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

After arranging her brother's work, Chen Shi was in a good mood for the next period of time.

Summer is here, and it's getting hot.

Chen Shi was just about to leave work when he received a call from Wang Yanhong.

Are you free tonight?

"What is it?"

"Xu Mengmeng has told me several times that she wants to treat us to a meal, and I feel bad refusing. Look, do you want to have a meal with us? She's sincere."

Chen Shi then remembered Zhang Hulai, who had been in Longtougou Village for several months. This lesson was profound enough.

"Okay, I don't have anything planned for tonight. She's invited you several times, and since she's a good friend of yours, I should give you that face."

Thank you.

After get off work, Xu Mengmeng stood at the entrance of Chunlai Restaurant, waiting for Chen Shi.

Chen Shi and Wang Yanhong arrived half an hour later.

This is a deliberate arrangement. If you invite me to dinner or ask me for a favor, I will make you wait so that you will respect your superior. It is difficult to meet your superior, and it is even more difficult to have dinner with him.

If you can easily meet a leader and have a meal with them, that leader is worthless and will be looked down upon.

Xu Mengmeng greeted them with a big smile.

"Yan Hong, Director Chen, please come inside."

Chen Shi smiled and nodded to Xu Mengmeng as a greeting.

Once inside the private room, Xu Mengmeng asked Chen Shi to sit in the main seat, while she sat to Chen Shi's left and Wang Yanhong to his right.

Xu Mengmeng was very sincere and ordered a table full of food.

Wang Yanhong said, "Mengmeng, why order so much food? There are only three of us. It would be a waste if we couldn't finish it."

Xu Mengmeng smiled apologetically and said, "I didn't know what Director Chen liked to eat, so I ordered a few of the same things."

She took out a bottle of wine, poured some for Chen Shi, and also poured herself a glass.

Wang Yanhong joked, "Mengmeng, you've told me more than once that you don't drink. Why are you making an exception tonight?"

"I'm delighted to have Director Chen here tonight, so I'll have a drink with you all."

She raised her glass: "Director Chen, I've never drunk alcohol before. I'm so glad to have you here tonight. Let me toast you."

Chen Shi smiled and said, "You are Yan Hong's friend, and also my friend. If you can't drink, I won't force you."

"I've never drunk it before, so I don't know if it's safe to drink."

Xu Mengmeng drank a cup in one gulp, choking and coughing incessantly. Wang Yanhong patted her back.

"Mengmeng, if you can't drink it, don't force yourself."

Xu Mengmeng stopped coughing: "It's nothing."

She looked up, her face flushed.

This shows sincerity, and Chen Shi sees it clearly. Zhang Hu has hit the jackpot by finding Xu Mengmeng as his girlfriend.

"Let's not drink anymore, I don't like drinking either. Let's eat."

Xu Mengmeng quickly said, "Director Chen, I'm so sorry, you and Yan Hong drink, I'll pour you some wine."

She picked up the wine bottle to pour wine for Chen Shi.

Chen Shi picked up his wine glass: "I have a bit of a cold, so I won't drink."

Chen Shizhen didn't want to drink; he would avoid drinking if he could. He only wanted to test Xu Mengmeng's sincerity.

He had shown his sincerity and stopped there; he didn't want to make things difficult for a girl, especially since she was Wang Yanhong's good friend.

Wang Yanhong chimed in, "Mengmeng, Chen Shi really doesn't want to drink. I've never seen him drink at home."

Seeing that Chen Shi really wasn't going to drink, Xu Mengmeng put down the bottle.

Chen Shi ate two bowls of rice and put down his chopsticks. Xu Mengmeng felt dizzy and, before they could even get down to business, quickly put down her bowl as well.

I tried to speak several times, but hesitated and stopped myself. It's so hard to ask for help.

Chen was waiting for her to speak. You can't expect me to say it first if you don't want to.

I'll give you ten more minutes, or I'm leaving.

Wang Yanhong gave Xu Mengmeng an encouraging look.

Xu Mengmeng mustered her courage and said, "Director Chen, I have a favor to ask. After I learned about Zhang Hu's previous actions, I gave him a good scolding and sent him to Longtougou Village. He deserved it..."

