Chapter 51: A New Battlefield, A New Beginning

Sunday, July 1, 2012. The scorching sun of the capital baked Chang'an Avenue. Li Yifei stepped into the majestic main building of the National Development and Reform Commission ahead of time, where the air conditioning carried that familiar institutional aura straight toward him.

After three months of immersion, this place no longer felt foreign. Just as he sat down at his workstation, the red internal telephone rang abruptly, its sound exceptionally grating in the quiet room.

"Li Yifei, the Director wants you to come over now," the secretary's voice was devoid of any emotion.

"Understood, right away," Li Yifei felt a slight tighten in his chest. Was it about permanent placement? Or... related to that earth-shattering asset declaration from yesterday? He quickly straightened his collar and walked toward the dark wooden door at the end of the corridor, which symbolized the highest authority within the department.

"Come in," Director Zhang Aiguo's voice was steady and powerful.

He pushed the door open and entered. Zhang Aiguo was bent over his desk reviewing documents, his brow furrowed in his habitual frown. Seeing Li Yifei, he looked up and took off his reading glasses.

That usually stern face was now a tangle of extremely complex emotions—admiration, regret, reluctance, and a trace of the "heartache" of having a prized possession forcibly snatched away.

"Director."

"Sit down." Without any pleasantries, Zhang Aiguo pushed a document stamped with a bright red seal across the desk. The heading of the document instantly captured Li Yifei's gaze: Cadres Bureau of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

"Just received the notification," Zhang Aiguo's voice was low and slow, every word seemingly weighted. "The organization has decided to transfer you to the First Supervisory Division of the Supervisory Commission. You are required," he paused, his sharp gaze locking onto Li Yifei, "to report for duty today."

He bit down on the word "today" with unusual clarity, revealing a sense of stifled frustration at being "intercepted by lightning."

A massive shock rippled through Li Yifei's heart! Although he had some premonition of possible moves by the supervisory authorities, the sheer speed and urgency of the directive still exceeded his imagination.

He had only submitted that earthquake-inducing asset declaration yesterday afternoon, and by early this morning, transfer orders from the highest disciplinary inspection organ had already arrived?

Wu Zhenhua and Zheng Jieyu's meaningful looks and hints of "subsequent arrangements" suddenly connected in his mind—this was not filing paperwork at all; it was seizing the right moment to "poach" someone directly with thunderous momentum! Overbearing, and leaving no room for maneuver!

Zhang Aiguo caught the momentary turmoil in the depths of Li Yifei's eyes as it settled back into the calmness of a deep pool, and his own heart churned violently.

This young man was a treasure he had personally unearthed, the "future star" of the General Department.

The achievement of his "piercing eyes" was still vivid in his mind, and he had long since plotted how to firmly keep him in a core position. Overnight, the cooked duck had been snatched away by the most "uncompromising" discipline inspection system!

"Yifei," Zhang Aiguo's voice rarely mixed with a trace of warmth, carrying instead a strong sense of reluctance, "everyone has seen how well you've done these past three months! The 'piercing eyes' initiative has merits in the present and benefits for the long run! You are a meritorious official of our department, the signboard of the Commission!"

He leaned forward slightly, his tone suddenly turning incomparably solemn, laden with a sense of entrustment and a declaration directed at those who had "poached" him: "When you get over there, do a good job! Remember, the Development and Reform Commission is always your maternal home! The door here is always open for you.

Show those supervisory authorities what kind of caliber, ability, and sense of responsibility the cadres cultivated by our General Department possess! Don't shame the 'maternal home'!" This was both a parting piece of advice and a "letter of challenge" issued by Zhang Aiguo on behalf of the economic decision-making department.

A warm current mixed with the bitterness of parting surged into Li Yifei's heart. He stood up and bowed deeply to Zhang Aiguo: "Director, thank you! Thank you for the department's cultivation!

Every day in the General Department is engraved in my heart! I resolutely obey the organization's transfer order! Please rest assured that no matter where I go, I will never forget that I am a soldier coming out of the General Department, and I will never bring shame to my 'maternal home'!"

Leaving the Director's office, the air in the corridor seemed somewhat stagnant. After simply packing his personal belongings, he walked over to Deputy Division Chief Wang Heng.

"Division Chief Wang, thank you and everyone for looking after me. I'm being transferred to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection."

"The Supervisory Commission? Leaving today?" Wang Heng was stunned, his expression instantly shifting into deep regret and a wry smile. "Sigh! It's too sudden! The Director must be heartbroken! The office hates to see you go, too! But..."

He gripped Li Yifei's hand hard. "When the Discipline Inspection Commission wants someone, no one can stop them! That's a place of real, hard combat. Take care! Remember the Director's words, and win some glory for our General Department!" His words were filled with painful regret, obedience, and deep concern.

The farewell was brief. Holding the thin transfer letter, Li Yifei took one last look at the familiar office, turned around, and walked out the door.

Ten o'clock in the morning. Exactly one day apart, Li Yifei stood once again on Chang'an Avenue. But his destination was completely different.

He looked up, his gaze sweeping past the traffic and landing on a building not far away—equally solemn and dignified, yet exuding a biting, cold aura: the Commission for Discipline Inspection. The sunlight refracted a cold, hard glare off the glass.

