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

Chen Shi had lunch at Li Nan's house, chatted for a while, and left around 1 p.m.

Yang Bin drove out of the municipal party committee compound and asked, "County Chief Chen, where are we going?"

Chen Shi had a habit of taking a nap; if he didn't, he would feel listless all day.

"Go to the Water Cube"

Upon arriving at the Water Cube, Chen Shi asked Yang Bin to book two rooms. Chen Shi then went to his room and took a nap.

After sleeping for more than twenty minutes, I got up, washed up, and felt refreshed. I took out my phone and called Liu Youguang.

The phone rang for over ten seconds before being answered: "Chen Shi."

"Mayor Liu, are you free this afternoon? I just arrived in Mingzhou and wanted to come and report to you."

Are you coming over now?

"Depending on your availability"

"Come over now, there's a meeting at four o'clock."

Chen Shi asked Yang Bin to drive to the municipal government and arrive at Liu Youguang's office.

Mayor Liu

Liu Youguang stood up to greet him: "This is the first time you've taken the initiative to come and report to me on your work."

Chen Shi smiled and said, "Mayor Liu, you're criticizing me. I'll have to come and report to you more often in the future."

The two sat down in the reception room, and the secretary poured tea for Chen Shi before leaving the office.

Chen Shi took out the highway information from his briefcase, handed it to Liu Youguang with both hands, and gave a detailed report.

Liu Youguang took the documents, but without looking at them, he placed them directly on the table.

"When I was the Party Secretary of Chunyang County, I wanted to build this expressway. However, considering that the total investment was over 10 billion yuan, the county government didn't have the money, and the city wouldn't be able to allocate much either. From the perspective of city leaders, this expressway wouldn't contribute much to the city's economic development, so they wouldn't allocate much funding to Chunyang."

For the province, it's practically dispensable; forget about getting funding, even getting approval is a problem.

Chen Shi was once again met with a cold shower, and said urgently, "Mayor Liu, you came from Chunyang, you must support the construction of this expressway. Chunyang needs this road to develop its economy."

"I am aware of Chunyang's current situation. This highway has no problem getting approval at the city level, but it will be difficult at the provincial level. Even if the province approves it, it won't allocate much funding. The total investment is 145 billion yuan, how much can Chunyang County's finances allocate?"

"A maximum of 20 billion"

"There's still a 125 billion yuan hole; how are you going to solve it?"

Chen Shi thought for a moment: "Mayor Liu, my previous plan was for the city to need 50 billion yuan and the province to need 75 billion yuan..."

Liu Youguang interrupted Chen Shi: "Chen Shi, what are you thinking? How could the city possibly give you 50 billion yuan to build roads? The province's 75 billion yuan is even more impossible."

Chen Shi felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave. Was he destined to die before even achieving his goal?

Liu Youguang said in a heavy tone, "This highway is difficult to repair. Why don't we just give up? You're not the top leader, why put so much pressure on yourself?"

Go back and tell Xiang Dong that you can't do this job. Tell him to arrange for someone capable, at least a county leader with connections in the province, to take it over.

"Mayor Liu, it was my idea to build this highway."

Liu Youguang looked surprised. "What are you thinking? Others are trying to avoid you, but you're actively going up to them. If you do your job well, it's your job, and the credit goes to the county's top leaders. If you don't do it well, you'll just be a scapegoat."

They really think they're Superman, capable of anything.

Chen Shi continued, "Mayor Liu, I'll figure out a way to raise funds for the road construction. We can't back down when we encounter difficulties. Please help me get approval from the city government first."

Liu Youguang looked at Chen Shi: "The city's approval is no problem. I just need to call the Transportation Bureau. Tonight, I'll invite the director of the Development and Reform Commission to dinner. I'll let him know."

As for how much funding the city can provide, that's not up to me. The city only allocates a limited number of road construction quotas to the Transportation Bureau, and many road construction projects that have been in the works for years can't even get started.

