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

As 2009 draws to a close, the main task at the end of the year is gift-giving.

With New Year's Day approaching, everyone is rushing to give gifts to their superiors and cultivate relationships.

Chen Shi prepared four gifts of varying value. The New Year's gift for Director Wang Jianming was a bottle of cigarettes and alcohol worth about two thousand yuan. The gifts for Ma Guoliang and Xu Linlin were worth about one thousand yuan. The last gift was for Zhang Youcai in the logistics office, worth about three or four hundred yuan, just a token.

He can't remember all the gifts he gave to his superiors, there were just too many, but he definitely remembers the ones he didn't give gifts to.

After get off work, Chen Shi went to Wang Yanhong's place first, had dinner, and left the gifts at Wang Yanhong's rented room.

Keeping the gifts in my dorm room and then taking them out and running into colleagues would be inappropriate.

Giving gifts during holidays is common practice, but it can't be done openly, as it involves privacy.

Chen Shi checked the time; it was 7:30. This was just the right time. The leader would finish eating, rest, and chat. He could go over and sit for about an hour, around 8 or 9 o'clock, without disturbing the leader's daily schedule.

Chen Shi took out his phone and called Wang Jianming. The phone rang for more than ten seconds before he answered.

Chen Shi quickly said, "Director Wang, this is Chen Shi. I'd like to come to your house to report on this year's work. Is that convenient for you?"

Wang Jianming's voice came through: "It's convenient, come over here."

"Okay, Director Wang, I'll be right there."

Wang Yanhong smiled and said, "You people who work within the system are always rushing to give gifts to your superiors."

Chen Shi picked up the prepared cigarettes and alcohol: "Yan Hong, you are also in the system. It's the end of the year, so you should also prepare some gifts for your principal, the vice principal in charge of you, and the director of teaching."

People live in reality. Trying to get closer to your boss at the end of the year is easy; don't worry, they know exactly who gave gifts and who didn't.

"Giving gifts to my boss is less worthwhile than buying more things for my parents. Who do they think they are? All they do is make me work, they never give me any benefits. Why would I give them anything?"

When Chen Shi heard this, he thought, "This is how ordinary people think: If the leaders don't appreciate me, don't give me any benefits, and give me the dirty and tiring work, why should I give them gifts?"

It's because you didn't give the boss gifts that he doesn't give you the benefits, but only assigns you the dirty and tiring work.

If you give gifts and get close to your boss, it will bring benefits, and your boss will remember you.

"Yan Hong, you've got cause and effect backwards. It's because you didn't give the leader a gift that he doesn't give you any benefits and instead gives you the dirty and tiring work."

Prepare three gifts. The first is for your principal, worth around 1,000 yuan. The second is for the vice principal in charge of you, worth around 800 yuan. The third is for your academic director, worth around 500 yuan. Once you're ready, I'll go with you to deliver them.

Unless you are utterly selfless and can disregard these social niceties, if you have something to ask for, you must know how to give gifts.

Wang Yanhong was more inclined to listen to Chen's honesty, but when she thought about giving gifts, she realized that she only earned a little over three thousand a month, which would basically wipe out her entire monthly salary.

"It's a small token, but to give such an expensive gift would wipe out a month's salary for me."

"If you're going to give a gift, it has to be something substantial. If you're not going to give anything, you might as well not give anything at all, understand? You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub. As long as you give gifts during holidays, at least your boss won't assign you the dirty and tiring work anymore."

Wang Yanhong had never considered giving gifts to school leaders, and nodded with some skepticism.

Chen Shi, carrying gifts, arrived at Wang Jianming's door and gently knocked.

The person who opened the door was Wang Jianming's wife, the vice principal of the middle school.

Chen Shi greeted him with a smile: "Hello Principal Liang, I'm Chen Shi from the police station. I'm here to report to Chief Wang on this year's work."

Principal Liang was delighted to see Chen Shi. Sometimes it's like that; some people are liked the first time they meet, while others are disliked the first time and it's hard to change that in future interactions. That's what we call first impressions.

