Chapter 55 Destination

On the first working day after the National Day holiday, the First Supervision Division still retained a touch of holiday relaxation.

As soon as Li Yifei sat down at his workstation, the internal telephone on his desk suddenly rang. It was the direct line of Director Ling Tianming.

"Comrade Yifei, come to my office for a moment." The voice on the other end was as deep and crisp as ever, revealing no particular emotion.

"Yes, Leader." A thought stirred in Li Yifei's heart. He put down the case file in his hand and stood up, walking toward the tightly closed door at the end of the corridor.

The talk about "going down for practical training" that he had heard previously, along with the report he had submitted regarding the issues in his hometown, all flashed through his mind at once. He took a deep breath, steadied himself, and knocked on the door.

"Come in." Ling Tianming's voice came through the panel.

Pushing the door open, Li Yifei saw Ling Tianming sitting behind a spacious desk, lifting his gaze from a document to fix it on him. Those sharp eyes, like searchlights, habitually sized him up as if trying to find traces of holiday laxity on his face.

"Leader, you called for me." Li Yifei stood firm, his attitude respectful.

"Sit." Ling Tianming gestured toward the chair opposite him.

Li Yifei sat down, keeping his back straight and his hands resting naturally on his knees, meeting Ling Tianming's gaze with calm composure. He reined in any emotions that might be construed as curiosity or speculation, leaving only the demeanor of obedience and awaiting instructions.

The office fell silent for a moment. Ling Tianming's fingers tapped unconsciously on the desktop—a crisp, tapping sound that was exceptionally clear in the dead quiet room.

"Yifei," Ling Tianming finally spoke, his voice not loud, yet carrying an unquestionable weight. "You've been in the First Supervision Division for three months now.

I've watched how you've spent these past three months." He paused, his gaze sharpening. "Merely reading case files and studying in the office is, after all, just talking on paper.

The blade of our supervision system must be sharp and precise, which means it cannot always remain suspended. It must go down, plunge into those tangled and intricate places, observe the true conditions, and feel the stones beneath the water.

Otherwise, one is easily dazzled by the light of the office and loses one's direction. What are your thoughts on the nature of this work?"

Here it comes! Li Yifei was crystal clear in his mind. All the preceding buildup pointed in a single direction.

Without a moment of hesitation, his voice was as steady as a dropped stone: "Reporting to the Leader, I have no personal thoughts.

I completely obey the organization's arrangements. No matter what position I hold or where I am, I will fulfill my duties, work diligently, and strictly observe the bottom lines of discipline and law."

This answer was crisp and decisive, without any dragging of feet, and entirely devoid of the young person's common dread of unfamiliar environments or resistance to hardships.

A trace of barely perceptible satisfaction flashed across Ling Tianming's eyes. This was the exact attitude he wanted—absolute obedience, coupled with composure in the face of unknown challenges.

"Mm." Ling Tianming nodded slightly, seemingly unsurprised by the response. "Alright, you may go back to work."

"Yes, Leader." Li Yifei stood up, gave a salute, and turned away decisively. Throughout the entire exchange, he didn't ask a single extra word, nor did his expression ripple, as if it had merely been a routine conversation.

Returning to his workstation, Li Yifei picked up the unfinished case file with sharp concentration, as if nothing had happened just moments before. But only he knew that the string in his heart had tightened. Ling Tianming's words were both a preview and a signal. Going down for practical training was now a certainty.

Yet, where would he go? Under what identity? What was the mission? Countless question marks spun in his mind, but he forcefully suppressed them and forced his attention back to the words before him. The more critical the moment, the more one had to hold one's ground.

A few days later, the answer arrived in an unexpected manner.

On October 9, 2012, a "Notice on the Adjustment of Cadre Positions and Ranks" stamped with a bright red seal quietly appeared within the internal system of the Ministry of Supervision.

The document briefly stated: Li Yifei, 23 years old, holder of a multi-disciplinary doctorate, due to outstanding work performance and developmental potential, has been decided through deliberation to be promoted to the deputy division level and is scheduled for temporary assignment for practical training, with a public notice period of five working days.

