This chapter continues my inquiry into the role of the Chinese bureaucracy in China’s governance by examining local bureaucratic behavior in policy-implementation processes. The previous chapter focused on a class of phenomena in bureaucratic collusion, this chapter examines another class of behavioral patterns characterized by “muddling through” in policy implementation – adopting ad hoc, improvised strategies; exhibiting a course of action that focuses on short-term, incremental gains; and sequential adjustments in strategy as conditions change, leading to patterns of shifting courses of action over time. The theme of this chapter is that bureaucratic behavior is governed by multiple bureaucratic logics that often generate inconsistent, or even conflicting, demands on local officials in their work environment, leading to a course of action characteristic of muddling through.