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

When Chen Shi woke up in the morning, his back ached and he was exhausted. He thought it best to do this less often. No wonder ancient emperors died young and few lived long lives. Even an iron body couldn't withstand such constant torment.

When I got to the office, I felt listless and lacked energy. I was drowsy until I took a nap in the afternoon and then I felt refreshed.

Chen Shi picked up his phone and called Liu Feng.

"Secretary Liu, has Secretary Liu returned from the meeting?"

"You're back. You got back this morning, Director Chen. Are you here to report on your work?"

"Yes, I'd like to report on my work with Secretary Liu."

"Come over now, Secretary Liu is available."

"Okay," Chen Shi said, hanging up the phone and heading to the county party committee office.

Upon arriving at the county party committee office, Chen met Liu Feng in the corridor. Liu Feng smiled and said, "Director Chen, please wait a moment and come to my office. Director Guan is in Secretary Liu's office."

Chen Shi followed Liu Feng to his office, with Chen Shi at the back, and casually closed the door behind him.

Seeing this, Liu Feng knew that Chen Shi wanted to talk to him, so he poured Chen Shi a cup of tea.

Chen Shi took a sip of tea, put down the teacup, and lowered his voice, saying, "Secretary Liu, the county party committee office is short of a deputy director. Have you looked into this? What is Secretary Liu's attitude? Who do you want to take over?"

When Chen Shi asked, Liu Feng didn't hide anything: "Director Chen, I've heard some rumors that Secretary Liu wants to transfer Fang Min, the deputy mayor of Heyuan Town, to the county party committee office to take over as deputy director."

"I have no control over the decisions my superiors make."

Liu Feng was somewhat dejected. This deputy director position was originally his, but Fang Min had snatched it away.

Chen Shi lit a cigarette, took a puff, and said, "You can't fight city hall. Don't show your emotions. There will be plenty of opportunities."

Secretary Liu and Fang Min have a very special relationship. Once Fang Min is transferred to the county party committee office, you need to make a good impression on her.

Liu Feng nodded: "Director Chen, I'm not qualified enough. This deputy director position can't be kept for me forever. Even without Fang Min, someone else will be eyeing it."

Liu Feng's ability to manage his dissatisfaction is commendable; he is a man capable of great things.

Within the system, who doesn't suffer grievances? And if they do, they can process those grievances themselves without showing it on their face—that's rare.

"Secretary Liu, you are now Secretary Liu's secretary. You must gain his trust so that your future path will be easier."

As a leader's secretary, the closest person to them, it's very dangerous not to gain the leader's absolute trust.

Liu Youguang liked to sing, but Chen Shi had never heard Liu Feng mention it. He trusted Liu Feng; if he knew about Liu Youguang's hobby, he would have told him.

Liu Feng knew that Chen Shi was reminding him that his relationship with Liu Youguang was not yet at the level of absolute trust that he had with Chen Shi.

When Liu Youguang goes out to play, he rarely takes me with him. He usually sends me home, which shows that Liu Youguang doesn't trust me enough.

"Director Chen, I will work hard to gain Secretary Liu's trust."

Chen Shi comforted him, saying, "You haven't been Secretary Liu's secretary for long. In the short term, Secretary Liu will definitely be evaluating you. Don't have any other ideas. Just do your job well, and Secretary Liu will see it."

Gaining a leader's trust is a process, not an end result.

Liu Feng nodded. He was meticulous in his work, and the relationship between his secretary and his boss was like that of a newlywed couple, gradually getting to know each other and gaining mutual trust.

After chatting for a few moments, Liu Feng checked the time: "Director Chen, I'll go check if Director Guan has come out yet."

Liu Feng stood up, opened the office door, and walked out.

He returned shortly after: "Director Chen, Director Guan has left. Secretary Liu wants to see you."

Chen Shi arrived at Liu Youguang's office with a smile: "Secretary Liu, I've come to report to you on my work."

Liu Youguang called out, "Sit down."

