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

On the first day of taking office at the Education Bureau, we had a meeting to see each other and let the secondary leadership of the Education Bureau know who our boss was.

After introductions and no important matters were discussed, the meeting lasted for an hour before Chen Shi adjourned it.

After the meeting, Yang Xiaobo, the director of the Party and Government Office, came over with a smile: "Director Chen, Director Huang, please clean up your offices and renovate them. Please come with me to see if there is anything that needs to be adjusted."

Chen Shi nodded: "Thank you for your help, Director Yang."

"Director Chen, you're too kind. Serving the leaders is my duty," Yang Xiaobo said softly.

The Education Bureau office building has five floors. The first and second floors are for ordinary staff, the third floor is for the offices of the second-level leadership team, and the fourth floor is for the offices of the Party members of the Bureau and two small meeting rooms.

The fifth floor houses a large conference room and an auditorium.

The leader's office is located on the fourth floor, which is relatively quiet and unaffected by the noise from the offices below.

The new office was converted from a small meeting room. The former director Li Changming's office was to be transformed into a small meeting room.

There's an unwritten rule in officialdom: current leaders won't use anything left behind by their predecessors, including meeting rooms.

When the current leader takes office, everything must be new.

Chen Shi walked into the newly renovated office, which was empty and had nothing inside.

Yang Xiaobo explained, "Director Chen, this is your office. The desk and chairs are not yet ready. I would like to ask for your opinion on your requirements for office equipment."

Chen Shi was satisfied with the office; it had good natural light and was well-ventilated from north to south.

"I don't have any special requirements for office equipment; just prepare it according to regulations."

Yang Xiaobo took out his notebook and wrote it down.

The three of them walked out of the office, and Yang Xiaobo said, "Director Huang's office is next door."

The two offices are next to each other. Huang Ming's office is slightly smaller, which is a concession to the top leader. No matter where you are, you have to show the authority of the top leader.

Huang Ming glanced at the office prepared for him and smiled, saying, "Director Yang, like Director Chen, I don't have any special requirements for office equipment. Please prepare it according to regulations."

"Yes, Director Huang." Yang Xiaobo wrote it down in his notebook.

Chen Shi asked, "Director Yang, where will our temporary office be located?"

Yang Xiaobo said with a forced smile, "We've prepared two temporary offices on the third floor for temporary use. We won't be able to move into the new office for another week."

Yang Xiaobo led Chen Shi and Huang Ming to the third floor to inspect the two temporary offices.

Chen Shi walked in. The temporary office was much smaller. He looked at Huang Ming and said, "Director Huang, the two offices are about the same size. Which one do you want?"

Huang Ming quickly said, "Director Chen, please choose first."

Chen Shi smiled and said, "I'll be working here for now."

After arranging the temporary office, Chen Shi sat on the sofa, deep in thought about how to begin his work.

Yang Xiaobo, the director of the Party and Government Office, seems alright. After observing him for a while, if he's not on the same page as me, I'll replace him immediately.

The position of Director of the Party and Government Office is very important; those with disloyal intentions should not be kept around.

Chen Shi's ideal candidate was Liu Feng, whom he was used to. However, considering Liu Feng's future prospects, it would be unfair to him to transfer to the Education Bureau where he would still be a section chief, as he was already a section chief in the Public Security Bureau.

People strive for higher positions, just as water flows downhill. If you follow your subordinates and help them rise through the ranks, they will be loyal to you.

The Party and Government Office, the Personnel and Faculty Affairs Department, and the Finance Department are three very important departments; they must be staffed by our own people.

Chen Shi inspected the Education Bureau's departmental structure. The comprehensive departments included the Basic Education Department, the Vocational and Adult Education Department, the Safety Management Office, and the Physical Education, Health and Arts Department.

The Education Supervision Office, a department responsible for supervision and services, has the following core functions: representing the county government in supervising and evaluating the performance of township governments and schools in fulfilling their educational responsibilities; conducting monitoring of the balanced development of compulsory education and evaluating the school's operational level; and supervising the implementation of key education tasks.

The supervisory office is also very important, and it must be staffed by our own people.

The other three departments are the Admissions and Examination Office, the Educational Technology Equipment Station, and the Student Financial Aid Management Center.

Chen Shi was checking on the relevant personnel in each department when there was a knock at the door. Although the door was open, Yang Xiaobo was still standing outside and gently knocking.

Chen Shi looked up at the doorway and saw Yang Xiaobo. He called out, "Come in."

Yang Xiaobo has dark skin, is of the Hani ethnic group, and wears a smile that reveals a set of white teeth.

"Director Chen, I've come to report to you on my work."

Chen Shi was quite satisfied with Yang Xiaobo's performance; on his first day in office, Yang Xiaobo took the initiative to report on his work.

Chen Shi put down the documents in his hand: "Director Yang, please have a seat."

Yang Xiaobo placed the documents in front of Chen Shi: "Director Chen, this is a list of office equipment. Please take a look and see if there's anything we need to add."

Chen Shi picked it up and glanced at it. The computer, water dispenser, landline, tea set, table, chairs, sofa, etc., were all from major brands.

"There's nothing to add. The list is very comprehensive; just follow it when purchasing."

Yang Xiaobo asked, "Director Chen, what kind of tea do you like to drink? I'll go and prepare some."

Pu'er tea

Yang Xiaobo took out his notebook and wrote it down.

Putting down his notebook, Yang Xiaobo continued, "Director Chen, the bureau has four cars. Please take a look and decide which one to use as your personal car."

Chen Shi had no interest in these trivial matters: "Director Yang, you can handle these small things."

Yang Xiaobo thought to himself, "If I didn't ask for your opinion, I probably wouldn't be able to keep my position as the director of the Party and Government Office."

He didn't show it on his face, but smiled and asked, "Director Chen, driver, do you have any requests?"

The driver is very important; it's a matter of life and death, and this cannot be taken lightly.

"Drivers must have more than ten years of driving experience, be no more than forty years old, and have zero accidents. Anyone who has been in an accident will not be accepted."

Whether you hit someone or someone hits you, it means you're attracting trouble, and if you're driving, you're likely to be implicated.

Yang Xiaobo quickly wrote it down in his notebook.

He looked up at Chen Shi: "Director Chen, according to the bureau's previous procedures, since you and Director Huang are taking office today, the bureau will hold a welcome banquet to welcome the two leaders to the bureau. All members of the bureau's secondary leadership team must attend."

Chen Shi didn't want to try anything different as soon as he arrived at the Education Bureau, so he nodded and said, "Follow the usual procedures."

Yang Xiaobo wrote it down in his notebook.

Chen Shi was satisfied with Yang Xiaobo's work attitude. What the leader said was the truth, and taking notes was a sign of respect for the leader. Chen Shi saw Zhang Youcai's shadow in Yang Xiaobo.

They can't be high-ranking leaders, but they are very professional at serving their superiors.

"Director Yang, how long have you been with the Education Bureau?"

Yang Xiaobo didn't know what Chen Shi meant, so he could only tell the truth. Sincerity is often the best weapon.

"I graduated from Mingzhou Vocational School in 96. After graduation, I was assigned to teach at Laoyan Town Elementary School. In 02, I was transferred to the Education Bureau. This year marks exactly ten years."

Chen Shi had seen Yang Xiaobo's resume: he became deputy director of the Party and Government Office in 2007 and was promoted to director in 2010.

Seeing that Chen Shi had no further instructions, Yang Xiaobo said, "Director Chen, I'll go and make arrangements for tonight's banquet."

Chen Shi nodded, and Yang Xiaobo got up and left.