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

Qin Jiang learned from his wife, who works at the county government, that Chen Shi had accompanied the county head to the canteen for lunch.

This signal alone is enough to show that Chen Shi's future is limitless.

Those who accompany the county head to dinner are all cadres at or above the section level; even deputy section chiefs are not qualified. Chen Shi's ability to accompany the county head to dinner confirms the rumors that Chen Shi is someone the county head appreciates.

Qin Jiang dared not delay and rushed to the police station.

When Niu Xingde saw Chief Qin Jiang come to the police station, he was incredulous. Chief Qin was giving Chen Shi so much face, coming to the police station as soon as he was told.

Chen Shi greeted him with a smile: "Director Qin, this administrator at your power management office is quite arrogant."

Qin Jiang looked at Niu Xingde, who was Jiang Hai's brother-in-law. Jiang Hai had invited him to dinner and given him a gift, asking him to work as a temporary worker at the power management office.

He was just a temporary worker, so he agreed to do her a favor.

"Niu Xingde, what's going on?"

Niu Xingde stammered, unable to speak for a long time. He was scared; he had printed the tickets without permission, and the fines had all gone into his own pocket. If Qin Jiang found out, he would be fired from his temporary job.

Chen Shi's voice was deep: "Chief Qin, please sit down. Let me tell you what happened."

Qin Jiang sat down, and the police officer next to him quickly poured him a glass of water.

Chen Shi explained the matter in detail and asked, "Officer Qin, look at this ticket. You stole less than ten kilowatt-hours of electricity, yet you're fined five thousand. What's the basis for that? Your supervisor said his words are the basis."

Niu Xingde quickly said, "I didn't say that, don't wrong me."

The police officer standing nearby sneered, "Are you even a man? Where's your arrogance from before? You're denying it now, but our body cameras have recorded it all."

Niu Xingde wanted to deny it, but unfortunately, the other party had evidence. Just his statement, posted online, would cause public outrage.

I had no choice but to lower my head.

Qin Jiang took the ticket from Chen Shi's hand and immediately recognized it as fake. He pointed at Niu Xingde's nose and cursed, "Niu Xingde, how dare you use a fake ticket to arbitrarily impose fines and put the money in your pocket!"

Niu Xingde lowered his head, not daring to look at Qin Jiang.

Chen Shi asked, "Chief Qin, what is the basis for the power management office's fine?"

"Depending on the amount of electricity stolen, if it's less than 1,000 kilowatt-hours, the fine is ten times the amount. In your brother-in-law's case, let's say it's ten kilowatt-hours. At one yuan per kilowatt-hour, ten times that would be one hundred yuan."

"A fine of one hundred, or five thousand, that's fifty times the original amount. Chief Qin, what do you plan to do about it?"

"Niu Xingde was a temporary worker who violated the power management office's employee rules and regulations, so he was dismissed immediately."

"What?" Niu Xingde exclaimed, his mouth agape.

Qin Jiang ignored Niu Xingde and said to Chen Shi, "I'll arrange for someone to reconnect Zhang Gao's electricity right now. Mingxing Village is temporarily short of an administrator. I think Zhang Gao is good enough, so you can fill in for now. I'll issue an appointment notice when we get back."

Niu Xingde hurriedly pleaded, "Officer Qin, I know I was wrong. Please give me another chance for my brother-in-law's sake. I will never dare to print tickets privately or impose fines arbitrarily again."

When things get urgent, it's too late to realize the danger.

Qin Jiang was well aware that the temporary workers below him were charging fees and imposing fines arbitrarily, but he turned a blind eye to it. With a monthly salary of eight hundred, he always had to give some extra money to those below him.

The power management office charges each household an extra 10 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month for "losses," and the lower-level administrators almost tacitly agree to charge an extra 20 kilowatt-hours per month, thus collecting an extra 10 kilowatt-hours of electricity from each household, which then goes into their personal pockets.

An administrative village has at least several hundred households, and larger ones can have more than a thousand. This income is not low and is quite lucrative.

An administrator can collect an extra ten yuan from each household, and the money they receive is at least five or six thousand yuan, and sometimes as much as more than ten thousand yuan.

