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

He had initially hesitated, after all, they had been married for many years. But looking at the empty house now, the last bit of warmth in his heart vanished.

Li Dakang said to Guizhi, "Call Ouyang Jing and tell her to come back immediately."

Guizhi said awkwardly, "My sister-in-law said yesterday that she's having a get-together with friends today..."

"Make her come back immediately!" Li Dakang's tone left no room for argument.

Guizhi had no choice but to dial the number. A noisy background came from the other end, and Ouyang Jing's voice sounded impatient: "What? I'm busy right now, we'll talk later."

Li Dakang snatched the phone away and said coldly, "Ouyang Jing, come back immediately and settle things between us!"

After speaking, I hung up.

Guizhi was startled and whispered, "Brother, why don't you go and rest for a while? You don't look well."

Li Dakang shook his head: "Tell me about your work."

Guizhi quickly waved her hand, "That's nothing, I'm sorry to trouble you."

Li Dakang frowned: "What's the big deal or small matter? Tell me."

Gui Zhi then stammered, "It's just... other districts have all implemented the policies and regulations from the province and city, but Guangming District is delaying the process. If it were done according to the regulations, I could get an extra thousand yuan a month."

Li Dakang's face darkened: "This is a serious matter! When you petition, don't be at the forefront; I'm afraid you'll be in danger."

He then pressed further, "Are there police officers maintaining order during the district head's reception day at the petition office?"

Guizhi nodded.

Li Dakang flew into a rage, slamming his hand on the coffee table: "The Party Secretary's reception day needs police to maintain order? What kind of nonsense is this? I'll deal with them tomorrow!"

Just then, they heard the sound of a key turning outside the door. Ouyang Jing had returned.

Guizhi quickly got up to pour her some water.

Li Dakang and Ouyang Jing exchanged a glance, their expressions suggesting a mutual dislike for each other.

Ouyang Jing tossed her bag onto the sofa and said coldly, "Even if you hadn't come looking for me, I would have. It's time for us to settle things. I've made up my mind; I'm going to take early retirement and go to Los Angeles."

Li Dakang looked at her coldly without saying a word.

Ouyang Jing then said, "This divorce agreement is very important to you, isn't it?"

Li Dakang's voice was low and devoid of emotion: "Yes, it's very important to me. I can't be a 'naked official' with my wife and children all abroad. I can't persuade my daughter to return to China to settle down, nor can I stop you from going abroad, so this is my best choice."

Ouyang Jing sneered, "Once you become a corrupt official, you have to step down, let alone rise again. You're too attached to your official position."

Li Dakang could barely contain his anger, and his voice rose: "Ouyang Jing, what I cherish is this cause given to me by the people and the Party!"

Ouyang Jing rolled her eyes dismissively: "Stop talking big. Does the world stop turning without you?"

Li Dakang stared at her, saying each word clearly, "Are you particularly hoping for my downfall?"

Ouyang Jing answered without hesitation, "Yes."

This one word was like a nail driven into Li Dakang's heart.

Ouyang Jing, however, had no intention of giving up. She leaned back on the sofa, her voice filled with years of pent-up resentment: "Li Dakang, we've been together for so many years. Tell me, what responsibility have you fulfilled for me, for our daughter, for this family? Back when you were just a deputy county head in the western mountainous region of Hanzhong, I married you and gave birth to our daughter in that poor mountain village. Later, as you were transferred here and there, our daughter and I followed you. I didn't hold you back, did I?"

Li Dakang's eyes flickered: "Yes, I was busy with work back then. So when my daughter wanted to go abroad, I didn't stop her."

Ouyang Jing laughed sarcastically: "You didn't support us either! How much of our daughter's tuition did you pay?"

Li Dakang raised his voice: "My entire monthly salary and bonuses are yours!"

Ouyang Jing raised her voice: "With your meager salary, is it enough for your daughter to study abroad?"

Li Dakang retorted, his neck stiff: "But what about yours?"

