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

A table laden with wild game, Liang Youfa said, “Distinguished leaders, Daya Coal Mine is nestled against the mountains, where there is plenty of wild game that you can’t find in the city. Try some of this wild game.”

Everyone was so hungry that their stomachs were practically sticking to their backs, but Chen Shi didn't touch his chopsticks, so they could only endure it.

Chen Shi picked up his chopsticks and said, "Don't look at me, eat."

Everyone picked up their chopsticks and began to eat heartily.

Zhao Yuancheng kept toasting Chen Shi, but Chen Shi, already slightly drunk, stopped drinking.

Chen Shi put down his cup: "Secretary Zhao, how many kilometers is it from Daya Coal Mine to the town?"

"Thirteen kilometers. If we drive slowly at night, it will probably take half an hour."

Chen Shi checked the time; it was past nine o'clock.

That's all for tonight, we need to get back.

Liang Youfa had the finance department prepare red envelopes and secretly gave them to everyone.

While Chen Shi went to the restroom, Liang Youfa followed him and handed him a red envelope.

Chen Shi asked suspiciously, "Manager Liang, what does this mean?"

Chen Shi did not accept the red envelope, which he estimated to be worth forty or fifty thousand yuan.

Liang Youfa thought to himself, "What are you pretending for? You're here to inspect the coal mine, you just want a bribe." But he smiled and said, "County Chief Chen, this is a small token of our appreciation from the coal mine. Please accept it."

Chen Shi said sternly, "We are here to investigate the coal mine, not to accept gifts. Take the red envelopes. If you really care, fix the road to the coal mine. It's in such a terrible state. The ponds along the road are big enough to raise fish, and it seriously affects the travel of the nearby villagers."

Chen Shi strode away, leaving Liang Youfa looking bewildered. He'd come to the coal mine for research and found people who didn't want bribes.

Chen Shi got into the car and guessed that everyone had a red envelope.

Yang Bin glanced at Xie Shanquan. They didn't know if Chen Shi had taken it or not. Liang Youfa had forced it on them, and since Chen Shi didn't say anything, they could only pretend not to know.

Chen Shi initially wanted the men to return the red envelopes to Liang Youfa, but then he thought that these men had been running around all day, and while he could refuse the red envelopes given to him by the coal mine, he couldn't stop them from taking them.

Chen Shi also turned a blind eye and pretended not to know.

Liang gave out red envelopes, but Zhao Yuancheng didn't take them. If he had, things would have been different if he had asked the coal mine to build roads later.

Chen Shi was serious this time; the road had to be repaired.

The fog was so thick that the road was barely visible, with visibility of less than a meter.

The pickup truck has been modified with fog lights installed, but in this foggy weather, especially at night, ordinary fog lights are completely ineffective.

Yang Bin followed the pickup truck, his attention highly focused, only able to see the truck's taillights, unable to see anything around him.

It took more than half an hour to drive to Laoyan Town, and Yang Bin broke out in a cold sweat.

Gu Jia said, "Chen County, it's ten o'clock now, let's go straight back to the county seat."

Yang Bin was startled. The section from Laoyan Town to Shangying Town was covered in thick fog for 60 or 70 kilometers. Even with a car leading the way, it was very difficult to drive, and the danger level was increasing exponentially.

Chen Shi looked at Yang Bin: "Yang Bin, the fog is very thick, can you still drive?"

Yang Bin quickly said, "County Chief Chen, for safety's sake, let's stay in Laoyan Town for one night and go back tomorrow morning."

Our car wasn't equipped with fog lights, and in this kind of foggy weather, especially at night, we could barely see the road. Even with a tow car, we were very busy driving. It took us more than half an hour to travel just over ten kilometers. The section from Laoyan Town to Shangying Town will probably take two or three hours.

Chen Shi looked at Gu Jia: "President Gu, there's nothing urgent about going back to the county town. Safety first. We'll stay in Laoyan Town tonight."

Gu Jia thought for a moment. The road had many curves, and there were always large coal trucks passing by. Her life was more important.

"Okay, we'll stay in town tonight."

Zhao Yuancheng got out of the car and asked the director of the Party and Government Office to arrange accommodations for Chen Shi and the others.

