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

Liu Youguang took this matter to heart, and the next day at work, he called Zhang Xiangdong, the director of the Public Security Bureau and concurrently the deputy county head, into his office.

Huang Ming brewed tea for the two of them and then left.

Liu Youguang asked, "Director Zhang, I have a question for you. Has the deputy director of the Fushan Town Police Station retired?"

Zhang Xiangdong didn't know why Liu Youguang suddenly asked about this, or what he meant, so he quickly said, "County Chief Liu, let me report to you that the deputy director of Fushan Town Police Station has retired. The director, Wang Jianming, recommended a senior police officer, Ma Guoliang, who has worked at Fushan Town Police Station for more than 20 years and has rich grassroots experience. The Party Committee of the Public Security Bureau is currently studying this matter."

Liu Youguang took a sip of tea: "Director Zhang, last year the Fushan Town Police Station transferred a policeman named Chen Shi from the Provincial Public Security Department. I've met this young man a few times. He's young and promising, a cadre worth cultivating. Your Public Security Bureau should be bolder in its personnel decisions, responding to the call of the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department to promote and give important positions to young people."

Zhang Xiangdong remembered Chen Shi's name. He was one of Liu Youguang's men. He understood what Chen Shi meant: when leaders speak, they leave it at that and don't say it too explicitly.

He smiled and said, "Yes, young people are bold and decisive, they should be promoted to inject fresh blood into the Fushan Town Police Station."

"I'm just making a suggestion. You should go down and study it. Be bolder when promoting cadres."

Zhang Xiangdong repeatedly said yes.

Liu Youguang served tea to the guests and saw them off. Zhang Xiangdong returned to the Public Security Bureau and called Wang Jianming.

When Wang Jianming saw Zhang Xiangdong's call, he quickly answered, saying with a smile, "Director Zhang."

"Jianming, how's Chen Shi, the one transferred from the Public Security Bureau to your police station, doing?"

Wang Jianming's mind raced. Why was he suddenly asking Chen Shi? Judging from Zhang Xiangdong's calm tone, he couldn't tell whether Zhang Xiangdong valued Chen Shi or if Chen Shi had offended him.

"Director Zhang, Chen Shi has been working at the Fushan Town Police Station for over six months. He's been quite competent and not bad."

"How can you say he's not bad? Chen Shi was transferred from the Public Security Bureau. It's not bad that he got into the Public Security Bureau."

Wang Jianming instantly understood that this meant Chen Shi was going to be given an important position, but Chen Shi had no connections, so how could he get involved with Zhang Xiangdong?

"Director Zhang, I misspoke. There's another person with the surname Chen in our police station. We've got them mixed up."

Chen Shi is a graduate of Donghai Police University. He is young, promising, and capable. He has demonstrated a positive attitude at the police station and is a rare talent.

"A graduate of a prestigious university, young and promising, why don't you recommend him as a candidate for deputy director?"

Wang Jianming quickly said, "I'll recommend him. I'll arrange the recommendation right now. I thought he'd been at the police station for a little over six months and had only been out of school for less than two years. He's too young and needs some training."

"Training also requires suitable positions. The Provincial Party Committee Organization Department called for the promotion and important appointment of young cadres, and we responded to the call by recruiting talents without being bound by convention."

Wang Jianming repeatedly said yes.

After hanging up the phone, Wang Jianming sat on the sofa. Luckily, he hadn't accepted Ma Guoliang's gift, otherwise things would have been difficult to handle.

Chen Shi was someone he hadn't paid much attention to before, thinking he didn't have much of a background. He hadn't expected Chen Shi to be so capable, managing to get involved with Zhang Xiangdong, who was a deputy director-level official, unlike other bureau chiefs.

The township government generally doesn't interfere with personnel appointments at the police station; it's just a formality. The real power lies with the Public Security Bureau.

He quickly adjusted his recommendations, recommending Chen Shi as deputy director, and sent the recommendation forms to the town government and the public security bureau.

At the same time, Ma Guoliang's recommendation was withdrawn, with only a three-word note: "Inappropriate."

After doing all this, Wang Jianming checked his contacts and called Chen Shi.

Chen Shi had just returned from the county town and changed into his police uniform in the dormitory when he received a call from Wang Jianming.

