Chapter 877: Chapter 833: Su Xuan Pays a New Year Visit
Chapter 877: Chapter 833: Su Xuan Pays a New Year Visit
On the first and second days of the Lunar New Year, as soon as Nie Zhenbang turned on his phone, it buzzed non-stop with New Year’s greeting text ssages from leaders in the lower levels of governnt.
Nie Zhenbang had anticipated this. The reason he had turned off his phone was to enjoy a New Year’s without disturbances.
Those two days could be said to be the happiest days for the children and the most satisfying for the wife, free from the hassle of New Year’s visits and the intrigue within the system. What they had was the warmth of ho and the joyous harmony of the family.
Seeing Nie Zhenbang flipping through his phone, Yang Anna teased, “Once the governor turns on his phone, the New Year’s text ssages flood in like the waters of the Dajiang river, endless and unstoppable.”
Nie Zhenbang smiled wryly and shrugged his shoulders, feigning helplessness, “It’s a longstanding custom among our people to exchange courtesies. There’s no helping it.”
Afterwards, Nie Zhenbang also made calls to wish a few leaders in Jingcheng a happy New Year. This was also indispensable—Director Shen, Director Leng, and Comrade Qiao Yiren, none of them could be omitted. Additionally, he called his uncle, father-in-law, and his own father.
After hanging up, his phone rang again. Nie Zhenbang was startled when he saw the number—it was from Su Xuan. Su Xuan hadn’t spent the New Year in Bashu but had gone back to Jingcheng. Why would she suddenly call him?
Musing over it, his hands were quick to answer the call. Nie Zhenbang spoke up, “Secretary Su, happy New Year.”
As soon as he finished, Su Xuan’s laughter ca through the phone, “Hehe, Governor Zhenbang, happy New Year. Are you at ho right now? I just got back from Jingcheng and am planning to pay a visit to your house.”
Su Xuan’s words caught Nie Zhenbang off guard. Su Xuan’s intent to visit was sothing worth pondering.
Strictly speaking, as the secretary and leader, it’s complicated to determine who should make the New Year’s call first between the secretary and the governor during the New Year. However, a personal visit signifies a much lower stance from Su Xuan.
Frankly speaking, it could affect Su Xuan’s authority within the province if word got out. Of course, guiding that influence would still require his own efforts.
From the ti Su Xuan had taken office, she had proven to be quite perceptive and tactful, at least in terms of not hindering his initiatives for economic construction and developnt.
Considering this, Nie Zhenbang also responded with a smile, “Secretary Su, you are too kind. How could I accept this?”
Having been in officialdom for so many years, Nie Zhenbang naturally picked up so of its airs, and he knew how to exchange pleasantries.
Although Courtyard One of the Provincial Party Committee and Nie Zhenbang’s Courtyard Two were nurically adjacent, in reality, the residences of the two were not next to each other. In fact, none of the houses of the provincial committee standing committee mbers living in the family area were close to each other.
When constructed, the housing design cleverly used rockeries, fountains, trees, or architectural features as dividers.
This was also a good way to avoid awkwardness. If they were right beside each other, it would be uncomfortable whether subordinate officials visited the secretary or the governor first, wouldn’t it just make matters difficult for the local people?
Within less than five minutes, Su Xuan, accompanied by her spouse, walked over from outside the courtyard. In her hands, she carried so gifts and handed them to Nie Zhenbang quite naturally, “I brought so tea when I ca back from Jingcheng. It’s quite presumptuous of to visit during the New Year.”
Nie Zhenbang also smiled. At their level, the value of the gifts wasn’t important; what mattered was the intention behind them.
As the leader, Su Xuan displayed such humility; this alone spoke volus. Nie Zhenbang’s nature was to reciprocate respect twofold. With Su Xuan acting this way, Nie Zhenbang naturally had to give sufficient face to Su Xuan.
Welcoming Su Xuan and her spouse into the house, the two naturally sat down together in the study. On the tea table, Nie Zhenbang also set out the tea set.
Nie Zhenbang’s skill in making Gongfu tea was not particularly good—barely passable. Observing Nie Zhenbang preparing the Gongfu tea, Su Xuan smiled and said after a mont’s contemplation, “Zhenbang, on this trip back to Jingcheng, I managed to learn so news.”
Su Xuan’s words made Nie Zhenbang’s actions pause for a mont, but it was just that, a montary pause. Su Xuan saw this unfold before her eyes.
Then, without trying to hide anything, she got straight to the point, “Governor Zhenbang, this ti when I returned to Jingcheng, I paid a visit to so forr leaders and superiors, and also had discussions with several ministry heads in Jingcheng. From what I learned, next year, it’s highly likely that several major projects will be launched in the country. For instance, the Jiang-Yue High-Speed Rail Line. I was thinking, perhaps our Bashu Province could also vie for it. A high-speed rail project, if brought to Bashu, would greatly accelerate the connectivity between regions, shorten distances, and significantly boost our province’s economic developnt.”
