Reborn as a Noble’s Son
Chapter 998 - Chapter 998 Chapter 954 How to Make Choices

Chapter 998: Chapter 954: How to Make Choices Chapter 998: Chapter 954: How to Make Choices After finishing the investigation at the Letters and Visits Bureau, Nie Zhenbang also stood up, and a group from the bureau walked him to the doorway.

At this moment, Zhang Zhongqian lagged half a step behind and moved to Xu Hongzhuan’s side, whispering, “Secretary-General, please wait a moment.”

Seeing Xu Hongzhuan pause, Zhang Zhongqian approached him with a smile and lowered his voice, “Secretary-General, you are the Secretary’s closest confidant. Some things we at the lower levels may not fully comprehend. We hope the Secretary-General can provide more guidance.”

Xu Hongzhuan inwardly smiled. Zhang Zhongqian did have a good insight, but his vision was too narrow, always seeking a perfect solution for everything. In this world, where does such universal joy exist, and where are there so many perfect strategies? Didn’t he know the saying: ‘You can’t have your cake and eat it too’?

It was for this reason that Zhang Zhongqian’s career path wasn’t very smooth. To this day, he had only managed to become the head of the Letters and Visits Bureau.

Yet, outwardly, Xu Hongzhuan replied with a smile, “Old Zhang, you’ve been the director of the Letters and Visits Bureau for four years now, and we’ve worked together here in the provincial committee courtyard for seven or eight years. There’s nothing we can’t discuss. If there’s any problem I can help you with, just say the word.”

Xu Hongzhuan’s words warmed Zhang Zhongqian’s heart, and he replied gratefully, “Secretary-General, your words warm my heart. I’ve always been very thankful for your support and help with my work.”

After the pleasantries, Zhang Zhongqian spoke with some difficulty, “Secretary-General, I really can’t hide it from you. You know the difficulties of handling letters and visits. Without the power to investigate, some tasks are really challenging for us to carry out.”

Xu Hongzhuan knew Zhang Zhongqian was referring to this matter. The situation in Hongjiang was clear as day. Secretary Nie was starting his second campaign, and the comprehensive management of public security was just the beginning of the action. Just the previous night, in a surprise inspection of Hongcheng city, 26 party and government officials were caught violating discipline. Fifteen were involved in prostitution, and the other eleven were gambling in a group. The highest rank among them was at the director level. These officials had already been transferred to the provincial discipline inspection committee, and it looks like they wouldn’t be able to celebrate the New Year.

Secretary Nie, in his speech at the Letters and Visits Bureau meeting, was essentially telling Zhang Zhongqian that for some petitions, it was necessary to strengthen connections and to trace up the vine from leads provided by public reporting. Only then could the second campaign really catch fire.

But now, Zhang Zhongqian was holding back. There are no such things in this world as having your cake and eating it too. He wanted to curry favor with both Secretary Nie and Liu Yong, which was downright impossible.

With an indifferent smile, Xu Hongzhuan’s face bore an unfathomable expression. Looking at Zhang Zhongqian, he said, “Old Zhang, there are certainly difficulties in the work of letters and visits, but it all depends on how you view and handle them. Old Zhang, as an experienced official in this field, I may oversee the work, but I believe you can still find a way. As the saying goes, ‘Where there is a will, there is a way.’

Having finished speaking, Xu Hongzhuan patted Zhang Zhongqian’s shoulder and remarked sentimentally, “Old Zhang, if I recall correctly, you are fifty-three this year. At your age, it’s time to seize some of the opportunities that lie before you.”

…

Provincial Committee, Secretary’s Office.

As soon as Xu Hongzhuan entered, Nie Zhenbang happened to be taking off his coat, with Hong Feng behind him, receiving the coat to hang it in the resting room’s closet.

At this moment, Nie Zhenbang also said with a smile, “Hong, wasn’t I right? The Secretary-General was indeed offering Zhang Zhongqian some strategies.”

The remark made Xu Hongzhuan feel a bit embarrassed – in front of the Secretary, he had little chance to shine, so he replied with a smile, “Secretary Nie, you’re really wronging me here.”

With that, Xu Hongzhuan added with a smile, “Old Zhang is still too narrow-minded and lacks boldness.”

Nie Zhenbang then smiled and said, “In January, the provincial ‘Two Sessions’ will soon be convened. Considering the overall situation of the province, it is clear that the fighting capacity of the teams in some areas is not enough. Whether Comrade Zhang Zhongqian can take hold of this opportunity is up to him. Xu Hongzhuan, you need to communicate more with Comrades Chen Le and Gong Zheng. The discipline inspection work inevitably requires assistance and coordination from the political and legal systems. Comrade Gong Zheng needs to ensure the logistics support is fully provided. Don’t let them have any concerns.”

Nie Zhenbang’s words shocked Xu Hongzhuan deeply. Holding the provincial-level Two Sessions in January is basically a national routine. After January, following the implementation of the provincial party committee and government’s spirit of the Two Sessions, the municipal-level Two Sessions are convened. Then, by March, it’s time for the annual national Two Sessions. This Two Sessions also represents the official handover between the old and the new.

