Reborn as a Noble's Son-Chapter 754 - 710: The Water Isn’t Shallow_1

Chapter 754: Chapter 710: The Water Isn’t Shallow_1

With the conclusion of the leading cadre meeting in Bashu Province, everyone dispersed. Zeng Taiping also stood up, smiling and saying, “Minister Shi, we in Bashu Province have prepared a light lunch for you. Firstly, we want to thank you for bringing such an excellent cadre to Bashu Province. Secondly, we want to celebrate Zhenbang’s new appointment.”

Saying this, Zeng Taiping paused for a moment and made a joke: “Minister Shi, Governor Zhenbang, rest assured. We strictly follow the standard regulations of the ‘Three Public Expenditures’ in terms of hospitality.”

At this, everyone laughed. Nie Zhenbang wore a gentle and composed smile, saying, “Secretary Zeng, you truly are a great leader. The inspection team of the ‘Three Public Expenditures’ has already moved on, but you still adhere to the regulations with resilience. I believe that the effort to reduce the ‘Three Public Expenditures’ will surely be a great success.”

Nie Zhenbang’s display impressed Shi Jiandong, who nodded in approval. Zeng Taiping’s joke contained a hint of sarcasm, likely revealing his dissatisfaction with the previous inspection of the ‘Three Public Expenditures’ in Bashu. But Nie Zhenbang skillfully steered the conversation away, praising Zeng instead, and impressing him with his adept political skills.

Shi Jiandong laughed and said, “I usually don’t have dinner when I come here, mainly out of concern for not interrupting the work of provincial comrades. However, since Taiping has kindly invited me today, I, of course, will not decline.”

Generally speaking, even when the secretary of the provincial party committee takes office, the presence of an executive vice minister is sufficient. However, Shi Jiandong personally escorted Nie Zhenbang this time, implicitly showing his support for Nie. Now, with Shi Jiandong attending the banquet, his stance was made even clearer.

...

The entourage moved towards the newly constructed Provincial Party Committee Guesthouse of Bashu, located next to the provincial party committee and government offices. The banquet was held in the Purple East Pavilion room of the guesthouse.

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Everyone attending the banquet comprised of the standing committee of the Bashu Provincial Committee, Nie Zhenbang, and Shi Jiandong. As the food was being served, Zeng Taiping laughed and said, “Governor Zhenbang, we’re now comrades in the same trench. From now on, we’ll be working in the same building. Let me introduce you to the other comrades of the Standing Committee.”

Zeng Taiping had complex feelings about Nie Zhenbang’s arrival. Objectively speaking, during the years he served with Nie Guowei, the relationship between the Bashu Provincial Committee and the government was good. Nie Guowei wasn’t a domineering leader, which created a solid foundation for a good working relationship.

Over the years, Zeng and Nie even developed a good private friendship. However, from another perspective, Zeng was somewhat disgruntled.

Nie Guowei’s promotion to the central government could be described as a meteoric rise. Jealousy aside, just as Nie Guowei left, Nie Zhenbang arrived. Zeng felt like a eunuch, serving both father and son.

However, the way Nie Zhenbang conducted himself had alleviated a lot of Zeng’s resentment. Coupled with Shi Jiandong’s high regard for Nie Zhenbang,

Zeng Taiping took this moment to adjust his attitude. This shift in his attitude was evident in his words.

He refrained from showing seniority by calling Nie Zhenbang things like “Little Governor Nie” or similar. He also did not formally call him Governor Nie. Instead, he affectionately called him Governor Zhenbang. This indicated that Zeng Taiping recognized Nie Zhenbang as the acting governor, and even the governor.

Nie Zhenbang naturally wouldn’t reject the cordiality conveyed by Zeng Taiping. As a newcomer, his understanding of Bashu Province was limited to what he had heard from his father. However, based on the current situation, the circumstances in Bashu Province had changed significantly within half a year. Thus, much of his father’s experience and information had little utility. At this time, Nie Zhenbang had to adhere to the principle of “listen more, see more, say less”. Naturally, he wouldn’t easily offend any of the standing committee members.

Nie Zhenbang also laughed, expressing his gratitude, “Secretary Zeng, you’ve really hit the nail on the head. Everyone here is my respected elder. Aside from Old Sun, who I know well from our shared time at the Central Party School this year, I hardly know any of the comrades. I’m grateful for Secretary Zeng’s introductions, it has made my job much easier.”

Upon hearing Nie Zhenbang’s words, Sun Jialuo’s face underwent a series of changes. Nie Zhenbang had found an opportunity to ingratiate himself. Sun had not noticed how slick Nie was during their time at the party school. Now, with a single sentence in this setting, Nie had essentially backed him into a corner.

The other standing committee members who heard this might have their own thoughts, too.

…

Zeng Taiping also started introducing others at this moment. To Zeng Taiping’s left, a character who was about sixty-three or four years old, not tall but a chubby old man, the full-time deputy secretary of the Bashu Provincial Committee, Long Genghua.

