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

After the meal, everyone dispersed. Today is the Lunar New Year, and everyone went home to prepare for the holiday.

Just like when he was a child, Chen Shi was responsible for pasting up door gods and cutting down money trees on the mountain.

Li Fugui knew he was going up the mountain to cut down the money tree, so he went with him.

When they were children, Li Fugui would follow Chen Shi wherever he went. He felt very safe when he was with Chen Shi.

Chen Shi wanted to recapture the joy of celebrating the New Year when he was a child, but he felt something was missing and he could never find that feeling again.

Along the way, he encountered villagers who greeted Chen Shi warmly.

They went up the mountain, cut down the money tree, and went home to prepare for the New Year.

Chen Shi placed two money trees at the door, washed his hands, and went back inside.

Chen Xing always cooks for the Chinese New Year. All the dishes are prepared and ready to be cooked.

When Chen Xing saw Chen Shi return, he took off his apron, offered Chen Shi a cigarette, and the two sat on the sofa to smoke.

"Xiao Shi, your sister-in-law and I have discussed it, and we still think it's better to build the house at home. We'll start construction after the New Year."

Chen Shi took a drag of his cigarette: "That's all you need to decide."

No matter who it is, you can't make decisions for them; at most, you can offer your opinion.

Chen Shi offered his brother some advice, but he didn't listen and that was that.

Chen Xing threw the cigarette on the ground: "I'm going to cook. Let's have an early New Year this year."

After finishing his work, Chen Shi played with Xiaomi Le.

Before seven o'clock, the New Year's Eve dinner was ready, and the whole family sat together, enjoying each other's company and laughing continuously.

After dinner, Chen Shi gave red envelopes to Xiaomi Le and his nephew, one thousand yuan to each of them.

Holding the red envelope, Xiaomi Le happily exclaimed, "Uncle, does this mean I can buy lots of delicious food if I have this red envelope?"

Chen Shi smiled and said, "Xiaomi Le can buy whatever she wants with the red envelope in her hand."

Xiaomi Le said with a grin, "I want to buy lots of snacks to fill the whole house. I also want to buy toys and clothes."

Wang Xiufen snatched the red envelope from Xiaomi Le's hand: "Give it to me, Mom will keep it for you."

Xiaomi exclaimed, "No, I want to keep it myself!"

"If you can't keep it, Mom will keep it for you."

"This was given to me by my uncle."

"Everything you eat and wear belongs to me, and you're not even happy about taking a red envelope from me?"

Xiaomi Le pouted and burst into tears.

Wang Guihua stepped forward, picked him up, and went into the room to comfort him.

Many villagers came to play in the evening. Chen Shi gave each of them a pack of cigarettes. Since they didn't have to spend any money, they got a benefit and were very happy. They were sure to speak well of Chen Shi.

Wang Xiufen put her son to sleep, took out the two red envelopes Chen Shi had given her, counted them over and over, and said with a dissatisfied look, "Only two thousand, one thousand for each child, such a high-ranking leader, how can he be so generous?"

Chen Xing snorted coldly: "You think a thousand is not enough? How much more did you give him?"

"He's not married and has no children. I'd like to give it to him, but there's nowhere to give it to him."

"Such a high-ranking leader, offering cigarettes to everyone he meets... surely he'd give his nephews and nieces at least ten or twenty thousand yuan?"

Chen Xing glared at Wang Xiufen: "You think Xiao Shi is a big boss? He also earns a salary of ten or twenty thousand. You dare to dream of that?"

"I was just saying."

"Don't say things like that again."

My cousin is coming to visit tomorrow, could you help them get together?

Chen Xing was speechless for a moment, then said, "I really don't know what you're thinking. Xiao Shi has a girlfriend, and I have no objection to your cousin coming to visit, but don't say anything else."

"My cousin is so beautiful, Xiao Shi will definitely like her when he sees her."

Chen Xing was speechless and didn't want to talk to her anymore, so he pulled the blanket over his head and went to sleep.

