Chapter 90

Chapter Ninety: Ning Xingu's Card

Wang Jian agreed to Ye Fengling's request. Ye Fengling then asked him, "Director Wang, how is the road construction project going?"

Wang Jian sighed, "Don't even mention it. We've run into trouble. The funds have reached the governor, but he hasn't approved them. Director Hao said I need to make a trip, but I don't know what the situation will be."

Ye Fengling immediately understood what was going on and said, "Director Wang, you might not be familiar with the provincial situation. There's a bit of a story between Zhang Chengyi and Guo Yongchen. And Zhao Bingzhi is on Guo Yongchen's side. If he knows that Zhao Bingzhi arranged this, it might be difficult."

Wang Jian understood the implications at once and felt the problem was serious. If Zhang Chengyi was just delaying the approval due to procedural issues, there was still hope. But if it was due to a conflict with Guo Yongchen, the project was likely to be scrapped.

Thinking about this, Wang Jian became anxious and said, "Journalist Ye, what should we do? We've put a lot of effort into this project in Xianhe Township. If the funds aren't approved, it will be a disaster for me, but even more so for the development of Xianhe Township!"

Ye Fengling frowned, feeling that Zhang Chengyi's actions were unfair. It was wrong to make things difficult for subordinates due to political issues. Wang Jian was eager to develop Xianhe Township, and now he was practically Ye Fengling's future brother-in-law. He should help him.

"Let's do this. Come to the provincial capital again, and I'll go with you to see Guo Yongchen and have him intervene!" Ye Fengling said.

Wang Jian thought for a moment and said, "Journalist Ye, since Secretary Guo and Governor Zhang have some issues, will it work to go to him?"

"Even if there are some conflicts, it shouldn't be a big deal. I don't think Zhang Chengyi will really hold a grudge over this. Come to the provincial capital, and we might be able to resolve it without even seeing Guo Yongchen!" Ye Fengling thought for a moment and said.

Hearing this, Wang Jian felt a glimmer of hope and said, "Then I'll go to the provincial capital right away. Where are you now, Journalist Ye?"

"I'm in Beijing now, and I'm heading to Hedong Province. I'll contact you when I get there!" Ye Fengling said.

Wang Jian agreed and then smiled, "Journalist Ye, I have some good news that isn't really good. I've just been appointed as the township party secretary. I'm very eager to develop Xianhe Township!"

Ye Fengling was pleased and said, "Congratulations! I just called you Director Wang, I'm really sorry."

"Hehe, it's fine. Journalist Ye, don't call me by my official title in the future. Just call me Wang Jian," Wang Jian laughed.

Ye Fengling immediately said, "What should I call you, Wang Jian? I should call you Brother Wang!"

Wang Jian quickly reacted and laughed, "I'm older than you, so you should call me Brother!"

"That's not it. I'm calling you Brother based on your relationship with my sister!" Ye Fengling corrected.

"Hehe!" Wang Jian laughed.

After talking for a while, they hung up. Wang Jian felt a mix of emotions. He never expected that Jie Lianbing would be Ye Fengling's twin sister. This was truly a surprising turn of events. Jie Lianbing would have a hard time accepting it, and Ye Fengling didn't want to tell her right away, giving her time to process it.

Thinking about this, Wang Jian went to the township education committee to find Jie Lianbing. When he arrived, Lu Yongqiang hurried out to greet him. Wang Jian waved his hand and said, "Call Teacher Jie out for me. I need to talk to her!"

Lu Yongqiang quickly went to call Jie Lianbing. When she came out, she smiled and walked over to Wang Jian's car. Wang Jian took her to a restaurant and they found a private room.

After sitting down and ordering a few dishes, Wang Jian smiled and said, "How has work been lately? Are you busy and tired?"

Jie Lianbing smiled, "It's been okay. I feel happy when I can help some poor students!"

Wang Jian laughed, "Good! I was right to put you in charge of this. I think you could be a goodwill ambassador in the future!"

Hearing this, Jie Lianbing blushed and looked at Wang Jian, "Wang Jian, you're now the township party secretary, and your position is getting higher. I feel a bit of pressure!"

Wang Jian laughed, "What pressure? I'm still the same person. No matter how high I go, I won't change!"

Jie Lianbing smiled contentedly and said, "Wang Jian, you're really different from others!"

"How so?" Wang Jian asked with a smile.

"Others become arrogant when they get a position, even a village party secretary can be very arrogant. But you have no airs at all!" Jie Lianbing said.

"Ha, who says I have no airs? I just haven't reached the point where I need to put on airs. I will do so in front of my subordinates!" Wang Jian laughed.

Jie Lianbing, of course, didn't understand many things about the political world. She smiled, thinking that Wang Jian always knew how to handle things, which made her feel very secure.

After a while, Wang Jian suddenly asked Jie Lianbing, "Lianbing, you said you're an orphan. Have you ever tried to find your biological parents?"

Hearing this, Jie Lianbing fell into a sad mood and said, "Where would I find them? In this vast world, it's impossible to find them!"

"The world is full of surprises. What if you found them? Would you be happy?" Wang Jian asked.

