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

Lei Liangping filled Wang Zhikai's glass to the brim and then filled his own glass as well: "Director Wang, I'd like to propose a toast to you."

Wang Zhikai picked up his wine glass, and the two clinked glasses. Wang Zhikai took a sip, while Lei Liangping drank it all in one gulp.

Wang Zhi opened his wine glass: "Chen Shi asked Yang Xiaobo to renovate the Education Bureau's meeting room, which was used for storing miscellaneous items, into a KTV room. It cost more than 500,000 yuan. Then he asked Dong Xuexi to stand up and oppose it."

Teachers' bonuses have been delayed for two months and haven't been paid yet, but they have money to enjoy themselves.

Chen Shi had only been at the Education Bureau for three or four months, yet he arranged for his associates to reimburse him for expenses totaling over 300,000 yuan, treating the Education Bureau's money as his own and squandering it at will.

Lei Liangping looked at Wang Zhikai: "Director Wang, you made Dong Xuexi oppose the renovation of the KTV private rooms, and Chen Shi arranged for his people to reimburse more than 300,000 yuan. These two things are hitting Chen Shi where it hurts and have completely offended him."

Wang Zhikai was overjoyed. He had been thinking all day but couldn't come up with a good idea. But after drinking some alcohol, the idea came to him. He should drink more alcohol when he has nothing to do. Alcohol is really a good thing.

He picked up the wine bottle and poured wine for Lei Liangping, who quickly said, "Director Wang, let me do it. How can I let you pour wine for me?"

"Old Lei, what's our relationship? We're comrades in the same trench. Isn't it normal for me to pour a drink for a comrade?"

Lei Liangping smiled obsequiously, "It's normal, but I'll pour the drinks myself. You're my boss, how can I let my boss pour my drinks?"

Wang Zhikai, beaming, said, "Have a drink."

The two clinked glasses, and this time Wang Zhikai drank it all in one gulp.

Setting down his glass, Wang Zhikai looked at Lei Liangping: "Old Lei, do you have Dong Xuexi's phone number?"

"Yes, Director Wang, should we call him over now?"

Wang Zhikai nodded: "Just tell him you're inviting him for drinks and tell him to come over right away."

Lei Liangping found Dong Xuexi's phone number in his contact book and dialed it.

People you frequently contact are saved in your phone, while those you never contact even once a year are saved in your address book. Dong Xuexi is one of those people you never contact even once a year.

Dong Xuexi was reading at home when his phone rang. He picked it up and saw that it was Lei Liangping calling.

I've had drinks with Lei Liangping a few times, and I've vented some of my frustrations to him. We're friends, and we get along well.

Dong Xuexi doesn't have many friends in the Education Bureau, just one or two. He usually calls Lei Liangping himself, as Lei Liangping rarely calls him; in his memory, he's never called him even once.

Dong Xuexi wondered if Lei Liangping was venting his frustrations on him. Lei Liangping had been given a party warning and transferred to Laoyan Town Central School as principal because of the dilapidated buildings at Qinghe Village Primary School.

If he wants to complain, he can only do it to himself. If he complains to someone else, the moment he says something, it will be reported to the boss.

After hesitating for about ten seconds, I answered the phone: "Principal Lei."

"Old Dong, why are you calling me Principal? Just call me Old Lei. What are you busy with? It took you so long to answer the phone."

"I wasn't busy with anything. I was taking a shower upstairs when I heard the phone call, so I came out to answer it."

"I came up to the county town and stopped by Xiaoyuanrenjia to have a couple of drinks."

"Now?"

"Yes, right now, I don't have any friends in the county town, just you."

After hesitating for a moment, Dong Xuexi decided to go drink with Lei Liangping. He was already in such a state, a marginal figure in the Education Bureau, so what was he afraid of? He had nothing to lose.

Lei Liangping has just been disciplined, so many people won't drink with him for fear of being influenced.

"Okay, I'll get dressed and come over."

"Hurry up."

After hanging up the phone, Dong Xuexi waited two minutes before leaving the house.

I took a taxi to the courtyard and called Lei Liangping.

"Old Lei, I'm here. Which private room are you in?"

