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

Xie Shanquan ran downstairs panting. At the bottom of the stairs, he paused for three seconds to calm his heartbeat before quickly walking to Chen Shi's side and handing him the document.

Chen Shi took the document, glanced at it, and seeing no problems, looked at Chen Yuanjin: "Secretary Chen, take this document issued by the county government to the petitioners to see."

Chen Yuanjin took the documents with both hands and showed them to the petitioners. Chen Youfu called out, "Let me see them."

Chen Yuanjin handed the document to Chen Youfu. Chen Youfu took it and looked at it. Just as Chen Shi had said, he felt relieved. His goal had been achieved. He felt a heavy weight on his head and the world was spinning. Seeing this, Zhang Hu quickly stepped forward, grabbed Chen Youfu, and snatched the lighter from his hand.

Chen Youfu fainted, and Chen Shi shouted, "Call an ambulance quickly!"

Chen Yuanjin immediately dialed 120 for emergency medical assistance. Soon after, the ambulance arrived and took the elderly Chen Youfu away. Chen Shi looked at Chen Yuanjin and said, "Secretary Chen, quickly notify his family. You should go to the hospital to take care of him. You cannot leave until his family arrives."

Holding a megaphone, Chen Shi addressed the petitioners, saying, "The county government has issued a document stating that the dilapidated housing renovation project will begin reconstruction in one month. I assure you that if reconstruction is not possible in one month, you can come directly to the county government to find me. I am Chen Shi, the executive deputy county head."

Only after receiving Chen Shi's assurances did the petitioners who had been besieging the county government gradually withdraw.

Chen Shi looked at Xie Shanquan: "Convene an emergency meeting. Attendees include Deputy County Head Li Hong, Secretary Zhao Xiongcai, Director Guan Hui of the Finance Bureau, and Secretary Wang Jianming of Zhongshan Subdistrict Office."

Xie Shanquan hurriedly went down to issue a notice.

Chen Youfu opened his eyes, looked at Chen Yuanjin, and gave an OK sign.

Under these circumstances, he had no choice but to feign unconsciousness and use extreme measures to force the county government to comply. He was already riddled with illnesses, and a check-up revealed that he had many problems.

If he doesn't pretend to faint, no one can save face. If Chen Shi orders him arrested, given his numerous illnesses and advanced age, no one can bear the responsibility if something happens to him.

If we don't crack down on this, it won't work. If we open this door, no matter what the problem is, people will come to the county government to threaten suicide. There are so many petitioners in a county that the county government won't need to do any work anymore; they can just focus on solving petitions.

The act of besieging the county government was egregious, and arresting them was legal and reasonable. However, it is impossible to punish hundreds of elderly, weak, sick, and disabled people because the law does not apply to so many people.

If Chen Youfu doesn't faint, he must be arrested. Threatening him with death will make him a ringleader, even if he's not one.

Chen Shi was sitting in the conference room when Xu Ping'an walked in: "County Chief Chen, the elderly Chen Youfu used extreme methods to threaten relevant leaders of the county government. The nature of his actions is egregious. Should we arrest him for interrogation and investigate who is behind him?"

Chen Shi looked at Xu Ping'an: "Chen Youfu has cancer and is old. Arresting him won't solve the problem. This matter ends here."

Xu Pingan nodded and left the meeting room.

Guan Hui and Wang Jianming rushed over after receiving the notification.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Chen Shi solemnly said, "Why is this emergency meeting being held? Everyone knows that the county government has been besieged by petitioners. I don't need to elaborate on the nature of this."

From the perspective of the petitioners, there is no other way. If they could solve the problem through normal channels, they would not resort to extreme measures.

Fortunately, no one was injured.

Chen Shi glanced at everyone and said in a deep voice, "The Zhang County government has put me in full charge of the dilapidated housing renovation project. As you have all seen, the county government has issued a document requiring the reconstruction to begin within a month and be completed within two years. This is not just talk; it requires concrete action."

Chen Shi announced loudly, "I hereby announce the establishment of the Dilapidated Housing Renovation Project Office. I will serve as the director, and Secretary Zhao Xiongcai, Deputy County Head Li Hong, Director Guan Hui, and Secretary Wang Jianming will serve as deputy directors."

