Chapter 927: Chapter 883: As If an Old Friend Has Arrived Chapter 927: Chapter 883: As If an Old Friend Has Arrived Zhang, the Deputy Commander, wasn’t much of a concern for Nie Zhenbang. Leaving halfway through an event like this wasn’t really an issue; with so many people and eyes, no one would care about your whereabouts. Besides, as a Nie affiliate, Zhang certainly wouldn’t have any objections towards the Nie family’s second and third sons. The fact that others attended was already a sign of deep respect.
Having exited through the back door of the Bayi Hotel, Nie Zhenbang was about to proceed when, unexpectedly, Nie Jiamin tensed up. Like a lion with bristling fur, he said in a low voice, “Who’s there? Co out, or don’t bla for being rude. You’ve got so nerve; do you know where you are? This is a property of the Xibei Military Region, the Bayi Hotel. Around this area, an entire company’s worth of soldiers are stationed.”
As soon as Nie Jiamin finished speaking, Nie Zhenbang also beca tense. Despite having so strength, Nie Zhenbang had never been constantly in such a high-stress environnt. While he had made so breakthroughs in martial arts, Nie Zhenbang had not managed to sense the trouble in ti.
Alerted by Nie Jiamin, Nie Zhenbang ca to his senses and, upon closer observation, noticed the problem.
Staring at the dark alley across from the hotel’s back door, Nie Zhenbang sighed and said, “Secretary Yun, co out.”
The mont the words fell, Yun Fei walked out from the darkness, her face expressionless, maintaining her usual icy deanor as she looked at Nie Zhenbang.
anwhile, Nie Jiamin curiously and impishly whispered, “Younger brother, are you hiding your beauty away? She’s quite a catch.”
The scions of Jingcheng families tended to be smooth talkers; to quote Li Hua from the past, even if you were a sow, the young wastrels of Jingcheng would still flatter you.
Now, though they had all reached middle age, they acted the sa way they used to in such situations.
Nie Zhenbang gave a wry smile, waved his hand dismissively, and said in a low voice, “Elder brother, if you like her, she’s all yours. She’s a secretary assigned to from that departnt. If you’re interested, I can make an introduction.”
This statent made Nie Jiamin’s expression turn serious; he hadn’t expected his younger brother’s divine favor to be so potent. Elite agents from that departnt should be on the international frontlines, working covertly for the revival of the nation and its people. It was generous of the higher-ups to arrange one to be his younger brother’s secretary.
These individuals had undergone strict military skills training and rigorous assessnts. While it would be an exaggeration to claim they were invincible in battle, their skillsets were undoubtedly far superior to those of ordinary soldiers.
Waving a hand, Nie Jiamin also smiled and said, “No thanks, I appreciate the gesture. But after hearing what you said, I really couldn’t take it. I know when to avoid trouble. Don’t worry about involving in this.”
As for Yun Fei, Nie Zhenbang was also quite vexed. This secretary simply didn’t understand the art of flexibility, which troubled him the most. More importantly, his criticisms seed useless to Yun Fei. Her purpose and thoughts were simple: to do her job as a secretary while ensuring his protection.
“Director Nie, just now, at the Bayi Hotel’s front entrance, there were several people looking for you. I estimate they have already made their way here,” said Yun Fei, her face void of expression, continuing in her ice-cold manner. Despite her respectful tone, it conveyed a chilling aloofness that Nie Zhenbang was not accustod to.
At that mont, Nie Zhenbang wanted to curse; who’s the leader here, you or ? However, his dissatisfaction lessened slightly; after all, Yun Fei wasn’t there to spy on him. If she was spying, even if it ant writing another self-criticism, Nie Zhenbang would have dismissed her. Because then, the nature of her role would have changed. She would not be a secretary but a surveillance agent.
Now that she ntioned it, it seed excusable. Nie Zhenbang nodded, but footsteps soon echoed from the alley behind the Bayi Hotel, followed by several people stepping out from the shadows. Seeing these familiar faces, Nie Zhenbang felt another surge of emotion.
They were all acquaintances, Yan Fengjiao, once the Deputy County Chief of Lixian, that sowhat helpless woman who once cried tightly in his embrace. Now, Yan Fengjiao had risen to be Lizhou City’s Executive Vice Mayor. As an authentic sub-provincial city, Yan Fengjiao was by now a full departnt-level official. The years had left little trace on the face of this woman in her forties, as the charm of middle age still lingered.
Next to Yan Fengjiao sat the forr head of the Lizhou City Bureau of Comrce, Fan Zhenming. Nie Zhenbang still vividly rembered that this was the talent he personally selected after he beca the secretary of the Li County Party Committee. At the Yuedong trade fair, Li County, representing the governnt, achieved unprecedented success, which was largely attributed to Fan Zhenming’s ability. By their side, another person made a strong impression on Nie Zhenbang—the prominent local entrepreneur Zhu Lufeng from Li County.
