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

After venting, a chilling fear and violent impulse intertwined.

He grabbed his phone and dialed Lee Da-hae's number directly; it was nearly midnight.

Li Duohai was jolted awake from his sleep, hearing Liang Jin's almost irrational roar through the receiver: "Li Duohai! Qi Tongwei has left the crossing? Why didn't you report that?!"

Li Duohai's heart skipped a beat, all sleepiness vanished, and he quickly sat up, carefully explaining, "Director Liang, calm down. It was a transfer order I just received today, directly from the Provincial Economic Commission, and personally approved by Director Li Dakang… I… I couldn't stop it. Besides, these past few months, the lower levels haven't provided him with any assistance, so he probably felt he couldn't stay there any longer, that he wasn't gaining anything, and that's why…"

"What's the use of a research report! It's just a formality!" Liang Jin interrupted him rudely. "What impact can this have on him? I want him to be embarrassed and suffer a loss, not this kind of insignificant thing!"

Li Duohai said with a bitter face, "Director Liang, back then... you also tacitly approved of this."

"I don't care!" Liang Jin's voice was shrill. "You have to give him a good beating! Immediately! Right now! Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite!"

With a sharp "click," the phone was abruptly disconnected. Lee Da-hae sat frozen on the edge of the bed, the dial tone still ringing in his hand, his back icy cold.

The next day, Liang Jin called again, asking about the progress.

Li Duohai could only bite the bullet and decline: "Director Liang, Qi Tongwei is currently in Jingzhou, the provincial capital. I... I'm just a lowly county party secretary, it's really beyond my reach. I can still do some work when he's at the crossroads, but once he leaves..."

He tried to use distance as a shield, hoping that Liang Jin would back down.

At this moment, he wished he could cut ties with this trouble immediately. Qi Tongwei's departure was a godsend, so why would he want to get involved again?

However, he underestimated the reckless obsession and energy of the thoroughly enraged and panicked spoiled brat.

Liang Jin had no patience to listen to his explanation and hung up the phone immediately.

Lee Da-hae had just hung up the phone and breathed a sigh of relief, thinking he could stall for a while longer.

Two days later, in the afternoon, Li Duohai's wife called:

People from the provincial procuratorate's anti-corruption bureau suddenly came to the county and took away a distant cousin of Li Duohai's wife—who was also the actual controller of a fairly large construction company in the county—and took him to the provincial capital under the pretext of "assisting in the investigation."

Then, they completely lost contact.

Chapter 79 Planning

Some superiors are simply unreasonable.

For example, the Nine-Headed Insect in "Journey to the West" who had Benboerba and Baboerben eliminate Tang Sanzang and his disciples; and for another example, Liang Jin, who is currently holding Li Duohai's secrets and pressing him relentlessly...

Generally speaking, leaders who make completely unreasonable demands can be roughly divided into three types:

To put it simply: Your boss asks you to crack WPS's membership.

The first type is a leader who is "foolishly lucky," lacking even the most basic understanding of the true difficulty of the work, the resources required, and the potential risks, believing that things can be accomplished simply by talking.

The second type is a "pervert" leader who takes pleasure in making things difficult for and suppressing subordinates, enjoying the process of control and torment, with the goal of making you suffer.

The third possibility is that the leader is a "petty person" who knows full well that things are difficult, but his real intention is not what he seems. If you are the one who bears the risk and loss, he wants you to pay out of your own pocket to get him a yearly membership.

Liang Jin at the moment is probably a combination of one and three. He has a serious lack of understanding of the methods and risks of backlash required to completely bring down a young cadre with considerable background; at the same time, he has accurately grasped Li Duohai's most fatal weakness, forcing him to take risks.

Li Duohai's son is not clean.

Or rather, in the grassroots officialdom of this era, it is difficult for someone like him, who has held important positions for many years, to be absolutely "clean" and withstand the most rigorous scrutiny.

Some unspoken "rules," gray areas in interpersonal relationships, and skirting the rules regarding relatives engaging in business...

What might have been considered normal under the circumstances at the time could have been revealed to be a potential source of trouble once it was brought to the attention of the special task force and examined closely with a magnifying glass or even a probe. Any stain could have turned into a dam bursting.

Lee Da-hae cancelled all her afternoon plans, kept the heavy office door closed, and drew the curtains halfway.

He sat alone in the thick smoke, smoking one cigarette after another, and soon the ashtray was piled up like a small mountain.

Even the last glimmer of hope was shattered.

The owner of a small, insignificant construction company in the county was taken away by the provincial procuratorate's anti-corruption bureau for "assisting in the investigation."

This is illogical. Usually, for companies of this level, even if there are problems, at most the municipal discipline inspection commission, or the municipal tax and audit departments would get involved first.

The provincial anti-corruption bureau's direct intervention was like using an anti-aircraft gun to kill a mosquito—if he hadn't recently witnessed the undercurrents between Liang Jin and Qi Tongwei, he would almost have thought it was a scam.

But now, he clearly realizes that this is not a scam, but a naked warning from Liang Jin, and a finger aimed precisely at his throat.

He had no choice.

To protect himself, he had to completely oppose Qi Tongwei and produce "results." There was no other way.

