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

At 10:30 a.m. on July 13, Ma Chunlan arrived at Liu Youguang's office with Chen Shi's investigation report.

Liu Youguang stood up to greet him, smiling and saying, "Old Ma, just give me a call if you need anything, you don't need to come all this way in person."

The two sat down in the reception room. Ma Chunlan handed Chen Shi's investigation report to Liu Youguang with both hands: "Secretary Liu, this is Director Chen's investigation report. Please take a look."

Liu Youguang took Chen Shi's investigation report, glanced at it, and was very satisfied with Ma Chunlan's investigation results.

"Old Ma, you've worked hard. The Discipline Inspection Commission is very efficient. They investigated so quickly. Just release the results to the public based on the investigation findings. Don't let it affect the expert review panel of the Education Department's assessment of Chunyang County's education."

"Secretary Liu, the main problem is that Director Chen's social background is simple, making it easy to investigate."

After chatting for a while, Ma Chunlan left and returned to her office, where she called Chen Shi.

Chen Shi was in his office when the landline rang. He picked it up and answered the call.

"Hello."

"Hello, this is Ma Chunlan from the Discipline Inspection Commission. Are you Director Chen?"

Chen Shi quickly stood up, his face beaming with smiles: "Secretary Ma, I am Chen Shi."

"Director Chen, the disciplinary committee has investigated the materials used to report you and found them to be fabricated. Not a single one of them is true. You can rest assured."

"Thank you, Secretary Ma, and thank you to the comrades from the Discipline Inspection Commission for clearing my name. Otherwise, I would never have been able to clear my name even if I jumped into the Yellow River."

Secretary Ma, I would like to invite you to the Education Bureau at 3 PM this afternoon to announce the investigation results to all staff members.

Ma Chunlan understood Chen Shi's meaning: it would be more convincing for her to present the disciplinary committee's investigation results in front of all the staff of the Education Bureau.

"Okay, Director Chen, I'll come over at 3 PM to announce the investigation results."

"Thank you, Secretary Ma."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Shi called Yang Xiaobo to his office: "Old Yang, pass on the word that a meeting of all staff will be held at 3 p.m. in the main conference room. Secretary Ma will announce the results of the Discipline Inspection Commission's investigation."

Yang Xiaobo took out his notebook, wrote it down, and left the office to send out the notice.

At 3 p.m., Chen Shi, along with three deputy directors, greeted Ma Chunlan at the entrance.

Ma Chunlan got out of the car, and Chen Shi walked over, extended his hand, and smiled broadly: "Secretary Ma, thank you for making this trip."

Ma Chunlan grasped Chen Shi's hand: "Director Chen, this is the work of the Discipline Inspection Commission. Thank you for welcoming us outside."

Ma Chunlan shook hands with the three deputy directors one by one. Ma Chunlan, accompanied by two staff members, then joined Chen Shi and the other three in the conference room.

Ma Chunlan held the highest position and sat in the main seat on the dais, with Chen Shi to her left and Huang Ming to her right.

Chen Shi glanced at everyone and solemnly said, "The reason for holding this meeting of all staff members of the Education Bureau today is to address the matter of the materials that were distributed on July 9th, in which someone reported me. I have requested the Discipline Inspection Commission to intervene in the investigation, and today I have invited Secretary Ma to the Education Bureau to announce the results of the investigation."

Ma Chunlan said loudly: "Regarding the materials circulated at the Education Bureau on July 9th, which reported Director Chen Shi, Director Chen Shi called the Discipline Inspection Commission and asked them to intervene in the investigation."

After several days of investigation, I would like to make the following explanation regarding the three points in the materials submitted to report Director Chen Shi.

The first complaint, after investigation, revealed that the KTV room, which cost over 500,000 yuan to renovate, was not a product of Director Chen Shi's hedonistic lifestyle. It was actually an activity center for cadres of the Education Bureau, and the amount was within the prescribed range.

