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

After the battle, Jiang Yiqiu kissed Chen Shi on the cheek with satisfaction: "Darling, you were amazing."

Get up, pick up your clothes from the ground, and go take a bath.

Chen Shi lay on the bed, feeling exhausted from all the exertion earlier and unwilling to get up.

The phone rang, and Chen Shi reluctantly picked it up. It was Zhang Xiangdong calling, and he quickly answered.

Zhang County

"You got married, such a big thing, and you didn't even report it to the organization beforehand."

Chen Shi smiled and said, "In County Zhang, it seems that a section-level cadre doesn't need to report to the organization separately when he gets married."

"You're running for deputy county head, which is different. A section-level cadre doesn't need to report to the organization separately when they get married, and there's no rule that a section-level cadre can't report to the organization when they get married. Now you need to make your presence felt, so it's always good to report more, whether there's something to report or not."

After the New Year, when the Organization Department conducts its review, they will have a very good impression of you. They will consider you a good cadre who is organized and disciplined. If they don't promote a cadre like you, who will they promote?

Chen Shi quickly said, "Thank you for your guidance, Magistrate Zhang. I will submit a report right now."

Zhang Xiangdong reminded him: "You need to keep a low profile now. Don't have a big wedding. Just have two or three tables and invite relatives and friends to get together. Don't give your political enemies any opportunity to find fault with you."

"Thank you for the reminder, County Chief Zhang. I will strictly follow the Central Government's Eight-Point Regulation. I'll just have a get-together with a few friends; I won't be holding a wedding."

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Yiqiu came out of the shower and asked, "Do you want to take a shower? There's hot water."

Chen Shi then realized that he was naked while talking to Zhang Xiangdong on the phone, and quickly grabbed some clothes to put on.

"Let's not wash anymore. Let's go back now. I need to go to the Organization Department this afternoon to submit my marriage application."

"We've already got our marriage certificate, is there any point in applying for another one?"

"Just postpone the application by a few days, that will be fine."

"Aren't cadres at the section chief level allowed to get married without applying to the organization?"

"Things are different now. I'm running for deputy county head, so I need to have more contact with the Organization Department and proactively report on my family situation."

At 3 p.m., Chen Shi arrived at the Organization Department and saw Huang Xin coming out of her office in the corridor.

Huang Xin looked at Chen Shi. The news of Chen Shi getting his marriage certificate had already spread throughout the county's government system; everyone knew about it.

Chen Shi walked up to Huang Xin: "Minister Huang..."

Huang Xin stared at Chen Shi with icy eyes: "I heard you got your marriage certificate."

"My family is pressuring me; I'm getting older, it's time for me to get married."

"Are you saying I'm too old?"

"No, I meant I'm getting old and want to get married," Chen Shi said softly. "I want to marry you, but you won't marry me."

"You scumbag, who would want to marry you?"

When Huang Xin heard that Chen Shi had gotten his marriage certificate, she felt down and her chest ached. She didn't like Chen Shi, so why was she heartbroken? It was uncontrollable.

He thought to himself, "If you proposed to me, I might say yes," but quickly dismissed this absurd idea.

I am a staunch non-marriage advocate and will never get married in my life.

Chen Shi smiled and asked, "Minister Huang, what are you thinking about?"

"None of your business," Huang Xin said, quickly walking away from Chen Shi.

Looking at Huang Xin's graceful figure, Chen Shi realized she was indeed a great beauty, but too aloof. No matter how aloof she was, he still managed to win her over, instantly giving him a sense of accomplishment.

Chen Shi arrived at Qin Xiaoming's office and gently knocked on the door. Qin Xiaoming greeted him, "Come in."

Chen Shi pushed open the door and entered: "Minister Qin"

Qin Xiaoming stood up to greet him: "Director Chen, please have a seat."

The two sat down in the living room, and Qin Xiaoming poured Chen Shi a cup of tea.

