Reborn as a Noble's Son

Chapter 564: Chapter 521: Investment Soft Environment in Siping District_1
 

He had made the call, and now Nie Zhenbang was at peace, knowing the camaraderie he shared with these guys. Undoubtedly, their arrival was just a matter of time, as solving the situation in Wanghai City couldn’t happen overnight. Additionally, even if Zhao Xinglong and Liu Kun came by immediately, they could hardly start throwing around RMB. There would still need to be an asset appraisal discount, as well as a detailed negotiation process. Surely, they were willing to help, but he would never let his brothers bear all the costs and consequences to buy him his political achievements.

In these times, the hardest thing to repay was a favor. Ideal was a situation where while gaining political achievements, there could simultaneously be profits for his brothers, even large profits. This would truly be a win-win situation.

“Ju Peng, come in. Bring me the economic reports from all city districts for this year,” Nie Zhenbang ordered Li Jupeng via an interoffice direct line.

About five minutes later, there were a couple of knocks on the door. Li Jupeng came in carrying a hefty stack of paperwork and placed it on the table, reporting, “Mayor, the report from Wangxia District isn’t compiled yet. Also, the data from the high-tech zone is somewhat incomplete. All the rest are sorted as you asked.”

Nie Zhenbang nodded satisfactorily. Choosing Li Jupeng as his secretary had proved to be a good decision. Now, the more he put him to use, the more satisfied he felt.

However, after sifting through these documents, Nie Zhenbang found his brow unknowingly furrowed. While he had anticipated this situation, seeing the report submitted by each district involuntarily caused his brow to crease.

The impact of the Eastern Sea Group smuggling case had far surpassed Nie Zhenbang’s estimation. Next, however, a set of data brightened his view.

The whole city had six districts. Excluding Wangxia District, where the municipal government and party committee resided and whose data was still being compiled, the investment activities in all other districts, including the high-tech zone, had virtually come to a halt in the past month. Only the report from Siping District stood out.

“Our district, in April of this year, following the collapse of Eastern Sea Group, bravely confronted challenges. New ideas and ways were pursued. We improved our investment environment and devoted all our efforts to provide for investors. In April of this year, contractual investment surpassed 60 million yuan. The actual used investment exceeded 38 million yuan.”

This report was like an oasis in the desert, a spring in the wilderness, attracting everyone’s attention. While investment had been declining in other areas in April, Siping district had made steady progress, although relatively slower than prior to the Eastern Sea Group smuggling scandal. Yet, in the current situation, it was quite remarkable.

Nie Zhenbang usually disregarded the rhetoric in such reports. The municipal system was known for, and liked using, official jargon and clichés, most of which were hollow and pompous words. Thus, when examining these reports, Nie Zhenbang only considered the numbers. Regardless of how grandly the words were presented, lying about data was consequential, so nobody dared falsify it.

With this thought, Nie Zhenbang became interested. He really wanted to personally visit Siping District to understand exactly how they had improved their investment environment.

Almost immediately, Nie Zhenbang checked his watch. It was already past eleven in the morning. It was too late to visit now. He wasn’t the kind of harsh leader who would carry out a surprise check at these hours. But in the afternoon, he stood up, left the office, and instructed Li Jupeng, “Ju Peng, phone Chief Secretary An and notify the comrades in Siping District. We’ll have a look this afternoon.”

Siping District Government Compound

At this moment, it was already half-past twelve. Normally, the siren for break time would have already sounded here. However, the meeting room in the district committee building was filled with swirling smoke and buzzing with activity. All members of the Siping District committee were present.

In the center, a middle-aged man around fifty with thinning hair sat in the main seat. Wearing reading glasses, he ordered in a low voice, “Comrades, Chief Secretary An just called saying that Mayor Nie will be inspecting our district this afternoon. I have gathered you here during your lunch break. We won’t beat around the bush, there’s no time for any debate. I’ll just assign the tasks directly.”

After pausing, the man continued, “All the leaders in charge, everyone should take real action. Each leader is responsible for a certain area and must make proper arrangements for the local harmonious people. All streets and neighborhoods, committee members should also cancel their rest schedule. All the schools in the entire area should cancel their nap time for an urgent clean-up of the entire area. Furthermore, make contact with the city sanitation department to bring their watering trucks here and sweep all the streets in the area. We must greet inspection of the city committee leadership with the finest spirit.”

