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

Zhao Yuancheng broke out in a cold sweat. The Laoyan Town government was very poor, but the relevant leaders were very wealthy. Everyone had taken benefits from the coal mine. If an investigation were to be launched, no one would have a good outcome.

Chen Shi was too domineering. He would investigate the accounts at the slightest disagreement. But what could he do when he had the power?

"The Party Committee and Government of Laoyan Town, Chen County, will strictly implement your instructions. All sections of road that coal mine trucks pass through will be repaired annually at the expense of the coal mines."

Chen Shi looked at Zhao Yuancheng. These township cadres were all seasoned veterans; they wouldn't shed a tear until they saw the coffin.

"Secretary Zhao, I will come to inspect in two months. I will let my actions speak for themselves."

Chen Shi looked at Gu Jia: "President Gu, let's take the pickup truck there. We'll have to wait until dark to change the tire."

Although it was early spring, the weather turned cloudy, and the fog in Laoyan Town was even thicker than in Fushan Town. When it got dark, the road was completely invisible, and the visibility was less than a meter.

Before six o'clock, the sky had already darkened.

Gu Jia nodded, and Chen Shi said to Yang Bin, "Yang Bin, you wait here to change the tire. We'll go to the coal mine to do some research first."

Yang Bin was left behind. Chen Shi and Gu Jia sat in the back of the pickup truck, Xie Shanquan sat in the passenger seat, and the director of the Party and Government Office dared not let Zhao Yuancheng sit in the back. He quickly said, "Secretary Zhao, the fog is too thick. I dare not drive. You drive, and I will sit in the back."

Zhao Yuancheng said coldly, "With your driving skills, you still need to practice."

I got into the driver's seat, stepped on the gas, and drove incredibly fast.

Chen Shi thought to himself, Chunyang County is very big, and there are many places he has never been to. With the road conditions in Laoyan Town, no wonder no one wants to take up a post there.

The coal mines need to be investigated, but not now. The current task is to concentrate our efforts on building the highway.

We'll settle accounts after the highway is repaired.

The car stopped at a repair shop. The deputy mayor got out and asked the shop owner to take two tires to be changed. After getting back in the car, they continued on their way.

Upon arriving at the coal mine, the mine manager and his men were waiting at the entrance. They looked surprised to see the deputy mayor and the director of the Party and government office standing on the train carriage.

He didn't look like a county leader on an inspection tour at all; he seemed more like a refugee fleeing a disaster.

The car stopped, Xie Shanquan got out and opened the car door for Chen Shi, and Zhao Yuancheng got out as well.

The mine manager didn't recognize Chen Shi. When he saw Gu Jia get out of the car, he almost drooled. This woman was too hot. If he could sleep with her for one night, he would die happy.

The reason why Laoyan Town produces coal is not only because the land is black, but also because the people are black. There is no woman as beautiful as Gu Jia in the surrounding area.

The mine manager stared at Gu Jia. Zhao Yuancheng coughed lightly, and the mine manager snapped out of his reverie and quickly came over to greet her: "Secretary Zhao."

Zhao Yuancheng said, "Mine Manager Liang, this is County Chief Chen, who brought General Manager Gu to Daya Coal Mine for research."

Mine manager Liang Youfa hurriedly ran forward and shook hands with Chen Shi: "Hello, County Magistrate Chen."

A pair of dark, black hands reached out to Gu Jia: "Hello, President Gu."

Gu Jia saw his dark, calloused hands, but didn't shake them. She smiled and nodded, "Hello, Mine Manager Liang."

Liang Youfa awkwardly withdrew his hand: "Leaders, please move to the coal mine canteen. We have prepared food and drinks in a private room."

Gu Jia glanced at the sky; it was getting dark, and she didn't want to spend the night in a place like this.

"Manager Liang, please show us around the coal mine's facilities first."

With a smile, Liang Youfa said, "President Gu, it's getting dark. Let's look at it again tomorrow morning. It's rare for leaders to come to the coal mine. Let's stay overnight and conduct the research tomorrow morning."

Chen Shi said in a deep voice, "Aren't there streetlights in the coal mine? Turn them all on; we need to investigate now."

