Could it be… that brat Liu Fusheng really had a connection with Gao Lingyue? That's just absurd!
Zhang Zhenting tried to glean more information from Gao Lingyue's expression or words, but how could someone of Gao's caliber be so easily read? He couldn't tell a single thing—not even whether Gao's earlier comment was just casual chatter or a deliberate hint!
Zhang's unease only deepened.
For a moment, he even felt like giving up on making things hard for Liu Fusheng, just in case he ended up offending someone he absolutely couldn't afford to.
But when he saw Liu Fusheng again in the examination room, and caught that look of contempt in his eyes, Zhang simply couldn't hold back anymore!
Liu Fusheng did it on purpose. As soon as he stepped into the interview room, his eyes locked on Zhang with a challenge, and he even allowed the faintest, almost imperceptible smirk to curl his lips.
Because he knew exactly who Gao Lingyue was, sitting there in the observation seats. He could even guess that Gao was invited here by Old Secretary Li Hongliang. Since that was the case, of course Liu was going to dig a pit for Zhang to fall into.
Granted, it wouldn't be a pit deep enough to get Zhang removed from his position outright—but if he could make Gao Lingyue dissatisfied, Zhang's career prospects from here on out would be grim.
When Zhang caught that expression, his face darkened in fury. He picked up his pen and tapped it lightly on his teacup.
It was a subtle gesture only the interview panel members would understand—it meant he was very displeased with the current candidate, and the rest of the panel should come up with the most difficult, nitpicking questions possible, to push the score down as much as they could.
Liu Fusheng saw the gesture and couldn't help a cold laugh in his heart. Zhang Zhenting had taken the bait.
The interview began.
After a brief self-introduction, one of the examiners was the first to strike:
"From your introduction, it's clear that you have neither work experience in the public security system nor any formal education in a related field. So why are you choosing the police force? And do you really think you're qualified?"
It was a trap question.
The provincial exam interviews were designed to test candidates' logic, organizational skills, interpersonal handling, adaptability, and so on.
Given that this was a special recruitment for the police, the normal approach would have been to ask Liu about his understanding of police work and his views on the profession.
Instead, it had been twisted into an interrogation—and a challenge.
The average candidate, faced with such aggressive questioning, would panic; even if they didn't, they'd end up scrambling to defend themselves, losing sight of the core of the question.
In the observation seats, Gao Lingyue's face showed a flicker of displeasure. This kind of question wasn't technically against the rules, but it was very much frowned upon in the Organization Department's recruitment work.
Liu Fusheng smiled and said,"I believe the work of the police force is to prevent, stop, and investigate criminal activity, to maintain public order, uphold the dignity of the law, and safeguard citizens' basic rights—such as ensuring public safety and social stability…"
No one had expected it—Liu wasn't the least bit rattled. He spoke with composure and eloquence, laying out a systematic yet concise understanding of the police profession, without straying from the question in the slightest.
Finally, he concluded:"My motivation for applying is rooted in my desire to serve the people and my passion for the job itself. I believe I am fully capable of performing this work. That concludes my statement."
The room fell silent. The examiner who had posed the question looked momentarily stunned.
The staff member in charge of timing leaned over to tell Zhang how long Liu had taken, and Zhang's face darkened even further.
Liu had managed to deliver such a comprehensive, structured, textbook-perfect answer—all within the allotted time!
In the observation seats, Gao Lingyue was nodding repeatedly, even murmuring a quiet "Good."
Zhang, unwilling to give up, immediately followed with an even trickier question:
"Suppose your leader sends you on a work trip with a colleague you have a personal conflict with. How would you handle it? In your daily life, if such a situation arises, how do you deal with it? Please give an example."
Liu replied,"In daily life, we should strive to get along well with our colleagues and maintain harmonious relationships. However, everyone has different backgrounds, approaches, and values. It's possible to have disagreements with certain colleagues. But personal conflicts must not interfere with work—we must put the bigger picture first, and keep work as our top priority."
"If my leader assigned me to travel with a colleague I had conflicts with, I would take the task seriously, approach it with a steady and cautious attitude, and focus on completing the assignment together. I would respect the other person and try to maintain harmony so the task can be carried out smoothly. I would avoid conflict as much as possible, and even if provoked, I would remain restrained and not engage in direct confrontation. In fact, I'd see this as an opportunity to resolve our differences. I would find an appropriate moment to communicate sincerely, reflect on my own behavior, and try to resolve the issue."
"For example, when I was in university, a classmate once misunderstood me and held a grudge. Later, our professor assigned us to work together on an outdoor project. I used that opportunity to communicate with him openly, explaining the situation with sincerity. Eventually, I gained his trust and understanding, and we reconciled. I believe that in my future work, I will be able to maintain good relationships with my colleagues and be a reliable, trustworthy public servant whom my leaders can count on."
Brilliant.
Gao Lingyue was nodding again and again.
Zhang's face was as black as the bottom of a burnt pot.
But no matter how tricky the questions Zhang or the other examiners came up with, Liu Fusheng handled each one with ease, calm as a seasoned veteran.
And indeed—after more than twenty years of experience in his previous life navigating the political scene—these kinds of questions were second nature to him.
The interview time ended.
Zhang's face had taken on a liver-like shade of purple. He could hardly believe it—this was the same "timid" Liu Fusheng his daughter had described? Here he was, quick-witted, silver-tongued, and utterly unshaken; not a single question had tripped him up.
"The interview is over. The candidate may leave and wait for the results."
"Thank you, examiners." Liu Fusheng rose, and before leaving, gave Zhang a slight curl of the lips.
Zhang nearly coughed up blood on the spot.
One of the other panel members, noticing something, tentatively said,"Minister Zhang, I don't think Liu Fusheng meets the passing score, right?"
Not passing the score?
Zhang's mind shifted. The other examiners were waiting for his response. Although each question's score had already been recorded, it wouldn't be hard to "adjust" them with a single pen stroke.
Normally, he would never dare—too many people would be involved.
But now… he was getting reckless.
Even if Gao Lingyue was in the observation seats, would a Deputy Minister of the Provincial Organization Department—an official at vice-provincial rank—really come here just for a rural nobody like Liu Fusheng? It had to be a coincidence! For all Zhang knew, by the time the exam was over, Gao might have forgotten Liu's name entirely.
Zhang kept reassuring himself. More importantly, Liu was just too infuriating. If he didn't knock him down a peg, Zhang wouldn't be able to stomach it.
Taking a deep breath, Zhang gritted his teeth and nodded,"You have a point—"
But before he could finish, Gao Lingyue suddenly stood up in the observation area, as if preparing to leave.
Gao was leaving—and right after Liu Fusheng's interview ended!
Zhang was momentarily stunned, rising to his feet and blurting out,"Minister Gao, you're…?"
Gao glanced in the direction Liu had gone, smiled, and said,"What I needed to see, I've already seen. You can continue—I'll be heading out."
What I needed to see, I've already seen…
The words exploded in Zhang Zhenting's ears like a thunderclap, making him collapse back into his seat with a thud.