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

After get off work, Chen Shi, Zhang Xiangdong, Qin Xiaoming, and Huang Kun went to Xiaoyuan Renjia for dinner.

Huang Kun asked the waiter to bring three bottles of fine wine. Chen Shi stood up, opened the bottles, took a decanter, and poured wine for the three of them.

The four men clinked glasses and drank heartily. Zhang Xiangdong asked Chen Shi to sit next to him, as he needed a capable subordinate.

Whether he can advance further in his career, build highways, develop the economy of Chunyang County, and remove the county's label as an impoverished county is of paramount importance.

All of this requires Chen Shi to be at the forefront, charging into battle.

Seeing that they had drunk enough, Huang Kun looked at Zhang Xiangdong and said, "Secretary, would you like to go to the guesthouse and play some chess?"

Zhang Xiangdong enjoys playing chess. Hearing Huang Kun's suggestion, he nodded and said, "Okay, it's still early. Let's play chess at the guesthouse."

The four arrived at the county party committee office guesthouse. Xu Mei received a call from Huang Kun and rushed over to wait for him at the guesthouse.

Chen Shi hadn't been to the guesthouse for a long time. The guesthouse had changed; the former KTV rooms had been converted into Go rooms.

Liu Youguang likes to sing, so this is a KTV room. Now Zhang Xiangdong likes to play chess, so this has become a Go room.

The main function of the county party committee office guesthouse is to serve the leaders. They have to follow the leaders' preferences and do whatever the leaders like to do.

Huang Kun wanted to play chess with Zhang Xiangdong and had already sat down when Zhang Xiangdong looked at Chen Shi and said, "Chen County Magistrate, let's play a game and see if your chess skills have improved."

Chen Shi felt a little dizzy, but smiled and said, "Secretary, I'm no match for you. I still need to practice."

Huang Kun quickly stood up: "My chess skills are too poor. I can't even last three moves against the secretary."

"Director Huang, you really need to work on your chess skills."

Chen Shi sat down and accompanied Zhang Xiangdong.

Huang Kun looked at Qin Xiaoming: "Secretary Qin, let's play a game."

The two sat down, and Xu Mei served them.

Chen Shi played four games against Zhang Xiangdong, losing three and drawing one.

Zhang Xiangdong felt very satisfied. Chen Shi did not deliberately hold back. Zhang Xiangdong's chess skills are indeed impressive. Chen Shi will have to practice more when he goes down.

If the skill level is too low, the leader won't feel satisfied; it's meaningless. The competition needs to be evenly matched, close enough for a meaningful victory.

Zhang Xiangdong glanced at his watch; it was past eleven. He needed to go to Mingzhou tomorrow morning to report to Xiao Chong.

"That's all for tonight, Chen County. Your chess skills are good, but you still need to practice. I'm waiting for you to beat me in one game."

"Even if I train for another ten years, I'm afraid I still won't be able to beat the Party Secretary."

"If I can't beat you, there's no point in playing chess with you." Zhang Xiangdong said with a smile, telling Chen Shi that only by giving it his all and beating him once would he be qualified to play chess with him.

Experts don't like sparring with novices; it's too boring.

After seeing Zhang Xiangdong off, Qin Xiaoming and Chen Shi also left, leaving Xu Mei and Huang Kun behind.

Xu Mei swayed her slender waist as she approached Huang Kun: "Director Huang, how long has it been since you last came to my house for chicken soup?"

Huang Kun looked at Xu Mei, realizing it had been almost a month since he had visited her home for chicken soup.

I'll come over tomorrow night.

"It's so late, I'm scared to go home alone. Director Huang, please take me home."

"It's late at night, it's not good for others to see this, we need to be mindful of the impact."

"There's no one here at this time. So what if they see us? We're both single."

Huang Kun couldn't resist pinching Xu Mei's buttocks: "Come on, I'll take you home."

Huang Kun and Xu Mei arrived at her house. As soon as they entered, Huang Kun grabbed Xu Mei and kissed her passionately.

When Huang Kun had a strong physical reaction and tried to take off Xu Mei's clothes, Xu Mei pushed him away.

"Director Huang, what exactly is our relationship? You've been sleeping with her for years, you should at least give her a proper status."

Huang Kun sat on the sofa, took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a puff.

Xu Mei said, "I know you like Huang Xin, but Huang Xin doesn't like you. You can't afford to offend Huang Xin. Her uncle is the Secretary-General of the Municipal Party Committee. He's young, but he's already the Minister of the Organization Department and one of the leaders of the County Party Committee. He's ranked ahead of you."

