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

Chen Shi returned to the county town at three in the morning.

I fell asleep as soon as I lay down on the bed; I was so tired. The round trip to Fushan Town was exhausting.

I felt listless at work the next day, and it took me two hours of nap time to recover.

She had already broken up with her boyfriend, and she couldn't let Zhang Hu break up with his boyfriend too.

After I got to work in the afternoon, I called Huang Ming.

The call was answered almost instantly.

Chen Shi smiled broadly and said, "Secretary Huang."

"Captain Chen, is something the matter?"

"Are you familiar with the director of the Education Bureau?"

"know"

"I'd like to ask you for a favor; I'd like to treat him to dinner."

"Do you need his help?"

"A friend of mine wants to be transferred from Fushan Town to the county seat."

Huang Ming thought it was no big deal, just a small favor, and there was no need to invite him to dinner: "What's your friend's name? Which school does he go to? I'll just say hello to him."

"It would be better to invite him to dinner and get to know him."

"Is that alright? Let me ask if he's free tonight."

Chen Shi waited for a while, and then Huang Ming called: "Team Leader Chen, Director Li is free tonight. Please choose a place and call him directly."

"Secretary Huang, we can't talk without you, the middleman, tonight."

"I checked the arrangements made by County Chief Liu, and there's nothing else, so I came over."

Thank you.

You're too kind.

After hanging up the phone, Chen Shi asked Liu Feng to book a private room at Xiaoyuan Renjia.

I called Li Changming, the director of the Education Bureau.

When the call connected, Chen Shi smiled and said, "Director Li, this is Chen Shi."

"Team Leader Chen"

"Director Li, tonight's dinner at Xiaoyuan Renjia, is 7 PM alright?"

"Okay, see you at seven."

The two weren't familiar with each other, so they didn't chat and hung up immediately.

Just before it was time to leave work, Huang Ming called to say that Liu Youguang didn't have anything to do that night and he could come over.

Huang Ming has a car now, so you don't need to pick him up yourself. Li Changming has a private car, so you don't need to pick him up yourself either.

I went back to my apartment, changed my clothes, and had Zhang Hu drive me to the courtyard house.

The car stopped at a house in the courtyard. Zhang Hu quickly got out of the car, opened the door, and Chen Shi walked out. Hu Santai, who was standing on the roof, saw this and quickly came down.

He approached Chen Shi and said, "Captain Chen, you didn't even tell me you were coming. I could have sent a car to pick you up."

"No need to trouble yourself, the bureau has a car. We're treating Director Li to dinner tonight, so come and wait for him."

"Is this Director Li from the Education Bureau?"

"Um"

"Next time, let's have a couple of drinks. I have something important to tell you."

"What can I do for you?" Chen Shi smiled and said, "Okay, let's have a couple more drinks next time."

After Hu Santai left, Huang Ming's car drove into the courtyard, and Chen Shi recognized it at a glance.

Huang Ming sat in the back, while Xu Mo from the General Affairs Section drove. As soon as Xu Mo stopped the car, he quickly got out, opened the car door, and Huang Ming got out.

Zhang Hu looked at Xu Mo and called out, "Little Mo."

Xu Mo looked at Zhang Hu with a surprised expression: "Brother, you're here too."

Chen Shi asked, "Do you know each other?"

"He is Mengmeng's younger brother."

After walking around, I found myself surrounded by familiar faces.

Chen Shi walked over to greet Huang Ming: "Secretary Huang, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to come over."

"Captain Chen, you're too kind with me."

Chen Shi pulled Zhang Hu aside: "This is Zhang Hu from the Criminal Investigation Brigade. He was just transferred from Fushan Town. Xu Mo is his girlfriend's younger brother. After going around in circles, we all know each other."

Zhang Hu smiled and said, "Hello, Secretary Huang."

Huang Ming asked, "Captain Chen, you said you were looking for Director Li to help a friend who was transferred to the county town. Could that be Xu Mo's sister?"

Chen Shi nodded: "Zhang Hu and Xu Mengmeng have a very good relationship. We can't let the young couple live apart. They came to me, so I have to help them solve this problem."

