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

Dong Xuexi reluctantly arrived at the hospital, carrying a fruit basket, and entered Guan Ping's ward.

Guan Ping's wife didn't recognize Dong Xuexi and asked softly, "Who are you?"

Upon seeing that it was Dong Xuexi, Guan Ping asked in a low voice, "What are you doing here?"

Dong Xuexi forced a smile: "Section Chief Guan, I've come to see you."

Guan Ping's wife, judging from Guan Ping's attitude, guessed that the man in front of her was Dong Xuexi, the one who had hit her husband. Her face darkened, and she asked, "You're Dong Xuexi?"

Dong Xuexi said "Oh," and Guan Ping's wife shouted, "Get out! You're not welcome here."

Dong Xuexi lowered his head and said in a low voice, "Section Chief Guan, I've come to apologize to you."

Guan Ping's wife shouted, "Get out! We don't accept your apology!"

Guan Ping knew when to stop, and said in a deep voice, "Let him sit down and talk."

Guan Ping's wife said angrily, "Old Guan, he beat you up like this, and you still let him sit?"

Dong Xuexi quickly said, "I'll stand up and say this, Section Chief Guan. I lost control of my emotions and hit you. I feel very guilty and have come to sincerely apologize to you. I will compensate you for the hospital expenses."

Guan Ping's wife scoffed, "You wish! You're only offering compensation for hospital fees? What about compensation for emotional distress, lost wages, and nutritional supplements?"

Dong Xuexi thought to himself, "I must be patient and not get angry." He asked softly, "How much compensation do you want, Section Chief Guan? Just name a number."

Guan Ping's wife said coldly, "At least 50,000 yuan in compensation."

Dong Xuexi clenched his fists. "You fucking trying to extort money from me? Don't make me beat you up again."

Guan Ping coughed lightly and said coldly, "I didn't originally want you to pay compensation. I just wanted to teach you a lesson. This is a society governed by law. Don't act like an animal and act impulsively when your emotions run high."

I can see that your family's financial situation isn't good; you and your spouse both live on wages. We can waive other expenses, just compensate for the hospitalization and nutritional costs. Please pay 20,000 yuan.

Guan Ping's wife was about to speak when Guan Ping stopped her with a look, reminding her to know when to stop.

Dong Xuexi controlled his emotions, gritted his teeth, and accepted the 20,000 yuan.

"Section Chief Guan, I don't have 20,000 yuan right now. I have to go back and borrow it from someone. I'll bring it to you tomorrow."

Guan Ping said with a gloomy face, "If you want to apologize, then apologize to me on Monday at the democratic life meeting, in front of everyone."

Dong Xuexi gritted his teeth and uttered a single word: "Good."

Dong Xuexi left the hospital feeling terrible. In a moment of impulsiveness, he had lost 20,000 yuan and almost lost his job. For an ordinary person, the price of losing their temper is heavy.

He's been reading fantasy novels lately. Whoever offends the protagonist gets their entire family wiped out without paying any price. It's so satisfying!

He fantasized that he was the protagonist in a novel, and that he would eliminate all the leaders in the education bureau he disliked.

Whoever provokes me, I'll destroy them.

When Dong Xuexi returned home, he still had to face reality. All the money in the house was with Huang Feng'e. He took out his phone and called Huang Feng'e.

Huang Feng'e answered the phone and asked, "You've been transferred to Laoyan Town?"

Dong Xuexi nodded.

"Old Salt Town is 30 kilometers away from Huangchang Town, which is much closer than going to the county seat. As long as you keep your job, that's fine." Huang Feng'e was afraid that Dong Xuexi would go to extremes, so she repeatedly reassured him.

Dong Xuexi stammered, "I went to visit Guan Ping and asked for 20,000 yuan in compensation. I need to take it to the hospital for him tomorrow. How much money do you have left in your account?"

Upon hearing this, Huang Feng'e became anxious and was about to get angry, but she held back. She had saved up tens of thousands of yuan through frugality, but Dong Xuexi wanted to compensate her with 20,000 yuan in a moment of impulsiveness.

Take a deep breath and don't get angry. You must not get angry at this time. It's just 20,000 yuan. As long as Dong Xuexi keeps his job, he can earn it back in a few months.

