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

"You say it," Gao Rong looked at Chen Shi, crossing his arms over his chest.

Chen Shi reported on the college entrance examination results, and Gao Rong added: "Chunyang County's college entrance examination results this year have finally escaped the bottom ranks, which is commendable. More importantly, Chunyang No. 1 High School produced the top science student in the province, which is also the highest score in the history of Donghai Province, setting a new record."

Chen Shi looked at Gao Rong: "Gao County Education Bureau has decided to award 500,000 yuan to the top science student to encourage students to study actively and proactively."

I reported this matter to County Chief Zhang earlier, and he said the county government also needed to express its opinion. Since you are the leader in charge of the Education Bureau, he sent me to consult you.

Gao Rong smiled and said, "Director Chen, we need to hold a meeting to discuss this matter. Chunyang County is a county with poor education. It is not easy for them to produce a top science student in the province. They should be appropriately rewarded to motivate students to study."

Chen Shi didn't want to waste time talking to Gao Rong: "County Magistrate Gao, I've finished my work report. You can go ahead with your work."

Chen Shi left Gao Rong's office, having anticipated Gao Rong's attitude. After all, he was the supervisor in charge, and the necessary procedures had to be followed so that no one would have anything to say about it.

Chen Shi checked the time; it was almost time to get off work. He called Yang Bin and told him to go back to Jingtai Garden.

Jiang Yiqiu has been very busy lately, and she doesn't get home until eight or nine o'clock. Chen Shi can't wait for her to come back and cook, and since she doesn't know how to cook, she takes out a box of instant noodles from the kitchen, makes them, and eats them.

After taking only a few bites, Jiang Yiqiu pushed the door open and came back, only to find Chen Shi eating instant noodles.

"Don't eat instant noodles. You can't wait for me to come back and cook. Just grab something at a restaurant outside the complex."

"It's quite delicious when I eat here occasionally; it's better than the food at the restaurants near my neighborhood."

Chen Shi looked at Jiang Yiqiu: "No overtime today?"

"The Mingzhou Daily came to interview Shen Xiaorong this morning, the school leaders treated them to lunch at noon, and I have nothing to do in the evening, so I'll come back early to cook for you."

"Will Donghai TV come to interview Shen Xiaorong tomorrow?"

"They're coming to do an interview tomorrow afternoon, and I'll have to treat them to dinner tonight. You'll have to take care of dinner yourself tomorrow night."

"Make a few more dishes tonight, so I can just reheat them when I get back tomorrow."

Jiang Yiqiu put on an apron, went into the kitchen to cook, and complained, "Mingzhou Daily and Donghai TV came to interview us, but what does the Chunyang County Propaganda Department mean? The local media in Chunyang County acted as if they didn't know anything about it, didn't even ask a question, and just didn't report it."

"Li Jianlin, the head of the publicity department, is Zhang Kaizhi's man. Why would he help me with publicity? The county media doesn't have much influence. The Mingzhou Daily and Donghai TV have reported on it, which is enough."

Chen Shi stood up and threw the instant noodle box into the trash can: "The Education Bureau has decided to award Shen Xiaorong 500,000 yuan. I've also applied to the county government, but Zhang Kaizhi has a lot of complaints about me, so they probably won't give me the award."

While washing the cured meat, Jiang Yiqiu said, "No. 1 Middle School also rewarded Shen Xiaorong with 500,000 yuan. She easily received a million yuan reward, making her richer than all of us."

"She earned it through her own ability. There are 500,000 to 600,000 people taking the college entrance exam in Donghai Province every year. To get first place is definitely a genius. Money will be no problem for her in the future."

Meanwhile, Wang Xiaoya was hosting a banquet for Liu Youguang at a restaurant.

Inside the private room, only Wang Xiaoya and Liu Youguang were present. Wang Xiaoya poured wine for Liu Youguang and winked at him, saying, "You've been staring at me the whole time. Do you have feelings for me?"

Heavily made up, Liu Youguang felt nauseous when he saw Wang Xiaoya and quickly said, "Don't joke around, I'm afraid Gao Zhiyuan will beat me up."

Wang Xiaoya picked up her wine glass: "Old Gao is such a coward, even if he had the guts, he wouldn't dare to hit you."

