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

After Huang Ming left, Chen Shi called Li Zhe and asked him to come to his office.

Li Zhe entered Chen Shi's office, smiled, and said, "Director Chen."

Chen Shi called out, "Sit down."

Li Zhe sat down, and Chen Shi poured him a cup of tea.

"Director Li, Chunyang County's education cannot focus all its efforts on high schools. Basic education must be strengthened. I would like to conduct a pilot program for basic education in Fushan Town and Laoyan Town, centralize schools, eliminate all substitute teachers, and improve the overall teaching level of the teaching staff."

As Chen Shi spoke, he handed the research report in his hand to Li Zhe.

Li Zhe took the report with both hands, examined it carefully, and praised it highly: "This research report is very comprehensive and well done."

"This research report was prepared by Dong Xuexi based on his on-site investigation."

Li Zhe could hear the appreciation for Dong Xuexi in Chen Shi's tone: "Dong Xuexi is a good comrade with strong execution ability. Such an excellent comrade should be promoted and given important responsibilities. I propose that Dong Xuexi's acting principal position be officially filled and that he be formally appointed as the principal of Laoyan Town Central School, so that he can carry out pilot work on basic education in Laoyan Town."

"I had the same idea," Chen Shi said, satisfied with Li Zhe's performance, noting his quick understanding of the leader's intentions.

Fushan Town is also going to conduct a pilot program for basic education. The central school is short of a vice principal, and this position is very important. Ding Xiaochi is Li Zhe's man, and he wants to recommend his own person for the vice principal position.

He tentatively asked, "Director Chen, Fushan Town is also going to conduct a basic education pilot program. There will be a lot of work to do later on, and Principal Ding will be too busy. Fushan Town Central School is short of a vice principal. Should we send someone to assist Principal Ding in carrying out the work?"

Chen Shi asked, "Director Li, do you know Xu Mengmeng?"

Li Zhe didn't know who Xu Mengmeng was. At this moment, Chen Shi mentioned Xu Mengmeng because he wanted to promote her to the Fushan Town Central School as the vice principal.

He racked his brains, thinking through everyone in the Education Bureau, but couldn't find anyone named Xu Mengmeng.

Chen Shi added, "Xu Mengmeng is the wife of Zhang Hu, the captain of the criminal investigation team, and her younger brother, Xu Mo, is the liaison officer for Zhang County."

Li Zhe was aware of Zhang Hu's relationship with Chen Shi, as well as his connection with Xu Mo. Xu Mengmeng's background was quite strong.

Chen Shi continued, "Xu Mengmeng has been teaching at Fushan Town Central School. She was only transferred to the county seat last year. She is very familiar with the basic education in Fushan Town. She is qualified to be promoted to the position of vice principal at Fushan Town Central School to lead the pilot program for basic education."

Chen Shi looked at Li Zhe and reminded him, "The basic education pilot program is the Education Bureau's core priority for next year. Anyone who doesn't cooperate will be dismissed immediately."

Ding Xiaochi is Li Zhe's man, and Li Zhe knows this. Chen Shi is giving him a heads-up in advance: if Ding Xiaochi doesn't support Xu Mengmeng's work, Chen Shi will immediately replace her.

"Director Chen, Xu Mengmeng is familiar with the rural primary schools in Fushan Town, making her very suitable to work there and carry out pilot projects for basic education."

Chen Shi looked at Li Zhe: "Director Li, Diao Kuan is not cooperating with Dong Xuexi in carrying out the pilot work of basic education in Laoyan Town. I want to retain his title of vice principal and transfer him to Lehei Primary School in Laoyan Town to serve as the principal. The vacant vice principal position will be filled by promoting Gu Laixi, a retired teacher from Laoyan Town, to assist Dong Xuexi in carrying out the pilot work of basic education."

Li Zhe cursed Diao Kuan in his heart, calling him an idiot. Even with Wang Zhikai, his backer, gone, he still dared to make underhanded moves.

