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

Chen Shi left the Organization Department and returned to the Education Bureau. Before he even entered his office, his phone rang. He took it out and saw that it was Xu Ping'an calling.

He strode into the office, closed the door, and answered the phone.

"Safety"

"Director Chen, you're getting married, such a big event, and you didn't even give me a heads-up so I could be mentally prepared."

"I suddenly decided to get married. I'm thirty this year, it's time to settle down."

"Your marriage to Principal Jiang was somewhat unexpected."

Chen Shi understood Xu Ping'an's meaning. He always felt that when getting married, it was better to find a father-in-law who was a high-ranking official, so that he could be of help in one's career.

Jiang Yiqiu's parents are business people, so they can't help him and will only be a burden to Chen Shi.

"Are you free tonight? Let's grab a couple of drinks."

"Since Director Chen is treating, we must have a couple of drinks."

"See you at the courtyard at seven o'clock."

Xu Ping'an was shocked to learn that Chen Shi and Jiang Yiqiu had obtained their marriage certificate. He hadn't expected Chen Shi to be so strong-willed, valuing people more than family background, which would likely lead to him suffering greatly in the future.

Huang Xin and Xu Ping'an's wife, Fu Lin, are close and often hang out together. Once, Huang Xin got drunk, and Fu Lin took her home. Huang Xin was crying and laughing at the same time, cursing Chen Shi as a bastard and a scumbag who slept with her and then denied everything.

Fu Lin had never seen Huang Xin in such an awkward situation before. Huang Xin was always aloof and thought all men were disgusting. She would stay far away from any man she saw. The fact that she was able to have a relationship with Chen Shi meant that Huang Xin liked Chen Shi.

After hanging up the phone, Chen Shi poured himself a glass of water. As he picked up the glass, his phone rang. He took a sip of water, picked up the phone from the table, and saw that it was Zhang Hu calling.

He answered the phone: "Zhang Hu"

"Director Chen, I heard you got your marriage certificate. That's so sudden."

"It's not sudden, I'm already thirty, it's time to get married."

"When are you going to have your wedding banquet? I'm looking forward to drinking your wedding wine."

"We're not planning to have the wedding. We'll wait until after the Spring Festival and get together with everyone."

Just as he hung up the phone, it rang again. It was Li Nan calling, and Chen Shi quickly answered.

Aunt

"Xiao Shi, you got your marriage certificate?"

"Just got our marriage certificate this morning"

"It's time to get married. You're not getting any younger. What does your wife's family do?"

"They're also from Toyama Township, and they run a quarry there."

Li Nan said "oh," as if she wanted to say something, but then didn't.

"Let me know when you're having the banquet."

"Aunt, we're not going to hold the wedding. We'll wait until after the New Year and invite all our relatives and friends for a get-together."

Li Nan realized that Chen Shi was getting married to run for executive deputy county head, and that a grand wedding would give his political enemies ammunition to report him.

"Setting up two tables within the prescribed area will not have any impact."

Chen Shi chatted with Li Nan for a while before hanging up the phone.

The phone kept ringing; Wang Tao, Wang Haiyang, Liu Feng, Zhao Fanglin, Wang Jianming, Li Hong, and others all called to inquire.

After getting off work, Chen Shi returned home, changed his clothes, and his phone rang. It was a call from Jiang Yiqiu.

Yi Qiu

"Come over for dinner. I made a few dishes. We got our marriage certificate today, let's celebrate together."

Chen Shi then realized that he shouldn't have made the appointment with Xu Ping'an, but since he had already made the appointment, he needed Xu Ping'an's help if he needed anything.

Xu Ping'an's father-in-law is Fu Changshan, the executive deputy director of the Organization Department of the Municipal Party Committee. For Chen Shi to become a candidate for executive deputy county magistrate, the first hurdle is the investigation by the Organization Department. Fu Changshan is the number two person in the Organization Department and has a lot of influence.

Seeing that Chen Shi remained silent, Jiang Yiqiu asked, "Honey, do you have a social engagement tonight?"

