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

Xu Mengmeng poured He Chunsheng a cup of tea: "Uncle He, please sit down. Getting angry is bad for your health."

He Chunsheng sat down and took a sip of tea.

Xu Mengmeng said, "Uncle He, what you said makes a lot of sense. If you want to get good grades, you have to put in the effort. Everyone has a different perspective and considers completely different things."

The school schedule issued by the Education Bureau naturally reflects the leadership's considerations; you just need to follow it. There's no need to go against the leadership.

"I followed the schedule issued by the Education Bureau, which meant I studied two hours less each day. Do they know how many hours that is over three years?"

If they don't do well on the exam, they'll blame it on us.

Xu Mengmeng glanced at He Chunsheng. "At your age, how can you be so ignorant of politics? It's no wonder you've been sidelined."

"Uncle He, do you know what Director Chen wants right now?"

"What else do students want if not grades?"

Xu Mengmeng shook her head: "There are many things more important than grades. Director Chen is a candidate for executive deputy county head. At this time, what he needs is stability, and grades are not important to him."

You force students to study at No. 7 Middle School, allowing them only five or six hours of rest a day. What if a student with weak psychological resilience commits suicide by jumping off a building?

Many people are watching him closely. If something unexpected happens, his candidacy for executive deputy county head will be removed, a consequence he cannot accept.

At this critical juncture, anyone who threatens stability will be immediately dismissed.

Xu Mengmeng looked at He Chunsheng and said, "Don't make a mistake. You finally made a comeback, only to be brought back to square one. Your life is completely over."

He said earnestly, "Uncle He, you mustn't get yourself into trouble at this time. Go back and strictly follow the schedule issued by the Education Bureau."

He Chunsheng thought for a moment, then stood up: "I'll go back first. I'm on duty at the cafeteria today."

Watching He Chunsheng's departing figure, Xu Mengmeng wondered if he had listened to her. If he was dismissed again, he had no one to blame but himself.

The next morning, Chen Shi said to Xu Mengmeng, "Director Xu, please issue a meeting notice. There will be a director's office meeting at 3 p.m. This afternoon. All members of the secondary leadership team and relevant school leaders from the four high schools should attend."

Xu Mengmeng went down to distribute meeting notices. Chen Shi had to be in charge of security, as the election was next month and there couldn't be any security issues during this period.

Yang Xiaobo came to Chen Shi's office: "Director Chen, I'm here to report on the arrangements for the school counselors."

Chen Shi stood up to greet him: "Old Yang, have a seat."

The two sat down in the reception room. Yang Xiaobo said, "The recruitment of school psychologists is complete. For each township central school, we guarantee one school psychologist. For each two or three remote rural primary schools, we will assign one school psychologist. The personnel files of the school psychologists will be handled by the central schools, which will then uniformly allocate their teaching assignments."

After listening to Yang Xiaobo's report, Chen Shi said in a deep voice, "The psychological teachers are officially on duty and cannot be just for show. We must make full use of their role. Every grade and every class must have at least one psychological counseling class per week."

Yang Xiaobo wrote down in his notebook: "Director Chen, I will supervise the psychological counseling classes at each central school."

The two chatted for a while, and then Yang Xiaobo left the office. Chen Shiyong was used to Yang Xiaobo; he was quick-witted and conscientious in his work. Once he took office as the executive deputy county head, he would transfer Yang Xiaobo to the government office to serve as the deputy director.

At 3 p.m., a director's office meeting was held. Chen Shi emphasized safety issues and students' mental health issues, and stressed that all schools should attach great importance to students' mental health.

At the four high schools, Chen Shi emphasized that the school schedule issued by the Education Bureau must be strictly enforced, and the principals of schools that fail to comply should resign.

Huang Ming, Li Zhe, and Yang Xiaobo delivered speeches.

After the meeting, Hou Weigui went to Chen Shi's office.

"Director Chen, I have something to report to you."

Chen Shi called out, "Sit down."

