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

After Chen Shi left Liu Youguang's villa, Yang Bin asked, "Director Chen, are we going back to Chunyang?"

"Not going back to Chunyang?" Chen Shi didn't know where to go either. After thinking for a moment, he said, "To the new campus of Donghai Normal University."

The new campus of Donghai Normal University is located in the suburbs, more than 20 kilometers away from the main urban area.

Upon arriving at the new campus of Donghai Normal University, Chen Shi said to Yang Bin, "Go back to Chunyang. Don't tell anyone where I am. I'll give you a few days off. I'll call you in advance when you return to Chunyang. Then you can come up to Yizhou to pick me up."

Yang Bin is very tight-lipped, which is the primary requirement for driving for a leader. You shouldn't ask questions you shouldn't ask, and you should be able to keep things to yourself and remain silent.

Yang Bin drove away, and Chen Shi found a hotel to stay in. Donghai Normal University had not yet resumed its holiday, so there were very few people. Walking on the street, there were almost no people around.

Chen Shi planned to stay here for a few days, and after starting work, he would return to Chunyang. He would spend his free time reading books at the Donghai Normal University Library.

The library of Donghai Normal University is open to the public. It is far from the main urban area, and apart from students, working people rarely come here to read.

Chen Shi's phone rang, and when he took it out, he saw that it was Jiang Yiqiu calling.

Yi Qiu

"Where are you?"

"In Yizhou"

"Aren't they coming back yet? My mom called me several times, telling us we absolutely have to go back tomorrow morning. She's notified all our relatives and friends that the bride and groom aren't here, and they'll gossip."

"Yiqiu, I was just about to call you. I have important business to attend to in Yizhou and won't be back in Chunyang for the next few days. When you go back tomorrow morning, please tell your parents that I will come to apologize to them after the election for executive deputy county head is settled."

When Jiang Yiqiu learned that Chen Shi was not returning to Chunyang but was going back to Fushan Town with him for the banquet, he was very depressed, but he still managed a smile: "Your matter is important, I will talk to my parents."

Chen Shi thought for a moment and then said, "We originally planned to set up two tables in the county town for a get-together and to have some fun. But at this crucial moment, let's not cause any trouble. We won't set up any tables. We'll go take our wedding photos during the National Day holiday."

Jiang Yiqiu hummed in agreement. Other people's weddings were very grand, and he had fantasized that his own wedding would be even more grand than theirs.

Unexpectedly, my own wedding was done in secret, with no banquet held at all.

The bride's parents set up a few tables at their hometown, but the groom wasn't there; she was the only bride present.

My heart was filled with mixed feelings, but I still said, "I'll listen to you."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Shi called Chen Xing.

"Xiao Shi"

"Brother, tomorrow morning, take our parents, Jianhua, Jianyong, my sister, and my brother-in-law to Yiqiu's house for dinner. I've been busy these past few days and won't be able to come back."

"Xiao Shi, Yi Qiu's family is having a banquet tomorrow. It wouldn't be right for you, the groom, not to come back. No matter how busy you are, you should make time to come back."

"The situation is special, I can't leave here, you can go instead."

"Okay," Chen Xing said, hanging up the phone. Wang Xiufen, who was standing next to him, asked, "Is Xiao Shi not coming back tomorrow?"

Chen Xing hummed in agreement.

Wang Xiufen clicked her tongue twice: "He won't even come back for his wedding. Who will Jiang Yiqiu marry? Is he going to marry a rooster like in the movies, instead of a groom?"

"He's only a bureau chief, and he didn't even come back for his own wedding. What will he do when he becomes county magistrate and his parents pass away?"

Chen Xing glared at Wang Xiufen: "Shut up."

Meanwhile, at the Water Cube in Minnesota, Zhang Kaizhi and Gao Rong were drinking in a private room.

Zhang Kaizhi said, "In Gao County, Secretary Zhu gave me a definite answer and recommended me as a candidate for county magistrate. Secretary Xiao did not object, so the matter is basically settled."

