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

After finishing get off work, Chen Shi put the ring in his pocket and asked Yang Bin to drive him to the No. 1 Middle School teachers' apartment.

As Chen Shi parked his car in the teachers' apartment building at No. 1 Middle School, he suddenly felt something was missing. He had proposed, he had the ring, but what was missing?

Flowers, yes, how can a marriage proposal be without flowers?

Chen Shi asked, "Yang Bin, do you know where I can buy flowers?"

Yang Bin was very familiar with the county town. After thinking for a moment, he said, "There is a flower shop about one kilometer away from No. 1 Middle School."

"Let's go buy flowers."

Yang Bin turned the car around and quickly stopped next to the flower shop.

Chen Shi said, "Go buy ninety-nine red roses."

Yang Bin got out of the car and went to the flower shop. The female florist smiled and asked, "Sir, what kind of flowers would you like to buy?"

"Give me ninety-nine red roses."

The female boss smiled and said, "Unfortunately, we only have about thirty red roses left today. Would white roses be alright?"

Yang Bin looked at the prepared red roses on the table and asked, "How many red roses are here?"

"Ninety-nine flowers, pre-ordered by someone else, they'll be coming to pick them up later."

"How about you give it to me first? My girlfriend and I have been dating for ten years, and today is our ten-year anniversary. She likes red roses, and I want to propose to her today."

The female shop owner looked troubled and said, "Someone else has already ordered it. It would be difficult for us to explain if they come to pick it up later. How about we use more than thirty red roses and the rest white roses? They would look quite nice together."

Yang Bin shook his head: "My girlfriend likes red roses. These were ordered by someone else. I'm giving him some compensation. What do you think?"

The female boss was relieved to hear that Yang Bin was willing to offer compensation. She was worried about those stingy people who coveted other people's things but didn't want to offer any compensation.

"How much compensation are you willing to offer, sir?"

"How much are these ninety-nine red roses?"

"220"

"I'll give you an extra 100 as compensation, is that alright?"

The female shop owner smiled and said, "Sir, you and your girlfriend have been dating for ten years and you like red roses. You can take them."

Thank you.

Yang Bin paid, picked up the ninety-nine roses, and got into the car. Chen Shi saw the bright red roses and realized he had nothing to lack this time.

Upon arriving at the No. 1 Middle School teachers' apartment, Chen Shi got out of the car and said, "Yang Bin, you can go back now. You don't need to pick me up tonight."

Yang Bin smiled and nodded, feeling strange in his heart. Chen Shi seemed to have never bought flowers before; the sun must have risen in the west today.

Chen Shi, carrying roses, arrived at Jiang Yiqiu's door and rang the doorbell.

Jiang Yiqiu, wearing an apron, opened the door and saw Chen Shi holding a bouquet of bright red roses. He looked incredulous; Chen Shi would buy flowers for him.

Chen Shi handed the flowers to Jiang Yiqiu: "These are for you."

"What day is it today?" Jiang Yiqiu asked, taking the flowers with a puzzled look on his face.

"Today is not any special occasion, I just wanted to give you flowers."

Jiang Yiqiu's face was full of joy: "We've been dating for more than three years, and this is the first time you've given me flowers."

Chen Shi smiled and said, "If you like it, I'll send it to you often in the future."

"Sending flowers occasionally is fine, but not often. For example, on our anniversary or Valentine's Day, sending flowers is still romantic."

Chen Shi thought for a moment about when they first got together, but after thinking for a long time, he had no recollection of it and gave up on trying to remember.

Jiang Yiqiu put the flowers down: "Wait a moment, there are two more dishes, they'll be ready soon."

In less than ten minutes, Jiang Yiqiu brought out the dishes, four or five in total, and Chen Shi sat down at the table.

"Yi Qiu, let's have some drinks tonight."

Jiang Yiqiu felt that Chen Shi was acting strangely tonight. He had never mentioned wanting to drink before coming to her place.

I opened the wine cabinet, took out a bottle of wine, and then brought out two stemmed glasses from the kitchen.

