Reborn as a Noble's Son-Chapter 870 - 826 No Rest During New Year
Chapter 870: Chapter 826 No Rest During New Year
Chapter 870 -826 No Rest During New Year
Nie Zhenbang gave Huang Zhenqiu a look, understanding well the mindset Huang Zhenqiu was in at this moment.
After all, certain things shouldn’t be said in public in this hall; some actions weren’t appropriate here.
But once in the Municipal Party Committee Guesthouse, how to handle things would be an internal matter, and it would be easier to talk about certain issues.
Watching Huang Zhenqiu, Nie Zhenbang said sternly, “Mayor Huang, what do you mean by this? Are you worried about something? Or, is there something disreputable involved?”
Nie Zhenbang’s words were undeniably severe. This was not within the courtyard of the Party Committee and government, not in an office; this was an ordinary home of the common people; present were leaders from the provincial and municipal levels, as well as local leaders and staff.
Being directly reprimanded by Nie Zhenbang, Huang Zhenqiu, the Mayor of Changhong City, had his face thoroughly swept of all dignity.
At this moment, Huang Zhenqiu looked very embarrassed. Beside him, Xu Aiguo had a cold smile on his face. Huang Zhenqiu was too full of himself, really thinking he mattered greatly. Did he actually believe Nie Zhenbang would give him face? Now, he’s been left with no place to hide his shame.
Xu Aiguo knew Nie Zhenbang well; he was someone who focused on the issue rather than the person. No matter your faction or who you are, as long as you do your job well, there would be no problems with Governor Nie. But if your work was unsatisfactory, regardless of who you were, Governor Nie wouldn’t let it slide.
Just like the current situation, it was clear that Governor Nie was furious. Huang Zhenqiu lacked any hint of insight and had the audacity to invite Governor Nie to the Municipal Party Committee Guesthouse—wasn’t he asking for a scolding?
However, as things were, Xu Aiguo couldn’t just stand by; after all, the incident happened in Changhong City’s jurisdiction. It wouldn’t be proper to ignore it completely.
After a pause, Xu Aiguo spoke up, “Governor, rest assured, concerning the issue of unauthorized tutoring in our city’s middle schools, we will investigate thoroughly. Any civil servant or school involved will face strict measures once verified. We will give the Provincial Party Committee and government a satisfactory response.”
Nie Zhenbang’s expression eased slightly at this moment. Looking at Xu Aiguo and Huang Zhenqiu, he said gravely, “It’s not about giving the Provincial Party Committee and government a satisfactory response, nor is it about satisfying me, Nie Zhenbang, but about giving all the students an answer. The Central Government is vigorously promoting quality education, has issued repeated directives, and has specified unequivocally that all units and individuals are strictly forbidden from organizing tutoring during winter and summer vacations and weekends, and from charging fees for such classes. We must not be lenient with those who act against policy. A thorough investigation is imperative.”
…
Chen Xiaowei, director and Party Group Secretary of Changhong City Education Bureau, had already returned to his hometown in Jiangshui City, a subordinate city of Changhong. It was already the 28th day of the last month of the lunar year. By this time, the work of the bureau had been essentially arranged, and the roster for the Spring Festival duty was set.
Chen Xiaowei naturally hoped to spend the Spring Festival at his hometown. The Chen family’s house was in the urban area of Jiangshui City.
This was where Chen Xiaowei lived when he served as the deputy mayor of Jiangshui City. Now, Chen Xiaowei’s homecoming had also brought many leading officials flocking over.
At this moment, Chen family’s living room was full of visitors, all officials from Jiangshui City. The room was filled with lively conversation and laughter.
Suddenly, Chen Xiaowei’s phone rang. Looking at the number, he stood up and said with a smile, “Quiet down everyone, it’s Secretary Huang from the Municipal Party Committee on the line.”
Hearing this, the room instantly became silent. Secretary Huang from the Municipal Party Committee, termed as such by Director Chen, and with the prefix of ‘Municipal Party Committee’, could only refer to one person, the secretary of the Municipal Party Committee Secretary, Huang Jiangguo. This was a big deal.
Hearing this, the officials all said with a smile, “Director Chen, please go ahead and take care of your business.”
“Director Chen, the call from the big secretary is important. You go ahead.”
Though Chen Xiaowei boasted with pride, at this moment, he didn’t dare to show any neglect. He was aware of the situation in the city; in his lifetime, he was a senior-grade official. Yet, Chen Xiaowei knew his own circumstances well.
It was precisely because he had no strong backing in the city or the province that his career peaked as a senior-grade official. Otherwise, how could it be possible for someone who had been merely a deputy mayor of a county-level city to be transferred to manage a peripheral department like the Education Bureau?
Outside, Chen Xiaowei was an influential character, yet Chen Xiaowei knew very well that he was nothing in front of real power brokers.
At this moment, having received a call from Secretary Huang, he didn’t dare to be negligent. Chen Xiaowei immediately entered his study, paused for a moment to adjust his frame of mind, and then answered the phone, “Secretary Huang, hello. This is Chen Xiaowei.”
