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

Finally, as if all his last strength had been drained, Lee Da-hae slumped back in his chair, his face ashen as the twilight outside the window, and let out a long, deep sigh. That sigh was filled with the weariness of reaching a dead end, regret, and a resigned despair.

“I’m fifty-three this year… If I don’t get promoted next year, my life will be completely over. I’ll just be stuck at the division level and then retire to the People’s Congress or the CPPCC. That’s why… that’s why I got greedy and wanted to grab onto the last straw the Liang family offered…”

His voice choked, like the howl of a hungry wolf: "Now it's all over. Forget about climbing up, even hoping to land safely and escape unscathed... has become a luxury..."

As Zhang Guoqing listened, a chilling sense of shared fate washed over him. He seemed to see a reflection of his own future.

“Liang Jin is using my weaknesses to force me forward… If I could get things done through legal and compliant means, the Liang family might be able to help me. But right now, Qi Tongwei is slippery, and I can’t find any real leverage against him…” Li Duohai’s eyes were vacant as he continued to mutter to himself, as if analyzing the situation for himself, “Once I use illegal and underhanded tricks, and things get out of hand, when the people behind Qi Tongwei really want to retaliate… Liang Jin, the Liang family, will definitely throw me out to take the blame without hesitation! Like throwing away a used rag!”

At this point, Li Duohai actually shed two streams of cloudy tears, which, mixed with the oil, sweat, and soot on his face, made him look particularly disheveled and miserable: "Now, whether I advance or retreat, I will die... I regret it so much! I regret it so much!!"

Suddenly, his tone changed, filled with a twisted resentment, as he growled through gritted teeth, "And there's Qi Tongwei! He's a chosen one, a key figure being groomed by the ministry, with a bright future ahead of him! Even if... even if he suffers a little loss or makes a small mistake here, so what? At most, it'll delay him for six months or a year! He has such a powerful backer; he'll be back on his feet in no time! Why... why can't you 'grant' me this time? Why do you have to force me into a corner?!"

He muttered incoherently for a while, then suddenly raised his sleeve and hastily wiped the tears and snot from his face. Right after this rough wiping motion, when he looked up again, a chilling, ruthless glint flashed in his previously cloudy and desperate eyes.

"If you won't give me a way out..." His voice was hoarse, each word squeezed out as if from between his teeth, "Then nobody will have an easy time!"

Zhang Guoqing shuddered at the crazed glint in Li Duohai's eyes, a chill ran down his spine, and he instinctively took a half-step back.

He suppressed his heart palpitations and, in a trembling voice, offered his last hope that might salvage the situation: "Secretary... Secretary, could we... could we find a way to contact Secretary Liang directly? To report the matter truthfully? Young Master Liang is young and impetuous, but Secretary Liang... shouldn't Secretary Liang consider the bigger picture? Offending Director Han's side so thoroughly is definitely not Secretary Liang's intention!"

Li Duohai stared at him intently: "Contact Secretary Liang directly? You have that channel?"

Zhang Guoqing swallowed hard and said urgently, "We...we can try calling the public phone number in his office and say that there is something very important and urgent about Young Master Liang that we must report to Secretary Liang in person! Maybe...maybe the secretary will pass on the message, maybe there is a chance we can get in touch?"

After listening, the faint glimmer of hope that had just appeared in Li Duohai's eyes quickly died out. He slowly and heavily shook his head: "No. Judging from Liang Jin's style of doing things, Secretary Liang... is probably not a soft-hearted or reasonable person. He might stop Liang Jin, but what good impression will he have on us! If Liang Jin turns around and says that we offered him advice and induced him to do all this in order to get promoted... do you think Secretary Liang will believe his own son, or an insignificant pawn like me?"

He gave a bitter smile: "He won't protect us. He'll just clean us up even faster and send us out to take the blame."

Zhang Guoqing's face turned completely pale, and all traces of color vanished.

He could almost see the cold handcuffs and the dark, sunless cell beckoning to him, and his legs went weak.

