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

Xu Ping'an approached Chen Shi: "County Magistrate Chen, what do you think we should do?"

"Control the situation and prevent the petitioners from doing anything extreme." Chen Shi looked at the old man holding the lighter and said, "Find an opportunity to snatch the lighter away without taking any risks."

Xu Pingan nodded and went to make the arrangements.

Zhao Xiongcai arrived breathlessly with Chen Yuanjian, the secretary of Xiaxin Neighborhood Committee, and said to Chen Shi, "County Chief Chen, County Chief Li, I brought Chen Yuanjian, the secretary of Xiaxin Neighborhood Committee, with me. Let him do some work with the people and tell them not to block the county government. This is a crime, a serious offense, and they will go to jail."

"Secretary Zhao, at this time, the priority is to appease the people and avoid provoking them into doing anything extreme."

When Chen Shi spoke, Zhao Xiongcai repeatedly agreed. He then turned to Chen Yuanjin and said, "Secretary Chen, hurry up and do some work with the masses. Persuade them to go back. You have half an hour. If you can't persuade them to go back, you'll have to bear the consequences."

Chen Yuanjin said in a deep voice, "Secretary Zhao, the residents of Xiaxin Neighborhood Committee are really at their wits' end. No one can persuade them now. They want an answer."

I cannot be the secretary; I hereby resign.

Zhao Xiongcai never expected that Chen Yuanjin would embarrass him in front of the leaders. Could it be that Chen Yuanjin was behind the blockade of the county government today?

Those who came were all elderly, weak, sick, or disabled; no one dared to arrest them, there must be someone organizing it behind the scenes.

Zhao Xiongcai looked at Chen Yuanjin: "You are still the secretary of Xiaxin Neighborhood Committee, a party member and cadre. You must persuade him to go back."

"Secretary Zhao, please dismiss me from my post on the spot. I don't have the ability to do so. I'll persuade them to go back."

Zhao Xiongcai's face darkened. He never expected that Chen Yuanjin, who was usually obedient, would embarrass him in front of his superiors.

Once this matter is over, he will be the first person to be dismissed from his post.

Zhang Hu approached Chen Shi and said, "County Chief Chen, we've learned about this old man. His name is Chen Youfu, and he's seventy-five years old. He was diagnosed with late-stage liver cancer before the Lunar New Year."

Chen Shi's heart skipped a beat. This was a death wish. If he set himself on fire in front of the county government, his position as executive deputy county head would be over.

Upon hearing Zhang Hu's report, Zhao Xiongcai shouted, "Chen Yuanjin, what is your purpose in summoning such a dying man?"

Chen Yuanjin looked aggrieved: "Secretary Zhao, you can't wrong people. These residents organized themselves. They've been homeless for four or five years. Even a rabbit will bite when cornered, let alone a person."

Time ticked by, and Chen Shi quickly considered a solution. He looked at Chen Yuanjin and said, "Secretary Chen, people still believe what you say. Go and tell them to find a few representatives so we can sit down and talk. Blocking the county government like this won't solve anything."

Chen Shi looked at the elderly Chen Youfu and said, "Try to calm him down and prevent him from doing anything extreme."

Chen Shi held the highest position here. Chen Yuanjin went over to Chen Youfu and said, "Third Uncle, don't get excited. The leader said he will help you with the house construction."

Chen Youfu shouted, "Stop making a fool of us! Twenty minutes have passed. If you don't give us a clear solution in one hour, I will set myself on fire in front of the county government."

Chen Youfu was agitated, and Chen Yuanjin walked to Chen Shi's side: "County Magistrate Chen, I can't persuade you. We should give everyone an explanation as soon as possible so that they will be convinced."

Chen Shi checked the time, looking anxious. If Zhang Kaizhi hid and didn't show up, and Chen Youfu set himself on fire in front of the county government, he could forget about being the county magistrate.

He took out his phone and called Zhang Kaizhi.

"Chen County, why are these petitioners blocking the county government? Do you know how egregious this is? If the city leaders find out, you, the executive deputy county head, will be fired."

"Zhang County, the situation is urgent. An elderly man named Chen Youfu has poured gasoline on himself and is about to set himself on fire in front of the county government. They want a clear answer from the county government. I cannot make that decision. Please come down and appease the petitioners."

"Old man Chen Youfu gave us one hour, and more than twenty minutes have passed now. If he self-immolates, the relevant leaders of the county government will all be punished."

Zhang Kaizhi did not expect the matter to be so serious: "You are in full charge of this matter. You do not need to consult me. I have only one request: immediately appease the petitioners and persuade them to leave and not to besiege the county government."

This elderly man who wanted to self-immolate should absolutely not do so in front of the county government building.

"County Magistrate Zhang, can I handle this entirely on behalf of the county government?"

"What time is it? Your words represent the county government. Deal with it immediately."

Chen Shi wanted to hear that sentence, and he wanted to record it so that Zhang Kaizhi wouldn't deny it later.

Chen Shi asked Zhang Hu to bring a megaphone and shouted to the crowd: "Hello everyone, I am Chen Shi, the executive deputy county head. I am in full charge of the dilapidated housing renovation project. I promise you here that construction will begin in one month and I guarantee that the houses will be completed and you can move in within two years."

Chen Youfu shouted, "Words are no proof; we need to see the county government's documents."

"Issue the document now," Chen Shi said to Xie Shanquan. "Go quickly to draft the document, get Zhang Xian's stamp, take it down, and send it to Chengnan Subdistrict Office and Xiaxin Neighborhood Committee."

Xie Shanquan hurriedly ran back to his office, drafted a document, and took it to Zhang Kaizhi for stamping.

Zhang Kaizhi sneered inwardly. Chen Shi had given such a specific timeframe; how would things end up? Chen Shi would bear the responsibility.

In order to appease the petitioners as soon as possible, he asked Xie Shanquan to take the documents to Xu Wen in the government office for stamping.

Xu Wen glanced at the document: "Xiao Xie, I can't stamp it without Zhang Xian's signature."

Xie Shanquan hurriedly ran to find Zhang Kaizhi to sign the document. Zhang Kaizhi said, "The dilapidated housing renovation project is entirely the responsibility of Chen County. Just get Chen County to sign it."

Sweating profusely, Xie Shanquan rushed to the door, found Chen Shi, and whispered, "County Chief Chen, County Chief Zhang wants you to sign."

Chen Shi knew that Zhang Kaizhi was playing tricks, and if something went wrong, no one would get away with it.

He took the pen Xie Shanquan handed him and signed his name on the document.

Xie Shanquan took the document to Xu Wen for stamping. Xu Wen took the document and looked at it. It only had Chen Shi's signature: "Xiao Xie, I can't stamp it. There's no Zhang County's signature."

"Zhang County said that Chen County is fully responsible and all Chen County needs to do is sign."

"The regulations for documents issued by the county government stipulate that they must be signed by the county head. I cannot stamp them if they are signed by the deputy county head."

Xie Shanquan looked anxious, took out his phone, and called Zhang Kaizhi directly.

"Zhang County, this is Xie Shanquan from the General Affairs Section. Chen County has already signed the document, but Director Xu said that your signature is required."

"Give the phone to Director Xu."

"Director Xu, County Chief Zhang wants you to take this call." Xie Shanquan handed the phone to Xu Wen.

Xu Wen took the phone: "Zhang County..."

"The dilapidated housing renovation project is entirely under the responsibility of Chen County; all he needs to do is sign it off."

Xu Wen quickly agreed.