After lunch on the first day of the Lunar New Year, Chen Yanshi took his family to pay New Year's respects to his parents.

He looked at the stone tablet with great satisfaction; the old little mound of earth had always seemed so unpleasant to him.

Chen Yanshi said with great interest, "This is the best cemetery in Qinghe Village. The geomancer said that the descendants buried here will produce officials at the provincial level."

Chen Jianyong chimed in, "A department-level cadre is nothing more than a small matter. He's so young, yet he's already the deputy director. His future career is sure to be smooth sailing."

Chen Jianhua said in a low voice, "It's also possible that our next generation will produce a department-level cadre."

His two sons looked more and more like leading cadres. Chen Shi was a department-level cadre, yet he didn't help him.

If his two sons became department-level officials, they would be superior to everyone else wherever they went.

Chen Yanshi continued, "This auspicious land can bring prosperity to four generations. Your next generation, and the generation after that, will all be well."

Chen Shi didn't believe in these superstitions; it was mainly a matter of self-suggestion—those who believe, believe; those who don't, don't.

Take the fireworks and set them off to the side.

When they returned from visiting relatives for the New Year, there was a short, plump girl in the house. Wang Xiufen chatted and laughed with her. When she saw Chen Shi and the others return, she quickly stepped forward and said, "Xiao Shi, come here quickly, let me introduce you. This is my cousin. She works in beauty in Yizhou. She came back from a big city."

Chen Shi ignored her completely. He found his sister-in-law increasingly annoying, and he knew exactly what she was up to.

While squatting to the side washing her hands, Wang Xiufen noticed that Chen Shi was ignoring her, so she quickly pulled her cousin over.

"Xiao Lan, this is my brother. He's the deputy director of the police station now."

My cousin looked at Chen Shi, who didn't look as glamorous as the white-collar workers in the city. She chuckled twice and said, "I'm in Yizhou. I had a boyfriend before, but he worked in the municipal government. He should be a section chief now."

Chen Shi stood up and said calmly, "Excuse me." It's a waste of life to say another word to someone like this.

Chen Shi went back into the house to wipe his hands.

Seeing that Chen Shi was not giving her face, Wang Xiufen still wanted to try. She brought her cousin into the house and spoke loudly on purpose, hoping that Chen Shi would hear her.

"Xiaolan, how much did you earn last year?"

"Several hundred thousand, I plan to buy a house in Yizhou."

"Houses are so expensive in Yizhou!"

"It's not expensive, only 20,000 to 30,000 yuan per square meter."

"Twenty or thirty thousand? My god, a house like that would cost millions."

"In Yizhou, there are many wealthy people. The ones who pursue me all own several houses."

"Xiao Lan, you're so pretty, you must have a lot of suitors."

"There are too many, dozens a year."

"You're so picky, you can't stand anyone. I heard from my second aunt that she wants you to find someone local, come back home and develop your career, and open a beauty salon in town."

"If I can find a suitable local boyfriend, I'll come home and open a beauty salon in town."

I don't see any beauty salons in town. If I open one, the business will definitely be booming. I could easily earn at least several hundred thousand a year, if not a lot."

Chen Shi couldn't stand it anymore. What nonsense! Can't you stop bragging? With your looks, marrying into wealth is the best option for you.

It's not that no one in Fushan Town runs a beauty salon; it's that they've all gone out of business. Don't they realize that no rural person has the money to go for beauty treatments?

The number of public officials in the town is insufficient to support a beauty salon to survive.

Chen Shi strode out to take a stroll around the village.

When Wang Xiufen saw Chen Shi leave, her face turned ashen.

Chen Shi ran into Fu Gui on the road. Fu Gui was wearing new clothes and had a wicked grin on his face. He said, "Fu Gui, come to my house quickly. My sister-in-law is introducing you to her cousin. Go and see her, make a good impression, and try to win her over."

Li Fugui became nervous, his heart raced, and he blushed whenever he spoke to a woman.

"Do you think this outfit suits me?"

"That's so cool, let's go!"

Li Fugui ran towards Chen Shi's house with a nervous expression.