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

Chen Shi went to teach at the Provincial Party School in the afternoon. Only half of the students from yesterday came today. None of Ding Yi and the other three came, nor did Bai Dajiang or Huang Xin.

The classroom was empty. The professor glanced at the students, said nothing, and began the lesson.

Chen Shi took out his phone and checked General Bai's resume. Seeing how polite Zhao Shouxin was to General Bai last night, he must have something to ask of General Bai.

Based on my intuition, Guo Ying from Xinfulou is probably General Bai's lover.

On the official website, Bai Dajiang's resume was quickly found. He is currently the fourth-ranked vice mayor of Yizhou City and also serves as the secretary of the Party Working Committee of Yizhou Development Zone.

There are many plots of land to be developed in the new development zone. Yizhou Chengxin Group is a real estate company, and it is likely that they are looking to Bai Dajiang to buy the land.

Chen Shi smiled wryly. How could a mere director of the Education Bureau possibly manage matters concerning Yizhou?

After class, Yang Bin waited at the entrance of the Party School. At noon, Chen Shi asked Yang Bin to drive to Yizhou to pick him up, as it was very inconvenient to go out without a car.

Chen Shi got into the car and said to Yang Bin, "Let's go for a walk around Minghu Lake."

Chen Shi originally intended to go back, but then he thought that he should report to Zhao Ji about his work tomorrow and try to improve his relationship with Zhao Ji.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket; you need multiple insurances.

Zhao Ji is 44 years old this year and is the head of the Education Department. His future career path will at least lead him to the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee.

Zhao Ji is the youngest official at the provincial level in Donghai Province.

The next day, Chen Shi got up early and called Ding Yi at 9:30.

Director Chen

"Director Ding, is Director Zhao free this morning? I'd like to come and report to him on my work."

Ding Yi checked Zhao Ji's work schedule: "Director Zhao has a 20-minute break at 11 o'clock. You come over first, and I will report to Director Zhao then."

"Thank you, Director Ding."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Shi asked Yang Bin to drive to the Education Department.

It's good to have your own people around the leader; when you arrive at the Education Department, you can have a cup of hot tea.

Many people wanted to see Zhao Ji, and they all waited in the rest hall.

Ding Yi walked into the office: "Director Chen, I've reported to Director Zhao and need you to come over."

Chen Shi stood up and went to Zhao Ji's office, which was larger than the previous one.

Director Zhao

Zhao Ji looked up and saw it was Chen Shi, then stood up: "Sit."

The two sat down in the reception room, and Chen Shi reported on the start of the new semester at the three key high schools, emphasizing that No. 1 High School had produced a student who was admitted to Tsinghua or Peking University, and that the lowest admission score for No. 6 High School was 650.

The pilot program for basic education is being conducted in Fushan Town and Laoyan Town. The year after next, three more townships will be added to the pilot program. The goal is to gradually achieve centralized schooling for basic education in Chunyang County, eliminate substitute teachers, and improve the overall quality of the teaching staff.

After listening to Chen Shi's report, Zhao Ji was generally satisfied. He solemnly said, "I hope that the 1 billion yuan in special education funding that Chunyang County receives can fundamentally change the current state of education, rather than just doing superficial work and leaving everything as it is after the money is spent."

One thing is commendable about Chunyang County: the construction of three key high schools was successfully completed, and they opened as scheduled this year. The 1 billion yuan in special education funds supporting the project has not been wasted.

As for the pilot program in basic education, this is fundamental and must be taken seriously.

Chen Shi took out his notebook and wrote down Zhao Ji's instructions.

Zhao Ji looked at Chen Shi: "The third batch of funding for the special education fund support project will not be available until after March next year. Don't expect this funding in the short term."

Chen Shiru was struck by lightning. He promised Donghai Zhencheng Group that he would settle the remaining 6.2 million yuan after October. He would have to go find Wan Xirong later to talk about this.

After reporting his work and leaving the Education Department, Yang Bin asked, "Director Chen, are we going back to Chunyang?"

"Let's go back to the hotel and go back tomorrow."

Chen Shi took a nap and called Wan Xirong at three o'clock.

Director Chen

"Chairman Wan, excuse me, are you in Yizhou?"

"Director Chen, are you in Yizhou?"

