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

Back in town, the two enjoyed their time together, feeling relaxed and carefree with no other trivial matters to attend to.

People officially returned to work on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year holiday, but their minds were still on the holiday and they hadn't quite gotten back to normal life.

After the New Year, it seems like there's nothing much to do. I go to work, relax a bit, warm myself by the fire, and then it's time to go home.

To get back to the main topic, we need to wait until after the Lantern Festival, which is also called the Little New Year in the southwestern provinces.

After the Lunar New Year, work officially began, and Chen Shi was waiting for his appointment to be announced.

A week later, Chen Shi received an appointment document from the county public security bureau, transferring him to the bureau to take over as the head of the public security management brigade, at the deputy section chief level.

I breathed a sigh of relief. It's finally over. I'm now a deputy section chief, which is the beginning of my career.

Chen Shi took out his phone and called Zhang Xiangdong.

After a few seconds, the call connected, and Zhang Xiangdong smiled and said, "Captain Chen, congratulations on your promotion."

Chen Shi smiled ingratiatingly and said, "Director Zhang, don't tease me. The waiting is tough. When will I be appointed as the head of the public security management team?"

"Isn't there a time limit on the appointment document? Within one month, hand over your work properly and recommend a candidate for deputy director to the bureau."

In short, the sooner the better. Don't waste time; there are many things waiting for you to handle after you take over.

"Yes, Director Zhang, I will hand over the work as soon as possible and take up my new post at the bureau."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Shi handled the handover work.

When Chen Shi's appointment document came down, everyone in the institute knew about it, and they spread the news with great excitement. Zhang Hu and Ma Guoliang were the most excited.

Zhang Hu went to Chen Shi's office immediately and asked, "Director Chen, your appointment document has been issued. Can I go with you to take up my post?"

Chen Shi pointed at Zhang Hu: "You're immature and impatient. Where are you going to take up your post with me?"

Zhang Hu lowered his head, wondering if he had said something wrong again.

"Haste makes waste, don't you understand? If I go to the bureau, I'm not afraid I can transfer you to the criminal investigation team."

I haven't even taken up my post yet, and you're already so impatient. I can tolerate your recklessness, but this is a one-time exception. If it happens again, you'll be stuck in this station for life, and you can forget about ever getting into the criminal investigation team.

Zhang Hu quickly said, "Chief Chen, no, Captain Chen, I was wrong, I will never dare to do it again."

"Go back to what you were doing, do your job well, keep your mouth shut, wait patiently, and just pretend this never happened, understand?"

"I understand. Go back to work and get back to work."

Chen Shi waved his hand to send Zhang Hu away. He had a lot of things to do. He would hand over his work in two or three days and then go to the bureau to take up his new post.

Ma Guoliang couldn't contain his excitement and paced back and forth in the office, wanting to ask Chen Shi a question. He walked to the office door but then turned back.

Unable to calm down, he went to Chen Shi's office again and gently knocked on the door.

"Come in"

Ma Guoliang walked in with a big smile: "Captain Chen, are you free tonight? I'd like to report to you on some work."

Chen Shi pointed to the sofa. "So fast, even the way you address me has changed."

"sit"

Ma Guoliang sat on the sofa with half his buttocks on it.

"Old Ma, I know how you feel. Focus on your work and do it well; that's more important than anything else."

Don't worry, I will recommend you to the bureau to take over my position. As for what the bureau thinks, that's beyond my control.

There's a lot going on right now. After handing over my work, I'll be going to the bureau to take up my new post. When I have time, I'll invite the leaders from my department to have a meal together as a farewell dinner.

Ma Guoliang stood up excitedly: "Captain Chen, Director Zhang admires you so much, the bureau will approve as long as you recommend him."

Thank you for your guidance. I'll see how I perform in the future.

After Ma Guoliang left, Wang Jianming came to the office with a big smile and said, "Captain Chen, congratulations on your promotion."

"Congratulations! Please take a seat, Your Majesty."

