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

Zhang Xiangdong pointed him in the right direction: Chen Shi was favored by Liu Youguang and went to the Education Bureau to preside over reforms.

When the Party Working Committee Secretary of Zhongshan Subdistrict Office reaches retirement age, he will be transferred to the CPPCC to serve as Vice Chairman.

Many people are eyeing this position, and Liu Youguang will not object as long as Chen Shi recommends him.

The merger of three high schools in the township into the county seat will result in the new school being located in Zhongshan Subdistrict. This involves issues such as land acquisition, and since the head of Zhongshan Subdistrict is not an accomplice, it will be difficult to carry out the work.

Li Hong came up here specifically to find Chen Shi, but unexpectedly, he met Chen Shi at Zhang Xiangdong's place.

The two chatted for a while before going to a family's house in the courtyard for a meal.

Li Hong brought two bottles of good wine and placed them on the table: "Director Chen, tonight we're going to drink until we're both drunk."

Chen Shi smiled and said, "It's been a long time since I drank with Li Zhen. Let's have a good drink tonight."

Li Hong laughed heartily: "Director Chen, it's my treat tonight, don't try to take it from me."

"Whoever pays the bill, that's their responsibility."

Li Hong stood up, went to call the waiter to pay the bill, and walked into the private room: "Thank you for reminding me, Director Chen. I've already paid the bill."

"Li Zhen, you're not giving me a single chance."

"I have to treat everyone tonight."

Chen Shi noticed that Li Hong was acting strangely tonight and guessed that he must have something to ask him.

When the food was served, Li Hong poured wine for Chen Shi, and the two drank and chatted as they ate.

Slightly tipsy, Li Hong said, "Director Chen, I'd like to come to the county and work for you."

Chen Shi was taken aback, put down his wine glass, and wondered what Li Hong meant. He hadn't even entered the county party committee standing committee yet, so how could he have the ability to get a town mayor at the level of a section chief to serve him?

Li Hong continued, "I served as the mayor of Fushan Town for four years, but I never had the opportunity to work in the county. When I learned that you were going to serve as the director of the Education Bureau and preside over the education reform in Chunyang County, I wanted to come up and serve you."

"Secretary Hou of Zhongshan Subdistrict Office has reached retirement age and is to be transferred to the CPPCC. Do you think I'm suitable for the vacant secretary position?"

Li Hong looked at Chen Shi with sincere eyes, waiting for his reply.

Chen Shi was quick-witted; he only paid attention to the vacancy of a director in the Zhongshan Subdistrict Office, not the top leader.

If the top leader is not from your own camp, things will definitely be much more complicated.

Liu Youguang wants political achievements and won't give himself too much time; he wants to see results in the short term.

Li Hong had obviously figured all this out, which is why he came to me and took the opportunity to be transferred to the county town to serve as the head of Zhongshan Subdistrict Office. This was a promotion, and with another step forward, he could reach the deputy director level.

Chen Shi looked troubled and said, "Li Zhen, I'm just a small bureau chief. I have no say in personnel appointments and removals."

When Li Hong saw Chen Shi decline, he quickly said, "Director Chen, we are old friends. You are Secretary Liu's trusted confidant. As long as you put in a good word for me with Secretary Liu, I will have the opportunity to be transferred to Zhongshan Subdistrict Office and become its leader."

From now on, we're brothers in arms. Any task you assign me, I'll complete without fail.

With Li Hong's assurance, Chen Shi felt more confident and humbly said, "After the holiday, I'll find an opportunity to recommend you to Secretary Liu. Whether it works out or not, I can't guarantee it."

"Director Chen, I'm relieved to hear you say that." Li Hong raised his glass to Chen Shi, holding it very low.

The two chatted for a while and finished two bottles of wine. Chen Shi was seven-tenths drunk, so Li Hong asked the driver to take Chen Shi home to rest.

He returned to the hotel and reported the events of the evening to Zhang Xiangdong, Zhang's confidant.

Chen Shi was on duty on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year. It was the last day of the holiday, and he would be back to work tomorrow. However, in this small county, the New Year celebrations weren't considered over until after the Lantern Festival.

It's not until after the 15th of the lunar month that we officially start working, and the work for the new year begins.

