Reborn as a Noble's Son

At this moment, Luo Hao was filled with regret. Seeing the melancholic look on his father, Luo Hao decided to clarify things, perhaps his father could still find a way to make up for it. After all, Luo Hao had begun to recognize the influence of Nie Zhenbang. At the same time, he started to resent Qian Jin, if Qian Jin had revealed earlier the deep background of Nie Zhenbang, would he still need to be concerned about Cao Zhuangzhi and Cao Yangming?

Immediately, he looked at Luo Yimin and said, “Dad, there’s something I think I should tell you. A few days ago, Qian Jin and I had a meal with Nie Zhenbang. Nie Zhenbang also mentioned that he needed funding. I was planning to tell you initially, but then I heard from Guo Chang that Cao Yangming had sent out word so I didn’t tell you.”

Luo Yimin was taken aback and said, “Hao, have you lost your mind? What kind of person do you think Qian Jin is? Do you think he can just casually call a county-level guy his third brother? If you had told me about this earlier, so what if we offend Cao Yangming? Even though he is the Executive Deputy Chair, he would still need an excuse to trouble me.”

Having said that, all Luo Yimin could do was shrug and say, “Well, since everything has come to this, there’s no point discussing it further. In doing things in the future, keep an eye out more. You can slowly mend things with Qian Jin and Nie Zhenbang, don’t rush now. This time is too sensitive and might give off an impression of opportunism.” For the sake of his son, Luo Yimin imparted this advice.

In one day, more than ten ministries in the central government had poured funds into Lixian. This unusual situation quickly spread throughout the Xibei Autonomous Region.

At this moment, Li Yifeng was stunned. He hadn’t expected Cao Yangming to have crossed paths with Nie Zhenbang, and even forced Nie Zhenbang to resort to seeking help from the ministries. It seemed that they were now enemies.

Just as Li Yifeng was puzzled, Jiang Zhenquan was making a call to Cao Yangming from his office. Immediately after hearing about the ministries’ involvement, Jiang Zhenquan also called Jingcheng. As a central alternate member, Jiang Zhenquan had a fairly strong network within the central government. This kind of matter was no secret and would be clear upon investigation.

However, the information returned from the ministries somewhat infuriated Jiang Zhenquan. He never expected that Nie Zhenbang, after being blocked by Cao Yangming, would turn to the ministries for funding. Not only did he receive the funds, but he also had the ministries stipulate that the funding must be used exclusively for Lixian. In the aftermath, every ministry would have to verify this. Consequently, both the autonomous region and Bazhou below it were hesitant to use this funding.

Cao Yangming’s actions had effectively put Jiang Zhenquan at a disadvantage. Subsequently, Jiang Zhenquan picked up the phone and dialed a number. Once connected, Jiang Zhenquan started, “Comrade Yangming, are you still busy? If you have time, could you come to my office? I’d like to discuss some matters with you.”

Cao Yangming was also upset at this moment. He had always had contempt for Nie Zhenbang. Ever since Nie Zhenbang had first come into the region’s leadership’s sight, and since the foundation of the Farmer Welfare Company, Cao Yangming thought Nie Zhenbang was just a show-off relying on small tricks. This was why Cao Yangming had decided to make things difficult for Nie Zhenbang.

The Autonomous Region Government Office Building was only about fifty meters away from the Autonomous Region Party Committee Office Building. Soon, Cao Yangming showed up at Jiang Zhenquan’s office.

Jiang Zhenquan appeared welcoming. He personally got up to greet Cao Yangming into his office and gestured for him to sit on the sofa. Jiang Zhenquan then went to the thermos and asked, “Old Cao, you’re a rare visitor. Would you like tea or boiled water? I remember you’ve always preferred to drink boiled water.”

At this moment, Cao Yangming seemed a bit triumphant. The fact that the secretary of the Autonomous Region’s Party Committee could remember such a small detail portrayed his stature. He didn’t care about the uproar of ministry fund issue today. According to Cao Yangming, he had acted righteously and properly and wasn’t afraid of such things.

Jiang Zhenquan started to reflect at this time. Cao Yangming was a bit stubborn and unyielding. Once he made up his mind about something, it would be hard to convince him otherwise. Moreover, he was protective of his own interests. Otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense why Cao Zhuangzhi was acting so recklessly in Xibei. Being a standing committee member of the district also required some diplomacy in speaking. After handing the boiled water to Cao Yangming, Jiang Zhenquan sat down and said, “Comrade Yangming, today, I received many calls from the leaders of several ministries. I feel enormous pressure. The state is strongly promoting economic development and reform. I think, it’s time to change your outdated thinking.”

