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

When Chen Shi and Jiang Yiqiu arrived in the county town, Jiang Yiqiu asked, "Where are we going?"

They now have three houses: one is Chen Shi's family building at the Education Bureau, one is the No. 1 Middle School teachers' apartment, and the other is Jingtai Garden, their marital home.

Chen Shi said, "Go to the No. 1 Middle School teachers' apartment."

"We're married now, where will we live?" Jiang Yiqiu asked again.

"When we're working, I'll stay in the Education Bureau's staff quarters, and you'll stay in the No. 1 Middle School teachers' apartment. On weekends, you'll stay in Jingtai Garden."

Jiang Yiqiu looked at Chen Shi: "This is not good. We're married, but it's like we're not. We both have cars, and we'll live in Jingtai Garden after the wedding. We should be together."

The staff quarters of the Education Bureau and the teachers' apartments of the No. 1 Middle School are reserved for our lunch break during work hours.

"I'll listen to you."

Jiang Yiqiu thought Chen Shi would object, but he was overjoyed to see him agree so readily.

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Chen Shi began to visit and give gifts. In the morning, he visited Zhang Xiangdong and sat at Zhang Xiangdong's house. In the afternoon, he went to Mingzhou to pay New Year's greetings to Li Nan and Wang Mingzhang. He did not bring Jiang Yiqiu with him because Wang Lingze did not have a good impression of Jiang Yiqiu.

I had dinner at Li Nan's house that evening and met Wang Mingzhang. Wang Mingzhang didn't mention Chen Shi's candidacy for executive deputy county head, and neither did Chen Shi.

Wang Lingze wasn't home; she went to Yizhou to see her boyfriend, Zhu Tong.

On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, Chen Shi left the municipal party committee compound and went to pay his respects to Huang Ao. Huang Ao invited Chen Shi to stay for dinner, where he met Huang Xin.

Huang Xin didn't even glance at Chen Shi, treating him like air and completely ignoring him.

Huang Xin's aloofness is ingrained in her bones; most men simply can't handle her. But Chen Shi is no ordinary man.

At Huang Ao's house, Chen Shi didn't dare to provoke Huang Xin and sat properly.

Huang Ao's phone rang, and he went to answer it, leaving Huang Xin and Chen Shi behind.

Chen Shi looked at Huang Xin: "Minister Huang, this is not nice of you. We are friends, after all. How can you pretend not to know me and not even say hello? I took the initiative to greet you, and you just ignored me."

"Director Chen, we are not friends. We weren't before, we aren't now, and we definitely won't be in the future. You're married, you know that? Don't mess with me anymore."

"You fell in love with me, I got married, and you're jealous?"

Huang Xin snorted coldly: "You're not worthy of my liking."

Chen Shi wasn't angry. He smiled and asked, "What kind of man do you like?"

"None of your business"

Huang Ao walked in: "What are you all talking about?"

Chen Shi smiled and said, "Minister Huang asked me to introduce her to a boyfriend?"

Huang Ao glanced at Huang Xin with some surprise, then smiled and said, "Xiao Chen, do you have anyone suitable around you?"

"There are a few suitable ones. After they start working, I will introduce them to Minister Huang. They are all mid-level leaders in the Public Security Bureau."

"You young people really know how to get along," Huang Ao believed him.

Huang Xin glanced at Chen Shi, thinking, "What a scumbag! He never tells the truth," and stood up to leave.

Chen Shi chatted with Huang Ao for a few minutes, then got up and left.

Chen Shi called Zhou Yun, the organization minister, hoping to try his luck. Unexpectedly, Zhou Yun invited Chen Shi to his home.

Chen Shi was flattered and asked Yang Bin to drive to Zhou Yun's house.

Chen Shi brought two boxes of valuable gifts to Zhou Yun's house. Many people came to wish Zhou Yun a Happy New Year, and they were all cadres at or above the deputy division level.

Chen Shi, who was at the level of a section chief, was able to visit Zhou Yun's home to offer New Year's greetings, which made him stand out from the crowd.

Zhou Yun received Chen Shi, and the two chatted for more than ten minutes before Chen Shi left. This was a treatment that other leading cadres who came to pay New Year's visits did not receive.

Many people who come to pay New Year's visits are considered lucky if they can even exchange a few words after putting down their gifts.

