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

She was wearing loungewear, her hair casually pulled back, revealing a section of her fair nape.

"You've already started packing?" Hou Liangping walked over and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.

Zhong Xiaoai didn't turn around, nor did she stop what she was doing. Her voice carried a hint of amusement: "You think I don't know? My dad personally called Qi Tongwei to get this opportunity for you."

Hou Liangping paused for a moment, then smiled wryly: "You're certainly well-informed."

"That's right." Zhong Xiaoai turned around, picked up a tie, and held it up to his chest. "Qi Tongwei has nodded, and there shouldn't be any resistance from Sha Ruijin's side. Your position as the head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Handong Province is practically a done deal."

She spoke casually, as if discussing something completely ordinary.

Hou Liangping took the tie, glanced down at the dark blue pattern, and remained silent for a moment.

"Xiao Ai, this trip to Handong... is different from the most important inspection."

"I know." Zhong Xiaoai looked up at him, her gaze clear and calm. "The water is deep, the waves are high, and there are old classmates and old friends."

Old classmates, old friends.

These words, like a pebble, stirred ripples in Hou Liangping's heart.

He thought of Qi Tongwei, Chen Hai, and Professor Gao Yuliang, recalling the days when they were full of vigor at Handong University, drinking and discussing philosophy and current affairs together.

Then she thought of the conflict with Qi Tongwei at her wedding.

Back then, who could have imagined today?

"Qi Tongwei is now the Executive Vice Governor," Hou Liangping said in a low voice. "He was the one who approved this position. I went to Handong, nominally as the head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, but in reality..."

"Actually, you have to work under his nose," Zhong Xiaoai continued, her tone unhurried. "You mean, be controlled by him?"

Hou Liangping did not deny it.

Zhong Xiaoai hung up the suits one by one with a calm and composed demeanor, as if she were discussing the most ordinary family matters.

"Liangping, why do you think Qi Tongwei agreed to my dad's request?"

Hou Liangping frowned: "It should be... out of respect for his father-in-law."

"Saving face is only one aspect." Zhong Xiaoai shook her head, pulled a cashmere sweater from the closet, and folded it in her hands. "When we in the Discipline Inspection Commission detain people, we still have to go through the prosecution process after the evidence is conclusive; but your Anti-Corruption Bureau makes direct arrests, and your position is extremely important. The power is too great. There are already rumors that the Anti-Corruption Bureau's staff might be abolished next year during the leadership reshuffle, and its functions might be merged into the Discipline Inspection Commission."

Hou Liangping had naturally heard this news as well. In the capital, all sorts of rumors were constantly emerging, but judging what was true and what was false depended on your abilities and background.

"What does this have to do with Qi Tongwei agreeing to let me go to Handong?"

Zhong Xiaoai folded the cashmere sweater and put it in the suitcase, then looked up at him: "Sha Ruijin's trip to Handong this time was for personnel adjustments; the Discipline Inspection Commission has already sided with him. Why didn't Qi Tongwei use Teacher Gao's influence in the political and legal system to appoint his own people to such a crucial position as the head of the anti-corruption bureau? A personal favor can't outweigh something this big."

She paused, her gaze deepening. "He agreed to let you go; he must have his reasons. After all, you and he have a history."

Hou Liangping's face flushed slightly, and he coughed lightly: "What considerations?"

Zhong Xiaoai didn't linger on the topic, smiling slightly: "It means your going to Handong won't affect his political plans, which is why he's willing to use my father's connections as a bargaining chip. Or, to put it another way—he believes you won't influence his overall strategy."

Hou Liangping's heart sank.

He had always been overshadowed by Qi Tongwei.

He thought that marrying Xiao Ai would leave Qi Tongwei behind, but twenty years later, he found himself falling further and further behind. Now, hearing that he was insignificant on the other's chessboard, he couldn't help but feel resentful.

Zhong Xiaoai, however, knew that the gap between the two of them was already too great.

Even if Hou Liangping makes a great contribution in Handong this time, it is still unknown whether he can reach Qi Tongwei's current level before retirement—and that's just in terms of level, not to mention the power involved.

Moreover, Qi Tongwei is about to take another big step forward.

She usually takes care of her husband's feelings, but she spoke so bluntly at this moment because she was afraid that he would lose his temper and do something foolish if he went to Handong.

So she continued, "What are you going to Handong for? To fight corruption. Whose corruption are you fighting?"

Hou Liangping's heart skipped a beat, and he blurted out, "The Zhao family."

