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

Chen Shi and Jiang Yiqiu stayed overnight in the municipal party committee compound. The next morning, Chen Shi got up to prepare to leave.

Li Nan said, "Let's go back after lunch."

"Aunt, I still have some things to take care of, so I need to go back early. I won't have lunch."

Chen Shi, not seeing Wang Mingzhang, asked, "Aunt, where's Uncle?"

" Went to Yizhou again."

Chen Shi guessed that he must have gone to give gifts to high-ranking provincial leaders.

After breakfast, Chen Shi and Jiang Yiqiu left the municipal party committee compound and returned to Chunyang.

Upon arriving in Chunyang, around 10 a.m., Chen Shi and Jiang Yiqiu began to deliver gifts separately. Chen Shi first gave a gift to Liu Youguang, and just like last year, a long line of people were giving gifts to Liu Youguang.

With Liu Feng's help, Chen Shi cut in line and chatted with Liu Youguang for ten minutes before leaving.

Then, gifts were presented to Zhang Xiangdong. A long line of people also lined up to present gifts to Zhang Xiangdong. When Xu Mo saw Chen Shi arrive, he smiled broadly and arranged for him to cut in line. This is the advantage of having your own people around the leader; at least you don't have to wait in line to see the leader.

Zhang Xiangdong liked playing chess, and Chen Shi played chess with him for a while before leaving.

Giving gifts is a tough job, especially when it comes to giving gifts to superiors. You might wait all day and still not get to see them.

When it's time, the boss doesn't want to see any guests, so the secretary tells you to put your things down and you can leave.

Maintaining a good relationship with the secretary who works closely with your boss is crucial. At critical moments, you can at least get to see your boss and become a familiar face to them.

Chen Shi delivered a gift to Guan Hui, the God of Wealth. After returning home, his phone rang. It was Xu Ping'an calling.

"Safety"

"Director Chen, I heard you're back. I came over to sit for a while."

"welcome"

A short while later, Xu Pingan arrived at Chen Shi's house carrying two boxes of gifts, and Chen Shi stood up to greet him.

"Ping An, please sit down. You even gave me a gift."

"This gift isn't just for nothing; I need your help with something."

Chen Shi jokingly said, "Tell me what you need first, and see if I can help. If I can, I'll accept the gift; if I can't, you can take the gift away."

Xu Ping'an didn't stand on ceremony. He took a cup to pour water, but found there was no hot water. He stood next to the water dispenser and waited for the water to boil.

"Director Chen, where did you go? I haven't seen you at all during the Spring Festival."

"I went to Thailand for a few days and just got back."

Xu Pingan poured himself a cup of hot water, and Chen Shi called out, "Pour me a cup too."

Xu Pingan took a cup, poured a glass, placed it in front of Chen Shi, and sat down on the sofa.

"I'm getting married."

Chen Shi was somewhat surprised: "So desperate?"

"If I meet the right person, it's time to get married. I'm not young anymore, I'm thirty this year, a year older than you."

"At thirty, one should be established; by that age, it's time to settle down and start a family. Those of us pursuing a career in government should get married early. If we're to be promoted to a leadership position, given the same qualifications, those who are already married will definitely be given priority."

Chen Shi, who had no plans to get married yet, asked, "Is your girlfriend the daughter of Fu Changshan, the executive deputy director of the Municipal Party Committee's Organization Department?"

Xu Ping'an nodded: "I'm getting married on February 21st, please be my best man."

Chen Shi, still shaken from his previous experience as Zhou Hua's best man, asked, "Your girlfriend isn't from an ethnic minority, is she?"

"No, Han Chinese."

"Okay, as long as you're not from a minority group, I'll be your best man at your wedding."

After chatting for a while, Xu Pingan left.

Throughout the afternoon, Chen Shi's house was filled with people bringing gifts. Zhang Hu and Xu Mengmeng hadn't left yet when Wang Tao, Li Li, and Wang Haiyang arrived. After a brief chat, Li Hong came in carrying gifts.

After Zhang Hu and the others left, Chen Shi chatted with Li Hong for a few words, then Yang Xiong came in, followed by Wang Jianming.

The principals of No. 2 Middle School, No. 3 Middle School, No. 4 Middle School, and all the principals of the central schools rushed to present gifts upon learning of Chen Shi's return.

Members of the Education Bureau's secondary leadership team all came to give gifts; Chen Shi's room was filled with them, the entire bedroom overflowing.

