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

Liu Feng felt that Chen Shi was right. Following Liu Youguang would put him on a pedestal, and since he was still young, his career would probably end once Liu Youguang retired.

"Thank you for your guidance, Director Chen. I've decided to stay in the county."

Chen Shi looked at Liu Feng: "Staying in the county also has risks. If the county party secretary is Zhang, you've won the gamble. Even if he doesn't give you important positions, at least he won't suppress you. But if the county party secretary is transferred from another place, and you were the secretary of the previous county party secretary, they'll send you away and won't let you stay in the county party committee office."

After pondering for a while, Liu Feng looked at Chen Shi and said, "Director Chen, I've decided to stay in the county party committee office. Once you become the county magistrate, I'll become your secretary."

Chen Shi smiled and said, "If I become the county magistrate, I will at least make you the director of the government office."

The two chatted for a while before parting ways. Chen Shi then asked Yang Bin to take Liu Feng home first.

The next day at work, Chen Shi asked Yang Bin to take him to Mingzhou and bring some local specialties to deliver to Li Nan.

Upon arriving in Mingzhou, just before lunchtime, Chen Shi called Li Nan.

"Xiao Shi"

"Auntie, I just arrived in Mingzhou. Are you home?"

"Yes, come and eat."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Shi asked Yang Bin to go to the municipal party committee compound.

Chen Shi, carrying local specialties, rang the doorbell. The nanny, Xiao Chen, opened the door and, seeing the local specialties in Chen Shi's hands, quickly reached out to take them.

"Director Chen, please come inside."

Chen Shi greeted Xiao Chen with a smile and entered the living room. Li Nan stood up to greet Chen Shi when she saw him.

"Xiao Shi is here, have a seat."

"Aunt, please sit down." Chen Shi sat down opposite Li Nan.

Li Nan looked at Chen Shi: "About the election for executive deputy county head, I told your uncle when he came back. He's been quite busy lately with the city's leadership reshuffle elections, and he's been going to the province frequently."

He told you to settle your personal matters as soon as possible. As a deputy director-level leader, the Organization Department will consider your personal matters. If you are not married, the Organization Department generally will not consider you.

I've met your girlfriend a few times; she's quite nice. If you want to advance your career, you should get married sooner rather than later.

Chen Shi nodded: "Aunt, I also plan to get married after the New Year. I've been dating Yi Qiu for more than three years, and all the leaders and cadres in Chunyang County know about it."

Getting married suddenly at such a crucial time as running for executive deputy county head will be used against you by others, who will say that you got married only to run for executive deputy county head, and that there is an element of opportunism involved.

Chen Shi was different. He and Jiang Yiqiu had been dating for more than three years, which everyone knew. It was not surprising that they got married; they were of marriageable age and it was a natural progression.

"That's good," Li Nan said with a smile. "Your uncle went to Yizhou, but Zhang Kai didn't go. I'll call him later and have him take you to meet Zhou Yun, the head of the Organization Department."

"Aunt, no need to trouble yourself, I'll call Director Zhang."

"You might not hit him with real intent, but I'll hit him with real intent and make arrangements for you."

Li Nan took out her phone and called Zhang Kai.

The call was answered quickly: "Principal Li."

"Zhang Kai, Chen Shi is having lunch here. He'll come to see you this afternoon. Take him to the Organization Department of the Municipal Party Committee to report to Minister Zhou Yun."

Zhang Kai was in a dilemma. What kind of work was he, the director of the education bureau, reporting to the head of the organization department? He couldn't find a suitable reason at all.

Seeing Li Nan's instructions, he could only bite the bullet and say, "Principal Li, have Director Chen come to my office this afternoon."

Li Nan hung up the phone: "It's all arranged. Report to Zhou Yun, the Minister of the Organization Department, and make a good impression on him. The first step is to examine the cadres, which is the work of the Organization Department. Only after the Organization Department's examination will the candidates be submitted to the Standing Committee for a vote."

Chen Shi thought to himself, Li Nan doesn't understand politics. Why would a county education bureau director report his work to the organization department? He racked his brains but couldn't come up with anything. It was too abrupt and illogical.

Li Nan was kindly helping him, so Chen Shi naturally couldn't voice his objections; he would wait until he met Zhang Kai to discuss it further.

After lunch, I chatted with Li Nan. At 2 PM, Chen Shi went to the municipal government to find Zhang Kai.

Upon arriving at Zhang Kai's office, Chen Shi found the door open and Zhang Kai organizing documents. Chen Shi gently knocked on the door.

Zhang Kai looked up and saw that it was Chen Shi. He quickly called out, "Director Chen, please come in."

"Director Zhang, I'm sorry to bother you."

Zhang Kai put down the documents in his hand and poured tea for Chen Shi: "Sit down."

The two sat down, and Zhang Kai said, "Director Chen, I can't think of a suitable reason to report to Minister Zhou. Have you thought about the content of this report?"

Chen Shi quickly said, "Director Zhang, it's inappropriate for me to report to Minister Zhou. It's too abrupt. Could you find a way to invite Minister Zhou to dinner and take me with you?"

Seeing that Chen Shi wasn't completely confused, Zhang Kai told him the truth.

"Director Chen, I'm just a deputy director of the government office, I'm not qualified to invite Minister Zhou to dinner. I've been thinking about it, haven't you met Secretary-General Huang a few times? Secretary-General Huang and Minister Zhou have a very good relationship in private, so it would be better if Secretary-General Huang invited Minister Zhou to dinner on his behalf."

Chen Shi nodded; this was indeed a good idea.

Zhang Kai continued, "I can help you report to Secretary-General Huang. The rest is up to you."

Chen Shi felt a chill run down his spine. He had met Huang Ao a few times, but they weren't very familiar. He wanted to ask Huang Ao to help him arrange a meeting with Zhou Yun, but he was unsure of how to bring it up.

If we can't think of a better solution, we'll take it one step at a time and wait and see.

Zhang Kai left the office, found a secluded spot, and called Huang Ao's secretary. The call was quickly answered.

Director Zhang

"Secretary Wang, excuse me, but I need your help with something."

"What is it?"

"My boss's nephew, Chen Shi, is the director of the Chunyang County Education Bureau. Principal Li called me earlier and asked me to arrange for him to report to Secretary-General Huang."

Chen Shi has met Secretary-General Huang a few times; if you mention it to him, he should remember.

"What kind of work does a mere bureau chief have to report to Secretary-General Huang? Those who report to Secretary-General Huang are at least at the deputy division chief level or above."

"Secretary Wang, please make the arrangements. I have no choice but to do as Principal Li asked. Consider it a meal I owe you. When are you free? Let's have a couple of drinks."

"Alright, I'll report this to Secretary-General Huang and see what he says."

Thank you.

Zhang Kai and Huang Ao's secretary, Wang Xian, had a good personal relationship and helped each other. He and Zhou Yun's secretary, however, were not on good terms, mainly because there was no suitable reason for Chen Shi to report on his work.

Even if Huang Ao didn't care about Chen Shi, he would at least give Wang Mingzhang face and meet with Chen Shi once.

After hanging up the phone, Wang Xian went to Huang Ao's office and said with a smile, "Secretary-General, Mayor Wang's secretary Zhang Kai called earlier and said that Mayor Wang's nephew, Chen Shi, is the director of the Chunyang County Education Bureau and wants to report to you on his work."

When Huang Ao heard Chen Shi's name, it sounded familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before, but he couldn't remember where.

Wang Mingzhang's secretary called, presumably at Wang Mingzhang's behest, to at least meet him; this was to give Wang Mingzhang face.

"Let him come over."