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

Hou Liangping paused for a moment, then said, "Chief Prosecutor Ji didn't say it explicitly, but there was a hint of that... tendency in his words."

Inclined to this depends on personal understanding, or even how one interprets it.

Gao Yuliang was furious: "Hou Liangping, are you trying to play tricks on me? You suspect me?"

Hou Liangping quickly waved his hand: "Teacher, you misunderstand. My main suspicion is about Director Xiao Gangyu. He has close ties with the Shanshui Group, and Ding Yizhen has also provided the Shanshui Group with a lot of convenience. The relationship here..."

Gao Yuliang sneered, "Oh, so you've just taken office as the head of the anti-corruption bureau and you're already planning to use our province's public security chief as a sacrificial lamb? Have you submitted a report to your superiors?"

Hou Liangping: "Not yet, teacher. I only have a suspicion."

Qi Tongwei picked up his teacup and said slowly, "Liangping, things are different in Handong than at the Supreme People's Procuratorate. Here, rules are more strictly enforced, and procedures are more strictly followed. Don't think the procedures are cumbersome and time-consuming; they're there to protect you. Look at the Ding Yizhen case: Ji Changming and Teacher Gao, who followed the procedures, got away with it and weren't held responsible. Only Chen Hai, who didn't follow the procedures, took responsibility. You should learn from this."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a clear female voice came from outside the door: "So, it's always the good people, the ones who are willing to do things, who suffer losses?"

Lu Yike pushed the door open and came in. She had obviously heard Qi Tongwei's last words and looked indignant.

Qi Tongwei didn't even lift his eyelids. Given his status, he disdained to argue with Lu Yike on this issue. Even if he silenced her, he wouldn't gain anything and might even offend Wu Huifen.

Lu Yike greeted the three of them one by one, and the three of them responded in kind.

The atmosphere became even more subtle.

Qi Tongwei put down his teacup and continued speaking to Hou Liangping: "Liangping, when you were the head of the investigation department at the Supreme People's Procuratorate, you only needed to be responsible for your specific tasks and be willing to take risks. But now you're the head of the anti-corruption bureau, responsible for anti-corruption work in an entire province. Being good at your job isn't enough; you also need to be politically astute. Otherwise, your move here will be meaningless."

Gao Yuliang also said in a deep voice, "Tongwei's words are invaluable; you should listen carefully."

Hou Liangping nodded without saying anything.

Lu Yike watched from the side without saying a word, but her eyes clearly showed her resentment.

Fortunately, Wu Huifen came out of the kitchen at that moment, smiling and saying, "It's all ready, eat it while it's hot."

The meal was not very lively. Wu Huifen tried her best to liven things up, but to little avail. Lu Yike tried several times to steer the conversation towards Chen Hai, but no one responded, and in the end, she could only eat in silence.

After the meal, Hou Liangping and Lu Yike got up to say goodbye. Qi Tongwei, who lived nearby, sat with Gao Yuliang in the garden for a while longer.

Night fell, and the garden lights shone dimly. Gao Yuliang leaned back in his wicker chair, his expression somewhat dejected. "These students, they're all getting too ambitious. Chen Hai aside, this Hou Liangping, he's got a lot of schemes up his sleeve too, and he's even testing me."

Qi Tongwei smiled: "Teacher, looking at all of you, I'm still the best, right?"

Gao Yuliang was amused: "You? You're the greediest."

He paused, then continued, "But I didn't expect you to repay evil with kindness. You had a conflict with Hou Liangping before, yet you still sincerely advised him."

Qi Tongwei waved his hand with a smile: "Teacher, you've wronged me. You actually think I'm a vindictive person?"

Gao Yuliang glanced at him sideways: "Isn't that right?"

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Qi Tongwei thought to himself: Teacher, you didn't misjudge me, I really am.

His words to Hou Liangping were indeed heartfelt, but given their relationship and the way he lectured a junior, Hou Liangping, with his personality, would hardly listen. It would likely have the opposite effect.

The country is easy to change, but the nature is hard to change.

Hou Liangping can't even break his whistling habit. Zhong Xiaoai has pointed it out, and Ji Changming has pointed it out too, but he still goes his own way. Now, do you think Qi Tongwei can change him with just a few words?

They're probably planning to crack a big case to prove something to Qi Tongwei.

Chapter 131 Chen Yanshi and Li Dakang

As if by some unseen force, Chen Yanshi always felt that his luck had been stolen by something.

Lately, everything has been going wrong. One carefully planned scheme after another has collapsed.

First, the Dafeng Factory incident spiraled out of control, severely offending Sha Ruijin. Chen Hai was implicated and demoted to a less prominent position within the oil and gas group. The Zhao family relinquished all their profits from the incident, leaving him now to clean up the mess left by Dafeng Factory.

At her age, she still has to run around dealing with demolition and relocation issues, and she no longer has the detached and carefree attitude she used to have.

Sigh, it seems we must stand on the side of contradictions, not get caught up in them.