Huang Xin has both a powerful background and stunning looks, so you should give up on her. I'm the one who's right for you.

Huang Kun extinguished his cigarette and looked at Xu Mei: "I will not marry you, and you should give up on that idea. You can end our relationship anytime you want."

If Huang Kun were to get married, he wouldn't choose Xu Mei, who is past her prime. He has no hope with Huang Xin, and finding a young and beautiful woman would be a piece of cake for him.

Huang Kun stood up and walked outside. Xu Mei panicked. Huang Kun was her only support. If she fell out with him, she would suffer the consequences.

She rushed forward and hugged Huang Kun from behind: "They won't let you leave, but I didn't say you had to marry me. If you don't want to marry me, then don't. I'll be your lover. If you're tired, come to me, and I'll give you tenderness."

You can marry whomever you want; I won't have any more improper thoughts.

Huang Kun said coldly, "Let go. I'm tired and need to go back to rest."

"Why don't you stay and keep me company?" Xu Mei said coquettishly.

"I'm not in the mood tonight, let's talk about it another day."

Huang Kun pushed Xu Mei's hand away and walked out.

Xu Mei sat alone on the sofa. It hadn't been easy for her to get to this point; she had sacrificed so much. She wanted to pester Huang Kun to transfer her to another department, to the bureau, to become the deputy director and get promoted to deputy section chief.

She didn't want to work as a servant in the guesthouse.

Huang Kun arrived at the county committee's residential building and saw that Huang Xin's room was still lit. He had never liked anyone like this before. He stared blankly at Huang Xin's room. This was a woman he could not have.

He suddenly hated himself for not having enough power. If he were the municipal party secretary, Huang Xin certainly wouldn't have rejected his pursuit.

Huang Xin is too indifferent to me; I always end up being the one who tries to be nice to her but gets the cold shoulder.

What we can't have is always the best; what we get too easily, we don't cherish.

Huang Kun, as if possessed, arrived at Huang Xin's door and gently knocked.

Huang Xin had just finished showering and was getting ready for bed when she heard a knock on the door. She asked, "Who is it?"

"It's me, Minister Huang."

"What's up?"

"Is there something you need to say? Can I come in and talk?"

Huang Xin opened the door, and Huang Kun almost had a nosebleed when he saw Huang Xin wearing pajamas and showing off her curvaceous figure.

Huang Kun glanced at Huang Xin's barely visible cleavage and her long, exposed legs, and his mind wandered.

Huang Xin asked, "Director Huang, what brings you here so late?"

Huang Kun looked away, a smile on his face, and said, "I'm sick, and only Minister Huang can cure me."

Huang Xin said with a serious expression, "Director Huang, I'm not a doctor. If you're sick, you should go to the hospital. What are you doing here?"

"I'm lovesick, and doctors can't cure it, only you can."

Huang Xin realized that Huang Kun was trying to harass her, and said coldly, "Get out."

Huang Kun grabbed Huang Xin's hand: "Minister Huang, I'm here tonight to confess my feelings. I like you. Can you give me a chance?"

Upon seeing Huang Kun's face, Huang Xin felt a physical revulsion and wanted to vomit. She shook off Huang Kun's hand and slapped him across the face, making Huang Kun's head buzz.

"Get out. If this happens again, I'll call the police. You don't want to be the director of the county party committee office anymore."

Huang Xin had the ability to back it up; he wasn't just bluffing. Huang Kun instantly snapped out of his daze.

"Minister Huang, I was wrong. I will never do it again. Please forgive me."

"roll"

Huang Kun was covered in cold sweat. When he got home, he slapped himself a few times. What was wrong with him? He was so irrational. He had paid too high a price to become the director of the county party committee office. What kind of woman couldn't he find? Why did he have to go and provoke Huang Xin?

If Huang Xin were to tell Huang Ao about this, Huang Ao could easily expose her true colors with just one sentence.

Damn it, why did I have to confess my feelings to Huang Xin?

Huang Kun couldn't sleep, he was filled with anxiety and needed to release the pressure, so he took out his phone and called Xu Mei.

Xu Mei was also awake. When she received a call from Huang Kun asking her to come to his room, she quickly got up, put on her clothes, and rushed to the county committee's residential building.

As soon as Xu Mei rang the doorbell, Huang Kun opened the door, pulled Xu Mei inside, and before she could speak, he kissed her lips, tore at her clothes, and launched a frenzied assault to vent his pent-up frustration.