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

Chen Shi returned to Chunyang County and paced back and forth in his office, searching for candidates to become the principals of No. 7 and No. 8 Middle Schools. Xu Mengmeng brought in a newspaper, and Chen Shi called out, "Director Xu, please sit down."

Xu Mengmeng sat down, and Chen Shi asked, "Do you have any suitable candidates to recommend for the principals of No. 7 Middle School and No. 8 Middle School?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Mengmeng already had someone in mind: He Chunsheng, the former principal of No. 4 Middle School.

He Chunsheng was from the same village as her, and she knew his situation well.

"Director Chen, He Chunsheng, the former principal of No. 4 Middle School, during the time he was the principal, No. 4 Middle School's college entrance examination results were on par with No. 1 Middle School. In recent years, however, they have been declining year by year."

He Chunsheng was a name Chen Shi was hearing for the first time: "Tell me about He Chunsheng."

"He Chunsheng and I are from the same village. His old house is next to mine. We are neighbors. I know some things about him."

In 2006, someone reported He Chunsheng for embezzlement and bribery. The disciplinary committee investigated but found no evidence. He Chunsheng was dismissed from his position as principal. He was only in his forties at the time. He was not given any other position and was relegated to a secondary role. He has been doing nothing at the Fourth Middle School ever since.

He Chunsheng had offended someone, and someone wanted to get rid of him; Chen Shi was well aware of this.

In which year did He Chunsheng become the principal of No. 4 Middle School?

Xu Mengmeng thought for a moment: "From 2001 to 2006, I served as the principal of No. 4 Middle School, which was on par with No. 1 Middle School at that time."

Chen Shi called out, "Director Xu, go to the archives and get He Chunsheng's file, as well as the college entrance examination results from the four high schools in Chunyang County from 2001 to 2006."

Xu Mengmeng went to the archives to get the documents, and soon returned with them, placing them on Chen Shi's desk.

Chen Shi carefully reviewed He Chunsheng's file. This man was extraordinary. He was a vocational school graduate who started as a primary school teacher and worked his way up to become the principal of No. 4 High School. Before he became the principal, No. 4 High School was the worst of the four high schools. After he became the principal, the school's performance improved year by year and it was able to compete with No. 1 High School.

Chen Shi felt it was a pity that such a talented person was buried. He was in his prime, more than forty years old, and it was the time for a man to make his mark. Instead, he was relegated to the second line to retire, wasting seven years of his life.

He Chunsheng is 53 years old this year. Chen Shi is not sure if he still has the same ambitions he had back then.

He looked at Xu Mengmeng beside him and said, "Issue a notice that He Chunsheng should come to my office tomorrow morning. I need to talk to him."

Xu Mengmeng was very happy that Chen Shi was interested in He Chunsheng.

She returned to her office and called He Chunsheng.

He Chunsheng was practicing calligraphy at home when his phone rang. Seeing that it was an unfamiliar number, he answered and asked, "Hello, this is He Chunsheng. Who are you looking for?"

"Uncle He, I'm Mengmeng. You've watched me grow up since I was little. I'm the director of the Party and Government Office of the Education Bureau now."

"I've heard from your parents that you've always been different from other children; you're smarter than other kids."

"Uncle He, I have good news for you. Director Chen is looking for candidates to be the principals of No. 7 Middle School and No. 8 Middle School. He asked me for recommendations, and I recommended you. Director Chen has looked at your file and is very interested in you. He asked me to inform you to come to the Education Bureau tomorrow morning so he can talk to you."

Be prepared; Director Chen intends to give you an important position.

He Chunsheng had long since given up hope and no longer had the ambition he once had: "Mengmeng, thank you, but I'm old and haven't worked for many years. I'm not up to the task and I'm afraid I'll let Director Chen down."

"Uncle He, you're only in your fifties. Look at the big leaders these days, aren't they all in their fifties? Don't be discouraged, you have to prove yourself."

After years of silence, He Chunsheng's heart was rekindled. He asked himself, "Are you really willing to retire in your forties and live a life of leisure at home?"

This was a rare opportunity, one that Xu Mengmeng had fought for. She wanted to prove to those who had framed her back then that she was an unkillable cockroach.

"Mengmeng, thank you. I'll come to the Education Bureau tomorrow morning."

"Uncle He, that's right. You're still young, it's the perfect age for you to get things done."

He Chunsheng's heart was set on fire. He didn't sleep all night. He wanted to go back to the battlefield and prove his strength to the enemy.

He Chunsheng arrived at the Education Bureau early in the morning and waited in Xu Mengmeng's office.

Xu Mengmeng arrived at Chen Shi's office: "Director Chen, He Chunsheng has arrived."

"Let him come over."

He Chunsheng arrived at Chen Shi's office: "Director Chen."

Chen Shi looked up at He Chunsheng, a withered old man whose age he didn't know, and thought he was seventy.

Power can sustain a person; a man without power ages very quickly.

"sit"

He Chunsheng sat down, and Chen Shi poured him a cup of tea: "Principal He, I looked at your file yesterday. You were framed back then. As for the people who framed you, I think some of them are no longer in leadership positions or have been transferred out of Chunyang County."

The political landscape of Chunyang County has already been reshuffled. I want to give you a chance to prove yourself. Do you want it?

He Chunsheng said firmly, "Director Chen, I've been waiting for this opportunity for so long. I thought I'd never get it in my entire life."

You've given me a chance to prove myself, and I won't let you down.

He Chunsheng shared his views on education, and Chen Shi felt that Hu Chunsheng was capable and should be given a chance to prove himself.

"I want you to be the principal of No. 7 Middle School, and you can form the leadership team yourself."

He Chunsheng was overjoyed. The person he hated most was Hou Weigui, the principal of No. 4 Middle School. When he was the principal, Hou Weigui was just an ordinary teacher. He was the one who promoted Hou Weigui to be his deputy and vice principal.

Unexpectedly, Hou Weigui repaid kindness with enmity, colluding with his political enemies to report him.

Ultimately, He Chunsheng stepped down to a secondary position, and Hou Weigui became the principal.

He pretended to think for a moment and said, "Director Chen, I have a request. Hou Weigui, the principal of No. 4 Middle School, used to be my subordinate. We worked together very well. I would like to appoint him as the vice principal of No. 7 Middle School."

Chen Shi replied without hesitation, "No problem. Just make a list of who you need, and I'll support you. I only have one requirement: improve the teaching quality."

He Chunsheng was overjoyed at the prospect of taking revenge on Hou Weigui. He had finally gotten his chance. Fortune changes every thirty years, and it was uncertain who would have the last laugh.

"Director Chen, I assure you, No. 7 Middle School is no worse than No. 1 Middle School."

Seeing the confidence on He Chunsheng's face, Chen Shi was very satisfied: "Very good, this is the challenge I want, daring to accomplish the impossible."

He Chunsheng left Chen Shi's office in high spirits, regaining the domineering air he had when he was the principal.

Upon arriving at Xu Mengmeng's office, Xu Mengmeng quickly asked, "Uncle He, what did Director Chen talk to you about?"

He Chunsheng beamed with joy: "Director Chen has a keen eye for talent, appointing me as the principal of No. 7 Middle School, giving me a chance to prove myself."

Xu Mengmeng was very happy: "That's great, Uncle He. I believe in you. You will achieve results and prove yourself. You are the first leader in our village."

"Director Xu, thank you. Please don't hesitate to ask if you need my help in the future."

Xu Mengmeng smiled, her change was quick; she used to call him Mengmeng, but now she called him Director Xu.