As Chen Shi and his group got out of the car, Zhao Yuancheng walked over and said, "County Chief Chen, I've had the director of the Party and Government Office arrange your accommodations. Please give us some guidance tomorrow morning."

Chen Shi looked at Zhao Yuancheng: "Secretary Zhao, please arrange the meeting earlier tomorrow morning, as we need to return to the county town."

"County Magistrate Chen, the meeting tomorrow morning is scheduled for 9:30. Is that alright with you?"

Chen Shi nodded. He planned to hold a meeting for an hour and return to the county town at 10:30.

Zhao Yuancheng called the director of the Party and Government Office over and asked him to issue a notice for an early morning meeting, which all members of the second-level leadership team were required to attend.

Led by the director of the Party and Government Office, Chen Shi and his group arrived at the hotel, which was the best hotel in Laoyan Town. Leaders and cadres who came to Laoyan Town on business trips were all accommodated here.

Gu Jia walked into the hotel and was very dissatisfied. It was too shabby. There was nothing she could do but make do for one night in this small town.

There was a smell in the room, even after Gu Jia sprayed perfume, it was still there, and she didn't sleep much all night.

He arrived at Chen Shi's room early in the morning: "County Chief Chen, let's go back now."

Chen Shi noticed the bloodshot eyes in Gu Jia's eyes: "Didn't you sleep well last night?"

"The smell is too strong, I can't sleep."

Chen Shi checked the time; it was only a little past seven.

"Later I will give guidance to the leaders and cadres of Laoyan Town. Around 10:30, we will return to the county town."

The hotel room smells; please go to your car and rest.

"Forget it, I can't sleep in the car anyway, I'll go for a walk outside."

"After breakfast, I'll have Yang Bin accompany you for a stroll. It's dangerous for a beautiful woman like you to be in such a remote and impoverished place."

Gu Jia smiled sweetly: "County Chief Chen, are you concerned about me?"

"You're here to invest in Chunyang, so I need to guarantee your personal safety. If anything happens to you, who would dare to invest in Chunyang?"

Gu Jia rolled her eyes at Chen Shi: "Would it kill you to say you care about me?"

Looking disappointed, he turned and left; a man who had no sense of romance.

Chen Shi and the others had breakfast at the government canteen. Chen Shi then arranged for Yang Bin to go out for a stroll with Gu Jia, and for Xie Shanquan to go to Zhao Yuancheng's office to listen to his work report.

At 9:30, accompanied by Zhao Yuancheng, Chen Shi arrived at the conference room and delivered an important speech, giving instructions on the next steps for Laoyan Town.

Laoyan Town cannot rely solely on the coal industry; it must break free from its dependence on coal and develop township enterprises.

Xie Shanquan wrote a speech overnight, which resonated with Chen Shi, who gave Xie Shanquan an approving look.

Xie Shanquan had been working with Chen Shi for a while and had come to understand Chen Shi's work style. He had never disappointed Chen Shi and was a qualified secretary.

Chen Shi shortened the meeting time to one hour, and at 10:40, he adjourned the meeting.

Zhao Yuancheng whispered to Chen Shi, "County Magistrate Chen, we've prepared food and drinks at the government canteen. After we eat, we'll head back to the county town."

"Secretary Zhao, we'll skip the meal. General Manager Gu has other matters to attend to back in the county."

Chen Shi stood up and walked outside. Zhao Yuancheng quickly followed: "County Chief Chen, Laoyan Town will strictly implement your instructions. The next focus of the government's work will be to develop township enterprises and diversify the economy, rather than relying solely on the coal industry."

"You should go down and study the specifics of how to develop it. You must adapt to local conditions and not blindly follow the trend."

Zhao Yuancheng repeatedly agreed.

Yang Bin was waiting outside in his car. Xie Shanquan quickly stepped forward and opened the car door. Gu Jia was getting a little impatient, but the trip was worthwhile. The road conditions in several towns in the lower half of the county were terrible. With the highway repaired, no one would want to waste time on provincial roads, which would guarantee traffic flow. Breaking even should not be a problem.

Chen Shi got into the car and waved goodbye to Zhao Yuancheng and other town leaders.

After seeing Chen Shi off, Zhao Yuancheng instructed the director of the Party and Government Office to announce a leadership meeting that afternoon to discuss the road repair project.