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

Chen Shi drove to Fushan Town. It was market day and very crowded. Jiang Yiqiu said, "Don't drive in. You won't be able to get out later. The car hasn't been washed in a long time. Let's take it to a car wash and get it washed before we drive."

Chen Shi drove the car to a car wash by the roadside, and Jiang Yiqiu asked the owner to arrange for the car to be washed so he could drive away later.

The two walked back, through the crowded streets, and arrived home.

Jiang Huazhou, who was sitting in the living room, quickly stood up to greet him.

"Xiao Shi, you're here. Why didn't you drive?"

Jiang Yiqiu said, "It's too crowded, so we couldn't drive in."

Jiang Huazhou smiled and said, "I forgot, today is Sunday, it's market day. Please have a seat."

Chen Shi sat down, and Jiang Huazhou quickly poured him tea, took out some good cigarettes, and offered them to him. The two chatted in the living room.

Jiang Yiqiu went to the kitchen to help Zhang Qingrong cook.

Zhang Qingrong said, "Xiao Qiu, I'll finish right away, you can take a rest."

"I got back yesterday, rested for a night, and I'm not tired."

While chopping vegetables, Zhang Qingrong said, "When your father learned that a highway was going to be built, he planned to take out a loan of ten million yuan from the bank to build a cement plant in Fushan Town."

Jiang Yiqiu was startled: "Mom, what were you thinking? You want to take out a loan of ten million, what are you going to use as collateral?"

"The quarry in Heyuan Town has an investment of two million yuan and is now operating normally. Your dad called the bank to do an assessment. The two quarries can be mortgaged for five million yuan."

Your dad gave the bank manager a 500,000 yuan kickback, and then the bank came to assess the two quarries. They said they could get a 10 million yuan mortgage loan.

I really don't understand. I took out a loan of 10 million, but I only gave the bank manager 500,000, so I only received 9.5 million.

With a leader as high-ranking as Chen Shi, I could have your dad talk to him and the bank manager, and that would save 500,000 yuan. Why not just give that 500,000 yuan to you directly? Why give it to an outsider?

Your dad said I don't understand the logic of doing business. He said things that can be solved with money shouldn't bother Chen Shi. We shouldn't have anything to do with Chen Shi in our business dealings, and we shouldn't mention these things in front of him.

Jiang Yiqiu said, "Mom, Dad did the right thing. Chen Shi holds a high position, and many people are watching him. Once he gets involved, things will get complicated."

Zhang Qingrong didn't understand: "Why not use the connection? I really don't get it."

"In short, just listen to your dad; he knows the ins and outs of this."

Zhang Qingrong looked at Jiang Yiqiu's stomach: "Why isn't your stomach reacting yet? Did you take all your medicine?"

"We've already eaten. No rush, we're still young, let's take our time."

"You're already thirty, still young. Hurry up and have a child. Only with a child can you keep a man's heart, especially a high-ranking leader like Chen Shi. There are too many temptations outside, so you have to keep a close eye on him."

Jiang Yiqiu exclaimed, "Mom, I'm only twenty-eight. In September, I'll only be twenty-nine. How come you say I'm already thirty?"

"In rural areas, people use the lunar calendar for age. Even if you were born in the twelfth lunar month, you'll be two years old after the New Year. Besides, is there a difference between twenty-eight and thirty?"

Jiang Yiqiu didn't want to talk about these things with his mother, so he picked up a kitchen knife and started chopping vegetables.

The food was ready, and the four of them sat together. Jiang Huazhou was very happy and brought out some good wine to pour for Chen Shi.

Chen Shi said, "Dad, I don't drink. I have to drive later."

Seeing that Jiang Huazhou was happy, and that Chen Shi had come to the house but neither of them drank alcohol, Jiang Yiqiu didn't want to spoil Jiang Huazhou's mood: "Chen Shi, have a drink with Dad. I'll drive later."

Jiang Huazhou said, "This liquor has a low alcohol content; drinking a couple of glasses won't hurt."