This notice dropped like a massive boulder onto a calm lake! A deputy division-level official at age 23! Such a promotion speed was enough to drop jaws.

For a time, Li Yifei's name became the focus of private discussions among many, the subtext filled with shock at the young man's rocket-like ascent.

Looking at the public notice in the system, Li Yifei felt little joy; instead, a heavy boulder seemed to press down on his shoulders. This extraordinary promotion was not merely a reward, but rather a key meant to unlock a door leading to an unknown and perilous battlefield.

It signified higher expectations, heavier responsibilities, and tougher trials ahead. He understood clearly that the upcoming "practical training" was by no means a trip to gild his resume.

Over the next few days, Li Yifei behaved with extreme calm. He declined all private congratulations, arriving and leaving work punctually as usual, burying himself in case files to cherish the final days of systematic learning at the center of power. Like a warrior about to embark on an expedition, he polished his weapons one last time and checked his pack before departure.

On October 15, 2012, Ling Tianming summoned him again.

Walking into that office, which exuded an intangible pressure, Li Yifei's state of mind was different from last time. He vaguely sensed that the mystery was about to be unraveled.

"Comrade Yifei," Ling Tianming's gaze locked onto him like a physical substance, "after careful deliberation by the organization, a decision has been reached regarding the issues in Duoshui County that you reported during the National Day holiday."

Li Yifei's heart skipped a beat, and he held his breath.

"The organization has decided to dispatch you to Duoshui County, Anyin City, for practical training," Ling Tianming said in a low voice, every word clear and striking like a heavy hammer. "Your specific position will be coordinated and arranged by Jiang Province to facilitate your work."

He paused deliberately, his eyes growing deeper and sharper, and lowered his voice further, carrying an unquestionable command and heavy trust: "At the same time, I am giving you an important mission: secretly gather evidence!

Your target is the issues you reported, as well as any problems that may be buried even deeper. Remember, it must be a secret collection! Be extremely cautious and thorough, and under no circumstances startle the snake in the grass! Your safety is the top priority!

In the event of an emergency, major discoveries, or if you feel unsafe, contact Zhong Ming, the head of the Jiang Province supervision system, at the first opportunity! He is a reliable comrade, and the organization has already spoken with him."

Ling Tianming's words felt like a cold current coursing through Li Yifei's entire body. Although he had anticipated it, hearing "Duoshui County" and "secretly gather evidence" spoken aloud still shocked him deeply!

Not only had the organization listened to his report, but it had also resolutely and trustingly pointed the sharpest blade toward the center of the storm—his hometown! This trust was heavier than a mountain, and the mission was fraught with extreme danger.

Astonishment, pressure, and a sense of mission fused together into a powerful surge of energy. Without the slightest hesitation, Li Yifei straightened his back sharply. His eyes burned like an unsheathed sword, and his voice rang out with resolute and unyielding determination: "Yes, Leader! Mission guaranteed!"

"Good!" A trace of hard-to-detect approval finally appeared in Ling Tianming's eyes. "Hand over your current work. In three days, Comrade Ding Min from the Organization Department will escort you to Jiang Province to report for duty. Over there, arrangements will be made for your subsequent itinerary and identity cover. Remember every word I just said! Go."

"Yes!" Li Yifei saluted once more and turned to leave. His steps remained steady, yet every stride felt as though it were treading on glowing hot iron.

Back in his office, Li Yifei quickly completed his work handover with Section Chief Zhang Mingyuan.

Zhang Mingyuan wore a formulaic smile, uttering conventional pleasantries like "Congratulations on your promotion, Section Chief Li" and "Going down for practical training is a good thing." Yet, Li Yifei keenly caught the complex emotions flashing at the bottom of Zhang's eyes—surprise, appraisal, and perhaps a hint of an indescribable sense of distance.

Feigning ignorance, Li Yifei finished the handover strictly by the book.

