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

Public opinion is boiling over.

At the scene, Li Dakang, who had temporarily calmed down, looked at the dilapidated factory buildings and the crowd that refused to disperse, and an even more "thorough" idea popped into his head.

Since things have already escalated to this point, we might as well take this opportunity to remove the nail.

This time, without Qi Tongwei's advice, he made the same decision as in his previous life: under the guise of maintaining safety and eliminating hidden dangers, he completely demolished Dafeng Factory!

Chen Yanshi naturally disagreed.

He called Gao Yuliang.

Exhausted and only wanting a smooth transition, Gao Yuliang had no desire to get involved in this mess. He could only try to steer the conversation away with official jargon.

Chen Yanshi persisted: "Gao Yuliang, you can't command Li Dakang, can you? Fine, then find me the new provincial party secretary, Sha Ruijin!"

Gao Yuliang patiently said, "Old leader, Secretary Sha is currently conducting research at the grassroots level in Yantai City. It's the middle of the night, where am I supposed to find him?"

“You’ll definitely find a way to get in touch! Just tell him that an old guy named Chen Yanshi must call me back!” Chen Yanshi’s voice was resolute.

Gao Yuliang's heart suddenly skipped a beat. So that's how it is! This old man was so fearless because he had this unknown relationship with Sha Ruijin!

No wonder he's been jumping around like this lately.

After hanging up with Chen Yanshi, Gao Yuliang dialed the cell phone of Bai Jingwen, Sha Ruijin's secretary.

"Secretary Gao, what instructions do you have so late?" Bai Jingwen's voice was deliberately lowered, indicating fatigue.

"Secretary Bai, excuse me. There's been an emergency at the Dafeng Factory in Jingzhou. Comrade Chen Yanshi would like to report this directly to Secretary Sha..."

Gao Yuliang described the situation of Dafeng Factory to Bai Jingwen in detail.

“Secretary Gao,” Bai Jingwen interrupted Gao Yuliang politely but firmly, “Secretary Sha has been touring the area all day, holding meetings with the cadres until now. We just got back to the hotel, and he’s only been asleep for less than an hour. Look at this…”

Gao Yuliang immediately understood that he had been "blocked".

He tactfully said, "Then forget it, I won't disturb Secretary Sha's rest any longer, let's talk about it tomorrow."

"Okay, I will definitely report to Secretary Sha as soon as possible tomorrow morning." Bai Jingwen's reply was watertight.

None of this escaped Qi Tongwei's notice.

He remained in his study, closely monitoring the situation and the flow of information through multiple channels.

Seeing that Chen Yanshi remained seated and oblivious, and knowing that Gao Yuliang's report had been blocked, a cold glint appeared on his lips.

Sha Ruijin was all too aware of his character flaws. He was overly focused on personal authority and control, sometimes to the point of being stubborn and self-willed.

A secretary is an extension of the leader's will. Bai Jingwen dared to block an urgent report from a deputy secretary of the provincial party committee at a time when the lives of thousands of people were at stake and could trigger a major public opinion crisis, citing that "the secretary had just gone to sleep." Afterwards, Sha Ruijin not only did not blame him, but focused all his attention on Chen Yanshi.

This only shows that Secretary Bai's decision largely reflected Sha Ruijin's intentions.

"The time has come," Qi Tongwei murmured to himself.

Playing the game of online public opinion? He's a professional. He already knew it well back when Daokou County was developing tourism.

He waited quietly.

As the initial wave of public opinion praising Chen Yanshi as a hero, orchestrated by Zheng Qian, subsided and netizens' emotions shifted from initial shock to reflection, his people quietly entered the scene.

Several seemingly casual comments or bullet screen messages began to appear:

"The old man is a true hero, but why must a seventy or eighty-year-old man sit here for so long without any progress?"

"Because it's not 'working hours' now, the bosses are all resting. (doge)"

"Such a big incident, with countless casualties at the scene, is it all less important than some people sleeping?"

"I'm more curious, the problem with Dafeng Factory has been dragging on for more than just a day or two, hasn't it? Why hasn't it been resolved yet?"

These comments are like drops of water falling into hot oil.

Once doubts are ignited, they spread like wildfire. Soon, the focus of public opinion underwent a subtle yet decisive shift:

People still admire Chen Yanshi's courage, but more questions and anger are directed at the "relevant departments" and "leaders" who caused the problem, failed to resolve it for a long time, and ultimately led to the nighttime conflict.

The birth of a "hero" often signifies the failure of the "system".

Qi Tongwei skillfully guided people to examine that failed "system".

Chen Yanshi sat in front of the cold excavator, secretly pleased with himself. He felt that he must look very tall and mighty, like a warrior facing a dragon alone.

Indeed, his reputation is getting better and better.

However, as time went on, netizens began to have more and more questions.

It's been so long, why hasn't anyone been able to come up with a solution to this?

Are they still in a meeting discussing this? At this point, discussions about bureaucracy resurfaced, and foreign media outlets also began to join the commentary.