After leaving Zhou Yun's house, Chen Shi extended New Year's greetings to Hong Xiaojia, the director of the Finance Bureau, Zhou Quanfu, the director of the Education Bureau, and Zhang Kai, Wang Mingzhang's secretary.

I stayed in a hotel in Mingzhou for one night. On the morning of the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, I went to Yizhou to pay my respects to Zhao Ji, the director of the Education Department, and also to Ding Yi.

Ding Yi is Zhao Ji's secretary; their relationship needs to be managed well.

Liu Youguang was in Yizhou. Chen Shi came here specifically to see Liu Youguang and called him in the afternoon.

"Xiao Chen"

"Secretary, are you in Yizhou? I'm in Yizhou now, and I've come to wish you a Happy New Year."

"I ran to Yizhou to find some peace and quiet because I was afraid you would come to wish me a Happy New Year. Did Xiao Liu tell you that?"

It was indeed Liu Feng who told Chen Shi, but Chen Shi would certainly not admit it.

"Secretary, I'm just guessing. You're in training at the Party School, so you probably won't be going back to Mingzhou."

"Come here now, and I'll send you an address."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Shi received an address that was located next to Minghu Lake, more than 30 kilometers away from him.

Chen Shi asked Yang Bin to drive there. When they arrived at the address Liu Youguang had sent, it was a villa surrounded by other detached villas. From the house, one could see Minghu Lake; the scenery was beautiful.

Chen Shi registered at the entrance before he could enter the villa. Liu Youguang was sitting on the second-floor balcony drinking tea and waving to Chen Shi.

Chen Shi entered the villa and went to the second-floor balcony. Liu Youguang called out, "Sit down."

Chen Shi sat down, poured himself a cup of tea, and took a sip.

"Secretary, didn't you go back to Mingzhou for the Lunar New Year?"

"I need to keep a low profile now. Too many people are watching me. If I go back to Minnesota, too many people will come to pay their respects, which will give my political enemies something to use against me."

The election is in April, and after it's over, I'll return to Minnesota to take up my post as deputy mayor. I have good news for you: Xiang Dong will be succeeding me. The appointment document will be issued after the Lunar New Year holiday.

Chen Shi thought to himself, Zhang Xiangdong is a cunning old fox. When he went to wish him a Happy New Year, Zhang Xiangdong didn't mention it at all.

"It is perfectly legitimate for County Chief Zhang to take your place."

"There's no legitimate reason for it. I put a lot of effort into it behind the scenes. Within the system, there are many people who can achieve political success, but very few who get promoted. The higher the position, the fewer the available positions, and the fiercer the competition. Everyone has to use their own unique abilities."

Only when someone speaks up for you will your achievements be known to your superiors.

Chen Shi nodded repeatedly.

Liu Youguang looked at Chen Shi: "Yesterday I went down to Mingzhou and had dinner with Minister Zhou of the Organization Department. I mentioned you. He admires you very much. In four words, you are young and promising."

Chen Shi was overjoyed. To receive such high praise from Zhou Yun meant that he had taken another step forward as the executive deputy county head.

Liu Youguang continued, "I recommended you to Minister Zhou as the candidate for Executive Deputy County Head of Chunyang County. He neither agreed nor disagreed, so the chances are quite good. You should seize the opportunity."

"Secretary Xiao wouldn't object to a deputy division-level cadre if Minister Zhou recommended him."

Chen Shi quickly replied, "Thank you for your guidance, Secretary."

Liu Youguang looked at the distant Ming Lake: "When you return to Chunyang, don't go around visiting relatives and friends for the New Year. It will affect you. At this critical juncture, don't go around doing anything. Many eyes are watching you. Any improper behavior will be magnified, which will be detrimental to your election as executive deputy county head."

Chen Shi asked, "Secretary, what should I do next?"

"Don't do anything, just do your job well. Don't go to wish others a Happy New Year, and don't let others wish you a Happy New Year."

Paying New Year's visits is a perfectly normal exchange of greetings. If it's reported by someone with ulterior motives, then it becomes abnormal. These things shouldn't be brought into the open; bringing them into the open is against the rules and constitutes abnormal behavior.

Chen Shi suddenly realized that when you're just one step away from success, it's best to do nothing and just wait. At this point, it's easy to be blinded by victory and do some inexplicable things.