Reborn as a Noble's Son-Chapter 697 - 653: Meeting with the Leader_1
Chapter 697: Chapter 653: Meeting with the Leader_1
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The Central Organization Department office building is not tall, with only seven floors. In Jingcheng, where every inch of land is invaluable, it appears rather modest.
The Central Organization Department’s courtyard covers nearly 20 acres. Facing the 2nd Ring Road, the office building is located right on Jingcheng’s central axis. The structure is square, with six marble pillars, asserting an unparalleled gravitas. In the lobby on the first floor, close to six meters high, a grand feeling is conveyed. A bright red national emblem in the center contributes to the solemnity.
Nie Zhenbang entered the Central Organization Department office building and went straight to the elevator, heading up to the seventh floor. It is worth mentioning that the architectural planning and design of this building are very unique. As the highest-ranking organizational department in the nation, the Central Organization Department controls the promotion and appointment of cadres throughout the country. The decision to design the building with only seven floors is meant to imply the notion of “ascending seven and descending eight.” Is that not what the cadres within the system hope for? To progress?
Shi Jiandong’s office is located at the easternmost end of the seventh floor. This is also an auspicious spot, implying the arrival of prosperity from the east.
Last night, Nie Zhenbang had already arranged to meet with Shi Jiandong. They agreed to meet at eight o’clock this morning in his office.
As Nie Zhenbang reached the door of Shi Jiandong’s office, the door was wide open. As Nie entered, Shi Jiandong’s confidential secretary stood up immediately and said with a smile, “Director Nie has arrived. Please come in.”
...
This statement revealed a lot. Currently, Nie Zhenbang had merely stepped down from his position in WangHai City, and his new position had not yet been arranged. It may have been more appropriate to refer to him by his former title. However, this manner of address suggests that there is a consensus regarding his appointment as the director of the State Guest Reception Supervision and Inspection Office, pending only the final formalities.
Upon entering Shi Jiandong’s office, Nie Zhenbang took in his surroundings: the pure black furniture and bookshelves.
In the sixty-square-meter office, one side is Shi Jiandong’s workspace. In front of the office desk is a set of pure black leather sofa- that’s where the guests are received. Beside the room is an air conditioning cabinet. In the corner of the room, a plant that looks like an evergreen vine is placed.
Seeing Nie Zhenbang, Shi Jiandong also stood up. Behind the desk, he solemnly said, “Zhenbang, I’ve been waiting. Last night, the superior called and asked you to come over this morning. Waiting for you. Let’s go there first.”
Shi Jiandong’s words caught Nie Zhenbang off guard. Sure, all the leaders of the central core can be referred to as superiors. However, Nie Zhenbang was aware that here, there is only one superior, that is Secretary-General Shen.
The person sitting on the armchair was dressed in a loose white Tang suit. He held a purple clay teapot in his right hand and was slowly counting the Bodhi pearls in his left hand. After counting them one round, he held the white jade pendant in the center and slowly rubbed it.
This person was none other than Gong Monan.
His mental state looked very good, and his eyes were very bright and spirited. If you only looked at his eyes, you wouldn’t think that he was a man in his forties at all.
Gong Monan didn’t seem to hear the woman in black at all. He took a sip of tea from the purple clay teapot.
The woman in black was furious because she was ignored. She raised her voice and said,”Mr. Gong …”
As soon as he finished speaking, the person standing behind Gong Monan suddenly pulled out a gun and aimed it at the woman in black.
“No one can be rude to Mister,”
The woman in black was so frightened that her body trembled and her face turned pale.”Gong … Mr. Gong … I-I didn’t mean that. I just … It’s just …”
Her legs went weak, and her tongue stiffened in fear. She could not even finish the second half of her sentence.
Gong Monan put down the teapot and looked at the woman in black. “”Who do you think you are? How dare you call yourself a guest?”
“I…”
“I thought…We are …”
The woman in black wanted to say that they were working together, but when she saw the black muzzle, she swallowed her words.
This was her first time using a real gun on the street, and also her first time being pointed at by a gun.
It was too terrifying. It was as if a bullet could shoot out of the muzzle at any time and pierce through her head.
Gong Monan looked at her with a smile as if he was looking at a junior. However, his eyes were abnormally cold and devoid of any warmth. They were like snakes, cruel and terrifying.
The woman in black felt cold under his gaze.
The cold feeling was different from when he was waiting outside the door and being blown by the cold wind.
It was as if…Under his gaze, you could feel your life slowly draining away from your body. Your body became stiff and cold, just like that … He was experiencing the feeling of walking towards death.
The woman in black finally realized that the Gong Monan she saw last time wasn’t his true self.
Perhaps he still wasn’t his real self, but he was beginning to show a little of his fearsomeness.
Just this little bit was enough to make the woman in black regret it.
She regretted coming here alone.
She had underestimated Gong Monan. Although she had heard about him from some people in the past, those rumors did not affect her at all.
Now, after experiencing it for herself, she knew that what others said was true.
” You can’t think of anything, ” Gong Monan said slowly. ” I’ve already shown you the greatest mercy by allowing you to stand in front of me…”
When the woman in black heard this, she couldn’t control her legs and fell to the ground with a thud. Her knees hit the hard floor, but she didn’t feel any pain. The fear in her heart had already overcome everything.
