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

Zhao Yiman and Huang Ming walked out of the kitchen and into the living room, Zhao Yiman greeting them with a beaming smile, "Director Chen."

Chen Shi greeted her with a smile: "Xiao Man"

Zhao Yiman smiled and said, "Director Chen, please wait a moment, I'll be right back."

"Take your time, no rush, there's still plenty of time."

Zhao Yiman went to the kitchen to prepare a few more main dishes, Huang Ming brewed tea, added tea to Chen Shi's cup, and chatted with Chen Shi.

Half an hour later, Zhao Yiman brought a table full of dishes to the living room and said with a smile, "Director Chen, come and eat."

Chen Shi stood up, walked to the dining room, saw a table full of dishes, and said with a smile, "Xiao Man's cooking is quite good; the food looks, smells, and tastes delicious."

Zhao Yiman said with a forced smile, "It's not presentable enough for formal occasions, but it's fine to make at home for my own consumption."

Huang Ming brought over a bottle of good wine, opened it, and poured wine for Chen Shi.

Zhao Yiman said, "Eat some food first. Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach is bad for your stomach."

Chen Shi smiled and said, "Director Huang, let's eat first, and then we'll drink."

Chen Shi picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of the dish, and nodded repeatedly: "Not bad, it's chef-level."

Zhao Yiman smiled and said, "Thank you for the compliment, Director Chen. Please eat more."

The three chatted as they ate. Seeing that Chen Shi had almost finished eating, Huang Ming raised his glass and said, "Director Chen, I'd like to propose a toast to you."

Chen Shi picked up his wine glass, clinked it with Huang Ming's, and the two drank it down in one gulp.

Chen Shi put down his wine glass, and Huang Ming quickly filled it with wine.

Zhao Yiman picked up a cup of tea: "Director Chen, I don't drink alcohol, so I'll offer you this tea instead. Please feel free to have some."

"Xiaoman is toasting me, how can I possibly drink even a little?" Chen Shi picked up his wine glass, clinked it with Zhao Yiman's, and drank it all in one gulp.

Chen Shi and Huang Ming discussed some work-related matters, and Huang Ming explained the progress of the project.

Zhao Yiman continued, "Director Chen, since my husband Lao Huang took charge of the project, many people have been sending gifts to our home. I've turned them all away, and many of them just drop off the gifts and leave. We don't even know them. I've called the police to help us find the people and return the gifts. Could you please stop him from taking charge of the project? There are too many people trying to give us gifts; we can't stop them all."

Chen Shi smiled and said, "I don't feel at ease having someone I don't trust in in charge of a project. I only feel at ease with Director Huang, who is meticulous and cautious in his work."

Zhao Yiman added, "It's a blessing for my husband, Lao Huang, to have Director Chen's trust. I'll play the villain and give anyone who dares to bring gifts a good scolding so they won't dare to come again."

Chen Shi laughed heartily.

The meal lasted for more than three hours before Chen Shi left. Huang Ming and Zhao Yiman saw Chen Shi into the car before returning home.

On the other side, Dong Xuexi was at home, eating peanuts and drinking strong liquor alone. He knew that his political life was over.

He hummed a song to numb himself.

The phone rang twice before Dong Xuexi picked it up and saw that it was Huang Feng'e calling.

Dong Xuexi thought for a moment, then answered the phone. He heard Huang Feng'e's roaring voice: "Dong Xuexi, are you out of your mind? I called you and you didn't answer. What were you thinking? At most, we would make a scene and the people in the bureau would sympathize with us. But you hit a leader. The nature of the incident has completely changed. You've gone from victim to perpetrator. You can forget about staying in the Education Bureau. You've become a rat in the street, hated by everyone."

Dong Xuexi felt increasingly sober the more he drank, showing no signs of drunkenness. He coldly asked, "Who told you that?"

