Chapter 1233: Chapter 1188: The Elder Leader’s Intentions Chapter 1233: Chapter 1188: The Elder Leader’s Intentions Jingcheng
At the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s family quarter compound, inside the ho of Comrade Yuan Lizhi, the Deputy Minister. In the living room, Yuan Lizhi and his wife were sitting on the sofa. Beside them, their son Yuan Hao sat with an air of extre grievance, saying, “Dad, Mom, you have no idea, this ti going to Longxi Province, it was a huge loss; our Old Yuan family’s face has been completely lost.”
As Yuan Hao spoke, the eyebrows of Chen Lihong, his middle-aged mother, imdiately furrowed. She doted on her darling son excessively. According to Chen Lihong, her son was the apple of her eye, the sole heir to the Old Yuan family. What’s the harm in being a little mischievous? As long as it wasn’t murder or arson. Unforgivable, everything else was always good.
It was precisely because of Chen Lihong’s way of thinking that Yuan Hao, since his childhood, had developed an arrogant and imperious young master’s disposition. It was as if the whole world owed him sothing. He, Yuan Hao, saw himself as a noble born of heaven.
“Hao Hao, what happened? What exactly is the matter? Didn’t you go to your Uncle Nie in Longxi? Were you mistreated? Why didn’t you tell Uncle Nie? He’s the top official in Longxi Province. With him there, who could bully you?” Chen Lihong beca nervous upon hearing her son’s words, looking at Yuan Hao with a face full of concern.
As Nie Zhenbang was ntioned, Yuan Hao’s expression imdiately turned sour. A look of disdain ca over his face as he shook his head and sighed, “Ah, Mom, let’s not bring up what shouldn’t be ntioned. I was fine not talking about it. When I do, I get so angry. I an, look, I started a legitimate consulting firm. The goal was to earn a bit more money to improve the lives of you, Dad, and Grandpa, right? I’ve participated in nurous bidding and tender processes across the country, and there were never any issues. But this ti in Longxi, as soon as I arrived, I went to see Nie Zhenbang. He agreed quite readily. However, what I didn’t expect was that, in the end, our company didn’t win a single tender. When I went to find Nie Zhenbang, he yelled at and threw out. His tone was unspeakably rude. To ‘get lost’ was the least of it. He even had the audacity to say that it’s not the Yuan family calling the shots anymore and to go where it’s cool. That’s an ungrateful wretch for you.”
Yuan Hao’s words were dramatic and emotive. Although he was ignorant, in this regard, he seed naturally gifted. The ancient texts say that at birth, human nature is good. But there are always exceptions to everything. So people are born with astonishing talents. So are naturally suited to certain things, like Yuan Hao, who was born with a talent for lodging complaints.
Though his words seed insubstantial, the information they conveyed was enormously significant, instantly making Chen Lihong feel ready to explode with rage.
In Chen Lihong’s eyes, her son’s visit to Longxi, eting with Nie Zhenbang, was akin to paying respect to the powers that be. Then, Nie Zhenbang allowed her son to bid for contracts. In the end, not getting a single contract was tantamount to toying with them. And when asked about it, to be insulted so wantonly, belittling even the Yuan family—how could this not infuriate her?
Yuan Hao’s eyes shifted around as he noticed his mother’s expression, knowing that the matter was almost settled. Yet, his face showed even more grievance: “Mom, you don’t know. At that ti, I said, ‘After all, my grandfather was once your superior, a senior official; is there any need to belittle the Yuan family?’ Guess what he said?”
Stopping there, Yuan Hao stood up and continued dramatically, “But Nie Zhenbang got up and assud a self-righteous stance. He chided , saying, ‘My relationship with Comrade Yuan Kangan was just a normal working one. In revolution, there is no distinction between the ranks, and in work, there is no differentiation between positions. Everything I have today is the result of my own efforts and has nothing to do with anyone else. It wouldn’t be any different even if it were Comrade Yuan Kangan himself standing here.'”
“Smack!” Chen Lihong’s face turned livid, and she slamd her palm down on the table. The once premier family, to be ridiculed in such a manner, was unbearable: “This is too much. Old Yuan, this Nie Zhenbang has gone too far; he really thinks he’s sothing. If it weren’t for the old man, could the Nie family have what they have today? Back then, he was so eager to curry favor, yet the old man failed to see that he was such an ingrate. Old Yuan, we can’t let this slide, no matter what. If word gets out, how could our Yuan family stand tall in the future? Any Tom, Dick, or Harry would step on us.”
Pausing, Chen Lihong then looked at Yuan Lizhi and said, “Old Yuan, we can’t just let this go. Since Nie Zhenbang has been so ruthless, don’t bla us for taking decisive action. Isn’t Longxi Province now working on so auto city project? I heard it’s even a collaboration between Huaxia Group, LT Investnt Group Company, and Longxi Province. In the end, doesn’t the project need approval from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology? Old Yuan, just reject it outright. I want to see what Nie Zhenbang can do then.”
