirely up to you, isn't it?"

Hearing this, Liang Lu's expression softened slightly, and she reluctantly collapsed onto the sofa.

Liang Qunfeng leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and spoke with a tone of sharing a secret: "I know you're feeling frustrated. But you have to remember, in the system, sometimes 'waiting' is the best strategy. Qi Tongwei is riding high right now, and we not only can't suppress him, but we should also give him appropriate recognition on the surface. Once this wave passes and the hype dies down, whether he, a rural kid with no connections, is successful or not, won't he be completely at our mercy?"

He paused, then gave a more relatable example, aiming to completely convince Liang Lu: "Look at the director of their judicial office, his name is... yes, Zhang Keqin. He was a genuine top student from China University of Political Science and Law, full of youthful vigor back then. And what happened? Just because he didn't understand the rules and offended someone, he's been stuck in a remote judicial office for over a decade, his life is almost over. How does Qi Tongwei compare to him? He just has the title of hero. But sometimes that title is a shield, and sometimes it's a death warrant. What we need to do is wait for the day it turns from a shield into a death warrant."

Liang Qunfeng's combined approach of intimidation and persuasion—using high-level information as a deterrent, vivid analogies as guidance, and real-life examples as evidence—completely subdued Liang Lu. Although willful, she wasn't stupid and understood the weight of her father's "Ministry of Public Security commendation." Her initial urge to crush Qi Tongwei was gradually replaced by a sense of awe for higher-level authority. She pursed her lips, unwilling to persist, but no longer held back.

"Alright, alright, I got it," Liang Lu said sullenly. "Then let him be smug for a few more days."

A family conflict that was about to erupt was skillfully defused by Liang Qunfeng. Since Liang Lu did not ask Liang Qunfeng for a favor, the two sisters-in-law naturally had no reason to ask for benefits, and this "hunting" temporarily came to an end.

However, the matter did not end there.

That evening, the two sisters-in-law returned to their respective homes and told their husbands everything that had happened. After listening, Liang Yu only scolded his sister for being willful and his father for being cautious, and then let it go. But Liang Jin's reaction was completely different.

Having worked in the provincial prison system for many years, Liang Jin had witnessed too much of the dark side of society and made acquaintances with countless people from all walks of life. His mind was far more ruthless and meticulous than his brother's. As he listened to his wife's narration, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

The next day, Liang Jin personally went to find Liang Lu. He didn't talk at his father's villa, but instead invited Liang Lu to a quiet teahouse.

"Little sister, that kid Qi Tongwei made you suffer so much, are you just going to let it go like this?" Liang Jin took a sip of tea and said with a smile.

Liang Lu rolled her eyes at him, annoyed: "Otherwise what? Didn't you hear what Dad said? If you touch him now, aren't you just walking into the line of fire?"

“Going outright won’t work.” Liang Jin put down her teacup, leaned forward, and lowered her voice. “But we can go underhand. I know a few people who can teach him a lesson he’ll never forget, guaranteeing he’ll be utterly disgraced and never be able to hold his head up in front of you again.”

Upon hearing this, a hint of interest flashed in Liang Lu's eyes, but she immediately became wary: "What do you want to do? Dad said we can't make any big moves."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Liang Jin smiled smugly. "Isn't he going to the Ministry of Public Security to receive an award? We can't let him go with his injuries or make any big mistakes. That would make him too conspicuous and could easily backfire. My method is more ingenious, more... psychological."

"What method?" Liang Lu's curiosity was piqued.

Liang Jin leaned closer and whispered, "I'm planning to arrange a 'romantic encounter' for him. I'll find a pretty girl and stage a honey trap. As long as we get a few photos of him naked, we'll have them in our hands. Even if Qi Tongwei is Sun Wukong, he won't be able to escape your grasp. We'll make him do whatever we want. At that point, let alone making him bow his head, he'll have to kneel down and lick your shoes!"

Liang Lu frowned, somewhat doubtful: "Him? He's incredibly loyal! I doubt he'd be swayed by ordinary seduction tactics."

“Hehe,” Liang Jin chuckled sinisterly, “How many people in this world are truly steadfast? It’s just that the temptation isn’t strong enough, or… the methods aren’t ruthless enough. I have some ‘high-quality stuff’ on hand, guaranteed to be the kind he’s never seen before. If he won’t take the soft approach, then we’ll use the hard one—pour down a drugged drink, and he’ll be completely at our mercy. Once the photos are taken, the evidence is irrefutable, and he won’t be able to explain himself no matter how hard he tries! Hero? He’ll be nothing but a coward then!”

This vicious plan precisely struck at Liang Lu's twisted possessiveness and desire for revenge deep within her heart. Imagining Qi Tongwei's future humiliation and wretchedness, completely at her mercy, a surge of pleasure welled up within her. She nodded in agreement almost without hesitation.

"Okay! Let's do it that way! What do you need me to do?"

Seeing that his sister had taken the bait, Liang Jin finally revealed his true intentions: "I'll handle this. I know the manpower and connections. But, little sister, you know I work in the prison system, a relatively low-level department. Even handling this kind of thing requires some networking. Besides, there's something I need Dad's approval for..."

It turned out that Liang Jin had already received a generous gift in exchange for helping a specific person get promoted. However, this required going through a system-wide process and needed a leader of Liang Qunfeng's level to intervene in order to make it happen.

A sordid deal was struck amidst the fragrant aroma of tea. Liang Lu promised to find a way to persuade her father, together with Liang Jin, to make that deal happen.

With the plan finalized, Liang Jin immediately utilized his network of connections in Yantai, carefully selecting several reliable veterans and finding a shrewd woman from the brothel. He offered her a large sum of money and set up this trap. They meticulously planned every step of the process: approaching, seducing, drugging, and taking photos, waiting only for Qi Tongwei to return to Yantai so they could immediately close the net.

However, people are not as good as heaven.