"Yes." Zhong Xiaoai nodded. "The Dafeng Factory incident has caused quite a stir. Zhao Ruilong paid back 1 billion yuan in land transfer fees, seemingly to settle the matter, but in reality, the Zhao family's decline is already evident. Zhao Lichun is about to retire, and the Zhao family's power is shrinking. As for Qi Tongwei, he works for the government and doesn't handle personnel matters, so the anti-corruption campaign won't target him. Therefore, it would be best if the head of the anti-corruption bureau was one of his own. If not, as long as he's not one of Sha Ruijin's people, he can accept it."

"But if he doesn't manage this area, why does he still keep the Anti-Corruption Bureau under his control?"

Zhong Xiaoai patiently explained: "Personnel adjustments and project approvals are the stick and the carrot, while the Discipline Inspection Commission and anti-corruption agencies are the knife. The knife can be avoided, but how can it be entirely in the other side's hands?"

Hou Liangping pondered, "Then isn't he afraid I'll side with Sha Ruijin? Even if I don't side with Sha Ruijin, isn't he afraid my blade will become unruly? What difference does it make whether he doesn't have a blade himself or the other side has two or one?"

"You were recommended by him, and you graduated from the Department of Political Science and Law at Han University, so naturally Sha Ruijin won't trust you." Zhong Xiaoai paused, "As for the latter question, I can't figure it out either."

Hou Liangping laughed and said, "Is there anything my female strategist can't figure out?"

Zhong Xiaoai rolled her eyes at him and shrugged. "If I knew everything, wouldn't I be the governor? I think it's probably because your interests are temporarily aligned. If you want to stand out this time, you have to handle a major case, which is probably exactly what he wants."

What Zhong Xiaoai didn't know was that Qi Tongwei had no intention of stabbing Sha Ruijin in the back.

That would be a losing proposition—Sha Ruijin would certainly be affected by losing control of the situation, and Qi Tongwei himself would also be implicated.

Even if you have the upper hand, it's not a good thing to confront the top leader head-on.

The cautionary tale is Li Dakang, whose statement, "If he becomes the governor, I'll have to listen to him," shows that even without the Ding Yizhen and Ouyang Jing affair, Sha Ruijin would not have let him take office.

Hou Liangping fell into deep thought.

Zhong Xiaoai continued, "But you must remember, aligned interests don't equate to aligned stances. Qi Tongwei is a politician; everything he does has a purpose. You are a prosecutor; you can only act according to the law. These two paths can sometimes run parallel, and sometimes they diverge. When you reach the fork in the road, how will you choose?"

"Of course, we will act in accordance with the law," Hou Liangping replied without hesitation.

"What if the investigation goes on and ends up involving Teacher Gao or Chen Hai?"

Zhong Xiaoai's voice was soft, yet it struck Hou Liangping's heart like a heavy hammer.

The room fell silent for a moment.

"I don't believe they would go astray." Hou Liangping's voice was somewhat hoarse. "Back then..."

"Those were those years, and now is now," Zhong Xiaoai interrupted him. "I'm not saying they're necessarily problematic. I'm saying that once you're in Handong, you can't let your guard down just because of past relationships. There are too many variables in officialdom. Today's ally might be tomorrow's adversary; today's friend might be your enemy tomorrow."

She walked up to Hou Liangping, straightened his collar, and said with a serious yet gentle gaze, "Liangping, my dad told me that you're straightforward and not good at being diplomatic. This time in Handong, you only need to remember four words."

"Which four characters?"

"Act in accordance with the law."

Hou Liangping took a deep breath and nodded: "I understand."

Zhong Xiaoai shook her head: "No, you don't understand. 'Acting according to the law' is different from what you understand. It means that you must follow the rules, procedures, discipline, and the law—not that you can act recklessly just because you consciously stand on the side of justice."

She paused, her voice deepening, "Like Chen Hai's recent demotion, regardless of whether the underlying reason was Sha Ruijin's resentment or Qi Tongwei's desire to control the anti-corruption bureau, the stated reason was his lack of organization and discipline in the Ding Yizhen case. That's the leverage they've got."

"Furthermore," she pointed to his chest, "of the four rules to follow, the rules are the most important, and the law is the bottom line."

Hou Liangping nodded emphatically.

Zhong Xiaoai's eyes, however, were full of worry.

She knew all too well what her partner of so many years was like.

She didn't want Hou Liangping to get involved in the quagmire of Handong, but seeing how frustrated he had been for so many years and how he was approaching the age limit for advancement, she couldn't bear it and went to ask her father for help.

I hope everything goes well.

Hou Liangping spoke up again: "The Zhao family seems to be in a situation where everyone is against them now, so why haven't they retaliated yet?"

"On the one hand, being in the thick of it, you're always the last to know about these things," Zhong Xiaoai bent down and stuffed a pair of leather shoes into the corner of the box. "On the other hand, not only them, but all parties involved are currently unclear about how things will ultimately turn out."

