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

Xiao Guang was in a good mood after becoming the deputy director of the Party and Government Office and having his own office. Dong Xuexi was being transferred; he received a major demerit in his administrative record and a serious warning in the Party, and was being transferred to Laoyan Town, a godforsaken place. His political career was over.

Dong Xuexi felt uneasy every day he worked in the Party and Government Office, because he knew there were potential competitors for his position as deputy director.

Xiao Guang knew very well that Dong was better at learning than him, but he just didn't know how to delve into things. If one day he would figure out the leader's intentions, he would definitely be valued by the leader.

Now we can rest assured. Dong Xuexi beat Guan Ping and was punished by the bureau. He will spend the rest of his life in Laoyan Town.

The landline rang, and Xiao Guang snapped out of his reverie, answering the call casually.

"Feed"

"Is this Section Chief Xiao? I'm Huang Ming."

Xiao Guang quickly sat up straight, his face beaming with a smile, and said, "Director Huang, I am Xiao Guang."

"Section Chief Xiao, please have Dong Xuexi come to my office."

"Okay, I'll have him come to your office right now."

After hanging up the landline, Xiao Guang walked out of his office and went to the Party and Government Office. Three young men greeted him, and the two older men also greeted him with smiles: "Director Xiao."

Xiao Guang smiled and nodded at them. Seeing Dong Xuexi, who was hanging his head like a wilted eggplant, he hadn't expected the bureau to give him such a severe punishment.

As long as he could keep his civil servant status, he didn't care about any punishment. He treated Xiao Guang like air and ignored him completely.

Xiao Guang walked to Dong Xuexi's side and said in a deep voice, "Old Dong, Director Huang wants you to go to his office. Go now."

Dong Xuexi raised his eyelids slightly and glanced at Xiao Guang. What did Huang Ming want to talk to him about at this time?

He stood up, walked out of the office, and came to the door of Huang Ming's office. His heart was racing. He took a deep breath. He was barefoot and didn't care about those wearing shoes. He raised his hand and gently knocked on the door.

Huang Ming called out, "Come in."

Dong Xuexi pushed open the door and entered, asking in a low voice, "Director Huang, you wanted to see me?"

Huang Ming stood up to greet him, smiling and saying, "Old Dong, please have a seat."

The two sat down in the living room, and Huang Ming poured Dong Xuexi a glass of warm water.

This was his first time in the deputy director's office. The office was spacious and bright, as big as their Party and Government Office. However, only Huang Ming was working there, while their Party and Government Office had seven people working in it.

Huang Ming smiled and said, "Old Dong, have some water."

Dong Xuexi picked up the cup, took a sip of water, and put the cup down.

Huang Ming looked at Dong Xuexi and said, "Old Dong, if you have any opinions about the punishment the bureau has given you, you can tell me. I am speaking to you on behalf of the organization."

The punishment you received was not a decision made by any single leader, but rather the result of a joint discussion among all members of the secondary leadership team.

Dong Xuexi said in a deep voice, "I have no objections. I will do whatever the bureau tells me to do. I am an honest person. I would never hit someone unless I was pushed to the brink, let alone a leader."

Huang Ming said with a smile, "Relax a little, don't be nervous. We've looked into your wife's situation, and it really can't be blamed on Comrade Guan Ping."

Huang Ming stood up, went to his desk, took the rejection letter from Zhongshan Primary School, and handed it to Dong Xuexi.

"Old Dong, this is a rejection letter from Zhongshan Primary School. Zhongshan Primary School will not accept your wife, Huang Feng'e. Guan Ping can't do anything about it. The Personnel and Faculty Department can only cancel the transfer."

Dong Xuexi did not accept the rejection letter and said coldly, "This is all up to your leaders to decide."

Huang Ming smiled and said, "Old Dong, even leaders have to follow the rules and regulations. They can't just do whatever they want."

Zhongshan Primary School was unwilling to accept Huang Feng'e and issued a letter of refusal explaining the reasons. Huang Feng'e had a history of corporal punishment of students, which was indeed true.

Zhongshan Primary School's refusal was entirely reasonable, and Guan Ping, as the head of the Personnel and Teacher Resources Department, could not force Zhongshan Primary School to accept Huang Feng'e.

Dong Xuexi remained silent, his head bowed.

Huang Ming added, "No matter the reason, it's wrong to resort to violence. Let's talk things out. If you have any complaints about Guan Ping, you can report them to the leaders in the bureau. You can't act on emotions."

Dong Xuexi thought to himself, "If reporting this matter were useful, my wife would have been transferred to the county town long ago. I don't even know how many times I've reported this, but nobody pays any attention to me."

Huang Ming continued, "This matter has had a very bad impact on the Education Bureau. There will be a democratic life meeting next Monday, and you will have to make a profound self-criticism. You cannot act on emotions. You have elderly parents and young children to support. Even if you don't think about yourself, you should think about your parents and children."

If you act impulsively and seriously injure Comrade Guan Ping, it won't be as simple as a disciplinary action from the bureau. You will be dismissed from your public office and go to jail. Who will take care of your parents and children then?

Fortunately, Comrade Guan Ping only suffered minor injuries, and the bureau suppressed the matter. They didn't punish you, because they couldn't explain it to the others in the bureau. If he had called the police, you would definitely have been detained, and once detained, you would have lost your job.

Go to the hospital later to see Comrade Guan Ping, bring up the matter of compensation, sincerely apologize to him, and obtain his forgiveness.

At the democratic life meeting, apologize to Guan Ping in front of everyone, and be sincere.

Dong Xuexi suppressed his dissatisfaction. Why should I apologize to him? But when he thought of his elderly parents and children, he gave in.

Dong Xuexi discovered that the older he got, the more timid and fearful he became. If he had just joined the Education Bureau, he would have been young and impetuous, able to afford to lose. Believe me, he would have beaten up Huang Ming as well.

Screw it, I'm quitting this job to vent my anger.

Thinking about losing this job in middle age, and not having the courage to start over, I had no choice but to give up.

He said in a low voice, "Okay, I'll go to the hospital later to find Guan Ping and talk about compensation."

Huang Ming nodded in satisfaction: "Old Dong, don't be discouraged. Perform well in Laoyan Town and make achievements. The leaders will notice, and there will still be a chance to be transferred back to the Education Bureau."

Don't give up on yourself.

Dong Xuexi sneered inwardly. In a godforsaken place like Laoyan Town, the leaders wouldn't even notice you. If you achieve anything, it will belong to someone else.

Despite scoffing at Huang Ming's words, she still said, "Thank you for your concern, Director Huang. I will work hard and serve the people wherever I go."

Huang Ming felt that Dong Xuexi was not as difficult to communicate with as he had imagined; he was quite easygoing.

"Old Dong, go to the hospital now and visit Comrade Guan Ping."

Dong Xuexi stood up and strode out of the office.

On the other side, Wang Zhikai was in his office, the door locked from the inside, making a phone call to Lei Liangping.

"Old Lei, Dong Xuexi is coming to Laoyan Town. You must take good care of him. It's not time to give up on him yet. He will be of great use to you."

Lei Liangping said with a smile, "Director Wang, Old Dong really has guts. He even dared to hit Guan Ping. Chen Shi was going to find an excuse to deal with him, but he handed over his own leverage. He's hopeless."

"He completely offended Chen Shi on the spot, which is a good thing for us. He has no way out and can only rely on us."

"Come up this weekend and invite him to a farmhouse in the suburbs. Don't let the people at the bureau know; I need to appease him."

"Okay," Lei Liangping readily agreed.