Chapter 880: Chapter 836: Luo Chuncui’s Thoughts
Chapter 880: Chapter 836: Luo Chuncui’s Thoughts
In fact, Luo Chuncui stayed behind in Tianfu City for other reasons. Ever since he completed the provincial and ministerial-level cadre training class at the Central Party School, Luo Chuncui was full of ambition.
However, two years had slipped by since he graduated, and before he knew it, Luo Chuncui, who had been a vigorous 56-year-old amongst the ranks of provincial and ministerial-level cadres, was full of youthful vigor. He had anticipated that his position would definitely shake up after the training ended, and he could formally take charge in the Provincial Party Committee, perhaps as Deputy Party Secretary or even, with a bit of luck, step straight into a full ministerial-level post.
Yet, two years had passed, and he was still marking ti in the sa place, while his age had crept up to 58. At this point, Luo Chuncui beca quite anxious.
Age 58 was a critical hurdle, and this year was the major transition year. Director Shen’s two terms were ending, and it had beco certain that Director Shen and the current central leadership core would retire into the background, while a new slate was about to erge. At this juncture, his situation beca awkward.
Being between 57 and 58 wasn’t a joke—it was a precarious age. If one was rely a departnt-level cadre, it wouldn’t matter much, but Luo Chuncui had already surpassed that level and entered the provincial and ministerial level. According to the rules, it was inevitable to move to the second line at this age. If one couldn’t take a step up, then their career in civil service would effectively be over.
Therefore, Luo Chuncui had intentionally stayed behind, and his purpose wasn’t to exchange anything with Tang Bingquan from Tianfu City. His main goal was to leverage the connection with his old classmate, Nie Zhenbang.
Lost in thought, soone knocked on the door, and the secretary walked in from outside, reporting, “Secretary Luo, the location has been confird, right here at Tianfu Grand Hotel. Suite number 7.”
As the secretary, it was natural to be aware of the leader’s preferences. Luo Chuncui was particularly sensitive to these numbers at the mont, favoring seven and disliking eight. Previously, right before the New Year, several businessn from Donggang treated Secretary Luo at the Tang Dynasty Hotel in Ancient City, booking the suite 888. But Secretary Luo hadn’t shown them any courtesy and walked away imdiately.
In such circumstances, the secretary naturally wouldn’t provoke any dissatisfaction. To do so would be akin to the Old Birthday Star eating arsenic—as if inviting trouble upon oneself.
At this mont, Luo Chuncui seed quite satisfied with the secretary’s arrangents, nodded his head, and said, “On the nu, did you order Shandong cuisine? Governor Nie is from Yanbei and has a particular preference for imperial and Shandong cuisine. It is quite difficult to find Tan family dishes here in Tianfu. How are the Shandong cuisine chefs at Tianfu Grand Hotel? Min, did you personally inquire about this?”
The secretary’s surna was Min, and by the looks of it, he wasn’t very old, about thirty years of age. Luo Chuncui was 58 years old, old enough to be his father, so this form of address was entirely appropriate.
Min was also clearly aware that his own fortunes were tied with the leader’s—joint suffering, joint glory. If the leader managed to climb onto Governor Nie’s coattails, the leader’s position would rise, and as his secretary, he too would be lifted by the rising tide.
Nodding his head, Secretary Min replied respectfully and ticulously, “Regarding the nu, as per your instructions, it is mostly Shandong cuisine with a mix of Huaiyang and Cantonese soups. For the main dishes, we’ve selected roasted suckling pig and the famous Nine-Turn Intestines. As for the drinks, we’re using Wuliang Jade ten-year brew.”
In this respect, Luo Chuncui had put in so thought. He knew Nie Zhenbang’s background. Having been the director of the “Three Expenses” office, Nie Zhenbang would certainly be sensitive in this regard. Thus, offering overly expensive liquor, like thirty- or fifty-year brews costing tens or even hundreds of thousands, would not be appropriate and could leave a poor impression on Nie Zhenbang.
With the current arrangent, the al would only be about five or six thousand yuan, which was dignified yet not excessive, and could serve to bridge the distance, making this the most suitable choice.
Luo Chuncui nodded, waved his hand, and said, “Mm, go ahead and make the arrangents.”
Once the secretary had left the room, Luo Chuncui took out his phone and dialed Nie Zhenbang’s number. The call was picked up almost instantly after a single ring. From the other end, Nie Zhenbang’s voice ca through, “Old Luo, how’s your exchange going with Tianfu City?”
Nie Zhenbang’s words made Luo Chuncui quite happy at that mont. Judging by Nie Zhenbang’s tone and attitude, he still valued their classmate relationship.
This bolstered Luo Chuncui’s confidence significantly, and he chuckled as he replied, “Governor Nie, the developnt of Tianfu City has far exceeded my expectations. I didn’t think that in just two short years without visiting Tianfu, the city would have surpassed my forecasts. This ti, capitalizing on the successful signing of the Ancient High-Speed Rail project, Ancient City is preparing to forge a friendly city relationship with Tianfu City—sharing resources, complenting each other’s advantages. In this matter, we surely need Governor Nie’s great assistance.”
