Reborn as a Noble's Son

Nie Zhenbang did not stay at Ning Shouchang’s house. After dinner, he went out of the Provincial Government compound, found a hotel near the Provincial Party Committee compound, and moved in. Nie Zhenbang got up before six in the morning, stretched his body in the room and shadow-boxed, which was not really possible due to the narrow space.

After having breakfast in the restaurant on the second floor, it was already half past seven. After checking out at the reception desk on the first floor, Nie Zhenbang calmly walked into the Provincial Party Committee compound. When Nie Zhenbang arrived on the sixth floor, the timing was just right, just ten minutes before eight.

A few minutes later, employees began to arrive for work. At the elevator entrance, Yang Xingan came over laughing and talking with a middle-aged man. Upon seeing Nie Zhenbang, Yang Xingan also nodded slightly, then introduced the man next to him: “Guozhong, let me introduce you to Comrade Nie Zhenbang. He’s young, talented, a rare young talent.”

Luo Guozhong, about fifty years old, by this age he had become a deputy minister of the Provincial Party Committee Organization Department and had a lot of upward potential. Luo Guozhong was of average height, around one meter seventy three, which does not make him short among Southerners. Not thin or fat, he always had a cheerful smile on his face. His hair was crew cut and between the sparse strands, some white hair was visible.

Before Nie Zhenbang could speak, Luo Guozhong reached out his hand saying, “Mayor Nie, nice to meet you.”

Without too much courtesy or formality. After a brief hand-touching, this kind of handshake was purely ceremonial. Nie Zhenbang was not bothered. He had been prepared for cold treatment when he transferred to Jiangbei. Besides, as the director of the organization department that handles personnel affairs for the whole province, it would be strange if Shen Yanshuo didn’t seize control of it.

Following that, Nie Zhenbang also greeted with a smile, “Good morning, Director Yang and Director Luo.”

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Luo Guozhong lightly chuckled, “Mayor Nie, if there are no other matters, let us set off. It takes about two hours to travel from Jiangzhou to Liangxi. If we don’t depart now, we won’t be able to reach Liangxi by morning.”

…

At the border sign of Liangxi on the Hujiang Expressway, a row of black Audi cars was parked. In the front was a Toyota SUV police car with its lights flashing, followed by sedans with license plates Jiang B-00003 and Jiang B-00005 in sequence.

The leaders of the Liangxi City Municipal Party Committee and Government, were all waiting here. Among the crowd, Yi Jun and Chen Le stood together. They had arrived a few days earlier than Nie Zhenbang to familiarize themselves with the area. The two of them didn’t have an easy time implementing their work in Liangxi City, and these days they were in a state of weakness and isolation..

Looking at the leaders waiting in front, Yi Jun whispered to Chen Le, “Old Chen, it seems that Liangxi City is preparing to give our boss a tough start.”

Chen Le smiled faintly. After taking office as the Director of Liangxi City Public Security Bureau, Chen Le only brought Feng Kuang with him as his driver.

Within these two days, Chen Le had just started getting familiar with the conditions of the Public Security Bureau and couldn’t yet speak of controlling the situation.

Looking at the leaders nearby, none of the top leaders of the four teams in Liangxi City had arrived. The Mayor of the city government, Wu Jiacheng, was understandable, as Wu Jiacheng was no longer in Liangxi City and couldn’t be here to welcome him. However, the Secretary of the Liangxi Municipal Committee, the Director of the Municipal People’s Congress Standing Committee Fan Changsheng, and the Chairman of the CPPCC not coming to greet him seemed inappropriate. A mayor, appointed by a superior as the acting mayor and equivalent in rank as the city committee secretary, was greeted by the deputy rank of the City Committee. This seemed like a downgrade of Nie Zhenbang’s rank to that of a Deputy Department level official.

At this moment, Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee Zhu Zhuozhen and Executive Deputy Mayor Li Guohua were standing in the front. Jiangbei’s winter was mostly rainy. Jiangbei was located at the junction of South and North, the climate was more similar to Southern weather, a bit damp and cold.

The Hujiang Expressway was the first expressway in Jiangbei Province, and had been open for less than two months. Starting from Jiangzhou City, it takes about two hours to reach Liangxi.

At this moment, Li Guohua’s face was calm and composed. Nie Zhenbang’s arrival wasn’t necessarily good or bad news, however, Li Guohua clearly knew that this confrontation would likely determine the positions and futures of both. Whoever lost would only have the option of retiring from their political career. This was unquestionable. Li Guohua had never been afraid of struggle, otherwise, he wouldn’t have returned to politics so eagerly.

Greeting Nie Zhenbang was a matter of attitude. As the current deputy mayor, he hadn’t yet reached the point where he could afford not to come. A true man should be able to both bend and stretch. If he couldn’t bear even this, what future could he talk about?

