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

Huang Ming has been Liu Youguang's liaison for over a year. When Liu Youguang took office as the county magistrate of Chunyang County, Huang Ming was his liaison.

The county magistrate cannot have a secretary; the liaison officer is actually the secretary. In private, he is called Huang Ming, and everyone addresses him as Secretary Huang.

The county government closes at 5:30. Chen Shi was too conspicuous driving a police car, so he didn't dare to park in front of the county government and instead circled around the area.

After waiting for more than half an hour, Huang Ming finally walked out of the county government gate, and Chen Shi's car drove up in front of him.

By this time, most people had left, and there were hardly any people in front of the county government building.

Chen Shi got out of the car, smiled, and said, "Secretary Huang."

Huang Ming was surprised that Chen Shi would pick him up in a police car. Then he thought, he was the deputy director of the police station, so why would he pick him up in a car other than a police car?

With a fawning smile, Chen Shi opened the back door of the car, treating Huang Ming as his boss and himself as the driver.

Huang Ming smiled and said, "I'll sit in the passenger seat."

Chen Shi closed the car door, and Huang Ming opened the passenger door and got in.

Being able to be a secretary makes all the difference; he's so low-key and down-to-earth. His actions made Chen Shi feel comfortable.

Chen Shi got into the car and asked, "Secretary Huang, I'm not familiar with the county town. Could you recommend a good restaurant?"

Huang Ming thought for a moment, then slowly said, "Qingcheng Hotel, please."

Chen Shi had been to Qingcheng Hotel, along with Wang Tao and Liu Feng from the Public Security Bureau.

Within the organization, there's an unwritten rule that each bureau has its own designated place for gatherings.

The owner of this place has intricate connections with the leaders in the bureau.

It seems the owner of Qingcheng Hotel has a powerful background; the Public Security Bureau and the county government are holding gatherings here.

Chen Shi smiled and said, "Okay."

Chen Shi can find the way without Huang Ming pointing it out. He has a special characteristic: he has a good memory. He can easily find the way he has been to before.

Chen Shi, driving, smiled and said, "Secretary Huang, I have something to report to you. Xu Ping'an, the deputy section chief of the Political Work Section of the Public Security Bureau, is my college classmate. He admires your demeanor and would like to have a couple of drinks with you. Do you think it would be alright if he came over?"

Having said all that, how could Huang Ming possibly refuse?

Huang Ming didn't care; he was mainly giving Chen Shi face.

"Okay, let him come. It'll be more fun with more people."

Chen Shi called Xu Ping'an and told him that he had picked up Secretary Huang and would be at Qingcheng Hotel in ten minutes, and asked him to come over.

Ten minutes later, they arrived at Qingcheng Hotel. As soon as they stopped the car, Xu Ping'an came over to greet them. He had already memorized Chen Shi's license plate number, something that ordinary people couldn't do.

Xu Pingan's ability to memorize the license plate number of the county leaders' official car is also a skill.

Xu Ping'an jogged over, and after the car came to a stop, he opened the passenger door. He recognized Huang Ming, but Huang Ming didn't recognize him.

Huang Ming got out of the car, and Xu Ping'an greeted him with a broad smile, "Secretary Huang."

He greeted them and quickly ran to the driver's seat to open the car door for Chen Shi.

Chen Shi came down, and Xu Ping'an smiled and said, "Old classmate, please come in."

Xu Ping'an did everything perfectly, leaving you with no room for criticism. No wonder he comes from an official family; he's been influenced by his family from a young age. Most people couldn't learn from him.

The more capable a person is, the less they care about saving face; they keep a very humble attitude. The more ordinary a person is, the more they care about saving face.

It's important to understand that face is given by others, not something you actively seek.

Chen Shi smiled and said, "Secretary Huang, let me introduce you. This is my old classmate, Xu Ping'an, who is now the deputy head of the Political Work Section of the Public Security Bureau."

Xu Pingan quickly went up and shook hands with Huang Ming.

Huang Ming introduced himself as "Huang Ming, the liaison officer for Liu County."