Chen Shi looked at Zhao Xiongcai: "The county government's 500 million yuan will be allocated to Chengnan Subdistrict Office after the New Year. You must implement the 500 million yuan for Chengnan Subdistrict Office as soon as possible. I want to see the money by the end of the year."

Zhao Xiongcai looked troubled and said, "County Chief Chen..."

Chen Shi interrupted Zhao Xiongcai: "Secretary Zhao, you can tell me about any difficulties, but not you. The county government allocated 500 million yuan to you. The dilapidated housing renovation project is the responsibility of your Chengnan Subdistrict Office. You transferred the money to Yikun Group, and you will have to bear the corresponding consequences."

The county government did not hold the relevant leaders of Chengnan Subdistrict Office accountable, but instead made you bear the consequences and allocated another 500 million yuan to you. What grievances does Chengnan Subdistrict Office have to complain about?

If we're talking about hardship, I'm the one who's suffering the most. I just took office and I already have to clean up your messes.

Zhao Xiongcai was covered in cold sweat. If this matter wasn't resolved quickly, his job as secretary was over.

Chen Shi said sternly, "Secretary Zhao Xiongcai, I don't care what methods you use, you must start the reconstruction of the project within a month, the construction team must enter the site, and I want to see 500 million yuan in the project account by the end of the year."

"Chen County, I will do my best," Zhao Xiongcai said.

"It's not just about trying your best, it's about definitely doing it. You need to understand that all the relevant leaders here are cleaning up the messes left by your Chengnan Subdistrict Office."

Zhao Xiongcai gritted his teeth and decided to go all out. All the financial funds of Chengnan Subdistrict Office were invested in the dilapidated housing renovation project. If this project was not resolved, he, as the secretary, would be dismissed immediately.

Other places can be postponed for now. There's no other way. We're facing financial difficulties and are stretched thin. We can only treat the symptoms, not the root cause, to temporarily stabilize the situation. In a year or two, we'll transfer ourselves and then ignore any major problems.

"Chen County, I assure you that reconstruction will begin on time within one month."

Chen Shi looked at Li Hong: "County Chief Li, the residents of Xiaxin Neighborhood Committee, have the petition office keep a close eye on them. This kind of situation of besieging the county government today must not happen again."

Those who came were all elderly, weak, sick, or disabled; there must be someone organizing this behind the scenes, and they must be severely punished.

"Yes, County Magistrate Chen. Go down and have the petition office keep a close eye on things. This kind of petitioning that surrounds the county government will not happen again."

Li Hong looked at Zhao Xiongcai, a leading cadre of Xiaxin Neighborhood Committee, who must be severely punished.

Zhao Xiongcai had a lot of complaints about Chen Yuanjin, the secretary of Xiaxin Neighborhood Committee, and it was very likely that he was the one who organized it behind the scenes. He would go back and dismiss him as secretary and put a trustworthy person in his place.

Chen Shi looked at Guan Hui: "Director Guan, can the Finance Bureau allocate 50 million?"

Guan Hui nodded: "County Chief Chen, the Finance Bureau can raise 50 million."

Chen Shi looked at Wang Jianming: "Secretary Wang, I called you here today because there's something important to arrange. All the land in Dawandi will be expropriated. The Customs Bureau will allocate 50 million yuan to your Zhongshan Subdistrict Office as compensation for the expropriation. I will handle the formalities with the county government and the county party committee."

If the 50 million yuan in compensation is not enough, your Zhongshan Subdistrict Office should find a solution yourself.

Land acquisition must be completed before the end of the year.

Chen Shi closed the notebook in front of him: "I'll tell you the truth."

The others exchanged glances, closed their notebooks, and put down their pens.

"The county government can't come up with 500 million yuan. We'll use the land in Dawandi, Zhongshan Subdistrict as collateral to get a 500 million yuan loan from the bank to solve the funding problem for the dilapidated housing renovation project."

Wang Jianming felt a mix of emotions. The mess left by the Chengnan Subdistrict Office required the Zhongshan Subdistrict Office to sell land to clean up their mess. If it weren't for Chen Shi's instructions, he wouldn't have strictly carried out this task if anyone had asked him to.

There are plenty of ways to outwardly comply while inwardly resisting, dragging things out, and getting by on superiors' orders.