Chapter 1141: Chapter 1097: eting Li Guohua Again Chapter 1141: Chapter 1097: eting Li Guohua Again After hanging up the phone, Nie Zhenbang’s hand clutching the tea cup remained still as he fell into deep thought. The call with Wang Suzhou had revealed quite a bit of information. At the mont, for the position of the Deputy Provincial Governor of Jiangbei Province, there were three candidates out in the open, one was Li Honghua, another was Ning Zhiyuan, and the last one was Wen Yuhe.
On the surface, it seed like a contest between the Li family and his own, but Nie Zhenbang did not underestimate Wen Yuhe. Within just over a decade, Wen Yuhe had risen from the position of Head of the United Front Work Departnt of Liangxi City to Secretary-General of the Provincial Party Committee. It was impossible that Wen Yuhe lacked support in Jingcheng. This was an obstacle that couldn’t be avoided.
At such a ti, even if Wen Yuhe was indeed part of his own faction, negotiating who would take the position and who would step aside was not sothing that could be settled with just a few words. Everything related to one’s own career prospects. To convince Wen Yuhe to withdraw, a certain price must be paid. Moreover, since Wen Yuhe wasn’t exactly from his own faction, the cost would naturally be even higher.
In addition, this was just the surface; historically, competition at the provincial and ministerial level was the most fierce. Overlooking the entire situation, there were only so many positions at the deputy ministerial level and above, excluding so sinecures. Positions like the Executive Deputy Governor, which held real power in party and governnt leadership, had always been a focal point of contention.
That is to say, it was necessary not only to consider the two families that were visible competitors but also to be cautious of any hidden rivals. It seed entirely necessary to make a trip back to Jingcheng.
Having co to a decision, Nie Zhenbang stood up and walked out of the study. At this mont, the three won were all sitting in front of the television, watching a Korean drama. This gave Nie Zhenbang a bit of a headache. It seed that no matter the status, age, or background, most won had an irresistible attraction to these tear-jerking dramas.
An Na was the most emotional, with tears streaming down her face as she reached for tissues to wipe her eyes and asked, “Husband, you’re not working late tonight?”
During his ti working in Hongjiang Province, overti had beco a habit for Nie Zhenbang. Everyone working in the Provincial Party Committee knew that the room at the top floor of the building on the east side, with lights on till late at night, had beco a symbol of the Provincial Party Committee.
However, what nobody knew was that besides working late in the office, Secretary Nie also often worked until the early morning at ho.
Nie Zhenbang had a reputation for being adept at handling the economy and developnt, a reputation that wasn’t built on hot air but solid effort expended.
“Hmm, I’m planning to go back to Jingcheng tomorrow. Any of you want to co with ?” Nie Zhenbang asked with a smile.
This made all three won pause. Li Lixue pondered for a mont, then smiled and said, “I’ll stay. In Jingcheng, only my younger brother is there, and his job is quite leisurely, managing the Dynasty Club. He can co to Hongjiang anyti. The children also need to continue their studies. I’ll stay here and keep an eye on them.”
Dong Wan was also taken aback. She wanted to return, but she shook her head and said, “I’ll stay. I just went back. I’ll stay in Hongjiang to keep Li Lixue company.”
An Na was about to speak when Dong Wan said, “An Na, go with him. Uncle Shengli has not been in good health, and as his only beloved daughter, you should go back to see him more often and keep him company.”
After deciding on the ti and who would go, Nie Zhenbang called Xu Hongzhuan, the Secretary-General of the Provincial Party Committee. As the top leader of the Province, it was perfectly normal for Nie Zhenbang to take a day off, and no one in Hongjiang Province would dare make thoughtless comnts about it.
The next day, at around eleven in the morning, Nie Zhenbang and An Na erged from Jingcheng City International Airport.
As soon as they ca out, they saw Yang Anbang and Xiao Yali, a couple in their forties, already waiting at the airport exit. Despite their age, the couple took excellent care of themselves. Plus, not working within the system and peacefully managing their Wal-Mart Group, and with the power of both families behind them, there was hardly anyone in the country who dared to provoke them.
Of course, it was essential and inevitable for the Wal-Mart Group to provide welfare benefits to the descendants of both families. In the eyes of the public, the official-business cooperation referred to the collaboration of officials and businessn. However, in Jingcheng, in the world of the elite families’ descendants, official-business implied children of officials starting their ventures.
This partnership was far more stable than regular cooperation. While relying on family influence to develop their business, the business’s economic gains also contributed back to the family.
If the younger generation of the family needed to make progress and achieve political rits, it was easy. They would just invest and assist in economic developnt, expecting no return on their investnt. This was the purpose of the comrcial power held by official families.
Moreover, having strong economic support from ho also ensured that family mbers who entered the governntal system wouldn’t be affected by financial issues. Across the country, over ninety-five percent of officials who fell from grace due to economic issues ca from humble backgrounds.
“Big sister, big brother, what are you two up to? Coming to welco us personally, it’s got a bit nervous,” Nie Zhenbang said teasingly.
