Reborn as a Noble's Son-Chapter 829 - 785 The Old Man on the Embankment

Chapter 829: Chapter 785: The Old Man on the Embankment

Chapter 829 -785: The Old Man on the Embankment

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Chapter 785: The Old Man on the Levee

“Oh? The old city district is right next to the flood levee? In that case, could it impact Xingzhou City’s flood control efforts?” Nie Zhenbang suddenly inquired at this moment.

This question momentarily stunned Li Yunhe and Hu Baoguang, after which Li Yunhe laughed and said, “Governor, please rest assured. There will be no impact whatsoever. When the city was building it, we fully considered this issue. The flood levee can withstand a flood level that occurs once in a hundred years. It can fully guarantee the safety of the lives and property of four million people in Xingzhou City.”

Nie Zhenbang nodded, and as the motorcade passed through the Xingzhou City District, there were traffic police on duty at every intersection, temporarily controlling traffic as the motorcade passed.

The terrain of the entire Xingzhou City District isn’t particularly high. Along the Dajiang River, except for the middle and lower reaches, this phenomenon is quite rare in the upper reaches.

It can be said that Xingzhou City District was built in a hilly basin area. In the past, when the reservoir area wasn’t storing water, it was considered to have relatively higher ground. Now, as the storage of the reservoir increases. The water level rises, and this difference of a few meters gradually diminishes. Formerly, the elevation of Xingzhou City was roughly the same as the height of the sea waves of Dajiang. However, now, after the reservoir stores water, this difference will become greater and greater. This is a problem that cannot be ignored. In fact, it will be the biggest hidden danger for Xingzhou City.

When the motorcade entered the old city district, the scenery changed to a completely different feeling. Nie Zhenbang’s brows furrowed as well.

This contrast was much greater than in Tianfu City. Although the old city district of Tianfu City was also dilapidated, it still had a facade of prosperity along the main roads.

However, in Xingzhou City, there was no disguise whatsoever. Looking at Xincheng, with its wide roads, green isolation belts along the roadside, pedestrian walkways paved with colorful bricks. Street lights, green belts, various facilities, and the tall buildings on both sides of the road, the modern atmosphere was vividly displayed. Yet, once you entered the old city district, the roads noticeably narrowed.

A four-lane one-way road turned into a one-lane one-way road. The houses on both sides were three or four stories tall, the tallest being no more than six floors and still had the old-style wooden windows. Both pedestrians and traffic were relatively sparse.

The motorcade first stopped at the entrance of an entrepreneur’s family area. A banner hung above the courtyard gate that read “Warmly Welcome Provincial Leaders to Inspect and Guide Our Work.”

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In this respect, Xingzhou City had obviously taken a page from Tianfu City, even in the arrangements for inspection, but it turned out to be somewhat awkward.

After entering, on both sides were groups of older men and women dressed in bright red clothes, playing waist drums. The signs of performance were too strong and far from the natural feeling during the visit to Tianfu City.

Nie Zhenbang’s brows were tightly furrowed, but he did not show it. It’s not easy to criticize the welcome preparations. If you mention it, others might say it was a spontaneous act by the masses. Then, it might give off a feeling of nitpicking, an intentional sensation.

After getting out of the car, Li Yunhe and Hu Baoguang flanked several leaders from the provincial government. Behind them were other leaders of Xingzhou City’s municipal committee, all crowding into the family area.

Here, the feeling wasn’t much different from that at the Red Light Agricultural Machinery Factory in Tianfu City. The factory had gone completely bankrupt. Next to the office building, a sign that read “Caretaker’s Office” was hung. The original factory buildings had been mostly converted into accommodations.

The 1960s’ tube-shaped buildings, with exposed red bricks, evoked a sense of vicissitude. At this moment, they had been transformed beyond recognition.

Looking down the corridors, they seemed incredibly dark and deep. Nie Zhenbang habitually asked some of the local residents questions. However, as soon as they talked, Nie Zhenbang became somewhat displeased. Xingzhou City’s arrangements were too obvious. Li Yunhe was just too concerned with appearances.

After visiting a few homes, Nie Zhenbang lost interest and quietly exchanged opinions with Sun Jialuo beside him, “Old Sun, what’s your feeling?”

Sun Jialuo was naturally clear about Nie Zhenbang’s intentions. With a faint smile, he knew that this time, Li Yunhe had put his mind to gaining the favor of the governor. However, obviously, he had tried too hard, and Sun Jialuo was well aware of Nie Zhenbang’s temperament.

Then he replied nonchalantly, “Governor, comrades below always behave like this. Comrade Yun He is no exception. However, overall, the old city renovation plan for Xingzhou City is indeed very good.”

Sun Jialuo was fairly decent and didn’t speak ill of Li Yunhe too much. Nie Zhenbang felt somewhat helpless too. He shook his head and sighed, “It’s just the state of the country. Isn’t there a twisted couplet? ‘Superiors press down on subordinates, each level suppressing the next, escalating their demands until success is achieved; the lower levels deceive those above, layer upon layer, each adding water until the channel is filled.’ If the work in Xingzhou City is like this, it’s better left unseen.”