A gush of north wind howled, and Li Guohua involuntarily shrank his neck. The deep blue woolen coat wrapped around him, but even so, he felt a bit cold from the freezing wind. Glancing at his watch, Nie Zhenbang turned to Zhu Zhuozhen beside him and said, “Secretary Zhu, according to the news from Jiangzhou City, Luo Guozhong’s car was escorted onto the expressway by Jiangzhou City Public Security Bureau guide car around eight thirty, and it’s already nearly eleven now. They should have arrived by now. I hope nothing happened on the road.”

Upon hearing these words, deputy secretary of the municipal party committee Zhu Zhuozhen cursed inwardly. An accident – Li Guohua would probably hope for Nie Zhenbang to have an accident since his almost guaranteed position of mayor was taken away. It would be strange if he was happy about it.

As Zhu Zhuozhen considered this, he nodded and said thoughtfully, “Maybe they were delayed on the road. The expressway has just opened, and the auxiliary facilities are still being standardized. It is the maiden voyage for the drivers on the expressway.”

Having said this, Zhu Zhuozhen looked at the sky, which was somewhat gloomy, as if it was about to snow. He then said in a deep voice, “Mayor Li, judging by the situation, we don’t know when Minister Luo and his team will arrive. Let’s leave a few people outside to keep watch, and the rest should go back to the cars and rest a bit.”

As Zhu Zhuozhen’s voice fell, a policeman from a patrol car in front came running down, jogged over to Chen Le, and said, “Director Chen, we just received a message that Minister Luo’s car has arrived. It’s less than a kilometer away.”

Although the voice was not loud, all the leaders present heard it. At this moment, Zhu Zhuozhen said, “Everyone please stand in the proper place.”

At this point, inside Luo Guozhong’s car, Nie Zhenbang was looking outside. Luo Guozhong had been closing his eyes in meditation the whole time looking as if he was sleeping. He had apparently decided not to engage in conversation. Nie Zhenbang, of course, would not take the initiative to speak. Before coming here, Nie Zhenbang had already prepared for being marginalized and neglected. Looking at the scene outside the window, Nie Zhenbang sighed somewhat. Jiangbei Province was indeed economically advanced, with the expressway already opened and running, and even directly connecting to Liangxi City. Achieving success here would not be a simple task.

Just then, Xie Guang, Luo Guozhong’s secretary, who was sitting in the co-pilot’s seat, turned his head and said to Luo Guozhong, “Minister, the comrades from Liangxi City have come to meet us. What do you think…?”

Upon hearing his secretary’s words, Luo Guozhong opened his eyes and straightened his body, watching the situation ahead, and then nodded and said, “Let’s park the car on the side. The comrades below also have it tough, standing outside in this extreme cold.”

Having said that, Luo Guozhong turned to Nie Zhenbang and said with a chuckle, “Mayor Nie, let’s go down and meet our colleagues from Liangxi City.”

Hearing this, Nie Zhenbang also smiled lightly and said, “Of course, it’s my duty to build a strong and united team. Minister Luo, after you.”

The car slowly parked on the side, Luo Guozhong got out first, and Nie Zhenbang followed from the other side. As soon as he stepped out of the car, Nie Zhenbang noticed that Luo Guozhong looked a bit upset.

At this moment, Luo Guozhong was also somewhat annoyed. Seeing the welcoming leadership team, Luo Guozhong noticed that none of the four leaders of the Liangxi Municipal Committee were present. Wu Jiacheng had already returned to Jiangzhou to report his work already, but Fan Changsheng should’ve shown some respect. Even if Fan Changsheng intended to embarrass Nie Zhenbang, there were many other ways to do so without completely disregarding his own dignity in the process.

Upon seeing Luo Guozhong’s displeasure, Zhu Zhuozhen’s face also changed, but Li Guohua still remained indifferent. To individuals like Li Guohua and Nie Zhenbang, who come from prominent families with profound backgrounds, bureau-level officials would not cause them any fear or pressure. Only provincial-level officials would make them feel anxious.

The eyes of the two men clashed momentarily and both understood each other’s thoughts, displaying a kind of unwillingness to admit defeat.

At this moment, Zhu Zhuozhen stepped forward, smiled, and said, “Minister Luo, welcome, welcome. Thank you to the provincial committee and the organization for paying so much attention to our Liangxi City. Thank you Minister Luo for coming to guide our work in Liangxi.”

Luo Guozhong maintained a neutral expression in that moment, nodded, and said, “Comrade Zhuozhen, let me introduce you to Comrade Nie Zhenbang.”

After Nie Zhenbang and Zhu Zhuozhen shook hands and exchanged greetings, Luo Guozhong waved his hand and said, “Everybody get in the car. It’s very dangerous to occupy the lane on the expressway like this. Let’s all get in the car and head to the Municipal Committee.”

PS: I appreciate a monthly vote of support! Watching others rocketing up while we seem to be treading water. I request your support, brothers and sisters! (