"I don't know. I don't know how I was abandoned. If they did it on purpose, would I be happy or not?" Jie Lianbing said sadly.

Jie Lianbing had a point. How did Ye Fengling's parents lose contact with Jie Lianbing? Was it abandonment or for other reasons? If it was abandonment, Jie Lianbing wouldn't forgive them, and it would be hard for her to accept the truth.

"If it was for other reasons and not intentional, would you be happy?" Wang Jian asked again.

Jie Lianbing thought for a moment and said, "If that's the case, maybe I would be happy. After all, I have no family. Who wouldn't want a family? But I've never thought about it!"

Seeing Jie Lianbing's attitude, Wang Jian felt that if Ye Fengling's parents had lost her unintentionally, it would be easier for her to accept the truth. He decided to ask Ye Fengling more about it when he went to the provincial capital.

"Why not think about it? The world is full of surprises!" Wang Jian encouraged her.

Wang Jian's attitude made Jie Lianbing suspicious, and she asked, "Wang Jian, why are you bringing this up today? You seem more concerned about it than I am!"

"Ha, you'll know in a while!" Wang Jian laughed.

"Tell me now!" Jie Lianbing pouted and tugged at Wang Jian's arm.

Wang Jian couldn't resist her and said, "I'm going to the provincial capital tomorrow. Will you come with me?"

"To the provincial capital? Sure! I want to go out and see things!" Jie Lianbing tugged at Wang Jian's arm happily.

Wang Jian laughed, "Then it's settled!"

They chatted affectionately for a while, finished their meal, and Wang Jian said, "Lianbing, let's go to my dorm!"

"What for?" Jie Lianbing pouted.

"What do you think?" Wang Jian smiled mischievously.

Jie Lianbing pretended to be angry, "Wang Jian, don't think too much!"

"Ha, how am I thinking too much!" Wang Jian laughed.

Jie Lianbing blushed and said, "You know how you're thinking too much!"

"If you say I'm thinking too much, then I am. But a man who doesn't think too much isn't normal!" Wang Jian laughed.

"Bad Wang Jian, I won't let you off!" Jie Lianbing playfully hit Wang Jian.

"Ha, let's go, I was just teasing you!" Wang Jian pulled Jie Lianbing out of the restaurant.

Jie Lianbing returned to the township education committee, and Wang Jian went back to the township. Ning Xingu came to see him.

"Director Ning, come in and sit down!" Wang Jian greeted him. When Ning Xingu was the deputy director of the county party committee office, Wang Jian was just starting his job in Xianhe Township. Now Ning Xingu was his subordinate, so he should show some respect.

Ning Xingu sat down calmly. He had worked in the county party committee office and was familiar with various levels of leadership, so he wasn't too formal.

"Secretary Wang, since I came to the township, I've gotten a good understanding of the situation. I think we need to adjust the personnel," Ning Xingu said.

Ning Xingu's words surprised Wang Jian. He didn't expect Ning Xingu to focus on this issue so soon, clearly trying to compete for power and influence. Ning Xingu was not to be underestimated!

"Oh, how should we adjust? What's the problem?" Wang Jian wanted to know Ning Xingu's intentions.

Ning Xingu said, "I think Du Xiaobei in the party and government office needs to be adjusted. It's not convenient to have a female party and government office director."

Ning Xingu's suggestion to remove Du Xiaobei shocked Wang Jian. It was a clear challenge, but his reason seemed valid. A female party and government office director was indeed less convenient, but Wang Jian had no suitable replacement for Du Xiaobei.

Ning Xingu must have known about the relationship between Du Xiaobei and Wang Jian, yet he deliberately suggested adjusting her first. What was his purpose? After some thought, Wang Jian felt that Ning Xingu was likely using Du Xiaobei as a bargaining chip to exchange for something else. Ning Xingu was very calculating, trying to gain an advantage right away. His appetite was too big.

"Director Ning, let's put this aside for now. We can discuss it later. The main focus right now is the road construction. I'm going to the provincial capital tomorrow, and you can handle things here," Wang Jian instructed.

Ning Xingu smiled, "Okay, Secretary Wang, go with peace of mind!"

After their conversation, Ning Xingu left. He had a plan. By bringing up the personnel issue first, he aimed to take the initiative. He knew Wang Jian wanted to make adjustments, and by raising the issue of Du Xiaobei, he could use her as a bargaining chip to get Wang Jian to agree to his conditions. It was a clever move, and he believed Wang Jian would have to consider his opinion.

Ning Xingu's strategy was very shrewd. Wang Jian was left in a difficult position. Ning Xingu was trying to compete for power and force him to remove Du Xiaobei. If he didn't agree to Ning Xingu's conditions, their relationship would become strained. But if he agreed, it would make him look incompetent. After some thought, Wang Jian decided to focus on the road construction project. If the road was built, his prestige would increase, and he believed Ning Xingu would not be able to challenge his authority.

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[Note: The last part of the original text seems to be a list of titles or categories, possibly from a website or a book. It has been omitted in the translation as it does not fit the narrative context.]