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

Chen Shi's phone kept ringing, but he refused to speak to anyone who was unimportant.

The phone rang again. He picked it up and saw that it was Zhang Xiangdong calling. He quickly answered the phone.

"Director Zhang"

"Come to my office for a moment."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Shi went to Zhang Xiangdong's office.

"Director Zhang, you wanted to see me?"

Zhang Xiangdong poured Chen Shi a cup of tea.

"Was one of the people you arrested last night named Zhang Qing?"

"Too many people have been arrested. I'll go back and check the list."

"Find out whether Zhang Qing is using drugs or soliciting prostitution. If it's his first time soliciting prostitution, the circumstances aren't serious, and you can decide how to handle it."

This old man, if you just told me to release the people, you should have said so directly. You said you'd handle it as you see fit. If I could handle it as I see fit, you wouldn't have bothered to ask me to do anything.

"Yes, Director Zhang, I'll go back and check the situation. The offense isn't serious, so I'll just fine him and let him go."

"It must be implemented clearly and thoroughly; don't just let it go."

"Yes"

Chen Shi returned to his office and checked the list of people arrested for prostitution the previous night. One of them was named Zhang Qing.

Who is Zhang Qing that Zhang Xiangdong would greet him?

He picked up his phone and called Liu Feng, asking him to come to his office.

A moment later, Liu Feng jogged into the office: "Team Leader Chen, you wanted to see me?"

"I looked at the list of people arrested for prostitution last night, and there's a guy named Zhang Qing on it. What's his background?"

"Zhang Qing?" Liu Feng thought for a moment: "Zhang Qing is the husband of Director Zhang's wife's cousin. He works in the decoration business in the county town."

Zhang Xiangdong made a statement, saying that it didn't involve drug use, only prostitution, so it wasn't a big problem.

"This is Zhang Qing's first time engaging in prostitution, and the offense is relatively minor. Go and investigate, and handle the matter accordingly."

Liu Feng understood that this meant he was being asked to release Zhang Qing: "Yes, Captain Chen."

Watching Liu Feng leave, I realized that in the county town, it was a close-knit community where every leader had a group of people attached to him.

Chen Shi checked the time, realized it was time to leave work, stood up, and left the office.

Huang Ming called, and he was already waiting at the entrance of the police station.

Even if Chen Shi were promoted to deputy section chief, he wouldn't dare to neglect Huang Ming. Not to mention that Huang Ming had helped him several times before, just because he was the county magistrate's liaison officer, he had to give him face.

As Huang Ming walked out of the police station, he got out of a Volkswagen and waved to Chen Shi.

"Team Leader Chen"

Chen Shi jogged over: "Secretary Huang, didn't we agree that I only needed to tell you the address? I'm sorry to trouble you to come and pick me up."

"Liu County doesn't have much to do today, so he told me to leave work early and come pick you up."

Judging from the brand-new appearance of the car, it must have been purchased not long ago.

Huang Ming opened the car door: "Captain Chen, get in, I'll take you to a good place."

Chen Shi opened the passenger door; he dared not let Huang Ming be the driver.

I'm sitting in the front.

The two got into the car and arrived at a farmhouse restaurant on the outskirts of town. As soon as they stopped the car, a waiter came to open the door.

As the two came down, a young man jogged over, beaming, "Cousin, you're here! Please come in."

He quickly took out cigarettes and handed them out to Huang Ming and Chen Shi.

Huang Ming looked at Chen Shi: "This is Captain Chen from the Public Security Management Brigade."

The young man quickly greeted him: "Captain Chen, hello, my name is Zhou Xing, and I'm the owner of the agritainment business."

He reached out and shook hands with Chen Shi, who smiled and nodded in greeting. It turned out he was Huang Ming's cousin.

Zhou Xing led the way: "The whole roasted lamb has been prepared and placed in the private room. We just brought it in."

Upon entering the private room, Huang Ming asked Chen Shi to sit in the main seat, which Chen Shi readily accepted. "Tonight you're the one asking me for a favor, so there's no need to be discreet."