This was the first time Wang Jianming had taken the initiative to call Chen Shi.

Chen Shi quickly answered the call, smiling as he said, "Comrade Wang."

"Chen Shi, come to my office for a moment."

"it is good"

After hanging up the phone, Wang Jianming didn't call Xiao Chen by his full name, but instead addressed him directly, not treating him as an ordinary police officer.

This means that Liu Youguang had already spoken to him, asking him to come over and tell him about recommending him for the position of deputy director.

Chen Shi was overjoyed inside, but he didn't show it on his face. He went to Wang Jianming's office and gently knocked on the door.

Wang Jianming called out, "Come in."

Chen Shi smiled, pushed open the door, and went inside.

"Commander Wang, you wanted to see me."

Wang Jianming was very welcoming, smiling broadly: "Sit down."

Chen Shi sat down.

Wang Jianming said gently, "Chen Shi, you've been at the police station for over half a year now. Are you getting used to it?"

"It's a habit, thank you for your care, Director Wang."

Wang Jianming tentatively asked, "Did you take the past two days off because of family matters?"

Chen Shi took two days off, and as soon as he returned, Zhang Xiangdong called, clearly indicating that he had gone to build connections.

Chen Shi was debating whether to reveal that his uncle was the deputy secretary of the municipal party committee, or to talk about his relationship with Liu Youguang.

A local official is more powerful than a distant one. With an uncle who is the deputy secretary of the municipal party committee, it's unbelievable that he could come to this godforsaken place.

Never mind, let's talk about my relationship with Liu Youguang.

"There's nothing wrong at home. I went to Mingzhou for a classmate's wedding. At the banquet, I met Liu, who invited me to go back to the county town together."

I had a few drinks with County Chief Liu last night when I got back. I'm back in Fushan Town today, a bit late, the others just arrived.

Wang Jianming was in turmoil. He had directly connected with the county magistrate, and from now on, his position as director of the institute would have to give way to him.

"What does your classmate's family do in Minnesota?"

"His maternal grandfather was a former municipal party committee leader, and his father is a current municipal party committee leader, so they can be considered an official family."

Wang Jianming couldn't sit still any longer and pressed on, "What's your classmate's father's name?"

Wang Mingzhang

How would Wang Jianming know about Wang Mingzhang's family situation? But he did know that Wang Mingzhang was the deputy secretary of the municipal party committee, and he had heard that the county magistrate, Liu Youguang, was one of his men.

I thought to myself, "So that's how I got in touch with Zhang Xiangdong without making a sound."

Chen Shi could tell from Wang Jianming's expression that he believed it; there was no way he could not believe it. This explanation was more reasonable and logically sound.

Through his classmate's father's connections, he got in touch with Liu Youguang, who then spoke to Zhang Xiangdong and recommended him for the position of deputy director.

Wang Jianming said with a smile, "Chen Shi, why didn't you say so earlier that you had this classmate?"

The Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department issued a document urging bold promotion of young cadres to rejuvenate the cadre ranks. After careful consideration, I recommend you as a candidate for deputy director, given your prestigious university background and strong work ability. The appointment will be made after review by the Public Security Bureau's Party Committee.

Chen Shi stood up, his face filled with excitement.

"Chief Wang, I am your soldier. Whether I become a police officer or a deputy chief in the future, I will follow your orders."

Wang Jianming was very satisfied. He didn't become arrogant just because he had gotten close to the county head. No matter what he thought in his heart, at least verbally he respected him as his leader.

"Sit down, don't get excited. I think it's pretty much a done deal. The Public Security Bureau will issue the appointment for this deputy director very soon."

However, there is a problem that needs your solution. As you know before the new year, there was a strong call within the institute for Ma Guoliang to become the deputy director.

He's a veteran police officer, with over twenty years of experience at the station. You're still young, and he might have some reservations about becoming the deputy station chief. You need to be reassured.

Chen Shi knew that this was a show to watch. "You have connections. They can recommend you for the position of deputy director. Whether you can hold onto it depends on your methods."

Being a deputy director isn't something you can just hold onto with an appointment document; it depends on how many people below you respect you.

If one person doesn't respect you, that's their problem; if no one respects you, then it's your problem.

No matter what your connections are, you'll have to slink away.

Wang Jianming revealed a malicious smile.