Reborn as a Noble's Son

The words of the health doctor, however, shocked Nie Zhenbang. As the dedicated health physician for the old patriarch, he held sole responsibility for the patriarch’s health, and there was no question of divided loyalty. And, fundamentally, every health doctor needed to be committed for life. Moreover, whether he could ever serve as a health doctor again remained to be seen.

Given that even Doctor Lin said that the old patriarch’s health was probably not so good, Nie Zhenbang also asked, “Uncle Lin, can you tell me the truth, how much longer can the old patriarch endure?”

Predicting life and death was something that doctors were least willing to do, let alone when the person in question was of such special status. The patriarch’s importance to the Nie family and the Nie clan required no explanation. He was a guiding figure. Predicting the patriarch’s prospects was even more difficult.

Doctor Lin slightly shook his head and forced a bitter smile, “Third Master, I am just an ordinary doctor, don’t trouble me with such matters. In any case, you should be prepared for the worst in the next one or two years.”

Nie Zhenbang nodded. He understood Doctor Lin. If it was within one or two years, it meant that at least for the next two years, there would be no major problems with the old patriarch. Two years were more than enough for him to complete his entire plan.

The next morning, without exchanging any words throughout the night, Nie Zhenbang took his documents to the State Planning Commission. At this time, the commission had not changed its name to the State Reform and Planning Commission, nor had it become the well-known Development and Reform Commission of later generations.

However, at this time, a project for building branch airports had to first obtain approval from the State Planning Commission.

Nie Zhenbang was no stranger to the State Planning Commission. His father, Nie Guowei, had retired from here in his previous life. This was also where Nie Zhenbang was starting this time.

To Nie Zhenbang, entering the State Planning Commission Office Building was like walking into his own home. There were absolutely no obstacles to Nie Zhenbang’s plan from the commission’s side. They agreed with Nie Zhenbang’s approval documents without any hesitation.

Walking out of the State Planning Commission Office Building, Nie Zhenbang felt refreshed. Up next, as long as he could pass the review of the Civil Aviation Administration of China and obtain approval, he would submit the entire report to the State Council for final approval, and then everything would be settled.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China was a deputy bureau-level unit subordinate to the Ministry of Transport in Huaxia. It was located on the outskirts of Dongcheng in Jingcheng. This was the office location of the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

A brand new twenty-story building with its roof designed in the shape of a soaring eagle represented the identity of the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

When Nie Zhenbang arrived here, his car was filled with special passage permits, which allowed Nie Zhenbang to park directly under the office building of the Civil Aviation Administration.

With his documents in hand, Nie Zhenbang walked into the office building and went straight to the floor indicator desk next to the lobby, where he saw the sign of the Airport Construction Planning Division.

Not just any local government in the country could decide to build a branch airport if they had the money. Air traffic was not like ground traffic. If the road here was congested, you could build your own road, do your route design and planning, and get to work as long as you had the funds.

Air traffic, on the other hand, was relevant to national airspace security. If there was no unified management and coordination, it would be chaotic in the sky, and countless planes could collide. Once such incidents happened, it would not mere few lives lost.

Moreover, the construction of branch airports was integrated into the national civil aviation system. Matters such as which flights to offer, how many airlines to settle in, all these needed unified planning and coordination.

He took the elevator directly to the sixth floor. Here, is where the Airport Construction Planning Division’s office was located. As he walked down from room to room and saw a particular office in front of him, Nie Zhenbang murmured, ‘This is the place.’ He then walked up, knocked on the door, upon which a voice from inside the office said, “Come in.”

As soon as Nie Zhenbang entered, a man around thirty was sitting at his office desk. Looking at Nie Zhenbang, the man furrowed his eyebrows and immediately asked, “May I help you with something?”

Nie Zhenbang, however, was being extremely low-key at this moment. In the Civil Aviation Administration, he didn’t have many acquaintances. If he needed help, given the popularity of the Dynasty Club, Zhenbang would just have to call out in the club’s main hall and there would surely be several people with connections to the Civil Aviation Administration who would step forward. Yet, as the saying goes, money debts are easy to repay, but debts of favor are harder. Nie Zhenbang did not want to owe too many favors for this matter.

