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

After reporting his work, Li Yuezhong was in a good mood and left the office.

Chen Shi picked up his phone and called Chen Xing.

"Xiao Shi"

"Brother, tell Jianhua and Jianyong to go back on Saturday and come to our house in the evening. I have something to tell you all when I get back."

"Okay, I'll call them."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Shi paced back and forth in his office. He could handle the others, but he was having trouble with his father. His father believed that the burial site of his grandparents was a feng shui treasure, and that his position as executive deputy county head was all thanks to the ancestral graves.

Chen Shi knew in his heart that this was the result of his own hard work and had nothing to do with his ancestral graves.

I decided to go back earlier on Saturday to persuade my father to agree to move the grave.

On Friday after get off work, Chen Shi had no social engagements that evening and went home early.

Jiang Yiqiu got off work early and returned home. He was somewhat surprised to see Chen Shi: "You're home so early today."

"Nothing's wrong. I came back early so I could have dinner with you. It's been so long since we sat down to eat together."

Jiang Yiqiu thought for a moment, it had been at least half a month, then put down his bag: "I'm going to buy groceries and cook. I didn't know you'd be back for dinner, so I'm not going to cook for myself. I'll just make a bowl of noodles and make do."

"No need to buy groceries, let's eat out."

"I want to cook for you. You have to give me this opportunity to show your appreciation."

"Buy less groceries, I'm going back to my hometown tomorrow."

"Why go back?"

Chen Shi lit a cigarette and took a puff: "The highway passes through Qinghe Village and encroaches on our ancestral graves. We need to go back and arrange for them to be moved."

Jiang Yiqiu was taken aback: "You really want to move your ancestral graves? I heard that your family's ancestral graves are the best feng shui site in Fushan Town. Will moving the graves affect your career?"

"You are also a party member and cadre, how can you believe in these feudal superstitions?"

I am where I am today because I've worked hard, step by step.

Seeing Chen Shi's stern tone, Jiang Yiqiu stopped talking and went to buy groceries and cook.

On Saturday afternoon, Jiang Yiqiu accompanied Chen Shi back to Qinghe Village. She did not call her parents, did not stop in Fushan Town, and went straight back to Qinghe Village.

Upon arriving at Qinghe Village, around 4 PM, the two brothers, Chen Jianhua and Chen Jianyong, received a call from Chen Xing informing them that he would be back on Friday night.

I arrived at Chen Yanshi's house early in the afternoon to help with the chores and wait for Chen Shi to return.

Chen Shi drove Jiang Yiqiu's car back. As soon as the car stopped, Chen Jianyong jogged over, opened the car door, and said with a big smile, "Xiao Shi is back."

Chen Shi got out of the car and nodded to Chen Jianyong. Chen Jianyong was very happy. He had been promoted to group leader, in charge of five or six temporary workers. His monthly salary had also increased by several thousand yuan. He planned to work for another two years and then buy a house in the county town outright.

Now both parents in their family work, and they earn a decent amount each month.

Chen Jianhua also came over. Compared to his younger brother's family, his family looked much worse off. His wife didn't work and stayed at home farming. She didn't grow tobacco, and after a year of hard work, she couldn't earn more than a few thousand yuan, which was less than what he earned in a month.

He was still a temporary worker and couldn't even get a permanent position, while his younger brother, who worked at the tobacco bureau, had already become a permanent employee and was already a junior manager. He was a little jealous of his brother.

Wang Guihua led Xiaomi Le out, her face beaming: "My little one's back!"

Chen Shi walked up and said, "Mom."

Xiaomile let go of Wang Guihua's hand and hugged Chen Shi's leg: "Uncle, did you buy me any toys when you came back?"

Chen Shi didn't buy any toys for Xiaomi Le because he was in a hurry to come back today.

Jiang Yiqiu called out, "Xiaole, come here quickly, your aunt bought you Snow White."

Xiaomi Le quickly ran over, and Jiang Yiqiu took out Snow White from the trunk and handed it to Xiaomi Le.