Wang Jianming sat down, and Chen Shi stood up and poured him a cup of tea.

"Wang, is there something you need?"

Wang Jianming took a sip of tea: "Since you are going to take up your new post at the bureau, the position of deputy director will be vacant. Who would be a suitable candidate to succeed you as deputy director?"

"Wang Suo, who do you think is suitable?"

Unexpectedly, Chen Shi asked him to make a recommendation. He had originally wanted to recommend Zhang Hu, and he had also heard rumors that Zhang Hu was going to follow Chen Shi to the bureau and join the criminal investigation team.

Zhang Youcai is over fifty years old and nearing retirement. There's no need to recommend him, and even if we did, given his age, the bureau wouldn't agree.

Zhang Hu and Zhang Youcai are both Chen Shi's men, so I can't recommend either of them. I can only recommend Ma Guoliang.

Ma Guoliang is a veteran police officer who has been in the station for over 20 years. He is highly qualified, and no one objected to his appointment as deputy director.

Ma Guoliang is considered one of my own people, and with him taking over as deputy director, I have more say in the matter.

Last year, if Chen Shi hadn't stepped in, Ma Guoliang would have already been the deputy director.

Taking all factors into consideration, Ma Guoliang is the most suitable candidate.

He tentatively suggested, "I think Lao Ma is a good candidate. He's currently the head of the security team, so it would be perfect for him to take over as deputy director."

Chen Shi smiled and said, "Then I'll recommend Lao Ma. Director Zhang called earlier and asked me who I would recommend, but I said I hadn't decided yet."

Wang Jianming was secretly delighted; he hadn't expected Chen Shi to agree.

"Captain Chen, I'll go and inform Ma Guoliang to watch his words and actions and do his best."

Go ahead.

As Wang Jianming left the office, he told Ma Guoliang in advance to remember this favor and that he should take all the credit.

On the other side, Zhang Youcai was restless in his office. He was fifty-two years old this year and would retire in a few years.

When Chen Shi received his appointment document, his mind started to wander. He wanted to advance further before retiring and become a section-level cadre.

He's retired now, without any rank, and his benefits aren't good.

Given the opportunity, who wouldn't want to advance? He felt that he could also take the position of deputy director.

After a struggle with his thoughts, he went to Chen Shi's office.

With a forced smile, he said, "Team Leader Chen."

Chen Shi looked up at Zhang Youcai: "Old Zhang is here, have a seat."

Zhang Youcai sat down, his mind starting to waver. How could he bring it up with Chen Shi?

Chen Shi smiled and said, "Old Zhang, what's the matter?"

Zhang Youcai gritted his teeth and thought, "Since I'm already here, I might as well give it a try. What if it works out?"

"Captain Chen, aren't you going to take up a new post at the bureau, leaving the deputy director position vacant? I've worked at the station for almost thirty years, and I think I'm capable of handling the deputy director position."

Chen Shi never expected that Zhang Youcai, who was always cautious, would ask him for the position of deputy director.

After a long silence, he said with a troubled expression, "Old Zhang, you're over fifty this year. You should know the standards for promoting cadres. The first one is that age is a strict requirement."

The promotion of deputy director and director will not exceed 45 years old; if they are older, the bureau will not consider them.

If you were forty-six or forty-seven, I could still think of a way, but you're over fifty, there's simply no way to think of anything.

You've always worked in logistics at the institute. The selection of deputy director and director is based on seniority, which we can figure out a way to address, but age is something we can't change.

When Zhang Youcai saw that Chen Shi refused, he didn't have much hope, but he just wanted to try.

He forced a smile: "Captain Chen, I was just mentioning it casually, please don't take it to heart. When you come to the bureau, if there's anything I can help you with back home, just let me know."

Chen Shi stood up, sighed deeply, patted Zhang Youcai on the shoulder, and said earnestly, "Old Zhang, if you were ten years younger, I would help you become the director, let alone the deputy director."

"Nothing much, go ahead and get busy."

"Yes, Captain Chen." Zhang Youcai left looking dejected.