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

As April arrived, the Education Bureau became busier. Chen Shi focused on the major policies and guidelines, leaving the specific details to the three deputy directors.

Chen Shi was not a power-hungry person; he was willing to delegate authority and give his subordinates power in order to motivate them.

Chen Shi was reading a document issued by the Education Department when his phone rang. He picked it up and saw that it was Wan Xirong, the chairman of Donghai Zhencheng Group, calling.

"Chairman Wan"

"Director Chen, hello, excuse me, could you give me two minutes?"

"Chairman Wan, what is it? Please tell me."

"The main structures of the three key high schools have been completed, and the interior decoration and landscaping are now underway."

Our group is currently experiencing some cash flow problems, with too much capital tied up in projects. Director Chen, could you please help us settle a portion of the project payments, perhaps 50% upfront, to help us through this difficult time? We would be extremely grateful.

According to the contract, payment would only be made after the entire construction was completed. Considering the relationship between Wan Xirong and Zhao Ji, he couldn't afford to offend them, so he agreed to help Wan Xirong with this favor, hoping that Wan Xirong would owe him a favor that he might need in the future.

"Chairman Wan, let me think of a way. Give me a few days to raise funds for the project."

Wan Xirong smiled broadly: "Director Chen, thank you very much. I heard that you went to the Provincial Party School for postgraduate studies. When you come to Yizhou, you must come and visit me."

"Chairman Wan, I'll come over when I have time."

After hanging up the phone, half of the project funds, which amounted to over 1.3 billion, were still short over 100 million in the finance department's account, with over 1.1 billion in the account.

We haven't received a single penny of the 500 million yuan in government funding this year. We need to contact Guan Hui as soon as possible to get the 500 million yuan project funds transferred.

Chen Shi picked up his phone and called Guan Hui.

Director Chen

Chen Shi smiled broadly: "Director Guan, are you free tonight? Let's grab a couple of drinks."

"Since Director Chen is treating, we must have a couple of drinks."

"Thank you, Bureau of Commerce"

After hanging up the phone, Chen Shi called Huang Ming to his office.

Huang Ming arrived at Chen Shi's office: "Director Chen."

Chen Shi stood up to greet him: "Director Huang, please sit down."

The two sat down in the reception room, and Chen Shi poured Huang Ming a cup of tea.

"Wan Xirong called me earlier and asked me to help pay half of the project cost, and I agreed."

That evening I made an appointment with the Finance Department to ask them to transfer our 500 million yuan allocation as soon as possible.

We can't drag this out until the second half of the year. Chunyang County's finances are very basic; there are many expenses, and the budget will be stretched thin in the second half.

Huang Ming nodded: "I had the same idea. The 500 million yuan allocation from the treasury can't be delayed. If we wait until the second half of the year, the treasury will run out of money, and Secretary Liu won't be able to conjure it up either, and we'll be in a passive position."

By September, the three key high schools should all be completed according to the current construction progress. Donghai Zhencheng Group has invested so much capital in the construction; they will definitely demand payment according to the contract. If they can't pay, they won't let us take over.

Huang Ming looked at Chen Shi: "Director Chen, I've thought of a plan for September: all the second and third-year students from the three high schools in the township will be relocated to the county seat. The second high school will be connected to the sixth high school, the third high school to the seventh high school, and the fourth high school to the eighth high school."

Chen Shi lit a cigarette and took a puff: "This is too scattered. Let Li Zhe take charge of this. The three high schools in the township don't have many students in the second and third years. Let's concentrate them in No. 6 High School. No. 6 High School is supported one-on-one by Mingzhou No. 1 High School. Let's see if the teachers of No. 1 High School can help students with weak foundations achieve good results."

Huang Ming never opposed Chen Shi's decisions; he always supported them unconditionally. He simply carried out Chen Shi's instructions. The credit was his, and if anything went wrong, it was his fault.

After exchanging a few words, Huang Ming left.

Chen Shi called Li Zhe to his office.

Li Zhe received a call from Chen Shi and rushed over immediately.

Director Chen

"Director Li, please have a seat."

Li Zhe sat down, and Chen Shi said, "Director Li, Director Huang came earlier to report on the construction progress of the three key high schools. It's faster than expected, and they will all be completed by September when the new students start school."

All the students in grades 11 and 12 from the three high schools in the township will be merged into No. 6 High School. You go down and make the arrangements for this.

Buyers for the three high schools in the township should be secured as soon as possible.

Li Zhe looked troubled and said, "Director Chen, I've been working on this, but it's not easy. We used a bidding process before, but no out-of-town companies or bosses were willing to accept it."

The three townships, lacking large enterprises, had the financial strength to buy these three high schools.

Only the local government is willing to take it over.

The Second Middle School negotiated with the Huangchang Town government for 15 million yuan; they wouldn't accept a penny more.

The Third Middle School discussed 190 million and 200 million yuan with the Fushan Town government, but they absolutely refused to agree.

The Fourth Middle School negotiated with the Shangying Town government for 45 million yuan; they wouldn't accept anything more.

Chen Shi slammed his hand heavily on the table, startling Li Zhe.

"The local town government is taking advantage of the fact that we can't find any other buyers, so they deliberately lowered the price. They really think that if we don't sell to them, we have no other choice."

Spread the word: we're going to convert three township high schools into primary schools. As part of a pilot program for basic education, we're concentrating all primary schools in the towns, centralizing operations, and improving teaching standards.

Li Zhe quickly took out his notebook and wrote it down.

Chen Shi solemnly said, "Director Li, the second-tier middle school is worth 20 million, the third-tier middle school is worth 220 million, and the fourth-tier middle school is worth 50 million. This is our bottom line. We cannot sell to the local government for even a penny less."

If you can't handle this well, I think it's an attitude problem. Next time you report on this, I don't want to hear the process, I only want the result.

We need to be firm. We're not begging them to sell; payment must be made in full at once, no installments. We cannot allow them to take over until the payment is received.

Li Zhe broke out in a cold sweat. He wanted to make a little profit from it, and at this price, he could make a small profit, but it would only be enough to cover his hard-earned expenses.

"Don't worry, Director Chen, I will do my best to handle this matter."

Chen Shi watched Li Zhe's departing figure. He realized that it was impossible not to put some pressure on his subordinates; they were all testing his limits.

At 7 p.m., Chen Shi waited for Guan Hui at the entrance of the courtyard.

Upon seeing Chen Shi at the door, Hu Santai hurriedly came out to greet him with a broad smile: "Director Chen, it's been a long time since you've come here for a drink. I've been feeling uneasy, thinking I've offended you somehow."

Ever since Hu Santai brought his cousin Liu Daming's sister-in-law Ye Shanshan to invite Chen Shi to dinner, hoping to secure the project for three high schools, Chen Shi refused.

After that, Chen Shi basically never came again.

Chen Shi smiled and said, "Boss Hu, I'm busy and don't have time to come over. Don't worry about it."

Hu Santai chuckled: "I know Director Chen is a magnanimous person and won't hold a grudge about what happened last time. I'll treat you to dinner tonight, so Director Chen must give me this opportunity."

Hu Santai is a cunning fellow who has connections in both the legitimate and criminal worlds, so he shouldn't be offended. Chen Shi smiled and said, "Then tonight I'll order the most expensive wine."

"Director Chen, please order whatever you like." Hu Santai asked, "Director Chen, who are you waiting for?"

"I have an appointment with Director Guan of the Finance Bureau, and I'll wait for him here."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Guan Hui's car pulled up.