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

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Chen Shi spent time with his parents. From morning till night, villagers came to visit, making their home very lively.

That day, I smoked four packs of cigarettes.

On New Year's Eve, Chen Shi played cards with the villagers until four in the morning and didn't get enough rest. On New Year's Day, he felt dizzy all day.

At 10 p.m., Chen Shi went to sleep. When the villagers saw that Chen Shi had gone to sleep, they all left one after another.

On the morning of the second day of the Lunar New Year, Jiang Yiqiu drove to pick up Chen Shi, and she took out a rocking horse from the trunk.

When Xiaomi saw this, she hoarsely ran towards Jiang Yiqiu on her short legs, calling out as she ran, "Keeping horse..."

She ran to Jiang Yiqiu's side, dancing with joy: "Auntie, I want a rocking horse!"

With a big smile, Jiang Yiqiu picked up Xiaomi Le and kissed her on the cheek.

"Xiaole, don't call me auntie anymore."

"If I don't call you 'Auntie,' what should I call you?"

"I'm your uncle's girlfriend. What do you want me to call you?"

Xiaomi Le shook her little head and thought for a moment: "Should I call him Uncle?"

"No, you call me Auntie."

"Little Auntie," Xiaomile called out in her childish voice.

"Xiaomi Le is so good!" Jiang Yiqiu gave the rocking horse to Xiaomi Le.

Wang Guihua came out of the house and called to Jiang Yiqiu, "Come in and sit down quickly, I'll have dinner ready in a minute."

Jiang Yiqiu quickly said, "Auntie, don't bother. When I arrived, my mom had already prepared the meal and told us to go back and eat."

Chen Shi persuaded, "We'll eat at our house this morning. After we eat, my mother will come with us to Mingzhou to visit my maternal uncle's family for the New Year."

"My aunt is coming to our house for dinner too. If I don't go back home for dinner, my mom will scold me."

"Please tell your aunt that we won't be going home for dinner this morning."

Seeing that Chen Shi had made up his mind, Jiang Yiqiu took out his phone and called Zhang Qingrong, saying that he wouldn't be coming home for dinner and would be eating at Chen Shi's house instead.

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Yiqiu took off his coat, rolled up his sleeves, and went to help Wang Guihua cook.

Wang Guihua told Jiang Yiqiu to rest and not to cook.

Jiang Yiqiu wanted to please his future mother-in-law and make a good impression on her, so he said with a big smile, "Auntie, I've been doing this at home since I was little. I'll help you."

Wang Guihua was quite satisfied with Jiang Yiqiu's insistence on helping with the cooking, his efficient work, and his handsome appearance.

He pulled Chen Shi aside and asked, "What's your girlfriend's name?"

"Jiang Yiqiu, Dean of Students at No. 1 Middle School."

Wang Guihua was somewhat surprised: "And he's a leader."

Chen Shi nodded: "Are you satisfied with this future daughter-in-law?"

Wang Guihua beamed from ear to ear: "Satisfied, when are we getting married?"

"Mom, why do you always ask when I'm getting married? Don't worry about my affairs. When the time comes, we'll get married naturally."

Saying that was as good as saying nothing, Wang Guihua said with a dissatisfied look, "You're twenty-eight this year, not young anymore, it's time to get married."

Chen Shi replied dismissively, "Okay, I understand. Your son is a leader, so he won't have trouble finding a wife."

Seeing that Chen Shi had no intention of getting married, Wang Guihua angrily went to cook.

The food was ready quickly. It was Jiang Yiqiu's first time eating at Chen Shi's house, and she acted as the hostess, serving rice to Chen Yanshi and Wang Guihua.

He was very natural and unpretentious, and Wang Guihua liked him more and more as she looked at him, constantly putting food on Jiang Yiqiu's plate.

Jiang Yiqiu forced himself to eat a full bowl of rice.

After finishing their meal, Chen Shi and the other two took a car to Mingzhou.

Chen Shi made a plan: on the second day of the Lunar New Year, he would visit Wang Xincheng's uncle's house to offer New Year's greetings, and in the evening, he would have dinner at Li Nan's house.

We'll stay one night, and on the third day of the Lunar New Year, I'll take my mother to Yizhou for a trip. We'll return on the fourth day.

