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

Upon arriving at the mall, Chen Shi and Shen Xiaorong went into a fried chicken shop, where Shen Xiaorong ordered a set meal for two.

"Bro, there's plenty of fried chicken and fries tonight."

"Since you're treating, I'll have to eat a few more chicken drumsticks."

The two chatted casually, and Shen Xiaorong said, "Brother, I'm going home tomorrow, and then I'm going to work on the coast the day after. I don't plan to come back; I'll go straight to Kyoto to study. If you miss me, you can come to Kyoto to find me."

Chen Shi, eating French fries, said, "You're not short of money, so why do you still go to work on the coast?"

"I want to experience different lives. Life is about participation. Just like the fairy tale 'The Little Horse Crossing the River' that I learned when I was a child, you can't just listen to what others say. Once you cross the river yourself, you won't know everything."

Shen Xiaorong was a very thoughtful person. Seeing that she had made up her mind, Chen Shi stopped trying to persuade her: "You're going to the coast all alone. Be careful and call me immediately if you encounter any difficulties."

"It's so good to have a brother," Shen Xiaorong said with a sweet smile.

Chen Shi said, "I'll take you to Tsinghua or Peking University to register when school starts."

"No need, you're so busy with work, I can go by myself."

I'll come see you when I have time.

Shen Xiaorong looked at Chen Shi: "I miss you. I will come back to Chunyang to see you, brother. Thank you for taking care of me these past two years."

After chatting for a while, Shen Xiaorong said, "Brother, can you come with me to see a movie?"

"I want to watch a movie too."

The two left the fried chicken shop and went straight to the mall's cinema to watch a movie.

The two watched a youth romance film. After leaving the cinema, Chen Shi escorted Shen Xiaorong back to the No. 1 Middle School teachers' apartment.

Shen Xiaorong got out of the car, and Chen Shi said, "Go back tomorrow morning, and have Yang Bin take you home."

"No need, I'll take a taxi back."

"It's inconvenient for you to take a taxi while you're carrying things."

"Thanks, brother, I'm going back now."

When Chen Shi returned home, Jiang Yiqiu was sitting in the living room and asked, "Haven't you been avoiding social engagements lately?"

"It wasn't a social engagement. Shen Xiaorong invited me to dinner. She's going back tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow she's going to work on the coast. She won't be coming back; she's going straight to university in Kyoto."

Jiang Yiqiu said "oh" and finally left.

The next morning, Chen Shi asked Yang Bin to drive to the No. 1 Middle School teachers' apartment to take Shen Xiaorong back.

Shen Xiaorong only had one combination lock box, and Yang Bin put it in the trunk.

Shen Xiaorong bought a bottle of water and handed it to Yang Bin: "Director Yang, have some water."

"Thank you," Yang Bin said, taking the water. "I'm not some kind of director, I'm just the leader's driver. You can just call me Master Yang."

"If you drive for my brother, becoming a director is only a matter of time."

Yang Bin was very happy. Within the system, no one doesn't want to be a leader.

Back in Xiaoqinggou Village, at the door of Shen Xiaorong's house, Shen Xiaorong's aunt, Shen Qing, had been waiting for her since early morning. When the car drove into the yard, Shen Xiaorong got out of the car and thanked Yang Bin.

Yang Bin took Shen Xiaorong's briefcase into his house, and seeing that nothing was wrong, he drove away.

Shen Qing approached Shen Xiaorong and asked, "Who is he?"

"My brother's driver?"

Shen Qing was completely confused: "Where did you get a brother from?"

"My adopted brother is the director of the Education Bureau. In a while, he will become the executive deputy county head."

Shen Qing looked incredulous. How could such a high-ranking leader recognize Shen Xiaorong as his god-sister?

The more Shen Qing looked at Shen Xiaorong, the more she saw her mother; they were practically identical.

"You're a grown woman now, don't just casually accept godbrothers. There aren't many good men out there; they're just after your looks and want to take advantage of you."

"Auntie, don't worry about my affairs. My brother is a leader and he's never short of women. He's married, and his wife is the executive vice principal of our No. 1 Middle School."

I'm afraid you'll be scammed.

