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

Chen Shi was busy for three days, and after handing over his work to Wang Jianming, he will go to the Public Security Bureau to take up his post next Monday.

Wang Jianming signed the handover documents.

"Captain Chen, tomorrow is the weekend. Tonight, all the officers at the police station would like to hold a farewell party for you."

Chen Shi smiled and said, "Forget it, let's not make it so grand. Tonight, let's just invite Zhang Hu, Ma Guoliang, and Zhang Youcai, and the five of us have a small get-together."

"Okay, I'll go and make the arrangements."

After get off work, in a private room at Chunlai Restaurant, Wang Jianming asked Chen Shi to sit in the main seat, while he sat on the left and Ma Guoliang on the right.

Zhang Youcai sat down next to Wang Jianming. Chen Shi had been transferred, and Zhang Youcai wanted to cling to Wang Jianming's coattails.

Zhang Hu sat next to Ma Guoliang.

Zhang Youcai opened the wine bottle and poured wine for the group. He held the lowest rank among those present.

Zhang Hu is the one who's being transferred, so he doesn't need to pay any attention to Wang Jianming and Ma Guoliang. Zhang Youcai is different; he has to work under both of them.

Even with Chen Shi protecting him, it's impossible for him to go to the county town every day to complain to Chen Shi.

Wang Jianming raised his glass: "Let's all toast Captain Chen to congratulate him on his promotion to captain of the public security management brigade, wishing him a bright future."

Several people stood up, raised their glasses, and clinked them with Chen Shi.

Chen Shi smiled and stood up as well: "Thank you everyone. Let's get together again when you come to the county town in the future."

The group drank it all in one gulp.

As everyone chatted, the atmosphere became much more relaxed, and they toasted each other until they were full and satisfied.

Chen Shi raised his glass: "I'd like to offer this toast to everyone. After we drink this, we'll all go our separate ways. Thank you for your support of my work this past year."

Wang Jianming quickly said, "Captain Chen, you flatter us. We are fortunate to be able to work under your leadership."

Ma Guoliang replied, "Yes, it is our honor to work under you."

Zhang Youcai seemed a bit down and didn't say much throughout the conversation.

Chen Shi looked at Zhang Youcai: "Director Wang, Lao Ma, Lao Zhang is very supportive of my work. After I leave, please take good care of him."

Wang Jianming quickly reassured him, "Team Leader Chen, don't worry. Lao Zhang's work is commendable. He's done an excellent job in the administrative and logistics teams. We will continue to give him important responsibilities."

Ma Guoliang said with a forced smile, "Team Leader Chen, don't worry, we will provide full support for Lao Zhang's work."

Both the director and the future deputy director expressed their support, and Zhang Youcai said with a forced smile, "Thank you for your concern, leaders. I will continue to work hard and do my job well."

"I am grateful to Captain Chen for his guidance and mentorship. Captain Chen has given me a second life; I can never repay him in this lifetime."

Chen Shi waved his hand: "Old Zhang, you're too kind. If you were ten years younger, I would take you to the bureau and continue to give you important responsibilities."

The attitude was clear: Chen was strongly supporting Zhang Youcai, so Wang Jianming and Ma Guoliang wouldn't dare to make things difficult for Zhang Youcai.

Chen Shi clinked glasses with each of them, and after they finished their drinks, they dispersed.

Back home, Wang Yanhong was still writing lesson plans, as the new semester had just begun and she had a heavy teaching load.

Seeing Chen Shi return, and putting down his pen, he walked to Chen Shi's side, looking at him with concern: "Did you drink again tonight?"

"There's no way around it. I'm going to take up my new post at the bureau on Monday, and everyone's seeing me off. I can't refuse a drink."

Wang Yanhong was a little downcast. She said "Oh" and Chen Shi got promoted. What should she do next?

He went to the county seat, while I stayed in Fushan Town. We were so far apart, and it was going to be a long-distance relationship.

Chen Shi pulled Wang Yanhong into his arms: "What's wrong? Something's on your mind?"

"I just can't bear to part with you. I've gotten used to having you by my side. Without you, it will take me a long time to get used to being alone."

Chen Shi smiled and said, "That's easy. Once I get to the county town and establish myself, I'll transfer you there."

"No, I'm on a targeted program; I can't leave until I've served for five years."

"That's the rule for ordinary people. You're not an ordinary person now; you're a family member of a leader. If all else fails, you can be temporarily transferred up there. Once you've served for five years, you can transfer your personnel file."

Wang Yanhong thought for a moment and said, "Forget it, one should keep one's word. The agreement is for five years, and I must serve for five years. I spent four years in college without spending a penny; it was all given to me by the state. I can't break my promise."

"It's alright. You've already served for over two years, almost halfway through. After another two years, you can be transferred."

"Let's talk about it again in two years."

Wang Yanhong was conflicted about whether to continue her relationship with Chen Shi, since they were now from two different worlds.

His position rose higher and higher, while he himself was just an ordinary teacher who didn't care about interpersonal relationships and only wanted to teach well.

She is not good at socializing and prefers to be alone.

Chen Shi is too outstanding. I feel that he should belong to an even more outstanding woman. I can't help him at all, and it's very likely that I will even hold him back.

She has no older or younger brothers; she is her parents' only daughter and will have to take care of the family in the future.

Thinking about all this, I couldn't help but shed tears.

Chen Shi noticed Wang Yanhong's unusual behavior: "Yanhong, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"

Chen Shi assumed Wang Yanhong was sad because she couldn't bear to see him leave, so he said with a relaxed expression, "The county town is only eighty kilometers away from here. I'll come back to see you when I have time this weekend."

"You must be tired from running around all the time. I only cried because I got sand in my eyes. I'm so happy that you've been promoted to a leadership position in the Public Security Bureau. This is something that most people can never achieve in their entire lives. For example, I could never become a deputy section chief in my entire life."

Chen Shi jokingly said, "If you want to be a leader, wait until I become the county magistrate, then I'll promote you to deputy director of the education bureau."

"I don't have the ability to be a leader, so I'd better stick to being a teacher."

Wang Yanhong suddenly wished that Chen Shi was just an ordinary person, and that it would be good for him to be a police officer at the police station.

The two of them bought a house in town, settled down in their own little home, had enough to eat and drink, and could go back to see their parents on weekends, since it was close to home.

That would be so much better.

If Chen Shi had been my boss back then, I wouldn't have intruded into his life.

Knowing one's own limitations, one is not worthy of any leader.

But in reality, Chen Shi is no ordinary person. In just over a year, he went from a grassroots police officer to a deputy section-level leader, which is the ceiling for ordinary people.

Wang Yanhong felt ridiculous. When they first got together, they were both ordinary people, but a year later, they were worlds apart.

Chen Shi was making great strides, while I was standing still, making no progress at all.

As husband and wife, she still prefers equal dialogue. This equality refers to their equal status; she is a teacher, and he is a grassroots police officer, neither of them being superior to the other.

Only with equal status can there be equal family standing. A man may say "I love you," "My darling," or "My sweetheart," and that might be true now, but what about ten or twenty years from now?

Who can guarantee that he will always love you and always treat you well?

Equality of status is the greatest guarantee. No one can live without the other. If you leave me, you won't find anyone better, only worse. The same goes for me if I leave you. This kind of marriage is the foundation of stability.