Next, he inspected several other places. Without exception, all of them welcomed him with great enthusiasm, with everyone brimming with joy and singing praises for the city’s policies. However, the key difference from Tianfu City was that none of this sentiment was reflected in the formal policy recommendations, such as the compensation regulations for the relocation of residents from the old city’s redevelopment area. Without these details, their words failed to convince the public and to inspire trust.

At this moment, they had fully entered the old city district. Directly ahead stood a high stone wall built up, beside it a winding staircase leading upwards. Unknowingly, they had arrived at the flood prevention embankment.

Nie Zhenbang, interested, then said to Li Yunhe and the others, “Comrade Yunhe, shall we go up and have a look at Xingzhou City’s flood prevention project?”

This sudden request immediately changed the complexion of the Xingzhou City Party Standing Committee members, as a middle-aged man’s expression turned particularly grim.

This scene made Nie Zhenbang exceedingly curious. He smiled at Li Yunhe and Hu Baoguang and said, “Comrade Yunhe, Comrade Baoguang. Have I caused you trouble?”

At this, Li Yunhe was startled. Nie Zhenbang’s address had changed. From the initial ‘Secretary Yunhe,’ it had become ‘Comrade Yunhe.’ This was already an expression of dissatisfaction. If Li Yunhe failed to take the hint, the next address might simply be ‘Comrade Li Yunhe.’ Besides, it was clearly impossible to prevent the Governor from conducting his inspection. Although there was no specific plan in place, Li Yunhe was also deep in thought. There were hardly any people left in the old city area. On the embankment itself, there were even fewer. As long as they took proper care, there should be no problems.

Li Yunhe then reassured Nie Zhenbang, “Governor, you jest, it’s not troubling at all, not in the slightest. Just now, I was considering the safety and security of our leaders.”

Nie Zhenbang waved his hand dismissively and spoke gravely, “What security issues? We are the people’s servants; we serve the people. Are we really afraid that our own people would harm us? Such notions are undesirable, as is the disconnect from the masses. The relationship between the party and the community, and that between the officials and the masses, that’s our party’s winning formula. We cannot lose it at any time. ‘From the masses, to the masses’—that’s the highest ideal. I believe that as the Governor of the entire province, the masses of our province genuinely support and love me.”

Li Yunhe’s mention of security concerns had also irked Nie Zhenbang, who did not hesitate to criticize him openly, making Li Yunhe’s face turn somewhat sour.

Li Yunhe, after losing his father-in-law and going through two years of adjustment, had worn down his arrogance and edges. Now, he nodded and said, “The Governor’s criticism is justified. Unintentionally, I’ve made the mistake of bureaucracy. I will definitely correct it.”

At this point, it was clearly impossible to stop them, and the group ascended the steps. Xingzhou City’s officials could only hurry to make arrangements.

Standing on top of the embankment, on the side facing Dajiang River, there was a slope. Approximately six meters in height, it extended downward at an angle. Below it lay the original Xingzhou City District. Due to reservoir impoundment, everyone had been relocated and the entire old city district had been completely abandoned here, without being demolished. After the water storage in the reservoir area, this piece of land would be submerged under Dajiang River.

Along the embankment, everything appeared very clean and in excellent condition, snaking along the course of Dajiang River, stretching out for several thousand meters.

Next to him, Hu Baoguang was explaining, “Governor, the Xingzhou flood embankment was constructed during the Three Gorges project. It was inspected by the National Headquarters for Flood Control and Drought Relief, and the Central Yangtze River Water Conservancy Committee, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Construction, and the Ministry of Finance allocated funds for its construction. The total investment was 325 million yuan. This embankment will prevent Dajiang River water from backflowing into Xingzhou. It’s the protective line for four million residents of Xingzhou City. Just this June, it passed inspection by the provincial authorities.”

As his words ended, Nie Zhenbang’s gaze drifted towards a spot two to three hundred meters ahead, in an open area. An old man with a slightly stooped figure stood there, his head full of white hair fluttering in the river wind, looking so desolate and lonely.

Instinct told him that this old man must have a story, and without hesitation, Nie Zhenbang started walking towards him. Before the leadership of Xingzhou City and the accompanying police officers had time to react, Nie Zhenbang was already within a hundred meters of the elder.

The people from Xingzhou City also followed one after another, but Nie Zhenbang suddenly called out loudly, “Old man, what are you looking at?”

Seeing the layers of concern etched on his face, it seems he’s grappling with some unhappiness. Could it be a family matter, or something else? Would you care to chat with me about it?”

With these words, Nie Zhenbang intended to cut off any opportunity for the people from Xingzhou City to intervene with security. If he had walked slowly over, the elder would certainly have been cleared away. Now that he had seen the old man’s face and called out to him, the people from Xingzhou City dared not play any tricks under his watchful eye. (