Reborn as a Noble's Son

Fan Changsheng swept his gaze across the room, and said once more: “According to the election law of the People’s Republic of Huaxia, with the recommendation of the Standing Committee of the Liangxi Municipal People’s Congress, comrade Nie Zhenbang will be the sole candidate participating in the election for the Mayor of the Liangxi Municipal People’s Government. I ask all delegates to consider carefully, rigorously observe organizational discipline and the election law, and cast your sacred and solemn vote.”

There was an implied warning in Fan Changsheng’s words. The reminders of observing organizational discipline and the election law were essentially to remind everyone present that selecting Nie Zhenbang as the only candidate was the decision of the organization. Those with ulterior motives better not play tricks or schemes.

Subsequently, on the large screen next to the podium, a projector began displaying Nie Zhenbang’s credentials. Next to the footage was a baritone voice narrator: “Comrade Nie Zhenbang, male, born in 1970, a native of Yanbei Tang City. He was admitted to the Chinese Department of Jingcheng University with excellent grades in 1986. During his time at university, he excelled academically and later became a graduate student in economics at Jingcheng University, studying under the renowned domestic economist, Professor Wang Kunming, Secretary of the Party Committee of Jingcheng University. During his university years, he served as the chairman of the student union and was honorably admitted to the Party. After graduating in 1990, he joined the workforce and served a stint as the cadre of the Youth Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League, where he was involved in the selection of the ‘Youth Civilization’ program, and was highly praised. In 1992, he was transferred to serve as the deputy county head, standing deputy county head, county head and county party secretary in Li County, Bazhou City, the Northwest Autonomous Region. During his tenure, the annual economic growth rate in Li County reached over eighty percent, a speed that shocked the nation. From the end of 1993 to 1994, he studied at the cadre training class at the Northwestern Autonomous Region Party School, during which time he obtained a Master’s degree in Economics from Jingcheng University. In mid-1994, the State Council issued a document upgrading Li County to a sub-prefecture-level city, and merging the surrounding counties to form New Li City. He served as the Party Secretary of New Li City. In 1995, he was transferred to the Central Disciplinary Committee, where he served as the standing deputy director of the Fifth Disciplinary and Supervision Room, overseeing all the work of the Fifth Room. At the end of 1997, the Central Organization Department implemented the cadre exchange system, and he was transferred to Liangxi City in Jiangbei Province, where he served as a member and standing committee member of the Municipal Party Committee, as well as the acting mayor of the Liangxi Municipal People’s Government.”

As the narrator voice faded, everyone in the hall, all the representatives present, also fell silent. This was the most complete introduction to Nie Zhenbang’s background.

Many of the representatives, after seeing Nie Zhenbang’s background, no longer harbored any feelings of contempt. Instead, they had the impression that although Mayor Nie was young, he was undoubtedly capable.

This arrangement was intentional. This way, many of the scattered people’s representatives would vote for Nie Zhenbang. This was the end goal.

Next, with a slight smile, Fan Changsheng said: “Comrades, after seeing Mayor Nie’s background, I must say we should truly be frightened of the younger generation. I believe that with a youthful, vibrant and outstanding cadre like Mayor Nie in leadership, our Liangxi City will definitely be able to create the miracle of Liangxi. Perhaps even surpassing New Li City. Now, I announce that the voting will commence.”

Following Fan Changsheng’s command, over a hundred staff members each with a stack of ballot papers began to distribute them to every people’s representative present.

In the middle of the hall, before the presidium, there were three ballot boxes. To ensure fairness, there were four armed police officers on each side of the ballot boxes, each facing different directions, watching over the ballot boxes, thus completely eliminating any possibility of fraud.

Five minutes later, judging that all the people’s representatives had made their most serious selection, Fan Changsheng stood up, took his own ballot, walked to the ballot box in the middle, and cast his vote. Then, members of the Municipal Party Committee, the Standing Committee, and the Party members all formed a line and cast their votes one after the other.

Half an hour later, after the 1,862 representatives each cast their votes, under the supervision of the Presidium of the National People’s Congress, Lei Dingguo, the party secretary of the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission, as the head of the ballot counting committee, led the ballot counting team to take the stage. Accompanying them were members of the vote tallying team and the vote counting team.

In public, they opened the ballot boxes and collected all the votes. Afterwards, all the ballot papers were carried to a small hall behind the stage where the counting of votes began. According to the provisions of the election law, Nie Zhenbang needed at least more than half of the votes to be smoothly elected.

The reason for moving the vote counting process backstage was mainly to consider the possibility of a turnaround in vote counting. Counting votes in public, if Nie Zhenbang fails by any chance, Ning Shouchang would be left helpless. If such a thing were to happen, the situation could still be promptly addressed.

At this moment, Ning Shouchang sat on the side, accompanied by Fan Changsheng. Around an hour later, the group leader of the ticket control group, the secretary-general of the municipal party committee, Hu Youquan, came up with an awkward expression. Seeing Ning Shouchang and Fan Changsheng chatting happily, Hu Youquan looked awkward. Just as he was about to lean in and say something, Fan Changsheng preempted him by asking, “Secretary-General Hu, has the result come out? How did it turn out?”

Originally, Hu Youquan was preparing to whisper the news, but Fan Changsheng’s question made it difficult for him to do so. With no other choice at this moment, Hu Youquan had to toughen up and say: “Governor Ning, Secretary Fan, out of the total 1,862 votes, there were 15 null votes. There were 27 abstentions, and Mayor Nie received 867 votes.”