Ouyang Jing was furious and stood up abruptly: "What does my salary have to do with you? How dare you say that!"

Li Dakang also stood up, and the two faced off across the coffee table. Guizhi was so frightened that she hid in the kitchen.

Ouyang Jing's eyes reddened, and her voice trembled: "Do you know how I've lived these past years? My daughter needs money for school, my mother needs money for illness, what in this family doesn't cost money? And you? All you care about is your job, your career, your political achievements! Have you ever cared about us for even a single day?"

Li Dakang clenched his fists, veins bulging: "Then what do you want me to say? You want me to use the power entrusted to me by the people to do illegal things? You're a Party member too..."

Ouyang Jing interrupted him: "Alright, alright, you've gotten carried away with your grand principles. It doesn't matter who does the project, I'll make myself clear—before the divorce, I have one request: give the suitable portion of the Guangming Peak project to Dalu Group."

Li Dakang's face turned ashen: "The Secretary of the Jingzhou Municipal Party Committee does not do business with any businessmen."

Ouyang Jing looked at him coldly: "Then I won't divorce you, and I'll let you become a 'naked official' (an official whose family members have emigrated abroad)."

The air freezes.

Li Dakang stared at the woman in front of him, with whom he had once shared a deep and abiding love, and suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of unfamiliarity.

Ouyang Jing looked at him, her eyes devoid of warmth, filled only with calculation and indifference.

Guizhi dared not make a sound in the kitchen, only hearing the heavy breathing of the two people in the living room.

After a long while, Li Dakang turned and walked towards the bedroom, slamming the door shut behind him.

Ouyang Jing stood still, a mocking smile curving her lips.

She picked up her bag and left without looking back.

Chapter 132 Undercurrents

The next morning, the air was still chilly.

Li Dakang's car pulled into the municipal party committee compound on time, its tires splashing through the puddles. His secretary, Xiao Jin, was already waiting at the entrance. As soon as the car stopped, he opened the door and took the briefcase.

"Secretary Li," Xiao Jin said, bowing slightly as he followed behind Li Dakang, taking a half-step back as he walked, "Director Liu from the ministry has arranged to meet at 9 a.m., and Mayor Zheng has already prepared the report materials—"

"Let Mayor Zheng and the relevant departments go." Li Dakang didn't turn his head and kept walking.

Xiao Jin paused for a moment, then quickly took two steps to catch up: "But Mayor Zheng still hopes you can participate, after all, this project—"

"Let the government handle its affairs," Li Dakang said calmly, but with an unquestionable tone.

“But according to previous practice—” Xiao Jin said cautiously.

Li Dakang stopped and turned around, a hint of weariness in his eyes: "Xiao Jin, let's not talk about tradition. This isn't the time for one-man rule. Delegate authority where necessary, and divide responsibilities where appropriate. Understand?"

Xiao Jin was startled and quickly nodded, "I understand, I understand."

He had followed Secretary Li for so many years, and this was the first time he had heard such words. Secretary Li always insisted on personally handling and overseeing everything; why had he suddenly changed his tune today?

Upon arriving at the office, Li Dakang took off his coat, sat down behind his desk, took a sip of tea, and then asked, "How is the Guangming Peak project progressing? Any new information from Cai Chenggong?"

Xiao Jin opened his notebook: "The Guangming Peak project is progressing as planned, with no abnormalities. As for Cai Chenggong, the Municipal Bureau is still investigating, and the specific details are unclear."

Cai Chenggong has been transferred to the Jingzhou Public Security Bureau, but he has not yet given a full account of what happened.

"Okay." Li Dakang nodded and put down his teacup. "Contact the Provincial Party Committee Office and tell them I have work to report to Secretary Sha."

Xiao Jin immediately picked up the phone and first called Secretary-General Wu of the Provincial Party Committee Office. Secretary-General Wu then contacted Sha Ruijin's secretary, Bai Jingwen, who went in to ask for instructions.

At this moment, in the office of Sha Ruijin at the Provincial Party Committee.

