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

After chatting for a few minutes, Chen Shi took out the background check information on Donghai Zhencheng Group from his briefcase and handed it to Liu Youguang with both hands.

"Secretary Liu, this is the background check information for Donghai Zhencheng Group. Please take a look."

Liu Youguang took it without looking at it, placed it on the table, and gave Chen Shi an approving look, saying, "You're a sensible kid."

I'll take a look when I have time.

As the top leader of the county, he must have control over all major county affairs. The reconstruction of three key high schools is the biggest project in Chunyang County, and he is no exception.

After reporting his work, Chen Shi got up and left.

After leaving the county party committee office, I called Xu Mo.

"Secretary Xu, is County Magistrate Zhang free? I'd like to come and report on my work."

Xu Mo is currently the head of the General Affairs Section of the Government Office. If he were to be transferred to another position, he would at least be at the deputy section chief level.

"Director Chen, County Chief Zhang is available now, would you like to come over?"

"I'm coming over now."

Upon arriving at the government office, Chen Shi went to Xu Mo's office: "Secretary Xu, is anyone in County Zhang's office?"

Xu Mo stood up to greet him and poured Chen Shi a glass of warm water: "Director Chen, please wait a moment while I go report."

A short while later, Xu Mo returned: "Director Chen, County Chief Zhang wants you to go to his office."

Chen Shi arrived at Zhang Xiangdong's office door, which was closed, and gently knocked.

Zhang Xiangdong's voice came through: "Come in."

Chen Shi pushed open the door and entered, grinning as he said, "County Chief Zhang."

Zhang Xiangdong put down the documents in his hand and stood up: "Sit down."

Chen Shi sat down, and Zhang Xiangdong came over and sat opposite him.

How is the project to rebuild three key high schools progressing?

"Zhang County, I'm here to report on this matter. The bidding for the three key high school projects has ended. Donghai Zhencheng Group won all three bids, with a total bid amount of 26.46 billion yuan. The public announcement period has ended, and the chairman of Donghai Zhencheng Group personally led a team to Chunyang County for inspection and formally signed the contract. The groundbreaking ceremony will be held on May 1st. I would like to invite you and Secretary Liu to attend the groundbreaking ceremony."

Zhang Xiangdong looked at Chen Shi and said in a deep voice: "The same company won all three bids. Aren't you afraid of what others will say? Even if there's nothing wrong here, something will happen. How could such a big project be won by just one company? What were you thinking?"

Don't tell me this company is more capable. There are plenty of capable companies out there, so why didn't they win the bid?

You're handing your political enemies leverage over you; let's see when they use it to attack you.

Chen Shi solemnly said, "County Chief Zhang, I have no choice but to explain. Please let me know the details."

Wan Xirong, chairman of Donghai Zhencheng Group, has an unusual relationship with Zhao Ji, deputy director of the Education Department. When I went to the Education Department to apply for special education funding support projects, it was Zhao Ji who was in charge of these projects.

"I was able to meet Deputy Director Zhao Ji entirely thanks to Wan Xirong's introduction. Without Wan Xirong, I would have been completely lost when I arrived at the Education Department, unable to even find the entrance, let alone secure any education-related funding projects from the department."

Zhang Xiangdong asked with a serious expression, "Did you make a deal with Wan Xirong in private?"

"No, Donghai Zhencheng Group won the bid, and they followed the bidding documents. Their company is indeed capable. They were the contractors for the new campuses of Donghai Normal University and Yizhou University of Technology."

Donghai Zhencheng Group has abundant funds and rich experience, so building three key high schools is a piece of cake for them.

This mainly involves fully funding the project; they have the capability to do so.

Zhang Xiangdong nodded: "As long as you didn't take any benefits from Donghai Chengzhen Group in private, you handled this matter well. When you do things, you will always offend people. If you don't want to offend people, it's hard to get things done."

Money and beauty are catalysts for corrupting officials, and also the most effective means for political enemies to attack them. As long as you don't get involved with money and beauty, no one can touch you.

Chen Shi said with deep emotion, "I will keep in mind Magistrate Zhang's teachings."

When Chen Shi saw that Zhang Xiangdong's cup was empty, he quickly stood up, poured him a cup of warm water, and poured one for himself as well.

Zhang Xiangdong asked, "At the groundbreaking ceremony, did the county leaders only invite Secretary Liu and me?"

Chen Shi nodded. Zhang Xiangdong looked at Chen Shi, his face darkening: "Don't think that just because I and Secretary Liu are supporting your work, you can disregard your superiors."

We'll all be transferred someday. If he gets promoted and becomes a key leader in the county, you'll be in big trouble if you offend him.

No matter how much you despise him, you still need to show him respect on the surface. After all, he is your leader, and you shouldn't let him openly criticize you.

Chen Shi thought to himself that he had already offended Gao Rong, and that respecting him wouldn't change anything.

Zhang Xiangdong is right. He is my supervisor, and leaders should be respected, at least outwardly.

"Zhang County, I'll go and invite Gao County to attend the groundbreaking ceremony later."

Zhang Xiangdong added, "As a leader, one must consider the overall situation when doing things, and relevant leaders in the city should also be invited."

The Municipal Education Bureau, the Municipal Finance Bureau, and Mingzhou No. 1 High School have all been paid; don't offend the leaders over such trivial matters.

Chen Shi nodded repeatedly, took out his notebook from his briefcase, and wrote it down: "Within the system, try to offend as few people as possible, especially leaders. If you can avoid offending them, then don't."

Chen Shi put the notebook back into his briefcase, took out a stack of documents, and handed them to Zhang Xiangdong with both hands: "County Chief Zhang, these are the background check documents for Donghai Chengzhen Group. Please take a look when you have time."

Zhang Xiangdong took the documents, didn't look at them, and put them on the table. Chen Shi did a good job in this regard. For such a big project for the Education Bureau, the relevant leaders should know about the winning company.

Leaving Zhang Xiangdong's office, Chen Shi realized he hadn't expected to invite Gao Rong. It was his carelessness; after all, Gao Rong was the supervisor in charge, and he had to give him face.

At least superficial respect is necessary.

The Municipal Education Bureau, the Municipal Finance Bureau, and Mingzhou No. 1 Middle School were on the invitation list. They personally went to Mingzhou to invite the relevant leaders.

Chen Shi took out his phone and called Gao Rong's secretary, Zhang Song.

"Secretary Zhang, is County Magistrate Gao free? I'd like to come over and report to him on my work."

"Director Chen, please wait a moment while I check the work arrangements for Gao County and will call you back shortly."

Zhang Song knew that Gao Rong and Chen Shi's relationship was not good, so he went to Gao Rong's office to report.

"County Chief Gao, Director Chen wants to come and report to you."

Gao Rong thought for a moment. Chen Shi was backed by Liu Youguang and Zhang Xiangdong, and also had a mayor uncle. He couldn't do anything about him and couldn't give him a hard time for the time being.

"Let him come over."

Zhang Song left the office and called Chen Shi back.

Chen Shi was sitting in the car waiting when his phone rang. He took it out and saw that it was Zhang Song calling, so he quickly answered.

"Secretary Zhang, are you free in Gao County?"

"Gao County originally had other work arrangements, but when he heard that Director Chen wanted to report on his work, he immediately canceled them and asked you to come over."

"Okay, I'm coming over now."

Chen Shi sat in the car for two minutes before heading to Gao Rong's office.