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

Chen Shi was treated better at his father-in-law's house than at his own home. Jiang Huazhou smiled throughout, making Chen Shi feel like he was working at the county government.

After finishing his meal, Zhang Qingrong took a ham and some meat and put them in the trunk.

The trunk was completely full, with not a single gap.

Jiang Yiqiu chatted with his parents for a few minutes, and at midnight, the two went to the county town.

Back in the county town, there were still two hams at home, so they brought out two more. Jiang Yiqiu looked at the hams and was in a dilemma. They couldn't finish them, they simply couldn't finish them, since they rarely cooked at home.

"Honey, we can't eat four hams in a year. Why don't we sell them?"

"How could I sell the ham that my parents gave me? It would be so heartbreaking for them to find out."

Chen Shi looked at the ham; it was of good quality. "I gave these two to my superiors last year."

Jiang Yiqiu rolled his eyes at Chen Shi. "Is there any difference between this and selling it?"

Chen Shi thought for a moment: "If we give all four to the leaders, we rarely cook, and they'll just take up space at home."

The two rested at home for a day, and began delivering gifts separately on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year.

Zhang Xiangdong's family lived in the county town. Chen Shi carried the ham and arrived at the family building in the county party committee compound.

I ran into acquaintances on the way: Qin Xiaoming, Huang Kun, and Li Hong, who had just come out of Zhang Xiangdong's house.

Chen Shi greeted them with a smile.

When we arrived at Zhang Xiangdong's house, his wife complained, "We receive so many gifts that we can't even fit them all in the house."

Zhang Xiangdong didn't want to accept gifts. He felt that if he didn't give a small token during holidays, his subordinates would think he had designs on them, as long as there was no money in the gifts.

Zhang Xiangdong was strict about controlling the gifts. He would personally open and check them. If there was money inside, he would make them take it back and give them a scolding.

Chen Shi carried the ham into the house and said with a smile, "Secretary, when I went home for the Spring Festival this year, my parents and father-in-law each gave us a ham. The pig was raised by our own family and has never been fed any feed. We can't finish it all, there's too much of it. Please help us out, Secretary."

Zhang Xiangdong smiled broadly: "Hey kid, if you can't finish it, give it to me. We have two at home too."

"The longer the ham is left to sit, the better it tastes. Secretary, please enjoy your meal."

Chen Shi took the ham to the kitchen and left it there. Zhang Xiangdong took out a chessboard and said, "Let's play a couple of games and see if your skills have improved."

"How could I possibly be a match for the Party Secretary?"

"We lost, take the ham back."

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

People kept coming to give gifts, and Chen Shi made an excuse to leave. He needed to go back and practice, as he was no match for Zhang Xiangdong.

The next day, Chen Shi took a ham and went to Mingzhou to deliver gifts, first going to Liu Youguang's house.

People lined up to wish Liu Youguang a Happy New Year, but Chen Shi called ahead and went directly to his house.

Chen Shi put down the ham: "Old leader, this is a local pig raised at home. It has never been fed any feed, so the meat is of very good quality."

Liu Youguang smiled and said, "Sit down."

Chen Shi sat down, and Liu Youguang poured him tea.

The two chatted casually, and Liu Youguang instructed his secretary to deal with those who came to pay New Year's visits. He told his trusted confidants to meet with them, and those who were not trusted to simply drop off their gifts and leave.

Liu Youguang invited Chen Shi to stay for lunch, and the two drank a few cups of wine.

In the afternoon, Chen Shi went to Huang Ao's house to deliver ham. Huang Xin was also home. Chen Shi sat with Huang Ao for a while, but Huang Ao had something to do and had to go to the municipal party committee compound.

As Chen Shi prepared to leave, Huang Xin said, "Want to come with me to Yizhou later?"

Chen Shi asked suspiciously, "What?"

Huang Xin left directly, leaving Chen Shi completely bewildered.