As soon as the two checked in, Zhou Xing quickly opened the wine, filled their bowls, and picked up a knife and fork to put mutton in their bowls.

It smelled delicious. Chen Shi ate a piece of mutton, and it tasted pretty good.

Zhou Xing drank a few drinks with the two of them, then left because he had something to do.

After exchanging toasts and enjoying their meal, Huang Ming put down his glass; it was time to get down to business.

"Captain Chen, I heard that you conducted a surprise inspection of the Great World Dance Hall yesterday and arrested quite a few people."

"We arrested dozens of people for prostitution and drug use."

Huang Ming nodded: "Is there someone named Quan Zhiyong?"

"There are too many people. I'll check the list tomorrow morning."

"Quan Zhiyong is my uncle. This morning, my aunt called me and said that my uncle did not come home last night. After inquiring, I found out that he was arrested by you and taken to the Public Security Management Brigade. She asked me to find out if it was true."

Chen Shi remained silent, waiting for Huang Ming to continue. "You're not my superior. If you want to release him, you have to ask. Consider it a favor you owe me, and you have to repay it."

"My uncle is old and has high blood pressure. Officer Chen, could you please check if it's not a serious offense and if so, could you let my uncle pay a fine and release him?"

"Secretary Huang, since you've asked, I'll do as you say. I'll confirm it tomorrow morning. If the circumstances aren't serious, I'll release him tomorrow."

"Thank you, Captain Chen."

"Given our relationship, there's no need to be so polite. Just give me a call if you need anything."

The two chatted for a while before leaving.

Huang Ming drove Chen Shi back to his apartment before returning home.

The next day at work, Song Youming called Chen Shi and asked him to come to his office.

Chen Shi arrived at Song Youming's office: "Director Song, you wanted to see me?"

"Captain Chen, please have a seat." Song Youming stood up to greet him with a big smile.

Chen Shi sat down, and Song Youming poured him tea: "Captain Chen, you've worked hard. You've arrested so many people as soon as you took office."

Chen Shi took a sip of tea: "The county's public security needs a major overhaul. This surprise inspection revealed many problems."

"Yes, the Public Security Management Brigade needs to get things done. The county's security must be stable; it can't be chaotic. If the county leaders investigate, we can't bear the responsibility."

Song Youming then changed the subject: "Chengshi Entertainment Group is a major taxpayer in the county, and Fu Biao is the vice president of Chengshi Entertainment Group. What do you think we should do to minimize the impact of this matter?"

"Director Song, as a law enforcement officer, you have acted in accordance with the law and regulations. Fu Biao attempted rape, threatened the police, and assaulted the police. The evidence is conclusive. I think you should directly transfer the case to the procuratorate and file a lawsuit."

As for the impact of Chengshi Entertainment Group, that has nothing to do with us. Anyone who breaks the law must be punished by law. Just because someone is a major taxpayer doesn't mean they can be above the law.

Song Youming smiled, showing no sign of anger: "Tian County called me earlier, telling us to be careful about the impact of our case and not to lose sight of the bigger picture. As the deputy director in charge of the public security management brigade, I must be cautious."

Fu Biao was charged with attempted rape, intimidating police officers, and assaulting police officers. Evidence and witness statements have been collected, and the case has been transferred to the procuratorate for prosecution.

"We have both witnesses and physical evidence; we saw it with our own eyes, and the entire process was recorded by body cameras. Fu Biao must be brought to justice."

Seeing that Chen Shi showed no respect, Song Youming still smiled and said, "Captain Chen, even if the evidence is conclusive, you should still supplement it completely. After all, Fu Biao is no ordinary person."

"I will gather all the evidence and transfer it to the procuratorate as soon as possible so that this local tyrant in Chunyang County will be punished by law."

Chen Shi stood up: "Director Song, it's nothing, I'll go back first, I've been quite busy lately."

"Go ahead and do what you need to do," Song Youming stood up and saw Chen Shi off, his eyes turning cold.