Huang Jiangguo was Xu Aiguo’s secretary and also held the title of Deputy Secretary-General of the Municipal Party Committee. Not everyone had the liberty to address someone directly as “Secretary Huang”; the lower-level officers all addressed him as Secretary-General Huang.
On the other end of the phone, Huang Jiangguo’s voice came through, “Director Chen, where are you right now?”
This question made Chen Xiaowei’s heart skip a beat, but still, he harbored some hope and said with a forced smile, “Secretary-General, I’m currently at my hometown in Jiangshui. Secretary-General, what are your instructions?”
No sooner had he finished speaking than Huang Jiangguo’s voice came again, “Prepare your car immediately and come to the Hong Clan Village Community Residents’ Committee in Red Flag District. Governor Nie is here, and this time, there’s been a big mess in the education system. If you, Chen Xiaowei, don’t come to clarify things, I’m afraid your tenure as the head of the Education Bureau is over.”
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There were no pleasantries, and the speech could even be considered extremely serious. Chen Xiaowei’s forehead began to sweat profusely. Governor Nie? This was a level he had never even dreamed of reaching. Thinking about Governor Nie’s reputation and the legends about him within the province, so many people had been brought down in Yangde City and several other cities—all supervised personally by Governor Nie. Chen Xiaowei was restless by now.
After hanging up the phone and steadying his emotions, Chen Xiaowei stepped out of the room and, seeing the subordinates of the past who were at his home to pay their New Year’s respects, said with a smile, “Old Fang, I need to make a trip to the city. Governor Nie is here. In the city, they specifically asked for me to attend.”
By the time Chen Xiaowei arrived in the city, it was already past three in the afternoon. The distance from Jiangshui City to Changhong City was neither far nor near. The two hundred-plus kilometers journey, coupled with the upcoming holiday season, cold weather, and the heavy traffic on the roads that sometimes led to congestion,
made it so that Chen Xiaowei finally arrived in Red Flag District just after three o’clock.
He wasn’t very familiar with the Hong Clan Village Community Residents’ Committee, but Chen Xiaowei knew roughly where it was. As soon as the car stopped, Chen Xiaowei saw the police officers standing guard outside.
He approached and Secretary Huang Jiangguo of Secretary Xu hurriedly came up to greet him with an anxious face, “Director Chen, there’s been a big mess. Yet you’re so leisurely. Right now, Governor Nie, Vice Governor Ma, Secretary-General Li from the province, and in the city, Secretary Xu and Mayor Huang are all waiting inside, and they are particularly investigating the issue of winter and summer vacation remedial classes in primary and secondary schools.”
Hearing Huang Jiangguo’s words, Chen Xiaowei felt somewhat grateful and said in a low voice, “Thank you, Secretary-General, if there is ever anything you need my help with, just let me know. I, Chen Xiaowei, will do everything in my power to assist you.”
This heads-up was a huge favor to Chen Xiaowei, as knowing in advance where the anger from above was focused meant that he could prepare in advance and as a result, possibly only be accused of negligence; his position could still be secure. In the bureaucratic circles, this was an immense favor.
Huang Jiangguo nodded slightly and said with a smile, “Director Chen, let’s not talk about this for now. First think about how to handle the current situation.”
What Huang Jiangguo did was simply a favor that cost him nothing. After all, Chen Xiaowei would learn of the situation once he went in; Huang had merely informed him ahead of time. Yet, regardless of the final outcome, it could earn Huang Jiangguo Chen Xiaowei’s gratitude.
In the courtyard, lunch was delivered by the Changhong Municipal Party Committee as arranged by Nie Zhenbang. At this moment, Nie Zhenbang stood by the courtyard where a coffee table and stools had been set up with snacks such as sunflower seeds, peanuts, candies, and other New Year treats placed on them. On both sides, fires had been lit.
Nie Zhenbang spoke with Lin Sanqiang and the surrounding neighbors as usual, inquiring about their everyday lives.
When Chen Xiaowei walked in through the door, everyone’s gaze turned toward him. Xu Aiguo spoke from the side, “Governor, this is Comrade Chen Xiaowei from the city’s Education Bureau.”
Nie Zhenbang stood up and looked at Chen Xiaowei, “Director Chen, what exactly is going on with the unauthorized winter vacation remedial classes in Changhong City’s primary and secondary schools? Is this a widespread phenomenon in Changhong City, or just an isolated issue? How are the fees being collected, and how many people are involved in this violation? Please explain.”
When had Chen Xiaowei ever had a direct conversation with the governor? At this moment, hearing this, Chen Xiaowei was completely stunned. After a pause, he said, “Governor, the specific circumstances are unclear to us at the city’s Education Bureau, but I can assure the Governor that the city has always strictly followed the guidance issued by the provincial Department of Education, explicitly prohibiting unauthorized remedial classes during the winter break.”
Hearing Chen Xiaowei’s words, Nie Zhenbang’s eyebrows furrowed, clearly dissatisfied with Chen Xiaowei’s response. In a grave voice, he said, “Director Chen, as the head of the Education Bureau, you claim ignorance on such a significant matter as winter remedial classes. If that’s the case, I’ll give you time to investigate thoroughly. If you can’t clarify the situation, then you may as well not rest for the New Year.”
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