Reborn as a Noble's Son

“Comrade Zhou Chen, you’re too impatient. Do you even have the image of a leader anymore?” Liu Wenqing’s face darkened, his tone was somewhat fiery.

These words stunned Zhou Chen. Zhou Chen had always been this kind of character, and the Zhou family had indulged him too much. From childhood to adulthood, it seemed that Zhou Chen had no idea what humility was. Even when he was transferred to local departments, Zhou Chen believed that his background identity already afforded him a certain privilege and expected local officials to curry favor him.

Now that Liu Wenqing was so supportive of him, Zhou Chen believed that this must have been arranged by brother Hua. Therefore, on entering, Zhou Chen appeared extremely familiar.

“Uh, Secretary Liu, can you still sit still? Nie Zhenbang’s actions clearly means he doesn’t take you seriously.” Zhou Chen was also somewhat surprised.

These words once again annoyed Liu Wenqing. Zhou Chen was too full of himself. Simply put, he was a little arrogant. This kind of feeling was as if they were talking as equals. One should not make too much contact with such persons, otherwise, you will be dragged down by them sooner or later.

Moreover, Liu Wenqing was also somewhat worried at this moment. Nie Zhenbang also had a deep background. If it wasn’t for Chairman Tieli’s clear indication of Zhou Chen’s relationship and background, Liu Wenqing would not necessarily support Zhou Chen. However, he had already made up his mind. After this, he should avoid Zhou Chen as much as possible.

Subsequently, Liu Wenqing also said solemnly: “Comrade Zhou Chen, these things are completely groundless, you don’t need to worry about them. Even if there’s really a personnel reshuffle, it’s a normal thing. The work adjustments made in Xinli City have overall considerations. You should refrain from speaking about things that have no factual basis. Concentrate on your work, that’s the most important thing.”

Upon hearing Liu Wenqing’s words, Zhou Chen also knew that his performance just now was indeed a bit too much. However, things had been said, and anything more seemed unwise. So Zhou Chen also nodded: “Secretary Liu, then I’ll leave you to your work. I’ll get back to mine.”

In fact, Liu Wenqing was also a bit embarrassed at this moment. From the bottom of his heart, he did not want to transfer Yan Feng Jiao’s position. After all, this was related to his authority as the secretary of the municipal committee. Just after pushing Zhou Chen to the position of mayor of Xinli City, and immediately agreeing to Nie Zhenbang’s personnel reshuffle, outsiders’ perception might inevitably feel like flattery. If it were up to Liu Wenqing, he would absolutely disagree with this adjustment.

However, this issue involved Fan Guoliang, and the situation was different. So far as Zhou Chen was concerned, Liu Wenqing didn’t think too much. The brilliance of Nie Zhenbang’s personnel reshuffle was that it placed Yan Fengjiao in this position.

Thinking of the old secretary, Fan Guoliang’s personal visit last night, even though the old secretary did not explicitly state it, the meaning was clear. Liu Wenqing could only compromise.

Then, Liu Wenqing picked up the phone on the table and dialed Mayor Ding Aiguo’s number: “Hello, Mayor Ding. This is Liu Wenqing. Hehe, there’s some minor issue. The materials for the personnel reshuffle in Xinli City have you looked at them? I would like to exchange opinions with you.”

Soon, after discussion and vote by the Standing Committee of the Bazhou City Municipal Party Committee, Xue Daming, the Standing Committee of the Xinli City Municipal Party Committee, and Minister of Publicity of the Municipal Party Committee was reassigned to serve as the Deputy Director of the Xinli City People’s Congress. The Deputy County Magistrate, Yan Fengjiao, was reassigned as the Minister of Publicity of the Xinli City Municipal Party Committee and concurrently served as the Director of the Xinli City Economic and Technological Development Zone, and was given the title of Xinli City Municipal Committee Member and Standing Committee Member.

After completing this personnel adjustment, it was now time for Zhou Chen to take office in Xinli City. At the junction of Xinli City and Ku City, at this moment, Nie Zhenbang personally led the Standing Committee of the Xinli City Municipal Party Committee. The leaders of the four major teams in Xinli City were all waiting at the border.

The reason for such a grand welcome was that Nie Zhenbang and others had received a call from the secretary-general of the municipal committee, Li Qingde. This time, for Zhou Chen’s inauguration, the Bazhou City Party Committee and the municipal government attached great importance to him, and Liu Wenqing personally escorted him into office.

As the secretary of the municipal party committee, personally escorting his subordinates into office was a very rare event. At most, as a sign of importance, it would be escorted into office by the full-time deputy secretary of the municipal party committee, which would be the highest specification. However, Liu Wenqing had chosen to take this on himself, which was enough to prove the importance Liu Wenqing attached to this matter. At the same time, it also indirectly expressed Liu Wenqing’s attitude, Zhou Chen’s inaugural mayorship was a matter of great importance to the city’s Party Committee and municipal government. The city officials of Xinli City were expected to hold their thoughts and this was commonly known as taking control of the situation.

Liu Wenqing’s motorcade slowly stopped in front of Nie Zhenbang and others. The car window was lowered, and Liu Wenqing was actually sitting alone in the car, which was somewhat unexpected for Nie Zhenbang.

Typically, during such an inauguration, Zhou Chen should have been sitting in Liu Wenqing’s car. A look of surprise flashed across Nie Zhenbang’s face, but he immediately went up to him, smiled and said, “Secretary Liu, welcome to inspect and guide the work of Xinli City.”

Nie Zhenbang’s words also carried some sense of distance. In the past, he would definitely have greeted him warmly as Secretary. Moreover, Nie Zhenbang deliberately ignored Zhou Chen’s inauguration and described it as inspecting and guiding work, which revealed some implications.

