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

The New Year's Eve dinner consisted of twelve dishes. Chen Xing finished cooking, and Chen Yanshi happened to return to light the incense and candles.

Chen Shi lit the fireworks, which exploded in a variety of colors. Xiaomi Le and Xiao Huihui danced with joy in the yard.

After setting off the fireworks, we went home for our New Year's Eve dinner.

Chen Yanshi was very happy. He was getting old, but his children were successful and he was welcomed wherever he went.

The family of seven sat together. Chen Shi brought out the wine, and Chen Xing took the wine from Chen Shi and poured wine for Chen Yanshi and Chen Xing.

The father and his two sons started drinking.

Wang Guihua was also very happy. She hadn't seen her youngest son for so long, and Chen Shi's return for the New Year made her the happiest, though she didn't show it on her face.

After the New Year's Eve dinner, Chen Shi prepared four red envelopes, one for each of his parents, and one for each of Xiaomi Le and Xiao Huihui.

Wang Xiufen tricked the two children into giving her red envelopes. Holding the thick ones, which must have contained several thousand yuan, she felt very happy.

When the villagers learned that Chen Shi had returned, people came to visit one after another, sometimes as many as twenty people.

There are several groups playing mahjong and Dou Dizhu.

When people came to visit, Chen Shi would give each of them a pack of good cigarettes.

Chen Shi played mahjong with the villagers, winning more than he lost. He played until 2 a.m., when he was too tired to continue, so he went to sleep.

Chen Shi went to sleep, and everyone else dispersed.

Chen Shi didn't get up until after 11 o'clock. Wang Guihua had already prepared the meal and was waiting for him. Chen Shi said, "Mom, why didn't you wake me up? You guys prepare the meal and eat first. You don't need to wait for me."

Wang Guihua smiled broadly: "You slept so late last night, let you sleep a little longer. We're not hungry, we'll wait for you to eat together."

Chen Yanshi urged, "Hurry up and wash your face and eat."

Chen Xing's family went back home, and now they are two separate families, one with his parents and the other with his parents.

After washing up, Chen Shi sat down to eat.

Wang Guihua served Chen Shi some food: "Xiao Shi, eat more."

"Mom, you should eat too."

Wang Guihua was very happy to see her son eating.

After dinner, Chen Shi offered to wash the dishes, but Wang Guihua said, "Don't bother washing them. You've only been back for two days, take a good rest."

Mom knows you've had a tough time. Even though you're a leader, leaders have their difficulties. After the New Year, go visit your uncle. Whatever your relationship is, more interaction will bring you closer.

Chen Shi nodded. Others only care how high you fly, but only your parents care how tired you are from flying.

"Mom, I'll wash the dishes. No matter how high a position I hold outside, I'll always be your son when I come home."

Seeing that Chen Shi insisted on washing the dishes, Wang Guihua stopped trying to stop him.

Chen Shi washed the bowls and had just sat down when Fu Gui walked in, with a bruise on his forehead.

With a smile on his face, he said, "Second Uncle, Xiao Shi."

He quickly took out cigarettes and gave them to Chen Yanshi and Chen Shi, then took out a lighter and lit them for them.

Chen Shi took a drag of his cigarette: "What happened to the bruise on your forehead?"

"I fell," Fugui said with a silly grin.

Chen Yanshi said, "It was your brother who hit you, wasn't it? It's the New Year, and he hit you again."

Fu Gui knew that family scandals should not be aired in public, and when Chen Yanshi pointed it out, he acquiesced.

Chen Shi asked, "Why did your brother hit you?"

"When I came back from work, he asked for money to buy things for the New Year. I gave him 1,000 yuan, but he used it to gamble and lost it. Yesterday he asked me for money again. At first I didn't give it to him, but my dad gave him 500 yuan, and he used it to gamble again and lost it."

When he came home that night, he asked me for money. I didn't give it to him, and he started hitting me.

Chen Shi looked at Fu Gui: "Your brother is a gambling addict, stay away from him."

Fu Gui hummed in agreement, as if he wanted to say something, but then hesitated and stopped.

Chen Shi asked, "Just say what you want to say."

"Xiao Shi, with my family's circumstances, it's very difficult to turn my life around by working. You're a leader now, and you know a lot of people outside. I'd like to ask you for a favor."

Chen Shi extinguished his cigarette and threw it on the ground, waiting for Fu Gui to continue.

Fu Gui forced himself to say, "Could you help me find a job in the county town? With a job, it will be easier to find a wife back home."

Chen Yanshi chimed in, "Fugui, you didn't even finish elementary school. How are you going to find a job in the county town? Aren't you making things difficult for Xiaoshi?"

Fu Gui wanted to say that Chen Jianhua hadn't even graduated from primary school; he'd only attended junior high for two days and was still working as a security guard at the tobacco bureau.

He swallowed the words back: "I can endure hardship, I can do manual labor, I can be a security guard, anything."

Chen Yanshi said again, "To be a security guard, everyone wants veterans. You're nothing. With your small frame, you can't be a security guard. You should go work on the coast, earn money, build a house, and then you can find a wife."

"Your old house was built by your grandfather, even older than your father. Forget finding it, even if you brought it back, it would run away."

Fu Gui lowered his head and remained silent.

Chen Shi thought for a moment about what jobs were available in the county town that were lucrative and that could earn money.

After much deliberation, it was clear that two people had already been assigned to the tobacco bureau, so it was difficult to assign more. The only remaining option was the power supply bureau. If Qin Jiang could become the deputy director, then Fu Gui could work as a line maintenance worker without any problem.

It doesn't matter if Qin Jiang doesn't become the deputy director; he can go to Heyuan Town, work at the power supply station, and be a temporary worker.

Seeing that Chen Shi hadn't spoken for a while, Fu Gui raised his head and smiled, "Xiao Shi, don't be troubled. You can earn money working on the coast, it's just that it's far from home."

My second uncle is right. Even if I find a wife, she'll run away from my house. I'll find a wife after I build the house.

Chen Shi took out a cigarette and handed it to Fugui: "Don't go to work on the coast yet. After you start working, I'll think of a way to arrange a temporary job for you in the county town."

Fu Gui was overjoyed. He hadn't had high hopes, but it actually worked out.

Chen Shi is a leader outside, so his words will definitely carry weight.

Overwhelmed with emotion, she stammered, "Xiao Shi, thank you so much! I don't know how to thank you enough."

He looked at Chen Yanshi and said, "Second Uncle, if you need any chores at home in the future, just call me. Don't let my small size fool you, I'm very strong. I can work as a porter in town, carrying cement. I can easily lift a 100-pound bag, and I can carry hundreds of bags at a time."

Chen Shi looked at Fu Gui: "Fu Gui, don't tell anyone about this. Just keep it to yourself. Don't tell your brother or your father either."

If the villagers knew I'd arranged a job for you, they'd come looking for me right away. There are so many people in the village; it's impossible to arrange a job for everyone.

Fu Gui quickly said, "Xiao Shi, don't worry, I won't tell anyone. I know the character of many people in the village. If there's something to gain, they'll try to get in, but if they don't, they'll curse you behind your back."

Fugui was Chen Shi's childhood friend, so he was willing to help him; he wouldn't help anyone else.

Fu Gui sat for a while, then left in high spirits.

Chen Yanshi said, "Fugui has no education, how can you help him find a job?"

"Send him to the power company as a temporary worker."

Wang Guihua said, "Fugui is a kind-hearted child. Before we had running water, whenever I went to fetch water, he would always help me carry it back."

It would be a good thing to help him find a job. Given his family's circumstances and his appearance, it would be difficult for him to find a wife.