"I know, your name is very famous. I have long wanted to visit you, but unfortunately I have not had the opportunity."

My uncle often mentions that he wants to learn from you.

Huang Ming looked at Chen Shi and asked, "Who is his uncle? Do I know him?"

Xu Pingan also looked at Chen Shi. At this moment, someone needed to be a straight man. If he spoke on his own, it would seem like he was showing off his uncle's official position.

Chen Shi added, "His uncle is the secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission."

Huang Ming thought highly of Xu Ping'an. He didn't take Xu Ping'an seriously, considering him a deputy section chief. He thought that if Xu Ping'an worked for another year, Huang Ming would promote him to deputy section chief.

But his uncle is the secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, which makes a difference. However, he is a member of the Standing Committee of the County Party Committee. He might not be able to help you, but he could easily do something bad for you.

If you want to promote someone to deputy section chief, you have to go through the discussion at the county party committee standing committee meeting. If a majority of people oppose it, your appointment will not be approved.

It's rare to see Xu Ping'an so low-key despite having such a powerful backer.

Huang Ming served as Liu Youguang's liaison, dealing extensively with the heads of various bureaus.

A deputy director of the Industry and Commerce Bureau, who was only a deputy section-level cadre, had a son who failed the civil service exam and ended up working as a temporary worker at the Industry and Commerce Bureau. He was so arrogant that he acted as if the entire Industry and Commerce Bureau belonged to him.

Huang Ming used to work for Liu Youguang at the Industry and Commerce Bureau, but Liu dared to obstruct him and prevent him from seeing the bureau chief.

You're both stupid and wicked. You don't even know who's stopping you, yet you dare to do so.

It's okay to be a bad person, at least you have some logic in your actions. He's harming others for his own benefit, but he's harming others without benefiting himself. He's incredibly stupid. He really thinks the Bureau of Industry and Commerce is his own home, and he can do whatever he wants with it.

Your father isn't the bureau chief yet, he's just a deputy bureau chief. Even if he were the bureau chief, he couldn't act arrogantly.

He's afraid people won't know that his father is a deputy bureau chief, and he always mentions it.

When Huang Ming returned after finishing his business, he found an opportunity to tell Liu Youguang. Liu Youguang then made a phone call and gave the bureau chief a good scolding. The call was made in the morning, and the bureau chief was fired in the afternoon.

Even after being fired, he didn't stop. He drove around the county town in an Audi, as if he wanted everyone to know that his father was embezzling.

As a deputy bureau chief, how much do you earn a month? Can you afford an Audi worth 700,000 to 800,000 yuan?

Offending too many people, being reported to the disciplinary committee, having a dirty past, and unable to withstand investigation.

His father is now in jail, his property has been confiscated, his wife has divorced him, and he has become a laughing stock in the county.

That's ridiculous! If you're incompetent, whoever your father is doesn't matter.

Xu Pingan arrived at some unknown time and had already arranged a private room. The three of them entered the room, and Xu Pingan picked up the menu and asked, "Secretary Huang, old classmate, do you have any dietary restrictions?"

Huang Ming said softly, "I can't eat anything too spicy."

Chen Shi said slowly, "I don't have any dietary restrictions, so please don't order anything spicy."

"Just order two non-spicy dishes, the rest you can order spicy ones. Don't skip the spicy ones because of me."

Xu Pingan quickly replied, "I don't eat spicy food either."

What?! Didn't you love spicy food? Why don't you eat spicy food anymore?

Xu Ping'an is a person with connections, knows how to get things done, and is capable; he's at least a section chief.

He ordered eight or nine dishes and handed the menu to Huang Ming, who was sitting at the head of the table. Huang Ming glanced at it and said, "That's fine."

He then handed it to Chen Shi, who waved his hand and said, "You can order."

Chen Shi poured tea for the two of them, and Xu Ping'an went out and brought in two bottles of wine.

This was something he had prepared on purpose. He opened the bottle and the aroma was wonderful; it was clearly a good wine. He gave Chen Shi and Huang Ming a decanter, poured the wine into it, and placed it in front of them.