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

Chen Shi paid the bill, which came to over 300 yuan. The cost of living in this small county town is not low, similar to Yizhou. When he was in school, he went to eat beef hot pot with Qin Min and it only cost a little over 200 yuan.

Chen Shi drove to the mall and had just parked his car when his phone rang. He picked it up and saw that it was Qin Jiang calling.

"Qin Suo"

"Director Chen, is this a convenient time to talk?"

"That's convenient, Chief Qin, please speak."

"My sister's child took the high school entrance exam this year and scored 560. They had previously tried to get her into Mingzhou No. 2 Middle School, but the school was full and she couldn't get in."

The admissions process is over now, and they've come to me because they can't get her into the top high school. "Director Chen, do you see if it's convenient for you to help her get in?"

Qin Jiang helped secure jobs for his brother and sister-in-law. Even if they had scored 460, let alone 560, he would have made sure they got into the top high school.

"Director Qin, send me the child's information. I'll make arrangements tomorrow."

"Thank you, Director Chen."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Shi looked at Jiang Yiqiu in the passenger seat: "Yiqiu, are you in charge of the admissions work for No. 1 High School this year?"

Jiang Yiqiu hummed in agreement.

Chen Shi added, "The person who made the call earlier was Qin Jiang. He used to be the director of the power management office in Fushan Town, and we had a good relationship. Now he has been transferred to the power management office in Heyuan Town as the director."

His sister's child scored 560 on the high school entrance exam this year. Could you arrange for her to be admitted to the top high school?

The admissions process is over, and only now do they think of No. 1 Middle School. They must want to get into a better school, and if they can't get in, they're settling for second best.

Accepting students now is a bit of a dilemma, but Jiang Yiqiu still said, "I'll make the arrangements tomorrow morning."

Qin Jiang sent a text message, which Chen Shi forwarded to Jiang Yiqiu: "The child's information has been sent to your phone."

Jiang Yiqiu hummed in agreement. This year's lowest score at No. 1 High School was something she never dreamed of: 392.

This was arranged by Yang Xiong, and she had no choice but to comply. She had heard that the girl's family owned a coal mine and had several villas in Yizhou.

The two got out of the car and went shopping. After an hour, Jiang Yiqiu bought a dress and watched a midnight movie.

When Chen Shi arrived at the office the next day, he was listless. He had been up all night and his energy had been completely depleted.

I went back and took a nap around noon before I recovered.

I had just arrived at the office when my phone rang. I picked it up and saw that it was Qin Jiang calling.

"Qin Suo"

"Director Chen, are you free tonight? Let's grab a couple of drinks."

"Are you in the county town?"

"We're still on our way, we'll be there soon."

"Okay, see you tonight."

After hanging up the phone, Qin Jiang sent over the address: Lao Huang's farmhouse.

After get off work, Yang Bin took a day off, and Yang Xiaobo arranged for a driver to take Chen Shi to Lao Huang's farmhouse.

Qin Jiang was waiting at the door. When he saw Chen Shi arrive, he quickly stepped forward, shook Chen Shi's hand, and said with a big smile, "Director Chen."

"Commander Qin, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

"I just arrived too."

When Old Huang saw Chen Shi arrive, he quickly came over to greet him: "Director Chen."

Chen Shi looked at Lao Huang: "Lao Huang, is there fish soup tonight?"

"Director Chen, there's plenty of fish soup."

Old Huang arranged a private room for Chen Shi and Qin Jiang.

The two chatted casually, eating and talking as they ate. After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Qin Jiang put down his glass and said, "Director Chen, thank you for your help. Otherwise, my sister's child would have to repeat a year of high school."

"You're too kind, Mr. Qin," Chen Shi said with a smile. Qin Jiang must have other things to do, and wouldn't come all the way to the county town to treat him to a meal over such a small matter.

Qin Jiang lit a cigarette and took a puff.

"Director Chen, I heard you went to the Finance Bureau and asked for 100 million yuan to build three key high schools?"

Chen Shi nodded: "The hole is still huge; it won't solve the problem."