At these words, Yuan Lizhi’s brows furrowed, thinking of the proverb “Indulgent mothers tend to raise disappointing sons.” How deeply he understood this. If his wife Chen Lihong hadn’t been so indulgent and spoiled their son, he wouldn’t have ended up this way.
Looking at the mother and son filled with expectant glances, Yuan Lizhi said in a stern voice, “Do you think I can just call the shots in the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology? The auto city project has personally involved President Qiao. It has been designated by the state as a key cooperation project with Arica. With so much attention on it from all over the country, do you think we can do whatever we want?”
Having said this, Yuan Lizhi looked at Yuan Hao with a very stern expression: “Yuan Hao, have you discussed this with Grandpa?”
Yuan Hao’s gaze darted around. At this mont, he couldn’t admit that he had already ntioned it. He hesitated briefly before saying, “No… I haven’t. I’ve just got back, and I haven’t had the chance to go see Grandpa yet.”
Yuan Hao knew very well the affairs of his own family, Grandpa was the stabilizing anchor of the Yuan family, possessing supre dignity and authority. Even his mother wouldn’t dare to oppose a decision made by Grandpa.
After a mont of contemplation, Yuan Lizhi stood up, “Get ready, we’re going to visit the West Mountain. Let’s see what attitude Grandpa has.”
At these words, Yuan Hao was stunned. He had never imagined the old man would make such an arrangent. Going to Grandpa’s place, wouldn’t that just give the ga away?
He absolutely couldn’t go, and imdiately, Yuan Hao stood up and said, “Ah, you handle this little matter. I’m dead tired, I’m going to take a shower.”
Yuan Lizhi looked at Yuan Hao and shook his head, letting out a sigh. This matter had given him a great shock as well. He hadn’t paid much attention to what Yuan Hao had said. One side of the story was bound to be biased, wasn’t he familiar with his own son? However, if it was true that the family’s reputation was at stake, that deserved serious consideration. In this regard, Yuan Lizhi had his own bottom line.
Chen Lihong, standing nearby, was told, “Lihong, you go prepare Yuan Hao’s stuff. I’ll go see Dad for a bit.”
After Yuan Lizhi had left, Chen Lihong picked up the phone, and as soon as the call connected, she said with a smile, “Old Song, it’s your sister-in-law. I hear that the Longxi Province automobile town project is under review by your departnt, is that the case?”
This question took the head of the industrial departnt at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology by surprise, the wife of Vice Minister Yuan inquiring about such matters so abruptly. Yet he nodded and responded, “Indeed, that is the case. Sister-in-law, you an…?”
“Hehe, it’s nothing much, just asking. Today, my Hao Hao just got back from Longxi, and he said that the economic construction there isn’t as good as it appears on the surface. It looks like there’s quite a bit of water under the bridge, huh. Hehe, Old Song, go back to your busy day. Co by the house when you have so ti.” Chen Lihong hung up the phone. Such matters were all too familiar for her to handle. So things couldn’t be stated too explicitly. To be too explicit would be handing others a handle against oneself. As it was, it was just right, perfectly appropriate. It wouldn’t give people inappropriate ideas, and even if it beca known, it couldn’t be traced back to her.
“Bang! Nonsense! How can you be a husband, a father like this? It’s sheer nonsense. Putting on airs, the guilty party filing the suit first. This country belongs to the people. I once held a position, but that only represents my work. This is not sothing he can exploit to act willfully and arrogantly,” roared Yuan Kang An at the West Mountain Villa, furiously berating Yuan Lizhi standing before him.
After a long silence, the old man waved his hand, “Go on. As a man, as a husband, as a father, you have the duty to manage your household well. ‘If one does not sweep his own house, how can he sweep the world?’ With the state you’re in, you don’t even qualify as a deputy minister.”
After sending Yuan Lizhi away, the old man stood up and walked into his study. He picked up a fountain pen and began to write furiously on a sheet of paper. About an hour later, he ca out and called, “Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan, co here.”
The old man’s bodyguard, Xiao Yan, ca out from the next room, and the old man handed him an envelope, “Xiao Yan, go to ‘Masses Daily’ right away and give them this docunt. Tell them it’s on my orders and it must appear in tomorrow morning’s paper.”
…
In Longxi Province, just as Nie Zhenbang entered his office, Xia Gang was already there to greet him, “Secretary, there’s an article in today’s ‘Masses Daily’ by Comrade Yuan Kang An.”
Nie Zhenbang was sowhat surprised, as he looked at the newspaper. On the front page headline, it prominently read, Prevent abuse of power by family mbers of leadership in economic construction and developnt.
Seeing this, Nie Zhenbang’s heart was also shaken, speechless in the face of the old leader’s breadth of vision. (
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