Luo Chuncui’s words were very polite, completely placing himself in the position of a subordinate. Strictly speaking, as an official from Longxi Province, even if he was an official from Bashu, carrying the sa standing as a Provincial Party Standing Committee mber, he didn’t need to act like this.
Nie Zhenbang said with a smile, “Old Luo, that’s not very generous of you. Tianfu and Ancient City are both crucial areas in the developnt strategy of the Western Region. One is the regional central city in the northwest, and the other in the southwest. In this respect, there’s certainly no problem, and the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Governnt are happy to see it succeed. Moreover, we are old classmates, so to speak like this feels a bit cold.”
As soon as Nie Zhenbang finished speaking, Luo Chuncui chuckled and said, “Yes, yes, I accept Zhenbang’s criticism wholeheartedly. Brother Zhenbang, thinking about it now, it’s been over a year since we parted at the Party School. How about we have a good talk tonight? I’ll host you in the No. 7 private room at the Tianfu Hotel.”
Luo Chuncui’s words were also very tactical. Nie Zhenbang chuckled when he heard this. Luo Chuncui was indeed well prepared, pretending it was just a coincidence for tonight. However, he had even ntioned the eting place and the number of the private room which ant he had already booked it.
After pondering for a mont, Nie Zhenbang nodded and said readily, “Alright, as an invitation from an old classmate, I will certainly attend. We’ll et tonight then.”
When Nie Zhenbang arrived at the Tianfu Grand Hotel, Luo Chuncui and his secretary, Min, were already standing in the lobby on the first floor.
As soon as Nie Zhenbang entered, Luo Chuncui approached to greet him, appearing extrely courteous and happy, “Zhenbang, please co in!”
In the spacious private room, there were only four people: Nie Zhenbang, Luo Chuncui, and their secretaries. After sitting down and eating for a few rounds, Luo Chuncui said with a laugh, “Brother Zhenbang, to tell you the truth, among our training class, now it’s only you and Jiang Yonghao who have made it. As for , and Old Sun, we haven’t been doing too well.”
Jiang Yonghao was a classmate from Nie Zhenbang’s sa training period at the Party School. During their studies, Jiang Yonghao was the Deputy Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League, and now he had advanced further, finally reaching the position of the First Secretary of the Central Committee. However, compared with Nie Zhenbang’s position, there was still a significant gap.
Hearing Luo Chuncui’s words, Nie Zhenbang also started to ponder. To say that it was a simple class reunion, Nie Zhenbang would never believe it. Not to ntion anything else, just in the province, Sun Jialuo was also a classmate from the sa period, yet Luo Chuncui had specifically invited only him, which was a question in itself.
Moreover, Luo Chuncui had deliberately pointed out that he and Old Sun were stuck at the level of vice-ministerial rank while he and Jiang Yonghao had been promoted to full ministerial level. Nie Zhenbang couldn’t help but speculate about Luo Chuncui’s intentions.
After a mont of silence, Nie Zhenbang said with a smile, “Old Luo, that’s not very gracious of you. Today, let’s put aside our official ranks and just focus on our fellowship as classmates. Later, you’ll have to drink a three-cup penalty.”
Caught off guard, Luo Chuncui chuckled and replied, “Right, right, Zhenbang makes a good point. We won’t talk about ranks, only friendship, and I deserve to be penalized with this drink.”
After downing three cups, Luo Chuncui was very straightforward as he drank them one after the other without any pause. Though it was just a small cup each ti, it still amounted to three shots of liquor, and Luo Chuncui’s face had turned a bit flushed.
After a brief pause, Luo Chuncui said with a laugh, “Zhenbang, I’m not afraid of being a laughing stock, but this year being an election year, with my age, I’m afraid it’s very unlikely for to move up. Back at school, I truly admired Old Brother Zhenbang’s accomplishnts in the field of economic developnt, it’s just a pity that I haven’t had the opportunity to learn from Governor Nie properly.”
Luo Chuncui had spoken these words fueled by the courage from his drinks, but his intentions were unmistakable, and Nie Zhenbang could understand them clearly.
On one hand, Luo Chuncui emphasized his lack of opportunity to learn from Nie Zhenbang, implying his desire to study under him. Furthermore, the last appellation he used was not ‘classmate’ but ‘Governor Nie’, indicating his intention to seek patronage.
Nie Zhenbang also hesitated about Luo Chuncui’s situation. To consider patronage, for Luo Chuncui and Sun Jialuo’s cohort, it was obviously not quite appropriate. Their ages were a factor; advancing them to ministerial level at this stage, would be problematic for Nie. Placing so many would not only lack benefits for him but could also bring risks, and Nie Zhenbang was unsure of what Comrade Qiao Yiren might think. Besides, these individuals could only serve one term at best, so purely from an economic standpoint, this investnt clearly didn’t seem worth it.
After a mont of silence, Nie Zhenbang said with a smile, “Old Luo, you’re too modest. Don’t you already know my level? If you’re sincere, I think it would be more appropriate to study more from Comrade Qiao Yiren.” (
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