Reborn as a Noble’s Son
Chapter 1003 - Chapter 1003 Chapter 959 Inspecting the Disaster Area

Chapter 1003: Chapter 959: Inspecting the Disaster Area Chapter 1003: Chapter 959: Inspecting the Disaster Area As the convoy started up again, Wenchun City quickly received the message. At this moment, despite it being after work hours, not a single person in Wenchun City was resting.

Earlier, around six o’clock, all the leaders of the Wenchun City Municipal Committee, along with the heads of the four major teams in the city, and several retired comrades had rushed to the Red Wen Expressway’s Wenchun toll station exit. However, they received news that Secretary Nie’s convoy had been blocked on the highway.

Originally, Wenchun City had a contingency plan for Secretary Nie’s convoy to exit from the currently under-construction Wenchun East exit and take the national highway. But the message from the other side was that Secretary Nie had already deployed orders and tasks, insisting that traffic be cleared in the shortest possible time.

Due to the cold weather, the leaders of Wenchun City returned to the Municipal Committee and City Government compound. They received the message from the highway. Li Youquan didn’t dare to delay and stood up, addressing the nearby CPPCC member Gao Renguo and Mayor Peng Anhui, “Old Gao, Old Peng, I think we should go sooner rather than later. If Secretary Nie’s convoy is fast, it would take only ten to twenty minutes. Let’s head to the toll station first.”

When the leaders from the Wenchun City Committee arrived at the toll station, Nie Zhenbang’s convoy had not come through yet, but it was almost there. The sizeable convoy was making a U-turn at the toll station gate and lined up neatly into a long dragon, parked on the side of the road. Considering Secretary Nie’s habits, no police cars were arranged to lead the way.

Despite the piercing cold wind and everyone wearing multiple layers of dark-colored woolen coats, the older comrades still found it hard to bear, like the former Mayor of Wenchun City, Comrade Huang Zhengxin.

Li Youquan glanced over and frowned slightly. There was well-known discord between Huang Zhengxin and his old superior, now Secretary-General Xu Hongzhuan.

This time, to welcome Secretary Nie’s arrival, notifying the old comrades was just a courtesy–a polite gesture. Several old comrades declined with a smile, but Huang Zhengxin insisted on coming, perhaps harboring some thoughts of his own.

“Old Mayor, it’s windy outside, this north wind gives quite a headache. How about you go sit in the car first? You can come out again when Secretary Nie’s convoy enters the toll station?” Li Youquan said with a smile, genuinely trying to be kind.

However, the old man Huang Zhengxin was very stubborn and seemed not so appreciative. With a chuckle, he immediately said, “Secretary Li, I appreciate the thought, but despite being old, I’m still in good health. For such an important event as welcoming Secretary Nie, hiding in the car would be disrespectful. I am not that fragile.”

After being awkwardly rebuffed by Huang Zhengxin, Li Youquan’s face twitched slightly. The old man was as immovable as a rock in a pit–it was no wonder he had been able to stubbornly write more than a dozen complaint letters.

Li Youquan was, after all, the top leader in Wenchun City. Having encountered a snub, naturally, he would not make the mistake again of offering a warm face to a cold backside. With an indifferent smile, he stopped speaking and turned to converse with Gao Renguo next to him.

About ten minutes later, the convoy finally appeared within everyone’s sight. By now, the lead car had moved to the back of the convoy, and all police lights and sirens were turned off. The convoy drove slowly into the toll station and exited through the far-right green channel, one by one.

Seeing the crowd waiting by the roadside, Nie Zhenbang nodded his head and instructed, “Secretary-General, let’s stop for a moment.”

These words touched Xu Hongzhuan deeply. He understood the Secretary’s intention. It was not so much that Secretary Nie was satisfied with Wenchun City’s reception; the most important aspect was probably to give him, the Secretary-General, face, considering that Xu Hongzhuan was the former Party Secretary of Wenchun City.

The convoy slowly pulled over, and the doors of the Coaster business van opened. Nie Zhenbang disembarked from the vehicle, his face wearing a calm and composed smile. He approached with a gentle tone, “Comrade Youquan has been thoughtful, and all comrades from Wenchun City have worked hard. In such weather, at this time, still standing in the sharp cold wind. Everyone should get on the bus.”

Nie Zhenbang’s words carried a hint of preferential treatment, and his actions too showed a bit of special regard, shaking hands only with the current leaders of Wenchun City’s big four teams before withdrawing his hand.

With Secretary Nie having said that, the other leaders from Wenchun City naturally could only comply. Indeed, Nie Zhenbang had a point–it was freezing cold and nearly eleven at night, hardly the time for exchanging pleasantries.

Everyone got into their respective vehicles, and at this moment, Xu Hongzhuan kept his eye on his ‘old friend’ Huang Zhengxin. After Secretary Nie’s words, it was evident that Huang Zhengxin appeared somewhat disappointed.

