他们在当地很有势力，说话很管用。

Tāmen zài dāngdì hěn yǒu shìli, shuōhuà hěn guǎnyòng.

They are very influential locally, and their words carry a lot of weight.

小说中描写了几个互相竞争的家族势力。

Xiǎoshuō zhōng miáoxiě le jǐ gè hùxiāng jìngzhēng de jiāzú shìlì.

The novel describes several rival family powers.