Chapter 729 -685: Unexpected Event_1
“Have we arrived at Liangxi?”
Nie Zhenbang opened his eyes, looking at the signs and scenery on the Hujiang Expressway. Seeing the familiar fields, Nie Zhenbang felt a stir of excitement.
Liangxi City was his second career post and a place where he had aspired to make significant achievements. Unfortunately, his stay was brief, merely a passer-by, not spending even a year there. Leaving the city prematurely remained a regret in Nie Zhenbang’s life.
Next to him, Li Jupeng took a pack of wet wipes from his briefcase and handed one to Nie Zhenbang, “Director Nie, you may want to freshen up. We are five kilometers away from Liangxi East toll station.”
As a secretary, it was his responsibility to manage the routine affairs and personal needs of the director when they were traveling. He needed to ensure that the director always made the best appearance under any circumstances. This was an essential part of his job. Nie Zhenbang’s rank was relatively low. If he were a national leader, apart from a secretary in charge of secretarial duties, there would also be a personal attendant in charge of daily life and a security secretary responsible for driving and personal safety.
Nie Zhenbang naturally took the wet wipe from Li Jupeng’s hand. He wiped his slightly tense face due to sleep and exercised his facial muscles with a few exaggerated yawns. Then he took a pack of chewing gum from his pocket and started chewing on one. It was these little details that mattered – a piece of gum to freshen one’s breath. After waking up, one often has more or less a morning breath; without access to toothbrush and mouthwash in the car, chewing gum was a good alternative.
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This content is taken from freёwebnovel.com.
A few minutes later, they followed the signs indicating ‘Liangxi East’ and slowly entered the toll station accompanied by business cars and police cars arranged by Pengcheng City.
At this moment, on the broad road outside the exit of the toll station, several local police cars with license plates of Liangxi City were flashing their lights, and many policemen beside the road were on standby.
In the front, a few elderly men who were over fifty years old, stood with a serious look on their faces. Behind them, were the leaders from the Liangxi City Committee.
A middle-aged man in the front said with a smile, “Secretary Fan, we all know Director Nie well and are aware that he dislikes show-offs and formalities. Would our way of welcoming disturb him?”
Fan Changsheng, who was still the Party Secretary of Liangxi City, laughed and said to the man beside him, “Mayor Huang, you’re overthinking. Nie Zhenbang is a cadre who started his career here. Now, as the director of the ‘Three Public’ Office, his return to Liangxi is like a general returning triumphant from the battlefield. As Nie Zhenbang’s old colleagues and friends, it’s natural for us to greet him with high specifications.”
Fan Changsheng was in his late fifties. According to the regulations for civil servants, bureau and department level cadres retire at sixty. This year, Fan Changsheng was re-elected secretary at the Liangxi City People’s Congress and Political Consultative Conference, which was viewed as a favor from Jiangbei Provincial Committee.
The three cars slowly pulled up next to Liangxi City’s welcoming team. As the doors of the business cars opened, Nie Zhenbang got down.
On seeing Fan Changsheng, a restrained smile appeared on Nie Zhenbang’s face. They had partnered during their time in Liangxi City and experienced a rollercoaster ride together. After meeting again, the tension between the two had significantly reduced.
On one hand, Fan Changsheng was at the end of his career and had lost his ambition to compete. On the other hand, Nie Zhenbang had grown much more mature in both mentality and political acumen after years of experience.
“Secretary Fan, you’re too kind, I am humbled by this grand welcome from the City Committee and City Government of Liangxi, and all comrades here,” Nie Zhenbang said, modestly acknowledging the reception, giving full face to the leaders from Liangxi City Committee.
At this moment, Fan Changsheng also laughed heartily, “Director Nie, you’re being too modest. Although your tenure in Liangxi was brief, you left an indelible mark. The vision for the future development of Yanling City West Village was set by you, Director Nie. The regulations for the ‘Three Public’ Offices in Liangxi City were pioneered by you. You also initiated the strategy of environmental assessment before investment approval. In terms of economic development and political reform in Liangxi City, you made significant contributions.”
Fan Changsheng’s words had a tinge of flattery but this time he meant them with all sincerity. Fan Changsheng had initially disagreed with these plans and policies. After years of implementation, however, Liangxi City’s economy had grown rapidly while retaining its beautiful and clean environment- a fact that was a testament to Nie Zhenbang’s contribution and success.
Nie Zhenbang also burst into laughter: “Secretary Fan, if you continue to flatter me, my tail will be up in the sky. I think we should proceed to the city first. The congested road has taken a somewhat heavy toll on us.”
Afterwards, Nie Zhenbang shook hands with each and every member of the party committee of Liangxi City. Once this was done, the convoy set off once again.
Under the guidance of the Liangxi City Public Security Bureau police cars, the convoy entered the Liangxi City Committee’s office building. In the Liangxi City Committee’s meeting room, Nie Zhenbang and Huang Xudong attended the welcome meeting held by the committee on behalf of the Administrative Bureau.
At this moment, Nie Zhenbang took the host seat without hesitation. On one hand, he was a vice-ministerial-level official, half a rank above Fan Changsheng. On the other hand, the Administrative Bureau was representing the superior authority. It was all reasonable and understandable to make such arrangements.
After surveying everyone, Nie Zhenbang said with a smile, “Secretary Fan, Mayor Huang, colleagues, most of you are old colleagues and friends. I’m familiar with the new faces on the city committee, too. We have encountered each other quite a few times during previous meetings at the Jiangbei Provincial Committee. Since we are all old friends and colleagues, I won’t overdo the formalities and official speeches.”
These words won the hearts of all the members of the Liangxi Municipal Committee. Nie Zhenbang was great at conversing and seemed honest. He didn’t act aloof as a leader and conveyed the amiable vibe of an old colleague catching up on family affairs. This manner quickly earned everyone’s approval.
On the side, Fan Changsheng watched the scene, a look of admiration on his face. Five years had passed, and now, Nie Zhenbang had become even better at speaking and working.
In five years, Nie Zhenbang had transitioned from assistant monitor to a vice-ministerial-level official, even overtaking him by half a rank. Fan Changsheng sighed at this recollection.
Indeed, it was inevitable that Fan Changsheng didn’t get promoted. Back then, in the face-off between Nie Zhenbang and Li Guohua, the Li family was displeased because Fan Changsheng, as the secretary of the municipal party committee, failed to suppress the situation. Later, Li Guohua’s scandal came out and his political future was completely blocked. This further fueled the Li family’s anger. It was already generous of them not to have directly dismissed Fan Changsheng. Promotion was definitely out of the question.
Upon hearing these words, Nie Zhenbang was also taken aback. As the director of the Administrative Bureau, although his rank was high, he couldn’t manage the local cadres at the Bureau level. It was already quite nice of them to treat him respectfully. As for reporting their work and thoughts, where on earth would that come from?
“Report his work and thoughts to me? This Fan Changsheng, he’s acting a bit strange,” Nie Zhenbang muttered to himself. After a moment of contemplation, he nodded and said to Li Jupeng, “Please invite Secretary Fan Changsheng in.”
PS: Here’s the second update. My brothers and sisters, I’m a little tired today. Four updates will be made up tomorrow. For today, please allow me to rest a bit. (