97: How many points would you rate Chapter 96?

Captain Xiao Zhan stepped out of the lecture hall.

A draft swept up a few scraps of waste paper on the podium.

Inside the classroom, only the soft sound of pen tips scratching against paper remained.

Lei Zhenzi kept his head down.

He snapped the clip of his ballpoint pen, causing a sharp crack.

Class Monitor Liu Yu stared at the theoretical handout in front of him; he hadn't even turned the first page after a long while.

Study Committee Member Cao Rui picked up the research summary table on the desk.

He pushed the table half an inch toward Zhu Wenhao.

Zhou Xu took off his black-rimmed glasses and drew a horizontal line in the blank space of his notebook.

Three days later.

The lecture hall on the fifth floor of the complex building.

The defense assessment for the Young Cadre Training Class practical course began.

Inside the Academic Affairs Office.

Instructor Gao Jianguo stared at the Spark Class grading summary table.

Among the roster of thirty people, only Zhu Wenhao's graduation research report was missing.

Instructor Gao Jianguo held a red pen and drew an 'X' after Zhu Wenhao's name.

The comments section was left blank.

Two o'clock in the afternoon.

The crystal lights in the lecture hall were blazing.

On the rostrum.

Minister Xiao, the Principal of the Provincial Party School, sat in the center, with Executive Vice President Zhou Zhengming on the left, and Director Song Ping accompanying them.

Thirty Spark Class students sat up straight below the stage.

The reports proceeded in turn.

Study Committee Member Cao Rui took the stage to speak about the industrial incubation of Tianhai Optoelectronics.

Zhou Xu analyzed the capital redundancy rate of the Water Conservancy Investment Group.

Instructor Gao Jianguo held the flow sheet and served as the on-site host.

Time passed, and twenty-nine students finished their reports.

"The last one, Comrade Zhu Wenhao."

Instructor Gao Jianguo tapped the microphone with his index finger.

The speakers emitted a short, sharp screech.

"Comrade Zhu Wenhao went to Red Star Machinery Factory for research and encountered some unexpected public security situations."

"Considering the practical difficulties, the school granted an extension."

"However, the graduation assessment is a rigid requirement. Now, please come to the stage and make your final statement."

Zhu Wenhao stood up from the first row.

He didn't bring a USB drive or a script.

He went on stage empty-handed.

Standing behind the podium, he adjusted the angle of the microphone.

"Respected leaders, teachers, and classmates."

"Regarding the research on Red Star Machinery Factory, I have completed the on-site visits and bottom-level data verification."

"There is only one conclusion."

"It is not an old state-owned enterprise waiting to be restructured, but a capital black hole that has been artificially hollowed out."

He paused and stepped away from the microphone.

Instructor Gao Jianguo stood up from the side with the grading sheet.

"Is that it?"

Instructor Gao Jianguo tapped the desk with his pen.

"Zhu Wenhao, the document issued by the Academic Affairs Office is clear."

"The graduation requirement is a written report of no less than one thousand words, accompanied by an on-site PPT data presentation."

"Where is the material you submitted to the Academic Affairs Office? Where is the data support?"

He turned to face the rostrum.

"Minister Xiao, Principal Zhou."

"The Provincial Organization Department established the Spark Class with the aim of cultivating young cadres who observe discipline and understand the rules."

"Comrade Zhu Wenhao is using the previous factory dispute as an excuse to refuse to submit the written graduation materials."

"This is an issue of attitude."

He took a step forward.

"I propose that, in accordance with school regulations, his eligibility for graduation honors be canceled and that his graduation be postponed."

Lei Zhenzi sat in the back row, leaning to the side.

His father, Secretary Lei Zhen, had instructed him to keep a low profile, so he didn't dare to cause trouble in public today.

But since Instructor Gao Jianguo was taking action to solidify the punishment of postponing graduation, he was happy to see it happen.

Principal Zhou leaned back in his chair, picked up a white porcelain teacup, and took a sip of tea.

He didn't say anything.

He looked at the young man on the podium.

Zhu Wenhao held the edge of the podium with one hand.

"Deputy Director Gao."

"Under the rules, there is also confidentiality discipline."

