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

Turning a corner after leaving the house, he arrived at a Sichuan restaurant, where he encountered people from the Education Bureau who all greeted him.

The three of them booked a private room, and Chen Ai ordered the dishes, all of which were home-style cooking.

When the food was served, Zhang Gao wanted to have a drink, but Chen Ai said before he could, "We have to drive back later, so we can't drink."

Chen Shi said, "I'll go back tomorrow, come up to the county town, and wander around."

"There's not much to see in the county town. Chunyang is too small. Let's go to Yizhou after the New Year."

Zhang Gao still said, "I'll have a cup of infused liquor with Xiao Shi."

"Don't drink and drive. Don't take chances every time. Don't develop this bad habit."

Chen Shi looked at Zhang Gao: "Brother-in-law, you shouldn't drink and drive. I only drank a little because I was with my boss. I rarely drink when I'm not with my boss."

Drinking too much alcohol is bad for your health.

Seeing that Chen Shi had spoken, Zhang Gao had no choice but to give up drinking.

After finishing their meal, Chen Ai went to pay the bill. Back at the Education Bureau, Chen Shi said, "Sister, you're not busy, why don't you stay here for the night?"

"We still have things to do at the coal mine, so we need to go back. Now we have a car, which is convenient."

Zhang Gao looked at Chen Shi: "Xiao Shi, thank you for your help. Without your help, the coal mine wouldn't be able to operate at all. Brother-in-law may not know how to talk, but look at my performance. If you ever need my help in the future, just let me know."

"Brother-in-law, we're all family, no need to be so polite."

After seeing Chen Ai and Zhang Gao off, Chen Shi asked Yang Bin to pick him up so he could go find Jiang Yiqiu.

After New Year's Day, the Spring Festival was fast approaching. On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, Chen Shi received a phone call from Chen Yanshi in his office.

"dad"

"Xiao Shi, no matter how busy you are, you must come back for the New Year. The New Year pig hasn't been slaughtered yet. Can you come back a day early? We'll slaughter the New Year pig tomorrow morning."

Chen Shi didn't want to go back home for the New Year. He was going on a trip abroad with Jiang Yiqiu. The tickets were already booked. He would tell his parents tomorrow and then leave.

Hearing their father's longing, the parents, who had waited a whole year, felt that if they didn't go home for the New Year, the holiday would be meaningless and they would feel that something was missing.

I'll travel abroad on the second day of the Lunar New Year.

"Dad, I'll be back tomorrow morning."

Chen Yanshi's low spirits immediately lifted, and he said with a big smile, "Come early tomorrow morning. You loved eating pig-killing feast when you were little."

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

"Yiqiu, I've thought about it and I think we should go back and spend the New Year with our parents. We'll spend the first day of the Lunar New Year with them, and then we'll go on a trip abroad on the second day."

If I don't go home for the Lunar New Year, my parents won't have a good holiday.

"The tickets are all booked."

"You can reschedule your ticket to the second day of the Lunar New Year."

"I'll listen to you. When are we going back?"

"Tomorrow morning, my family is slaughtering a pig. We'll go back and have a pig-slaughtering feast."

"Okay, shall I take my car back?"

"Yang Bin and I have been busy for a year. Let him take a few days off to spend time with his wife and children and have a good New Year."

It's more convenient to drive your car back.

After hanging up the phone, Chen Shi suddenly longed to see his parents, especially his mother, Wang Guihua. She was busy with work this year and only went back home once a year during the National Day holiday. He could only see her twice a year.

He's busy with work and rarely makes phone calls; he's a very irresponsible son.

On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, Chen Shi drove back with Jiang Yiqiu early in the morning.

This time, we didn't stop at Jiang Yiqiu's house, but drove straight back to Qinghe Village.

As soon as the car stopped, Chen Jianyong ran over and quickly opened the car door: "Xiao Shi is back!"

Chen Shi got out of the car: "The pig has been slaughtered."

"They've killed them, they're all ready, the ham is cured."

Many people came to slaughter the pig. Chen Jianyong, Chen Jianhua, and two cousins-in-law also came to help Wang Guihua cook.

