Reborn as a Noble’s Son
Chapter 1244 - Chapter 1244 Chapter 1199 The Turmoil Before the New Year

Chapter 1244: Chapter 1199 The Turmoil Before the New Year Chapter 1244: Chapter 1199 The Turmoil Before the New Year Time always slips away quietly when one least expects it. In Longxi Province, all work had already fallen into place. The three major projects, the Automobile City and Oil City, had both started construction. As for the environmental forest project, it would be on the right track after the spring of next year. Overall, the development trend of Longxi Province was still vigorously ascending.

After entering January, the Chinese New Year was just a few days away, and the entire province was bustling in preparation for the holiday.

Within the province, various bureaus, committees, the four leading groups, and all the cities began the most important exchanges and communications of the year. The pre-Spring Festival get-together was the main event for all the units.

Lower-level units, hoping to receive more support and funding, naturally tended to carefully maintain these relationships. The tradition of valuing etiquette among the Chinese people had not been discarded to this day.

Inside Nie Zhenbang’s office, as the year drew to a close, Nie Zhenbang also began to get busy. On the one hand, last year’s economic growth rate and the total GDP of the province were to be announced this month. Although the data was not the only standard for measuring performance, it was one of the important ones.

In addition, visits and gatherings with the four leading groups before the New Year were annual necessities. Visiting and expressing regards to the old comrades and cadres in Longxi, as well as to the especially poor households, the welfare-dependent households, and the low-income urban population of the province, was also part of the job.

This year for the New Year, Nie Zhenbang was going back to Jingcheng. Basically, in each province, a majority of the leaders had a place in Jingcheng. Some officials, like Nie Zhenbang, had even settled their families in Jingcheng. Doing so was strategic. After all, Jingcheng was the political center, the land of moral excellence. The trends and news from above were naturally more readily accessible than those on the local level.

Having taken office in Longxi for half a year, it was certain that he would return there for the New Year. Then, shortly after the beginning of spring, the Two Sessions would convene. Starting this year, it was President Qiao’s second term, which was garnering widespread attention. It was during this term that the situation would become clear, and Nie Zhenbang paid great importance to this matter.

To speak in a somewhat cliched manner, Nie Zhenbang was not a lofty man. Why work so hard? Naturally, there was the intention to benefit the people, but there was still some amount of self-interest. Everyone aspired to sit in the highest positions, and this was undeniable.

On the desk, in the upper left corner of the office table, lay a thick stack of documents and data. This was the summary of agricultural, industrial, and economic data for Longxi Province this year.

Nie Zhenbang selectively reviewed these figures, starting with the general summary of various industries. The layout of the industrial structure was of significant reference for the Provincial Party Committee. It was an important reference for the upcoming adjustment of economic data.

From outside the door, hurried knocking sounds interrupted him, causing Nie Zhenbang’s brows to furrow. How could Xia Gang be so impatient? What had happened? As these thoughts ran through his mind, he said, “Come in.”

The door opened, and Xia Gang appeared with an anxious expression, his face reflecting a sense of urgency as if something was burning. Xia Gang was completely oblivious to Nie Zhenbang’s displeased expression, which, under normal circumstances, he would have noticed. Having spent a lot of time with the leader, Xia Gang had become familiar with his habits. Even the subtlest of motions could be interpreted, so overlooking them was somewhat far-fetched. Still, Xia Gang usually had a grasp of the overall situation.

But this time, the matter was too grave, leaving Xia Gang somewhat flustered.

“Secretary, something big has happened, a serious incident. Hundreds of farmers have banded together in the Liangzhou City Economic Development Zone, blocking the roads there. They’ve camped out at the entrance of the Development Zone, collectively protesting the compensation prices for land requisition, vowing never to compromise, and determined to confront the government to the end. Even… even…” Xia Gang stuttered, not because he forgot what to say, but because his words were too intense.

Nie Zhenbang’s face darkened. Nie Zhenbang was decisive in his actions, not one to beat around the bush. Seeing Xia Gang like this immediately irritated him. It appeared all the half year of following him had been in vain. If someone was so hesitant and sluggish, how could they achieve great things? In a stern voice, he said, “Xiaoxia, can’t you finish what you have to say at once? Hesitating and stammering, what do you look like?”

Rebuked by such criticism, Xia Gang trembled all over, then said, “Secretary, they also said that if the government does not agree to their terms, they would rather die than yield, and they will resist to the very end. Now, reporters from over a hundred national media outlets have rushed to Liangzhou City. Currently, the leaders of the Liangzhou City’s municipal party committee and government have all rushed over there. Comrade Yang Yicheng informed the Provincial Party Committee on his way there.”

“Smack!” Nie Zhenbang’s palm slammed down on the desk. Hearing such news, any local leader would naturally think about how to settle the matter.

However, Nie Zhenbang had different concerns. Why were the reporters from all over the country gathered in the Liangzhou City Economic Development Zone so quickly? Why were these farmers so brazen? Was there something happening behind the scenes?