Public opinion has escalated to the point where it is out of control.

Bai Jingwen, who had just fallen asleep, was woken up by a phone call, and he was already somewhat displeased.

Regarding the matter concerning Ding Yizhen, Gao Yuliang specifically asked Secretary Sha to make a decision; ostensibly to request instructions, but in reality to shirk responsibility.

Now that he's calling late at night about the hot potato of demolition, he naturally wants to delay and let them decide for themselves, so as not to get Secretary Sha involved in something messy.

Besides, it's so late. Secretary Sha already has trouble sleeping, and the burden of supporting 8000 million people in the province rests on his shoulders. How can he work if he doesn't sleep well?

He picked up the phone, just about to find a reason to refuse Gao Yuliang, when he saw the caller ID and broke out in a cold sweat. He quickly answered the phone: "Hello, sir!"

"You're looking for Secretary Sha? It's so late, Secretary Sha must be resting..."

At that moment, a roar came from the other end of the phone, even though it wasn't on speakerphone:

"How can he sleep at a time like this?!"

Chapter 114 Sha Ruijin's Speculation

Qi Tongwei watched quietly as the situation developed and escalated as he had predicted.

He has no urge to perform miracles or risk his life.

Rushing to the forefront at such a time may yield limited benefits, but it can easily lead to a mess and make you the target of public criticism.

There's an unwritten rule in politics: when a crisis causes serious damage, whether for venting anger or establishing authority, the person who "profited" the most from the crisis is often seen as a potential "mastermind," and may even become the primary target of suspicion and attack, even if they weren't the instigator.

He calmly made a few phone calls, using the channels he had already laid out to completely erase any subtle traces that might point to him, ensuring that no one could trace the noise of the internet back to him.

After doing all this, he leaned back on the sofa in his study, like a truly detached spectator, watching with a calm and critical eye this "grand drama" that he had indirectly ignited but which had now escaped anyone's absolute control.

The hotel where the research team stayed in Iwata City.

Bai Jingwen, dressed in pajamas, held a constantly vibrating secure cell phone, his face appearing somewhat pale in the dim light of the corridor.

He jogged along, used the spare room card to open the door to the Sha Ruijin suite, and went straight to the bedside without even turning on the light.

He gently nudged the sleeping figure on the bed, his voice trembling with barely concealed anxiety: "Secretary Sha, Secretary Sha, wake up!"

Sha Ruijin's sleep was abruptly interrupted, his brows furrowed tightly, the imposing aura of his long-held high position giving his displeasure an extraordinary sense of pressure.

He didn't open his eyes immediately, but the oppressive atmosphere made the air in the room seem to stagnate: "Xiao Bai, I've said it before, no matter how important the matter is, we'll talk about it when it's light." His voice was hoarse from just waking up, but it carried an undeniable authority.

“Secretary Sha, it’s…it’s the old commander calling! It’s an emergency call!” Bai Jingwen explained hurriedly, handing the phone, which felt like a hot potato, to Sha Ruijin.

The words "Old Chief" were like a bucket of ice water, instantly extinguishing all of Sha Ruijin's morning grumpiness and displeasure at being disturbed. He abruptly opened his eyes, and the drowsiness and annoyance in them vanished in less than a second, replaced by an almost reflexive clarity and solemnity.

As he took the phone, a warm and respectful smile naturally appeared on his face, even though the person on the other end couldn't see it at all.

"Old leader, it's so late, why are you looking for me? What instructions do you have?" His voice was full of respect.

An aged yet still clear and authoritative voice came from the other end of the phone, with a hint of barely perceptible confusion: "Ruijin, are you really resting?"

Sha Ruijin's heart skipped a beat. This seemingly ordinary question, given the context of the late-night call, carried an unusual sense of scrutiny.

He reacted swiftly, immediately realizing that something serious might have happened in Handong that he wasn't aware of, and that the matter had already reached the higher-ups. His smile vanished, and his tone became serious and urgent:

"Boss, is something urgent happening in Handong? I just finished a day of research and was really rested, I haven't had a chance to..."

“Jingzhou, Dafeng Factory.” The old leader’s voice interrupted him, speaking slowly but each word like a hammer blow. “A demolition dispute has triggered a large-scale mass incident. Workers and police are in a standoff, with thousands of people on the scene. There have been clashes and injuries. The matter has become a major issue, even attracting attention from overseas media! The propaganda and united front departments are under immense pressure. The news has already reached the higher-ups. I’m calling you before the formal inquiry. You need to handle this immediately, clean up the mess, and be fully prepared for the subsequent talks and accountability.”

Sha Ruijin's last vestiges of sleepiness were shattered by these words, his mind going blank. Dafeng Factory? Mass incident? International attention? Accountability? These words, strung together, sent a chill down his spine. How come he hadn't heard a thing?

Years of political instinct made him instinctively want to defend himself and shirk responsibility: "Leader, I...I'm innocent! How long have I been in Handong? This Dafeng Factory is a long-standing historical problem. The root of the problem isn't with me. You can't blame me!"