Upon hearing this, the expressions of Fan Changsheng and Ning Shouchang changed simultaneously. The election was deadlocked. Once again, it was deadlocked.

At this moment, all the permanent members of the city committee backstage were aware of the severity of the situation. The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

You could even clearly hear everyone’s breaths. Ning Shouchang glared at Fan Changsheng with a cold expression. He naturally thought that Fan Changsheng was the one playing tricks. Thus, Ning Shouchang spoke in a deep voice, “The election is deadlocked, Comrade Fan Changsheng. It seems the work of the Liangxi City Committee needs to be strengthened. How can you guys, the city committee, handle such important matters incompetently? Now, I am beginning to question your team’s capability.”

At this moment, Fan Changsheng’s face turned ashen. Ning Shouchang was furious, and even his form of address had changed. From affectionately addressing him as “Secretary Changsheng,” “Comrade Changsheng,” he was now calling him “Comrade Fan Changsheng”. Moreover, the words he said afterwards implied that the Liangxi City Committee was incompetent, just short of directly calling him incapable.

In his heart, Fan Changsheng felt extremely wronged at this moment. Now, he understood that it must’ve been Li Guohua who was playing tricks. In the whole of Liangxi City, only he had the ability to do so.

Just as he was preparing to speak, Ning Shouchang raised his hand to stop him, walked over to the telephone beside him. Picking up the phone, Ning Shouchang looked around and said, “Such audacity, to dare reject the proposal of the Central Organization Department. Now that things have come to this, I have no choice. This matter shall be reported to Minister Shengdong of the Central Organization Department. Whether Nie Zhenbang is transferred back to the central government or how it should be handled will be decided by the central government. I can no longer manage.”

When these words left his mouth, not only did Fan Changsheng turn pale, but Li Guohua was also stunned. All this time, Li Guohua had thought that Nie Zhenbang’s return was the intention of the Nie family because during this cadres exchange, the Li faction had also arranged for some of their people to enter. He didn’t expect that it was the Central Organization Department’s decision. With this, the nature of the matter had changed.

At this moment, Ning Shouchang paid no attention to everyone else, dialed the number, and as soon as the line connected, Ning Shouchang spoke, “Is this Minister Shengdong? This is Ning Shouchang. Minister Shengdong, I called mainly to report to you about the issue in Liangxi City. In this current election, Comrade Nie Zhenbang has lost…”

“Yes, yes, we will strictly follow the directives and requirements of the organization. We will not stop until a result has been achieved. Rest assured, Minister Shengdong, both Comrade Shen Yanshuo and I have always maintained a clear stance, firmly supporting the central government’s decision. Good, good, goodbye.”

The phone conversation lasted for more than ten minutes. Everyone else waited for more than ten minutes. After Ning Shouchang hung up the phone, his expression turned gloomy. “Comrade Changsheng, immediately convene all members of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People’s Congress for a meeting of the full session. The election process was not in accordance with the prescribed procedure; a re-election is needed. We must elect someone who reassures the higher levels, satisfies the organization, and pleases the people.”

Presidential recallections had happened before, and Ning Shouchang had also spoken with Minister Yu Shengdong from the Central Organization Department. Afterward, even if there were any issues, they could not trace it back to him.

Convening a full session meeting of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People’s Congress meant narrowing down the scope of the election. As for the results, it could be disregarded entirely. Announcing that more than half of the votes were in favor wouldn’t cause any problems. No one would even think to inquire. Even if they did inquire, no delegate would dare speak the truth.

“Comrades, the People’s Congress election is a very serious matter. Some comrades are dissatisfied, making little moves secretly, playing little wisecracks. This is unacceptable, as it challenges the authority of the organization and the party’s discipline. We must deal with such matters seriously. Following the instructions of the Central Organization Department, we must come to a result. If we are not satisfied, we will not stop.” At this moment, Fan Changsheng was also extremely furious. Li Guohua was utterly unreasonable. He decided to deadlock the People’s Congress without consulting him. Looks like, he had to maintain distance from Li Guohua in the future, else he wouldn’t even know if he gets betrayed by him.

The re-election turned out to be very successful. Everyone was clearing from seeing Ning Shouchang making the call, not going along with the upper-level intent was not tolerable. If not selected, there was only one result, re-selection, until a result is achieved. This was not something one could control. Rather than resisting, it was better to just go straight for the election.

Seeing the results, Ning Shouchang contentedly nodded, “Secretary Changsheng, you must record this election in the archives of the People’s Congress and note down the reason. Because the open selection does not comply with the process, the election mode is temporarily changed, adopted the Municipal People’s Congress Standing Committee.”

Ning Shouchang’s words were clearing the way for Nie Zhenbang, and such matters mustn’t leave a tail. Otherwise, it could impact the future at a critical moment.

Afterwards, the group returned to the auditorium once again, Lei Dingguo, head of the election supervisory team, stepped forward with a document in hand and loudly announced, “In accordance with the election laws, this election complied with the regulations, the ballot process complied with the procedure. In the final result, Nie Zhenbang, with a considerable majority vote, has been elected as Mayor of the Liangxi Municipal People’s Government. Next, please welcome Mayor Nie to deliver his inauguration speech with warm applause.”