Seeing them, Nie Zhenbang also went up and embraced each one in turn. He then started talking, “It has been a few years since we last t, hasn’t it? I didn’t expect to see you all here. Director Fan, I have been keeping an eye on the developnt of Lizhou City.”
No matter where Nie Zhenbang was or what position he held, in the eyes of his forr subordinates from Li County, Nie Zhenbang was always their old leader, their forr secretary. In front of Nie Zhenbang, they would always be subordinates.
Fan Zhenming was sowhat embarrassed and modestly said, “Old leader, you flatter too much. Everything is still developing according to your plans, with sustainable and firm adherence to a scientific outlook on developnt. That remains our unwavering policy. The truth has proved that the old secretary’s insightful and far-sighted views are correct.”
Nie Zhenbang waved his hand and laughed heartily, “Director Fan, don’t put on a pedestal. An ex-official should not interfere in current affairs. I’ve left Lizhou for over a decade now. The accomplishnts of Lizhou City are your doing, and they have nothing to do with .”
Yan Fengjiao, standing next to them, also said with a smile, “Mayor Nie, you might not be aware, but Director Fan is now the Deputy Mayor and a mber of the standing committee of Lizhou City.”
Startled by Yan Fengjiao’s words, Nie Zhenbang blinked in surprise, while Fan Zhenming also said with a smile, “Mayor, you’re making fun of now. You’re currently our acting mayor of Lizhou, and among all the vice-provincial level municipal officials nationwide, you are the first female mayor.”
Hearing this, Nie Zhenbang nodded repeatedly, “Good, good. I’m so delighted to hear about such great developnts from you. Let’s do this—today I’ll host. Let’s find a place to settle down first, and then organize a banquet where we can continue our conversation over a al.”
Over at the Gold Sail Hotel, Nie Zhenbang had privately paid for three rooms and also reserved a tea room in the hotel’s dining area.
The company sat there, and Nie Zhenbang first introduced everyone to each other. Hearing about Nie Jiamin’s background, the three people from Lizhou City were sowhat surprised. They rembered seeing an exclusive interview in “Tis Magazine” not too long ago, back when the old leader was still in office at WangHai. At that ti, the magazine reported on the old leader’s family background, which nobody paid much attention to. This ti, looking at Nie Jiamin, everyone felt a certain affirmation and were also pleased for themselves.
Once the waiter had brewed the tea, Nie Zhenbang continued with a smile, “President Zhu, I rember that back then, you were one of the first bosses to return to Li County to invest in a business, and moreover, when the earthquake hit Li County, it occurred in your hotown, if I recall correctly. I still rember, you were the first to donate. Besides, I believe you used to run a leather factory. How is your business doing now, President Zhu?”
It must be said, Nie Zhenbang’s mory was indeed very good. When he was in Li County, Nie Zhenbang was about 23 years old, and now, at 38, fifteen years had passed, yet he still rembered everything so clearly.
Zhu Lufeng was sowhat excited at this mont. He had co here specifically to see Nie Zhenbang, and the more Nie Zhenbang reminisced, the better it was for him.
He nodded and replied, “I’m impressed by Director Nie’s mory. You are right; I started with a leather factory and also opened an entertainnt city in Bazhou. Li County is my hotown, and as the great master artist Ben Shan said, a tree has roots, a person has a source. A person can forget anything in this life except their roots. I, Zhu Lufeng, have made so small achievents and giving back to my hotown, repaying society, is the right thing to do.”
Yan Fengjiao smiled and added, “Old leader, we ca here specifically to visit you. President Zhu’s company isn’t the small leather factory it used to be. Lafeng Leather has now beco an internationally renowned brand. Furthermore, Zhu Clan Group has diversified its operations and is now one of Lizhou City’s top ten private enterprises and one of the ten best taxpaying companies. Zhu Clan Group’s construction company has also obtained national top-grade construction qualifications, approved and inspected by the Ministry of Construction. This ti, we ca here because we heard that Huaxia Group needed to put out a tender, so we ca to give it a try.”
As soon as Yan Fengjiao finished speaking, Nie Zhenbang’s expression changed. Yan Fengjiao, an old subordinate for many years, knew the old leader’s temperant very well and realized that there might be a misunderstanding. She quickly said, “Mayor, please don’t get the wrong idea. We didn’t co to ask for your help. I believe in the capabilities of Zhu Clan Group. If it succeeds, it can create even more benefits for the economic growth of Lizhou City.”
Yan Fengjiao’s clarification slightly eased Nie Zhenbang’s expression. As long as they weren’t seeking to use personal connections or backdoor tactics, that was fine. Otherwise, Nie Zhenbang might have just left. It wasn’t that Nie Zhenbang never used connections, but he had different expectations for people who were once his subordinates.
After a pause, Nie Zhenbang then smiled and asked, “Comrade Feng Jiao, stop talking about others for a mont. How have you been?”(
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