LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 620 - 576: Wanghai New Port (Request for Monthly Tickets)_1
Chapter 620: Chapter 576: Wanghai New Port (Request for Monthly Tickets)_1
Wanghai New Port?
Yi Chang furrowed his eyebrows, a gesture noticed by Tian Xujian, who also become dissatisfied. In a serious tone, he asked, “What is it, Secretary-General Yi? Is there something you want to say?”
This remark made Yi Chang break into a cold sweat. At this moment, Yi Chang truly understood the taste of the words that his predecessors had warned him about. Is there anything more distressing, more tiresome than when the Secretary-General and the Secretary are not on the same page?
True, Tian Xujian couldn’t just dismiss him because of it. But he could sideline him, and make his life difficult. After all, the Secretary-General’s job was essentially to serve the leaders.
Immediately, Yi Chang adjusted his attitude, lowering his head slightly, saying, “Secretary Tian, you misunderstand me. That’s not what I meant. My question was, do you have any particular requirements regarding the choice of secretary?”
“No hurry for the secretary. You can preliminary select a few candidates first, then I’ll have a look.” Tian Xujian replied casually, making it clear that he did not want to discuss the matter of the secretary. It was obvious that Tian Xujian did this out of distrust for Yi Chang, intending to become better informed before making a decision.
Finishing his statement, Tian Xujian stood up, with his hands behind his back, and said, “Secretary General Yi, the matter of inspecting Wanghai New Port is decided, please make arrangements.”
His tone was instilled with an undeniable authority. Then, with great composure, he slowly exited the office.
Left alone in the Secretary’s office, Secretary-General City Committee Yi Chang, was filled with a sense of helplessness and bitter smile. It was said, one rank up and you could oppress people to death.
Wanghai New Port was the highlight of Wanghai City’s economic development. The Wal-Mart Group had invested tens of billions to build Wanghai New Port into a world-leading seaport. This was the government’s key project. Now, if Secretary Tian were to go there recklessly, what if…
The outcome was something Yi Chang dared not to think about. He clearly understood Mayor Nie’s character. On small matters, Mayor Nie was easygoing and pleasant, but on significant issues, Mayor Nie would never back down. If anything were to happen, he would end up in an awkward situation.
After some consideration, Yi Chang decided to notify Mayor Nie in advance. Between Tian Xujian and Mayor Nie, Yi Chang eventually chose to side with Nie Zhenbang. For Yi Chang, this was the best choice. As a standing committee member and Secretary-General of the municipal party committee, even if life was a little hard, as long as he did not give Tian Xujian any pretext to hold against him, replacing him wouldn’t be an easy task. After all, he was managed at a provincial level, and the opinion in the provincial committee couldn’t be decided solely by Tian Xujian.
But if he offended Mayor Nie, he would truly have no place in Wanghai City. Simply because Tian Xujian would neither appreciate nor trust him. This was his only choice, there was no other way.
Pulling out his phone, Yi Chang dialed Nie Zhenbang’s office, “Chief Li, is the Mayor available now? This is Yi Chang. I have a matter that I would like to report to the Mayor.”
Jingcheng
Under the dazzling neon lights, the prosperity of Jingcheng shines. The hosting of the Olympics has given this ancient city an astonishing charm. As the national political, cultural, and international exchange center, this city with a construction history of 3000 years and history as capital for 850 years, has become a sacred place in the hearts of the people nationwide.
The bar district in the east of Jingcheng, a place that rivals the famous Beicheng bar district. At this moment, not far from the Beijing Old House Bar in a small bar nearby, under the dim street lamp, a middle-aged man is staggering down the street, casting a long shadow.
It’s the middle of summer, wearing cheap ten-buck street stall shorts, colorful like beach shorts, and the fabric is very average. You can’t expect much from something that only costs ten yuan. He is wearing a vest on his upper body. It’s white, and there’s a flower printed on the left chest. The headline is quite intimidating, Huaxia Military Commission. Below is the word ‘August 1’. The middle-aged man is unkempt, stubbly. But his face hints at a handsome figure. When he was young, the man must have been an attractive lad. However, from how he is limping, the former heartthrob appears to be a cripple now.