These past few days, the city's pressure has been mounting. The Dafeng Factory issue has reached all levels of government, with pressure coming in layer after layer, forcing him to resolve the demolition problem as soon as possible. Although Zhao Ruilong paid the 1 billion yuan land transfer fee, this actually clarified the property rights, whetting the workers' appetites. Without payment, they're unlikely to compromise easily.

Actually, the best way is to delay.

Once three months have passed, Dafeng Factory will have no business or income, the hype will die down, the workers' enthusiasm will have faded, and without Chen Yanshi acting as a go-between, the demolition will naturally be a matter of course.

Unfortunately, time wasn't on his side. The Guangming Peak project, worth tens of billions, couldn't wait, and the mass incident being watched by the highest levels couldn't be delayed either. He had no choice but to bite the bullet and charge forward. These past few days, he'd been so anxious that boils had broken out on his lips, making it difficult to even drink water.

Zheng Xipo wasn't much better off. Although he wasn't feverish, his energy and spirit had completely collapsed. His hair was no longer as neat as before, with a large patch of white hair, the wrinkles on his face were deeper, his eyes were cloudy, and he looked as if he had aged ten years.

The two met in Chen Yanshi's nursing home cabin to discuss the progress of the matter.

The heating was on full blast inside, the sunlight outside was dim, and the atmosphere inside was even more bleak.

Zheng Xipo's voice was hoarse: "Old Chen, we've basically got the worker representatives on board, just two tough nuts to crack. One is Wang Wenge, stubborn by nature, his child is still young, and he won't listen to anyone. The other is Old Zhao from Workshop Two; his son went abroad and hasn't come back, so he's counting on the compensation money for his retirement. These two are highly respected among the workers, and that's where we're stuck."

Chen Yanshi rubbed his temples: "Why don't you go back to their house and try to talk to them again?"

Zheng Xipo's eyes reddened, and tears streamed down his face: "Old Chen, I've tried everything, but it's no use! Now, when I'm at the factory, the workers spit on me. Waaah... I don't even know where I've lost all face..."

Chen Yanshi waited for him to cry for a while, then sighed, "I know you're having a hard time, and so am I. A few years ago, when I was running the Second Procuratorate of Handong, I offended everyone. Now, because of the demolition issue, trying to find someone to persuade the children of those workers' representatives, I'm begging people everywhere, and I've completely lost face."

He paused, then tried to sound serious, raising his voice slightly: "But we have to pull ourselves together! Zheng Qian is still in custody, Chen Hai is still sidelined, and Li Dakang keeps urging me on. If it weren't for the sake of our descendants, would we have ended up in this situation?"

The two embraced and wept for a while. Zheng Xipo left like a walking corpse, going to Dafeng Factory to continue his work.

He also harbored hatred in his heart.

Although he had some selfish motives, he genuinely worked for the Dafeng Factory and for the workers' rights. Now that his own son is in trouble, these workers show no sympathy whatsoever, as if his previous sacrifices were a given.

His heart was truly cold.

On the other side, Chen Yanshi composed himself, got on his old electric scooter, and arrived at the Jingzhou Municipal Party Committee compound.

When the staff from the Municipal Party Committee Office saw him, they politely asked, "Mr. Chen, did you have an appointment to see Secretary Li?"

Chen Yanshi shook his head: "No, but I need to report to Secretary Li about the demolition of Dafeng Factory."

The staff member gave him a hesitant look, but still went in to announce his arrival. After about ten minutes, the staff member came out: "Secretary Li wants you to come in."

Like Gao Yuliang, Li Dakang possessed political savvy. He didn't show disdain for Chen Yanshi just because Sha Ruijin had distanced himself from him—even if the leader disliked a relative close to him, you couldn't treat them with contempt. Who knew what the leader would think in a while?

Li Dakang, all smiles, personally brewed a cup of tea for Chen Yanshi and handed it to him: "Old Chen, I heard you wanted to talk to me about the demolition of Dafeng Factory?"

Chen Yanshi took the teacup, held it with both hands, and sighed, "Yes, Secretary Li, I've come to ask you for help."

Li Dakang's smile faded slightly as he sat back down behind his desk: "What kind of assistance do you need from the Municipal Party Committee?"

Chen Yanshi put down his teacup and leaned forward slightly. "The main issue is funding. I've worked very hard, but now the workers at Dafeng Factory are all pointing their fingers at me and cursing. They won't give me a single penny in compensation; it's really difficult to complete the task. Besides, didn't Shanshui Group pay an additional 1 billion yuan in land transfer fees? The city is a bit more financially secure now, right?"

Li Dakang's expression turned serious: "Old Chen, although Jingzhou is a large and prosperous place, its expenses are also high. We haven't had enough money for many things before, so we had to put them aside for now. There are still many funding gaps in various places. If we really need to use the funds, let alone ten billion, even a hundred billion wouldn't be enough."

He paused, then added, "Moreover, the provincial party committee has already discussed this in a meeting; the government has no obligation to bail out private enterprises that are poorly managed."

Chen Yanshi smiled wryly, "I know, I know, but I'm really out of ideas. Secretary Li, can you help me think of a solution? I'll do whatever you say."