"3011, come here."

Dong Xuexi rarely ate at such upscale places as Xiaoyuan Renjia. After searching inside but not finding it, he asked a waiter, "Excuse me, how do I get to 3011?"

The waiter smiled and said, "Please follow me."

The waiter led Dong to study and then to private room 3011.

Dong Xuexi said thank you and pushed the door open. When he saw Wang Zhikai there, he was stunned.

Lei Liangping called out, "Old Dong, please sit down."

Lei Liangping stood up and pulled Dong Xuexi to sit down.

Dong Xuexi forced a smile: "Director Wang is here too."

He never expected that Wang Zhikai would be drinking with Lei Liangping at this time. Lei Liangping was Wang Zhikai's man, and the fact that he didn't abandon Lei Liangping showed that Wang Zhikai was a decent leader.

Wang Zhikai said with a big smile, "Little Dong, please have a seat."

Dong Xuexi said awkwardly, "Director Wang, I'm almost forty years old, just call me Lao Dong."

In all his years working at the Education Bureau, Wang Zhikai had never given Dong Xuexi a second glance; this was the first time he had met with him privately.

As soon as Dong Xuexi sat down, Lei Liangping brought over a bowl and chopsticks, placed them in front of Dong Xuexi, and filled his wine glass with wine.

"Old Dong, let me toast you."

Dong Xuexi quickly said, "Principal Lei, I salute you."

"Why are you calling me Principal Lei? I've told you so many times, we're brothers. Just call me Lao Lei. If you keep calling me Principal Lei, I'll get angry."

The two clinked their glasses, drank the wine in one gulp, and then turned their glasses upside down, not a single drop of wine spilling on the ground.

Dong Xuexi quickly picked up the wine bottle, poured wine for Lei Liangping, and filled his own glass as well.

He raised his glass: "Director Wang, let me toast you."

Wang Zhikai smiled broadly: "This is my first time drinking with Lao Dong. I can tell you're an honest man."

Dong Xuexi held his glass low, the two clinked glasses, and Dong Xuexi drank it all in one gulp. Wang Zhikai also drank his glass.

Wang Zhi opened his wine glass and asked, "Old Dong, what year did you join the Education Bureau?"

Just as Dong Xuexi was about to speak, Lei Liangping interrupted him, saying, "Old Dong is a rare talent. He graduated from a prestigious university in 2000 and was assigned to the Education Bureau. He has worked diligently for more than ten years, but has never been promoted. I feel sorry for Old Dong."

Who is Yang Xiaobo? A vocational school graduate who only knows how to flatter the leaders. The leaders actually like this kind of person and promoted him to director of the Party and Government Office. Where can you complain about that?

Wang Zhikai said with a regretful look, "I've never been in charge of the Party and Government Office. Old Dong, I only found out about your talent tonight. If I were in charge of the Party and Government Office, I would have promoted you to director long ago. You are a pragmatic person."

Some time ago, Chen Shi wanted to promote Xiao Guang to deputy director of the Party and Government Office. At the Party Group meeting of the Bureau, I was the first to object. Who is Xiao Guang? He is Yang Xiaobo's dog. He bows and scrapes to everyone. He is obviously a sycophant.

At the time, I wasn't familiar with you, otherwise I would definitely have supported you to become the deputy director of the Party and Government Office.

With a moved expression, Dong Xuexi said, "Thank you, Director Wang, for your recognition."

He raised his glass: "Director Wang, I'm toasting you; it's all in the wine."

The two clinked their glasses and drank it all in one gulp.

Lei Liangping said angrily, "Chen Shi has only been in the Education Bureau for a short time, yet he transferred his driver Yang Bin's wife to the county town to direct Yang Xiaobo. He spent over 500,000 yuan to renovate a KTV room for himself and arranged for his people to be reimbursed over 300,000 yuan."

With someone like this in charge, the Education Bureau is bound to run into serious trouble sooner or later. He's been withholding teachers' bonuses for two months, taking the money to squander on his own. How can someone like that be fit to be a leader?

Dong Xuexi hates leaders who squander public funds on personal enjoyment.

His face darkened.