Reborn as a Noble's Son

Xing Wenbiao sneered and then stood up. He waved to his subordinates and said: “Brothers, let’s leave, let’s leave. Some people are displeased. It seems that we ought to spend less time in Li County. In the future, let’s head to the city, where the newly opened Millionaire Hotel is really good. I heard it’s run by Zhu Lufeng, all in the Cantonese style. It offers a variety of beauties from all around the country. You can have food and fun there. From now on, we will switch to that place.”

Watching Xing Wenbiao and his gang leave arrogantly, Nie Zhenbang really didn’t have many options at this moment. The Tax Bureau, a vertical management unit, is out of his control unless he could capture substantial evidence of violation of discipline. Moreover, even to mobilize the disciplinary committee, it’s necessary to inform the higher level of the Tax Bureau first, which is the main reason why vertical management units generally don’t pay much heed to local governments.

Because authority over personnel arrangement and salary are not in your hands, you have nothing to suppress them. If they can respect you superficially, that’s already very polite.

From the side, Qu Feng stepped over and said: “Director Nie, don’t be angry, this is just Xing Wenbiao’s character. Even back when Mayor Wu was in office, this guy had defied him. However, this guy has solid backing, slippery as an eel, and doesn’t give us any handle to catch him. It’s really hard to deal with such a person”.

Chen Le nodded too, saying, “Director Nie, calm down. We will have our chance to settle accounts with him.”

Due to the presence of Qu Feng, the head of the county committee office, Chen Le didn’t spell it out directly. However, the implications were understood by Nie Zhenbang.

After such an incident, everyone lost their appetite. At this moment, Zhang Chubin also felt somewhat triumphant. Although he had given up on competing with Nie Zhenbang for achievements, he still enjoyed seeing Nie Zhenbang falter, especially in front of the principal leaders of the county. Zhang Chubin was pleased with this.

In the office of Nie Zhenbang, Li County Government.

At this moment, the director of the Construction Bureau and the head of the planning and design department of Li County Construction Bureau were both seated on the sofa while a set of blueprints was in Nie Zhenbang’s hands.

This was the architecture sketch and preliminary design planning for the new government building of the Li County Committee and County Government. Of course, Li County Construction Bureau couldn’t come up with such a design.

Next to him, although Xiong Jianming was one of the few officials with a professional background, he didn’t specialize in architectural design. As Nie Zhenbang finished reading, Xiong Jianming said: “Director Nie, this design was personally led by Engineer Liang from Bazhou Architecture Design Institute. The entire building uses the current most popular architectural style. Its ventilation and lighting features are very good. Our construction bureau invited professionals to review it, and they all think it’s very good.”

Currently, the entire Li County government and county-level departments are moving. Each unit’s office building needs to be planned and designed, which is a massive amount of work. While Internal Affairs Bureau and Transport Bureau have their own connections to commission design institutes in the provincial city, most units are planned and designed by the Li County Construction Bureau. This makes the construction bureau the busiest department.

Nie Zhenbang looked at the proposal. It was the currently popular European Baroque style, which indeed was very trendy at this time. However, Nie Zhenbang knew that in a few years, as society further develops, government buildings will still need to reflect a serious and dignified image. A balanced and stable architectural style will still dominate in government buildings.

Immediately afterwards, Nie Zhenbang looked up and asked: “Old Xiong, has Secretary Zhang seen this proposal? What does he think?”

Xiong Jianming immediately replied, “Secretary Zhang suggests that, for the assignment of the County Committee and County Government, best to have a distinction or make it a double-tower pattern with a passageway bridge connecting them.”

Upon hearing this, Nie Zhenbang’s brows furrowed. Was this an attempt to create division between the Party Committee and the government? If so, it would be better to build separately.

A moment of contemplation and Nie Zhenbang also spoke: “Old Xiong, I think there are still some issues with this plan. Baroque style, arched domes, such style can also be used in the construction of Lixian, but the Party Committee Government Office, this is ultimately the image of Lixian, with this construction, it seems a bit conspicuous, a bit lacking in solemnity. As for our countrymen, their aesthetic habits and image should always be the priority. I think we can take some inspiration from the design of the Great Hall, steady and reliable. Look, the Great Hall has been around for so many years, but this architectural style still gives a very steady impression, it never feels outdated.”

As soon as Nie Zhenbang finished speaking, before Xiong Jianming could say anything, the department head of the planning and design department said: “Director Nie, your words have provided me with newfound clarity. In this way, the allocation of the county party committee and the government will be well coordinated, adopting a rectangular building plan, with nine marble pillars at the front. The party committee and the government on both sides, this way, will be well coordinated.”

