Reborn as a Noble’s Son
Chapter 1001 - Chapter 1001 Chapter 957 Im Sorry to Everyone

Chapter 1001: Chapter 957: I’m Sorry to Everyone Chapter 1001: Chapter 957: I’m Sorry to Everyone This scene left many drivers and passengers around them dumbfounded, and some even cursed under their breath, “These damn officials, they think they’re so great. Everyone else is just waiting here, yet they can just open the closed road and follow through. Let’s go, let’s follow them. Why should officials be able to go, and we have to wait here?”

However, Nie Zhenbang had already anticipated all of this. The provincial traffic police force and the two accompanying police cars, especially the one at the rear, stopped here and resealed the road. Facing the somewhat agitated crowd, no one spoke a word.

The nature of our citizens is actually still good and honest. Although there were no responses, at this moment, no one really dared to rush the police car.

Having received the news, the highway administration and traffic police were wary of showing any negligence. All police officers at home, whether on standby or resting, sprang into action upon receiving the orders. In less than five minutes, the police vehicle that had been on guard outside the toll station quickly drove over, completed the handover, and then the vehicle bringing up the rear left the area.

All the way, Nie Zhenbang observed the long line of cars on the left, his expression growing somber. On the right-hand side of the road, it was not completely empty. By the roadside, on the edge of the highway median, many passengers from coaches and sleeper buses, unable to endure the cold, had started fires. On the road, locals could be seen carrying baskets, hawking snacks, instant noodles, cigarettes, mineral water, and so on. Occasionally, people would cross through the median to bring in thermoses of hot water.

This scene made Wu Guangshun’s face look very ugly. He muttered, “What is the highway administration doing, allowing locals to come in? It’s all a mess and terribly smoggy.”

Nie Zhenbang, who had keen ears, heard Wu Guangshun’s words and slightly furrowed his brow before replying, “Director Wu, we should treat unusual situations in unusual ways. Look at these passengers stranded in cars, suffering from hunger and cold. If it weren’t for these local residents running their businesses, they would hardly be able to keep going. At the end of the day, it’s still our work that isn’t up to par.”

Because of the numerous pedestrians on the road, even though vehicles were traveling on the right lane, their speed wasn’t fast. Additionally, since there was a layer of ice on the road surface and the vehicles were all fitted with anti-skid chains and had excellent performance, for safety reasons, speed was kept at around 40 kilometers per hour.

Moreover, the lead vehicle kept broadcasting messages, asking pedestrians ahead to clear the way. At this moment, the passengers and locals standing by the guardrail, along with the passengers and drivers on the left, all watched the convoy. Everyone had the same thought: there must be some high-ranking official in that motorcade.

Under the gaze of countless onlookers, the convoy traveled nearly 20 kilometers. Normally, 20 kilometers might only take about ten minutes, but now it took a full half hour and the sky had completely dimmed. Suddenly, the convoy stopped. Nie Zhenbang’s brow furrowed, he opened the car door, and Zhou Yumin stepped in with a serious look, reporting, “Secretary Nie, up ahead, some local residents and passengers have started causing a ruckus. They’ve gathered quite a crowd and completely blocked the road.”

Upon hearing these words, Nie Zhenbang jumped up from his seat. To his side, on the front left, Hong Feng also stood up quickly, picking up Nie Zhenbang’s coat and handing it to him.

After putting on his coat, Nie Zhenbang said in a deep voice, “Comrade Hongzhuan, come down with me to have a look.”

As soon as Secretary Nie got out of the car, all the leading officials on board followed him down, and the reporters from the provincial newspaper and television station who were in the Coaster business van behind also followed suit.

Such a large group, accompanied by police cars and officers, who all had an impressive presence and looked like leaders, immediately quieted the noisy crowd.

Among the crowd, some who were interested in current affairs recognized Nie Zhenbang and shouted, “It’s Secretary Nie, the Secretary of the Hongjiang Provincial Committee has come.”

“Yes, that’s right, I’ve seen him on TV before, it’s Secretary Nie.” Someone in the crowd, reminded by this remark, also recalled and confirmed.

For the ordinary people, the Secretary of the Provincial Committee was simply too distant a figure. Even though life was not bad nowadays, and some even had a bit of money, they might never get the chance to meet the Secretary of the Provincial Committee in their lifetime.

Nie Zhenbang stepped forward. Beside him, Xu Hongzhuan was very anxious and whispered to Zhou Yumin, “Captain Zhou, with so many people around, you must fully consider the Secretary’s safety and ensure that there are no slipups.”