You think Old Salt Town is remote enough with no room for further decline? If the leaders want to get rid of you, they have plenty of ways to make you suffer in silence.

"I fully support the decision of the Party Committee meeting to remove such a person from his leadership position, as he lacks a holistic perspective and only cares about personal gains and losses."

Chen Shi solemnly said, "We will hold a Party Committee meeting this afternoon to formally announce the personnel appointments."

Li Zhe returned to his office and called Ding Xiaochi.

Upon seeing Li Zhe's call, Ding Xiaochi quickly stood up: "Director Li."

"Old Ding, Director Chen spoke with me earlier. Fushan Town and Laoyan Town will be selected as pilot areas for basic education next year. Xu Mengmeng will be promoted to the position of vice principal in Fushan Town to oversee the pilot program."

Ding Xiaochi asked, "Director Li, who is this Xu Mengmeng? I've never heard of her in the Education Bureau."

"You must know Xu Mengmeng's husband, Zhang Hu, the captain of the criminal police brigade. Her younger brother is Xu Mo, the liaison officer of Zhang County. She used to teach in Fushan Town and was only transferred to the county seat last year."

Director Chen's promotion of Xu Mengmeng to vice principal to oversee the pilot program for basic education is, in my opinion, a good thing for you.

You are the head of Fushan Town Central School. The achievements in the pilot program for basic education are due to your efforts. When you have political achievements, you can be transferred to work in the bureau.

If things go wrong, Vice Principal Xu Mengmeng will take the blame, and it has nothing to do with you.

The pilot program for basic education is a core priority for the bureau next year, and you need to cooperate well with Xu Mengmeng.

Dong Xuexi was conducting a pilot program for basic education in Laoyan Town, but Diao Kuan refused to cooperate and was reassigned to serve as the principal of Lehei Primary School in Laoyan Town.

Ding Xiaochi knew that Li Zhe was reminding him that if he didn't cooperate with Xu Mengmeng's work, Diao Kuan would be a cautionary tale, and Li Zhe wouldn't be able to protect him then either.

"Director Li, I understand and will fully support Xu Mengmeng's work."

He thought of Zhao Yongquan and said, "Director Li, I did some research. Zhao Yongquan's wife, Wang Yanhong, is Director Chen's ex-girlfriend. They dated for over a year when he was in Fushan Town."

Li Zhe thought to himself, no wonder Chen Shi would ask about this matter.

"Old Ding, Director Chen is a native of Fushan Town, so you need to be more careful in your work. Director Chen is satisfied with the outcome of your report on Teacher Zhao Yongquan's handling of the matter."

After hanging up the phone, Ding Xiaochi called Wang Yanhong to his office.

Wang Yanhong said, "Principal Ding, you wanted to see me."

"Please sit down, Teacher Wang."

Ding Xiaochi poured Wang Yanhong a glass of warm water: "Teacher Wang, during the winter vacation, the Municipal Education Bureau organized training for rural primary school teachers. Our Fushan Town has two spots. I'd like you and Teacher Zhao to go. Go back and discuss it with Teacher Zhao. This training is very important. The Education Bureau will provide free food and lodging, and there will be a subsidy of 200 yuan per day."

After the training, the Municipal Education Bureau will organize you to visit and learn from developed coastal provinces.

After you return from your training, the school will organize training for its teachers.

This was a disguised form of giving benefits; the inspection and study trip was essentially a publicly funded vacation. Wang Yanhong knew that Ding Xiaochi's drastic change in attitude towards her and Zhao Yongquan was because of Chen Shi.

"Thank you, Principal Ding. I'll go back and discuss it with Teacher Zhao."

Ding Xiaochi thought to himself, "With such a good thing, why not agree immediately? What are we discussing? Many teachers give me gifts because they want to go for training. After the training, they will have an advantage when applying for professional titles."

If you weren't Chen Shi's ex-girlfriend, and he still had feelings for you, then it wouldn't be a chance for the two of you to get together.

But with a smile on his face, he said, "Teacher Wang, then you two discuss it and get back to me as soon as possible."