The game of power begins with the police officers at the local police station.

As they entered the living room, Li Nan stood up to greet them. Seeing Xiao Chen carrying large and small bags, she smiled and said, "You always bring your own food whenever you come, making us feel like we're always taking advantage of you."

Song Ya smiled and said, "These are local specialties from my hometown. At this time of year, when we eat mushrooms, they are all wild. Most of the mushrooms sold in the city are artificially cultivated, so they lack a bit of wild flavor."

This free-range chicken was raised by my mother for three years without any feed; it makes a delicious soup.

Li Nan called out, "Quickly, sit down!"

Chen Shi walked over, smiling broadly, and said, "Auntie, I'm Chen Shi."

"Is this the son of the older sister from the countryside you mentioned?" Li Nan asked Song Ya.

Song Ya grinned and said, "It's him."

Li Nan sized up Chen Shi, smiled, and said, "He's quite handsome, a real catch. Why didn't you come sooner?"

Chen Shi explained, "I didn't know before. I went home yesterday and my mother told me about it, so I thought I'd come up and see my uncle and aunt."

"Your uncle has a dinner engagement and is busy today. He'll come over often once he knows we live here."

"Okay," Chen Shi said with a smile, taking out a pen from his back and handing it to Li Nan with both hands.

"Auntie, knowing that you work in education and use pens, I saw a fountain pen for sale at the mall and bought one for you."

Li Nan recognized the value of the pen at a glance. Her pens were all several hundred yuan each, close to two thousand yuan. She had never used them before, not because she couldn't afford them, but because there was no need for them.

"Come on over, why bring anything? I have plenty of pens, I don't need them, you can keep them."

"Aunt, I work at the police station and am often on duty, so I rarely need a pen. This is just a small token of my appreciation, please accept it."

Li Nan was very happy. His nephew was all smiles and seemed to like it very much. He took the pen and placed it on the tea table.

Xiao Chen went to cook, and Wang Xincheng wanted to make tea, but Chen Shi quickly said, "Uncle, I'll do it."

Li Nan said, "The tea is in the cabinet downstairs. Brew whatever you like. I don't like tea, Song Ya, I'll make you a cup of coffee."

Song Ya quickly replied, "Okay."

Li Nan called out, "Xiao Chen, make two cups of coffee."

Xiao Chen responded and soon brought over two cups of coffee.

Song Ya asked, "Isn't Ling Ze home?"

Wang Lingze is the only daughter of Li Nan and Wang Mingzhang.

"I'm going abroad for a summer camp and won't be back until the end of the month."

Chen Shi opened the cabinet, which was full of good tea. He grabbed a bag at random, boiled water, sterilized it, and brewed the tea in one go.

Even though she knew Li Nan and Song Ya didn't drink tea, she still asked, "Auntie, do you drink tea?"

Li Nan waved her hand: "No, let's have coffee."

Chen Shi poured half a cup of tea for Wang Xincheng and placed it in front of him.

Song Ya asked, "Wang Hai didn't cause you any trouble at No. 1 Middle School, did he?"

"No, Xiao Hai is a very well-behaved child. He focuses on his studies. In the final exam of his first year of high school, he ranked over sixty in science. He will have no problem getting into a 985 university."

My daughter Lingze is a real worry. I put her in the top class, but she can't keep up. All she wants to do is play all day. In the final exam of her second year of high school, she ranked at the bottom with a score of just over 500. At best, she can only get into a first-tier university.

His father said it was inherited from me.

Song Ya quickly said, "Wang Hai is so lucky to have your help. With his middle school entrance exam scores, he wouldn't have been able to get into No. 1 Middle School. The learning atmosphere at No. 1 Middle School is excellent and has a great influence."

Many domestic schools are not as good as those abroad. Sending Lingze to study abroad would be more advantageous than keeping her in China.

That's what I think too.

Li Nan looked at Chen Shi, whose features bore a resemblance to Wang Mingzhang: "Chen Shi, how is your mother?"

Chen Shi smiled and said, "Auntie, my mother is in good health and she also wants to come and see you. She's been busy with farm work lately, but I'll bring her over in a while."

"Bring your mom next time, and your uncle, who hasn't seen her in decades."

Wang Xincheng added from the side, "I've never seen one before, not even as a child."

When Wang Xincheng recounted his past, Li Nan felt great sympathy for this woman she had never met. How could there be such a person who wouldn't even acknowledge her own daughter?