She couldn't help but complain a bit: "You should consider the consequences of your actions in the future. It's not easy for me to save money; I've saved it up from the smallest of my budget."

I have tens of thousands left in my account; I'll transfer them to yours later.

Dong Xuexi hummed in agreement. After a long silence, Huang Feng'e said, "Don't overthink it. As long as you're alive, there's hope. You're still a civil servant."

Dong Xuexi felt very sorry for Huang Feng'e. After chatting for a few minutes, they hung up the phone. Dong Xuexi lay in bed and couldn't sleep.

He thought about many things until dawn before he finally fell asleep.

I woke up around 10 a.m. feeling dizzy. I took out my phone and saw that Huang Feng'e had transferred 20,000 yuan to his card.

Dong Xuexi washed up, went to the bank to withdraw cash, and delivered it to Guan Ping.

When he placed the money on Guan Ping's hospital bed, Guan Ping's wife picked it up, counted it carefully twice to make sure there was no problem, and put it into her bag.

Dong Xuexi said, "Section Chief Guan, please take the money and give me a receipt."

Guan Ping's wife said impatiently, "We've already taken this little bit of money from you, are you afraid we won't honor our debt?"

Guan Ping said in a low voice, "Give him a receipt."

Guan Ping's wife walked out of the ward with a look of disdain, went to find paper and pen, wrote a receipt, and returned a little while later, handing it to Dong Xuexi.

Dong Xuexi glanced at the receipt and saw that Guan Ping's signature was missing: "Section Chief Guan, please sign here."

Guan Ping's wife said coldly, "Isn't my signature enough? Why make such a fuss? I don't have a pen here."

Dong Xuexi took out a pen: "I have one here."

He handed the pen to Guan Ping, who took it with a dark expression and signed the receipt.

Dong Xuexi took out inkpad from his pocket: "Section Chief Guan, please put your fingerprint here."

Guan Ping glanced at Dong Xuexi and pressed his fingerprint on the paper.

Holding the receipt, Dong Xuexi said, "Section Chief Guan, I won't disturb your rest any longer, I'll be leaving now."

Dong Xuexi left the hospital and did not go to work at the Education Bureau. Whether he goes or not is irrelevant now; strictly speaking, he is no longer a member of the Party and Government Office.

I spent two days writing a self-criticism at home, and on Monday at the democratic life meeting, I read it aloud in front of everyone and apologized to Guan Ping.

Guan Ping was discharged from the hospital on Saturday, and the people from the personnel and faculty department all went to visit him at home.

Dong Xuexi locked himself in his house and didn't want to see anyone.

The phone rang. He took it out and saw that it was Lei Liangping calling. Dong Xuexi thought for a moment and then answered the phone.

"Old Lei"

"Where is Lao Dong?"

"At home"

"Come out tonight, I'll take you somewhere."

Dong Xuexi wanted to refuse, but swallowed his words. Lei Liangping was now the principal of Laoyan Town Central School. If he were transferred to Laoyan Town, he would be working under Lei Liangping and would have to maintain a good relationship with him.

"Okay, send me the address."

"I'll pick you up at six o'clock. I know you're in a bad mood. Let's have a couple more drinks tonight."

Don't feel guilty. There's nothing wrong with going to Laoyan Town. It's far from the reach of the emperor; it's our territory.

Dong Xuexi felt a little better. Yes, Lei Liangping was the principal of Laoyan Town Central School. He was now one of his men, which was much better than sitting on the sidelines under Yang Xiaobo's nose in the Party and Government Office.

People thrive when they move, but trees die when they are moved; Dong Xuexi has found his spirit.

"Okay, Principal Lei, see you later."

"If you call me Principal Lei again, I'll get angry. What's our relationship? Call me Old Lei."

Previously, Dong Xuexi did not work under Lei Liangping, so of course he could call him Lao Lei. But now he can't. No matter how good the relationship is, a leader is a leader.

"Principal Lei, you are now my direct supervisor, so I dare not call you Old Lei anymore."

Lei Liangping laughed heartily, wondering how Dong Xuexi had suddenly become so insightful.