In short, even landlords don't have surplus grain, so don't come here to beg for it.

Chen Shi said, "Let's get the highway project approved first; funding will come later."

Liu Youguang smiled and said, "Young people should be like this, daring to think and act, not timid and hesitant."

If I were the municipal party secretary, I would definitely promote you to county party secretary and give you control of the area.

Chen Shi thought to himself, "He's just making empty promises again. At your age, you have no hope of becoming the municipal party secretary. I'm still young, becoming the county party secretary is just a matter of time."

Liu Youguang asked, "Has the information about the expressway been submitted to the Transportation Bureau?"

"It's been reported."

Liu Youguang took out his phone and called the director of the Transportation Bureau.

"Old Ye, the transportation bureau of Chunyang County has submitted information about the expressway. If there are no problems, submit it to the Development and Reform Commission for approval."

Old Ye readily agreed, and with Liu Youguang's intervention, the Transportation Bureau dared not delay and immediately arranged for approval.

Liu Youguang glanced at his watch: "Chen Shi, I have a meeting to attend. Could you make arrangements so I can introduce you to the director of the National Development and Reform Commission tonight?"

"Mayor Liu, would it be alright if the banquet were held at the Water Cube?"

"Okay, after the meeting, call the director of the National Development and Reform Commission to come over."

Chen Shi returned to the Water Cube, booked a private room, and went back to his room to wait.

At seven o'clock, Chen Shi's phone rang. He picked it up and saw that it was Liu Youguang calling. He quickly answered the phone.

Mayor Liu

"I came with Lao Xiao, we'll be there in ten minutes."

Chen Shi quickly left the room, took the elevator, and waited at the door.

A short while later, Liu Youguang's car drove in, followed by a black Volkswagen.

Liu Youguang got out of the car, and Chen Shi jogged up to him: "Mayor Liu."

Liu Youguang looked at the bald old man who got out of the black Volkswagen; he looked to be around sixty years old.

"Chen Shi, let me introduce you. This is Director Xiao Zhiguo of the National Development and Reform Commission."

Chen Shi quickly stepped forward and shook Xiao Zhiguo's hand: "Director Xiao, hello, I am Chen Shi, the executive deputy county head of Chunyang County."

Xiao Zhiguo smiled and said, "County Chief Chen, you're so young. You're probably the youngest executive deputy county chief in Mingzhou City."

With a forced smile, Chen Shi led the way to the private room.

Chen Shi ordered the waiter to serve the dishes and prepared two bottles of fine wine in advance.

Chen Shi opened the wine bottle and poured wine for Liu Youguang and Xiao Zhiguo.

The three of them started chatting, not about work or life, but about the international situation.

Xiao Zhiguo spoke eloquently about the international situation, giving the impression that he was an expert.

The three of them drank two bottles of baijiu (Chinese liquor). Chen Shi felt dizzy and lightheaded, and knew he would get drunk if he drank any more.

"Mayor Liu, Director Xiao, let's go to the sauna."

Xiao Zhiguo said, "You shouldn't go to a sauna after drinking alcohol. It's bad for your health and can easily lead to trouble. Chen County, you're still young. By the time you're my age and want to take care of your health, it will be too late."

Start taking care of your health early.

Chen Shi repeatedly said yes.

Liu Youguang chimed in, "Old Xiao, let's go sing karaoke."

Singing is good; it can increase lung capacity.

After observing Xiao Zhiguo, Chen Shi found that Xiao Zhiguo paid great attention to health preservation.

Upon arriving at the KTV room, the manager brought in a group of stylishly dressed young women and introduced them, saying, "Gentlemen, those with their hands in front can play freely, while those with their hands behind need their permission."

Liu Youguang looked at Xiao Zhiguo: "Old Xiao, you go first."

Xiao Zhiguo didn't stand on ceremony, glancing at the list: "Next batch."