"I have already finished the report on Red Star Machinery Factory."

"It wasn't submitted to the Academic Affairs Office because the security classification of this report is such that the regular circulation channels of the Academic Affairs Office are not authorized to receive it."

Instructor Gao Jianguo laughed out loud.

"A student's social practice report, talking about security classification?"

"Who are you trying to fool by using the Confidentiality Law as a shield?"

"All outstanding papers from the Party School over the years must be filed and kept by the Academic Affairs Office."

"Who did you submit the report to? Which leader signed off on it?"

He stared at Zhu Wenhao, waiting for him to report that non-compliant name.

"The article involves multiple cross-regional capital flight cases and a network of interest transfers for grassroots organized crime forces."

Zhu Wenhao looked straight at Instructor Gao Jianguo.

"The public account transaction records inside, before being verified by the Provincial Party Committee's special investigation team, will incur joint liability if disseminated through non-confidential channels."

He stepped aside a little.

"Deputy Director Gao, if you want to review and file this report, that's fine."

"Sign a confidentiality commitment letter now."

"Guarantee in black and white that if the content of the report is leaked and leads to the destruction of money laundering accounts, you will personally bear all legal and party disciplinary consequences."

"I will have someone send a copy of the original manuscript to your desk immediately."

The smile on Instructor Gao Jianguo's face froze.

Organized crime, money laundering.

These words were dropped in public, and they carried immense weight.

If he were really asked to take responsibility for political risks of this level, he wouldn't dare to sign even if he had ten times the courage.

"Stop trying to scare people with this rhetoric."

Instructor Gao Jianguo avoided the topic of the confidentiality agreement.

"If you can't produce the actual material, it means you haven't finished."

"The Academic Affairs Office only recognizes written materials that can be seen and touched."

"If you can't submit the items, this assessment will be a zero."

The two heavy soundproof doors of the lecture hall were pushed open from the outside.

A Party School staff member walked in quickly.

He held a document bag under his arm.

He crossed the front row seats and walked straight to the rostrum.

He placed the document bag flat on the table in front of Principal Zhou with both hands.

Principal Zhou, looking at Director Gao, said, "Deputy Director Gao, Zhu Wenhao's graduation report is with me."

Executive Vice President Zhou Zhengming then took out a thin, internally bound booklet from his inner pocket.

"It's not just with me."

"As of yesterday afternoon, the report has already been spearheaded by the Provincial Party Committee Office and printed in full as a top-secret internal reference for the Provincial Party Committee."

"It was distributed to all the standing committee members of the Provincial Party Committee who are currently in town for review and approval."

"Internal reference."

The thirty students below the stage fell silent instantly.

No one spoke.

Lei Jun slumped back in his chair, his hand picking at his knuckles stopping.

Instructor Gao Jianguo's legs felt heavy.

He stretched his neck.

"Principal Zhou, the original materials for the assessment, by rights, must go through the Academic Affairs Office..."

Instructor Gao Jianguo's voice lowered.

"The article disclosed the money laundering capital chain of Shengyuan Holdings, involving multiple false project fund allocations in Jingjiang City."

Executive Vice President Zhou Zhengming raised the small booklet in his hand.

"If this material had been held up in your Academic Affairs Office for the approval process, those overseas money laundering accounts would have been canceled and wiped clean long ago!"

"To recover massive losses of state-owned assets, administrative procedures must yield to political efficiency!"

Minister Xiao on the rostrum spoke up.

"Handle special matters with special methods."

He opened the document bag in front of him and looked through the contents.

"Comrade Zhu Wenhao's report is written with depth and has backbone."

"It doesn't pile up flowery language, and it doesn't use clichés."

"It strikes directly at the festering sores of grassroots state-owned enterprise reform."

"This morning, Secretary Lao finished reading this internal reference."

"He personally gave instructions, ordering the Provincial Anti-Gang Office and the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection to jointly establish a special investigation team to fully investigate the protective umbrella network behind the Red Star Machinery Factory, based on the funding clues provided in the internal reference."

Minister Xiao closed the file.

He turned his head and looked at Instructor Gao Jianguo beside him.

"Deputy Director Gao."

"You just said, what score are you planning to give him for this assessment?"