Listening to Jiang Zhenquan’s words, Cao Yangming was taken aback. He understood the implication. It was nothing more than taking the side of Nie Zhenbang. This filled him with more confusion. Could it be that Nie Zhenbang had some extraordinary background? However, at this point, having him – a formidable Executive Deputy Chairman – apologize to a junior was out of the question. Consequently, Cao Yangming stiffened his neck and said, “Secretary Jiang, I know what you mean. However, I believe I haven’t made a mistake. The whole region is short on funds, it’s not fair if Lixian gets all the good things. If Nie Zhenbang has the ability and friends who can help him get funding from the ministries, that’s his matter. I don’t have money to give him. I myself am short on spare money.”

Watching Cao Yangming’s retreating figure, Jiang Zhenquan also let out a bitter smile. His words had fallen on deaf ears, yet he could not outright reveal Nie Zhenbang’s real background. This was Jiang Zhenquan’s dilemma. Given that Elder Nie chose to maintain a low profile, if he were to reveal Nie Zhenbang’s background, he would be taking on a significant risk. Although Elder Nie had withdrawn from the scene, Jiang Zhenquan knew well that dealing with him would still be effortless.

As for Cao Yangming, Jiang Zhenquan couldn’t worry about him anymore. He had said everything he could. The rest was up to Cao Yangming’s own fate.

Immediately, Jiang Zhenquan picked up the phone again and dialed the number of Qian Yufeng, Secretary of the Urumqi Municipal Party Committee, “Secretary Yufeng. Are you still busy? It’s Jiang Zhenquan here.”

Qian Yufeng was puzzled at that moment, wondering why he was receiving a call from Jiang Zhenquan. Was there a significant issue in the region? Right away, Qian Yufeng replied without hesitation, “Secretary Jiang, hello. Do you have any instructions?”

Jiang Zhenquan let out a laugh and said, “Our Secretary Yufeng, you are way too cautious. I don’t have any instructions per se. I just wanted to get in touch with a man, Comrade Nie Zhenbang of Lixian, who has good relations with your son. Kindly pass on a message for me. I am in my office and I would like Nie Zhenbang to come see me.”

Jiang Zhenquan calculated well that contacting Qian Yufeng to find Nie Zhenbang was the most sensible choice given he didn’t have Nie Zhenbang’s phone number or whereabouts.

Less than half an hour after Jiang Zhenquan’s call, Nie Zhenbang had already rushed to the office building of the Regional Party Committee.

At this moment, Nie Zhenbang was also taken aback, not expecting that this matter would stir up Jiang Zhenquan. Initially, Nie Zhenbang only wanted to prove a point. Specifically, since Cao Zhuangzhi asserted he couldn’t raise a penny, he would make Cao see how he could raise money. Unexpectedly, such an act had led Jiang Zhenquan to personally summon him.

Standing at the door of Jiang Zhenquan’s office, Nie Zhenbang took a deep breath. Then, he knocked on the door, using the pattern of one long and two short knocks—a knocking etiquette that was considered the most polite.

The door opened and Jiang Zhenquan’s secretary, upon seeing Nie Zhenbang, also broke into a smile. It was their second meeting. Secretary Tang was deeply impressed by Nie Zhenbang, a young county-level official. After all, being summoned twice by the Provincial Party Secretary was no ordinary occurrence. The secretary welcomed Nie Zhenbang into the room, saying, “Zhenbang, you’re here, please come in. Secretary Jiang is waiting for you inside.”

At this moment, Nie Zhenbang also smiled and took out a pack of special Panda cigarettes from his pocket and casually stuffed it into Secretary Tang’s pocket, saying with a smile, “Director Tang, thank you. I’ll go in first.”

As he entered Jiang Zhenquan’s office, Jiang Zhenquan was sitting at his desk, engrossed in the documents on his table, seemingly unaware of Nie Zhenbang’s arrival.

At this moment, Jiang Zhenquan was doing this deliberately. Since Nie Zhenbang had come to Xibei, and Elder Nie had deliberately chosen to keep a low profile, why stir such a big fuss now? Wasn’t he, Nie Zhenbang, disregarding the leaders of the Xibei Autonomous Region? By giving Nie Zhenbang a taste of cold-shoulder behavior, Jiang Zhenquan was tacitly issuing a warning. After all, Nie Zhenbang was just a county-level official, if he started disregarding leaders of provincial and ministerial levels, wouldn’t he be turning the world upside down?

At this moment, Nie Zhenbang also kind of understood Jiang Zhenquan’s intention. Standing still, Nie Zhenbang had no problem at all. During his military service, standing for a few hours was a common occurrence. Especially at this time, Jiang Zhenquan would not make him stand for so long. He stood straight, without any signs of dissatisfaction.

About half an hour later, Jiang Zhenquan couldn’t help but admire Nie Zhenbang’s extraordinary temperament and demeanor, befitting a person from an eminent family. Jiang Zhenquan then set aside his work, smiling, he said, “Comrade Zhenbang, here we meet again. This time, Nie, you have really made quite a stir.”