He was flipping through some documents when Bai Jingwen told him that Li Dakang wanted to give a work report. He nodded slightly, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips: "Perfect timing, I also have something to ask him."

Personnel appointments and dismissals have been frozen for several days. In these days, quite a few people from all walks of life have tried to curry favor with him and pledge their allegiance through various channels.

Some people relayed messages through their secretaries, some probed under the guise of reporting on their work, and some even went through Tian Guofu of the Discipline Inspection Commission.

Sha Ruijin observed this with great interest, not in a hurry to express his opinion, but rather watching the power restructuring drama unfold as if it were a play.

In fact, if Chen Yanshi's matter hadn't gone too far and angered him, Chen Yanshi would have been the best channel.

Chen Yanshi has been deeply involved in Handong for many years and has extensive connections. He also has a personal friendship with Chen Yanshi, so it is natural and easy to keep things in check when using Chen Yanshi to relay messages.

But now, that path is blocked.

He accepted some people and rejected others, but the two most crucial people—Li Dakang and Gao Yuliang—have never made a clear statement.

Now, Li Dakang has finally taken the initiative to ask to report on his work.

Bai Jingwen dialed Li Dakang's number: "Secretary Li, Secretary Sha wants to speak with you."

Li Dakang immediately responded, "Okay, okay."

Bai Jingwen transferred the call to the landline on Sha Ruijin's desk. Sha Ruijin picked up the receiver, leaned back slightly, and adjusted to a comfortable position: "Comrade Dakang."

"Secretary Sha." Li Dakang stood up in his office, even though he knew the other person couldn't see him, and spoke respectfully.

“I was just about to visit your base,” Sha Ruijin said casually. “I’ve heard that the Lincheng Economic Development Zone is doing quite well and is a calling card for our Handong. I need to go and take a look.”

Li Dakang was secretly delighted. Lincheng was where his political achievements lay, and Sha Ruijin's offer to go was clearly a gesture of goodwill. He immediately replied, "What made you decide to go there?"

“Everyone says you’re doing a great job.” Sha Ruijin smiled. “Comrade Dakang, your thinking is very advanced. You thought of environmental pollution issues more than ten years ago. That’s impressive.”

Li Dakang was overjoyed, but he remained modest: "It was precisely because it was ahead of its time that some comrades didn't quite understand it at the time."

Which comrades don't understand?

This is a question worth pondering.

The Crescent Lake project in Lüzhou is well-known. Although Li Dakang did not say it explicitly at this time, his veiled criticism was quite obvious.

Sha Ruijin understood the implication and smiled: "Didn't you want to report to me? Then come on, let's look at it and talk."

“Okay, Secretary Sha.” Li Dakang’s voice was filled with undisguised excitement. “Then I’ll be your guide.”

"See you tomorrow then," Sha Ruijin said cheerfully. "Don't be late!"

"Okay, see you there."

After hanging up the phone, Li Dakang stood by the window, looking at the gradually clearing sky outside, and felt a long-lost sense of joy welling up in his heart.

He turned to Xiao Jin and said, "Find Lin Cheng's information; I want to look at it again."

Xiao Jin feigned surprise: "Secretary Li, no one knows Lincheng's situation better than you. You still want to see it?"

This is the mark of a mature secretary—knowing the reason, yet still providing emotional value to the leader.

Li Dakang was in a good mood and rarely smiled: "No matter how familiar we are, we can't be careless. After all these years, I can't remember some of the data very clearly, so I have to go through it all again."

Xiao Jin quickly agreed and turned to prepare the materials.

At the same time, the Anti-Corruption Bureau of the Jingzhou Municipal People's Procuratorate.

Hou Liangping's office was filled with smoke, the window was half open, and the spring breeze blew in, causing the smoke to slowly dissipate in the air.

Lu Yike pushed open the door and came in, holding a document in her hand, her face serious: "Director Hou, we've investigated. Of the four bank cards Cai Chenggong reported, three are already dead cards, and the last one still has a balance of five thousand yuan."