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

Dong Xuexi stood at the entrance of his residential compound and waited. He came down at 5:30 and waited for more than 20 minutes.

The phone rang, and when I took it out, I saw that it was Lei Liangping calling. I quickly answered the phone.

Principal Lei

"Old Dong, you can come out now. I'll be at your apartment complex entrance in two or three minutes."

"I'm already waiting at the entrance of the residential area."

"Okay, I'll be there in a minute."

Two or three minutes after hanging up the phone, Lei Liangping's car stopped in front of Dong Xuexi.

Lei Liangping rolled down the car window and stuck his head out: "Old Dong, get in the car."

Dong Xuexi opened the car door and got in.

Lei Liangping drove the car out of the city and stopped at a farmhouse inn in the suburbs.

Dong Xuexi quickly got out of the car and opened the door for Lei Liangping. Lei Liangping got out with a smile and said, "Old Dong, the air is fresh in the suburbs. Come out for a walk to relax. Director Wang will be here later too."

Lei Liangping walked into the farmhouse inn, and Dong Xuexi said, "Aren't we waiting for Director Wang outside?"

"No need to wait"

Lei Liangping booked a private room, ordered a few dishes, and handed the menu to Dong Xuexi: "Old Dong, you order a few dishes too."

Dong Xuexi took the menu, ordered two or three items, and handed them to the waiter.

The waiter went out, and a short while later, he returned with two bottles of fine wine and placed them on the table.

After waiting for more than twenty minutes, Wang Zhikai entered the private room, and Dong Xuexi and Lei Liangping stood up.

Lei Liangping smiled broadly: "Director Wang is here."

Dong Xuexi pulled out the chair in the main seat, and Wang Zhikai sat down: "This afternoon, I accompanied County Chief Gao and Secretary Zhang to play cards. I was originally going to have dinner with the two leaders, but Old Dong was punished by the bureau, so I had to come and have a couple of drinks with him."

Dong Xuexi was flattered and quickly said, "Director Wang, I'm fine. It's just a minor punishment, I don't take it to heart."

He picked up the wine bottle and poured wine for Wang Zhikai and Lei Liangping.

The food was served quickly, and the three ate and chatted. Lei Liangping raised his glass and said, "Director Wang, I'd like to propose a toast to you."

Wang Zhikai smiled and said, "Old Dong is the main character tonight, let's toast him first."

Lei Liangping smiled and said, "Old Dong, I salute you."

Dong Xuexi quickly raised his glass: "Principal Lei, I'd like to toast you."

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

Just as Dong Xuexi put down his wine glass, Wang Zhikai picked up the bottle and poured wine into his glass. Dong Xuexi quickly said, "Director Wang, I can do it myself."

"Old Dong, don't be so polite with me. I fully support what you've done. It's just that Chen Shi is in charge of the bureau right now, so I have to say something against my conscience."

I stood up to support the punishment of you because I had no choice. I needed to appease Chen Shi first. Most people in the bureau are now on Chen Shi's side. If I stood up to oppose the punishment of you, not only would it not solve the problem, but I would also get myself involved.

I couldn't stay in the bureau anymore. Chen Shi got rid of me, and after that, no one spoke up for me.

Go to Laoyan Town for a while. Lao Lei works at the Laoyan Town Central School and will take care of you. It's better than staying in the Party and Government Office.

When the right opportunity arises, we'll get rid of Chen Shi. County Chief Gao and Secretary Zhang have stated that once Chen Shi is transferred, I'll be promoted to head of the Education Bureau. At that point, the Education Bureau will be our domain.

"Both of you come to the bureau. I recommend Lao Lei for deputy director, and Lao Dong, you'll be the director of the Party and Government Office."

Wang Zhi raised his glass: "Old Dong, I'd like to toast you. After this drink, we'll be brothers in arms, sharing life and death. In private, just call me Old Wang."

Dong Xuexi quickly picked up his wine glass, his hand trembling slightly, and said excitedly, "Director Wang, you are my leader, and always will be. You treat me like a brother. If you need anything, just give me a word, and I'll never hesitate."

