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

Chen Shi has been in office for two days and has not yet greeted Song Youming, the deputy director in charge.

After finishing what I was doing, I got up and went to Song Youming's office. He was also a deputy section chief, but he was my superior, so I had to greet him and not let him find fault with me.

Arriving at Song Youming's office, I gently knocked on the door.

A voice came from inside: "Please come in."

Chen Shi pushed open the door and entered, smiling as he said, "Director Song."

Upon seeing that it was Chen Shi, Song Youming quickly stood up and said, "Captain Chen, please sit down."

The two sat down, and Song Youming poured Chen Shi a cup of tea.

Chen Shi took a sip of tea, put down the cup, and said, "Director Song, I've just taken office and have been very busy. I haven't been able to report to you in time. Please forgive me."

Song Youming chuckled and said, "Captain Chen, work is the most important thing. Serving the people well is more important than anything else. You don't need to come here to report on your work. If you need my support, just give me a call."

Chen Shi was surprised that Song Youming was so nice. On his first day in office, he targeted Li Zhi. Didn't Li Zhi tell him?

Impossible. Song Youming would have known immediately that this old fox was trying to keep him in check.

"Thank you for your support, Director Song."

The two chatted about some superficial things, and Song Youming was very caring towards Chen Shi. Most people would think that Song Youming was a good leader, caring for his subordinates, always with a smile on his face, and without any airs.

Chen Shi knew in his heart that all of this was fake. He had seized the position of head of the public security management team, and Song Youming would definitely try to get rid of him.

Unlike Lei Heng, he didn't show his dissatisfaction on his face; his smile concealed a knife, making him even more terrifying.

Chen Shi sat for more than ten minutes before leaving.

Not long after Chen Shi left, Li Zhi arrived at Song Youming's office.

"Director Song, Chen Shi is here looking for you."

He came to me to report on his work.

"You are the director in charge of the Public Security Management Brigade. He only came to report to you two days after taking office. He doesn't respect you at all. He should be fired. You will always be the one in charge of the Public Security Management Brigade."

Song Youming said with a relaxed expression, "Don't rush, haste makes waste. Chen Shi's backer is Liu Youguang, and his conflict with Hu Hai, the county party secretary, has reached a fever pitch."

Once Liu Youguang falls from power, Chen Shi, a nobody, can be easily crushed with a single slap.

We'll just be spectators, watch them fight, and reap the benefits.

Song Youming was promoted by Tian Guolong, the executive deputy county head. Among the three factions in Chunyang County, they were the weakest and no one dared to offend them.

Li Zhi understood Song Youming's meaning: "Director Song, will I be cooperating with Chen Shi's work in the Public Security Management Brigade?"

"You should cooperate when it's appropriate, and you don't need to cooperate when it's not. Understand?"

Having worked his way up in the system for many years, Li Zhi knew that his superiors' words were always ambiguous. He understood Song Youming's meaning: cooperate only if it was beneficial to him, and don't cooperate if it wasn't.

"Then I'll keep him calm, and go to him later to report on my work and show him weakness."

"Chen Shi is neither our enemy nor our friend. Just remember that."

"Yes"

Li Zhi left his office and went to Chen Shi's office, saying with a smile, "Team Leader Chen."

Chen Shi looked up at Li Zhi, somewhat surprised: "Captain Li, please sit down."

Li Zhi sat down: "Team Leader Chen, I've come to report to you on my work."

"You're here to report to me? What's going on here?" Chen Shi said slowly, "Team Leader Li, you've already reported, at the plenary meeting."

"On the day you took office, I happened to be busy and missed the opportunity to welcome you. I wonder if Captain Chen could give me another chance to welcome you?"

This is an attempt to surrender? Impossible. This sudden show of weakness means they're holding back some big move.

"As a mere captain taking office, how could I dare to let you come and greet me?"