After all, Zhao Lichun's rank is what it is.

In the end, it's possible that the Zhao family gang will be broken up, Zhao Ruilong will return his illegal gains, and the Zhao family will be able to settle down peacefully—not only is it possible, but it's also the mainstream view.

"So before the wind direction becomes completely clear, if you go to Handong, you can only attack the outer perimeter of the Zhao family at the start."

Hou Liangping chuckled and replied, "Yes, sir."

Zhong Xiaoai glared at him: "Stop grinning like that. Also, when you go to Handong this time, make sure to have a good talk with Chen Hai first. After all, he was demoted because he cooperated with your case, and now you've taken over his position. Don't handle things badly and damage your brotherly relationship."

Hou Liangping said nonchalantly, "Don't worry, Chen Hai and I have been best buddies for years, it won't happen."

"Don't take it lightly; relationships are built over time."

"I know what I'm doing."

"And most importantly, your own safety is paramount." Zhong Xiaoai's tone suddenly turned serious. "If they dared to target Ding Yizhen, they won't be afraid of someone like Hou Liangping. Don't try to be a hero."

Hou Liangping laughed and said, "Don't worry, I'm an imperial envoy."

Zhong Xiaoai nodded, then changed the subject: "Professor Gao Yuliang, you should also be careful."

"Professor Gao?" Hou Liangping was somewhat surprised. "He's our mentor, and he's currently the Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee..."

"Precisely because he's the Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, you need to be even more careful." A glint of shrewdness flashed in Zhong Xiaoai's eyes. "When you go to Handong to become the head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, you'll nominally be under the jurisdiction of the Provincial Procuratorate, but who's the political supervisor? Gao Yuliang. If you want to investigate a case or take action against someone, you need his approval. But the problem is, in Handong's political and legal system, Professor Gao's students and old associates are everywhere. Every case you investigate, every person you take action against, could potentially implicate his former subordinates."

"I can clearly distinguish between the teacher-student relationship and the working relationship."

"You can tell the difference, but what about him?" Zhong Xiaoai retorted. "Chen Hai was dismissed and transferred to the oil and gas group as the director of the inspection office. Who do you think approved that? Lu Yike went to him to plead for him, and what did he say? 'I can't do anything about it.' Chen Hai is Chen Yanshi's son and Gao Yuliang's student. He just gave up on him like that. Do you think he'll speak up for you when it really matters?"

Hou Liangping remained silent.

Zhong Xiaoai deftly and calmly placed the folded clothes into the suitcase, one by one: "I'm not telling you to be wary of Teacher Gao, I'm telling you to stay alert. In Handong, there's no one you can completely trust. Sha Ruijin is the newly appointed top leader, and he has his reasons; Qi Tongwei is the de facto number two, and he has his own agenda; Gao Yuliang is a former subordinate of the Zhao family, and his stance is the hardest to judge."

Hou Liangping stepped forward, embraced Zhong Xiaoai, and whispered, "Xiaoai, thank you."

"What are you thanking me for?" Zhong Xiaoai smiled, her voice softening. "You're my husband. Your well-being is the foundation of our family's well-being."

Hou Liangping chuckled, yet a warm feeling welled up in his heart.

He knew that Zhong Xiaoai came from a prominent family, had worked for the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection for many years, and possessed a far deeper understanding of officialdom than he had. She valued this trip to Handong even more than he had imagined.

"Xiao Ai, I wish you could come to Handong with me."

Zhong Xiaoai didn't answer directly, but instead asked, "Do you want me to go?"

"Of course I hope so," Hou Liangping said without hesitation. "With you by my side, I feel at ease."

"Then I'll go." Zhong Xiaoai nodded, her tone as casual as if she were discussing what to have for dinner. "Perfect timing, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection is about to form an inspection team in Handong, and they need manpower."

Hou Liangping was stunned: "You... had this planned all along?"

Zhong Xiaoai gave a meaningful smile: "You become the head of the anti-corruption bureau, and I'll become a member of the inspection team. One in the open, one in the shadows; with husband and wife working together, their strength can break metal."

She reached out and patted the lid of her suitcase, making a crisp "click" sound. "Alright, your things are almost packed. Go to your workplace tomorrow to hand over your belongings, and leave the day after. I'll arrange things for Haoran; I'll have my mom come and look after him for a while."

Looking at his decisive and resourceful wife, Hou Liangping suddenly recalled the image of her standing at the gate of Han University, wearing a white dress and waving to him with a smile.

Back then, she was an innocent and carefree girl from the compound; now, she has grown into a meticulous and insightful "behind-the-scenes strategist."

"Xiao Ai," Hou Liangping suddenly spoke, his voice tinged with emotion.