Reborn as a Noble’s Son
Chapter 1231 - Chapter 1231 Chapter 1186 What Do You Think You Are

Chapter 1231: Chapter 1186: What Do You Think You Are? Chapter 1231: Chapter 1186: What Do You Think You Are? Yuan Kangan is someone Luo Qiuliang is naturally quite aware of. He’s not someone inexperienced in the ways of the world. A former leader. Even now, he holds considerable prestige and power. On some issues, even the current President Qiao always has to consider this elder’s opinion.

“Secretary, doing this? Could it… possibly…” Luo Qiuliang also started to worry for Nie Zhenbang. Yuan Hao is Yuan Kangan’s grandson, and that status speaks for itself. Secretary Nie’s arrangement is quite evidently a snub, not giving face to Yuan Hao, and that might still be okay. Just a brash youngster, it would of course be different if his father came, the grandson of Old Yuan, he’s just a junior. He hasn’t reached the level where everyone has to give him face. But, this is not just about not giving face to Yuan Hao, it seems to slap even Yuan Kangan in the face.

Nie Zhenbang was of course aware of what Luo Qiuliang was worried about, and it warmed his heart. “There’s no friendship within the system,” they say, but that depends on the context and situation. At least, Luo Qiuliang’s current state of mind was very satisfying to Nie Zhenbang.

He waved his hand and said, “You don’t need to worry about Old Yuan. I will handle it. At this time, with so many projects coming out in Ancient City, the place has become highly sought-after. Pleading requests, backdoor dealings; it’s like everyone is showing off their unique abilities. At such a time, we can’t afford to accommodate anyone’s influence, opening that gate would just lead to more trouble. Isn’t everyone’s personal favor considered a favor? You should personally ensure that everything is properly handled. Should there be any issues, you will be the one I hold accountable.”

With that said, Luo Qiuliang understood Nie Zhenbang’s intentions. Nie Zhenbang’s considerations were indeed well-founded. Apart from the issue of giving or not giving face, once this precedent is set, it would indeed lead to endless troubles. Since Secretary Nie was confident, Luo Qiuliang naturally found it inappropriate to say more. He nodded and said, “Please rest assured, Secretary. If there is a problem with the projects, I will not even stay on as the municipal party secretary. I will voluntarily resign.”

Nie Zhenbang also smiled, “Don’t be so quick to make such a pledge. You shouldn’t let down your guard.”

In fact, the moment Yuan Hao had arrived, Nie Zhenbang had already made up his mind. It wasn’t just about Yuan Hao; even if Yuan Hao’s father came, whether to agree or not would have to be reconsidered. This matter may seem easy for Nie Zhenbang, but once the door is opened, the entire slum renovation project would become a mess.

As the saying goes, “A crooked beam leads to crooked supports.” If even Secretary Nie sets such an example, naturally, these leading officials will think along the same lines. “If we’re all following the same rules, can’t we do it too? Secretary Nie accepts favors and gives face. Don’t we have favors too? Who doesn’t have a few relatives or friends?”

After Nie Zhenbang’s directives, the bidding and tendering process in Ancient City continued in an orderly fashion.

Three days after the bidding deadline, the intense evaluation and bid opening process began. After visiting Nie Zhenbang, Yuan Hao settled down comfortably. In Ancient City’s five-star Jun Kai International Hotel, he booked the presidential suite and spent his days in high spirits with some of the young leaders from Longxi.

In Yuan Hao’s view, whether it was the bidding or the bid opening, with Nie Zhenbang’s support, wasn’t it as easy as catching turtles in a jar, practically a sure thing? Who in the country didn’t know about Nie Zhenbang’s assertiveness? What about Ling Baodong in Yu State city? Impressive, right? A bureau member and the secretary of the Yu State municipal party committee, surely a likely candidate to join the core leadership in future. But what about his son, Lingxiao? In Longxi Province, caught and sentenced just like that. What good did Ling Baodong’s fury do?

In Yuan Hao’s view, a word from Nie Zhenbang was more effective than any bidding. These so-called tender documents were just a formality.

This time, Yuan Hao played big. Within the entire slum renovation project in Ancient City, there were more than a dozen municipal engineering project bids, and Yuan Hao bid on six projects, with a total investment reaching over forty billion yuan. Based on past practice, a simple handover would easily yield profits worth several billion yuan.

Besides, in terms of real estate development, Yuan Hao made big moves by bidding on the largest commercial real estate project in the entire area. The project covered a total area of one hundred acres. Just the investment for the complete construction of this project would amount to at least ten billion yuan.

October 18th was an auspicious day. In the conference center of the Ancient City Municipal Committee, the press hall on the third floor was already swarming with people. The press hall, which could accommodate hundreds of viewers, had an additional five hundred seats temporarily added, reaching a total of one thousand seats, but it was still packed to the brim.

At nine o’clock sharp, right on time, a line of people filed out from the left side of the news center. At the forefront was Longxi Governor Liu Zhentao, followed by Luo Qiuliang and other leaders of the Ancient City municipal party committee.