He called in Zhang Guoqing, the director of the county party committee office.

This was his absolute confidant. How "absolute"? The two were in cahoots. If Li Duohai went "in," Zhang Guoqing would have no chance of escaping unscathed.

After listening to Li Duohai's gloomy account, Zhang Guoqing's face instantly turned pale.

It's not that he's afraid to do "bad things"—over the years, he's become quite adept at handling shady matters for his superiors.

What he feared was that he would be completely drawn into a vortex of factional struggle between two factions, both of which clearly had deep-rooted backgrounds.

This is no longer an internal power struggle within the county, but rather a situation involving forces at a higher level. A slight misstep could result in utter destruction and a death without a proper burial.

However, when Zhang Guoqing heard that Li Duohai's distant cousin had been taken away by the provincial anti-corruption bureau, the last trace of hesitation in his heart vanished.

His own brother-in-law is the vice president of that company.

So, the county party secretary and the director of the county party committee office, two people who should have been planning the overall development of the county, began to plot how to frame a young man they couldn't afford to offend, but had no choice but to offend, just like a criminal gang planning a crime.

“First, let’s try to find a way within the rules.” Lee Da-hae’s voice was hoarse as he set the tone. “If we can avoid breaking the law, we should try to avoid breaking the law. Let’s find loopholes in his work.”

Zhang Guoqing smiled wryly: "Secretary, you've seen it yourself. Qi Tongwei is as cunning as a monkey, slippery as a feather. In the few months since he came down here, apart from the tea research you 'arranged,' he has hardly taken the initiative to handle any specific matters. All his requests and reports are procedurally standardized and clearly recorded; he handles people and things with perfect tact. It's difficult to find fault with him in his work."

“Then we’ll have to resort to methods outside the rules.” Li Duohai stubbed out his cigarette, a ruthless glint in his eyes. “Unfortunately, he’s not at the crossing now.”

“Yes,” Zhang Guoqing continued, revealing his usual tactic, “If it were at a checkpoint, there would be many more ways. For example, we could arrange for someone to ‘accidentally’ find something in his dormitory… cash, valuables, or… certain contraband. Caught red-handed, he would have no way to deny it.”

Li Duohai almost laughed in anger upon hearing this, pointing at Zhang Guoqing: "Use your brain! Qi Tongwei has a bright future ahead of him, and he's only been on temporary assignment for such a short time, and he's already 'corrupted'? He's just an assistant county magistrate, not in charge of any specific business, who's giving him money? And what would they gain from giving him money? He's not one of those lowly peasants with no background that you used to be able to manipulate at will! You can't just arrest him like that!"

Zhang Guoqing shrank back after being scolded, and said aggrievedly, "I...I've never framed someone of this level before."

"What's the point of talking nonsense now!" Li Duohai waved his hand irritably. "Too late! Let me ask you, do you have the ability to stuff cash into a guesthouse room of the Jingzhou Provincial Economic Commission? Or do you have the ability to slip 'contraband' in unnoticed? If you really have such extraordinary abilities, you might as well just go all the way and put a sniper rifle in there!"

Zhang Guoqing chuckled awkwardly, "Secretary, you're joking. I don't have anything like that..."

"You know it's a joke!" Li Duohai lowered his voice, his tone chilling. "He's Deputy Director Han Shen's future nephew-in-law! If we take him down, it has to be an ironclad case, a decisive blow, with no room for error or reversal. Otherwise, if we fail to bring him down, we'll be the ones who get caught up in it and die without a burial place!"

Zhang Guoqing looked distressed: "Let me think, let me think... Director Han... nephew-in-law... evidence..."

He unconsciously muttered those words over and over again.

Li Duohai's originally anxious gaze suddenly brightened because of Zhang Guoqing's unconscious muttering, as if a match had been struck in the darkness.

“Wait…you’ve reminded me.” Lee Da-hae leaned forward, a cold glint in his eyes, as if he had found a way to break through. “Men…especially young men, what are they most prone to having problems in?”

Zhang Guoqing paused for a moment, then tentatively asked, "...A woman?"

"Yes! Women!" Li Duohai slammed his fingers heavily on the table. "No matter how beautiful Director Han's niece is, she's still a distant dream. What cat doesn't steal fish? Don't you?"

He glanced at Zhang Guoqing.

Zhang Guoqing could only laugh awkwardly.

“We can’t transport the things over, nor can we put them in his room,” Li Duohai’s thoughts became clearer, and his speech quickened. “But we can send the ‘person’ over! As long as we arrange things properly, create an opportunity, and catch him red-handed with a ‘lifestyle problem’! Young cadres are hot-blooded and impulsive; it’s too common for them to make this kind of mistake, and it’s the easiest for people to believe! Moreover, once this matter is confirmed and it becomes a big deal, will Director Han still marry his niece to him? Once this marriage is broken, one of his biggest backers will be unstable! At that time, everyone will kick him while he’s down… Perfect!”

Zhang Guoqing nodded repeatedly, but then frowned: "Secretary, this is a good idea. But who should we send? Sending someone from the road crossing would be too conspicuous. The environment is also unfamiliar. How can we create a 'natural' opportunity? If we stay too long, our accommodation and whereabouts will be suspicious and won't stand up to scrutiny."

