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

Zhang Kaizhi put down his wine glass and looked at Yi Feng: "President Yi, if you're planning to do a project for the Education Bureau in Chunyang, why don't you offer Director Chen a toast?"

Yi Feng quickly raised his glass, his face beaming, "Director Chen, I'd like to toast you."

When Zhang Kaizhi spoke, Chen Shi dared not refuse. He clinked glasses with Yi Feng, and the two drank it all in one gulp.

Chen Shi drank three cups in a row. Drinking on an empty stomach is not good, so he quickly started eating some food.

Zhang Kaizhi and Yi Feng exchanged a glance. Yi Feng smiled and said, "Secretary Zhang, Director Chen, I need to use the restroom."

After Yi Feng left, Zhang Kaizhi picked up his glass and said, "Director Chen, don't just eat the food, drink some wine too."

Chen Shi put down his chopsticks: "Secretary Zhang has a great capacity for tolerance, I toast you."

The two drank it all in one gulp.

Zhang Kaizhi put down his wine glass: "Director Chen, Yizhou Chengxin Group has been doing government projects for more than ten years. The company is very strong. This year they want to come to Chunyang to develop a project. The Education Bureau is planning to rebuild three key high schools. Could you consider them?"

Chen Shi adopted an official tone: "Secretary Zhang, government projects are all conducted through bidding, and I personally welcome Yizhou Chengxin Group to submit a bid."

Seeing that Chen Shi wasn't interested, Zhang Kaizhi lit a cigarette and took a deep drag.

Yi Feng returned carrying four boxes of tea, placed them in front of Chen Shi, and said with a smile, "These are local teas I brought from Yizhou. I'm giving two boxes to the two leaders."

Yi Feng placed two boxes of tea in front of Zhang Kaizhi and two boxes next to Chen Shi, seemingly casually, but actually marking them.

Zhang Kaizhi smiled and said, "Thank you very much, Mr. Yi."

It's perfectly normal to accept two boxes of tea; it doesn't violate any principles. But is it really tea that's inside?

If Zhang Kaizhi accepted it, it would be disrespectful to Zhang Kaizhi if Chen Shi didn't accept it. Chen Shi was in a dilemma.

He knew Yi Feng's purpose: to get the Education Bureau's project. He resolutely refused the gifts and chose to cling to Liu Youguang's coattails, determined to go all the way down this path. A career in politics is not like business; being shrewd and worldly-wise is not something any leader would like, much less dare to use.

Moreover, with a big shot like Wang Mingzhang overseeing things, Chen Shi thought for a moment, then said with a smile, "President Yi, my hometown also grows tea. I'm used to drinking tea grown on my own land. I don't like other kinds of tea. Thank you for your kind offer."

Chen Shi pushed the tea leaves beside him toward Yi Feng.

Zhang Kaizhi's face darkened: "Director Chen, if you don't accept this tea, I dare not accept it either. Be careful that the Discipline Inspection Commission doesn't investigate and accuse me of embezzlement and bribery."

Chen Shi said calmly, "Secretary Zhang, how much are two boxes of tea worth? Gift-giving is a custom passed down from our ancestors. As long as there's nothing else in the tea, it's just friends exchanging gifts, and the Discipline Inspection Commission won't interfere."

Seeing that Chen Shi was being so disrespectful, Zhang Kaizhi said, "President Yi, open the box and let Director Chen see if it's tea or if there's something else mixed in with the tea."

Chen Shi smiled apologetically and said, "Secretary Zhang, you've misunderstood. I didn't mean anything by it. I'm just not good with words and often say the wrong thing, which makes you unhappy."

Yi Feng wondered to himself whether Chen Shi thought that the two boxes of tea really only contained tea leaves and that the gift was too insignificant to accept, or whether there was another hidden meaning.

Upon hearing Zhang Kaizhi's words, he quickly picked up the two boxes of tea next to Zhang Kaizhi, opened them, and showed them to Chen Shi.

"Director Chen, is it really tea inside?"

Chen glanced at it out of the corner of his eye and confirmed that it was indeed tea. He explained, "I really can't stand other teas, please forgive me, Mr. Yi."

