Reborn as a Noble's Son-Chapter 924 - 880 Welcome Party (Please Subscribe

Chapter 924 -880: Welcome Party (Please Subscribe, Request Monthly Pass)

Chapter 924 -880: Welcome Party (Please Subscribe, Request Monthly Pass)

Ganzhou Province Gold Sail Hotel

This is the best hotel in Ganzhou, without any rivals. The Gold Sail Hotel has the backing of Donggang businessmen, and the management is undertaken by the world-renowned Hilton Hotel Management Group. Therefore, the full name of the Gold Sail Hotel should actually be the Gold Sail Hilton Hotel. However, people in Ganzhou generally prefer to omit the word “Hilton” and simply call it the Gold Sail Hotel.

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The Gold Sail Hotel, as a project personally initiated by Song Lihe during his tenure as governor, has always received special attention from the Ganzhou Province. Not only did all aspects of administrative approval go smoothly, but conspicuous favoritism was evident in inspections by various relevant departments such as tax, health, commerce and industry, and fire protection because in Ganzhou, everyone knew that this was Secretary Lihe’s project.

In fact, that’s the way it is in the world of officialdom, those below always like to second-guess the intentions of their superiors. Since this project was introduced during Secretary Lihe’s time as governor, naturally, he took great care over it. Didn’t it become the designated reception hotel for the provincial committee and government after its completion? And once Secretary Lihe formally assumed the role of the top leader of the Provincial Committee, didn’t the Gold Sail completely replace the functions of the provincial committee’s reception office?

“As above, so below,” it is thus. Indeed, within this, Song Lihe may not have meant it this way, but the people below wouldn’t see it like that. Just as the Provincial Committee’s Secretary-General, following Song Lihe’s appointment as Secretary, reported to him, stating that the reception capability of the Provincial Committee’s reception office was limited, the provincial guesthouse was in disrepair, and whether the Gold Sail Hotel could become the premier reception hotel for the Provincial Committee and so on.

The claim of limited reception capability was an excuse, as for the provincial guesthouse being in disrepair, nowadays, it’s not uncommon for provincial guesthouses across the country to undergo renovation, plainly speaking, it’s all strategy. A form of pandering.

When Nie Zhenbang’s car arrived at the entrance of the Gold Sail Hotel, there were already quite a few people standing at the entrance of the hotel lobby. At the forefront, a man in the middle about sixty years old, with a tall stature bearing the distinctive characteristics of people from Xibei, having somewhat dark skin and slightly greying hair—this man was Song Lihe of Ganzhou. Beside him stood Guo Tiancheng, the fifty-seven-year-old governor. To the right was a middle-aged, well-dressed fat man who looked more like a businessman than an official.

With such a high-profile reception from the Ganzhou Provincial Committee, Nie Zhenbang didn’t dare to take it lightly. In the officialdom, “face” is given by others, and “face” can also be lost by oneself.

Now that they were giving him “face,” treating him with the respect usually accorded to central leaders, if he really acted as if he were simply here on an inspection, he would not only be presumptuous but also risk offending people. Details determine success or failure, and Nie Zhenbang has always paid great attention to this.

Not waiting for Yun Fei to come and open the door, Nie Zhenbang opened the car door himself and stepped out. As he approached Song Lihe, he quickened his pace and extended his hands, saying, “Secretary Lihe, this is really too kind of you. I really don’t deserve this, don’t deserve this at all.”

Song Lihe also smiled at that moment. “Face” is a mutual thing. Nie Zhenbang’s behavior obviously suited his taste. He shook hands warmly and said, “Director Nie, this is as it should be. Huaxia Group settling in Ganzhou is also an honor for us in Ganzhou. The tradition of supporting the military has a fine heritage in Ganzhou. Now that it’s my turn, I certainly can’t be the one to drop it.”

In official circles, even a handshake is a matter of etiquette. For people at the level of Nie Zhenbang or Song Lihe, there really aren’t many people who can get a serious handshake from them. On regular days, when shaking hands with businessmen, subordinates, or colleagues, at most, it would be a light grasp, a brief touch.

But now, it was a genuine palm-to-palm handshake. Naturally, this was also a way of giving “face.”

“Director Nie, let me introduce you to someone. This comrade on my left is Guo Tiancheng, my partner, the governor of Ganzhou Province,” said Song Lihe with a smile as he introduced him.

“Governor Guo, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve sought advice from Governor Guo when he was at the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and this time, I must have a drink with him,” Nie Zhenbang responded enthusiastically.

Guo Tiancheng, however, appeared very reserved at this moment, smiling slightly and saying, “Director Nie, from now on we’ll be neighbors, there will be opportunities.”

Next, Song Lihe introduced another person: “Director Nie, let me introduce you to this gentleman, the chairman of the Gold Sail Hotel, Mr. Yang Zhaoye from Donggang.”

Nie Zhenbang was taken aback. This fat man in front of him was not simple. In such a setting, he could stand alongside Song Lihe and Guo Tiancheng, and receive such respect from Song Lihe. A foreigner, yet able to walk with a group of provincial and ministerial leaders—this man’s methods were no doubt extraordinary.

Yang Zhaoye had that unique shrewdness of a businessman. He was wide and heavy, and when he laughed, the muscles of his face all squeezed together. His chubby hand reached out very warmly and said, “Director Nie, welcome. If you need anything at the hotel in the future, just come to me. No matter when, Director Nie, you are always a distinguished guest at Gold Sail.”