Lee Da-hae pondered for a moment, a resolute glint in his eyes:

“I called Director Liang and asked him to arrange someone.”

Chapter 80: Grasping grain from the fire

Power, in a sense, is indeed partly manifested in the use of resources and the acquisition of information.

Those "open secrets" that were almost common knowledge in the elite circles of Jingzhou—the sordid old grudges between Liang Lu and Qi Tongwei, and Liang Jin's embarrassing incident of being "exiled" to the old cadres bureau after her "honey trap" failed—were like looking through a thick, blurry frosted glass to Li Duohai, who was far away in Daokou and had relatively limited access to information. He could never see the whole picture clearly.

Therefore, when he, in a state of extreme anxiety, laid out his supposedly painstakingly devised plan over the phone, trying to prove to Liang Jin that he was "still actively looking for solutions and still had means at his disposal," the praise he expected did not come. Instead, he was met with Liang Jin's almost furious, humiliating, and angry tirade.

"Lee Da-hae! Is your brain filled with mush or shit?! You dare to bring such a despicable trick to my face? And you even said you'd 'ruin his reputation'? Let me tell you, don't use that trick! Don't even think about it! If you mention it again, I'll make sure you 'crack' first!"

Lee Da-hae was stunned by the barrage of angry words. His palms, which were gripping the microphone, instantly became sweaty, and his eardrums were ringing.

He couldn't understand why this classic tactic, which had always worked in the dark corners of grassroots officialdom and seemed to be able to "kill with one move," had run into such bad luck.

While he kept apologizing obsequiously, he frantically searched his chaotic mind: Did Young Master Liang think that his methods were too low-level and unworthy of his status? Or did he think that the risks were too great and could easily backfire?

The scolding and roaring on the other end of the phone were like a sudden storm, lasting for nearly half an hour, completely washing away any remaining bit of luck and self-righteous "cleverness" that Li Duohai had.

As soon as the call connected and Zhang Guoqing heard Li Duohai utter the words "honey trap" followed by Liang Jin's sudden, escalating angry outburst, his scalp tightened.

He immediately held his breath, turned the doorknob with the gentlest movement, quickly and silently retreated, and carefully closed the door again.

Standing in the empty and quiet corridor, Zhang Guoqing finally dared to let out a soft sigh of relief.

Although he didn't know why Young Master Liang on the other end of the phone was so furious about the words "honey trap," it was never a good thing for a subordinate to witness such an embarrassing scene of their leader being reprimanded by their superior. It was wise to avoid it altogether.

When the incessant roaring in the office finally subsided, and after a while, estimating that things should be "calm" inside, Zhang Guoqing adjusted his facial expression, put on his respectful yet concerned look again, and carefully knocked on the door to go in once more.

Lee Da-hae's face was ashen, as if shrouded in a layer of gloomy, withered air. He slumped in the large leather chair, looking even older than before.

The ashtray in front of him was already overflowing with twisted cigarette butts, and the office was filled with thick, acrid smoke.

Seeing Li Duohai staring blankly at the ceiling, his emotions seemingly shifting from rage to numb dejection, Zhang Guoqing seized the opportunity, took a few steps closer, and tentatively asked in a low voice, "Secretary, does Director Liang... think the 'honey trap' method... is inappropriate? Is it... that he doesn't want to get involved personally, afraid of leaving evidence? Or is it simply that he doesn't allow it?"

Lee Da-hae slowly rubbed his throbbing temples, his voice hoarse and dry, revealing endless exhaustion: "They won't let us use it. It's very clear, they just won't let us use it, we can't even mention it."

Zhang Guoqing's face showed a hint of realization and a deeper speculation. He lowered his voice even further: "Is it... that young masters at their level, having seen so much, all have become adventurous? Is there some tacit understanding among them regarding their lifestyles?"

Lee Da-hae waved his hand irritably, as if trying to dispel the suffocating smoke and confusion before him: "Who knows! Stop guessing, it's useless! Now we need to think of a solution! Think of a solution!"

He sat bolt upright, his eyes fixed on Zhang Guoqing, bloodshot: "We have to come up with a way to get this done!"

The more you do, the more mistakes you make; the less you do, the fewer mistakes you make; if you do nothing, you make no mistakes

This ancient wisdom, a summary of essential advice for surviving in officialdom, is still regarded as a golden rule by many today, and naturally possesses profound "superiority."

At this moment, Qi Tongwei, who was doing nothing, was like a hedgehog curled up with sharp quills all over its body in Li Duohai's eyes, making it impossible for him to find a way to bite him.

The two fell into a suffocating silence once again.

However, given the contradictory and almost unsolvable premises that "unconventional means cannot be used," "Qi Tongwei has left the pass and is beyond reach," and "it must produce a sufficiently 'ruthless' strike that will satisfy Liang Jin," every plan they proposed was quickly rejected.

He would propose a suggestion, then immediately shake his head in rejection.

The only sounds in the office were the faint hissing of burning cigarettes and the heavy, anxious breathing of the two men.