The second complaint concerns Yang Xiaobo, the director of the Party and Government Office, Xiao Guang, the deputy director, and Yang Bin, the driver. All their expense reimbursements were legal and compliant, following normal procedures, and there were no irregularities.

The third report, after investigation by the Discipline Inspection Commission staff, found no financial dealings between Director Chen Shi, his relatives, friends, and Donghai Zhencheng Group.

The materials used to accuse Director Chen Shi are completely fabricated. Director Chen Shi is a good cadre of the Party, a good leader of the Education Bureau, honest and upright, and wholeheartedly serves the people.

Ma Chunlan announced the investigation results, which put the staff of the Education Bureau at ease. In the past two days, all sorts of rumors have been circulating: Chen Shi is going to be placed under investigation, Chen Shi is going to be dismissed, the higher-ups are going to take action against Liu Youguang, and they're going to start with Chen Shi, etc.

Chen Shi addressed all the staff of the Education Bureau. After Chen Shi finished speaking, Huang Ming and the other two also gave speeches, supporting the investigation results of the Discipline Inspection Commission and clearing Chen Shi's name.

After the meeting, Chen Shi saw Ma Chunlan off to her car before returning to his office, picking up his phone, and calling Dong Xuexi.

Dong Xuexi saw that it was Chen Shi calling and quickly answered the call.

"Director Chen, this is Dong Xuexi."

"Dong Xuexi, where are you?"

"I was hiding in a hotel in Minnesota when Lei Liangping and his men found my house and even broke in. Luckily, I had already come out and they caught me."

"What are you afraid of? You haven't broken the law. He broke into your house, why didn't you call the police?"

Dong Xuexi has been living in fear these past few days, always feeling like someone is following him. He doesn't even dare to go out to eat, and instead asks the hotel staff to bring him to his room.

"I didn't think that much about it at the time."

"The disciplinary committee's investigation results are in; I was framed. You can come back now."

Dong Xuexi was overjoyed. He had won the bet this time. With a bet of two yuan, he had won a grand prize of five million yuan. He was quite insightful. Chen Shi had a powerful background and was not someone that Wang Zhikai and Lei Liangping could bring down.

"Director Chen, should I go back to Laoyan Town?"

Chen Shi thought for a moment and realized that Dong Xuexi had joined his cause, so he should give him some benefits.

"You don't need to go back to Laoyan Town. Go back to your home in the county town first. Fushan Town Central School is short of a vice principal. Go to Fushan Town to work."

Dong Xuexi was overjoyed; he was about to become a leader, a day he had waited for for over ten years.

Seeing that Dong Xuexi remained silent, Chen Shi asked, "Are you dissatisfied with this arrangement?"

Dong Xuexi was so excited he couldn't speak, his voice choked with emotion: "Director Chen, I'm so excited I can't say a word. I'm very satisfied with your arrangements, Director Chen. Look at my performance, I will repay you."

"You don't need to repay me. This is the organization's trust in you, and it's also a test for you. Doing your job well is the best way to repay the organization."

Dong Xuexi repeatedly agreed.

On the other side, Wang Zhikai was on the phone with Lei Liangping.

Lei Liangping's voice was loud and impatient: "Director Wang, that son of a bitch Dong Xuexi must have sided with Chen Shi and deliberately scattered the whistleblower materials in the Education Bureau, just like his childhood friend GG."

My carefully planned whistleblowing was ruined. Dong Xuexi was at home for the past two days. I broke in and found a lot of instant noodles. I don't know how he found me; I waited for him all day, but he didn't come back. He must have run off somewhere and is hiding.

Wang Zhikai said irritably, "Old Lei, just give it a rest. Even if you catch Dong Xuexi, what can you do to him? Are you going to kill him?"

Lei Liangping hated Dong Xuexi with a passion that burned like a ton of bricks. If he caught Dong Xuexi, he would beat him half to death to vent his anger. He was always the one who tricked others, but this time he had been outmaneuvered by Dong Xuexi, and he couldn't swallow this insult.