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

Under Chen Shi's persistent questioning, Wang Guihua began to recount her past.

After Wang Guihua's father married her mother, he joined the army. After being discharged, he was assigned to the Mingzhou Post Office and got a government job.

He found a city man in the city and then divorced Wang Guihua's mother.

Wang Guihua was only one year old at the time, and her grandparents wouldn't let her mother take her away.

Wang Guihua was unwanted by her uncle and maternal grandmother, and her father didn't even acknowledge her.

In Wang Guihua's memory, her father rarely came back, never hugged her, and never gave her any fatherly love.

Wang Guihua never went to school and married Chen Yanshi when she was eighteen.

Her father never appeared throughout the entire process.

Wang Guihua's eyes welled up with tears as she recounted these past events.

Chen Shi could not possibly empathize with his mother's pain. He was only concerned with one thing: whether his uncle was actually the Party Secretary of the city.

"No, we haven't had any contact with him. What we've confirmed is that my maternal grandfather's eldest uncle, whom he had there, is the municipal party secretary."

Wang Guihua's voice choked with emotion, and she couldn't speak.

Chen Yanshi added, "Your Uncle Xincheng told me that, but I don't know the specifics. You'll have to ask him."

Whether it's true or not, this is an opportunity. If we can get in touch with the municipal party secretary, it's entirely possible to rise to the position of county party secretary, let alone deputy section chief.

He took out his phone, intending to call Xincheng's uncle, but then thought it inappropriate. He decided it was better to go to Mingzhou to visit Xincheng's uncle and find out more before making any decisions.

"If that's the case, why didn't you say so sooner?"

Chen Yanshi said angrily, "They don't even acknowledge your mother, so why would they acknowledge us?"

"If they don't come to acknowledge us, we have to take the initiative to acknowledge them. If my uncle really is the municipal party secretary, even if he just gives us a little bit of the leftover soup, it would be a hundred times better than staying here."

Wang Guihua said emotionally, "If they don't come to acknowledge me, don't expect me to take the initiative to acknowledge them."

"Mom, I understand how you feel, but we have to face reality. If I were the provincial party secretary, they would definitely come running to acknowledge you."

But we're just ordinary farmers. I've offended the provincial leaders and been transferred back to the police station. If I don't have a benefactor to help me, I'll be lucky to even reach the level of deputy section chief in my entire life.

Wang Guihua wiped away her tears: "Your maternal grandfather passed away a long time ago, and that woman is gone too."

The two children born upstairs have never come back. The only person who can talk to them is your Uncle Xincheng.

Chen Shi quickly ate a bowl of rice: "I'm going to Mingzhou to find Uncle Xincheng."

Chen Yanshi asked, "Shall we go now?"

"Um"

Chen Shi put down what he had brought back. His future was of utmost importance. He had always been troubled by the lack of connections, but now that there was a glimmer of hope, he had to put in 99% effort.

This maternal uncle is my mother's half-brother; we need to find him.

Chen Shi picked up his bag and arrived at Fushan Town. He checked the time; it was 1:30.

There is a shuttle bus at 2 PM that goes directly to Minnesota.

Hurry up and buy a ticket, take the bus to Mingzhou, and find Uncle Xincheng.

Wang Xincheng and Wang Guihua grew up together and have a sibling-like relationship.

Wang Xincheng is the son of Wang Guihua's second uncle. His mother died early, and he and Wang Guihua shared the same fate.

It took more than four hours for the bus to pull into the station and arrive in Minnesota.

After leaving the station, Chen Shi initially wanted to call Wang Xincheng, but then decided against it and came to ask for help, not wanting to trouble anyone.

If you go to someone's house at this time, and they've already eaten, will they cook for you or not?

I first found a hotel near Wang Xincheng's house to stay in, ate some food, and then went to visit him around 7 p.m.

It was already dark when Chen Shi went to buy a pack of cigarettes and two bottles of wine. He checked the time; it was a little past 7:40, not too early or too late, so he could go pay his respects.

Chen Shi called Wang Xincheng, lying that he was in Mingzhou on business and wanted to visit their home.

Wang Xincheng said he was at home and told him to come over.

Chen Shi visited Wang Xincheng's home several times. The first time he came, he asked Wang Xincheng to send him to university in Yizhou, accompanied by his father.

Chen Shi arrived at the residential area where Wang Xincheng lived with ease. When he got to the door, he knocked gently. The door opened, and a woman answered. Chen Shi called out, "Auntie."

Aunt Song Ya smiled and said, "Chen Shi, come in quickly."

Chen Shi placed two bottles of wine and a pack of cigarettes in the living room. Song Ya said, "When you come here, don't bring anything. You're not an outsider."