Yi Feng looked at Zhang Kaizhi and felt it was necessary to open the two boxes of tea he had given to Chen Shi. He was sure Chen Shi would be tempted once he saw what was inside.

He came from the countryside, what worldly experience did he have? He only became a bureau chief because he had someone protecting him.

Yi Feng opened the two boxes of tea he had given to Chen Shi; they were filled with banknotes, at least three or four hundred thousand.

Chen Shi's face darkened. Who did this person look down on? If they were going to offend someone, they should offend them to the end. He stood up.

"Secretary Zhang, I still need to go report to Secretary Liu. Please enjoy your meal."

Before Zhang Kaizhi could speak, Chen Shi quickly left.

Yi Feng was dumbfounded. He hadn't expected Chen Shi to react so strongly. He didn't want the beautiful woman, he didn't want the money, so what did he want? His career?

Looking at Zhang Kaizhi, he added fuel to the fire, smiling as he said, "Secretary Zhang, it seems this Chen Shi doesn't respect you. Whether I do the project or not is irrelevant; Chengxin Group has plenty of projects. As a subordinate, where does he get his confidence to show such disrespect to his superior?"

Zhang Kaizhi lost face in front of Yi Feng and completely broke ties with Chen Shi. He was determined to crush Chen Shi and ensure he would never have a chance to recover.

Chen Shi remained silent the entire way. He had offended Zhang Kaizhi this time, but who else would he offend next? He couldn't afford to offend powerful leaders because of the Education Bureau's project; otherwise, how would he survive in Chunyang County?

The Education Bureau's project to rebuild three high schools is a lucrative opportunity, and everyone wants a piece of the pie.

Back home, Chen Shi was fairly satisfied with his performance that evening. He hadn't been seduced by money and beautiful women, nor had he compromised his principles by currying favor with his superiors.

Thinking about it another way, if Zhang Xiangdong and Liu Youguang had given him a heads-up, would he still be able to stick to his principles?

Having found the answer in my heart, I understand that in everything I do, there are trade-offs: if I want a career in government, I can't have money and beautiful women.

This won't do. We need to hold a Party group meeting tomorrow morning, assign the project to the three deputy directors, keep a firm grasp on the direction, and go to the municipal bureau and provincial department to ask for funding. That's the key. We can't let the project drag us into a quagmire from which we can't get out.

Chen Shi was upset and went to the bathroom to take a shower. His mind was uncontrollably filled with thoughts of sexy women in the sauna room, and he felt a longing for women.

After drying himself off and getting dressed, he realized he already had a girlfriend and called Jiang Yiqiu.

"Honey, what's wrong?"

Are you home? I'll come find you.

"I just got home. School started not long ago, and I've been busy. I worked overtime tonight," Jiang Yiqiu said reproachfully. "You still remember you have a girlfriend? It's been half a month, and you haven't called me once. Every time I call, you say you're busy."

"I just called you, didn't I? You just took office at the Education Bureau and aren't familiar with the bureau's operations yet, so you're working overtime to learn."

Secretary Liu also asked me to come up with a plan for education reform, but I really don't have the time. I have a little time tonight, and all I can think about is you.

Go take a shower and wait for me in bed.

After hanging up the phone, Chen Shi asked Yang Bin to drive him to the No. 1 Middle School teachers' apartment.

When they arrived at Jiang Yiqiu's house, she had just come out of the shower, wrapped in a bath towel. Chen Shi locked the door, picked up Jiang Yiqiu, and rushed into the room.

Jiang Yiqiu gently pinched Chen Shi's arm and said in a sweet voice, "Not romantic at all. So impatient. No prelude, straight to the point."

Chen Shi smelled Jiang Yiqiu's fragrance: "It smells so good, I missed it so much. I'll prepare the prelude later."

After a passionate encounter, Chen Shi, panting heavily, collapsed onto Jiang Yiqiu.

The lustful desire in my heart vanished instantly. Luckily, I had a girlfriend. As a normal man, if my physical needs can't be met, it's hard to resist the temptation of beautiful women.