Reborn as a Noble’s Son
Chapter 1160 - Chapter 1160 Chapter 1116 Standing Committee Team

Chapter 1160: Chapter 1116 Standing Committee Team Chapter 1160: Chapter 1116 Standing Committee Team Not only were all the provincial leaders surprised, Governor Liu was also somewhat taken aback, his gaze deep and meaningful as he looked at Nie Zhenbang. At this moment, Secretary Nie’s face was calm. He sat in his chair, sitting up straight and proper, without any indication of wanting to continue speaking. It seemed that Secretary Nie’s inauguration speech was complete.

“Quite interesting. This youngster from the Nie family, it seems he truly has the capability and strength. Such composure, as if Taishan were collapsing in front of him without changing his demeanor. If it were me, at his age, I’m afraid I couldn’t have achieved such a level,” thought Governor Liu, mentally offering his praise.

According to the convention of inauguration speeches in the country, a complete set of routines had basically formed. First, declaration of support–endorsing the organization’s decision and complying with its arrangements, this was a must. Second, commendation–speaking highly of the predecessor’s glorious achievements and image, as well as highly appraising the province’s environment and situation, mentioning factors like vast territory, abundant resources, and outstanding people among other things. This showed that you have a basic understanding of the province. Third, determination–fully reflecting your resolve upon taking office. Fourth, expectations.

Basically, these four points are the convention for inauguration speeches, and similar summaries can even be found in some books on writing administrative documents.

But at this moment, Nie Zhenbang was playing his cards off the beaten track. After declaring support, he neither summarized the predecessor’s work nor expressed his own expectations. With the simple phrase “Empty talk misleads the country, practical work rejuvenates the nation,” he dismissed the audience. At first listen, it might seem a bit hasty.

However, the following sentence displayed Nie Zhenbang’s powerful dominance and confidence. “I won’t speak empty words.” What does this mean? The meaning is simple–I came to Longxi to get things done. No matter how much or how well I speak, it’s useless. Everything is understood without being put into words. In the following work, everyone will naturally see Nie Zhenbang’s attitude and ability.

Anyone confident and dominating is only of two kinds–one who knows nothing and one who knows everything.

Nie Zhenbang is not some town or county-level official. Being at this level, and with a reputation to boot, it’s clear he belongs to the second kind. A person of this kind is capable, shrewd, and savvy. He’s not someone easily dismissed.

In Governor Liu’s mind, he had already formed a preliminary assessment of Nie Zhenbang. Then, taking the lead, he started applauding.

In the auditorium, thunderous applause erupted immediately. At this moment, Nie Zhenbang looked calmly and indifferently at Governor Liu. A fleeting look of wariness in his eyes expressed Nie Zhenbang’s cautious attitude.

After the meeting adjourned, at the entrance of the auditorium, Nie Zhenbang accompanied Wang Suzhou. Governor Liu had already come forward, smiling and saying, “Minister Suzhou, to welcome you and to celebrate Secretary Nie’s inauguration, the province has prepared a banquet. We ask for the honor of your presence.”

Hearing this, Wang Suzhou smiled, but he did not immediately respond, instead looking towards Nie Zhenbang.

Nie Zhenbang timely said, “Minister Suzhou, you are the leader. For a simple meal, I beseech you to grace us with your presence.”

This exchange further displayed Wang Suzhou’s supportive attitude towards Nie Zhenbang.

Though it was called a banquet, it could barely count as a casual meal, strictly following the standards for official hospitality. The cost of all the dishes on the table was strictly monitored according to the standard.

Longxi Province, including Nie Zhenbang, made up thirteen members of the Provincial Committee. Along with Wang Suzhou, there were fourteen people in total for the meal, and that’s all it was–a single table.

From this, one could see Governor Liu’s caution. He did not play any tricks. If they had set up eighty or a hundred tables, accommodating everyone from the provincial leadership meeting, even if the reception standards followed official guidelines, Nie Zhenbang’s expression probably wouldn’t have been pleasant.

If word got out, how would the ordinary people view it? The new Secretary takes office, and the province throws a huge banquet with over a hundred tables. Such news needed to be taken seriously.

Taking advantage of the time before the dishes were served, Governor Liu smiled and said, “Secretary Nie, let me introduce you to the other comrades of the Provincial Committee.”

Hearing this, a faint indifference flashed through Nie Zhenbang’s heart. Governor Liu was quite the schemer, making it seem as if he and the other leading officials of the team were well acquainted. Smiling, Nie Zhenbang replied, “That’s great. From now on, we are comrades fighting in the same trenches, all striving towards the grand goal of building a greater Longxi. Without familiarity, we can’t coordinate our work well. Your efforts are much appreciated, Governor Liu.”

As he finished speaking, a man around fifty-eight or fifty-nine years old stood up beside Nie Zhenbang and, smiling, said, “Hello Secretary Nie. I am Wang Benchang, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Committee. I’ll need much guidance from Secretary Nie in the future.”

This greeting gave Nie Zhenbang a profound impression. Wang Benchang’s self-introduction seemed to slight Governor Liu’s face a bit. It looked like these two did not get along very well.

Smiling, Nie Zhenbang replied, “Comrade Benchang, you’re too polite. We will learn from each other and make progress together.”

Following Governor Liu’s introduction, Executive Deputy Governor Chen Zhewen and Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee Liu Yueguang respectively stood up and shook hands with Nie Zhenbang.

Chen Zhewen was about fifty-four or fifty-five years old, a refined and cultured man who wore glasses, exuding a scholarly air. Liu Yueguang, who was about fifty, had a slightly portly figure and spoke in a soft, gentle voice.