Chen Shi said, "Minister Qin, there's something I'd like to ask for your help with. I got my marriage certificate this morning, but I was too busy beforehand and forgot to report it to the organization. Right after I got the certificate, County Chief Zhang called to remind me to report it to the organization, and then Secretary Liu also called to criticize me, saying that such a big thing as getting married shouldn't be done without reporting it to the organization."

Qin Xiaoming pondered to himself that both of the county's main leaders had called Chen Shi, asking him to apply to the organization for marriage.

Qin Xiaoming, who was in charge of cadres in the Organization Department, noticed something unusual. Chen Shi was a section-level cadre and did not need to report to the organization when he got married. However, Zhang Xiangdong and Liu Youguang both called to remind Chen Shi to report to the organization, which was very abnormal.

Considering the county's main leadership reshuffle election in July, Chen Shi was preparing to run for deputy county head.

Qin Xiaoming went to a meeting at the Municipal Party Committee's Organization Department yesterday and had dinner with Huang Ao in the evening. He learned from Huang Ao that Xiao Chong wanted Zhang Xiangdong to take over as the county party secretary.

Zhang Kaizhi wanted to take over as county party secretary and had been lobbying in the city recently. Deputy Secretary Zhu Ming recommended him to Xiao Chong, but was rejected. As a second choice, Zhang Kaizhi was recommended as a candidate for county magistrate.

Xiao Chong neither objected nor agreed. It is very likely that the two main leaders of Chunyang County, County Party Secretary Zhang Xiangdong and County Mayor Zhang Kaizhi, agreed.

Several candidates for deputy county head have not yet been decided. Deputy County Head Gao Rong is lobbying within the county to become a candidate for county head. Since the county head candidates have no chance, he has his sights set on becoming the executive deputy county head and entering the county party committee standing committee, which is not something an ordinary deputy county head can compare to.

Huang Ao also mentioned Chen Shi, and from the implication in his words, it was clear that he greatly admired Chen Shi.

Huang Ao wielded considerable power in the municipal party committee and was intimately familiar with the main leaders of the counties below. It was Huang Ao who recommended Zhang Xiangdong to Xiao Chong to succeed him as county party secretary.

After some deliberation, Qin Xiaoming concluded that Chen Shi had a high chance of becoming a candidate for deputy county head.

With the support of two bigwigs in the city, Wang Mingzhang and Huang Ao, and with Liu Youguang and Zhang Xiangdong recommending him to the Organization Department in the county, he had all the advantages: favorable timing, location, and popular support.

Qin Xiaoming looked at Chen Shi: "Director Chen, do you want to postpone applying to the organization for your marriage?"

Chen Shi nodded: "Minister Qin, I didn't think this through. I'm sorry to trouble you."

Qin Xiaoming thought for a moment: "Postpone it for two months. You submit the application, and I'll handle it."

Chen Shi said with a grateful expression, "Thank you, Minister Qin."

Qin Xiaoming made a phone call and asked someone in the office to bring the application form.

Chen Shi received the application form, filled in his and Jiang Yiqiu's information on it, and the date was two months ago.

He handed it to Qin Xiaoming with both hands: "Minister Qin, please take a look, is this alright?"

Qin Xiaoming glanced at it: "Okay, leave it here with me, I'll arrange it for you in a couple of days."

"Thank you, Minister Qin," Chen Shi bowed to Qin Xiaoming.

Qin Xiaoming put the application form down: "Director Chen, I went to a meeting at the Municipal Party Committee's Organization Department yesterday and only got back this morning. The county's main leaders will be re-elected in July. I heard that Deputy County Head Gao Rong is campaigning in the city. She wanted to be a candidate for county head before, but seeing that she had no chance, she settled for the position of executive deputy county head."

Chen Shi sat up straight. Gao Rong was a strong competitor in his election for executive deputy county head.

Gao Rong has served as deputy county head for many years. He is experienced and senior, and none of the other deputy county heads can match him.

"Thank you, Minister Qin." Chen Shi bowed to Qin Xiaoming again. "Minister Qin, are you free tonight? I'd like to invite you for a couple of drinks."

Qin Xiaoming smiled and said, "It's the end of the year, and I'm busy with work. I'll treat you after the New Year."