Li Duohai took in Zhang Guoqing's fear. He knew that this man was now tied to the same sinking ship as him. He leaned closer, his voice low but filled with a desperate madness:

"We have no choice but to wait until National Day. If we want to have a glimmer of hope and a 'smooth landing,' there's only one last option left..."

Zhang Guoqing's voice trembled: "Wh...what method?"

"Playing the fire for profit." Li Duohai's eyes flashed with ruthlessness. "Drag the Liang family... completely into this mess! Force them to get involved and make them fight like gods!"

"But... but how could the Liang family let us off the hook afterward?" Zhang Guoqing asked incredulously.

“Therefore,” Li Duohai’s voice was cold and resolute, “we must make a big scene! Make it so big that Liang Jin himself absolutely cannot cover it up or suppress it! Make it so that everyone can see clearly and plainly that we are working for the Liang family! We are doing everything in our power to carry out the Liang family’s will and suppress Qi Tongwei!”

He took a breath and continued to explain the crazy plan: "Only in this way can we completely bind the Liang family's 'face' and 'reputation' to us! When things get out of hand, in order to maintain their political reputation of 'not abandoning their own people,' and to prove to everyone that working for the Liang family won't make them scapegoats... perhaps, only with a slight possibility, they will have to take action to save face... to protect us! At least, temporarily!"

"Forget about the future; there's only a sliver of a chance of a smooth landing!"

After hearing this, Zhang Guoqing's face drained of color, and a sickly flush gradually rose up, his eyes struggling and shifting violently.

He knew he was gambling with his life; if he won, there might be a glimmer of hope, but if he lost, it would be utter ruin.

But as Lee Da-hae said, do they have any other choice?

Time seemed to stand still.

A few seconds later, Zhang Guoqing abruptly closed his eyes. When he opened them again, all that remained was a desperate, ruthless expression born of fear. Through clenched teeth, he squeezed out a single, heavy word, as if using all his strength:

"……Dry!"

Chapter 81 Incoming Call

Meanwhile, Qi Tongwei's life in Jingzhou was unusually peaceful, even somewhat reclusive. He spent most of his time in the temporary accommodation arranged by the Provincial Economic Commission, occasionally going to his workplace to handle the final coordination work for projects, and almost never participating in any unnecessary social engagements.

This low profile reflects both caution regarding personal safety and a period of dormancy before things settle down.

When the last day of his temporary assignment finally came to an end, and he boarded the train back to Beijing, looking out the window at the rapidly receding scenery of Handong, his tense nerves finally relaxed.

The past six months have seemed calm on the surface, but in reality, they have been fraught with danger. We have finally made it through safely and have gained far more than expected.

When the train arrived at Beijing Station, he immediately spotted He Xian waiting on the platform, jumping up and down and waving at him. The girl's radiant smile instantly dispelled the last trace of gloom in his heart. He hurried over, about to give her a hug, when he noticed someone else standing next to He Xian—Xu Li.

Xu Li smiled, as composed and capable as ever, nodded to him, and said, "Tongwei, you must be tired from your journey. The director is waiting for you in his office."

Qi Tongwei understood that Han Shen must have something important to discuss. He first shook He Xian's hand reassuringly, whispered a few words, and then went directly to the State Economic Commission with Xu Li.

Stepping into Deputy Director Han Shen's spacious and bright office again, Qi Tongwei felt as if he had been transported to another world.

Being there, one feels a sense of security, a sense of belonging to "one of us" and the comfort of having someone behind you.

Compared to the precarious and calculating situation he faced at the railway crossing, this is where his true confidence lies.

Han Shen put down the documents in his hand, looked up at him, and smiled gently: "You're back? What did you find out about the hardships of working at the grassroots level during those six months?"

Qi Tongwei replied respectfully, "Director, the experience is very complex. I have seen the real picture beyond the books and policies, and I understand more about the difficulties and complexities of grassroots work. I have gained a lot, but I have also learned a lot of lessons."

Han Shen nodded, gesturing for him to sit down. Xu Li quietly withdrew and closed the door behind him. Han Shen took out a bound document from the drawer, which was the "Investigation Report on Economic and Social Development and Grassroots Political Ecology of Daokou County (Draft)" sent by Qi Tongwei.