"Xiao Chen, come in quickly."

Chen Shi carried the things into the living room. Wang Jianming was watching the news. He glanced at the cigarettes and alcohol in Chen Shi's hand and immediately recognized their value. He was satisfied with Chen Shi's performance.

"Xiao Chen, come and report on your work. What gifts are you bringing?"

Chen Shi smiled broadly: "Officer Wang, you've taken good care of me since I came to the police station. I've been wanting to visit you at home for a while, but I was afraid of bothering you."

"It's the end of the year, and I'm here to report on my work, entirely out of respect for you."

Principal Liang took the cigarettes and alcohol from Chen Shi: "Come visit my home more often in the future."

Chen Shi quickly replied, "Okay."

Principal Liang took the gifts and brought them into the room, then did not come out.

Wang Jianming gestured for Chen Shi to sit down and poured him a cup of tea.

Wang Jianming asked, "In what month did you come to the police station?"

"By the end of July, I've been here for more than half a year."

Wang Jianming didn't have much of an impression of Chen Shi. With so many people in the police station, it was impossible for him to have a deep impression of everyone.

However, when Chen Shi sent a gift, he remembered Chen Shi and had a good impression of him.

He said he was there to report on his work, but he didn't mention a word about the actual work. Instead, he praised Wang Jianming perfectly. Wang Jianming appreciated it; who doesn't like to hear nice things?

After sitting for about an hour, Chen Shi got up and left.

The next few days were filled with gift-giving.

Ma Guoliang received many gifts this year. After the Spring Festival, he will take over as deputy director, and everyone in the police station will come to give him gifts.

His wife sighed, "In previous years, we were the ones giving gifts to others. This year, so many people are giving gifts that one room is almost overflowing. Being a leader is really great."

Ma Guoliang also felt the benefits of being a leader; everyone who saw him had a kind face.

Fewer people sent gifts to Xu Linlin's family; not many people would give him an administrative office as a gift.

Chen Shi's gift was unique and touched Xu Linlin deeply.

She got involved with Wang Jianming and secured a position in the administrative office. During holidays, she was the one giving gifts to others, not the other way around.

His fondness for Chen Shi increased even more.

Zhang Youcai from the logistics office was all smiles at Chen Shi. This kid was pretty good; he could give him a gift.

In all his years working in the logistics office, few people had ever given him gifts. He would drag Chen Shi out for a couple of drinks, and wouldn't let him leave until he had a drink.

Interpersonal relationships are all based on mutual benefit; as long as the benefits are right, everyone is considered one of us.

After Chen Shi finished presenting his own gifts, he accompanied Wang Yanhong to present hers.

Wang Yanhong had never given gifts before and felt awkward about it. Chen Shi encouraged her, saying, "Giving gifts within the system is like eating; you'll get used to it."

When they knocked on the principal's door, the principal's daughter opened it and invited them in.

The principal didn't remember Wang Yanhong very well. He was the principal of the central school, and with so many teachers in the town, it was impossible for him to remember everyone. Chen Shi quickly introduced, "Principal Lei, I'm Wang Yanhong's boyfriend. I work at the police station. Wang Yanhong is the Chinese language teacher for Class 3, Grade 3."

Principal Lei nodded, carefully examined Wang Yanhong, and then remembered to ask them to sit down.

This is also a way to get some recognition; at least the principal knows that there is a teacher named Wang Yanhong at the central school.

The next two days, I went to the vice principal's house. He knew Wang Yanhong and praised her a few times.

The dean of students was Wang Yanhong's direct superior, and the two became acquainted. To his surprise, Wang Yanhong was also savvy in social interactions. When they sat down to chat, it turned out that Wang Yanhong was still the same Wang Yanhong, and the one who was savvy in social interactions was her boyfriend.

This did not prevent him from changing his attitude towards Wang Yanhong; he would give her less or no dirty or tiring work from then on.