"My uncle likes to drink, so I brought some wine for him."

Song Ya asked, "Have you eaten?"

"I ate it, Auntie."

Wang Xincheng came out of the bathroom: "Chen Shi is here."

He looked at Song Ya and said, "Go cook!"

Chen Shi quickly said, "I've already eaten, don't make it."

"If you come here and don't eat, what are you doing here? Next time you pass through Mingzhou, you must come here for a meal."

"Okay, Uncle," Chen Shi said with a smile.

Chen Shi took out cigarettes and handed them to Wang Xincheng with both hands: "Uncle, have a smoke."

He quickly took out a lighter and lit it for Wang Xincheng.

Wang Xincheng took a drag of his cigarette: "Sit down. I heard from your father that you got into the Public Security Bureau."

Chen Shi smiled wryly: "After graduating last year, I passed the exam for the Provincial Public Security Department, but half a month ago, I was transferred back to the Fushan Town Police Station."

Chen Shi recounted the whole story.

Wang Xincheng frowned: "You're really unlucky; you ran into a trap."

Chen Shi tentatively asked, "My mother told me that my eldest uncle is the Party Secretary of Mingzhou City?"

Song Ya placed the fruit next to Chen Shi, sat down beside him, and said, "Your uncle is now the deputy secretary of the municipal party committee, have some fruit."

"Okay, Auntie." Chen Shi symbolically picked up a grape and put it in his mouth.

My maternal uncle was able to become the deputy secretary of the municipal party committee, so his background must be extraordinary. The Wang family doesn't have any background. It can only be that the woman my maternal grandfather found in the position has a powerful family background, or that his wife's family has a powerful family background.

"Auntie, is my auntie also from Minnesota?"

"Her hometown is Yizhou, but she has been in Mingzhou for many years, so she can be considered half a Mingzhou native."

Chen Shi asked again, "What does my aunt do for a living?"

"The principal of Mingzhou No. 1 High School, your aunt's family has a very strong background. Her father was the former deputy secretary of the municipal party committee, and now he has retired to the second line and been transferred to the CPPCC as chairman."

Mingzhou No. 1 High School is the best high school in Mingzhou. More than 70% of students score above 600, making the college entrance rate very easy and the teaching pressure is not high.

Chen Shi understood now; no wonder he was able to become the deputy secretary of the municipal party committee—it was because of his father-in-law's support.

Wang Xincheng said slowly, "I told your uncle about you getting into the Public Security Bureau. He said it was pretty good, that a country boy could get into the Public Security Bureau."

Chen Shi smiled wryly: "It's just bad luck; I've been brought back to square one."

Wang Xincheng understood Chen Shi's intention and asked, "Are you going to find your uncle?"

"I came up here because my mom asked me to come see you and also to visit my uncle and get acquainted with the place."

"After all, we're sisters. It's our fault for not having contact with each other for so many years."

Wang Xincheng nodded: "It's good that you think that way. We're all siblings, so we should still keep in touch."

Chen Shi pressed his advantage: "Uncle, I've never been to your house before. Could you arrange a time for me to visit tomorrow?"

Wang Xincheng readily agreed: "No problem. It's getting late now, I'll ask him tomorrow if he's free."

"Thank you, Uncle."

"We're all family, no need to thank me."

Wang Xincheng runs a business in Mingzhou with dozens of employees, all of whom are supported by his cousin Wang Mingzhang. He can easily earn three to five million a year.

Wang Mingzhang is currently a member of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, and full-time Deputy Secretary. He ranks after the mayor and is the third-in-command of Mingzhou, holding a high position and great power.

Seeing that Chen Shi spoke with great tact and was pursuing a career in government, Wang Xincheng decided to help him.

As long as you get in touch with Wang Mingzhang, your career will be bright.

After sitting for a while, Chen Shi stood up: "Uncle, I'll leave this to you. I'm going back to the hotel."

Wang Xincheng said somewhat angrily, "Why are you staying at a hotel when you come to Mingzhou? Just stay here. We have so many rooms, are you worried about not having enough room?"

I've stayed here before. This suite is very large, 210 square meters, with five bedrooms.

Chen Shi smiled apologetically and said, "This is just business. I can get reimbursed when I get back. Next time I come, I'll definitely stay here."

Song Ya and Wang Xincheng saw Chen Shi off at the elevator, and Chen Shi waved goodbye.

When asking for help, one shouldn't cause trouble for others. Chen Shi was very excited, thinking that as long as he got in touch with his uncle, the deputy secretary of the municipal party committee, his future would be bright.