"I've read your report carefully," Han Shen said, his tone becoming serious. "I've also shown it to the teacher."

Qi Tongwei immediately sat up straight, his expression focused.

Han Shen's face showed approval: "After reviewing it, the teacher said—'The economics section is passable. The framework is clear, and the data is solid, but it's somewhat like old wine in new bottles. It can't escape the analytical paradigm of your Economic Commission, and there's nothing particularly noteworthy.'"

Qi Tongwei's heart tightened, but his expression remained unchanged; he simply listened more attentively.

“However,” Han Shen changed the subject, his smile deepening, “the teacher then said, ‘But the latter part, ‘The Cadre at the Crossroads,’ is quite interesting. This kid not only focuses on the tree trunks and branches on the ground, but also knows how to squat down, dig into the soil, look at those tangled roots, and even try to figure out how nutrients and toxins are secretly transported through these roots. The perspective is sharp, the material is dug deep, and the analysis has a ruthless edge. It doesn’t seem like it was written by a PhD who just came out of the ivory tower with a head full of models; it seems like it was written by a seasoned veteran who has been through the mudslings of grassroots officialdom, suffered losses, and figured out a lot of tricks.’”

Qi Tongwei quickly bowed, his face showing a mixture of flattery and embarrassment: "Teacher, you flatter me..."

He spoke modestly, but inwardly he was genuinely relieved, even feeling a surge of barely suppressed pride.

Mr. Li Yiqing has such high standards. For him, the phrase "barely satisfactory" is already considered a passing grade for the economic section of a research report submitted during a temporary assignment.

The fact that "The Cadre at the Crossroads" received such high praise far exceeded expectations.

Han Shen waved his hand, interrupting his formulaic modesty, clearly more concerned with the substance: "My view is the same as my teacher's. The value of this report truly transcends the results of a routine temporary assignment. It is not merely an economic report, but also a rare 'slice of the political ecology' from the front lines, offering unique reference value for understanding the true complexity of county governance and the logic of cadre behavior."

He leaned forward slightly, looked at Qi Tongwei, and lowered his voice, as if announcing an important decision: "Therefore, I think this report deserves to be seen by more people. I prepared a copy of the report in advance and sent it to the chief director."

Qi Tongwei's heart skipped a beat, almost making a "thump." "The chief director... he saw it?" His voice involuntarily softened.

"I've read it." Han Shen nodded firmly, his smile fading and replaced by a serious expression. "After reading it, the chief director pondered for quite some time. Then he said—" Han Shen's tone turned serious, "'This kind of report shouldn't just be locked away in a drawer. It should be seen by some of our bureau-level and even higher-ranking cadres who are used to looking at reports and listening to briefings. Those who have been at the top for too long need to actually understand the political landscape at the grassroots level and connect with the people. I think it has the value of an internal reference document.'"

"Internal Reference?!" Qi Tongwei was genuinely surprised this time. The Internal Reference was an important internal publication that directly connected to higher decision-making levels, and having an article published in it was of extraordinary significance.

“Yes,” Han Shen’s tone left no room for doubt. “The director has already given instructions to have the Policy Research Office take the lead in compiling and refining the core content of the report, especially the part about the grassroots political ecology, under the title ‘Observations and Reflections of Young Cadres at the Grassroots Level,’ and prepare it for publication in the next issue of the relevant internal reference.”

He looked at Qi Tongwei, his eyes filled with clear guidance and affirmation, "This is not just about publishing an article; it's a high recognition of your work during this temporary assignment, your observation and analytical abilities, and it gives your name a chance to enter the vision of higher levels. You need to understand the significance of this."

Qi Tongwei felt a surge of heat rush from the bottom of his heart to the top of his head, instantly spreading through his limbs and bones.

He forced down his turbulent emotions, stood up, and bowed deeply to Han Shen, his voice trembling slightly: "This is all thanks to the director's trust and support, as well as Teacher Li's meticulous guidance. I will work even harder and never let this expectation down."

Han Shen nodded in satisfaction, about to say something more—

"Knock knock knock".

"Go in," Han Shen said.