Chen Shi arrived at the office on time. The police officer on duty came to report on his work during the holiday. There was nothing much to do, so he drank some tea and read the current affairs news.

In the afternoon, Zhang Hu came to the office.

Chen Shi was somewhat surprised: "Are you on duty today?"

Zhang Hu quickly replied, "No, I just wanted to keep the leader company while he was on duty."

Chen Shi looked at Zhang Hu: "You don't want to work the shift, you just want to see me about something, right?"

Slightly embarrassed that his boss had seen through his little scheme, Zhang Hu smiled and said, "It's true that I accompanied the boss on duty, and it's also true that I needed to see the boss about something."

Chen Shi pointed to the sofa: "Don't stand, sit down and talk."

Zhang Hu sat down, poured himself a cup of tea, and took a sip: "Director Chen, on the second day of the Lunar New Year, Mengmeng and I got engaged. The wedding is set for March 11th, and I would like to ask you to be the officiant."

Chen Shi smiled and said, "Congratulations! The lovers have finally become a couple."

Zhang Hu said with a beaming smile, "I owe Mengmeng and I this day to Director Chen's introduction back then. We were each other's first love."

Chen Shi couldn't help but think of Wang Yanhong. She was married now, and there was a hint of sadness on his face, as if something of his had been taken away by someone else.

Zhang Hu didn't notice anything unusual about Chen Shi and waited expectantly for Chen Shi's reply.

Chen Shi quickly regained his composure and said slowly, "No problem. I'll see this through to the end. I introduced you two, and I want to stand firm until the very end on this final leg of your journey to marriage."

"Thank you, Director Chen." Zhang Hu was overjoyed. Being able to invite Chen Shi to be the officiant had elevated the wedding to a whole new level.

Zhang Hu lingered in the office, wanting to leave, but he had said he was there to keep the leader company on duty and felt embarrassed to leave.

Xu Mengmeng was still waiting outside.

Chen Shi noticed Zhang Hu's predicament and shouted, "Get out of here! Don't get in my way!"

Zhang Hu chuckled, stood up, and left.

Not long after Zhang Hu left, Xu Ping'an walked in, his face beaming: "Director Chen, Happy New Year!"

"Aren't you on duty today?"

"No, I just got back from Minnesota. I have some good news to tell you: I'm in love."

"Spring hasn't even arrived yet, why are you being so provocative?"

"vulgar"

Chen Shi laughed heartily: "I went on a blind date during the Spring Festival."

Xu Pingan nodded: "I went on a blind date on the second day of the Lunar New Year. I fell in love with this girl at first sight, and she fell in love with me at first sight too."

Chen Shi became interested: "Forget about love at first sight. Her father is a powerful section-level cadre, right? Is he from Chunyang County?"

"no"

"Stop keeping me in suspense, get to the point."

"We've already established a relationship. My future father-in-law is Fu Changshan, the executive deputy director of the Organization Department of the Mingzhou Municipal Party Committee."

Chen Shi pointed at Xu Ping'an: "You kid, you've struck it rich this time! This is a full-fledged division-level official with real power, just one step away from the deputy director-general level. Who introduced you to him?"

"My uncle"

Chen Shi thought to himself, "It's good to have connections within the system. Xu Ping'an has gotten in touch with Fu Changshan, the executive deputy minister of the Municipal Party Committee's Organization Department. His future career will be even smoother than mine."

Suddenly, I felt a pang of envy, jealousy, and resentment.

Xu Pingan continued, "Director Chen, we are on a political career path. Marriage is not like that of ordinary people, where two people just need to love each other. They also need to support each other and not let one of them hold them back or hinder their progress."

Xu Ping'an subtly reminded Chen Shi not to be seduced by beauty and to think about his future.

Chen Shi understood perfectly well and exclaimed, "Show me the photo. Isn't your girlfriend pretty?"

Xu Pingan took out his phone, opened the photo album, and showed the many photos they had taken during their trip to Yizhou.

A pretty girl, quiet and gentle, wearing glasses. She wasn't exactly beautiful, but not ugly either. She wasn't sexy at all, just flat-chested. Suddenly, I didn't feel so envious.

Chen Shi simply couldn't bring himself to sleep with a girl like that.