The alcohol in his hand is the cheapest Red Star Erguotou. Under the dim street lamp, the middle-aged man staggers onto the street, occasionally stopping to gulp down a couple of mouthfuls.
On the street, all of a sudden, an Aston Martin roars past, closely followed by a Ferrari F430. Both cars are convertibles. There are four or five men and women screaming and howling in the cars. Onlookers sigh at the sight of these children of wealthy families in the capital, maintaining their usual arrogance.
“At that moment, the two cars suddenly make a U-turn and directly drive against the traffic towards the middle-aged man. As if this is not an issue at all. The plates on the cars are equally intimidating, it’s a Jingcheng Military District license plate. No wonder these people dare to be so arrogant.
The young man in the driver’s seat of the Aston Martin gets out of the car, wearing a casual Versace T-shirt. Very short buzz cut. Two young girls are with him, one of them is in a strapless mini skirt. Underneath the thin strap, it’s like a hollow, and the black bra can be clearly seen. Her ears are full of piercings, hanging with no fewer than ten earrings; the other one is wearing a small tank top and a pair of jean shorts. Her figure is equally irresistible. What is even more unique is that she has a lip ring. Paired with this outfit, she looks quite wild.
As soon as the man gets out of the car, the two women also follow, one on his left and one on his right, nonchalantly clinging to his arms.
“Oh! Isn’t this our famous Prince Nie in Jingcheng? Why aren’t you at Dynasty Hotel? Why aren’t you at the State Guesthouse? On this kind of street, tsk tsk, drinking Red Star Erguotou that only costs three dollars a bottle. Your taste is indeed extraordinary.” The young man’s face shows not a shred of respect but instead a hint of mockery. He walks arrogantly towards the middle-aged man.
At this moment, a fat man with a beautiful woman also gets out of the Ferrari. The fat man is from Jinzhou where the coal industry prevails. Coal bosses are rich. A few years ago, there was an anecdote. The coal bosses from Jinzhou, carrying sacks of cash, went to Beijing and Hucheng to buy houses. Instead of buying houses one at a time, they bought by blocks. The extent of their booming wealth is very much apparent.
The fat man’s surname is Yan, and his given name is Hua. He shares the same surname as Yan Laoxi, a well-known Local Emperor from Jinzhou. The fat man’s family is a famous coal business in Jinzhou, owning several coal mines, and a coking plant. His family sent him to study in Jingcheng. The purpose wasn’t to make him a specialist. Yan’s father only had one goal, acknowledging the political power in Jingcheng, letting the fat man use their wealth to open roads and get to know the children of high officials and dignitaries. The fat man shouldered the responsibility well. Relying on the large amount of cash in hand, he also got to know a lot of people in the circle of princes, and Yan spent hundreds of millions of Yuan, finally getting results. This young man before him was an example, and he was truly of noble pedigree.
“Young Yang, this is the waste you’re talking about? The illegitimate son of the Nie family. The one in Jingcheng who is known as the Comet?” The fat man often hangs out with the young man, naturally, he also heard some stories from within the circle, and among them, the most often mentioned is this Prince Nie.
At this moment, the middle-aged man just staggers and sits on the flowerbed, not at all bothered by Yang Zhi’s ridicule. As if they weren’t talking about him at all. He completely ignores Yang Zhi like he’s just thin air, shaking his head and seemingly immersed in the drunken numbness. Glug, he takes another gulp of Erguotou.
This move infuriated Yang Zhi, and a flash of anger crossed his face. He kicked out promptly, solidly planting his foot on the chest of the middle-aged man, sending the older man sprawling on the ground. Looking at the middle-aged man now curled up in a ball of pain, Yang Zhi raged, “Nie Zhenbang, you’re really fucking enjoying this, aren’t you?”