"I've arranged to have dinner with Xu Ping'an. His father-in-law is the executive deputy minister of the Organization Department. I'd like to ask him to arrange a dinner with his father-in-law."

Jiang Yiqiu felt disappointed. Today was the day they were supposed to get their marriage certificate, but Chen Shi hadn't even come to have dinner with him. He still smiled and said, "Business is important. Would you like to come over tonight?"

"If it's nothing serious, I'll come over."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Shi asked Yang Bin to take him to the courtyard house.

Upon arriving at the courtyard, Xu Pingan was waiting in a private room. Chen Shi pushed open the door and went in, and Xu Pingan stood up.

Director Chen

"Ping An, you're here so early."

"Nothing's wrong, just come early."

Chen Shi checked the time; it was 6:30. They had arranged to meet at 7:00, so he arrived half an hour early. Xu Ping'an had come directly after get off work and arrived at 6:00.

Xu Pingan ordered the dishes and asked the waiter to bring them.

Hu Santai, carrying a bottle of fine wine, pushed open the door to the private room and walked in, saying with a smile, "Director Chen, Director Xu, you didn't even tell me you were coming. I could have greeted you at the door."

Chen Shi smiled and said, "Boss Hu is now a National People's Congress representative, how could I dare to let you greet me at the door?"

He pulled out a chair: "Sit down, let's have a couple of drinks."

Hu Santai opened the wine bottle and poured wine for Chen Shi and Xu Ping'an.

The food was served quickly, and Hu Santai raised his glass: "I'd like to toast the two leaders."

Chen Shi and Xu Ping'an raised their wine glasses, the three of them clinked them together, and drank them down in one gulp.

Hu Santai smiled and said, "Director Chen, Director Xu, please enjoy your drinks. I have something to attend to."

Hu Santai gave Chen Shi a look, and Chen Shi followed him out of the private room and into Hu Santai's private room.

Hu Santai closed the door: "Director Chen, I have something to tell you. Deputy County Chief Gao Rong came to see me, wanting me to introduce my cousin, but I politely declined. I don't think highly of Gao Rong's character, but I think highly of Director Chen."

Having said all that, Chen Shi no longer concealed anything.

"Boss Hu, I'm running for executive deputy county head. Could you put in a good word for me with Secretary Liu?"

Hu Santai looked at Chen Shi: "Director Chen, I don't have much say in front of my cousin. Do you remember Ye Shanshan, the general manager of Mingzhou Xiongqi Construction Co., Ltd.? She is my cousin's sister-in-law and has a lot of say in front of my cousin."

"I'll treat everyone tomorrow night, shall we all chat?"

Chen Shi remembered Ye Shanshan. She had tried to use her beauty to secure projects with three top high schools, but he hadn't fallen for it and had left decisively.

Why did Ye Shanshan want to see me? Chen Shi was thinking about the pilot program for basic education and the construction of primary schools. She was eyeing the primary schools.

Liu Daming is a member of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee and Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission. He has some say in the Standing Committee meetings, but his influence is not very strong.

You can't offend Liu Daming either. You have to give Ye Shanshan some benefits, but not too much. You have to stay away from Ye Shanshan and not get too close, or something will happen sooner or later.

Mingzhou Xiongqi Construction Co., Ltd. is just an empty shell. We investigated it before. Building a primary school is related to the safety of children, so we can't be careless. We can't hand over the construction of the primary school to Ye Shanshan's company. Cutting corners is a minor issue. We're afraid she'll create a shoddy project.

Ye Shanshan has a criminal record. She built a government farmers' market, but it was blown down by a typhoon shortly after it was completed. Fortunately, it was not officially put into use and nothing serious happened. Liu Daming managed to suppress the incident.

Chen Shi had a good idea and said to Hu Santai, "Boss Hu, let's have a chat with General Manager Ye tomorrow night."

Hu Santai smiled broadly: "I'll treat everyone to dinner tomorrow night. My cousin cares a lot about his sister-in-law. As long as Ye Shanshan speaks up for you, my cousin will definitely support you as a candidate for executive deputy county head at the Standing Committee meeting."