Leaving the Ministry of Supervision building, Li Yifei did not return home directly. First, he went to the bank to handle some personal finances, ensuring that his funds had a clear origin, making them convenient to use yet low-profile. Then, he returned to the courtyard house.

The courtyard remained cold and desolate. Li Yifei began systematically packing his luggage. His clothes consisted entirely of simple, comfortable, and unobtrusive casual wear and jackets.

Important books, work notes, private documents... everything that could expose his identity or contain sensitive information was carefully packed away.

Next, he activated the smart security systems of the courtyard and the villa, adjusting all surveillance cameras to their optimal settings. Finally, he walked toward an inconspicuous bookshelf in the corner of the study.

His fingers tapped rapidly a few times on several hidden latches on the side of the bookshelf. With a soft click, the bookshelf, along with the wall behind it, slowly slid inward, revealing an entrance just wide enough for one person—a secret basement he had spent a considerable sum to build when remodeling the courtyard, highly concealed and constructed with the most advanced anti-detection materials and technology.

He stepped into the basement, opened the constant-temperature and constant-humidity safe, and placed the sealed box containing important backup files, specialized communication equipment, and a few valuable small items inside, locking it securely. Closing the secret door, the bookshelf returned to its original position without leaving a trace.

Over the next two days, Li Yifei operated like an operative preparing to infiltrate behind enemy lines, conducting final equipment checks.

He skillfully embedded several rice-grain-sized ultra-micro cameras and audio recording modules into an ordinary electronic watch and a metal belt buckle, utilizing the most advanced encrypted frequency-hopping technology for signal transmission to ensure superior anti-detection capabilities.

He prepared high-efficiency hangover remedies and potent liver-protection tablets himself, repackaging them into ordinary vitamin bottles. He even went out of his way to get a haircut that made him look more mature and resembled a grassroots cadre.

All preparations were calm and meticulous, imbued with an almost ruthless rationality. He knew that upon heading to Duoshui County, he would outwardly appear as a young cadre undergoing practical training, but in reality, he would be a lone wolf navigating a vast and dangerous web. One wrong step, and the consequences would be unimaginable.

On the morning three days later, just as dawn broke.

Li Yifei dragged his simple suitcase, cast a final glance at the courtyard house that had borne countless schemes and secrets since his rebirth, and turned to lock the door. He hailed a cab and headed straight for the Ministry of Supervision.

At the Organization Department, he met Ding Min, whom Ling Tianming had mentioned—a capable and stern female cadre in her forties, holding the rank of deputy厅 level.

"Hello, Director Ding, sorry to trouble you." Li Yifei took the initiative to extend his hand, his attitude respectful.

"Hello, Comrade Yifei." Ding Min shook his hand with just the right amount of pressure, her gaze sweeping over him quickly with a hint of appraisal before returning to calm. "It's my duty, no trouble at all. Your ticket has been booked, let's head to the station."

Without superfluous pleasantries, the two boarded an ordinary official vehicle, merging into Beijing's morning traffic toward the high-speed railway station. By this time, the high-speed rail connecting Beijing and the capital of Jiang Province had long been operational, offering both speed and convenience.

In the carriage, Ding Min handed a document to Li Yifei: "Section Chief Li, this is your new work ID and letter of introduction. Your temporary assignment unit is the People's Government of Duoshui County, Anyun City, and your position is Deputy County Magistrate. This is your public identity." She lowered her voice. "Upon arriving in Jiang Province, someone will personally receive you and brief you on subsequent contact methods and precautions. Remember Director Ling's words: observe more, listen more, think more, and put safety first."

Li Yifei took the document, looking at the title "Deputy County Magistrate Li Yifei" printed upon it, feeling a complex mix of emotions in his chest. Deputy County Magistrate... this identity was both his cover for entering the tiger's den and his platform for gathering evidence.

Outside the window, the scenery flashed backward as high-rise buildings gradually gave way to vast expanses of farmland. Li Yifei gazed into the distance, his eyes as deep as a stagnant pool.