The provincial-level Two Sessions are about to convene, yet Nie Zhenbang suddenly mentioned that the fighting capacity at the local level is not enough, a statement that is thought-provoking. The implication might not only be the readjustment among local party and government leadership, but it likely also hints that the real drama will be the adjustments within the provincial party committee’s lineup.

Xu Hongzhuan didn’t dare to take this lightly and knew that at this moment, once the second fire was lit, there would be absolutely no turning back. Either Secretary Nie would emerge victorious, and Liu Yong’s side would back down, allowing Nie Zhenbang to completely overturn the turmoil in Hongjiang Province; even if not truly unifying Hongjiang’s voice, at the very least, on the surface, this would be a necessity. The current situation, where Secretary Nie dares not make any economic moves, would be a thing of the past. Or, Secretary Nie would fail, eventually be totally discredited, transferred away from Hongjiang Province, or be completely sidelined.

As for who was superior and who was inferior, Xu Hongzhuan could clearly discern. His identity meant that from the start, he had no choice but to bind his fate with Secretary Nie’s and advance side by side. There were no other options.

Pausing for a moment, Xu Hongzhuan also nodded solemnly, “Secretary, please rest assured, I will definitely coordinate well. I absolutely won’t cause any delay for you or the organization.”

Nie Zhenbang had his lunch at the provincial party committee’s cafeteria, a working meal without any tobacco or alcohol. Like the ordinary cadres of the provincial party committee, he lined up and waited to get his food, with no special privileges or dedicated windows. Such measures greatly increased Nie Zhenbang’s popularity among the people in the provincial party committee, as the quality of meals in the cafeteria had significantly improved. The people from the General Affairs Office were now extremely careful; with the provincial party committee’s principal leaders dining there, it had become a highlight of the committee. Should there be any mishap with the food, wouldn’t that be self-inflicted trouble?

In the afternoon, around one o’clock, which by regulation was rest time, Nie Zhenbang drove to the Provincial Civil Affairs Department.

Having been notified in advance by the Provincial Committee Office, the Civil Affairs Department hadn’t rested since the start of the workday in the morning, and upon receiving the news yesterday, had undertaken a major cleaning. The snow in the courtyard had been shoveled to one side and piled up. A thorough and complete cleaning of the entire office building had been carried out.

At noon, the Civil Affairs Department was fully prepared, with all staff taking their meals at the agency’s cafeteria in shifts, and the department’s party leadership team also ate in batches, making sure not to miss Secretary Nie’s arrival.

Around one thirty, just as Nie Zhenbang’s car turned into the street in front of the Civil Affairs Department, Guo Nansheng already received the news. All members of the departmental party group had gathered, standing at the entrance of the Civil Affairs Department office building, lined up and ready to welcome Nie Zhenbang’s arrival.

The car drove in from the outside, stopping directly in front of the steps at the building’s entrance. Guo Nansheng ran up and went to the other side of the car, opening the door for Nie Zhenbang with a smile, “Secretary Nie, welcome, welcome.”

Behind them, the Civil Affairs Department’s Executive Deputy Minister rushed to the other car, opening the door for the Vice Governor in charge, Liu Yaosheng.

Upon getting out of the car, there was no need for any arranging, as other leaders naturally found their places. Within the system, such matters don’t require organization. It has become an ingrained habit for every leading cadre.

Glancing around, Nie Zhenbang also smiled and said, “Minister Guo, the sanitation work at the Civil Affairs Department is quite good. There’s no need to stand at the door in this cold weather. I feel guilty for inspecting at lunchtime, disrupting the comrades’ rest.”

Guo Nansheng was sincerely apprehensive, smiling, “Secretary Nie, the comrades here are excited and uplifted by your visit. Doing extra work for the state and the people is not a big deal. Now, Hongjiang Province is facing freezing disasters, thinking about the people still in the affected areas, it’s only right for us to work a bit extra while sitting in an air-conditioned room.”

At his words, everyone laughed, and the atmosphere appeared harmonious and pleasant. Turning his head to the supervising provincial governor Liu Yaosheng, Nie Zhenbang said, “Comrade Yaosheng, I think we should head to the meeting room first to hear the Civil Affairs Department’s work report.”

Liu Yaosheng, at this moment, nodded and said with a smile, “We shall do everything as per Secretary Nie’s instructions. As a responsible leader, I too am here today to follow Secretary Nie’s directives.”

Nie Zhenbang laughed heartily. Liu Yaosheng was indeed an interesting character. Judging from the previous affairs with the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Liu Yaosheng had performed very well. Today, by expressing such solidarity, he seemed to have a notion of aligning himself amidst the current situation, which was somewhat risky. However, Nie Zhenbang did admire Liu Yaosheng’s decisive manner and the attitude he held towards making his choices. It would be a completely different effect to say such words once everything was settled and the dust had cleared.

“Haha, Comrade Yaosheng is being modest here,” Nie Zhenbang said cheerfully.

Afterward, Nie Zhenbang turned and said, “Minister Guo, let’s go to the meeting room first.” (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to go to NovelFire.net to cast your recommendation and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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