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

After seeing Zhao Gang off, Xie Shanquan hurried to Lu Nan's office.

"Director Lu, Zhao Gang came to me earlier and asked me to write a report on the theme of new rural construction. I need to give it to him before I leave work tomorrow at noon."

Lu Nan looked surprised: "Did Xu Wen recommend Zhao Gang to Chen County?"

"I think so. Director Lu, what should I do? If I don't help Zhao Gang write the report and offend him, I won't be able to stay in the government office."

Lu Nan thought for a moment and said, "Xiao Xie, don't worry, this is very simple. Just write up the report and make a copy for Zhao Gang."

Xie Shanquan looked puzzled: "If we submit two identical copies to County Chief Chen, what will he think?"

"We can't guess what County Chief Chen is thinking, but one thing is certain: at least you won't offend Zhao Gang. If County Chief Chen chooses Zhao Gang as his secretary, he'll still need you to write reports. But if you're in the government office, no one will dare to touch you."

I think when County Chief Chen sees these two reports, he'll definitely check the reports he wrote to his superiors before. Once he sees them, he'll know what happened and will call you in for questioning. Just tell the truth and leave evidence of Zhao Gang asking you to write those reports.

Xie Shanquan said with a worried look, "This will offend Zhao Gang."

"Chen County knows you wrote the previous reports, so your liaison officer is safe. With Chen County protecting you, what are you afraid of? Not to mention Zhao Gang, even Xu Wen from the government office wouldn't dare do anything to you."

Old ginger is spicier. Xie Shanquan thought Lu Nan's words made sense. This way, no matter whether he was selected as Chen Shi's liaison or not, he would be safe.

Xie Shanquan returned to his office and began researching and writing reports. He worked alone in the government office until 11 p.m., preparing the materials for the report.

I came to work early the next morning and started writing. It took me two hours to finish the report, and then I took it to Lu Nan to see.

Lu Nan read the report and nodded repeatedly: "It's very well written and doesn't need any revisions. Send the report to Chen County first, and print another copy for Zhao Gang."

It's important which of the two identical reports is sent first.

Xie Shanquan nodded, came out of Lu Nan's office, took the report, went to Chen Shi's office, and gently knocked on the door.

Chen Shi called out, "Come in."

Xie Shanquan walked into the office: "County Chief Chen, the report you asked me to write on the theme of new rural construction is finished."

Xie Shanquan placed the report on Chen Shi's desk with both hands, within easy reach of Chen Shi.

Chen Shi looked at Xie Shanquan: "You finished writing it so quickly. You're very efficient. You can go back now."

Xie Shanquan left Chen Shi's office and returned to the General Affairs Section. He printed out a report, intending to send it to Zhao Gang, but then decided to wait until the afternoon.

After get off work at noon, Zhao Gang went to the General Affairs Department's office, where Xie Shanquan pretended to be researching information and writing a report.

Zhao Gang approached Xie Shanquan, who quickly stood up and said, "Chief Zhao."

"Is the report finished?" Zhao Gang asked in a low voice.

Xie Shanquan said, "It'll be quick. The information has been researched, and it should be ready in two or three hours."

Zhao Gang's face darkened: "Xiao Xie, what's wrong with you? I told you to give me a report before you left work at noon, and now you're telling me it will take another two or three hours?"

Xie Shanquan smiled ingratiatingly: "Director Zhao, this report requires a lot of research and will take a lot of time. I'll finish writing it and send it to you right away."

"If you needed to look up information, wouldn't you have worked overtime last night to do it?"

"Last night I was researching and worked overtime until 11 p.m. I was so tired that I went home to sleep."

Zhao Gang said coldly, "I don't want to hear your nonsense. Don't go to lunch. Bring it to my office before you go to work this afternoon."

Xie Shanquan repeatedly agreed.

After Zhao Gang left, Xie Shanquan pretended to write a report until 1 a.m. At that time, Zhao Gang was taking a lunch break, and Xie Shanquan went to eat.