Chen Shi interrupted, "Each police officer at the police station is responsible for a village. This is not targeting Zhang Hu. There's no question of whether he deserved it or not. It's a work assignment. Wherever they are, they are serving the people."

Xu Mengmeng quickly replied, "Yes, Director Chen is absolutely right. Look, Zhang Hu has been in Longtougou Village for several months now. Could we transfer him back so he doesn't have to be stationed there anymore, and can go there only when necessary?"

"Did Zhang Hu tell you to say that, or did you say it yourself?"

"He knows he was wrong; he made me say it."

"Have him go back to the police station tomorrow and come to my office. I want to hear what he has to say in person."

Chen Shi stood up and left.

Xu Mengmeng looked worried. Did this mean he wouldn't forgive Zhang Hu?

Wang Yanhong patted her shoulder: "Don't worry, Chen Shi sent Zhang Hu back to the police station so that he could write a self-criticism. If the self-criticism is profound, then he will be forgiven."

"Really?"

"Believe me, I'm his bedmate."

Xu Mengmeng also prepared a gift for Wang Yanhong to take back.

Wang Yanhong realized that Chen Shi's presence at the dinner table meant he had forgiven Zhang Hu; otherwise, he wouldn't have come back for dinner.

That's about it. Staying in a godforsaken place like Longtougou for several months has been a profound lesson.

Wang Yanhong accepted Xu Mengmeng's gift without refusing; she wouldn't feel at ease if she didn't.

When he brought the gifts home, Chen Shi didn't ask any questions and pretended not to know anything.

The next day at work, Chen Shi was sitting in his office handling official business when there was a gentle knock on the door.

"Come in"

The door was pushed open, and Zhang Hu walked in with his head down.

She looks like a completely different person; she's lost a lot of weight.

"Director Chen, I've come to apologize to you."

Last night, he received a call from Xu Mengmeng, and he was so happy that he cried. He wrote a 5,000-word self-criticism overnight to reflect on his actions.

"sit"

Chen Shi poured him a cup of tea.

Zhang Hu took out several pages of self-criticism from his bag and placed them in front of Chen Shi.

"Director Chen, this is my self-criticism. I was wrong, please forgive me."

Zhang Hu hung his head, like a child who had made a mistake. He didn't want to stay in Longtougou Village for even a second longer.

Longtougou Village is truly unbearable to live in; it's too remote, and it can only get worse.

It's a place where you can't buy anything even if you have money.

Surrounded by mountains, the villagers were of low quality. When he first arrived, Ma Shuang warmly welcomed him for a few days.

Over time, Ma Shuang completely ignored him, had nowhere to stay, and started hanging out with Ye Caihan.

The thieves in Longtougou were very cunning. After he arrived, they never stole cattle or horses again. He was obsessed with them and saw everyone as a thief.

Chen Shi looked at Zhang Hu: "What did you do wrong?"

I shouldn't be jealous of you.

Zhang Hu is just jealous of Chen Shi. We're brothers who hang out together all the time. I hope you're doing well, but I don't want you to be better off than me.

Chen Shi knew this was the truth, so he picked up the self-criticism and began to read it.

It's very insightful. Environment shapes people. Even the most difficult troublemaker will become obedient after being left in Longtougou Village for a few months.

After reading the self-criticism, Chen Shi was very satisfied and shouted, "Head up, chest out, stand up straight!"

Zhang Hu immediately stood up straight, raised his head, and met Chen Shi's unyielding gaze, which subdued him.

He was genuinely convinced that there was nothing he had to be jealous of; Chen Shi was better than him in everything he did.

Ma Guoliang was convinced, so why should I be dissatisfied?

Chen Shi said solemnly, "Zhang Hu, you have done a good job in Longtougou Village. At least in the past few months, no cattle or horses in Longtougou Village have been lost. This is your achievement."

"Commander Chen, from this day forward, I, Zhang Hu, am your soldier. Wherever you point, I'll fight."

Chen Shi was very satisfied: "Now that you're back, don't go back. Stay at the police station and go to Longtougou Village if you need anything."

Zhang Hu beamed with joy: "Thank you, Director Chen."