"Let's have some wine tonight."

Jiang Yiqiu poured two glasses of wine, and Chen Shi smiled and said, "Come, let's drink a toast together."

Jiang Yiqiu raised his wine glass, and the two drank the nuptial wine before starting their meal.

Chen Shi ate a piece of braised pork rib and nodded repeatedly, "Delicious!"

"Eat more, you've lost weight."

"I haven't lost weight, I've gained two pounds. You look much thinner, you should eat more."

"I've finally managed to get my weight under control, and I don't want to gain it back."

Jiang Yiqiu kept piling food onto Chen Shi's plate, filling his bowl to the brim.

Chen Shi ate a bowl of rice and vegetables until he was full, then drank a bowl of chicken soup. He put down his bowl and looked at Jiang Yiqiu: "Yiqiu, I want to get married."

Jiang Yiqiu froze, not recovering for a long time. Thinking he had misheard, he asked, "What did you say?"

Chen Shi raised his voice: "I want to get married."

This time, Jiang Yiqiu heard it clearly and couldn't believe his ears; these words came from Chen Shi's mouth.

Jiang Yiqiu suddenly didn't know what to say and remained silent for a moment.

Chen Shi stared at Jiang Yiqiu's evasive eyes: "Yiqiu, don't you want to get married yet?"

Jiang Yiqiu shook her head uncontrollably. She had thought about marriage countless times. Her mother often called to urge her to get married. She was twenty-eight this year, which was considered old maidhood in the countryside.

She had finally waited for this day, and with tears in her eyes, she said, "I want to get married. I've waited so long for this day; I thought I'd never see it in my entire life."

Chen Shi took a tissue and wiped the tears from Jiang Yiqiu's cheeks: "Don't cry, marriage is a happy occasion, smile."

Jiang Yiqiu smiled through his tears: "Yes, getting married is a joyous occasion. I was just too excited, that's why I cried."

Chen Shi took out a ring and placed it on the table: "Hold out your hand, I'll put it on your finger."

Jiang Yiqiu looked at Chen Shi: "Are you proposing to me?"

Chen Shi nodded repeatedly.

"Is the proposal so hasty? At least kneel down on one knee."

Chen Shi moved the chair aside, knelt on one knee, and looked at Jiang Yiqiu: "Yiqiu, will you marry me?"

Jiang Yiqiu's face lit up with joy: "Not sincere enough."

Chen Shi, holding the ring, said, "If you don't want it, return it."

Jiang Yiqiu snatched the ring from Chen Shi's hand: "Who said I didn't want it?"

She put the ring on the ring finger of her left hand, looked at it again and again, and couldn't put it down.

"I like this ring. You have good taste."

If Jiang Yiqiu knew that the ring wasn't bought by Chen Shi, but by a subordinate, he would be furious.

Chen Shi stood up and sat down, taking a sip of wine: "Yi Qiu, go home tomorrow and bring up your household registration book. We'll get our marriage certificate the day after tomorrow."

Jiang Yiqiu looked surprised: "Why are you in such a hurry? We need to discuss the wedding with my parents. Our family hasn't had a wedding banquet in years. My parents have given away so many gifts. We want to make it more lively and get back all the gifts we've given away."

Chen Shi said in a deep voice, "Yi Qiu, I have something important to tell you: I want to run for deputy county magistrate."

Jiang Yiqiu immediately understood everything: the marriage was for the purpose of running for deputy county head. For cadres at the deputy division level or above, personal issues are part of the evaluation process.

She liked ambitious men and thought Chen Shi was someone who could achieve great things.

"Great! I'll support you in running for deputy county head."

Chen Shi looked at Jiang Yiqiu: "Thank you, Yiqiu, for understanding me. Our wedding should be simple and not extravagant. We must strictly abide by the Central Eight-Point Regulation. You and I are both leaders. Whether we are happy after marriage has nothing to do with how grand the wedding is."

Jiang Yiqiu realized that as the executive vice principal, if he held a grand event, it might be exploited by people with ulterior motives and cause him unexpected trouble.