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone. When the voice spoke again, its temperature had noticeably dropped, replaced by a condescending sternness.

“Ruijin, the 83 million people of Handong need to survive, develop, find employment, and eat. You are the person primarily responsible, not ‘others’! Since you’ve taken this position, you must shoulder all the responsibilities of this position, including historical burdens and unforeseen risks! This is not something to be bargained over!”

Sha Ruijin felt a chill run down his spine, realizing he had said the wrong thing in his haste. He immediately corrected his attitude: "Yes! The leader's criticism is correct. It was my oversight that led to this, and the responsibility lies with me."

"I know you might feel wronged," the old leader said, his tone softening slightly, but his analysis becoming even more incisive. "The historical problems at Dafeng Factory may not have started because of you, but tonight's mass incident involving a thousand people was completely unexpected, and the handling of the situation was slow, to the point that it spiraled out of control, causing a public outcry and attracting attention both inside and outside the country—where were you, the top leader? What were you doing? How could you be completely unaware and still be able to sleep soundly?"

Before Sha Ruijin could organize his thoughts, the other person's voice rang out again, this time carrying a deeper sense of disappointment:

“I originally thought that you might be deliberately avoiding this mess, just misjudging the seriousness of the situation. Now it seems that you really don’t know? Ruijin, tell me the truth,” the old leader’s voice suddenly became more serious, throwing out a question that could make a high-ranking official break out in a cold sweat, “Is Handong still under your control?”

This statement is almost tantamount to pointing a finger at someone and accusing them of "incompetence."

Bai Jingwen, who was standing nearby, turned pale upon hearing this, realizing he had made a grave mistake. He hurriedly whispered and reported, "Secretary, earlier... earlier Secretary Gao Yuliang called, but I saw you had just fallen asleep and were too tired, so... so I didn't dare to wake you..."

Sha Ruijin hurriedly replied, "Yes! Of course I am here! Comrade Gao Yuliang of the Provincial Party Committee had previously reported the relevant situation to me by phone, but I had just gone to bed at the time, and my secretary, considering that I had been working hard on the investigation for several days, did not wake me up in time. This was my oversight, and I apologize to you!"

"You're going to use this as an excuse to explain things to the higher-ups?" The person on the other end of the phone was almost laughing in anger. "Can a secretary's judgment take the blame for the negligence and dereliction of duty by Party Secretary S?"

Bai Jingwen lowered his head, his whole body stiffened, and he even held his breath.

Sha Ruijin took a deep breath, knowing that any attempt to shirk responsibility would be foolish at this moment. He had to demonstrate an attitude of accountability: "Of course not! This is just a record of what happened. The main responsibility lies with me. I was not vigilant enough, underestimated the complex conflicts and potential risks at the grassroots level, and failed to adequately educate and manage my secretary. I will submit a thorough self-criticism to my superiors and immediately do everything in my power to handle the aftermath!"

Sensing that Sha Ruijin's attitude of admitting his mistake had become more sincere, the tone on the other end of the phone softened slightly, but the earnest admonition remained stronger:

“Ruijin, I warned you before that your current position is different from when you were the municipal party secretary or even the deputy secretary in other provinces. Our faction is not the core, and the support we can provide is far less than before. When dealing with problems, especially in a place like Handong where powerful forces are deeply entrenched, you need to be extra cautious and tread carefully. You can no longer be as direct as you were in the past... your methods need to be more subtle. The power of the top leader is theoretically absolute, but whether you can truly grasp it and use it well depends on your abilities.”

"Yes, thank you for your guidance, senior leader. I will definitely keep it in mind and reflect deeply." Sha Ruijin adopted an extremely humble posture.

"Don't delay the matter with Dafeng Factory. Resolve it immediately. The longer you delay, the more passive you become, and the more leverage you'll leave behind. After you've handled it, write a detailed report and submit it directly to me."

"I understand, I'll handle it right away. Thank you for your trouble, old boss."

The call ended, and a busy signal rang. Sha Ruijin held the phone, remaining silent for a good ten seconds before slowly turning his head to look at Bai Jingwen, who stood beside him, trembling with fear.

Bai Jingwen bowed deeply, his voice filled with remorse: "Secretary Sha, it's all my fault! I seriously misjudged the urgency of the situation. I was only thinking that you had been working hard for days and were severely sleep-deprived. Your health is the most important thing, and I couldn't bear to disturb you. I planned to report to you as soon as possible tomorrow morning... I, I am willing to accept any punishment!" He quickly and clearly reported the contents of Gao Yuliang's call, as well as his consideration for "being considerate of the leader" at the time.

Those who can become the "top secretary" are all shrewd and have maxed out their skills in dealing with people and reading between the lines.

He made no mention of Sha Ruijin's words, "Don't wake me up no matter what the matter is," and took all the blame on his own "work mistakes" and "lack of consideration." This was the only and best response.