Chen Shi sat down in the reception room, and Liu Youguang came over and sat opposite Chen Shi.

"Is the bidding process complete?"

"Secretary Liu, I've come to report this matter to you. Donghai Zhencheng Group has won all three bids, with a total bid amount of 26.46 billion yuan. After the public announcement period ended, the chairman of Donghai Zhencheng Group led a team to inspect the site and formally signed the contracts. The groundbreaking ceremony will be held on May 1st, and we would like to invite you and County Chief Zhang to attend the ceremony."

Liu Youguang looked at Chen Shi and said with a serious expression, "What is the background of this Donghai Zhencheng Group?"

Chen Shi pondered, could it be that Liu Youguang felt he had some kind of vested interest in Donghai Zhencheng Group?

With such a large project and three sections awarded to the same company, everyone would naturally assume something is amiss; it's all too obvious.

To gain the absolute trust of your superiors, you must not keep anything to yourself.

"Secretary Liu, I was just about to report to you about the Donghai Zhencheng Group."

Donghai Zhencheng Group is one of the top ten real estate development companies in Donghai Province. The new campuses of Donghai Normal University and Yizhou University of Technology were designed and built by Donghai Zhencheng Group, as was the new office building of the Education Department.

Donghai Zhencheng Group has strong financial resources and rich experience. The construction of these three key high schools requires full upfront funding; if a company without sufficient strength wins the bid, it will affect the project's construction progress…”

This was not what Liu Youguang wanted to hear. He interrupted Chen Shi, his tone heavy: "Get to the point."

Chen Shi nodded: "Wan Xirong, chairman of Donghai Zhencheng Group, has an unusual relationship with Zhao Ji, deputy director of the Education Department. I was able to meet Director Zhao because Wan Xirong helped to introduce me to him."

Director Zhao is in charge of the education special fund support projects of the Education Department, and his words carry a lot of weight in the Education Department.

Before bidding for the project, I went to see Director Zhao again. He was going to a meeting in Kyoto, but he gave me a definite answer: the Department of Education had decided to concentrate 1 billion yuan of special education funds on a poor county with underdeveloped education. He would officially issue the document when he returned from the meeting in Kyoto.

I have already sent the relevant documents to Director Zhao.

Liu Youguang's expression relaxed, and he said in a calm tone, "You handled this very well. You have to be flexible in your work; as long as you achieve your goal, that's enough."

Chen Shi wondered to himself, was this telling him that he should stop at nothing to achieve his goal?

Liu Youguang added, "We must secure the 1 billion yuan in special education funding from the Department of Education. We cannot be careless. There are too many impoverished counties in Donghai with lagging education, so the competition will be fierce. You must be prepared to deal with any unforeseen circumstances."

"Secretary Liu, don't worry, I guarantee I'll complete the task."

Liu Youguang nodded in satisfaction: "Rebuilding three key high schools is a key project that Chunyang County has included in its government report this year. I will make time to attend the groundbreaking ceremony."

Chen Shi quickly said, "Thank you for your support, Secretary Liu."

Liu Youguang looked at Chen Shi: "The Education Bureau's focus should not be entirely on rebuilding the three key high schools. Basic education must keep up, and the level of the teaching staff must also be improved. I want to see changes and produce results in a short period of time. Everything should be judged by results."

Chen Shi thought to himself, "Running a school requires money to pave the way. If you don't give money, how can you expect results? Isn't that making things difficult for people?"

You can't expect a horse to run without feeding it; no one can do that.

He still wore a confident smile: "Secretary Liu, I will take charge of basic education and strive to achieve results in a short period of time. However, the Education Bureau has a shortfall of 60 million yuan in funding this year. Can the finance department find a way to make up for it?"

Liu Youguang smiled and said, "You little rascal, you've learned to take advantage of others. I'm having financial difficulties, so I'll only give you a maximum of 30 million. Figure out the rest yourself."

Just as Chen Shi was about to speak, Liu Youguang said again, "No bargaining allowed."

Chen Shi could only swallow his words.