Wu Youping was not unprepared. He had visited someone who had passed the political review. According to that person, it was just asking about life experiences once; apart from being annoying, there was no difficulty.

But the political review he encountered was much stricter than that person's, far exceeding the level of mere tediousness.

After listening to Xu Jia's explanation, Wu Youping understood that the political review he faced was equal to He Rui's expectations. This was completely worth enduring.

However, Wu Youping found he had still underestimated the political review. Even though he was prepared and confident, Wu Youping felt that if the investigation continued like this, all his family secrets would be known clearly by He Rui's team.

According to rumors, besides face-to-face questioning, the political review also included home visits and investigations of neighbors and residents. By the time this set of investigations was completed, perhaps this Statistics Section Chief named Xu Jia would know Wu Youping better than Wu Youping knew himself.

Wu Youping felt worse and worse, and his answers became slower and slower.

Finally, the questioning was over, and a biographical summary was written. Xu Jia took out the red ink paste and asked Wu Youping to press his fingerprint on every place where a name and time were written.

Wu Youping felt like he was signing a deed of indenture. Halfway through, he really couldn't hold back and stopped to ask, "Why do this?"

"The organization must ensure your political reliability," Xu Jia answered frankly.

"I am politically reliable?" Wu Youping felt he couldn't quite understand.

"For example, if someone impersonates your relative, or someone frames you. These archives are the basic evidence for investigation. If those people use recent events to play tricks, there is various recent evidence, making it easier to figure out. But if they accuse you of things from the past, after a long time, even you will forget what you have done. Those people rely on memory or hearsay, which will definitely have discrepancies. But the archives will not forget. Checking the archives and the archives of personnel involved in the event, and comparing them, will reveal the clues."

Xu Jia's voice was deep and pleasant, originally very soothing to the listener's emotions. However, Wu Youping felt a bit horrified. Indeed, with the archives in black and white, and fingerprints pressed on key places, tampering would be very difficult. This also ensured that things written into the archives were recorded; if lies were told when writing the archives, they would also be found out. From the beginning, He Rui's group did not do anything perfunctorily.

"Student Wu, the purpose of our group is to liberate China. To let the organization unleash real combat effectiveness, we must ensure the political reliability of organization members. As long as they are politically reliable, even when cooperating with comrades they have never met, there can be enough trust to complete the work. We do not force anyone to join our organization. If you are unwilling to accept the political review, you can withdraw at any time. For the organization, we also don't want to place unreliable people beside our comrades."

Wu Youping was speechless. Xu Jia's words were frank, sincere, cold, and calm. After a little thought, Wu Youping suddenly felt somewhat relieved.

He Rui had disbanded the Siping Garrison Regiment of over 500 men with a mere 50 people and seized power in Siping. Wu Youping believed this proved He Rui possessed incredible guts and courage, which was one of the reasons prompting Wu Youping to make his choice.

Now, Wu Youping could somewhat understand why He Rui was so fearless. Including He Rui, every one of these 50 people who passed the political review trusted their comrades-in-arms. The scale of this group would grow larger and larger; in the future, what kind of existence would that be!

Raising his finger to dip in the ink paste, Wu Youping continued to press fingerprints.

After completing the archive record, Xu Jia didn't take it away immediately but put the file back in front of Wu Youping, letting him confirm one last time if there were any deviations in the content. As Wu Youping read, he felt a bit dazed. The life he had already experienced was presented on paper; it really gave him an indescribable feeling.

Finally, Wu Youping wrote the signature and date for 'I guarantee all content is true' and pressed the last fingerprint. Xu Jia put away the file and took out another piece of paper with questions already written on it. He asked, "Will you write the answers yourself, or shall we ask one by one?"

"This... better to ask." Wu Youping really didn't want to write anymore.

When the political review was finally completed, Wu Youping only felt his mood was quite low. He thought he could enthusiastically become a member of He Rui's team and display his skills. He didn't expect to be met with such an experience first.

But after a while, Wu Youping remembered his conversation with He Rui, and his heart slowly warmed up again.

The next day, someone came to the door asking to see Wu Youping's father, Wu Qingshan. Wu Youping looked and saw the visitor was actually Xu Jia. Seeing Wu Youping at home, Xu Jia said, "Apologies, according to regulations, Student Wu is asked to temporarily avoid the home visit."

"This..." Wu Youping was very helpless.

Xu Jia smiled. "If you pass the political review, Student Wu will also participate in the political review work for new members in the future. At that time, you will know that it's not only the person being reviewed who is awkward; we also feel quite awkward facing the review subject's lack of understanding."

Wu Youping gave a bitter smile. He didn't know if Xu Jia was awkward, but being told this by Xu Jia, Wu Youping felt even more awkward.

"When the Governor sent me, he asked me to invite you to see him. If Student Wu has nothing else to do at this time, why not go see the Governor first?" Xu Jia offered a suggestion.

Meeting He Rui, before Wu Youping could decide whether to complain a little, He Rui already spoke. "You came just in time. I have a question to ask."

"...Governor, is this also part of the political review?" Wu Youping asked carefully.

He Rui didn't hide it. "Yes. And a very important part. This involves your basic political stance."

"May I ask what question the Governor wants to ask?"

"For China, are factory owners who open industrial enterprises and the workers hired in the factories both very important?"

"Yes."

"Then, if a choice must be made between the two, who do you think is more important?"

Wu Youping didn't know how to understand this question for a moment; he thought left and right but couldn't find an answer.

"Every member joining the organization must answer this question." He Rui stared at Wu Youping.

Hearing He Rui say this, Wu Youping simply opened his heart. "I think it is the workers."

Wu Youping wanted to continue, but was interrupted.

"Good. I have no more questions," He Rui replied.

Wu Youping hurriedly asked, "Did I pass?"

"Your other political reviews haven't finished yet; how would I know if you can pass?"

"The Governor really manages entirely by system," Wu Youping sighed.

"The state is originally a complex running machine. Every part on this machine is arranged according to standards that allow for good operation during design."

After chatting with He Rui, Wu Youping went home and felt somewhat at a loss when he saw his father. If possible, he didn't want to drag his father into his own affairs. Just as he didn't know how to explain to his father, he heard his father Wu Qingshan say, "Let's have dinner." Neither father nor son mentioned the topic of the political review.

Two days later, He Rui called Wu Youping to the headquarters. Upon entering the meeting room, he saw quite a few people standing inside: Xu Jia, several other soldiers wearing Second Lieutenant rank badges, and his classmate Hu Xiushan, who hadn't shown his face all this time.

He Rui asked, "Comrade Wu Youping, I formally ask you: do you voluntarily join our team?"

A strong burst of joy arose spontaneously. Wu Youping felt the haze of the past few days disperse instantly. He hurriedly responded, "Yes. I voluntarily join Governor He's team."

"Good. Comrades, welcome Comrade Wu Youping's joining."

Amidst applause, He Rui continued, "Next, everyone introduce yourselves."