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

It's that time of year again for the National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao). The Education Bureau's focus is on maintaining the stability of the Gaokao. Deputy Director Wang Zhikai is in charge of all matters related to the Gaokao. In his heart, he curses Chen Shi's ancestors for eighteen generations. Good things never come his way. These trivial matters that don't bring political achievements have basically been his responsibility since Chen Shi took office.

Doing your job well is your duty, but if something goes wrong, it will be a big deal, and you might lose your deputy section chief position.

Fortunately, everything went smoothly, and the two-day college entrance examination ended without any major incidents. Wang Zhikai was relieved and could finally get a good night's sleep.

Chen Shi had been paying close attention to matters related to the college entrance examination recently. After the exam ended, he breathed a sigh of relief and sat in his office, drinking tea and reading the newspaper.

The phone rang, and Chen Shi picked it up to see that it was Shen Xiaorong calling.

Shen Xiaorong had nothing to do and wouldn't call Chen Shi, so Chen Shi quickly answered the phone.

"Shen Xiaorong"

"elder brother"

"What's up?"

Shen Xiaorong was silent for three seconds: "Do you remember what day it is tomorrow?"

Chen Shi was completely confused and asked, "What day is tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow is June 11th, what day do you think it is?"

Chen Shi still couldn't remember what day June 11th was. Then he suddenly remembered that June 11th was Shen Xiaorong's birthday.

Chen Shi was too busy and forgot that he had promised Shen Xiaorong that he would go to her house to celebrate her birthday.

Chen Shi smiled and said, "It's your birthday, I was just teasing you."

"Forget it if you want, don't tease me. If I hadn't called you, you definitely wouldn't have remembered it tomorrow."

Chen Shi smiled and said, "How could that be? You remember your birthday more clearly than mine."

Shen Xiaorong said, "Come early tomorrow night, I'll cook for you."

"You can cook?"

"I could cook when I was five years old. I cooked not only for myself, but also for my grandma and my dad. If I didn't know how to cook, I would have starved to death long ago."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Shi fell into deep thought: what gift should he give Shen Xiaorong?

He didn't know what the little girl liked, but he could give Shen Xiaorong study tools, which would be more practical.

Chen Shi thought for a long time and decided that he should give her a computer. A top student like her needs a computer.

Chen Shi picked up the landline and called Yang Xiaobo's office.

Seeing that it was a landline in Chen Shi's office, Yang Xiaobo quickly answered the phone with a smile: "Director Chen."

"Old Yang, come to my office for a moment."

Yang Xiaobo put down the landline and hurried to Chen Shi's office.

Director Chen

"Old Yang, go buy me a laptop, around five or six thousand yuan, for a young lady."

Yang Xiaobo smiled and said, "Director Chen, the Education Bureau recently purchased a batch of laptops, and bought a few extra as spares. I've brought one over for you."

Chen Shi said with a serious face, "This was purchased by the Education Bureau for senior-level teachers. What's the point of calculating it for me? Go buy one outside. I'll pay for it myself. It's not reimbursable."

Yang Xiaobo's smile faded, and he said solemnly, "Director Chen, when we were making the purchase, the bureau leaders also arranged for us to do it together. Your laptop hasn't been picked up yet."

Chen Shi ignored the procurement matters and asked, "Have the other three deputy directors received their supplies?"

Yang Xiaobo said, "Director Wang and Director Li have already received theirs, only you and Director Huang haven't received yours yet."

Chen Shi nodded: "Okay, bring one to me."

Yang Xiaobo turned and walked out of the office. Every time he made a purchase, he would buy more than he needed. The leaders in the bureau liked to take advantage of him. If he didn't buy more, the leaders would ask him for more. Would he give it to them or not?

If you don't offend the leaders, you're probably not going to stay in the Education Bureau.

If we give it to them, the people who need it will complain if they don't get it.

Every time he makes a purchase, Yang Xiaobo buys more than he needs. This time, the purchase of laptops was no exception. Wang Zhikai and Li Zhe, being seasoned veterans, asked for them directly. Chen Shi and Huang Ming, being young and just arriving, didn't ask, so Yang Xiaobo didn't bring it up either.

Chen Shi said he wanted to buy a laptop today, it seems like he's buying it as a gift, so his chance to shine has come.

If the leader says he'll pay for it himself, and you actually let him pay, you might as well quit your job as director of the Party and Government Office.

Yang Xiaobo brought the brand-new laptop to Chen Shi's office: "Director Chen, the laptop is here for you."

Chen Shi looked at the document issued by the Municipal Education Bureau without even looking up: "Okay, thank you for your hard work, go ahead and get busy."

After Yang Xiaobo left, Chen Shi finished reading the documents and checked the laptop. The configuration was pretty good, enough for Shen Xiaorong to use.

At 5 p.m. on June 11, Chen Shi left work early and asked Yang Bin to drive to Xiaoqinggou Village.

When Yang Bin arrived at Xiaoqinggou Village, he didn't know where Shen Xiaorong's house was. Chen Shi had been there a few times and gave Yang Bin directions.

When they arrived at Shen Xiaorong's house, Shen Xiaorong ran out of the house. Yang Bin got out of the car, opened the door, and Chen Shi got out with a laptop.

Shen Xiaorong stepped forward and took Chen Shi's hand: "Brother, you've arrived earlier than I expected."

"It's your birthday, so I had to come early." Chen Shi looked at Yang Bin and said, "Go back and rest first. I'll call you in advance when I'm leaving."

Yang Bin grunted in agreement, got into his car, and drove away.

Shen Xiaorong pulled Chen Shi into the main room. Chen Shi glanced around and saw that the three dilapidated old tile-roofed houses were clean and tidy.

The roof tiles were also replaced with glazed tiles. Chen Shi asked, "Did you have these glazed tiles replaced?"

Shen Xiaorong rolled her eyes at Chen Shi: "Look at the question you're asking. I live alone. If I didn't ask someone to change it, who else could it be?"

Chen Shi put his laptop on the table and sat down in a chair.

"Given your situation, I would have thought it was a local village official who replaced it for you."

Shen Xiaorong said, "These village officials are all people who eat people's food but do no human work. They didn't even ask about my situation unless you went to them."

Chen Shi looked at Shen Xiaorong: "Why don't you go find them?"

"Why would I bother with them? I have my own money and I don't want to see their ugly faces."

Chen Shi became interested. These three old tile-roofed houses would cost at least ten thousand yuan to replace with glazed tiles.

"Where did you get so much money?"

"I have scholarships and subsidies for students in need at school. The No. 1 High School also gives me 3,000 yuan a month. I can also earn some money by doing part-time jobs outside."

Chen Shi joked, "I didn't realize you were such a wealthy woman."

"I wouldn't call myself a 'little rich woman,' but I feel like my life is much better than before. When my dad was alive, he would gamble away any money he had and never cared about anything at home."

I was at home with my grandma. When it rained, it was pouring outside and drizzling inside, which was incredibly miserable.

Chen Shi could empathize: "You really had it tough before."

Shen Xiaorong stood up: "After the dark clouds, the sun shines through. What would you like to eat? I'll make it for you."

"Make a few of your best dishes."

"Okay," Shen Xiaorong said, glancing at the laptop on the table. "This laptop, is it a birthday present for me?"

Chen Shi stood up and handed the laptop to Shen Xiaorong: "I think you need a laptop."

Shen Xiaorong accepted the laptop without hesitation, saying, "Thank you."

He turned around and started a fire to prepare a meal.