Let's have a drink.

Liu Youguang raised his glass and clinked it with Wang Xiaoya's: "That's about enough after this. I have an appointment with Secretary Liu, so I need to rush to the banquet."

Wang Xiaoya asked, "That Secretary Liu?"

Liu Youguang, the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, put down his wine glass and said, "If you have something to say, say it quickly. If not, I'm really leaving."

"Can't I invite you for a drink if there's nothing wrong?" Wang Xiaoya looked at Liu Youguang: "Have you heard that Chunyang County produced the top science student in the province these past two days, with a total score of 739, the highest score in history?"

"I've heard about it. This is one of my achievements in supporting education in Chunyang County."

"A publisher has approached me, wanting to sell the notes of the top science student. You should talk to the principal of Chunyang County No. 1 High School and ask the top science student to cooperate with our promotion and authorize the publisher to use his three years of high school notes."

It turns out they were eyeing the top science student's fame, hoping to make a quick buck. Liu Youguang asked, "How much licensing fee are the publishers planning to give the top science student?"

"You still need to give them a tip, maybe twenty or thirty thousand."

That's too cruel. The top science student is so famous now, and they only give him 20,000 or 30,000 yuan. It's like giving money to a beggar.

Liu Youguang remained silent for a while. Wang Xiaoya then said, "Is this really that difficult for you?"

Liu Youguang chimed in: "Your nephew is the director of the Education Bureau. Why don't you just talk to him directly? The principal of Chunyang No. 1 Middle School is his subordinate."

As the deputy mayor, I have no authority over the principal of Chunyang No. 1 Middle School. Even if I speak to him, he might not listen to me.

"Old Liu, what nonsense are you talking about? Where did I get a nephew who is the director of the Education Bureau in Chunyang County?"

Liu Youguang was speechless for a moment: "My dear Director Wang, you have a half-sister, and your sister has a son named Chen Shi who frequently visits the municipal party committee compound. Didn't you know?"

Wang Xiaoya then remembered that she had met Chen Shi once: "Chen Shi is the director of the Education Bureau?"

Liu Youguang hummed in agreement.

"I don't know him well. You are the county party secretary of Chunyang County. He is one of your people. If you give the order, how could he not listen to you?"

Liu Youguang looked at Wang Xiaoya: "I'll talk to Chen Shi and ask him to arrange this. The publisher is offering too little. She's the top science student in the province, with the highest score in Donghai Province's history. Her fame surpasses that of previous top science students. Her notes are highly sought after; it's a sure thing. We should at least give her 100,000."

Wang Xiaoya thought for a moment, and the publisher said that the "Top Scholar's Notes" was very popular and could earn at least several million yuan, so he would give her a mere 100,000 yuan.

"Okay, whatever you say, 100,000 it is."

Liu Youguang took out his phone: "I'll call Chen Shi right now."

Chen Shi was having dinner with Jiang Yiqiu when his phone rang. He picked it up and saw that it was Liu Youguang calling, so he quickly answered.

Mayor Liu

"Xiao Chen, there's something I need you to arrange. Your aunt contacted me, wanting to publish the notes of the top science student. She's offering the top science student a licensing fee of 100,000 yuan, and the top science student needs to cooperate with the promotion."

Chen Shi was completely bewildered. "Where did I get an aunt?" he asked. "Mayor Liu, my aunt?"

Liu Youguang laughed heartily: "You should visit your aunt's house more often. Isn't Mayor Wang's younger sister your aunt?"

Chen Shi remembered that he had met Wang Xiaoya twice. She was very shrewd. Shen Xiaorong's notes were worth at least a million, but she wanted to get the authorization for only 100,000.

Shen Xiaorong's top scorer is unlike any other top scorer in history. Once the Mingzhou Daily and Donghai TV promote her on television, her fame will soar, and she'll probably be willing to pay the five million licensing fee.

When Liu Youguang brought up this matter, Chen Shi could only bite the bullet and say, "Mayor Liu, the top scholar's notes indicate that the top scholar himself agreed to authorize it. I will try my best to get it."

"Xiao Chen, I believe you can do it. Your aunt will have the publisher contact you."

Chen Shi wanted to try to persuade Shen Xiaorong, but Liu Youguang hung up the phone.