Shen Xiaorong looked at Shen Qing: "Aunt, I am the only orphan in the Shen family. If my brother hadn't stood up for me, the villagers would have eaten me alive long ago."

She looked at the house next door: "Ye Xiaozhu tried to seize the land in front of our house, but my brother brought the police to arrest and detain her. She was made to pay compensation, and only then did the villagers dare not mess with me."

Shen Qing hadn't contacted her niece for the past two years. She came over because she heard from others that Shen Xiaorong had become the top science student and received a prize of several million yuan.

"Xiao Rong, I heard you got the top score in the province for science in the college entrance exam. Why didn't you tell your aunt?"

Shen Xiaorong went into the house, and Shen Qing followed her in: "The top science student, did he receive a scholarship of several million?"

"Who told you that?" Shen Xiaorong asked coldly.

"That's what everyone around you says. It's not safe for you to stay at home now. You're not afraid of being robbed, but you're afraid of being targeted by thieves. You're a girl, so you should come and stay with us. I'll prepare a room for you."

Don't worry, we won't take your money. Now, it's just the two of us left in the Shen family, and your aunt doesn't want anything to happen to you."

Shen Xiaorong's feelings for Shen Qing were complicated, neither too close nor too distant. He was neither particularly good nor particularly bad to Shen Xiaorong; in any case, he never beat or scolded Shen Xiaorong, nor did he ever buy her a single piece of clothing.

It's been so long since she found out she was the top science student. Shen Xiaorong sneered inwardly, wondering if she had forgotten that the Shen family still had her as their niece.

"Auntie, I'm going to work on the coast tomorrow, and I won't be coming back often. I'm leaving the land and house in your care."

"You can cultivate the land as you like, but the ancestral home cannot be touched. This is the root of the Shen family, and I will preserve it forever. If you need money, I can lend it to you."

Shen Qing looked surprised: "Xiao Rong, you have millions, why do you still need to work on the coast?"

"Don't meddle in my business. I don't have millions, so don't listen to what people outside are saying."

"How much do you have?" Shen Qing asked quickly.

"It's not much, just enough for me to spend."

Shen Xiaorong opened the combination lock box, took out the key, and handed it to Shen Qing: "This is the key to the front door, you take it."

Shen Qing took the key: "Xiao Rong, you still have to come back to your aunt's house during holidays. From now on, your aunt's house will be your home."

Shen Xiaorong looked at Shen Qing: "Aunt, is there anything else?"

"No, your aunt just came to see you. She's come several times but hasn't seen you. Do you have a cell phone? Leave your number for your aunt."

Shen Xiaorong took a piece of paper, wrote her phone number on it, and handed it to Shen Qing.

"Auntie, this is my phone number. You can call me if there's anything urgent."

Shen Qing took the note, her heart filled with mixed feelings. She hadn't expected her niece to be so successful. She resented her parents' favoritism, giving all their property to her younger brother while leaving her with nothing.

He hated his parents, hated his younger brother, and even disliked Shen Xiaorong. The more he thought about it, the more he regretted it. If he had known, he should have raised his niece properly. She was much more promising than his two sons.

Shen Qing took out her phone and dialed Shen Xiaorong's number. Shen Xiaorong's phone rang, and Shen Qing said, "This is your aunt's number. Save it. Call your aunt if anything happens in the future."

Shen Xiaorong hummed in agreement and saved the number.

Shen Qing looked at Shen Xiaorong: "Auntie has gone back. You must take good care of yourself."

Shen Xiaorong simply hummed in agreement.

Shen Qing sighed, turned around and left.

Shen Qing's words reminded Shen Xiaorong that she couldn't stay at home. The villagers were greedy for money and capable of anything. With rumors circulating that she had won millions in prize money, there were bound to be people eyeing it.

She packed her luggage, putting the valuables in her backpack, and took one last look at the old house, which was filled with painful childhood memories.

After my grandmother became paralyzed, I had to carry her out every day to bask in the sun under the plum tree in the yard.

My grandmother was the kindest person to me in the world, but her later years were very tragic.

Shen Xiaorong shed two tears, slung her backpack over her shoulder, pulled her briefcase, and locked the door. She didn't know when she would be able to come back again.