Nie Zhenbang also nodded. In later times, many such office buildings were configured in this way: in the middle, the big red national emblem hung high to embody the majesty and demeanor of the party committee and government. On both sides, placards of the party committee and government hung respectively, with offices on both sides and the middle part housing various functional halls and meeting rooms. This way, it could well ensure privacy issues.

Just then, the door was suddenly knocked and Yi Jun also walked in from outside. Looking at Xiong Jianming on the side and giving a nod with a smile, he walked up to Nie Zhenbang and whispered: “Director Nie, Manager Zhang from Lixian Construction Engineering Company and Director Wang from Lixian Tantalum Mine have arrived. By the looks of it, the situation seems quite urgent, what do you think?”

Nie Zhenbang was taken aback. The construction company and the tantalum mine were Lixian’s leading enterprises and significant taxpayers before the inauguration of Farmer Welfare Company and Longhua Mining. It could be said that the secondary industry in Lixian was supported by these two companies.

I specifically visited them when I came to Lixian, why did they suddenly show up? Then, Nie Zhenbang also nodded and looked at Xiong Jianming and said: “Old Xiong, in terms of the plan, I generally think this is it. You can organize a team to study it in depth. If it’s really not feasible, you can also look for it in Urumqi at Xibei University architectural design institute. The office building of the party committee and government in Lixian represents the image of Lixian, we cannot take it lightly.”

After Xiong Jianming left, Yi Jun also brought in Manager Zhang and Director Wang. Looking at the two people with distressed faces, Nie Zhenbang also chuckled, saying: “What’s wrong? Our two wealthiest gods of Lixian, what happened today? Have any problems arisen?”

As soon as his words fell, Manager Zhang of the construction company stood up and said: “Director Nie, there is a problem, a big problem. This morning, a group from the national tax bureau, led by a deputy director, rushed to our company. After showing their credentials, they demanded to inspect our accounts.”

Upon hearing the three words ‘national tax bureau’, a frown creased the brow of Nie Zhenbang. Units like a construction company are affiliated to Lixian’s state-owned enterprises. They are well acquainted with one another. The tax is naturally not going to be paid in full. Sometimes when dragging or fiddling the taxes, to put it harshly, there is a bit of tax evasion. These are all very common things. Therefore, these accounts are naturally unchecked.

Manager Zhang, with a mournful face, took out a punishment decision letter from his bag and handed it to Nie Zhenbang, saying: “Director Nie, you’re aware, this kind of thing, not just us, but it’s also the case everywhere in the country. Everyone is living in peace. However, this time, following the tax inspection, the tax bureau issued a 1 million fine to us. Our entire company doesn’t have that much money, how are we supposed to survive? If that’s the case, we might as well give the company to them.”

On the side, Director Wang from Lixian Tantalum Mine also wore the same look. Before Director Wang could speak, Nie Zhenbang said: “Director Wang, how much was the fine from your side?”

Both of them arrived simultaneously. Since the Tax Bureau’s Xing Wenbiao used this method to force him to admit defeat, he certainly wouldn’t just check one house. Farmer Welfare Company and Longhua Mining, these are not entities Xing Wenbiao could offend. Moreover, under Nie Zhenbang’s strict regulations and requirements, Liu Kun and Zhao Xinglong did not deign to play this game. Mention of taxes to these people were just petty cash, there was no need to lose face. Naturally, without faults, the tax bureau couldn’t meddle.

Director Wang also wore a bitter smile and said: “Our tantalum mine, over the years lack of value-added tax due to the minerals, has owed as much as three hundred thousand. In addition, sometimes we evade a little bit, this time, after the inspection, the national tax bureau issued a 1.5 million fine..”

Upon hearing this number, Nie Zhenbang was stunned. This Xing Wenbiao, really thought of him as a fool. Two companies, with fines not too much and not too little, totaled 2.5 million. The implication here, Nie Zhenbang did not believe that Xing Wenbiao hadn’t thought about it. The matter was clear, this was a show of force against him, Nie as the director, aren’t you conceited? Aren’t you going to report me to higher authorities? Well then! I’m Xing Wenbiao, I am still the director of Lixian Tax Bureau, I will fine you 2.5 million.

Nie Zhenbang’s brows furrowed. This issue may not be easy to resolve, compromise? Especially compromising with a person like Xing Wenbiao, this is impossible unless, he is willing to lose face. But then, how can he continue to work in Lixian, the established prestige would be swept away, the impact would be massive. Which was lighter and which was heavier, Nie Zhenbang knew.

However, without compromise, currently, Xing Wenbiao has seized the position. Although the fine is a bit high, it is not baseless. According to tax law, this top limit fine is also permissible. If it is really not paid, then Nie Zhenbang will also be in error.

Upon considering this, Nie Zhenbang immediately looked at the two men and said: “Pay! After paying the fine, clean up your bad debts. Don’t give the tax bureau any opportunities. If there are any more problems, you two can roll your bedding and go home.”