Holding the Snow White toy, Xiaomi Le asked, "Auntie, didn't you buy a toy for my little brother?"

Jiang Yiqiu took a toy car out of the trunk: "This is for Xiao Huihui."

Xiaomi Le, holding her toy, was so excited that she danced around and ran to find Xiao Huihui to play.

Chen Shi glanced at Jiang Yiqiu. Women are so perceptive; he had no idea when Jiang Yiqiu had bought the toy.

Chen Xing was busy in the kitchen, killing a free-range chicken and stewing it in a pressure cooker.

He also bought beef from the restaurant Chen Shi liked. He had heard some rumors and guessed why Chen Shi had come back, but Chen Shi didn't say on the phone, and he didn't ask.

Tonight's dinner is going to be plentiful, and Wang Xiufen is asked to help him cook.

Upon hearing that Chen Shi had returned, the two men came out to greet him.

Chen Shi took out some good cigarettes from the car and gave each of them a pack.

Entering the house, Chen Shi didn't see Chen Yanshi and asked, "Where did Dad go?"

Chen Xing said, "Dad suddenly wanted to plant potatoes, but the season has already passed. He just remembered. He'll be back in a bit."

Chen Jianyong said, "Wherever you plant it, we'll go help, and we'll get it planted in no time."

Wang Xiufen added, "There aren't many behind our house."

"Let's go help with the planting." Chen Jianyong glanced at Chen Jianhua and said, "Don't just sit there like an idiot. You have to be proactive in front of your superiors. Do you know why you can't get a permanent position? You don't respect your superiors. A local official is more powerful than a distant one. If you don't understand this principle, you'll never get a permanent position."

Chen Jianhua followed Chen Jianyong to help Chen Yanshi plant potatoes.

Chen Shi said, "Second Brother, let my father come back first."

"Okay," Chen Jianyong said with a smile and left.

Chen Xing lit a cigarette and stubbed it out in the ashtray: "Xiao Shi, sit down for a moment, I'll go to the kitchen to cook."

Chen Xing glanced at Wang Xiufen sitting to the side, and Wang Xiufen glanced at Jiang Yiqiu. They were both daughters-in-law of the Chen family. If you don't cook, I won't either.

You're the principal outside, but when you come home, I'm your sister-in-law, a head taller than you.

Jiang Yiqiu stood up: "Brother, I'll help you out."

Chen Xing quickly replied, "No need, I'll finish right away. I just got back and need to rest for a bit."

Wang Xiufen glanced at Chen Xing. "He's quite caring; all he knows is how to order me around."

Jiang Yiqiu was a little tired, so he sat down. Wang Xiufen also sat down and didn't move.

Chen Xing, being a scoundrel, went to cook by himself.

A little while later, Chen Yanshi returned, and Chen Shi stood up: "Dad."

Chen Yanshi washed his hands: "I heard from your brother that you have something to tell us?"

Chen Shi saw that Wang Xiufang and Jiang Yiqiu were both there, so it wasn't the place to talk.

"Dad, come to the living room upstairs, I have something to tell you."

Chen Yanshi dried his hands and followed Chen Shi to the living room on the second floor.

Chen Shi took out a cigarette and handed it to Chen Yanshi, who said, "Cigarettes aren't satisfying; I still prefer smoking a pipe."

Chen Shi took out a pipe, placed the tobacco on it, and then took out a lighter to light it for Chen Yanshi.

Chen Yanshi took a deep drag: "Xiaoshi, I heard someone in the village say that the county is building a highway and they're going to encroach on our family's ancestral graves. Is that true?"

Chen Shi nodded, and Chen Yanshi said excitedly, "That won't do. Your grandparents' graves are the best feng shui site in Fushan Town. Our family is where we are today because your grandparents' graves were buried so well. They absolutely cannot be disturbed."

"If anyone dares to disturb the grave, I'll fight them to the death."

I like the game of power, starting with the police officers at the local police station.