Xue Yonghua, the mayor of Ancient City, as the host of today’s meeting, stepped onto the podium, “Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished leaders and guests, welcome to the bid opening scene for the Ancient City slum renovation project. First of all, I would like to thank everyone for coming. Next, I invite the notary from the Nancheng District Notary Office of Ancient City.”

Following a series of procedures, the notary came forward: four notaries in total, with one carrying a safe. The keys were held by the other three notaries, with a total of three locks, fully reflecting the fairness and transparency of the bidding process.

First, the bid for the Number One Road Extension and Renovation Project was announced. This stretch of road, measuring 3.62 kilometers, would be transformed to accommodate six lanes of two-way traffic with an asphalt surface. All facility standards were strictly constructed in accordance with international specifications. The total investment reached 565 million yuan.

Luo Qiuliang, with a smile, handed the envelope containing the results to Liu Zhentao at his side, “Governor Zhentao, please do us the honor of announcing the winner of the first bid.”

With a joyful expression, Liu Zhentao considered the significance of the Ancient City slum renovation, a major event not just for Ancient City, but also a key project for the Longxi Provincial Committee and Provincial Government.

The improvement of Ancient City’s urban grade and image was also greatly beneficial to Longxi Province. If Longxi Province wanted to become the center of the Xibei region, economic output alone was insufficient. Becoming an international metropolis was an indispensable part of this vision. This was similar to Yu State planning to host the Asian Games this year. Liu Zhentao also harbored this thought. From now on, Ancient City could fully consider bidding to host the Asian Games in eight or twelve years.

Therefore, Liu Zhentao was very supportive of the work in Ancient City.

Opening the envelope, Liu Zhentao announced with a hint of a smile, “I am honored to declare that the winner of the Number One bid is Hucheng Construction Group Co., Ltd. from Hucheng City. Their bid was 530 million yuan. Congratulations to Hucheng Construction Group.”

At that moment, Yuan Hao, seated in the front row, instantly wore an ugly expression. He had also bid on the first bid, but his bid was 568 million yuan.

“Uncle Nie must have considered and weighed his decisions carefully, balancing the interests of others. Naturally, it’s impossible for him to award all projects to his own side,” Yuan Hao reassured himself.

However, as the bidding continued and deepened, all eleven municipal engineering projects were unveiled, with eleven units from across the country winning the bids. Naturally, there were those who were delighted and those who were distraught, yet the order and atmosphere of the venue remained cordial. No one raised any doubts; they were all industry insiders. The bid prices were also announced. Under these circumstances, there were no suspicions. Plus, it was clear that there were hardly any substantial profits in these bids–merely a reputation and the barest of margins to be earned.

But at this moment, Yuan Hao grew restless. Losing the first bid was one thing, but now, all eleven bids had been announced, and he hadn’t secured a single one. This was something Yuan Hao found hard to accept. Had he been played?

With this thought, Yuan Hao stood up, turned, and left the venue. As soon as he descended the stairs, his bodyguard Wu Zi greeted him: “Young Master Yuan, so soon?”

“Enough, drive. We’re heading to the Longxi Provincial Committee. I need to meet with Nie Zhenbang, who really thinks he’s somebody. He seems to forget, without my grandfather’s support, he wouldn’t enjoy today’s glory. This ungrateful wretch,” ranted Yuan Hao, furious, almost roaring all the way down.

The car drove into the courtyard of the Longxi Provincial Committee. Yuan Hao got out and sprinted directly to the tenth floor. Without greeting anyone, he barged into Nie Zhenbang’s office and confronted him, “Nie Zhenbang, you’re quite something, aren’t you? Daring to play these tricks on me.”

At the sound of Yuan Hao’s words, Nie Zhenbang’s brows instantly furrowed. He had not expected the grandson of Old Yuan to be such an idiot. To put it politely, it was a lack of wit; to put it bluntly, he was simply a fool who understood nothing. Nie Zhenbang now had to wonder: What did Yuan Hao think this was? Did he see himself as a servant in their household?

Nie Zhenbang felt a tinge of sadness for Old Yuan. Although his son may not be a hero, his grandson was without a doubt a complete disappointment. It was unthinkable that a child from the courtyard could be so oblivious to basic social etiquette. If it were not for the influence of Old Yuan, the boy probably wouldn’t even know how he would have died.

Others might indulge him, but Nie Zhenbang certainly would not. This child was evidently spoiled, used to having his way in Jingcheng and elsewhere, feeling entitled to everything. Probably, wherever the child went, he encountered subordinates of the old man who out of respect, took special care of him. But this was not helping the elder; it was utterly spoiling the child, as evident from his arrogant behavior.

Others might indulge him, but Nie Zhenbang would not. His face darkened. Looking at Yuan Hao he said, “Who do you think you are? This isn’t your company, this is the Longxi Provincial Committee. This is a workplace of the Provincial Committee and Provincial Government. When did it become your place to bellow and bark orders? Get out right now.”(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to cast your votes and monthly tickets at Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation.)