Tian Xiaojun, Li Fugui, and others greeted Chen Shi.

Chen Shi took out a pack of good cigarettes from the car and gave one to each person.

Wang Guihua came out with a big smile: "My little one is back!"

"Mom, I'm home."

Jiang Yiqiu opened the trunk, and Chen Jianyong and the others went up to help take things out.

Jiang Yiqiu asked Wang Guihua to find him an apron, which he tied on so he could help with the cooking.

When Tian Guangming and other village officials learned that Chen Shi had returned, they all rushed over.

Several tables were set up for the pig-slaughtering feast, and dozens of people were eating.

Today is Chinese New Year. After dinner, it was past 2 PM before people dispersed.

This year, Chen Xing's whole family came to celebrate the Spring Festival with his parents. Chen Xing was the chef, frying crispy pork, making steamed pork with rice flour, and frying tofu. Before 3 p.m., all the dishes were ready.

Jiang Yiqiu helped tidy up when his phone rang. It was his mother, Zhang Qingrong, calling.

"mom"

"Xiao Qiu, it's Chinese New Year today, you need to come home early. The fireworks business is very good this year, and we haven't prepared anything for the New Year yet."

"Mom, what is Jiang Yishan doing?"

"He was hiding in his room playing games this morning, but I dragged him out and made him help me sell fireworks."

"Make a list and have Jiang Yishan buy things for the New Year. I'll be right back. It's New Year's Day, so let's close early. We can't earn all the money in the world. Our family isn't in debt right now, so there's no need to be so busy during the New Year."

"Okay, I'll close the door in a bit."

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Yiqiu went to Chen Shi's side: "My mom called, I need to go back and keep them company."

"Drive slower."

Seeing that Jiang Yiqiu was about to leave, Wang Guihua packed a large bag of crispy pork, a bag of steamed pork with rice flour, and some lean meat for Jiang Yiqiu to take back.

"Auntie, we have all of these at home, you don't need to take them."

"You have it at home, it's yours. This is just a small token of our appreciation, you must take it back to your parents."

Chen Shi said from the side, "Yi Qiu, my mom gave this to you, so just take it. This is for your uncle and aunt."

Jiang Yiqiu then accepted the gift, and Wang Guihua reminded him, "Xiaoqiu, drive carefully on the road."

Wang Xiufen frowned as she watched Jiang Yiqiu's car leave. She said to Chen Xing beside her, "Mom is so generous to outsiders, giving us so much lean meat. Give us some too."

Chen Xing said coldly, "Didn't we get enough? At least twenty-odd catties, plus a ham. What more do you want? Half a pig to take back?"

"Isn't it normal for them to slaughter a pig and give us half?"

"You really dare to think that way," Chen Xing said sullenly as he walked away.

Fu Gui had been waiting for an opportunity to speak to Chen Shi, but there were too many people in front of him, so he didn't get a chance to speak or join in, and just stood there grinning foolishly.

Now that everyone had left, he finally found an opportunity to go up and offer Chen Shi a cigarette: "Xiao Shi, have a smoke."

Chen Shi took the cigarette offered to him, and Fu Gui quickly brought his lighter over and lit it for Chen Shi.

Chen Shi then took a closer look at Fu Gui. He was dressed fashionably now. He used to wear old-fashioned suits at home, but now he had changed into casual clothes.

"Fugui, how was your work trip to the coast last year? Did you adapt well?"

Fu Gui grinned foolishly: "It feels better than being at home. I work in a factory, screwing screws on an assembly line. I work twelve hours a day, two shifts a day, and I can earn more than four thousand a month."

I plan to work for a few more years and build my family's house.

Chen Shi took a drag of his cigarette: "Fugui, don't rush to build a house, find a wife first."

Fu Gui said dejectedly, "I'm not good-looking. When I pursue women, they either dislike me because I'm ugly or because I'm poor."

My appearance is what my parents gave me; I can't change that. All I can do is earn more money.

"It's hard to find someone outside, you can come back and go on blind dates."

Fu Gui sighed, "I've been back for over a month, and when I went on blind dates, they complained that I didn't own a house."

I'm preparing to leave on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year to work on the coast and earn money to build a house.