Of the four hams, three were given away, and one was kept to give to Li Nan as a gift to Zhou Yun, the organization minister, in preparation for other valuable gifts.

When Chen Shi arrived at Zhou Yun's house, there were too many people. He greeted Zhou Yun and left, as he couldn't stay in such a situation for long.

Chen Shi left Zhou Yun's house and had just gotten into his car when his phone rang. He took it out and saw that it was Huang Xin calling.

Where are you? I'm coming to pick you up.

Chen Shi knew that Huang Xin was bored and wanted to go out for a walk.

"I'll be waiting for you at the entrance of Mingzhou No. 1 High School"

Mingzhou No. 1 High School is on holiday, there's no one here now, so no one will see us.

Chen Shi said to Yang Bin, "Go to Mingzhou No. 1 Middle School."

Upon arriving at Mingzhou No. 1 High School, Chen Shi got out of the car and said, "Yang Bin, you go back to Chunyang first. I'll submit something to you if anything comes up."

Yang Bin is a veteran who strictly follows his superiors' orders and never asks a question.

Yang Bin drove away, and Chen Shi waited for a few minutes before Huang Xin's car stopped in front of him. Huang Xin rolled down the window and said, "Get in."

Chen Shi got into the passenger seat: "Are we really going to Yizhou?"

"You think I'm joking? We're going to Yizhou to take a plane and go to Kyoto for fun."

"I have other things to do."

"I'm afraid your wife will find out."

"When I go out, she never cares about me."

"Don't you men all want to marry this kind of wife? No matter how much you play around outside, as long as you don't bring her home, it's fine."

Chen Shi looked at Huang Xin: "Is this your reason for not getting married?"

"I'm against marriage and I wasn't interested in men before, and of course, I wasn't interested in women either. But after meeting you, I developed feelings for you."

I know very well that I don't like you, but I'm fascinated by your body.

Chen Shi grinned mischievously: "We're all adults, just playing around. You're so frank, I wanted to sleep with you from the first time I saw you, and I like your body."

Huang Xin stopped talking. Chen Shi had a complicated feeling for Huang Xin that he couldn't quite explain.

She's like a fairy; you can only admire her, not marry her and face the mundane realities of daily life.

Huang Xin drove straight to the airport parking lot without taking a break.

Chen Shi got out of the car: "Have you bought the plane tickets?"

"Bought it"

Huang Xin took a small combination lock suitcase from the trunk and walked quickly forward.

Chen Shi chased after him, saying, "I didn't bring anything with me."

"You men don't need to bring anything when you go out."

Huang Xin went to the service desk, picked up the plane ticket, and handed it to Chen Shi.

Chen Shi took the plane ticket, his face full of suspicion: "How do you have my personal information?"

"I'm the head of the organization department; it's easy for me to know your personal information."

Chen Shi had a feeling that he was running naked in front of Huang Xin.

The two went to board the plane. Huang Xin had bought a business class ticket so she could get some rest.

Chen Shi glanced at the flight attendant's long legs, and Huang Xin rolled her eyes at him: "Are her legs longer than mine?"

Chen Shi looked at Huang Xin: "Are you jealous?"

"We have no relationship whatsoever, at most we're friends, why would I be jealous?"

"You'd be even more attractive as a flight attendant."

Huang Xin closed his eyes to rest, ignoring Chen Shi.

They arrived in Kyoto at 10 PM. As the two walked out of the airport, Chen Shi looked at Huang Xin and asked, "Where are we going?"

"I'll just go wherever I end up and find a hotel to stay in."

Chen Shi was somewhat surprised: "You didn't plan your trip at all?"

"Isn't it exhausting to have to plan everything?"

Chen Shi was dumbfounded. Huang Xin's trip to Kyoto was just a spur-of-the-moment thing; she had no plans whatsoever for tomorrow.

Huang Xin hailed a taxi and told the driver, "Go to the nearest five-star hotel."

Chen Shi was stunned; he couldn't believe it.

Huang Xin shouted, "Aren't you getting in the car?"