“Heh, Mr. Yang, you’re too kind. If I need anything in the future, Gold Sail will naturally be my first choice. I’ve long heard of the brand and prestige of Gold Sail, the only five-star hotel in Ganzhou. Now, Gold Sail is truly Ganzhou’s trademark,” Nie Zhenbang said with a smile.

These words, however, caught Guo Tiancheng by surprise. What did Nie Zhenbang mean by that sentence? Was it deliberate or just a slip of the tongue?

A private hotel, yet it undertook the heavy responsibility of reception for the Ganzhou Provincial Committee, a businessman, yet he sat on a level field with high-ranking officials. This was not necessarily a good thing. Guo Tiancheng did not voice it, but that did not mean he had no opinions.

Now, Guo Tiancheng did discern a certain flavor in Nie Zhenbang’s words. However, at this moment, he did not show it.

When Yang Zhaoye heard this, although he modestly expressed his gratitude on the surface, everyone could see that Yang Zhaoye was very pleased with himself inside.

Song Lihe also spoke up at this time, “Director Nie, I think we should head to the private room first. Here in the lobby, with people coming and going, all of Mr. Yang’s security staff look like they’re on high alert. We shouldn’t trouble them further. What do you think, Director Nie?”

Considering the personnel from both sides, this time at the Gold Sail, two tables were set. A few vice presidents from Huaxia Group along with several leaders from the Provincial Committee formed one table. The other personnel were seated at another table.

Yang Zhaoye served personally today, and as everyone settled in, he instructed the waitstaff to start serving dishes. Over a dozen waiters streamed in and delivered the food at the fastest pace possible.

As for the alcohol, they used a local specialty from Ganzhou, Ganzhou Daqu liquor. However, this Ganzhou Daqu was not the kind that sells for ten or twenty yuan a bottle on the market, this one here was a special provision labeled for the Provincial Committee reception. The flavor and taste were on par with famous liquors.

Throughout the meal, a good amount of alcohol was consumed, but Nie Zhenbang did not gain much of value, though he did gain a new appreciation for Yang Zhaoye’s networking skills.

The banquet lasted until nearly nine o’clock before cooling down. During those two hours, Song Lihe also drank quite a bit. Normally, at this level, there was not much drinking when it came to alcohol. If it hadn’t been for this occasion, it would have been impossible for the people below to get Song Lihe and Guo Tiancheng to drink so much.

Outside the hotel, after seeing off Song Lihe as he drove away, Nie Zhenbang was about to get into his car when Guo Tiancheng suddenly spoke up, “Director Nie, are you headed back to the 38th Factory? If it’s convenient, can you give me a lift? I happen to need a ride home as well.”

Looking over, sure enough, Guo Tiancheng’s chauffeur and official car were not there. In fact, since the enforcement of the “three public” regulations, they had achieved considerable effects. Across the country, many leaders would not use official vehicles after work hours; of course, like now, whether it was for official or private matters depended on how one weighed the circumstances. With someone like Song Lihe doing this, basically no one would say anything.

There were also officials like Guo Tiancheng who behaved similarly. What surprised Nie Zhenbang was not how Guo Tiancheng used the official car, but rather, what Guo Tiancheng intended to do.

Nie Zhenbang certainly did not believe it was because Guo Tiancheng couldn’t simply call for a car. Even if Guo Tiancheng did not ask for an official car, Nie Zhenbang believed that someone like Yang Zhaoye would arrange for a vehicle as long as Guo Tiancheng asked.

Now, what Nie Zhenbang considered was what Guo Tiancheng’s ulterior motive was for taking a ride in his car.

After a moment of contemplation, Nie Zhenbang smiled and said, “Of course, since it’s on the way for Governor Guo, I naturally have no issues. I am very honored.”

Getting into the car and driving out of the Gold Sail Hotel area, Guo Tiancheng began to speak from the car. “Director Nie, I rarely see Secretary Song Lihe welcome someone with such high regard. It seems your relationship with Secretary Song is quite extraordinary.”

This statement, seemingly a simple bit of casual conversation, was actually laced with a probing undercurrent. Indeed, Guo Tiancheng could not sit still.

Nie Zhenbang smiled, responding, “Governor Guo, what are you talking about? Secretary Song is just being too polite. Previously, when I was assigned to Bashu, I met with him several times during the Two Sessions last year, but unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to get to know Governor Guo then. That’s one of the great regrets of my life. These past two years, the economic growth of Ganzhou has been both rapid and strong. Governor Guo, you deserve a lot of the credit.”

At this level of conversation, people spoke indirectly; to talk bluntly was not only seen as a lack of sophistication but also a move driven by circumstances. Within the system, those below the department level played bureaucratic games, but at this tier, it’s already considered the realm of politics – a path fraught with danger, where a slight misstep could lead to downfall. No one wanted to expose vulnerabilities, thus naturally, conversations became subtle.

However, Nie Zhenbang could understand, and Guo Tiancheng could understand as well. After a pause, Guo Tiancheng’s face showed a contemplative expression. Then after a long moment, Guo Tiancheng smiled and said, “Director Nie, seeing as it is still quite early, why don’t we find a quiet teahouse and have a cup of tea together?” (