Liang Youfa realized that Chen Shi was serious and not just talking. He had received many leaders who claimed to be there for inspection or research, but in reality, they were just there to eat and drink at the coal mine and ask for some benefits.

Liang Youfa looked at Zhao Yuancheng and received an affirmative look. He then quickly told the workers to turn on all the lights and led the group to inspect the layout of the coal mine.

Gu Jia asked some questions about production at the coal mine; clearly, she had done her homework before coming.

Around 7 a.m., due to the heavy fog, Yang Bin drove the car to the coal mine.

He rarely drives in foggy weather, especially at night. There is no fog in the county town all year round. The fog comes from Yixing County and is blocked by the mountains when it reaches Shangying Town. There is no fog above Shangying Town.

Yang Bin asked the tire changer to lead the way, as visibility was less than a meter.

The drive was nerve-wracking.

Liang Youfa had no idea what Gu Jia was up to. What was there to research about a coal mine? He was starving and his stomach was aching, so he could only endure it.

Zhao Yuancheng said, "County Chief Chen, General Manager Gu, let's go eat first. If there are any problems, we can talk about them while we eat."

Chen Shi looked at Gu Jia: "President Gu, let's go eat first."

Gu Jia looked at it and nodded in agreement.

Liang Youfa told the canteen chefs to hurry up and prepare the food.

The chef had prepared all the side dishes and, upon receiving the order, turned up the heat to stir-fry the vegetables.

The group entered the private room, where a large round table was set up. Zhao Yuancheng still asked Chen Shi to sit in the main seat, while Chen Shi asked Gu Jia to sit in the main seat.

Everyone sat down around the table. When Liang Youfa saw Yang Bin outside, he quickly called out, "Which brother is it? Come in and have dinner with us."

In rural towns, there aren't so many rules; in county towns, drivers don't eat at the table.

Chen Shi looked outside and said, "Yang Bin, come in and have dinner with us."

Yang Bin had followed Chen Shi for many years. In front of Chen Shi, he was just a driver. When Chen Shi wasn't around, he was practically a leader, and everyone had to treat him with respect.

Chen Shi spoke, and Yang Bin walked in and sat in an inconspicuous spot.

The dishes were served quickly, and Liang Youfa brought out wine and poured it for everyone.

Gu Jia didn't want to live in the coal mine, where the miners were all people who had never seen a woman before, especially a beautiful woman like her. When the miners saw her, their eyes would be glued to her, and they would make no attempt to hide their filthy thoughts.

If she can't go back to the county seat, she should at least stay in the town. Her beauty is meant to be displayed to the upper elites, not to be seen by a bunch of miners.

"Chen County, we still need to go back later. The driver must not drink and drive. The fog in Laoyan Town is too thick; we can't be careless."

Chen Shi looked at Yang Bin: "Yang Bin, can you drive in this kind of thick fog?"

Yang Bin dared not put on a brave face and told the truth: "County Chief Chen, I rarely drive in foggy weather. Visibility is extremely low at night, and I'm not familiar with the road conditions. Without someone to guide me, I can't drive."

Chen Shi appreciated this about Yang Bin: if something is not going to work, then it is; if it is not going to work, then say so so that the leaders can make arrangements.

Zhao Yuancheng continued, "County Chief Chen, have Master Yang follow behind our pickup truck. Drivers from Laoyan Town can all drive in foggy weather."

"In Laoyan Town, the weather is foggy for at least 200 out of 360 days a year."

The director of the Party and Government Office chimed in, "Secretary Zhao, you go drink with County Chief Chen. I'll drive you later."

Zhao Yuancheng smiled and said, "You sit with Master Yang."

Liang Youfa said, "Leaders, there are rooms in the coal mine that are just like five-star hotels. It's so late and the fog is so thick, we'll go back tomorrow morning."

Gu Jia felt uncomfortable thinking about the way the miners looked at her; coal mines were all coal, not places for people to live.

Gu Jia looked at Chen Shi, who understood her meaning: "Mine Manager Liang, we have things to do tomorrow morning, so we have to go back tonight."

Since Chen Shi had spoken, Liang Youfa didn't dare to force him to stay. He just wanted to see Gu Jia a few more times and feast his eyes.