Nie Zhenbang heard these words, turned his head to look at Xu Hongzhuan, and without saying a word, he walked up to the crowd, waving his arms and said loudly, “Yes, the comrade just now was right, I am Nie Zhenbang. I am the newly appointed Secretary of the Hongjiang Provincial Committee.”

With that, Nie Zhenbang smiled and asked, “Everyone is gathered here on the road. Just now, I saw there seemed to be some disputes among you, could you tell me what they were about?”

No sooner had he finished speaking than the crowd, which had initially calmed down, suddenly erupted again. Someone in the crowd shouted out loud, “Secretary Nie, you arrived just in time. Please judge this for us. A pack of instant noodles is being sold for fifty yuan each, not to mention they’re charging an extra twenty yuan for hot water to cook the noodles. Secretary Nie, money doesn’t grow on trees, it’s all hard-earned. If it weren’t for this weather, would we be enduring such suffering? Isn’t this extortion?”

As soon as this person finished talking, another person next to him shouted, “Exactly, I just bought two sausages for twenty yuan each, which is outrageous. Such price-gouging behavior is really despicable.”

“We can’t even not buy them. I just made a comment about how they’re money-crazy, and these people, relying on the fact that they’re locals, actually wanted to get violent. I want to see if you dare to be so arrogant with Secretary Nie here.”

Such price gouging was naturally nothing glorious to begin with. Moreover, the locals were somewhat in the wrong. Now, with Nie Zhenbang standing here, these people fell silent; the more timid ones had already slowly backed away, getting ready to leave.

Nie Zhenbang felt moved at this moment. He had not expected the situation to have become so dire. After surveying the crowd, Nie Zhenbang suddenly bowed deeply and then declared in a loud voice, “Fellow villagers, comrades, all the people of Hongjiang Province and our fellow countrymen from other provinces stranded on the Red Wen Expressway, I would like to say a few words.”

Then, looking at the group of locals next to him, he said, “First of all, I want to thank the local people here. Before the government could act, I appreciate that you provided food and warming materials to the large number of people stranded on the expressway, including drivers and passengers. From this perspective, you have indeed helped the government a great deal.”

To everyone’s surprise, Secretary Nie actually thanked these profiteers. However, what the travelers did not expect was that these locals, who had previously been so high and mighty, now showed expressions of shame. Someone in the crowd spoke up, “Secretary Nie, we were wrong. We shouldn’t have made such exorbitant profits!”

Nie Zhenbang waved his hand with a smile and said, “Let me say this, empathize, we all travel, just think, if the locals treated you the same way when you’re away from home, wouldn’t you get angry? I believe that everyone with a sense of blood and conscience would feel angry and hateful. But still, I hope that while making money, you do not forget your conscience. Of course, this is not all your fault, it’s our government’s oversight for not considering the living and warming needs of stranded individuals. It is my mistake, I have let everyone down, and here, on behalf of the Hongjiang Provincial Committee and the provincial government, and on my own behalf, I offer a sincere apology to everyone.”

After this, Nie Zhenbang turned and instructed, “Secretary-General, make arrangements, notify the Provincial Expressway Group to open service stations along the Luji City route, accommodating the incoming vehicles temporarily. Moreover, have the highway authorities fully deploy, preparing instant noodles, hot water, warm clothing, and heating materials, as well as fuel, to be freely provided to all drivers and travelers stranded on the Red Wen Expressway. All expenses will be reimbursed through the civil affairs department’s disaster relief channel.”

Turning his gaze to Zhou Yumin and Wu Guangshun, Nie Zhenbang said in a serious tone, “Comrade Zhou Yumin, Comrade Wu Guangshun, here, I make a request as an ordinary party member, please mobilize all of the province’s human and material resources, high-speed traffic police, and expressway rescue departments to increase the scale of the rescue efforts and deploy additional rescue equipment. We must, with the utmost speed, clear the roads. Can you do it?”

Though Nie Zhenbang’s words were polite, and he seemed to be making a request as an ordinary party member, Wu Guangshun and Zhou Yumin dared not truly think that way. Such matters and such a tone were to be just listened to; if they really treated Secretary Nie as an ordinary party member, it would mean they did not wish to advance in their careers.

Wu Guangshun nodded and said, “Secretary Nie, please rest assured, and may the general public and all stranded travelers rest assured as well. The Department of Transportation will immediately direct the Provincial Expressway Group and the Provincial Highway Authorities to concentrate and dispatch personnel, ensuring that the road will be cleared within five hours.”

Next to him, Zhou Yumin also spoke up, “Secretary Nie, just now, the Provincial Expressway Traffic Police Brigade has carefully surveyed the condition of the left side of the road. They believe that a counterflow lane can be opened to bypass the accident site.”

(To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to NovelFire.net to vote, recommend tickets, and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)