Someone said helplessly, "I want to be police chief too, but what can I do? I can't even talk these angry neighbors down."
Shi Tiexin drew a deep breath. "Don't be afraid. Leave everything to me. I have three strategies—high, middle, and low—that can resolve this situation."
Tiexin Dot Shi immediately perked up. "What is the high strategy?"
"The high strategy lies in rolling up our sleeves and doing solid work, building a firm foundation. Isn't it just mediating neighborhood disputes and safeguarding community peace? We'll do it!" Shi Tiexin swept out a hand. "We'll handle every bit of work you usually encounter properly, become the best community officers, and make these loathsome neighbors turn over a new leaf from this day forward. Then everyone will sing our praises, and our buddies will be everywhere. Promotion will follow as naturally as water flowing downhill. That is our high strategy—walk the righteous path and do real work."
Someone could not help shaking his head. "It isn't that I want to throw cold water on it, but I've done quite a few practical things these past two years too. The people here really aren't easy to deal with. Daily work neither earns merit nor is easy to carry out. It's too difficult."
"Young comrade, you need to step outside the frame of your thinking and examine the problem." Shi Tiexin had everything under control. "Daily work doesn't earn merit because no one feels that it is an achievement—in other words, it lacks influence. And daily work is difficult because you can't get through to the neighbors—in other words, you lack persuasiveness."
"Both influence and persuasiveness can be improved through one attribute—charisma."
"Wait until we max out your charisma, then try again. It'll immediately be different."
Someone said in delighted surprise, "You can