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

Lei Liangping chimed in, "Old Dong, don't worry, when you go to the Central School in Laoyan Town, that's our territory. You'll feel much more at ease there than in the Party and Government Office. You can do whatever you want."

Dong Xuexi poured himself a full glass: "Principal Lei, I'd like to toast you. Please take good care of me when we get to Laoyan Town."

Lei Liangping smiled and said, "We're brothers, no need to be so polite."

The two clinked glasses, finished their drinks, and then turned their glasses upside down, without spilling a single drop.

Dong Xuexi took the wine bottle and filled Lei Liangping and Wang Zhikai's glasses, and also filled his own.

He raised his glass and said, "Director Wang, I toast you. A scholar will die for one who understands him. I have lived half my life and have never met my mentor. You are my mentor. From today onwards, I will follow you to the death."

Wang Zhi raised his glass: "Old Dong, you are a rare talent. Your knowledge and skills are unmatched in the bureau. When I become the head of the Education Bureau, I will definitely give you an important position."

You just lack an opportunity to shine. They say gold always shines, but a tattered rag can completely block out your light, preventing you from ever getting ahead.

Dong Xuexi said with a grateful look, "Thank you for your appreciation, Director Wang."

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

The three of them ate for more than three hours before parting ways. Lei Liangping took Dong Xuexi back, and as soon as they entered the county town, they found a drunk driving checkpoint ahead.

Lei Liangping tried to turn around, but it was too late; there were cars in front and behind him. Both Lei Liangping and Dong Xuexi had drunk quite a bit.

Lei Liangping looked at Dong Xuexi and said, "Old Dong, you've already been disciplined by the bureau and transferred to Laoyan Town anyway. So it doesn't matter if you get another drunk driving penalty."

If I get caught driving under the influence, Chen Shizheng will be looking for an excuse to punish me. I'm afraid I'll lose my position as the principal of Laoyan Town Central School. Even if you come to Laoyan Town, I won't be able to take care of you.

Dong Xuexi, now burdened with debt, didn't care: "Principal Lei, let's switch places. I'll drive for you."

The two quickly switched places. When it was their turn, Dong Xuexi's face was flushed. The traffic policeman asked, "Have you been drinking?"

Dong Xuexi hummed in agreement: "I had a little."

The traffic police officer held the breathalyzer in front of Dong Xuexi: "Blow!"

Dong Xuexi blew on the breathalyzer, and the reading immediately spiked to 75. A reading above 80 indicates drunk driving, which is a criminal offense.

The traffic policeman shouted, "Blow it again!"

Dong Xuexi blew on it again, and the alcohol meter reading spiked to 73.

The traffic policeman shouted, "Pull the car over to the side, get out, you're driving under the influence, accept the punishment."

Dong Xuexi was driving under the influence for the first time, in a non-commercial vehicle. His driver's license was suspended for six months, he was fined 1500 yuan, and 12 points were deducted from his license.

Dong Xuexi only had 1,000 yuan on him. Lei Liangping took out 1500 yuan, handed it to Dong Xuexi, and gave him a look that told him not to say anything.

The traffic police officer issued a ticket and looked at Lei Liangping: "You've been drinking too."

Lei Liangping nodded, and the traffic police officer said again, "Don't drink and drive. You two have both been drinking. Call your family to drive you home."

Lei Liangping called his wife to come and drive, and Dong Xuexi hailed a taxi back.

When Dong Xuexi returned home, he reviewed what Wang Zhikai had said that evening. The promises Wang made to him were all talk and no action; he really thought he was a young man. You can't believe even half of what Wang Zhikai said.

I have no choice but to cling to Wang Zhikai's coattails. Within the system, you can't get by without a powerful backer.

Since things are already like this, can things get any worse?

Others' low points in life last two or three years, but my low point lasted for more than ten years, and now there's no room for it to go any lower.

Things always turn around when they reach their extremes; how could it possibly happen to me? I hit rock bottom and bounced back.

Dong Xuexi refused to believe that he would be unlucky for the rest of his life.