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

Guan Hui got out of the car, and Chen Shi quickly walked over, and the two shook hands.

"Closing down the station, please come in."

"Director Chen, please."

The two entered the private room, where Hu Santai brought over a bottle of fine wine, opened it, and filled it for Chen Shi and Guan Hui.

"I'll have a drink with the two leaders."

Guan Hui was also familiar with Hu Santai, and said with a smile, "Boss Hu, your business is getting bigger and bigger. Half of Chunyang Entertainment Industry belongs to you."

"Director Guan, I don't have that much. I'm just doing small-scale work to make a living. I'll have to rely on the two leaders for help in the future."

He raised his glass to Chen Shi and Guan Hui, and the three of them clinked glasses and drank it all in one gulp.

Hu Santai drank two glasses with Chen Shi and Guan Hui before leaving the private room.

Chen Shi raised his glass: "Director Guan, I'd like to propose a toast to you."

"Director Chen, I salute you."

The two clinked their glasses and drank it all in one gulp.

Chen Shi put down his wine glass, picked it up, and filled Guan Hui's glass to the brim.

"Director Guan, the Donghai Zhencheng Group is asking for half of the project funds for the three high schools upfront, which is 13.23 billion yuan. The Education Bureau doesn't have that much money right now. You have to help us out. You haven't allocated a single penny of this year's 500 million yuan. I'm like a skilled cook without rice to cook. It's really difficult."

"Director Chen, the Education Bureau's 500 million yuan is under strict orders from Secretary Liu and County Chief Zhang. Even if you don't tell me, I'm still trying to find a way to resolve it."

We've raised 2.8 million, which we'll allocate to you first. As for the remaining 2.2 million, I'll try to raise and allocate it to you before June.

Chen Shi quickly said, "Thank you, Director Guan."

Guan Hui complained bitterly: "It's really tough being the director of the Finance Bureau. There's money to be spent everywhere, but very little to bring in. The central government's funding for the 'Village-to-Village Connectivity' project just arrived, and it's already being misappropriated by the government. The deficit is getting bigger and bigger. Without increasing fiscal revenue, it's just a drop in the ocean and can't solve the problem."

As Chen Shi listened to Guan Hui's complaints, he said, "Stop complaining about being poor. Your Finance Bureau offers the best benefits. You can't be poor even if you're poor. We'll transfer you to another place, but you don't want to."

He said, "There's nothing we can do. Chunyang doesn't have much industry to support it. It's a major agricultural county, and its finances are just for feeding the people. This problem is hard to solve at its root."

The two chatted for a while before leaving the courtyard.

Three days later, the Finance Bureau's allocation of 2.8 million yuan arrived in the account. Chen Shi arranged for Huang Ming to pay half of the project payment to Donghai Zhencheng Group.

Wan Xirong called to express his gratitude.

Chen Shi called Yang Xiaobo to his office.

"Old Yang, you also serve as the director of the Party and Government Office. For a while, the work in the Party and Government Office was quite tedious. I'm going to find someone to share the workload of the Party and Government Office and lighten your burden."

Yang Xiaobo waited for Chen Shi to ask him who would be suitable to take over as director of the Party and Government Office.

Chen Shi continued, "I'm planning to transfer Xu Mengmeng, the vice principal of Fushan Town Central School, to take over as the director of the Party and Government Office. What do you think?"

Chen Shi acted unpredictably, catching Yang Xiaobo off guard. He had already accepted Xiao Guang's gifts, and it seemed like a sure thing, but Xu Mengmeng snatched them away.

Despite being unwilling, he still said, "Xu Mengmeng's performance in Fushan Town is excellent. She has done a great job in the pilot program for basic education. Such an outstanding comrade is very suitable to serve as the director of the Party and Government Office."

"Then it's settled. At the Party Committee meeting, you will propose a candidate for Director of the Party and Government Office."

Yang Xiaobo repeatedly agreed.

Back in the office, he called Xiao Guang to come to his office.

Xiao Guang was overjoyed; was there finally hope for him to become the director of the Party and Government Office?

Upon arriving at the office, he greeted everyone with a broad smile, "Director Yang, you wanted to see me?"

"Old Xiao, have a seat."

Xiao Guang sat down, and Yang Xiaobo said, "Old Xiao, Director Chen talked to me earlier. He designated Xu Mengmeng, the vice principal of Fushan Town Central School, to be the director of the Party and Government Office."