Next, the Secretary of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission, Guan Jianguo, who was around fifty-four years old, was not tall in stature, but he emanated an aura of integrity from head to toe.

After that, the heads of various departments including Zhang Fangwen, the Organization Department Minister of the Provincial Committee; Li Hongying, the Propaganda Department Minister; Zhang Yongjun, the Deputy Governor and Standing Committee member; Liu Xiaomin, the Secretary-General of the Provincial Committee; and Wei Haoyang, the Secretary of the Shian City Committee all stood up one by one to shake hands and greet Nie Zhenbang.

At this moment, Nie Zhenbang was also somewhat surprised. There was nothing particularly remarkable about Zhang Fangwen and Zhang Yongjun, both being standard bureaucrats. What surprised Nie Zhenbang was that among the standing committee members of the Longxi Provincial Committee, there were actually two women, and both were not very old.

Propaganda Department Minister Li Hongying was forty-eight years old, only six years Nie Zhenbang’s senior. From her appearance, Li Hongying was well-maintained. She dressed with taste, wearing a white short-sleeved ladies’ blouse, her figure slender and graceful. With a fair complexion, she didn’t look like someone who was forty-eight at all; claiming she was thirty-six or thirty-seven would have been entirely believable.

Another one was Liu Xiaomin, the Secretary-General of the Provincial Committee, who also received special attention from Nie Zhenbang. This was the Provincial Committee’s chief steward and someone Nie Zhenbang would frequently interact with in the future.

Additionally, Wei Haoyang, the Secretary of the Shian City Committee, also caught Nie Zhenbang’s attention. This man was no simple character–with just forty-five years, serving as a standing committee member suggested he was a man of great prospects.

Before Liu Zhentao could introduce them, a man in military uniform stood up and saluted, saying, “Secretary Nie, hello. I am Ye Dingbang from the Provincial Military District’s political department.”

Ye Dingbang was only forty-eight years old, in the prime of his life. Hearing this name, Nie Zhenbang’s gaze sharply focused. He had encountered an old acquaintance. Ye Dingbang, the eldest grandson of the Ye family. Through his stepmother Ye Shuxian, Ye Dingbang was actually his cousin.

The last person also stood up and said with a smile, “Secretary Nie, hello. I am Luo Qiuliang, the Secretary of the Ancient City Committee.”

Observing Luo Qiuliang, who was in his fifties, Nie Zhenbang found something vaguely familiar in his features. As Nie Zhenbang shook hands with Luo Qiuliang, he smiled and said, “Secretary Luo, you look somewhat familiar to me. If I may be so bold to ask, is Comrade Luo Chuncui…”

Before he could finish, Liu Zhentao was taken aback. He had not expected that Nie Zhenbang would know Luo Chuncui. Smiling, he said, “Secretary Nie, Comrade Luo Qiuliang is indeed the cousin of Comrade Luo Chuncui.”

Clearly, Luo Qiuliang was also aware of Nie Zhenbang’s friendship with his elder cousin Luo Chuncui and smiled, saying, “Secretary Nie, my elder brother has also mentioned you to me.”

After making the rounds, Nie Zhenbang had met all the members of the Longxi Provincial Committee. He had noted each person’s appearance and personality traits in his mind.

This was one of Nie Zhenbang’s special skills. As far as work was concerned, he could remember everyone clearly just by meeting them once.

Looking around at everyone, Nie Zhenbang was somewhat astonished inside. He hadn’t expected that the seemingly small Longxi would harbor so many hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Not to mention Liu Zhentao, within the standing committee, there was no doubt that people like Wei Haoyang and Ye Dingbang had powerful backers in Jingcheng.

There was no need to say more about Ye Dingbang, an old acquaintance. Nie Zhenbang just hadn’t expected to meet him here. As for Wei Haoyang, Nie Zhenbang had also heard of him; he was a member of the Jingcheng Wei family, a significant force to reckon with.

Aside from these individuals, within the standing committee, there was also the local power figure, Luo Qiuliang. Just think–two brothers from the Luo family successively serving as Secretaries of the Ancient City Committee demonstrated the Luo family’s influence and noteworthiness.

Furthermore, there were the two women, Li Hongying and Liu Xiaomin. The standing committee of the Longxi Provincial Committee was not simple; its waters were much murkier than those of the Hongjiang River.

No wonder Hu Shangzhi, once so ambitious, appeared so haggard and stricken with terminal illness after a few years. Facing such a committee, it was not something an average leader could control or harness.

From the looks of it, the true loyalists under Liu Zhentao’s control were limited to the standing committee’s Deputy Governor, Zhang Yongjun. Therefore, the relationships and mentalities of the others were still a mystery to Nie Zhenbang. He was completely in the dark and could not grasp the situation.

However, this was also good. With each playing their own game in a loosely structured sandpile, the alliances and divisions among them could work in Nie Zhenbang’s favor. If Liu Zhentao had more control, it would be worse for him.

After the meal, considering that they all had to go back to work in the afternoon, and at Wang Suzhou’s suggestion, they decided not to serve tobacco or alcohol. It was a simple lunch, and by the time they finished, it was just past one o’clock.

Wang Suzhou was arranged to stay at the Provincial Committee Guesthouse, and Nie Zhenbang’s accommodation was also temporarily set up there. Just after he had put down his luggage, the doorbell rang, and upon opening the door, Liu Xiaomin, the Secretary-General of the Provincial Committee, was already standing there. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to go to Qidian (NovelFire.net) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)