"I'm here to teach at the Party School. Are you free tonight? I'd like to invite you for a couple of drinks."

Wan Xirong thought for a moment and then asked his secretary to cancel the evening's social engagements: "Director Chen, you're in Yizhou, how can I let you treat us? I must treat you tonight. I'll send you the address later."

"See you tonight, Chairman Wan."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Shi wanted to go out for a walk, but after thinking about it, he realized there was nowhere to go. He had been everywhere; he had studied in Yizhou for four years and visited every tourist attraction.

The phone rang, and Chen Shi picked it up to see that it was Gu Jia calling.

Gu Jia

"Director Chen, are you in Yizhou?"

"I'm not here," Chen Shi quickly denied.

"I know you're in Yizhou. I invited Chairman Wan to dinner tonight, but it was canceled at the last minute. Are you having dinner with Chairman Wan tonight? Can you take me with you? I promise I won't say a word and won't interfere with your conversation."

Chen Shi didn't want Gu Jia around, as it would be difficult to discuss the final payment later.

"I'm having dinner with Chairman Wan tonight, and I don't want to bring you along."

"Director Chen, your direct rejection is too hurtful."

Chen Shi didn't want to get entangled with Gu Jia: "I have something to do, I'll hang up now."

"No, wait until you finish having dinner with Chairman Wan, then I'll come find you. I haven't seen you in so long, I miss you."

"Don't say things like that again. If someone hears it, they might misunderstand."

Before Gu Jia could speak, Chen Shi hung up the phone.

In the evening, Chen Shi went to the hotel designated by Wan Xirong for dinner. This five-star hotel was under the Donghai Zhencheng Group.

Wan Xirong was waiting at the door of the private room. When he saw Chen Shi arrive, he quickly stepped forward, reached out, and firmly grasped Chen Shi's hand, shaking it as if they were old friends who hadn't seen each other for many years. With a smile on his face, he said, "Director Chen, please come in."

"Chairman Wan, please."

The two entered the private room and sat down. Chen Shi saw a short-haired woman, very capable, with a smile on her face, standing next to Wan Xirong.

Wan Xirong introduced, "Director Chen, let me introduce you. This is my secretary."

Chen Shi stood up and extended his hand: "Hello, I am Chen Shi, the director of the Education Bureau of Chunyang County, Mingzhou."

The woman quickly reached out and grasped Chen Shi's hand, smiling, "Hello, Director Chen, my name is Xie Wei, and I'm Chairman Wan's secretary."

Chen Shi let go of her hand and sat down. With such a young and beautiful secretary, could it be that she has something going on with Wan Xirong?

Wan Xirong looked at Xie Wei: "Xiao Xie, go outside and wait for me. I'm going to have a couple more drinks with Director Chen."

"Chairman Wan, the doctor said last time that you should drink less alcohol," Xie Wei reminded him.

Wan Xirong smiled and said, "With you here, everything will be alright."

The waiter brought in the dishes, took a bottle of good wine, opened it, filled the cups for Chen Shi and Wan Xirong, and left the private room.

Chen Shi and Wan Xirong chatted and ate together, getting along very well. Seeing that Wan Xirong was in a good mood, Chen Shi raised his glass and said, "Chairman Wan, I'd like to toast you."

Wan Xirong picked up his wine glass, the two clinked glasses, and drank it all in one gulp.

Chen Shi took the wine bottle, filled Wan Xirong's glass to the brim, put down his glass, and filled his own glass as well.

"Chairman Wan, I need to discuss something with you. I promised you that the remaining 620 million yuan would be settled after October. This morning I went to report to Director Zhao. The third batch of funding for the education special fund support project, 300 million yuan, will be disbursed around March or April next year. I'll try to find a way to pay you 320 million yuan before the end of the year. As soon as the Education Department's funding arrives, I'll arrange to pay you the remaining 300 million yuan."

Wan Xirong said in a deep voice, "Director Chen, this is a difficult situation for me. The group's funds are invested overseas, and domestic funds are stretched thin. We are waiting for this 6.2 million yuan to distribute year-end bonuses."

"The Education Department's funding was supposed to be disbursed after October, but it was delayed. As long as the funds can be disbursed ahead of schedule, it won't delay Chairman Wan from giving the employees their year-end bonuses."