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

Wang Zhikai, slightly tipsy after drinking with Gao Rong and Zhang Kaizhi, headed to the next round.

Yang Xiong and Lei Liangping waited in the private room. Yang Xiong used to be very close to Wang Zhikai, but in the past six months, Yang Xiong had been distancing himself from Wang Zhikai.

Wang Zhikai's power within the Education Bureau has diminished, which is evident to all.

After the meeting, Lei Liangping invited Yang Xiong to dinner. Yang Xiong couldn't refuse, so he went with Lei Liangping to a farmhouse in the suburbs to eat wild game.

When they arrived at the farmhouse, they learned that Wang Zhikai was also coming. Neither of them touched their food, waiting for Wang Zhikai.

Yang Xiong glanced at the time; it was almost 9:30. Lei Liangping smiled and said, "Principal Yang, Director Wang told us to eat first. He's having dinner with Secretary Zhang and County Magistrate Gao, and he'll be here a little later."

Yang Xiong dared not touch his chopsticks. Wang Zhikai was, after all, the deputy director, and on the surface, he had to be respected. Now that Wang Zhikai had gotten in touch with Zhang Kaizhi and Gao Rong, if Chen Shi was transferred away and became the head of the Education Bureau, Yang Xiong would be finished.

"Principal Lei, you eat first if you're hungry, I'm not hungry."

"I'm not hungry either. Director Wang should be here soon. Let's wait a little longer."

Yang Xiong cursed Lei Liangping's ancestors for eighteen generations in his heart. If he had known he would have to wait for Wang Zhikai, he would never have come to eat. Now he was starving and had a stomachache.

It was almost ten o'clock when Wang Zhikai finally pushed open the door and came in, reeking of alcohol.

Lei Liangping and Yang Xiong stood up to greet him. Lei Liangping smiled and said, "Director Wang."

Yang Xiong quickly greeted him, "Director Wang."

Wang Zhi glanced at the table; the two hadn't touched their chopsticks yet. He was pleased, but said aloud, "Old Lei, didn't I tell you not to wait for me? You and Old Yang should eat first."

Lei Liangping said with a smile, "We're not hungry. We'll wait for Director Wang to arrive so we can eat together. The food was just reheated by the waiter."

Wang Zhikai called out, "Let's eat! I've been drinking with Secretary Zhang and County Chief Gao, and I'm quite full. It was Old Lei and Old Yang who invited me; I wouldn't have come with anyone else."

Yang Xiong was starving, so he picked up his chopsticks and started eating.

Lei Liangping raised his glass: "Director Wang, let me toast you."

"Old Lei, no rush, let's drink later, I need to calm down."

Lei Liangping was also starving, so he picked up his chopsticks and started eating.

After the two had eaten about half their fill, Lei Liangping raised his glass and said, "Director Wang, I'd like to toast you."

Wang Zhi picked up his wine glass, the two clinked glasses, and drank it all in one gulp.

Yang Xiong also raised his glass: "Director Wang, I'd like to toast you."

Wang Zhikai looked at Yang Xiong: "Old Yang, we haven't had a drink in a long time."

Yang Xiong smiled ingratiatingly and said, "It's been a while."

Wang Zhikai lit a cigarette: "I've forgotten when was the last time we drank together."

Yang Xiong held his wine glass, unsure whether to put it down or drink it. He knew that Wang Zhikai was dissatisfied with him, and he was in a difficult position. He hadn't yet secured Chen Shi's favor, and he couldn't afford to offend Wang Zhikai.

"Director Wang, I'll drink it. Please do as you please."

Yang Xiong drank the wine in his cup in one gulp, while Wang Zhi picked up his cup and symbolically took a small sip.

With Yang Xiong around, many things couldn't be discussed openly. Wang Zhikai was still unsure whether Yang Xiong had defected to Chen Shi.

After chatting for a while, Wang Zhikai checked the time; it was 10:30. "That's enough for tonight, Lao Lei. I've had a bit too much to drink. Take me home."

Old Yang, go home by yourself. You've been drinking, so drive carefully.

Yang Xiong quickly said, "Thank you for your concern, Director Wang. I will be careful."

