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

Chen Shi and his two companions chatted at Wang Xincheng's house until five o'clock.

Chen Shi stood up: "Uncle, Aunt, let's go over to Aunt Li Nan's house for a visit."

Song Ya said, "It's five o'clock. Let's eat first and then go over."

Wang Guihua smiled and said, "They've prepared the food over there and are waiting for us. We'll go eat there, so please don't bother."

Song Ya brought two boxes of gifts for Wang Guihua to take back.

Wang Xincheng and Song Ya saw Chen Shi and the other two off to their car, and only returned after their car had disappeared from sight.

Chen Shi drove to the municipal party committee compound. It was the first time Jiang Yiqiu's car had been there, and it was too low-class. All the cars entering and leaving the municipal party committee compound were luxury cars, so the car was stopped by the security guards.

Chen Shi rolled down the car window and stuck his head out. The security guard recognized Chen Shi and said with a smile, "Please register me."

Chen Shi took the pen from the security guard, registered the license plate number, and drove in.

The car was parked in the yard. Chen Shi opened the trunk, took out two bags of fresh mountain produce, carried them to the villa door, and rang the doorbell.

The nanny, Xiao Chen, opened the door and saw Chen Shi and Wang Guihua. She glanced at Jiang Yiqiu, who looked somewhat unfamiliar.

Chen Shi introduced her as follows: "She is my girlfriend, named Jiang Yiqiu, the dean of studies at Chunyang County No. 1 Middle School."

Xiao Chen took the two bags of mountain produce from Chen Shi's hands with a smile and said, "Please come in."

Li Nan was in her room when she heard that Chen Shi and Wang Guihua had arrived. She quickly came out and said with a smile, "Big sister is here."

Wang Guihua, nicknamed "Nannan," smiled.

Li Nan invited the three of them to sit down. It was Jiang Yiqiu's first time visiting the municipal party committee compound, and it felt like a dream.

In the past, when I passed by the municipal party committee compound, I couldn't help but take a second look, fantasizing that one day I could also freely enter and leave the municipal party committee compound.

This dream has come true today.

She sat down next to Chen Shi with a smile on her face, listening to Li Nan and Wang Guihua chat.

She was very surprised. Li Nan and Wang Guihua could chat without any problems. It was unbelievable that two people of such different status and position could have such a good conversation.

Li Nan said, "Big sister, Mingzhang just came back. I'll go to the study to call him down."

Wang Guihua quickly said, "Nannan, don't disturb his work."

Even the highest-ranking leaders need to rest. Today is the second day of the Lunar New Year, and the municipal party committee leaders also need to celebrate the New Year.

Li Nan went upstairs, and a little while later, Wang Mingzhang followed her down. He looked at Wang Guihua, unsure how to face her.

Chen Shi stood up: "Uncle"

Jiang Yiqiu also stood up.

Wang Mingzhang nodded to Chen Shi.

Wang Guihua stood up, and Wang Mingzhang called softly, "Sister, please sit down."

Wang Guihua was stunned. He called me "sister"! He had acknowledged her. She had been waiting for this "sister" for over fifty years.

It took him a while to come to his senses and sit down.

Chen Shi was deeply moved when he heard Wang Mingzhang call his mother "sister," feeling that he had finally gained Wang Mingzhang's approval.

Wang Mingzhang sat down in the living room, and the atmosphere became somewhat heavy. Apart from Li Nan, Chen Shi and the other two sat up straight, and they were not as casual as before when they spoke. They had to think carefully before they dared to speak.

Wang Lingze ran downstairs and was somewhat surprised to see Chen Shi and the other two. He casually asked, "What brings you here?"

Chen Shi smiled and said, "I've come to wish my uncle a Happy New Year."

Wang Lingze glanced at Jiang Yiqiu; he brought his girlfriend along to pay New Year's visits. She didn't like this woman.

Li Nan asked, "Where are you going?"

"My friend asked me to go out and not come back for dinner."

Li Nan scolded, "You never eat at home. Come home earlier."

"I understand," Wang Lingze said and ran out quickly.

The food was quickly prepared and laid out on the table.

Li Nan brought out a bottle of good wine: "Xiao Shi, have a couple of drinks with your uncle."