His identity had undergone a complete upheaval. Yesterday he was a cadre coming to "file records," and today he was a new recruit reporting with orders. He knew very well that starting next year, this place would become the center of the storm, and he had been pushed into the core right on the eve of it.

He suppressed the complex emotions churning in his heart—reluctance, the unknown, and a heavy solemnity intertwined. He took a deep breath, his gaze turning sharp and calm once more.

He stepped forward, walking toward the gate that symbolized the dignity of party discipline and state law. The guards checked his transfer letter, their eyes holding a hint of scrutiny and understanding.

He arrived at the floor where the First Supervisory Division was located. The corridor was exceptionally quiet—white walls, cold lighting, and an invisible pressure permeating the air that made one involuntarily hold their breath. He stopped in front of the door bearing the plaque "First Supervisory Division," raised his hand, and knocked.

"Tap, tap, tap."

The sound echoed clearly in the dead silence.

"Come in," came a low, deep, and indisputably majestic voice.

Li Yifei pushed the door open and entered. The office was extremely minimalist and stern. Sitting behind a wide desk was Ling Tianming, Director of the First Supervisory Division.

His posture was upright, his gaze like lightning. The moment Li Yifei pushed the door open, he had already locked onto him. That gaze was sharp, icy, and possessed a penetrative quality forged through prolonged struggle with the dark side of things, as if it could pierce a person completely from the inside out.

No pleasantries, no expression, only the most direct, silent scrutiny. The air seemed to freeze.

Ling Tianming had already received notification. The young man before him, who had conjured up the "piercing eyes" capability in three months, coupled with Minister Wu's unusually solemn phone call yesterday, made him understand that this person was definitely no ordinary figure. These dozen seconds of silence served as a dampening of his spirit and a first test.

Li Yifei stood calmly, neither servile nor overbearing, meeting that soul-piercing gaze as steadily as a boulder.

Finally, the lines on Ling Tianming's stone-like face relaxed imperceptibly by a fraction. "Comrade Li Yifei?"

"Yes, sir! Li Yifei reporting for duty!" His voice was clear and crisp.

"Mm," Ling Tianming nodded slightly. "Welcome. You'll be working here from now on." The words were plain, yet weighed as heavy as a thousand jun—this place only required practical work.

Immediately, he picked up the secure telephone: "Zhang Mingyuan, come over here."

In less than a minute, a man in his mid-thirties wearing black-rimmed glasses, looking sharp and capable, walked in quickly. "Director!"

Ling Tianming pointed at Li Yifei: "Zhang Mingyuan, this is the newly transferred Comrade Li Yifei. Show him around the environment and arrange a workstation for him. Give him the catalog of recent basic case files and procedural standards." The instructions were concise, without a single word of waste.

"Yes!" Zhang Mingyuan responded immediately, then turned to Li Yifei. An enthusiastic and radiant smile instantly bloomed on his face as he extended a hand. "Oh, Comrade Li Yifei! Welcome, welcome! I've been looking forward to your arrival; our First Supervisory Division has just added a fierce tiger!

My name is Zhang Mingyuan, please give me more guidance in the future!" His handshake was firm and his smile bright, but the gaze behind his lenses lingered on Li Yifei's face for half a second longer. Beneath the warmth wrapped a layer of indescribable scrutiny and distance.

"Hello, Section Chief Zhang! I'm Li Yifei, a newcomer here, please give me plenty of criticism and guidance!" Li Yifei's smile was humble and gentle, shaking hands with both hands and keeping his posture extremely low.

He clearly sensed that upon hearing the words "newcomer here," the other man's fingers paused imperceptibly.

"Haha, too polite! Just call me Old Zhang!" Zhang Mingyuan let go of his hand and warmly led the way. "Come, come, come, Yifei, let's get you settled first.

In our line of work, 'still waters run deep,' and there are quite a few rules. Don't worry, I've got you! I guarantee to get you up to speed as soon as possible. The work we do is truly 'scraping the bone to remove poison,' and we cannot afford any carelessness.

From now on, 'Shuanggui' interrogations, evidence compilation, and case analysis—you'll have plenty to learn!" His words were enthusiastic, but the cold terms like "Shuanggui" and "scraping the bone to remove poison" precisely pierced through the facade of the new environment.

Li Yifei followed behind Zhang Mingyuan, stepping out of Ling Tianming's office, which was filled with an invisible, oppressive weight.

The large communal office of the First Supervisory Division unfolded before his eyes: it was spacious and exceptionally quiet. Everyone was buried in case files or staring at screens, with only the subtle sounds of turning paper and typing keyboards.

An occasional glance swept over, carrying curiosity, but mostly quickly retracting into calm concentration. The air smelled of paper and ink, mixed with a profound, introverted solemnity that felt like hearing thunder in a silent place.

Li Yifei scanned the room calmly. A new battlefield. The "human relationships and gears" of the Development and Reform Commission were just a prologue; the "loyalty, cleanliness, and responsibility" of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection were the main text.

The foundation was steady, but the journey ahead was truly fraught with high winds and choppy waves. The undercurrent beneath Zhang Mingyuan's warmth, Ling Tianming's soul-piercing scrutiny, and this pervasive, heavy atmosphere all silently declared: behind the gates of supervision lay a completely different, much more dangerous, and even more magnificent world.