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

Jiang Yiqiu smiled and said, "He's been very busy lately; I haven't seen him for days."

Seeing that Jiang Yiqiu was unwilling to help him arrange a meeting with Chen Shi, Yang Xiong said, "Director Jiang, I would like to invite you and Director Chen to dinner tonight. Why don't you give Director Chen a call and see if he's available?"

Jiang Yiqiu couldn't refuse: "I'll ask later."

"Don't wait any longer, start now."

Jiang Yiqiu had no choice but to take out his phone and call Chen Shi.

Chen Shi was in his office when his phone rang. He picked it up and saw that it was Jiang Yiqiu calling. He answered the phone.

Yi Qiu

Are you free tonight? Principal Yang would like to invite you to dinner.

Yang Xiong invited me to dinner, not for any other reason than Wang Zhikai's affair. I am Wang Zhikai's man, and I only managed to distance myself from him in the last six months. Now that Wang Zhikai has been taken away by the Discipline Inspection Commission for investigation, he will definitely implicate me.

"I have something to do tonight, let's talk again when I'm free."

Seeing that Chen Shi had hung up the phone, Jiang Yiqiu looked at Yang Xiong and said, "Principal, he has something to do tonight and can't have dinner with you."

Yang Xiong knew he was doomed, and said coldly, "Go on with your work."

Jiang Yiqiu quickly left the office.

Chen Shi's phone rang again. He picked it up and saw it was Xu Mo calling. He quickly answered, "Secretary Xu."

"Director Chen, County Chief Zhang wants you to come to his office now."

"Okay, I'm coming over now."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Shi rushed to the government office.

Upon arriving at Zhang Xiangdong's office, Chen Shi greeted him with a broad smile: "County Magistrate Zhang..."

Zhang Xiangdong was looking at the documents when he looked up at Chen Shi and said, "Sit."

Zhang Xiangdong put down the documents in his hand, sat down in the reception room, and asked, "A deputy director of the Education Bureau is under investigation?"

"Zhang County, I was just about to report this to you. Wang Zhikai has been taken away by the Discipline Inspection Commission for investigation. This is a case involving a whole group of people, including three cadres from the Education Bureau. I'm not sure how many more will be involved later."

Zhang Xiangdong looked at Chen Shi: "When a deputy director falls from power, it's like pulling up a clod of cloth and bringing out the mud; many cadres will be implicated."

Last year, Chunyang County's officialdom experienced two major upheavals. We can't afford another one this year. That's enough, understand?

Chen Shi was puzzled. What did that mean? Was Zhang Xiangdong trying to plead for someone?

Zhang Xiangdong continued, "You've been in the Education Bureau for half a year, and it's not easy to create panic and alienate people. I'm not speaking up for them, but the officialdom of Chunyang County cannot afford a third major upheaval."

Many of our officials cannot withstand investigation. Secretary Liu has not yet inquired about this matter; you should go and report to him.

If the Education Bureau uncovers a corruption case, how will the city leaders view Secretary Liu? It will give them the impression that Secretary Liu only knows how to engage in power struggles and doesn't know how to unite cadres and develop Chunyang County well.

You must remember one thing: the higher-ups value stability above all else; Chunyang County can't afford any more turmoil.

Chen Shi fell into deep thought, realizing that he was still immature, only seeing one side of the story and failing to see the other.

Wang Zhikai's being taken away for investigation by the Discipline Inspection Commission was tacitly approved by Liu Youguang, because he didn't understand the rules and made underhanded moves behind the scenes at a crucial moment, almost ruining a major incident.

Liu Youguang could not improve the economy of Chunyang County in a short period of time, so he could only shift his focus to education.

He could achieve political success through education, and that would give him a chance to be promoted to deputy director-general. He would absolutely not tolerate anyone who caused trouble in this area.

Last year's major political upheaval in Chunyang County was orchestrated by myself. If it happens again this year, and it's still related to me, what will the leaders think?

Chen Shi dared not think any further; if things went wrong, his political life might end there.