Upon hearing Su Xuan’s words, Nie Zhenbang was stirred, recognizing that although Su Xuan seed easy to talk to, from this small incident, it was clear that Su Xuan’s ambitions were anything but small. A high-speed rail project.
After musing for a mont, Nie Zhenbang responded, “Secretary Su, a high-speed rail project, for Bashu, I’m afraid it won’t be easy.”
Looking at Su Xuan, Nie Zhenbang continued, “The old saying goes, ‘The road to Shu is hard, harder than climbing to the sky.’ Since ancient tis, transportation in Bashu has been a big issue. Within the province of Bashu, transportation isn’t much of a concern. However, transportation with other provinces is relatively backward. But a high-speed rail project, with all the mountains surrounding Bashu Province, would require at least one-third more investnt than in other provinces. Is there a chance for this opportunity?”
Nie Zhenbang was sowhat worried, as he was all too aware of the operational approaches and patterns of other dostic ministries. Provinces like Chunan, Chubei, and Yue State are situated on major railway arteries, comprising crucial north-south transportation hubs included in national planning, generally without the need for lobbying.
Whereas other provinces, when it cos to transportation developnt, have to lobby the relevant departnts. But with so many provinces eyeing the opportunity, and all officials who have reached the provincial and ministerial levels having connections and a background in Jingcheng, it’s a classic case of too many monks for too little porridge. And for Bashu Province, the mountains are a barrier. The cost of transportation developnt is significantly higher than in other central areas. Not to ntion other factors, this alone puts Bashu at a disadvantage.
At this mont, Su Xuan nodded in agreent, “Indeed, this is a major disadvantage for us. However, the country is now vigorously developing the Western Region, and Bashu Province serves as the bridgehead for economic developnt in this region, which we can use to our advantage. Also, with regard to the Ministry of Railways, I have so connections. The main issue now is with the National Developnt and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Transport.”
At this point, Su Xuan said with a smile, “I know that the forr Deputy Pri Minister Nie ca from the National Developnt and Reform Commission, and also has a good relationship with Director Shen of the Ministry of Transport. So, that’s why I’ve co to you, right? Success depends on human effort. I believe that with you and joining hands, along with the initiative from Ancient City in Longxi, constructing a dedicated passenger high-speed rail line from Ancient City to Tianfu City, with two provinces working together in solidarity, and both Tianfu and Ancient City being vice-provincial-level cities, along with the shared Western Region background, it’s not an impossibility.”
Hearing Su Xuan’s words, Nie Zhenbang had sowhat of an epiphany; it seed that Su Xuan had made plans and then taken action.
It had to be said, Su Xuan’s reasoning indeed made sense. Bashu and Longxi Province both belong to the Western Region. Now, with the country actively promoting the developnt strategy for the Western Region, this is an advantage, given the national policy support and preference.
At this ti, if they could secure the project approval from the National Developnt and Reform Commission, backed by support from the Ministry of Transport as well as the Ministry of Railways, the high-speed rail project was not impossible.
Thinking this, Nie Zhenbang also nodded, “Secretary Su, it seems you’ve co fully prepared.”
Su Xuan, upon being addressed by Nie Zhenbang this way, laughed awkwardly. Instead of dwelling on that, she simply smiled and asked, “What do you think of this proposal, Zhenbang?”
Nie Zhenbang was silent for a while. A successful high-speed rail project would not only open up a major artery leading north from the Guanzhong area, but also bring imnse benefits to the economy of Bashu Province. After a pause, Nie Zhenbang spoke in a serious tone, “Good, Secretary Su. Since you have this ambition, let us work hard together and give it a try.”
After discussing this matter of business, Nie Zhenbang and Su Xuan chatted casually. As two heavyweights in Bashu Province, they then exchanged ideas about the economic developnt of Bashu Province and spoke about the educational corruption case in Changhong City at the end of last year. It was after having lunch with Nie Zhenbang that Su Xuan finally took her leave.
At this mont, Nie Zhenbang’s views on Su Xuan had completely changed. When Su Xuan took office, Nie Zhenbang had worried that she might sohow hinder his work, but such worries had now vanished. With this thought, Nie Zhenbang felt much more at ease.
The eighth day of the first lunar month
As soon as work resud, Nie Zhenbang imdiately summoned people from the Departnt of Transportation and the Provincial National Developnt and Reform Commission. The initial preparatory work for the high-speed rail project definitely needed to be refined.
Having decided to strive for the project, they needed to establish contact with Longxi Province, while also making concrete proposals when heading to Jingcheng. Without tangible propositions, how could they expect support?
Therefore, such preliminary preparations were naturally indispensable.
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, after celebrating the Lantern Festival, on the very next day of work, Nie Zhenbang stepped into his office, and Li Jupeng followed, placing a stack of docunts and newspapers on the desk, reporting, “Governor, there was a call from Secretary Su’s side just now. Secretary Hu Shangzhi of the Longxi Provincial Committee, Governor Liu Qiuhe, and Secretary Luo Chuncui of the Ancient City Municipal Committee will be arriving in Tianfu City tomorrow morning. Secretary Su suggests that you join them in the welco.” (
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