Then, Ning Bojun, the secretary of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission was introduced. As the secretary, Ning Bojun does not have such a solemn and old-fashioned look as imagined. With a well-proportioned physique, Ning Bojun always has a smile on his face. He seems to be very easygoing.

District Secretary of the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission, Hou Wenkui, a native of Ludong, has the typical features of a Ludong man, rugged and sturdy. At the age of sixty, he seems quite young.

Later, came the Minister of the Provincial Party Committee Organization, Lu Yong and the Minister of Propaganda, Qin Linlin. Lu Yong appears to be more like the secretary of the discipline inspection commission, with an austere facial expression, a man of few words. As for Qin Linlin, Nie Zhenbang gave her an extra glance. About fifty-one or two years old, she maintains herself well. She looks similar to a woman in her early forties. Female officials usually serve as members of the Democratic Factions. Even the officials in the standing committee mostly hold lower-ranked positions like the director of the United Front Work Department. Nie Zhenbang has only met one female official at the level of Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, his classmate from the party school, Li Yu, the organization director of Caiyun Province. This time, he didn’t expect the propaganda minister of Bashu Province to be a woman. Nie Zhenbang would not underestimate Qin Linlin.

Next, the Standing Committee Deputy Governor, Pan Jianzhang. Out of all standing committee members, excluding Nie Zhenbang himself, Pan Jianzhang is the youngest, forty-six years old. Next to Pan Jianzhang is Tang Bingquan, Secretary of the Tianfu City Municipal Committee.

The military district standing committee member is Shi Dongmao, the political commissar of Bashu military district. For this man, Nie Zhenbang took an extra look, usually, most of the provincial party standing committees in various places are held concurrently by the commander of the military district. In Bashu Province, the situation where the political commissar from the military district, Shi Dongmao, serves as a member of the provincial party standing committee is not unheard of. However, in general, in such cases, the political commissar is usually a powerful figure. From the looks of it, this Shi Dongmao is not a simple character.

The last one is the director of the United Front Work Department, Xie Aibiao. This name clearly reflects a strong epochal character.

Zeng Taiping introduced all along, Nie Zhenbang was also observing and shaking hands. Thirteen standing committees, excluding Nie Zhenbang and Zeng Taiping, all eleven members gave Nie Zhenbang an impression of complexity.

This is very normal. In fact, for Nie Zhenbang, this is a challenge. Although Nie Zhenbang has served as a deputy ministerial official for more than six years, he has always been in simple positions. Although Wanghai City is a city at the sub-provincial level, after all, there are only two deputy ministers in the standing committee. Regarding San Gong Ban, it is even simpler. There are only five people in the party committee.

So, in reality, Nie Zhenbang has not experienced a vice-provincial position, he leaped directly into being the deputy leader, taking charge of the government. This is a test and challenge for Nie Zhenbang. Whether he can adapt to the relationship within a provincial-ministerial panel. Whether he can hold the fort, these are all challenges Nie Zhenbang has to face.

After the introductions, the dish was served. At this ministerial and provincial level, everyone is a middle or senior official within the party. When it comes to dining, toasting, it is definitely not as hearty as the county or hall level officials. They took delicate small sips of the tiny glasses of wine.

The process of toasting was very bland, everyone took turns toasting very consciously. There was nothing out of the ordinary. As a joke, the leader of the organization department, Shi Jiandong, was in attendance, and even he acted the same as the leaders below him, indulging his deep feelings with one gulp. This kind of style, not only makes people feel extravagant, it gives people a sense of lack of skill and quality. None would do such things in front of Shi Jiandong.

The meal was calm with nothing out of the ordinary. Nie Zhenbang used this opportunity to observe the standing committee members present.

Among them, Long Genghua is open, Lu Yong is silent, Qin Linlin is well-rounded, Xie Aibiao is cunning, Shi Dongmao is finesse in roughness, etc., Various traits were displayed through the dinner, giving Nie Zhenbang a rough impression of the other standing committee members of Bashu Province.

After the meal, Shi Jiandong left Bashu Province and returned to Jingcheng by plane. All the standing committee members also dispersed.

Nie Zhenbang also stepped out of the Provincial Party Guesthouse. As he was leaving, Li Jupeng stepped forward to greet him at the door of the lobby. As Nie Zhenbang’s influence grew, Li Jupeng officially ascended to the deputy hall level.

Just as Li Jupeng was prepared to speak, a middle-aged man approximately forty-four or five years old approached him, “Governor, how are you?”

The man was about one meter seventy in height, slightly overweight but not obviously so. His skin was a little dark. A pair of glasses rested on his nose making him seem elegant and scholarly. Greeting him with a slight smile, he cast a friendly impression. At this moment, Nie Zhenbang hesitated and asked curiously, “Who are you?”

The man smiled and said, “Governor, let me introduce myself, I am the Secretary-General of the Provincial Government, Fang Yuan.” (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for the recommendation ticket and monthly ticket. Your support is my biggest motivation.)