The respect Mayor Nie commands among the district officials is no joke. Even prominent figures like Shi Yiwu were ultimately outshone by him, weren’t they? Mayor Wang Yaguang might have left, but Nie has become the biggest victor in Wanghai City. It’s assessable to the clear-eyed, going against Mayor Nie is akin to seeking self-destruction.

At two in the afternoon, Nie Zhenbang didn’t even enter the city committee and municipal government office building, but instead, gathered directly at the bottom of the office building with Liu Gaohua, the standing deputy mayor who had been waiting there, Hu Jiawang, the deputy mayor, and An Guoyu, the secretary-general of the municipal government. The group of four, accompanied by the secretaries, set off towards Siping District in three cars.

As the secretary-general of the municipal government, An Guoyu naturally shared a car with Nie Zhenbang. As soon as they got on the car, Nie Zhenbang spoke up: “Secretary-General Guoyu, are you aware of the situation in Siping District? It’s quite remarkable. Despite the impact from the Eastern Sea Group, they managed to go against the tide and complete an additional investment of eighty million yuan. This kind of ability, I believe, is worth learning from for all city officials. As Party members and officials, we should have this kind of mindset and drive. We should dare to be innovative.”

Nie Zhenbang’s words made An Guoyu look somewhat awkward. After a moment of silence, An Guoyu finally made a decision, lowered his voice, and said, “Mayor, are you really not aware of what’s happening in Siping District?”

This question made Nie Zhenbang pause. Nie Zhenbang is not a fool. On the contrary, he is quite sharp. As soon as An Guoyu said this, Nie Zhenbang immediately noted the unusual undertones in his words.

Frowning, he said in a deep voice, “Comrade Guoyu, if you have something to say, just say it. Since when have you become so indirect? My character, I believe, is something you understand well. Just speak directly, what’s going on?”

At this moment, An Guoyu also nodded and replied, “Mayor, I haven’t conducted a detailed investigation of this matter. However, because my wife works in Siping District, I do understand some of the situation. The situation in Siping District is, in fact, not much different than the other districts in the city. However, starting from last year, Siping District has focused on developing industries such as hotels, entertainment venues, and so forth. This trend has become even more obvious this year. The people in the city have given Siping District a nickname: the Red-Light District.”

Red-Light District?

Upon hearing this, Nie Zhenbang frowned. The investment environment in Siping District was indeed quite notable. He thought to himself, the Siping District government really does like to pat itself on the back.

Indeed, this kind of thing has occurred in many places across the country. Especially in the central inland provinces, some remote and impoverished cities and regions lacking transportation advantages, characteristic resources, and economic advantages, have all taken a relaxed attitude towards attracting investment. To a great extent, these behaviors are even covertly advocated and supported by the government. This kind of a lax policy environment has been given a name in many places: the soft environment for investment.

Upon hearing this, Nie Zhenbang scoffed and said in a deep voice, “If the so-called ‘soft environment for investment’ is like this, I would rather not have it.”

The car slowed down and turned into the yard of the Siping District government office building. At this moment, all the leaders of the four major teams in Siping District were lined up outside the office building. As soon as the car stopped, the middle-aged man at the front quickly approached, opened the car door before Li Jupeng could react, looked at Nie Zhenbang who was getting out of the car and said cheerfully, “Mayor Nie, welcome to our district for inspection and guidance.”n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

At this moment, An Guoyu also came over and introduced them to Nie Zhenbang with a smile, “Mayor, this is Comrade Huang Shaobo, secretary of the Siping District Committee, on the left is Yang Siqing, deputy secretary of the District Committee and District Mayor. On the right is Deputy Secretary of the District Committee, Liang He Ping.”

Although Nie Zhenbang had some misgivings about the so-called ‘soft environment for investment’ in Siping District after hearing An Guoyu’s report, he still maintained a cordial smile at this moment, nodded in acknowledgment, shook hands with the three of them one after the other before saying, “Secretary Huang, Siping District is indeed a standout. This fully demonstrates the capability of the District Committee team deserves commendation. Let’s not stand here anymore, it’s inconvenient. First, let’s go to the office. I’m very interested in the work in Siping District.”(