"Yes, Chunyang's finances are barely enough to cover basic expenses; they can't afford to build three high schools at the same time."

Qin Jiang changed the subject: "Director Hong Xiaojia of the Finance Bureau, Director Chen, are you familiar with him?"

Chen Shi didn't know what Qin Jiang was up to: "We're acquaintances."

Qin Jiang lowered his voice and said, "The power supply bureau is short of a deputy director. This is a rare opportunity, and I'd like to try my luck."

I've heard that Director Zhang of the Municipal Power Supply Bureau and Director Hong of the Finance Bureau have a very good relationship. Director Chen, could you help me get Director Hong connected with Director Zhang? If Director Zhang agrees, the deputy director position is practically guaranteed.

Chen Shi asked, "Chief Qin, what is Director Liu Changchun's attitude?"

"Director Liu's attitude is ambiguous. There are two other directors competing with him, and Director Liu has a good relationship with both of them."

Qin Jiang couldn't put all his eggs in one basket with Liu Changchun, so he took a roundabout approach and went through the upper echelons.

Having learned that Zhang Heng, the director of the Municipal Power Supply Bureau, and Hong Xiaojia, the director of the Finance Bureau, had a good relationship and often played mahjong together, Chen Shi realized that he must have a good relationship with Hong Xiaojia to be able to get 100 million yuan from the Finance Bureau to build three key high schools. So he immediately came to Chen Shi to find a solution.

Chen Shi thought to himself that if Qin Jiang could become the deputy director, it would be helpful to him. Moreover, Qin Jiang had previously helped his brother and sister-in-law arrange jobs.

"Director Qin, I can speak with Director Hong. Wait for my news. Ask him tomorrow if he's free and we can meet up for a couple of drinks."

Qin Jiang was overjoyed. He hadn't held out much hope, but he wanted to give it a try, as a last resort.

Chen Shi said that since he could talk to Hong Xiaojia, their relationship must be good.

The two chatted for a few minutes before ending the drinking session.

The next day at work, Chen Shi called Hong Xiaojia.

The call was answered quickly: "Director Chen."

"Director Hong, do you have plans for tonight? It's been a long time since we had a drink together."

"Are you in Minnesota?"

"Come to Mingzhou this afternoon."

"If you come to Minnesota, even if you have other commitments, you must have a couple of drinks with me."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Shi called Qin Jiang.

Qin Jiang was at home when he saw Chen Shi calling, and he quickly answered the phone.

Director Chen

"Director Qin, I've made an appointment with Director Hong. He's free tonight, so we'll go up to Mingzhou this afternoon."

Qin Jiang quickly replied, "Okay."

In the afternoon, Qin Jiang took Chen Shi's private car to Mingzhou. At the Water Cube, he booked a private room and waited for Hong Xiaojia at the entrance.

Hong Xiaojia's car pulled into the parking lot and stopped. Chen Shi quickly got in, opened the car door, and greeted him with a broad smile: "Director Hong."

Hong Xiaojia got out of the car and shook hands with Chen Shi: "Director Chen."

Qin Jiang stood to the side, and Chen Shi looked at Qin Jiang: "Director Hong, this is Qin Jiang, the director of the Chunyang County Power Supply Station."

Qin Jiang quickly stepped forward and grasped Hong Xiaojia's hand: "Director Hong, hello, I'm Qin Jiang."

Hong Xiaojia smiled and nodded. The three of them walked into the Water Cube and entered the private room. Hong Xiaojia sat in the main seat, and Qin Jiang called the waiter to serve the dishes. He quickly opened the wine bottle and poured wine for Hong Xiaojia and Chen Shi.

The dishes were served quickly, and Hong Xiaojia and Chen Shi started chatting. Qin Jiang couldn't get a word in edgewise, so he just listened from the side.

Seeing that Hong Xiaojia had put down her chopsticks, he quickly picked up his wine glass and said, "Director Hong, I'd like to toast you."

Hong Xiaojia raised her glass and clinked it against Qin Jiang's; Qin Jiang then drank it all in one gulp.

Hong Xiaojia glanced at Qin Jiang and then drank the wine in her glass.