An Na also laughed and said, “Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, how co I haven’t seen Yang Xin, that kid, around?”
The Yang family of Jingcheng is famous for having sons. The patriarch of the Yang family had three sons. By the ti of Father-in-law Yang Shengli’s generation, Uncle Yang Guangrong and Yang Jianjun both had two sons each, and Yang Shengli himself had an even more impressive record, with three sons and a daughter.
Now, in An Na’s generation, the seven brothers of the Yang family uncles all had sons without exception. This was sothing other families could not help but admire.
In Nie Panpan’s generation, the nas of the Yang family boys were chosen based on a sequence of virtues: humanity, trust, propriety, righteousness, and wisdom.
Speaking of her son Yang Xin, Xiao Yali’s face turned ugly as she said in a heavy tone, “Don’t even ntion it, that damn boy has been nothing but trouble since he turned sixteen. If he’s not hanging out in bars or clubs with that crowd, he’s chasing girls or street racing; and recently, he’s supposedly beco obsessed with antique collecting. In just half a year, he’s spent six hundred million. He’s filled a whole room with antiques. I had soone appraise them for him, and only about a hundred and ten million worth actually have value. He’s been utterly swindled.”
Yang Anbang chuckled and said, “Antique collecting, eh? Who doesn’t lose money in that ga? Didn’t we go through the sa thing back in our day? Everyone has a process of maturing. It’s just a little bit of money. As long as he doesn’t cross the line, I’m actually happy.”
A few hundred million was indeed peanuts to the Wal-Mart Group of today. Others may not know, but Nie Zhenbang was well aware. Over the years, Wal-Mart Group’s openly and covertly controlled and operated industries, added up, were worth at least three hundred billion. It’s just that outsiders were unaware. So this amount of money was indeed just a drop in the bucket to them.
An Na laughed too and said, “Second Sister-in-law, stop complaining. Yang Xin is already quite sensible as it is. It’s just money, right? What do you care? He’s at least doing better than Elder Brother’s Yang Zhi, who’s gone into hiding at my place. As long as he doesn’t do drugs or commit cris, just let him be with the rest. With so many people in the Yang family, he doesn’t need to struggle that much. It’s enough if he’s able to take over the family business when he grows up.”
Nie Zhenbang also laughed, “Second Sister, you’re the sa as ever, a real miser.”
In her youth, Xiao Yali’s boldness was well known. Hearing Nie Zhenbang tease her, Xiao Yali glared at him, but then said enviously, “You’re the one who knows how to make them, aren’t you? Two daughters and a son, how worry-free.”
“Second Brother, just leave us here at Dynasty. I won’t head over to Dad’s. Let An Na go back and check in on him, and arrange a eting with Li Guohua for ,” Nie Zhenbang spoke, his expression turning formal.
Hearing Nie Zhenbang’s words, Yang Anbang wasn’t too surprised. The social circle was only so big, and there wasn’t such a thing as a generational family feud. If that were the case, they couldn’t have been at a stalemate until now. In previous turmoils, a family would have been completely crushed early on.
Now, within the Jingcheng circle, everyone maintained a tacit understanding. When it ca ti to fight, they would fight hard. Rising to power often ant stepping over others’ dead bodies. That wasn’t sothing strange. But after the fight, those who needed to collaborate still would. Being emotional about it was a fool’s behavior.
At noon, at the Dynasty side, Nie Zhenbang took a nap. In the afternoon, he gathered with a few brothers. After dinner, Yang Anbang finally received a call; Li Guohua agreed to the eting, but not at the prearranged Dynasty Club. According to Li Guohua’s preference, the eting place was set at his own club.
The Ivy Club, one of Li Guohua’s properties. Standing at the entrance of the club, Nie Zhenbang wore a smile and looked with interest at this establishnt that could rival the Dynasty Club nationwide. Li Guohua was indeed petty. Playing this kind of ga, did he think that it put him in a position of being sought after? Shaking his head, Nie Zhenbang walked up to the entrance.
At the doorstep of the club, two security guards extended their hands to stop Nie Zhenbang: “Sorry sir, please show your mbership card.”
Because Nie Zhenbang was an unfamiliar face, the guards stopped him.
Before Nie Zhenbang could say anything, a middle-aged man about forty years old ca out from inside, smiling, “Mr. Nie, please co in. The boss has been waiting for you for a while.”
Unlike Dynasty’s luxurious grandiosity, the Ivy Club’s decor was more Westernized. It felt as though one was attending a Western banquet, with the lodious strains of the violin. In the main hall, a singer was performing sentintal songs in foreign languages.
The people here were all polite and gentlemanly. The ladies coming and going were all dressed in evening gowns, vying in beauty and splendor.
Under the man’s lead, Nie Zhenbang went straight up to the top floor. Dynasty had nine floors, Ivy Club had ten. With no tall buildings blocking the view between the two clubs, they looked at one another amidst competition, indeed giving off a sense of looking down from a higher ground.
Seeing Li Guohua again filled Nie Zhenbang with so emotion. Compared to the days they worked together in Liangxi City over a decade ago, Li Guohua seed much more composed.
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