Huang Ming looked at Xu Mo, who was completely bewildered. He hadn't heard his sister mention this before.

Xu Mo was Huang Ming's confidant, and he was somewhat resentful. He had just been transferred to the county town for nothing serious. He could have just told him directly and resolved the matter with a phone call. Instead, he went through all this trouble and ended up having to take matters into his own hands.

Xu Mo pulled Zhang Hu aside: "Brother, what's going on? My sister is being transferred to the county town. She should have just told me, and I could have just asked Secretary Huang. Why did you bother Captain Chen again? Captain Chen isn't familiar with Director Li, so you have to ask Secretary Huang again."

Zhang Hu said apologetically, "Xiao Mo, your sister said that you haven't been working for long and she doesn't want to trouble you, afraid that you'll owe her a favor that you'll have to repay later."

"Team Leader Chen is different; he's a leader, so things are easier for him than for you."

"It's not a big deal."

At this moment, Li Changming drove in in a car from the Education Bureau. Seeing that Huang Ming had arrived, Li Changming got out of the car as soon as the driver stopped.

Chen Shi may be disrespectful, but Huang Ming is someone you wouldn't dare to neglect. He can't help you much, but he can easily ruin your plans.

"Secretary Huang, there was a bit of traffic on the way. Sorry to keep you and Captain Chen waiting."

Huang Ming smiled and said, "We just arrived too. Director Li, let me introduce you." He looked at Chen Shi: "This is Captain Chen, the head of the Public Security Management Brigade."

Chen Shi stepped forward and shook Li Changming's hand: "Director Li, hello, I'm Chen Shi."

"Everyone said Captain Chen was young, but I didn't expect him to be this young."

Chen Shi smiled and said, "Director Li, you flatter me. Please come in."

The three entered the private room. Li Changming asked Huang Ming to sit in the main seat, but Huang Ming declined, saying that he was the main character tonight and should not overshadow the main character. He asked Li Changming to sit in the main seat, while he sat on the left and Chen Shi on the right.

Zhang Hu and Xu Mo arranged a table in the lobby to wait for the leaders in the private room.

Chen Shi took the wine bottle and poured wine for Li Changming and Huang Ming.

The food was ordered in advance by Liu Feng, who had inquired about Li Changming's preferences, and it was served quickly.

It was clear that Li Changming was very satisfied with the dishes, as they were all his favorites.

Huang Ming cast an admiring glance at Chen Shi, and also showed his appreciation for the dishes he liked; this is the attention to detail.

Details determine success or failure. Huang Ming believes that Chen Shi is a man destined for great things.

After exchanging pleasantries and toasting each other, the three of them, having eaten and drunk their fill, decided it was time to get down to business.

Chen Shi raised his glass: "Director Li, let me toast you. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to come over."

Li Changming raised his glass: "Captain Chen, you're too kind. I was planning to take some time to treat you to a couple of drinks to celebrate your promotion. At such a young age, you're already a deputy section chief. Your future is limitless."

The two clinked glasses lightly, and Chen Shi drank it all in one gulp.

He put down his cup and said, "Director Li, there's something I'd like to ask for your help with. I have a friend who teaches at the Fushan Town Central School. Her boyfriend is a police officer in the Criminal Investigation Brigade. He was just transferred from the Fushan Town Police Station and came to me. I don't want to see the young couple living apart."

Li Changming laughed heartily: "Captain Chen, it's such a small matter, you could have just called me to let me know, why bother Secretary Huang to call me?"

Huang Ming continued, "Director Li, Captain Chen mainly wants to get to know you."

"Oh," Li Changming said, surprised.

Chen Shi smiled without saying a word, which was taken as tacit agreement. It's always good to get to know more bureau chiefs. Later, he would find an opportunity to talk to Li Changming and ask him to take care of Wang Yanhong and to let him speak to the school leaders so that Wang Yanhong would not be assigned any other things unrelated to teaching and could focus on teaching.

Wang Yanhong stayed by my side for more than a year during the lowest point of my life. Without her, I really don't know how I would have gotten through it.

In his heart, he felt not only love for Wang Yanhong, but also gratitude.