“Huage, what did this old guy do to offend Master Yang? How dare anyone disrespect Master Yang like this, isn’t this asking for a slap?” The beauty beside Yan the Fatty asked, quite curiously, walking on eggshells as the scene unfolded.
Yang Zhi is usually polite and refined. He always sees himself as a nobleman. And being a nobleman means having the elegance and demeanor of a nobleman. Thus, despite being from a prominent family, he hardly causes trouble in Jingcheng, aside from his penchant for women. He has a rather good reputation. But today, he is raging uncontrollably against a drunkard. This sparked much curiosity in the mistress.
Yan Hua looked at the middle-aged man, who was now collapsed in the flowers but still firmly clutching his bottle of liquor. A shade of pity crossed his face as he murmured, “Speaking of this man, you have to mention his family background. He… he’s from the Nie family. In the past, the Nie family was very famous in Jingcheng.”
“Famous? How so?” The beautiful woman, possessing an instinctive knack for pressing on with questions, continued discussing with the fat Yan.
Yan, glancing at Yang Zhi, whispered, “The Nie family… a family of founding generals. That drunkard’s grandfather was a well-known battle hardened general. This man, not being acknowledged by the Nie clan patriarch, is a bastard. His old man didn’t dare to bring him home. Then the man returned, naturally sought a wife of comparable status, and this matter was forgotten. But then, for some reason, this bastard surfaced, only to be crippled. Limping around as he walks.
From the very beginning, the patriarch of the Nie family viewed this whole situation with immense dissatisfaction, considering it a disgrace to the Nie family. And this child became the symbol of this disgrace. However, given the Nie family’s influence, they decided it wouldn’t hurt to support an idle person.”
After listening, the beauty pouted and expressed confusion: “What does that have to do with him? He isn’t the decision-maker here.”
“Nie Zhenbang, you are living quite comfortably, aren’t you? Still able to afford liquor. It must be thanks to my little aunt, huh? Tell me, you can’t even walk properly, yet you still hang on. My little aunt got married last year because of you. Can you bear to see her dragging this burden? Why don’t you just die.” Yang Zhi kicked the middle-aged man on the ground non-stop while cursing him.
At this moment, Yi Chang was also pleased, and even somewhat excited. The Mayor’s words indicated that he was considered one of his own. Compared to this, An Guoyu was also appointed by the predecessor, but he had gained the full affirmation and trust from the Mayor. It was said, comparisons were odious and now the distinction was clear.
After sighing, Yi Chang pulled himself together and said in a low voice, “Mayor, I want to report to you. Just now, Secretary Tian asked me to arrange something. Tomorrow morning, he wants to visit Wanghai New Port for an inspection. I want to know if…should we let him go?”
This statement directly conveyed Yi Chang’s determination to side with him. Nie Zhenbang was also delighted. The presence of a Secretary-General beside Tian Xujian, who was on his side, was definitely a matter of joy for him. This was equivalent to placing a restraint, a ticking time bomb beside Tian Xujian.
Tian Xujian was going to visit the Wanghai New Port. This news put Nie Zhenbang into deep thought. He was certain that Tian Xujian wouldn’t be coming to Wanghai to assist him. The importance of the Wanghai New Port to Wanghai City was paramount and not a place anyone could easily intervene.
However, it was legitimate for the party secretary to want to inspect the port. After all, he hadn’t expressed any dissenting opinions yet. How could they already assume his intentions to be negative?
After deliberation, Nie Zhenbang nodded and said, “Old Yi, let Secretary Tian go if he wishes. If he doesn’t, it will create difficulties for you. People may even criticize you for negligence. The proper arrangements still need to be made.”
Nie Zhenbang’s words deeply touched Yi Chang. He felt reassured working under Mayor Nie, unlike with some leaders who only cared for themselves without considering the hardships of their subordinates.
Without further delay, Yi Chang nodded and said, “Yes, Mayor, I will definitely act according to your instructions.”
After hanging up the phone, Nie Zhenbang sank into deep contemplation. He wondered what Tian Xujian was up to, as there was an eerie vibe to his actions.