Xiao Guang was struck dumb. Wasn't this a sure thing? How did Xu Mengmeng steal it away?

Yang Xiaobo explained: "Xu Mengmeng's husband, Zhang Hu, is the captain of the criminal investigation team. His relationship with Director Chen is quite special. When Director Chen was in Fushan Town, Zhang Hu followed Director Chen."

Director Chen was promoted to the Public Security Bureau, and Zhang Hu followed him into the Criminal Investigation Brigade. In the fight against organized crime, Zhang Hu took the lead and made great contributions.

Their relationship is something you and I can't compare to.

Xu Mengmeng's younger brother, Xu Mo, is the secretary of Zhang County, someone close to the leader, and cannot be offended.

Xiao Guang remained silent. Who was Xu Mengmeng anyway? How could she hold onto the position of Director of the Party and Government Office? I'll take her surname, Xiao.

Yang Xiaobo said with a serious face: "Old Xiao, you didn't listen to a word I said. Diao Kuan is a cautionary tale. He didn't cooperate with Dong Xuexi's work and was transferred to the godforsaken Lehei Elementary School. Don't make the same mistake. You must cooperate with Xu Mengmeng's work and help her gain a foothold in the Party and Government Office."

"You can't be promoted this time, but I'll recommend you to Director Chen when the opportunity arises. You need to be broad-minded and not ruin your bright future because of one loss. If you don't do as I say, I can't help you if anything happens in the future."

Faced with Yang Xiaobo's warning, Xiao Guang, having no connections, could only cling to Yang Xiaobo's coattails. He had already given gifts; promotion was only a matter of time. He just had to wait.

He was extremely dissatisfied with Xu Mengmeng's appointment as the director of the Party and Government Office, but he could only swallow his anger and help Xu Mengmeng gain a foothold in the office.

"Director Yang, rest assured, I know what's important and what's not, and I will cooperate well with Xu Mengmeng's work."

Yang Xiaobo looked at Xiao Guang and gently comforted him, "Old Xiao, don't worry, when the opportunity arises, I'll recommend you first."

Xiao Guang expressed his gratitude repeatedly.

Li Zhe entered Chen Shi's office: "Director Chen..."

"Director Li, please have a seat. I was just looking for you."

After listening to Li Zhe's report on the pilot work of basic education, Chen Shi expressed his approval of Li Zhe's work.

Changing the subject: "Director Li, I'm planning to transfer Xu Mengmeng, the vice principal of Fushan Town Central School, to the Party and Government Office as its director. You need to fill the vacancy as soon as possible so as not to affect the pilot work of basic education."

Li Zhe was overjoyed. Xu Mengmeng was Chen Shi's person, and she was getting in the way in Fushan Town, preventing Ding Xiaochi from carrying out his work freely.

Transferring Xu Mengmeng made me feel sleepy, but Chen Shi handed me a pillow. Even more unexpectedly, the vacant vice principal position required my recommendation, so I definitely had to recommend someone from my own circle.

"Director Chen, I will find a suitable candidate as soon as possible to fill the vacant vice principal position. This will not affect the pilot program for basic education."

Chen Shi looked at Li Zhe: "We'll hold a Party Committee meeting later to finalize this matter."

Li Zhe repeatedly agreed.

The Party Group meeting was just a formality; Xu Mengmeng was promoted to Director of the Party and Government Office, which was unanimously approved, and the appointment and removal announcement was officially issued.

Li Zhe returned to his office and called Ding Xiaochi.

Director Li

"Old Ding, I have good news for you. Xu Mengmeng has been promoted to director of the Party and Government Office. With no one holding her back, you can go all out and carry out the pilot program for basic education."

Ding Xiaochi beamed with joy: "That's wonderful! Xu Mengmeng has absolutely no experience, she just gives orders blindly. She's read a few books and thinks she's Zhuge Liang. With her here, I'm at a complete disadvantage."

Ding Xiaochi had reported to Li Zhe several times that Xu Mengmeng was completely unsuitable to serve as vice principal; it was wishful thinking. He suggested that she be transferred back to the bureau, as she was better suited for administrative work.

Thinking that Li Zhe had given Chen Shi the suggestion, he thanked him repeatedly.

Li Zhe also implicitly acknowledged that it was his suggestion to Chen Shi to transfer Xu Mengmeng away, thus making Chen Shi owe him a favor.