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

The note Qi Tongwei used to buy a train ticket to Beijing was written to a deputy director of the railway police system. When Liang Jin approached him, he learned that the young man had obtained the approval from his office and boarded a train north in less than an hour. It was clear he had used his connections without Liang Jin's knowledge. He hadn't managed to do Liang Jin a favor; instead, he felt like he'd been tricked, and he was utterly humiliated.

"Hmph, probably came to Beijing to secretly meet Chen Yang, right?" Jin Ming thought resentfully. "Trying to outsmart the Liang family like this, even if it succeeds a hundred times, it won't change the vast difference in strength between you and the Liang family. Once this storm passes, you'll be in for a world of hurt!"

Outside the door, Qi Tongwei held the cold key, his face equally calm. This Jin Ming had definitely sided with the Liang family! His lack of surprise at the news that he hadn't returned to his hometown but had come directly to Beijing was itself abnormal.

With the conference approaching and office affairs piling up, and I not being late, why would a deputy director of the provincial department's office have the time to specifically check my itinerary? Given his connections at the railway bureau, why would he specifically report to me about the reimbursement of a train ticket? Unless he contacts me proactively.

His previous act of voluntarily granting himself leave had already aroused Qi Tongwei's suspicions, but at the time, there was still the possibility that someone else had asked him to do it or pressured him. Now it seems that he was deliberately currying favor with the Liang family.

Qi Tongwei's lips curled into a cold smile.

"But I'm not playing with you guys anymore."

Chapter 15 Awards Dinner

Director Wang from the Publicity Department was the same person who had accompanied Director Ding of the People's Public Security Daily during his previous visit and granted him a three-month leave. Qi Tongwei had a fairly good impression of him. After checking into their room, Director Wang casually remarked, "Tongwei, your room arrangement this time was personally overseen by the Deputy Director of the Provincial Department and the Director of the General Office."

Qi Tongwei immediately understood – why would the deputy director personally arrange the allocation of a mere room?

This must mean that Jin Ming's underhanded actions were noticed by his superiors. The leadership deliberately arranged for him to stay with the relatively neutral Director Wang, which was both a form of protection and a clear warning to Jin Ming and others: during the conference, no one should cause any trouble.

Seeing Qi Tongwei's understanding expression, Director Wang nodded slightly and continued, "I have a very heavy publicity mission this time, and I will be busy until very late every day. You can rest and don't worry about me."

This was meant to avoid suspicion, and Qi Tongwei naturally understood.

Sure enough, in the days leading up to the official opening of the conference, Director Wang consistently left early and returned late. During the day, if they bumped into each other in the corridor, he would only nod in greeting, and upon returning home at night, he would silently wash up and go to bed.

Qi Tongwei was happy to have some peace and quiet. After completing the required group activities, he would retreat to his room to read books and newspapers. He managed to make the double room feel like a single room for him.

Time flew by, and the solemn commendation ceremony officially began. Red flags fluttered, police badges gleamed, and representatives from public security systems across the country gathered together in a grand and enthusiastic atmosphere.

Of course, during the meeting, Qi Tongwei only needs to sit upright and clap along with the other representatives at appropriate times.

On the afternoon of the fourth day of the conference, the highly anticipated "Top Ten Heroes and Role Models" award ceremony took place. Qi Tongwei thought he could face it calmly, but when the solemn and stirring "Song of the People's Police" was played, looking at the bright red flag and shining police badge on the stage, and recalling the gunshots and bloodshed at Guying Ridge, an uncontrollable surge of emotion still rushed to his eyes.

He took a deep breath, but tears were already streaming down his face uncontrollably. He knew that the chapter belonging to Qi Tongwei, a police officer in the political and legal system, had come to an end, drawing a perfect conclusion.

According to the schedule, the closing ceremony will be held tomorrow morning, and the teams from each province can return in the afternoon. Therefore, the Ministry of Public Security has hosted a grand celebration banquet that evening. It is not a Western-style banquet with a ballroom dance, but a traditional Chinese round table banquet, where leaders will toast the heroes and representatives at each table.

At the banquet, Qi Tongwei did not sit with the delegation from Handong Province, but instead sat at the same table with several other "first-class heroes and role models," whose seats were arranged at the front.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, this is probably the closest position most people at the table can ever reach in their lifetime—except, of course, for Qi Tongwei.