Huang Feng'e snorted coldly: "Such a big thing, and you didn't even tell me? How long were you planning to keep it a secret? If someone else hadn't told me, I would still be completely unaware. Do you still consider me your wife? Do you still consider me family?"

Dong Xuexi raised his voice and said, "What's the use of telling you? It's completely useless. It only adds to the trouble and serves no purpose whatsoever."

You think I can stay in the Education Bureau without hitting Guan Ping? Don't be naive. Even your transfer to Zhongshan Elementary School, which was confirmed and the transfer notice was issued, could be canceled. And I can stay in the Education Bureau unscathed.

It was only a matter of time before I was transferred out of the Education Bureau. Why not vent my frustrations? Over the years, I may not have made any great contributions, but I have certainly worked hard. None of the leaders have taken it to heart. They are all in cahoots.

This is all there is to my life. Even a rabbit will bite when cornered, let alone a human.

You've always called me a coward, haven't you? Today I'll show you that I have guts too. If a leader messes with me, I'll beat him up, whether it's Guan Ping or Chen Shi.

However, Chen Shi is younger than me, and he used to be the deputy director of the Public Security Bureau. He is more skilled than me, so he might be the one who beat me up.

If you regret it, we'll get a divorce. I'll leave with nothing; I don't want anything.

Huang Feng'e's voice was trembling with tears: "Dong Xuexi, you have ruined my whole life. I'm in my thirties now and I'm divorced. What am I going to do?"

I was the most beautiful female teacher in the school back then. So many people pursued me, but I didn't accept any of them. But I fell for you, and I was bewitched by your sweet words. I got on your pirate ship. Now you want to wash your hands of me? No way.

If they want to mess with you, at most they'll transfer you to a remote town, but at least you'll still be a civil servant, which is better than being a primary school teacher.

Don't be discouraged. As long as you're alive, there will be opportunities. Don't do anything foolish again. I will never call you a coward again. You are a man with guts.

Even if they don't think about me, they should think about our daughter. She's so young; she can't be without a father.

Dong Xuexi felt like dying, but when he heard Huang Feng'e mention her daughter, the thought of dying vanished instantly. "I can't die, I have to live, for my daughter."

She's still so young; she can't live without her father's protection. As long as one is alive, there is hope. Even if I'm transferred to a remote town, I'll still be a civil servant. They don't have the power to revoke my civil servant status.

Dong Xuexi took a deep breath: "Huang Feng'e, do you really not want a divorce?"

Huang Feng'e wasn't unwilling to get a divorce; she had thought about it for a long time. However, she was just an ordinary primary school teacher, and if she got divorced, where could she find someone with better learning conditions than Dong?

Dong's poor performance is only compared to Yang Xiaobo. If compared to other male teachers who also teach in primary schools, the difference is like night and day.

Whenever Dong Xuexi comes to the primary school, the principal always greets him with a smile.

Humans are never satisfied; it depends on who you compare yourself to.

Huang Feng'e said softly, "I won't get a divorce. I'm sticking with you for life. No matter what you become, I'll always be your wife."

Dong Xuexi's face turned red, and he laughed loudly: "I don't regret hitting Guan Ping at all. I want them to know that if you push an honest person too far, they will bite back."

Anyway, there's no hope in the Education Bureau. I'll just drift along, wait until retirement, and then go to a remote town, far away from Yang Xiaobo. Out of sight, out of mind. I'll still be a civil servant; I'll get my full salary every month, and I'll live a carefree life.

After hanging up the phone, Dong Xuexi felt relieved, collapsed onto the bed, and fell fast asleep.

When Chen Shi arrived at his office in the morning, he glanced at the Mingzhou Daily, the Donghai Provincial Party Newspaper, but there was nothing important in the news.

Yang Xiaobo filled Chen Shi's thermos with water and placed it within easy reach of him.

Chen Shi said, "Old Yang, convene a director's office meeting at ten o'clock and notify the members of the second-level leadership team to attend."

Yang Xiaobo took out his notebook, wrote down the key information, and went down to issue a notice.