There was a pause before Nie Zhenbang suddenly turned around and said, “Secretary Li Youquan, come with me.”

This statement made all the leaders of Wenchun City quite envious, as Li Youquan was indeed very lucky to follow such a good leader. Not only did he smoothly take over the position of Wenchun City’s Party Secretary, but now, under the leader’s operation, he also had the opportunity to get close to Secretary Nie.

The convoy restarted, this time even larger. In front and behind, nearly twenty to thirty vehicles lined up in a formidable procession. Although no hazard warning lights were flashing, no police cars were clearing the way, and no traffic police were blocking roads at intersections. Even though it was nearing midnight, such a large convoy moving through the streets of Wenchun City still attracted a lot of attention.

Looking out the car window at the clean and tidy streets, without a speck of snow, Nie Zhenbang nodded slightly. He was well aware that, perhaps since receiving the call yesterday, the entire city of Wenchun hadn’t rested. However, regardless of the motive, at least the attitude was good. Besides, the streets were swept clean, which was a real benefit to the people.

Next to him, Li Youquan, the Party Secretary of Wenchun City, appeared somewhat apprehensive. This was no surprise, as Nie Zhenbang had only taken office in Hongjiang just over a month ago. To the people at the Hongjiang Provincial Committee, Secretary Nie was not a stranger, but for most of the municipal leaders below Hongjiang, Secretary Nie was still quite unfamiliar. Though they could gather some knowledge of Secretary Nie’s preferences from television media, promotional speeches, and his previous working style, it was definitely not in-depth or familiar.

Looking at Li Youquan, Nie Zhenbang smiled and said, “Comrade Youquan, don’t be tense. On this journey, my impressions have been significant. The fact that Wenchun City’s urban area is so clean and the power supply so abundant has greatly exceeded my expectations. This is very good. It shows that the Wenchun City Party leadership is indeed very capable.”

This praise made Li Youquan feel a very familiar emotion, as if he had returned to his days as a student, trembling all over, unable to suppress his excitement the first time a teacher complimented him.

He humbly replied, “All this could not have been achieved without Secretary Nie’s guidance and teachings.”

Nie Zhenbang laughed heartily and turned his head to Xu Hongzhuan, saying, “Secretary-General, Comrade Youquan is still very reserved, very modest indeed.”

Xu Hongzhuan also smiled and said, “You’re too kind, Secretary. I feel that Comrade Youquan’s words are indeed from the heart.”

Xu Hongzhuan then changed the subject, “Secretary, what are your thoughts on the next arrangements? Shall we go to the Municipal Committee meeting room to hear a work report from Wenchun City?”

Nie Zhenbang lifted his wrist, revealing a luxurious Swiss brand watch, a Vacheron Constantin, which was opulent yet not ostentatious. It was already past eleven o’clock. Nie Zhenbang frowned slightly and then said, “At this time, I don’t think there’s a need to go to the Municipal Committee meeting room. Let’s go to the Municipal Committee guesthouse to rest first. Just now, I saw a few older comrades who have been waiting until this late hour. If we go to the meeting room now, it would probably be two or three in the morning before we finish, which might not be a problem for the younger ones, but it could be hard for the older comrades. Let’s rest first, and we can make other arrangements early tomorrow.”

The accommodations for Nie Zhenbang were naturally arranged at the guest quarters of the Wenchun City Municipal Committee, and for the other accompanying personnel and leaders, they were housed according to their respective ranks, in other courtyards of the guest quarters or in suites at the Municipal Committee guesthouse.

Here, the guesthouse cafeteria quickly arranged supper: noodles with fried eggs, as per Nie Zhenbang’s request for simplicity.

After everyone was settled, not only did the leaders of Wenchun City breathe a sigh of relief, but Xu Hongzhuan did as well.

In the No.1 courtyard of the Municipal Committee guesthouse, Nie Zhenbang sat at the coffee table, wolfing down his food with a robust military aura. After finishing the noodles, Xu Hongzhuan was about to take his leave when Nie Zhenbang, while lighting a soft Zhonghua cigarette from the box on the coffee table, said, “Hong, go find Comrade Li Youquan of Wenchun City and ask him to come here.”

Hearing Nie Zhenbang’s words, Xu Hongzhuan waited for Hong Feng to leave before smiling and saying, “Secretary, if you’re busy, I won’t disturb you.”

While it would have been normal for Xu Hongzhuan to leave, Nie Zhenbang shook his head and replied, “Secretary-General, sit down too. It’s good for you to listen in on this matter. After all, you were once the Party Secretary of Wenchun City. This inspection visit is also like a triumphant return.” (To be continued. If you like this book, welcome to Qidian (NovelFire.net) to vote for it, give monthly passes, and your support is my greatest motivation.)