Shortly after the banquet began, the CPPCC member and the Minister of Public Security, surrounded by others, arrived at their table with beaming smiles. Upon seeing this, the heroes immediately stood up in unison.

The minister's eyes shone brightly, and his voice boomed: "Comrades, you are the pride of the public security front, and role models for all officers! You have protected the lights of every household with your blood and loyalty. The Party and the people thank you! This toast is for you all!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was deeply moved and raised their glasses. The minister, in particular, drank it down in one gulp with great gusto. Seeing this, the accompanying leaders naturally followed suit, and the atmosphere instantly reached a climax.

The heroes were deeply moved, each standing tall and declaring loudly: "Serve the people!" "We will never let the minister down!"

At this passionate and exciting moment, a suppressed, choked sob suddenly came from the table. Everyone turned to look in surprise—it was none other than Qi Tongwei.

The anti-drug hero who had never flinched even after being shot three times at Lone Eagle Ridge was now filled with grief, his eyes brimming with tears, his lips moving as if he had a thousand words to say but was choked with sobs.

The model heroes at the table looked bewildered. Among the minister's entourage, some experienced veterans muttered to themselves, "Could he be getting too excited? Trying to put on a 'a scholar dies for one who understands him' act? This is... a bit over the top."

The minister's face showed no anger, but rather became even more gentle. He looked at Qi Tongwei and said, "Comrade Qi, right? The tough guy from Guying Ridge who was shot three times, who sheds blood but not tears, why are you crying here?"

The minister's presence was already the focus of attention, and the delegation from Handong Province immediately noticed the unusual situation, with many people's expressions changing drastically. This was a national conference of extremely high caliber, with numerous leaders from various provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions leading their delegations. The Director of the Public Security Bureau of Handong Province was not standing close to the minister.

Xu Hong, the vice governor and director of the public security department who was leading the team, was seated further forward, not far from Qi Tongwei's table. Upon seeing this scene, he felt a pang of anxiety, his expression changed drastically, and he quickly left his seat and rushed over.

Qi Tongwei said, his voice trembling with tears, "Minister, I'm not afraid of bloodshed... I'm just heartbroken. In the future... I'm afraid I won't be able to fight alongside my comrades anymore..."

Upon hearing this, Director Xu Hong, who rushed over, lost all color in his face. He was both shocked and furious: "What kind of mess did Xiao Wang from the Publicity Department make?! He couldn't even do a proper ideological job with a young man? To make such a huge blunder in this kind of situation is a devastating blow to my career and to the image of the Handong Public Security Bureau!"

He disregarded everything else and strode over to Qi Tongwei, his tone as gentle as possible yet carrying an undeniable air of authority: "Xiao Qi! What nonsense are you spouting! The department is preparing to give you special training, how could you say such a thing?!"

If the minister hadn't been there, he would have almost yelled at him. At this moment, he couldn't care less about anything else; his words were full of promises of official positions, just asking Qi Tongwei to shut up immediately.

However, the minister, who had just been all smiles, now turned stern and said in a deep voice, "Let him speak!"

Xu Hong felt as if he had been choked and immediately fell silent, only able to stare helplessly at Qi Tongwei, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

The entire banquet hall fell silent instantly, especially the delegation from Handong Province, where some people were trembling with fear. Director Wang and Deputy Director Jin Ming of the Propaganda Department were shaking like leaves, their faces ashen.

Qi Tongwei took a deep breath and said loudly, "Reporting to the Minister! I... I have been admitted to Professor Li Yiqing's doctoral program in economics at Peking University. After returning, I plan to submit my resignation and concentrate on my studies."

Everyone around who heard these words was stunned; they hadn't expected things to turn out this way.

The minister remained expressionless, looking at him intently: "You are a top student in the Department of Political Science and Law at Handong University. After graduation, you voluntarily chose to start from the grassroots level, which shows your passion for public security. Why are you suddenly going to study economics now?"

Director Xu Hong's heart sank suddenly.

Qi Tongwei never expected that the busy minister would actually have carefully reviewed his resume, remembering even his alma mater and grassroots experience so clearly.

He steadied himself and recounted clearly and earnestly his experience of the poverty he witnessed in the Yantai Mountain area, as well as his reflections on the idea that "only by enriching the people can crime be eradicated."

The minister's face showed emotion upon hearing this. He patted Qi Tongwei on the shoulder, his voice steady and powerful: "Economic development is indeed the most important task for our country at present. Professor Li Yiqing is a leading figure in the field of economics. It is a great opportunity for you to become his student. I hope you will achieve great things and make greater contributions to the country in the future!"