On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, I went to the county town to pay my respects to Liu Youguang and other county leaders. On the sixth day, I was on duty.

The New Year holiday is over.

Along the way, Jiang Yiqiu chatted with Wang Guihua. The three of them talked and laughed, and time passed quickly. When they arrived in Mingzhou, they first went to Wang Xincheng's house for a visit.

Chen Shi brought two bottles of fine wine, two cartons of good cigarettes, and a box of gifts to Wang Xincheng's house.

Song Yalai opened the door and saw Chen Shi coming to wish them a Happy New Year. Wang Guihua also arrived, her face beaming with smiles: "Big sister, Xiao Shi, please come in and sit down."

Wang Xincheng's whole family was there, including Wang Hai, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.

Wang Hai, wearing glasses and with a refined demeanor, greeted Chen Shi and the others politely, saying, "Auntie, Brother."

He looked at Jiang Yiqiu, not recognizing him and unsure of his name.

Chen Shi smiled and introduced, "This is my girlfriend, Jiang Yiqiu, the dean of students at No. 1 Middle School."

Wang Hai quickly greeted, "Hello, sister."

Chen Shi said to Jiang Yiqiu, "He is my cousin, named Wang Hai, a top student at Mingzhou No. 1 High School."

Wang Hai humbly said, "Brother, I'm not a top student at Mingzhou No. 1 High School. I only rank in the top 100 in the whole school."

Jiang Yiqiu added, "At Mingzhou No. 1 High School, someone who ranks over 100th is a true academic superstar."

Song Ya smiled and said, "Please sit down, don't stand. Just sit down. What did you bring?"

"My uncle likes to drink, so I brought two bottles of good wine for him."

After the group sat down, Wang Xincheng offered Chen Shi a cigarette: "Why aren't you guys coming up for lunch?"

Chen Shi took the cigarette: "It's too rushed to come up for lunch."

"If you come earlier, you won't be in a rush."

Wang Xincheng and Wang Guihua grew up together and shared similar experiences. They were not blood-related siblings, but they were practically like siblings, unlike Wang Mingzhang.

He looked at Wang Guihua and said, "Sister, you seem to have aged a lot in the past two years."

Now that Xiao Shi is a leader at such a young age, and Chen Xing has built a house and got a job, you don't have much to worry about. Enjoy your time, eat well, it's time to enjoy life.

Upon hearing Wang Xincheng's words, Chen Shi looked at his mother and noticed that her temples were gray and her forehead was deeply wrinkled.

My mother has indeed aged a lot. In the few days since I came home, I haven't noticed how incompetent I am as her son.

"A mother's brother is the most important," Wang Xincheng said deliberately to Chen Shi, reminding him to care more about his mother.

Wang Guihua said softly, "People in the mountains can't stay idle. If they sit all day, they feel uncomfortable all over. They need to run around in the fields to feel comfortable."

Song Ya knew that the reason Wang Guihua looked old was because she was too tired from taking care of her son's two children.

Wang Guihua raised both children single-handedly from birth. Raising children is exhausting; those who haven't raised children don't know how tiring it is.

When Song Ya was taking care of Wang Hai, her mother-in-law didn't help; her own mother had to take care of her brother's child.

Wang Xincheng has to go out to do business and is often not at home, so I take care of him by myself. Sometimes I feel like I'm questioning the meaning of life.

Wang Xincheng wanted a daughter, but Song Ya refused, saying that raising a child was too much of a hassle.

If I take another one, I'm afraid I won't live to old age.

"Big sister, you're an old lady now. Xiao Shi is a leader, so don't worry about his affairs. Do less in the future. Your health is your own responsibility. You didn't have good conditions before, but now that you do, come to Mingzhou more often. I'll take you to do some square dancing."

Wang Xincheng laughed and said, "Your aunt goes to square dancing every night, prematurely entering old age."

Jiang Yiqiu chimed in, "My aunt knows how to enjoy life. She values ​​her own body, and square dancing is good for her physical and mental health."

Song Ya brought over a plate of sliced ​​fruit, placed it on the table, and called out, "Have some fruit."

She took them and handed them to Chen Shi and the other two.