Even this isn't enough; they impose arbitrary fines. Human greed is insatiable.

Since becoming the administrator, Niu Xingde, who used to be dirt poor, built a two-story villa in three to five years and now lives a very comfortable life.

When people have money, they become arrogant and easily become conceited. The greatest evil in human nature is to use the little power one has to make things difficult for others.

Chen Shi realized that Qin Jiang had given this lucrative position to his brother-in-law, which meant he wanted to befriend him.

Seeing that she had turned misfortune into good fortune, Chen Ai quickly said, "Thank you very much, Director Qin. He will definitely work hard to repay your kindness."

Zhang Gao was completely dumbfounded. He knew how lucrative this was, and he couldn't believe such a good thing could happen. It took him a while to come to his senses.

"Director Qin, I promise to do a good job. From now on, I'll be there whenever you call."

Chen Shi knew that his sister and brother-in-law had always been running a small business. They were very shrewd. They were in the coal business, and even when they delivered a truckload of coal to his family, they would keep a clear account of everything. They were not the type to suffer losses.

Both of them are good at networking. In a small town, if you don't know how to network, you simply can't make it in a small business.

Since Qin Jiang was being so accommodating, it was impossible for me to pursue the matter further against the power management office, as that would make me seem ignorant.

He smiled and said, "Thank you, Director Qin. Let's have a couple of drinks together tonight."

"You're welcome. I'll treat you tonight."

Just then, Jiang Hai stormed in.

When Niu Xingde saw that his backer had arrived, he cried out with a long face, "Brother-in-law, they bullied me! When Director Qin came over, he wanted to fire me without even asking what happened!"

Jiang Hai, with a loud voice, shouted, "This is a society governed by law. Anyone who dares to bend the law for personal gain, I'll report them to the police station."

These words were meant for Chen Shi, whom he had met twice, once at a meeting at the town government.

Jiang Hai sat down next to Qin Jiang: "Old Qin, are you really going to fire my brother-in-law?"

"Old Jiang, he printed the power management office's penalty notices without authorization and imposed arbitrary fines, violating the power management office's rules and regulations. There's nothing I can do about it."

"What nonsense! Rules and regulations are still up to you. Give me some face and let him write a self-criticism, then we'll call it even."

After Jiang Hai finished speaking, he looked at Chen Shi and said, "My relationship with Qin Jiang is something you can't compare to."

A kid who hasn't even grown his first hair yet, and he thinks he can mess with me?

Qin Jiang's face darkened. Is this how you beg for help?

"The rules and regulations were issued by the power supply bureau, not by me. If you violate them, you have to follow them."

When Jiang Hai saw that Qin Jiang was not giving him any face, his face darkened. "I treated you to drinks for nothing, and you won't even give me any face."

"There's no room for discussion on this."

"I can't help you."

Niu Xingde panicked: "Brother-in-law, Director Qin gave my administrator position to Zhang Gao."

Jiang Hai's face was terribly gloomy. "Aren't you slapping me in the face? Firing me is one thing, but you can't give this position to Chen Shi's brother-in-law. It's obvious you're supporting Chen Shi this time."

His face darkened: "Old Qin, this is no fun. You're practically rubbing my face in the dirt!"

Qin Jiang sneered inwardly, "Who do you think you are? I'm only giving you face when we have a meal together, chat, or I do you a favor."

When it comes to official careers, why should I listen to a village head like you? You're the one who has to come to me.

In the small village of Mingxing, the villagers spoil you and treat you like someone important. But when you come to the town, you are nothing.

Qin Jiang's biggest wish is to be transferred back to the county, even if it's not a promotion, a lateral transfer would be fine.

Chen Shi is someone the county magistrate appreciates, and he will be transferred back to the county sooner or later. Take advantage of this time to cultivate a good relationship with him so that he can be of help in the future.

His tone turned colder: "Director Jiang, this is an internal matter for the power management office. Do I need to report it to you?"

Jiang Hai was stunned. They used to be like brothers during meals, but when they turned on each other, they did so without hesitation.

People within the system, who doesn't have two faces?