Chen Shi had been entertaining guests all day and was very tired, so he locked the door and sat down to rest.

The phone rang; it was Qin Jiang calling.

Chen Shi was looking for Qin Jiang to help him secure a job.

"Qin Suo"

"Director Chen, are you home? I'd like to come over and sit for a while."

"Yes, come here."

Chen Shi checked the time; it was past six o'clock, the weather was overcast, and it was almost dark.

Qin Jiang arrived at Chen Shi's house carrying four boxes of valuable gifts. Chen Shi immediately greeted him, "Sit down."

Chen Shi poured Qin Jiang a cup of tea.

Qin Jiang beamed with joy: "Director Chen, thank you so much. Last time you helped me introduce Director Hong and get in touch with our Director Zhang. My position as deputy director is now secure. The appointment documents will be issued tomorrow when I start work."

Chen Shi smiled broadly: "Congratulations, Director Qin."

"I've waited too long for this position, I thought I'd never get it in my lifetime. Director Chen, if there's anything you need in the future, just let me know."

Chen Shi smiled and said, "Director Qin, there is indeed something I need to trouble you with. It's nothing major. I have a childhood friend in the countryside named Li Fugui. He didn't finish elementary school, but he's honest, kind, strong, and hardworking."

"See if the power company still needs to hire a temporary worker and assign him some manual labor."

Qin Jiang thought to himself, "How could Director Chen's childhood friend be assigned to do hard labor?"

"Director Chen, no problem. In a couple of days, I'll arrange maintenance work for him. It's very easy. If he finds anything that needs maintenance, he'll report it to the power company, and they'll arrange for maintenance personnel to come and fix it."

"Thank you, Director Qin."

"Director Chen, you're too kind. Our relationship is closer than that of blood brothers."

Qin Jiang checked the time: "Director Chen, let's go, let's have a couple of drinks tonight."

"Okay," Chen Shi readily agreed.

The two went to a family's house in the courtyard, ordered some food and drinks, and ate and chatted for more than an hour before parting ways.

When Chen Shi returned home, he saw the house full of gifts and was troubled. How to deal with all of these things was a problem.

They were all good things. Chen Shi picked out some of the more valuable items to keep, and the rest he would have Yang Bin drive a truck to take back to his parents tomorrow so they could enjoy them at their leisure.

He took out his phone and dialed Chen Yanshi's number.

"Xiao Shi"

"Dad, tell Fugui tomorrow that he's got a job; he'll be a temporary worker at the power company."

"Okay, I'll tell him tomorrow."

"There's one more thing. Tomorrow I'll have the driver bring the gifts back. Don't make a fuss about it. Keep the things safe and enjoy them slowly."

Chen Yanshi quickly replied, "There's too much. We can't finish it all. It was delivered before the New Year, and there's still a lot left."

"Keep it at home and eat it slowly."

Chen Xing's family was having dinner at his parents' house tonight. Seeing that Chen Yanshi had hung up the phone, Wang Xiufen quickly asked, "Dad, is Xiaoshi going to send gifts back again?"

Chen Yanshi didn't want Wang Xiufen to know, but when he saw that she had heard it, he hummed in agreement.

Wang Xiufen said with a joyful expression, "Dad, we have too many gifts at home. You can keep some, and I'll help you exchange the rest for money."

You wouldn't believe it, there are gift-buying people in town. I even got the boss's phone number. They buy back gifts at half the market price. The gifts Xiaoshi brings back are all good stuff, not cheap at all. A single box of gifts is worth at least several hundred yuan.

Chen Yanshi became interested. There were also people who recycled gifts. He couldn't finish them all at home, so instead of giving them away, he decided to exchange them for money.

"Xiao Shi instructed me not to make a fuss, to take it for recycling, and absolutely not to mention Xiao Shi's name."

Chen Xing chimed in, "Dad, you're just making things worse. The gift recycling boss knows everything about everyone. He wouldn't dare to do this business if he didn't have the ability."

Wang Guihua asked with a worried look, "Will this have any impact on Xiaoshi?"

Wang Xiufen quickly replied, "No, that leader doesn't accept gifts during holidays. If he has too many gifts, they'll just go bad at home. He'll take them out and sell them to recycling dealers for money."

Wang Xiufen was secretly delighted when she saw Chen Yanshi's tacit agreement. Chen Yanshi had no idea how much these gifts cost. She would give him a few thousand yuan, and the rest would be hers.