After seeing Wang Zhikai and Lei Liangping off, Yang Xiong got into his car and wondered to himself if Wang Zhikai still had any chance of making a comeback.

The system can be quite unpredictable at times; until the very end, no one knows who will have the last laugh.

To protect oneself, one must not offend anyone.

Wang Zhi parked his car at the farmhouse and called his wife to come over and drive it back.

Putting down his phone, Lei Liangping asked, "Director Wang, are we going to Xinshuiwan?"

Xinshuiwan was formerly the Dashijie Dance Hall. Later, Li Kunyi took over and renamed it Manyuexuan. After Li Kunyi was arrested, it was auctioned off by the county government and bought by Hu Santai, who renamed it Xinshuiwan.

Wang Zhikai grunted, "Old Lei, what's wrong with you? Yang Xiong saw that I wasn't well-liked by Chen Shi at the Education Bureau, so he's deliberately distancing himself from me. Why did you still invite him to dinner?"

Lei Liangping said, "Director Wang, after the meeting, I deliberately invited Yang Xiong to dinner in front of everyone."

Everyone knows I'm one of your people, and Yang Xiong used to be one too. Chen Shi came to the Education Bureau; he wants to pledge allegiance to Chen Shi, but Chen Shi won't trust him easily.

Wang Zhikai continued, "You want Chen Shi to see that Yang Xiong is still in contact with us and won't easily accept him."

This is completely unnecessary. Chen Shi's girlfriend, Jiang Yiqiu, works as the dean of students under Yang Xiong.

Chen Shi kept a distance from Yang Xiong, allowing Yang Xiong to use Jiang Yiqiu to achieve his own goals.

We don't need to pay any attention to Yang Xiong now. Once I become the head of the Education Bureau, he'll be in for a world of hurt.

Wang Zhikai took out a cigarette from his person, lit it, and took a puff.

"Chen Shi's current focus is on welcoming the expert review team sent by the Education Department. You should go back to Laoyan Town and do nothing."

Liu Youguang summoned Chen Shi to the Education Bureau to make educational adjustments, focusing on building three key high schools in the county seat and closing three high schools in the townships.

Chen Shi's biggest difficulty is the lack of funds in the treasury; he needs the 1 billion yuan special education fund from the Department of Education to support his projects.

If we can't secure this 1 billion yuan education funding project, the three key high schools will be abandoned. If Chen Shi messes things up, Liu Youguang will transfer him, and my opportunity will come. Tonight, Secretary Zhang gave me a definite answer: he'll promote me to head of the Education Bureau.

Lei Liangping was driving when he listened to Wang Zhikai speak.

"Director Wang, as soon as the expert review panel arrives in Laoyan Town, I'll sabotage them and make sure they fail the assessment."

Wang Zhikai said in a deep voice, "You don't need to do anything, just keep everything as usual. I've thought of a brilliant plan to deal with Chen Shi."

Chen Shi is the backbone of the Education Bureau. In just a few days, the expert review panel will be visiting the nine counties that have passed the initial review to conduct assessments. If something happens to Chen Shi during this period, the expert review panel will not give Chunyang County a high score.

Wang Zhikai looked out the window and asked, "How was Dong Xue's trip to Old Salt Town?"

Lei Liangping smiled and said, "He's very comfortable. He can do whatever he wants. I give him plenty of freedom."

"It's time to put Dong Xuexi to good use. Go back and have him file a formal complaint against Chen Shi for accepting bribes from Donghai Zhencheng Group during the project bidding process. Donghai Zhencheng Group won all three bids."

Lei Liangping said with a worried look, "We don't have any evidence to bring down Chen Shi."

"Even if there is evidence, it may not be able to bring down Chen Shi. I just used Dong Xuexi to make Chen Shi accept the investigation of the Discipline Inspection Commission. With the Discipline Inspection Commission involved, what will the expert review panel think? The head of the Education Bureau accepted bribes, and there is corruption in education in Chunyang County. Regardless of whether it is true or not, the Education Department's special education fund support project will not be given to Chunyang County."

Lei Liangping thought to himself, "In this way, Dong Xuexi is completely finished."

"Director Wang, I'll go back and persuade Dong to study."

Wang Zhikai nodded: "Dong Xuexi was driven to a dead end. He had no choice but to go down a dark path."