"Chen Shi is your strongest competitor among the candidates for Executive Deputy County Head. You need to find something to do with him, report him, and get him out of the race. Then your position as Executive Deputy County Head will be secure."

Gao Rong looked at Zhang Kaizhi: "Secretary Zhang, Chen Shi arranged to get married in order to run for executive deputy county head. He even got his marriage certificate before the Spring Festival. After getting the certificate, he wants to hold a wedding. We'll make something of the wedding."

According to the Central Eight-Point Regulation, Party members and cadres are not allowed to hold extravagant weddings. If he exceeds the limit by even one table, we can report him to tarnish his record and disqualify him from being a candidate for executive deputy county head.

"I heard that Chen Shi is no longer planning a wedding."

Gao Rong said, "Secretary Zhang, I sent people to investigate. Chen Shi really doesn't plan to hold a wedding in the county town. He always wants to have a simple banquet with a few tables. We spread the word and invited everyone to his wedding banquet. Once everyone is there, he can't possibly turn them away."

"Any wedding with more than 20 tables is considered an extravagant wedding. I'll have someone report him so he can't be a candidate for executive deputy county head."

Zhang Kaizhi nodded: "County Chief Gao, you always have the most ideas."

"Secretary Zhang, I will send people to keep an eye on Chen Shi's every move. If he violates any regulations, we will take photos as evidence. I don't believe Chen Shi is a saint. After the Spring Festival, we will refuse to let anyone who comes to pay him a visit."

Tomorrow is the sixth day of the first lunar month. Chen Shi is having his wedding in his hometown. It's a traditional rural banquet. For a young leader like Chen Shi to get married, there are at least one or two hundred tables. If we report this to the authorities, he won't be able to afford it and will be in big trouble.

Some things are nothing on the scale, but on the scale they weigh a ton and crush you.

Gao Rong raised his glass: "Secretary Zhang, this is a toast to you."

Zhang Kaizhi picked up his glass, clinked it with Gao Rong's, and drank it all in one gulp.

Zhang Kaizhi put down his wine glass: "County Chief Gao, as long as Chen Shi can't become a candidate for Executive Deputy County Chief, you have the best chance. I'll put in a good word for you with Secretary Zhu, and if Secretary Zhu recommends you, Secretary Xiao won't object."

Gao Rong said confidently, "Chen Shi wants to compete with me for the position of executive deputy county head. He's still too green. I've been working my way up from the bottom at the grassroots level for many years. What does he have to offer to compete with me?"

Gao Rong was confident that he could defeat Chen Shi. He had a wealth of experience in political struggles, and his current position as deputy county head was secured through every step of his promotion.

…………

When Jiang Yiqiu learned that Chen Shi would not be going back to Fushan Town with him for the wedding banquet, he felt no joy at the prospect of marriage and was depressed. He lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Every woman dreams of a grand wedding. Her dream was shattered, and although she was unhappy, she had to force a smile.

My phone rang, and when I picked it up, I saw it was my mother, Zhang Qingrong, calling.

"mom"

"Xiao Qiu, you need to come back early tomorrow morning. We slaughtered a big fat pig to hold a banquet and notified our relatives and friends. Your dad calculated that there will be about 26 or 27 tables, but we are preparing 30 tables. There will definitely be a few extra tables."

Seeing that his mother was in a good mood, Jiang Yiqiu didn't want to dampen her spirits, so he smiled and said, "Okay, we'll come back a little earlier tomorrow morning."

Zhang Qingrong, still worried, asked, "Has Chen Shi returned from Yizhou?"

"They haven't come back yet."

"It's so late, why isn't he back yet? You should call and urge him. Friends and family are coming to the wedding, and the groom can't be absent. He must have a few drinks with them."

No matter how high a rank he is outside, once he marries my daughter, he becomes the son-in-law of the Jiang family. When he meets relatives, he has to address them with the proper respect; he has to be subservient.

"Mom, I'm not going to say anything more. I'm urging him to come back quickly."

"No matter how busy he is, he must come back," Zhang Qingrong instructed.