She wasn't familiar with this father-in-law; she'd only met him a few times. He'd passed away early. Her mother-in-law's family in Mingzhou were just working-class people, nothing special.

My mother-in-law worked at the grain depot and passed away last year. I had a lot of contact with her, but she had a petty, calculating attitude that my mother-in-law disliked.

"I've never heard them mention her before. She's my older sister. I'll go see her when I have time."

Chen Shi replied, "Auntie, the road down here is difficult to walk on. I'll bring my mom up next week so she can sit with you."

Li Nan nodded: "Bring your mother over next week. I'll have your uncle wait at home. Don't go anywhere else."

Chen Shi was very excited. Taking Li Nan's route was the right thing to do. If he had gone directly to Wang Mingzhang, he might have inherited his maternal grandfather's ruthlessness and become unrecognizable to his own family, and there would have been no way to help him.

Wang Mingzhang rose to power through Li Nan's father's connections, so Li Nan definitely has a say in the family.

Chen Shi seized the opportunity to strike up a conversation and impress Li Nan, winning her favor and making her very happy. She took a great liking to her nephew.

Just then, the food was ready, and Xiao Chen called out, "Sister Nan, the food is ready."

Li Nan stood up: "Come and eat."

Chen Shi was excited; not just anyone could eat at the home of the deputy secretary of the municipal party committee.

The restaurant was quite large, about 30 square meters. Li Nan sat at the head of the table, with Wang Xincheng and Song Ya on either side, and Chen Shi sitting next to Wang Xincheng.

Li Nan smiled and said, "Please help yourself to the food, don't be shy, we're all family."

This was clearly said to Chen Shi.

Chen Shi quickly replied, "Okay."

At the dinner table, everyone chatted and laughed, catching up on everyday life, and Chen Shi thoroughly enjoyed the meal.

After finishing their meal, they returned to the living room and chatted for a while longer. Just as they were about to leave, Li Nan asked, "Chen Shi, where do you work?"

Before Chen Shi could speak, Wang Xincheng interjected: "He graduated from Donghai Police University and passed the exam for the Provincial Public Security Department. During his internship, he had bad luck and offended his superiors, so he was transferred back to Fushan Town Police Station to work as a grassroots police officer."

"Why didn't you come sooner? You could have asked your uncle. He has connections in the Public Security Bureau. With a little effort, you wouldn't have been transferred to a lower-level police position. There are many opportunities for promotion in the Public Security Bureau."

His tone contained complaints and a sense of disappointment.

Chen Shi quickly explained, "I didn't know before, my mother never mentioned it, otherwise I would have come earlier."

With my uncle in the municipal party committee, I can't let anyone bully me.

Li Nan chimed in, "If outsiders are helping, then we should help our own people. Is there any way to salvage this situation? I'll talk to your uncle when he gets back."

Chen Shi knew that he had offended the director of the department, not an ordinary leader. Besides, what's done is done, and it was too late to say anything. It wasn't something that Wang Mingzhang could resolve with just a few words.

"Thank you for your concern, Aunt. This matter is settled and cannot be reversed. If you achieve some results down here, you can still be transferred to the county or city bureau."

Li Nan admired Chen Shi: "Work hard, and if there's an opportunity, I'll have your uncle help you transfer to the county town."

Many of my relatives didn't get into university, and I can't help them even if I want to. Government jobs now are different from what we used to have; you have to take an exam for every position.

Those who pass the exam will still be promoted by Mingzhang. There's no reason to promote outsiders while neglecting one's own people.

Chen Shi and the other two agreed repeatedly.

After chatting for a while, Song Ya said, "Sister-in-law, we have to go back because we have things to do at the company."

Li Nan looked at Chen Shi: "Chen Shi, your uncles have something to do. They'll stay here for dinner before they leave."

Chen Shi smiled and said, "Auntie, I came up by shuttle bus. I have to go to work tomorrow, and there won't be any more buses later."

Chen Shi stood up: "Aunt, please leave me your phone number so I can call you before I come up."

Chen Shi respectfully handed the phone to Li Nan with both hands. Li Nan took the phone, dialed a number, and the phone rang.

"This is my phone," the phone was handed to Chen Shi.

Chen Shi took the phone and saved the number; he had taken the right first step.

"Then take your time going back." Li Nan saw the three of them to the door and into the car, and only returned after the car had driven away.