Liu Wenqing also started smiling at this moment, and then, shifted his buttocks slightly, “Secretary Nie, you’re too polite. Come on up.”

This change, however, left the leaders of Xinli City in some surprise. Could it be that the relationship between Secretary Nie and Secretary Liu was already easing?

The car drove directly into the office building of the Xinli City Municipal Party Committee. Inside the committee’s auditorium, everything had already been arranged. Above the auditorium’s podium, a banner had already been hung up, which read, “Xinli City Leadership Meeting.”

Liu Wenqing took the main seat in the middle without hesitation. To his left was Nie Zhenbang, and to his right was Zhou Chen. The Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee and the leaders of the four major groups were all seated on the podium.

In the audience, the front row was filled with other deputy leaders of the City Party Committee and Municipal Government, as well as retired seniors from the former Lixian and Yun County. Behind them were the heads and deputies of each department of the municipal government units, the leaders related to the Economic and Technological Development Zone, and the heads and deputies from each town and village. Further back were mid-level cadres from the Municipal Party Committee, the City Government, and municipal government units working in the city.

Several hundred people crowded together. All eyes focused on the podium, and the auditorium became silent. As the Secretary of the Xinli City Municipal Party Committee, Nie Zhenbang took on the role of host without any hesitation.

After taking a glance at the cadres below the stage, Nie Zhenbang tapped the microphone and loudly announced, “Leaders, comrades, first of all, I welcome Secretary Liu Wenqing of the Bazhou Municipal Party Committee, who came here to inspect and guide our work. First of all, please have Secretary Liu read out the appointment on behalf of the Municipal Party Committee.”

Liu Wenqing then took the microphone and began, “The comrades of Xinli City deserve praise. Xinli City’s work has been excellent, seeing vibrant development that pleases me. Now, let’s first read out the resolution of the Municipal Party Committee. The Bazhou City Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee and the Municipal Organization Department’s Resolution No.1. We will release Mr. Zhou Chen from his membership of the Bazhou City People’s Government Party Group and his position as deputy mayor, and appoint Mr. Zhou Chen as a member of the Xinli City Municipal Committee, standing committee member, deputy secretary, deputy mayor of Xinli City People’s Government, to preside over the overall work of Xinli City People’s Government and nominate him as the candidate for mayor of Xinli City People’s Government. I hope that all the cadres of the whole city can cooperate with the new mayor’s work. To create new achievements for the economic development and construction of Xinli City.”

After the cadre meeting, Liu Wenqing did not have a meal in Xinli City, an action that further clarified that Liu Wenqing’s trip was specifically to support Zhou Chen.

As for this, Nie Zhenbang had an indifferent attitude. The Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee was definitely not a solid group. This point was clear to Nie Zhenbang. If it were to become a solid group, it wouldn’t be good for him, as it would inevitably give people a bad impression of him forming factions and vying for power. The current state was good, ensuring he had the right to speak and decide on the Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee without causing any criticism.

As for Zhou Chen, his ability and vision were clear, and Nie Zhenbang wasn’t worried at all, as long as Zhou didn’t cross his bottom line. He would let Zhou do whatever he wanted. But if Zhou Chen dared to cross his line, Nie Zhenbang naturally had ways to deal with it.

Li Guohua’s current move completely caught Nie Zhenbang off guard. However, as the saying goes, there is no need to wait ten years for a gentleman to take revenge. Nie Zhenbang didn’t need to wait ten years. As soon as he sorted out the situation, Nie Zhenbang could take action, and it would probably be Li Guohua’s turn to worry.

At this moment, Zhou Chen didn’t know Nie Zhenbang had already made Li Guohua, his awe-inspiring brother, a target. At this moment, Zhou Chen was standing in the mayor’s office of the municipal government.

This office had always been used by Nie Zhenbang. As soon as he walked in the door, Zhou Chen’s brows furrowed. Nie Zhenbang used such an office… was he actually from the countryside? This is so shabby. Immediately, Zhou Chen told the secretary-general of the municipal government, Mi Fugui, “Director Mi, change the decoration style of the office for me. Change all these desks and all.”

Just as these words fell, a look of difficulty appeared on Mi Fugui’s face. He was promoted by Nie Zhenbang personally, and no matter how you looked at it, he was marked by Nie’s faction. Once Zhou Chen managed to stabilise his position, Mi Fugui would absolutely be replaced, so he didn’t really care or tread carefully.

Immediately, he expressed some difficulty, “Deputy Mayor Zhou, I’m really sorry. The financial expenditure of Xinli City implements a one-pen management system. The funds of the municipal government office affairs bureau are all in the hands of Secretary Nie. But even last year, the municipal party committee and the municipal government issued a policy, which considering that the new office building can be used in May, strictly prohibits the refurbishment of the old building. If everything is replaced, I’m afraid it won’t be approved.”

As soon as Mi Fugui’s words fell, Zhou Chen’s brows furrowed. Though Zhou had already prepared himself mentally, he didn’t expect Nie Zhenbang to be so ruthless, even the money for office renovation had been withheld.

Immediately, Zhou Chen chuckled awkwardly, “So that’s the case, well, since there’s such a regulation, then let’s not decorate. Hang a picture of the Eight Horses on the wall over there. I think you can handle this request. Also, help me notify them that I plan to visit the retired cadres bureau tomorrow morning.”

PS: Speaking of which, there are already 45 votes. It seems that four updates tomorrow are a certainty. Brothers and sisters, do you have the guts to make me update five or even six times?