The door opened, and Xu Li led Ruan Lingling from the Industry Division into the room.

Ruan Lingling first greeted Han Shen: "Hello, Director Han."

Han Shen nodded: "What is it?"

Ruan Lingling turned to Qi Tongwei, speaking a little faster, with a hint of urgent business: "Director Qi, we have an urgent call from you. It's from a comrade who calls himself Luo Xuejun, from Luzhou, Handong. He says there's a very urgent situation that he must report to you immediately."

Chapter 82 Old ginger is spicier

Qi Tongwei's brows suddenly furrowed.

Luo Xuejun? An emergency? His mind raced, and he immediately turned his inquiring gaze to Han Shen.

Han Shen's gentle smile vanished, replaced by a solemn expression.

Without any hesitation, he decisively told Qi Tongwei, "Go and pick them up quickly."

Qi Tongwei hurriedly followed Ruan Lingling away.

He couldn't call back directly from Han Shen's office phone—he didn't know where Luo Xuejun was or the caller ID.

He quickly went to an office in the industry, took a deep breath, picked up the receiver, and pressed the redial button.

"Beep-beep-"

The phone was answered quickly after only two rings, and Luo Xuejun's voice, clearly strained and tense, came through: "Hello? Is this... is this County Chief Qi?"

“It’s me, Xiao Luo. Don’t rush, tell me slowly, what happened?” Qi Tongwei’s voice was calm, trying to reassure the other party.

"County Chief Qi, something big has happened! This morning, Secretary Li suddenly convened a Standing Committee meeting!" Luo Xuejun's voice was low, but he spoke rapidly, like beans pouring from a bamboo tube. "At the meeting, a decision was made directly... that based on your initial research and preliminary plans, a standardized tea garden project of 2,000 mu will be launched immediately in Dianqian Township as the county's 'number one project' for agricultural restructuring! People have already... people have already gone to mobilize them, and I heard that it involves land acquisition. Some people are unwilling, and they may have to... force them to comply!"

Qi Tongwei's eyes sharpened: "I clearly expressed my opposition at the meeting, believing that the conditions were not ripe! The county committee should have meeting minutes!"

"Meeting minutes..." Luo Xuejun's voice was filled with anger, "The archives... the archives caught fire last night due to aging wiring, 'accidentally' burning a lot of documents, and... and the minutes of the recent related meetings were all in there, they said... they were all destroyed! Secretary Li even privately spoke with the bureau chiefs who attended the meetings, implying... that it was a 'power struggle between high-level officials,' and that they 'shouldn't blindly take sides,' and if anyone asked, they should say that it's been so long and they 'can't remember' what was specifically discussed at the meetings, and 'wait and see how things develop'..."

Currently, comprehensive information-based office work has not been implemented, so meeting minutes are all kept in paper form.

This is another form of fire dragon burning the warehouse.

Don't find it unbelievable; even ten years later, incidents of falsifying meeting minutes to evade scrutiny still occurred, let alone now when the system is not as perfect as it is now.

Qi Tongwei pressed further, "How do you know all this so clearly?"

"They...they didn't hide anything at all!" Luo Xuejun said urgently. "Rumors have spread all over the county government compound! This time, Secretary Li...it seems like he's not afraid of anyone finding out!"

Qi Tongwei's heart sank.

Lee Da-hae is desperate; he's trying to pin the blame for being the "initiator" on himself by fabricating a "collective decision" and claiming an "accident" lack of evidence.

This is a case of sacrificing ten thousand of your own strength to inflict a thousand on the enemy.

Once the project starts, Qi Tongwei will be involved.

If the project fails, it will serve as readily available evidence of being "out of touch with reality and detached from practical considerations."

"Okay, I understand. Xiao Luo, don't try to find out anything. Tell me as soon as you hear any news that's already spread," Qi Tongwei quickly instructed.

"I understand, County Chief Qi!"

After hanging up the phone, Qi Tongwei calmly returned to Han Shen's office and recounted Luo Xuejun's report verbatim.

Han Shen listened quietly, tapping his knuckles lightly twice on the smooth tabletop. His expression was unreadable as he asked, "What do you think?"