Xie Shanquan deliberately delayed until 2:10 PM, when he arrived at Zhao Gang's office with the report, as the workday was supposed to start at 2:00 PM.

He knocked gently on the door, but there was no response. Xie Shanquan knew that Zhao Gang was still taking a nap. He went back and waited until 2:30 before returning to Zhao Gang's office and knocking gently on the door again.

Zhao Gang yawned and called out, "Come in."

Xie Shanquan pushed open the door and entered with a smile: "Section Chief Zhao, the report is finished."

"Put the report down and get back to work."

Xie Shanquan placed the report on the table and left the office.

Zhao Gang went to the bathroom, washed his face to clear his head, fixed his hair, and returned to his office to put away the folding bed.

He picked up the report, glanced at it, and thought there were no problems. He then went to Chen Shi's office.

"County Chief Chen, the report is finished."

Chen Shi nodded: "Put the report on the table."

Zhao Gang put down the report, and seeing that Chen Shi had no further instructions, left the office.

After finishing his work, Chen Shi picked up the report and saw that it was exactly the same as Xie Shanquan's, even the punctuation was the same.

Chen Shi became suspicious of who had copied whom. He took out the report that Zhao Gang had written earlier and saw that all the reports were written by the same person.

Zhao Gang was the head of the General Affairs Section, and Xie Shanquan was a staff member of the same section. Even if Xie Shanquan had ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare to let Zhao Gang write for him.

Chen Shi picked up the landline and called the General Affairs Office, asking Xie Shanquan to come to his office.

Xie Shanquan nervously entered Chen Shi's office: "County Magistrate Chen..."

Chen Shi slammed the two reports on the table: "Xiao Xie, tell me, what's going on here?"

Xie Shanquan didn't look at the report, and feigning composure, said, "County Chief Chen, I dare not say."

Chen Shi looked at Xie Shanquan: "You wrote both reports."

Xie Shanquan nodded, and Chen Shi said, "I'll give you one chance. Explain things clearly."

Xie Shanquan decided to go all out; this was his only chance.

"County Chief Chen, if you ask, I dare not hide it. Zhao Ke asked me to write reports for him. The reports I wrote for the leaders were all written by me. Zhao Ke took them, changed his name, and gave them to the leaders."

Chen Shi solemnly asked, "Do you have any evidence?"

Xie Shanquan took out his phone and recorded what Zhao Gang said to him when he came to leave work at noon.

After listening, Chen Shi asked, "Why didn't you report the situation to the county leaders before?"

Xie Shanquan said, "Zhao Gang's father is Zhao Yongde, the director of Zhongshan Subdistrict Office. He used to be the director of the Transportation Bureau and was a good friend of Director Xu. Their two families are also related."

Previously, the head of the General Affairs Section had also taken my report for himself. When I went to argue with him, he transferred me to Laoyan Town a few days later. It was Director Lu who valued talent and waited until the head of the General Affairs Section was transferred to another post before transferring me back to the government office.

I dare not make the same mistake again. This time, it won't be a temporary transfer; I'll be transferred directly to a remote township.

Chen Shi remained silent for a long while before slowly saying, "I understand. You can go back now."

After Xie Shanquan left, Chen Shi checked the personnel files of Xie Shanquan and Zhao Gang.

Xie Shanquan graduated from Peking University with a major in Chinese Language and Literature, while Zhao Gang graduated from Mingzhou Teachers College with a major in Vietnamese Language and Literature. Both of them joined the government office in 2011.

Chen Shi checked the recruitment notice for two staff members in the government office in 2011. The professional requirements were Chinese language and literature for one person and Vietnamese language and literature for the other.

Why would the government office need Vietnamese language majors? Chen Shi checked the provincial civil servant recruitment guidelines submitted by the government office back then. The government office sometimes needs to deal with Vietnam, which involves export trade, and therefore needs talents with Vietnamese language majors.

Chunyang County is a poor county with no export trade. Chunyang does not border Vietnam.

The real and fake Li Kui are obvious at a glance.