Li Zhi smiled and said, "Captain Chen, you are my captain, and as your subordinate, I should greet you respectfully. Please give me a chance; are you free tonight? I'd like to report to you on my work."

Seeing Li Zhi's complete 180-degree turn, coupled with the politeness he showed Song Youming today, Chen Shi knew there was definitely something fishy going on.

Suddenly it dawned on me: they wanted us to fight Hu Hai's people while they watched from the sidelines. No matter who won, they would be the ones to profit.

What Song Youming and Li Zhi need to do now is to keep their composure.

Chen Shi smiled and said, "Captain Li, unfortunately, I have something to do tonight. I need to report on my work, but I can do it anytime later."

"Yes, I'll find time to report to Captain Chen next time."

Li Zhi got up and left the office, his face darkening. What a jerk! He still believed Chen Shi had stolen his captaincy and harbored deep resentment towards Chen Shi.

After finally getting rid of Qin Qiang, Chen Shi suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Compared to him, Chen Shi was just a greenhorn. If it weren't for his good luck in catching the fugitive, Chen Shi wouldn't have been qualified to compete with him for the position of captain of the public security management brigade based on his seniority.

If there is no hope, one will feel much more at ease. But to give you hope and then take it away is the real killer. If there is a chance, one must get rid of Chen Shi.

Back in the office, he angrily slammed the door shut.

Originally, I thought Song Youming would immediately make things difficult for Chen Shi and get rid of him, but unexpectedly, he wanted to use Chen Shi and make me wait patiently.

He couldn't wait even a day longer; every day was torture, yet he was powerless to do anything about it. With a long sigh, he realized that in two more years, he would have no chance at all to be promoted to deputy section chief. The age limit made Li Zhi restless.

On the other side, at the headquarters of Chengshi Entertainment Group, Fu Cheng, holding a glass of red wine, stood on the 22nd floor, overlooking the entire Chunyang County, which was the highest point in the county.

Lauder stood aside, looking respectful: "President Fu, when I delivered the money last night, Chen Shi refused to accept it and even told me to get lost."

Fu Cheng swirled the red wine in his glass: "Young man, it's understandable that you're so keen on your career. Not everyone likes money."

"Old Lao, call Chen Shi now and tell him I'm at Xiaoyuanrenjia, and invite him for a couple of drinks."

"Mr. Fu, you're going to invite him personally. Is he qualified?"

"Don't underestimate young people; they often do things you wouldn't expect."

We need to play it safe for now and let Liu Youguang and Hu Hai fight it out. They are likely to both be severely injured, and that will be our opportunity.

My cousin is currently the executive deputy county head. He's got all the connections in the city sorted out; he's just one step away from being promoted to county head. Just be patient and wait.

"Yes, Mr. Fu, I'll call Chen Shi right away."

Chen Shi's phone rang, and seeing it was an unfamiliar number, he hung up immediately.

Lauder said softly, "He didn't answer, he just hung up."

"Give him another call."

Chen Shi's phone rang again. Who the hell was this? He picked up the phone, saw it was the number that had called before, and answered it.

When Lauder saw Chen Shi answer the phone, he smiled broadly and said, "Captain Chen, this is Lauder, the vice president of Chengshi Entertainment Group. We met last night."

"Was I unclear in my explanation last night?"

"No, this call was made by our chairman. He asked me to call you. He wants to invite you to Xiaoyuan Renjia for a couple of drinks and catch up."

Chen Shi snorted coldly: "Sorry, I'm not familiar with your chairman, there's nothing to reminisce about. Goodbye."

Lauder was surprised; in Chunyang County, no one had ever dared to refuse Fu Cheng's invitation.

Even Li Kunyi, the chairman of Yikun Group, has to give Fu Cheng this much face.

"Mr. Fu, he said he wasn't familiar with you and hung up immediately, declining the invitation."

"Forget it, he's just a small fry. Let him be arrogant for a few days."

Lauder clenched his fist.