Regardless of the circumstances, they had to proceed cautiously. The newly appointed party secretary had every right to inspect and do his research – he couldn’t be refused nor was it possible to do so. Besides, refusing him would give Tian Xujian a reason to replace Yi Chang. As for the matter of Wanghai New Port, Nie Zhenbang decided to remain inactive and see what Tian Xujian would do.
It didn’t mean he wouldn’t be prepared. The most suitable person for this, even after her marriage to Yang Anbang and the subsequent change in her temperament, was still Xiao Yali. Wanghai New Port was a crucial project for the Wal-Mart Group, and Xiao Yali was perhaps even more invested in its success than him.
Following this, Nie Zhenbang took out his private cell phone and dialed Xiao Yali’s number. As soon as she picked up, Xiao Yali’s voice came through, “Zhenbang, what made you take the time to call me today?”
“Hehe, sister, I’m calling to discuss the matter of the Wanghai New Port,” Nie Zhenbang said with a smile.
Before he could finish his sentence, Xiao Yali raised her voice: “Zhenbang, what happened to the Wanghai New Port? Yang Anbang and I are not there, so you need to keep an eye on it. If anything goes wrong, you’ll be held responsible.”
“Sister, why are you so angry? Right now, I’m powerless. The new secretary has decided to inspect the port, and I cannot stop him. If there are any issues, I can’t speak up because of the restrictions inside the system. As the Deputy Secretary of Wanghai City, I still need to maintain the unity of the selected committee and uphold the authority of the Secretary,” Nie Zhenbang cried out in aggrievance.
On the other end of the line, Xiao Yali paused before laughing, “Ah, you’re making me take the heat, aren’t you? Do you think I can’t see through your scheme? You want me to help you pressure the new secretary, don’t you?”
Although Xiao Yali was not part of the system, being born into this type of family exposed her to such matters often. She understood Nie Zhenbang’s intentions without him having to explain. Before he could respond, Xiao Yali laughed, “But Wanghai New Port is indeed a significant investment for Yang Anbang and me, and we can’t afford any losses. I’ll take care of this. I’ll take a private jet to WangHai tonight. I want to see what this secretary is planning to do with Wal-Mart Group’s project.”
What a firecracker, Xiao Yali. Even after becoming a mother, her words still exuded an aura of dominance. This was the Xiao Yali they knew from years ago, a tomboy in Jingcheng.
With the phone call over, a smile cracked across Nie Zhenbang’s face. On the side, Li Jupeng puzzled over Nie’s intention, “Mayor, are we not preparing for the Wanghai New Port?”
Nie Zhenbang waved his hand dismissively. With Xiao Yali handling the situation, there was no need for further preparations. If Tian Xujian played nice, all would be well. If he tried to stir up any trouble, he would face embarrassment. “Jupeng,” Nie shook his head, “The Wal-Mart Group will take care of this directly. We don’t have to worry about it anymore.”
While Nie Zhenbang was planning, Yi Chang was carrying out his arrangements. After returning to his office, he called the car service to pick him up from the Municipal Party Committee Guesthouse Hongyan Building at 8 a.m. the next morning. He then called Xiao Shanming from the City Public Security Bureau. The outlay for the secretary’s trip was all set. Afterwards, he coordinated with the TV Station to send an accompanying journalist. All this preparation was necessary and couldn’t be skipped. Following Nie Zhenbang’s instructions, Yi Chang didn’t hesitate in making flawless arrangements on every front.
For the accompanying leader, Yi Chang chose Liu Gaohua, the mayor and standing committee member. Liu Gaohua was always in charge of the affairs at Wanghai New Port, so his presence was a given.
Early the next morning, a convoy of three vehicles under the guidance of the Public Security Bureau stopped at the entrance of the Hongyan Building.
PS: It’s disheartening to not see this on the monthly leaderboard. I’m putting up the first chapter and asking for some basic monthly votes. (To be continued… If you like this work, I invite you to vote for and recommend it on qidian.com. Your support incentivizes me to write more.)