Picking up the phone on the desk, he dialed Yang Yicheng’s cell phone, and after two beeps, Yang Yicheng’s voice came from the other end, “Secretary.”

“Yang Yicheng, what on earth have you been doing? Now I seriously doubt whether it was right or wrong decision to choose Liangzhou for the automobile city project. You can’t even solve the most basic problem of land requisition and demolition. What kind of secretary are you supposed to be?” As soon as he began, Nie Zhenbang launched into a torrential scolding.

This was what they call deep love breeds fierce criticism. Yang Yicheng was considered his direct subordinate. The automobile city project being located in Liangzhou was also staunchly supported by Nie Zhenbang. With this kind of mess occurring now, wasn’t this a slap to his own face?

Face didn’t matter, what mattered was, how could things have turned out like this? On the other end, Yang Yicheng listened silently without daring to retort. Nie Zhenbang’s mood had also calmed down quite a bit. In a heavy voice, he said, “What’s going on, how did it turn out this way? Is there not enough money for the relocation compensation, or did you guys give too little?”

“Secretary, speaking of demolition funds, I’m really wronged. The central and provincial finances provided full and sufficient funds for the automobile city project to be settled in Liangzhou City. The land for the automobile city project was fully funded by the province in one installment. It can be said that the city incurred no financial burden whatsoever. As for other investment projects, they are all undertaken by the enterprises themselves. We only participate in the demolition and relationship coordination. There is no problem with the funds at all. I guarantee with my party’s principles that our compensation for the relocation is the highest in the whole province, comparable to the standards in Ancient Capital City,” Yang Yicheng said with a sense of grievance.

“Then what’s the problem? Report to me immediately if anything happens,” Nie Zhenbang instructed in a deep voice before hanging up the phone.

In Liangzhou City, while on their way to the office building of the Economic Development Zone’s Party Working Committee, Yang Yicheng and Mayor Qin Weiran were in the same car.

Seeing Yang Yicheng hang up the phone, Qin Weiran felt somewhat envious. Being able to maintain such a close relationship with Secretary Nie clearly signified a bright future in his career.

“Secretary, what did Secretary Nie say?” Qin Weiran asked in a low voice.

Yang Yicheng chuckled bitterly, then shook his head and said, “What else could he say? He gave me a good scolding from head to toe. What is Peng Yihua doing?” Anger also filled Yang Yicheng’s heart.

The municipal committee’s support for the Economic Development Zone was more than sufficient. It could be said that they provided people, money, and policies, almost as if moving the municipal committee’s standing committee to the Development Zone. But still, basically the whole city’s efforts were revolving around the Development Zone. And now, a surprise housing construction had arisen just over a month ago, and it was only growing worse.

The car arrived at the gate of the Development Zone, where the entrance was already blocked by hundreds of farmers. Banners with white backgrounds and black text hung all around, and the slogans were very aggressive. The general content was about the government being unscrupulous and driving people to desperation. The objective was simple: to create a powerful public opinion offensive, rely on media publicity, cause a sensation nationwide, attract the attention of the central authorities, and pressure Longxi Province and the Development Zone.

On the outskirts of this group of people, hundreds of media outlets from all over the country were present, even reporters from Donggang and overseas. Inside the gate of the Economic Development Zone, the city’s riot police force was already in place, drawing the line. Riot shields were arranged one by one to form a buffer zone.

“Secretary, it’s blocked up ahead; I think we should take the back door,” the driver turned his head and suggested.

Yang Yicheng nodded and said, “Alright.”

The car entered through the back door of the Development Zone’s office compound and parked in the rear parking lot. There was a side entrance into the building from this side. As soon as Yang Yicheng and the others entered, Peng Yihua, along with the leadership of the Development Zone, came to welcome them.

Every face was taut with caution, extremely careful. With this incident, Liangzhou City Economic Development Zone had become infamous throughout the country. One could imagine, what dim prospects awaited the entire leadership team.

“Peng Yihua, what exactly happened? How did this sudden trouble arise? Don’t you understand the consequences of this kind of thing?” Yang Yicheng began to berate Peng Yihua as soon as he saw him.

At this moment, Peng Yihua felt extremely aggrieved; the situation had progressed to such a point that there was nothing left to say. He had already given up hope for his career prospects. Then, with his head lowered, he said, “Secretary, we were really helpless. This time, these people causing the disturbance are from Majia Manor, where the surprise housing was built before. More than ninety percent of the villagers in this village have the surname Ma, and they are famously clannish and united. During the land acquisition process, we strictly adhered to the national compensation standards for the homes, farmland, and woodland of Majia Manor. However, when it came to the compensation price for the houses, there was a huge disparity. They wanted an exorbitant amount. We proposed providing compensation with a foundation in the relocation area, then increasing the current compensation price by ten percent as a second option. Additionally, we offered to arrange housing in the Economic Development Zone on a comparable area basis, with no extra fees. But they didn’t agree to either proposal, demanding compensation based on the highest housing prices in Liangzhou City. Isn’t this… just extortion?” (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (NovelFire.net) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)