He paused, looked into Qi Tongwei's eyes, and said with a hint of regret and expectation in his voice: "I personally approved your title of 'First-Class Heroic Model'. I have read your materials; you are brave and resourceful, and a promising talent."

"I was thinking of having Xiao Zhang keep an eye on you. If Handong Province can't make good use of someone like you, I'll transfer you to the ministry for training."

A member of the accompanying group nodded slightly. It was Director Zhang from the Personnel Management Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security. Director Zhang had spoken at the meeting this morning, which left a deep impression on Qi Tongwei. The minister patted Qi Tongwei on the shoulder and continued, "Now you have better opportunities, which is good! Remember, no matter where you are, never let down your talents and your original aspirations!"

Upon hearing this, Qi Tongwei was startled and looked up at the minister, his eyes filled with surprise and complex emotions.

Chapter 16 Awards Dinner (Continued)

A person of ministerial rank would naturally not need to feign or be perfunctory in front of someone as insignificant as him. If he said he had looked into it, then he had genuinely and carefully reviewed his own file; if he said he had considered a transfer, then it must have been true.

This realization struck Qi Tongwei like a thunderbolt. Having been immersed in the corrupting influence of Handong for too long in his previous life, he had long since abandoned the naive belief that "the world is corrupt but I am pure."

Since his rebirth, although he has been forced to cope with the situation and has used every means at his disposal, the schemes he has employed, while not exactly honorable, are not despicable either. But he also knows that if necessary in the future, he will never reject even intrigue and trickery as long as it achieves his goal.

Even his "genuine emotion" at the awards banquet was the result of careful calculation.

He had calculated that in such public settings, the words and actions of high-ranking leaders carry the significance of a political barometer. Under the grand narrative of "everything giving way to economic development," the minister could not possibly deny the "positive and progressive" behavior of a model citizen pursuing advanced studies in economics; on the contrary, he had to affirm it to demonstrate the system's open attitude towards talent cultivation and its firm support for national strategies.

A model citizen of the public security system earned a doctorate in economics from a prestigious university in Peking University—what a remarkable story!

As for whether this move will stir up trouble within the Hantong political and legal system, what does that have to do with him? In the minister's view, what you may lose is the pleasure of manipulating a small person, while he gains an opportunity to make a political statement in line with the trend of the times.

These are all Qi Tongwei's calculations!

He knew that the minister might not be aware of the inside story, and even if he were, as the absolute authority, no one would dare to blame him. If the Liang family held a grudge because of this, they would only vent their anger on Qi Tongwei, cursing him as cunning, insidious, and shameless.

This is similar to how, throughout history, many people have preferred to blame the downfall of a nation on treacherous officials and wicked concubines rather than confront the faults of the monarch; it reflects the same mentality.

Qi Tongwei believed he had taken everything into account, except that the minister actually valued him so much and even intended to transfer him to the ministry for training.

This unexpected truth, like a key, suddenly unlocked the knot in his heart that had been sealed for so long.

His thoughts drifted uncontrollably back to his previous life. If he had been able to hold out a little longer back then, and hadn't been so quick to submit to the Liang family, then, after being suppressed and not given important positions for so long, once the ministry took notice and issued a transfer order, what reason would the Liang family have to stop him?

After all, Handong Province did not provide the talents they deserved, and there was also interference from higher-level forces that could be described as "connected to the heavens".

However, after his "earth-shattering kneeling", he was quickly promoted with the help of the Liang family's resources. In the eyes of outsiders, including the minister, wasn't he enjoying the local government's "importance" and "cultivation"?

The minister naturally wouldn't interfere further, but would simply believe that everyone should make the best use of their talents.

If... if I could have waited a little longer in my previous life, if I could have endured a little more, even if it was just for a year or two, would my life have been completely different? Perhaps my position wouldn't have been as prestigious as it is now, but at least I would have been able to stand tall and honestly with a clear conscience.

Having spent too long in that "star-studded" quagmire of Handong, he seemed to have long forgotten what it meant to be a normal person and to do things properly.

Qi Tongwei felt a moment of disorientation. Since his rebirth, although he had long ago decided to continue in politics and shift his focus to the local system, he had always harbored a doubt about how to proceed on this path. Or rather, he had been deliberately avoiding the question: Should he repeat the same mistakes and resort to any means necessary? Or should he start afresh and act with integrity?