Chen Shi stopped refusing and drank with Jiang Huazhou. Jiang Huazhou never talked to Chen Shi about business matters; he only talked about the international situation.

After finishing his meal, Jiang Yiqiu glanced at Jiang Huazhou before going upstairs to his room. Jiang Huazhou followed him upstairs to Jiang Yiqiu's room.

Jiang Yiqiu said, "Dad, I heard from Mom that you're going to use two quarries as collateral to get a loan of ten million from the bank to build a cement plant in Fushan Town."

Ten million is no small sum. In a small place like Fushan Town, the consumption of cement is limited. How long will it take to earn back ten million?

Jiang Huazhou said confidently, "Xiao Qiu, I have the confidence to build a cement plant. Think about it, how much cement will be consumed when the highway is built? There are no cement plants in several towns in the lower half of the county. Usually, the cement is brought down from the county seat. The transportation cost of a bag of cement is about one yuan. If there is a cement plant in Fushan Town, it can cover Shangying Town, Huangchang Town, and Laoyan Town. The transportation cost of a bag of cement from Fushan Town to Laoyan Town can be reduced to 50 cents."

In Shangying Town and Huangchang Town, the cost is even lower. The transportation cost of a bag of cement is only two or three cents, which saves a lot on transportation costs.

Once the expressway is built, it won't be necessary to go to distant places; the goods will be transported from the county seat, ensuring the closest supply. Once the expressway section in the lower half of the county is completed, the investment will be recouped, and there might even be a substantial profit.

With the highway completed, the cement plant can renovate all the towns and villages in the county. The demand will be high, and there will definitely be profits; it's just a matter of how much.

"I've wanted to build a cement plant for a long time, but the conditions weren't right before. Now they are, and the government is going to implement the 'Village-to-Village Road Construction Project.' Many villages in the lower half of the county don't even have paved roads yet, so the market is huge. If I don't build a cement plant now, it won't be long before someone else does it in the lower half of the county."

Jiang Yiqiu still trusted his father's judgment; his father had never lost money in business, at most he wouldn't make any.

Jiang Huazhou asked, "I heard that the highway has encroached on Chen Shi's ancestral graves, is that true?"

Jiang Yiqiu said irritably, "I came back yesterday to deal with this matter. His father had a long face and his displeasure was written all over his face."

"Should their ancestral graves be moved or not?"

"Chen Shi was in charge of the highway construction, and he was the one who proposed building the highway. So many eyes were on him; he had no choice but to move."

"Chen Yanshi is unreasonable. At this time, we should unconditionally support Chen Shi's relocation of the ancestral graves."

Jiang Huazhou came into the living room and brought Chen Shi a new cup of hot tea: "Xiao Shi, I heard that the highway is encroaching on your family's ancestral graves?"

Chen Shi nodded: "I came back this time to arrange the relocation of the ancestral graves."

"Relocating graves requires cement and sand. We had some leftover cement from a previous project, and the sand is readily available, so we don't need to buy it from outside; we can just bring it over and use it."

"Dad, cement and sand both have costs; at least you should pay for them."

"We're family, don't say things like that. Just take him in; it won't cost much."

Jiang Yiqiu came downstairs: "Dad owns a quarry, it's his own business, why would he give me money?"

Chen Shi was just being polite and didn't really intend to give any money.

Jiang Yiqiu checked the time: "It's past eleven o'clock. We need to go up to the county town."

Jiang Huazhou stood up: "I'll see you out."

Chen Shi said, "No need to see me off. It's market day today, so it's crowded."

Zhang Qingrong brought out a free-range chicken, which had already been killed: "Xiao Qiu, take this and stew it for dinner tonight. It's not easy for you to handle a live chicken if you bring it up here, so I'll kill it for you."

Jiang Yiqiu carried it in his hand, while Zhang Qingrong also took a jar of marinated lean meat, which was stir-fried with green peppers and tasted delicious.

Chen Shi glanced at it. When he was a child, his mother would slaughter a pig for the New Year and fill a large vat with the contents. This season, she would take it out and stir-fry it with green peppers, which was very appetizing.