Hou Weigui sat down: "Director Chen, this morning, Principal He chaired a principal's office meeting. In response to the work schedule issued by the Education Bureau, Principal He scolded the leaders of the Education Bureau at the meeting, saying that they were meddling in other people's business, overstepping their bounds, wanting everything, and ultimately getting nothing."

At the meeting, I refuted Principal He, saying that the education bureau leaders value students' physical and mental health, and that good grades without good physical and mental health are meaningless.

He said that in school, students are not judged on grades, but on physical and mental health, which is something only children from wealthy families consider. Most students at No. 7 Middle School come from rural areas and have no right to consider physical and mental health.

Academic performance is their only way out. When it comes to college admissions, no school will consider any of that bullshit about mental or physical health; they only look at grades.

Hou Weigui didn't dare to say everything, and He Chunsheng even mocked him, saying that he had made a mess of the Fourth Middle School and that the school was always at the bottom of the college entrance examination rankings.

Chen Shi looked at Hou Weigui: "Is he following the schedule issued by the Education Bureau or not?"

When Hou Weigui saw that Chen Shi was not pursuing the matter of He Chunsheng scolding him, but only concerned about whether or not the document issued by the Education Bureau would be implemented, he gritted his teeth and said, "Principal He said it will not be implemented."

"Did he really say that at the meeting?" Chen Shi pressed.

Principal He's exact words were, "Let's wait and see."

Chen Shi took a sip of water: "I understand, you can go back now."

Hou Weigui stood up and left. He felt he should give He Chunsheng a push. If He Chunsheng didn't follow the schedule issued by the Education Bureau, Chen Shi wouldn't tolerate him and would expel him immediately, which would be his chance.

The next morning, Hou Weigui arrived at He Chunsheng's office with a big smile on his face.

He Chunsheng glanced at Hou Weigui and said coldly, "Principal Hou, is there something you need?"

"Principal He, I've come to report to you on my work."

"It's rare for you to come and report to me." He Chunsheng didn't even glance at Hou Weigui.

Hou Weigui suppressed his smile: "Principal He, I disagree with you on many aspects of teaching, but I agree with your views on students' schedules."

Students at No. 7 Middle School have a weak foundation and lack academic talent; they can only catch up by putting in more time and effort than students at No. 6 Middle School.

He Chunsheng looked up at Hou Weigui: "Principal Hou, what do you intend to do?"

"My suggestion is to follow the schedule issued by the Education Bureau for a period of time to deal with the inspection, and then restore the current schedule after the inspection."

Time is very important to the students of No. 7 Middle School; not a single second can be wasted.

He Chunsheng sneered inwardly. "You think you can pull off such a cheap trick? You've used it once, and you want to use it again? You've already been fooled once; you won't fall for it a second time. Once you get back to your current routine, go and report yourself to Chen Shi."

"Is there anything else?"

"Principal He, I think this method is feasible. Please consider it."

Hou Weigui turned and left the office. He Chunsheng cursed under his breath, "Despicable man."

…………

Chen Shi was busy working in the office when Huang Ming walked in excitedly.

"Director Chen, good news! The 300 million yuan from the Education Department's special education fund for the project has finally been allocated and is in your account."

Chen Shi's face lit up with joy; it was indeed good news: "Director Huang, please sit down. We'll pay the three hundred million to Donghai Zhencheng Group later to settle the remaining balance of the project."

"Okay, I'll go and make the arrangements right away."

Chen Shi called out, "Wait a minute, you need to follow up on the implementation of the school schedule issued by the Education Bureau for the four high schools, especially No. 7 High School, and give me timely feedback."

"I investigated, and all four high schools have rearranged their schedules and issued notices at the schools."

At No. 6 Middle School, morning self-study starts at 7:00 AM and evening self-study ends at 9:30 PM. After evening self-study, students are not allowed to study in the classroom and are forced to go back to the dormitory to rest.

At No. 1 Middle School, No. 7 Middle School, and No. 8 Middle School, morning self-study starts at 6:50 AM and ends at 10:00 PM. Students who wish to study are allowed to continue until 11:30 PM.

Chen Shi nodded in satisfaction.