Li Dakang's "non-stick pan" skills have reached a level of perfection, so why would he take on this task at this point?

He shrugged: "What can I do? Old Chen, you've been involved the most in the Dafeng Factory matter, you know it best."

This is an allusion to Chen Yanshi standing on the side of Dafeng Factory, obstructing the demolition.

Chen Yanshi, of course, understood. But by this point, he could swallow his pride: "It's precisely because I understand that I know that, given the current situation, the workers won't agree to the demolition without any compensation. There are only two ways to proceed—either force the demolition, or drag it out until the workers can't afford to wait any longer."

Li Dakang frowned. Chen Yanshi seemed to have given two options, but in reality, neither was a viable choice.

If this matter hadn't escalated to such a significant level, both options would have been acceptable. Chen Yanshi's actions these past few days were naturally based on information from various sources—for example, Chen Yanshi's attempt to influence worker representatives through their children involved contacting numerous bureaus of commerce and market supervision in Jingzhou.

Now that Chen Yanshi is no longer involved, the workers are divided. If it were before, any demolition company could have easily handled it, or they could have just dragged it out.

But none of that will work now. This matter is being closely monitored. The uproar caused by the forced demolition, which could have been contained at the district level, will now definitely reach the ears of higher authorities. Delaying is even worse—what kind of work ethic is that?

Li Dakang said in a deep voice, "Old Chen, you've come to give me a difficult problem. This is a test question that Secretary Sha gave you, and you're asking me to solve it? Isn't that inappropriate?"

This is using Sha Ruijin to pressure him.

Chen Yanshi didn't mince words: "Secretary Li, that's true, but I really have limited abilities and can't write it. If I hand in a blank paper now, it won't look good for you as the class monitor, will it?"

This is a threat. After all, this concerns the Bright Peak project and Jingzhou. If it continues to be delayed, Sha Ruijin will be unable to explain to his superiors and will certainly hold a grudge against him.

Li Dakang twirled the pen in his hand, then suddenly changed the subject: "Did you know that a new head of the anti-corruption bureau came to yesterday's Standing Committee meeting?"

This is using Chen Hai to put Chen Yanshi in a difficult position—your son, the head of the anti-corruption bureau, is gone, aren't you thinking about Chen Hai's situation?

Chen Yanshi's face remained expressionless, as if he hadn't grasped the underlying meaning: "I know, Hou Liangping, right? My Chen Hai's good brother, he always comes to my house for dinner whenever he's in Handong."

Li Dakang sneered inwardly: As expected, he's from the Han University gang. Gao Yuliang is even pretending to distance himself.

He pressed further, "So you're just going to abandon Chen Hai?"

Chen Yanshi sighed, spread his hands, and looked completely resigned: "I want to help, but I can't. I've tried every method and ability, but it's still no use. What can I do? Maybe I should just consider Chen Hai's fate bad. After all, he's my son."

Li Dakang's heart tightened. This old coward, he's giving up!

But Li Dakang still wanted to improve! Porcelain shouldn't be allowed to rubble against earthenware jars!

Li Dakang took a deep breath and forced a smile: "Old Chen, what do you suggest we do?"

Chen Yanshi then revealed a hint of satisfaction: "In my opinion, if I put in a little more effort and pressure the workers to stick to their guns and not pay a single penny, then you can loosen your grip and give them a few million as a token gesture. After all, they are the working class; even if they're not from a state-owned enterprise, they're still part of the country. The higher-ups should understand."

Li Dakang narrowed his eyes, pondering carefully. The plan was feasible, but the degree and amount needed to be considered. Moreover, this old man was cunning; he was afraid Chen Yanshi would set a trap for him.

He said slowly, "Old Chen, I can't make this decision alone. I need to discuss it with other members of the municipal party committee and report to Secretary Sha."

Chen Yanshi stood up: "Alright, I'll go back first. Whether you agree or not, for now I'm telling the workers I won't give them a single penny."

Li Dakang escorted Chen Yanshi to the door, his smile lasting until Chen disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Back in his office, Li Dakang immediately summoned several trusted confidants, including Zhao Donglai and Zhang Shuli, to discuss the feasibility of Chen Yanshi's suggestion. A few million or ten million yuan was insignificant to Jingzhou's finances; the key issue was the impact of the act of giving money itself.

But he also wanted to get rid of Dafeng Factory, this holdout, as soon as possible. The Guangmingfeng project was now his foundation, and he couldn't afford to delay any longer.

After a busy day, Li Dakang returned to his residence at the Jingzhou Municipal Party Committee in the evening.

Although he is a member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, his residence is located at the Jingzhou Municipal Party Committee, as if he does not work at the Provincial Party Committee.

He pushed open the door and found his cousin Guizhi waiting for him in the empty house.

"Brother, you're back? I'll heat up some food for you." Guizhi quickly got up.

Li Dakang waved his hand, sat on the sofa, and suddenly remembered that Zhao Donglai had privately reported Cai Chenggong's matter to him after discussing Chen Yanshi's suggestion.

Ouyang Jing is probably problematic. Zhao Donglai advised him to make a clean break.