Chen Shi still felt a lingering fear when he recalled the strong liquor he had drunk last time. He looked at Wang Mingzhang with a smile: "Uncle, do you drink?"

"I rarely drink at home, but since you're here today, I'll have a couple of drinks with you."

Chen Shi suddenly felt flattered and quickly stood up, took the wine from Li Nan, opened the bottle, and poured a glass for Wang Mingzhang.

Wang Mingzhang asked, "How was the strong liquor we drank last time?"

Chen Shi was startled; the strong liquor he drank last time almost killed him.

"Uncle, I can't hold my liquor and I can't drink strong liquor."

Wang Mingzhang pressed further, "Why didn't you say so last time?"

You're the mayor, and I'm just a deputy section chief. Do you think I have the right to speak? With a smile, he said, "I've never drunk strong liquor before. Last time I saw my uncle, I was happy and mustered up the courage to have a few drinks."

Wang Mingzhang neither confirmed nor denied the question, and did not ask any further.

Chen Shi breathed a sigh of relief.

Chen Shi felt there was too much of a gap between himself and Wang Mingzhang, and didn't know what to talk about. If they talked about work, Chen Shi realized he was only a deputy section chief and had no right to discuss work with a director-general.

When they talked about life, the two were very different in age and had a generation gap, so they couldn't find common ground.

When it comes to family ties, this cheap nephew of mine is just a freebie; there's practically no family affection between us.

Wang Mingzhang was someone Chen Shi looked up to.

The restaurant suddenly fell silent; no one spoke or touched their chopsticks. Li Nan called out, "Big sister, hurry up and eat!"

He took out serving chopsticks and put some food on Wang Guihua's plate: "Sister, eat up, I'll take you to the movies tonight."

Wang Guihua, a rural woman, didn't like watching movies. Seeing Li Nan's enthusiasm, she smiled and said, "Many of us mountain people have never seen a movie in our entire lives."

Wang Mingzhang suddenly asked, "Has the town ever organized film screenings in the villages?"

Chen Shi added, "The situation is different now. The town rarely organizes movie screenings anymore. Every household has a TV, and propaganda films are broadcast on the TV station."

Wang Mingzhang hasn't been involved with grassroots communities for a long time; he's mostly listened to reports from those below him. He holds a high position and wields great power, but has been detached from the people for far too long.

Chen Shi toasted Wang Mingzhang several times, but Wang Mingzhang only took a small sip each time. After finishing a whole bottle, Wang Mingzhang only drank one cup of wine.

Chen Shi thought to himself, "Is this the aura of a high-ranking leader? Just sitting here, he exudes authority without being angry, giving people a sense of oppression."

At this moment, Secretary Zhang Kai walked in, smiled and greeted Chen Shi and the others, and whispered to Wang Mingzhang, "Mayor Wang, Secretary Xiao wants you to play mahjong; they're one player short."

Wang Mingzhang nodded: "I'll be right there."

He stood up and said, "Please take your time eating."

I went upstairs, changed my coat, and left quickly.

Chen Shi thought to himself, being a leader's secretary is not easy. You have to serve anytime, anywhere, and you can't even go home for the New Year to have New Year's Eve dinner with your family.

With Wang Mingzhang gone, the atmosphere became more lively, and Chen Shi felt as if the mountain that had been weighing on him had been lifted.

When people start talking casually, the dinner table is filled with laughter and cheerful conversation.

After dinner, Li Nan wanted to take Wang Guihua to see a movie, and Chen Shi and Jiang Yiqiu accompanied them.

Li Nan showed no disdain for Wang Guihua's old-fashioned ways. Holding Wang Guihua's hand, they acted like sisters and rode in the mayor's car.

Seeing this, Jiang Yiqiu was very puzzled. These two people, one in heaven and one on earth, could actually chat together. She really couldn't understand the mentality of Li Nan, a rich lady.

On second thought, Wang Guihua's visit to the municipal party committee compound was just like Granny Liu visiting the Grand View Garden. Granny Liu's honest and simple image could make Grandmother Jia happy.

Wang Guihua's simple and honest appearance could also make Li Nan happy. She was surrounded by wealthy women all day long, so the sudden appearance of a rural woman was just a novelty for her.