Life needs a guide, and Zhang Xiangdong was Chen Shi's guide, pulling him back in time when he went astray.

"Zhang County, I'll go report to Secretary Liu later. The Education Bureau's case only involves Wang Zhikai and Lei Liangping; the others were all framed."

Zhang Xiangdong nodded: "Go and report to Secretary Liu, and let him see your mature political skills."

"Thank you for your guidance, Magistrate Zhang," Chen Shi said, standing up and leaving the office.

After leaving the government office, I called Liu Feng.

"Secretary Liu, is Secretary Liu available? I have something important to report to him."

"Director Chen, please come over here first. Secretary Liu and Secretary Ma from the Discipline Inspection Commission have been talking for half an hour and are almost done."

"Okay, I'm coming over now."

When Chen Shi arrived at the county party committee office, Liu Feng greeted him: "Director Chen, please sit down in my office. Secretary Ma hasn't come out yet."

Chen Shi went to Liu Feng's office and waited for more than ten minutes before Ma Chunlan came out of Liu Youguang's office.

Chen Shi walked out of Liu Feng's office with a smile: "Secretary Ma."

"Director Chen, come and report to Secretary Liu."

"yes"

"There's no one in Secretary Liu's office right now. Hurry up, we're having a standing committee meeting soon."

"Thank you, Secretary Ma."

Chen Shi entered Liu Youguang's office: "Secretary Liu."

Liu Youguang looked at Chen Shi: "When did you arrive?"

"I just arrived and would like to report to you on the work of the Education Bureau."

Liu Youguang glanced at the time: "Get to the point in your work report; you only have ten minutes."

Chen Shi had already figured out how to report on his work, so he first talked about the progress of rebuilding the three key high schools, which was of particular concern to Liu Youguang.

Liu Youguang said, "The construction of these three key high schools is Chunyang's biggest project this year. You need to keep up with the pace and make sure they can open by September next year."

"Based on the progress of the project, there shouldn't be any problems."

Chen Shi looked at Liu Youguang: "Secretary Liu, I don't think it's necessary to investigate the Education Bureau case in depth. Wang Zhikai has been in the Education Bureau for many years, and he has many followers. If we investigate in depth, it will be another case of corruption. Last year, Chunyang County experienced two political earthquakes. We can't have a third one this year."

Liu Youguang gave Chen Shi an approving look. Earlier, when he spoke with Ma Chunlan, he had told him not to investigate further and to just deal with Lei Liangping and Wang Zhikai.

He is currently the top official in Chunyang County. If another corruption case occurs, the higher-ups will feel that he cannot control the officialdom in Chunyang and will consider replacing him.

"Chen Shi, it's good that you have this awareness. What Wang Zhikai and Lei Liangping did cannot be tolerated and must be severely punished."

As for the others, we will not investigate them for now. Chunyang County cannot afford to be embroiled in any trouble. We will see how they behave in the future.

"Principal Yang Xiong of No. 1 Middle School, you need to give him a good talking-to. Where did a principal get a million yuan? He must have bribed Wang Zhikai."

Chen Shi quickly said, "Secretary Liu, I will talk to Yang Xiong and make sure he explains where the money came from."

Liu Youguang said in a deep voice, "The Education Bureau's focus now is to secure the education special fund support project from the Education Department. I've asked Secretary Ma to suppress this matter. If the Education Department finds out that a deputy director can embezzle millions, they won't invest the education special fund support project in Chunyang County."

Chen Shi realized that he had been too hasty in dealing with Wang Zhikai. He had originally planned to wait until the education special fund support project was finalized before taking action, but Yang Xiaobo had acted prematurely, almost ruining everything.

Liu Youguang said sternly, "When doing things, you must consider the big picture and not just focus on petty gains."

Liu Youguang was reminding Chen Shi to think twice before acting in the future.

"Secretary Liu, this is because the people below don't know the rules. I will deal with it seriously when I go down."

"Alright, the people below meant well, but they lack a sense of the big picture. A few words of reprimand are enough. They shouldn't act on their own again."