Walking into the study, Shen Xiuchao was standing in front of the desk. On the broad table, fine Xuan paper, an inkstone, Hui ink, and a brush. All of them are of the best quality.
At this moment, Secretary Shen was enthusiastically practicing his calligraphy. Shi Jiandong was standing by, watching with a smile. Huang Yunshan walked in bearing two cups of hot tea. After placing them on the coffee table, he exited the room, closing the door behind him.
On the tabletop, Secretary Shen’s semi-cursive script leapt off the page. The powerful characters of “Set Life, Fix Fate” held a special elegance.
Seeing his writing, Secretary Shen himself seemed pleased. Setting down his brush, he looked up to Shi Jiandong and Nie Zhenbang and smiled, “Comrades Jiandong and Zhenbang have arrived. Please sit down.”
Turning his gaze to Nie Zhenbang, Secretary Shen asked, “Zhenbang, you are a talented graduate from the Chinese department at Jingcheng University. Can you tell where these four characters come from?”
Nie Zhenbang was surprised by Secretary Shen’s sudden question, which seemed to be a pop quiz. However, he didn’t show any confusion and calmly replied, “Comrade, these words come from Zhang Hengqu, a renowned scholar of the Northern Song dynasty. The full text is ‘Encourage and inspire with a steady heart, create life and establish destiny, follow the teachings of past sages, and bring about peace and prosperity for all generations.’ If there is any mistake, please correct me, Comrade.”
Nie Zhenbang’s final statement was a modest one. Hearing it, Shen Xiuchao burst out laughing and said to Shi Jiandong, “This comrade Zhenbang seems to have developed a habit of modesty from his long tenure here. But, excessive modesty can be taken as arrogance.”
Shi Jiandong also laughed and joined in, “Zhenbang’s knowledge is indeed remarkable. He is worthy of being a favored student. I have heard of this saying, but I didn’t know the speaker, I was unaware of half the truth.”
At this moment, Shen Xiuchao continued, “‘Set Life, Fix Fate’ has two aspects: a logical destiny and physical destiny. Neither layer of destiny should be harmed or discarded, they must be established in peace. The path of ‘resting body and determining life’ in Confucianism is exactly for the people. With this path, ‘the people are provided for without knowing’, it influences subtly. With the addition of moral governance, the lives of people are guided and life is safeguarded, this is the true meaning of ‘Set Life, Fix Fate’.”
After a pause, Shen Xiuchao continued, “Confucian culture has had a deep-rooted impact on our Huaxia. During several millennia of feudal society, the nation has been built on Confucianism. Certainly, a lot of feudal dross exists, but Confucian culture and thinking are also not without merit. The right attitude is to extract the essence and discard the chaff. This time, Zhenbang, your task is formidable. The problems with the expenditure of the Three Publics are becoming more and more evident. The officials, the leading cadres, the elevation of status and privilege is becoming a prominent issue. This problem is not minor- for one it increases the heavy financial burden of the state and at a higher level, it is the main reason for our Party’s estrangement from the masses. This important responsibility is now in your hands. How about it? Do you have confidence?”
At this moment, Nie Zhenbang also grasped the significance of ‘Set Life, Fix Fate.’ The continuous growth in the Three Publics expenditures is a tremendous burden on national finance, and it has also significantly worsened the Party’s relationship with the masses and decreased public trust in the government. Now, his assignment to the director of the Supervision and Inspection Office for Three Publics Expenditures was like pleading for the people.
After a moment of silence, Nie Zhenbang stood up and said solemnly, “Comrade, I have confidence and determination to do well in this job and face this challenge.”
Nie Zhenbang’s words left Shen Xiuchao very pleased. He nodded, “Good, well done. Today, I penned down these characters specifically for you. I want to present it to you.”
After saying that, Shen Xiuchao stood up and wrote on the left side of the paper, “Presented to comrade Nie Zhenbang, by Shen Xiuchao in February 2004 at the Huaiyuan Pavilion in the Forbidden City.”
This could be seen as an amulet from Shen Xiuchao to Nie Zhenbang. It was also Shen Xiuchao’s way of showing his approval. Nie Zhenbang had made a decision to forsake his aristocratic background and join the League faction, and now this was Shen Xiuchao’s way of compensating him.
This position was akin to being a target for everyone to shoot at. Without such protection, it would have been extremely difficult for Nie Zhenbang.
After leaving Shen Xiuchao’s office, inside the car, Shi Jiandong appeared to finally grasp the position Nie Zhenbang held in Secretary Shen’s heart. At the same time, he was intent on improving their relationship and said seriously, “Zhenbang, the staff structure of your office this time is quite complex.”
Hearing Shi Jiandong’s words, Nie Zhenbang was taken aback for a moment. The Supervision and Inspection Office for the Three Publics was a low-ranking but high-power position. Despite being only of the rank of Deputy Minister, when it came to conducting investigations, even major provincial officials had to tread carefully. Such a place was naturally a battleground for various factions.
Immediately, Nie Zhenbang responded with a smile, “Minister Shi, rest assured. Since I have come here, I am prepared for anything. Thank you for your kind intentions.”
At this point, Shi Jiandong chuckled and said to Nie Zhenbang, “Zhenbang, why the formality? This time, the two Deputy Directors have also been appointed. They are Chen Bo and Li Guobing.” (To be continued. If you like this work, I welcome you to vote for it as a recommendation or with a monthly ticket on Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