If given a choice, who wouldn't want to take the main road, the straight path? But his twenty years of official career in his previous life clearly told him that taking the side road was faster, and even took him further!

The root cause of his complete downfall in his previous life was that after making outstanding military achievements, he wasted his years in the anti-drug squad, which led him to despairingly believe that "heroes are just tools of power."

At that moment, this knot in his heart was quietly untied by the minister's simple and unpretentious words. He realized that as long as he did his job conscientiously and had a clear conscience, there would always be like-minded people who would see it, and the moment of truth would eventually come.

Must I, reborn into this life, forever hide in the shadows, relying on scheming and dependence, just like in my previous life? Is it truly impossible to reach the ideal destination by relying on the righteous path and solid achievements and abilities?

At this moment, he truly made up his mind to walk a path completely different from his previous life—a righteous and upright road.

Once the decision was made, it was as if an invisible shackle shattered, and my mind and heart felt open and clear, even my breathing became exceptionally smooth.

The minister left with an encouraging smile, continuing his toasting spree. Xu Hong, the director of the Public Security Bureau of Handong Province, also glanced at Qi Tongwei with a complicated expression before silently returning to his seat.

Before Qi Tongwei could fully savor the change in his state of mind, he was overwhelmed by the barrage of questions from his fellow model students at the same table.

These comrades-in-arms were all tough guys with top-notch professional skills, but when it came to studying and taking exams, the halo of a Peking University PhD was simply too dazzling for them. From the time the college entrance examination was reinstated until Qi Tongwei's rebirth in the future, very few students chose police academies when they could get into Tsinghua or Peking University, let alone serving police officers who could cross over to get a PhD in a top-tier major at Peking University.

Some people were curious about how he could keep studying in his spare time, some inquired about the subjects of the Peking University doctoral entrance exam, some were concerned about his future plans, and many more people genuinely admired him and were happy for him, so they came over with their wine glasses to clink glasses.

What a pure and lovely group of people they are!

Just moments before, he had been preoccupied, as if separated from this enthusiastic group by an invisible barrier. Now, with his worries resolved and a few hearty drinks down his throat, he was completely immersed in the group. He was only the center of attention for a brief moment; the conversation quickly returned to their most familiar areas—the thrilling arrests, the grueling daily training, the painstaking analysis of cases…

Qi Tongwei enthusiastically joined the discussion, sharing his grassroots experiences, which felt completely natural.

How long has it been? How long has it been since I've had such a pure drinking party? Only comrades who share our hearts and souls, only heartfelt conversations, no exchange of benefits, no scheming, only genuine laughter and blessings.

In this unreserved sincerity, imbued with the rugged spirit unique to the police force, Qi Tongwei once again became intoxicated.

……

When he woke up again, he was already in his dormitory at the Ministry of Public Security's guesthouse. This time he didn't sleep for long like last time. He glanced at his watch and it was not yet ten o'clock.

He looked up and saw a pair of bright, bloodshot eyes staring intently at him.

Chapter 17 Returning to Jingzhou

Qi Tongwei was startled. When he came to his senses and looked closely, he realized that his roommate, Director Wang, had been standing in the room at some point, staring intently at him.

"Director Wang, what's wrong...?" Qi Tongwei steadied himself and asked calmly.

Director Wang's face was ashen, his chest heaving slightly, and his voice sounded like it was being squeezed out through clenched teeth: "Xiao Qi, I helped you apply for a bonus and granted you a three-month leave. Ask yourself, have I ever offended you?"

Qi Tongwei didn't correct him, but simply applied for the early payment of the bonus, and just nodded slightly.

"Then why did you harm me?!" Director Wang's voice suddenly rose, filled with barely suppressed anger.

Qi Tongwei still had a smile on his face: "Director Wang, what makes you say that? Last night I only reported my personal decision to the minister—to resign and go back to school. I didn't mention a single word about the Liang family."

"You shouldn't even have mentioned resigning!" Director Wang almost shouted, taking a step closer and lowering his voice, which sounded even more urgent. "What does your resignation have to do with the minister? Do you even have the right to report to him? If you want to leave, you can just tell me first, and I will naturally help you make proper arrangements. Why make a scene like that?!"

Qi Tongwei's smile vanished, his face darkened, and he stared intently at him, asking, "Then why didn't you say you could arrange it for me before?"