Especially since everyone involved was part of the Jingcheng scene, who knew what kind of hefty price he might have to pay in the future. Hence, he had come here discreetly, alone.

In Nie Zhenbang’s view, having already secured approval from Xibei Civil Aviation Administration and the State Reform and Planning Commission, this was just a routine matter. Naturally, he believed that if he could handle matters by himself, there was no need to owe anyone any favors, which was why he had come alone.

Listening to the man’s questions, Nie Zhenbang also showed a smile, entered the office, promptly took out a soft pack of Huaxia cigarettes, handed one pack to the man, and said with a smile, “Comrade, let me introduce myself. I came from the Xibei Autonomous Region. This time, considering the inconvenient transportation in our city, we want to build a branch airport following our report to and approval from the Autonomous Region. Here is the approval document from our Autonomous Region’s Planning Commission and Xibei Civil Aviation Administration…”

Before Nie Zhenbang could finish speaking, the man seemed to become a tad impatient. “Comrade, you must be from your city’s Beijing office, aren’t you? The leaders of your city, they… Who does things like this? Such a big matter, and they send an ordinary staffer, with this attitude – I’m afraid it’s not going to go well. This is what you should do: run to the State Reform and Planning Commission first. For this matter, it’s not only about our agreement, the national committee needs to approve it as well. As soon as you get their approval, you can come back to us.”

The man’s expression then revealed a hint of contempt as he sneered quietly: “I’ve never seen such an arrogant prefecture-level city before. For such a major matter as building a branch airport, they simply send an ordinary staff member from their Beijing office. Heh, and they’re hoping to get approval from the State Reform and Planning Commission. They better wait for two years.”

It was no surprise that Nie Zhenbang, who was only 24, even though he came off mature and venerable, could be mistaken for a regular staffer due to his age. It was completely understandable.

Nie Zhenbang didn’t take it to heart. Being judged based on appearance wasn’t anything new to him. Although the man’s manner of speaking was rather blunt and not quite pleasant, it was, after all, acceptable to him.

Then, Nie Zhenbang said with a smile, “Comrade, we’ve already received the approval letter from the State Reform and Planning Commission. Please take a look at it. Now, all that’s left is the approval document from the Civil Aviation Administration.”

Despite Nie Zhenbang’s courteous tone, the man found his words abhorrent. What on earth did he mean? The man had just stated that it would take at least two years for them to get approval from the State Reform and Planning Commission, yet here they were, presenting an approval letter in a blink of an eye, leaving the man little room to save his face.

The man’s face darkened at the sight of the various approval documents on the table. He immediately pushed back the pack of Huaxia cigarettes and said with apparent sarcasm, “Oh, who would’ve thought? Comrade, you’re rather competent, aren’t you? Times are tough in Xibei. These top-quality cigarettes, I won’t take them. You can take them back. Register here and leave these documents. After reviewing them, we’ll report to the party committee of our bureau. Come back in one week and then you can ask about the outcome.”

Having heard the man’s words and sensed his attitude, Nie Zhenbang frowned. He knew well enough that within this bureaucratic system, such words and tones often served as flippant dismissals. He had never really believed in words like ‘we’ll review’, ‘we’ll study’, or ‘ask for the news later’.

They’d already received explicit approvals. Moreover, the project document for the Kuli Airport clearly detailed the airport’s condition. If they were genuinely reviewing it, it would only take a few minutes. Was there a need to do an on-site inspection for ‘research’? If they were doing an inspection, so be it. Nie Zhenbang would accept that. He didn’t mind if everything was conducted as per the usual procedures.

However, judging from the man’s tone, Nie Zhenbang didn’t have to guess what the official response would be when he checked back in seven days. It’d probably be the same old line, ‘we are still studying it.’ The problem was, there was nothing they could do about it.

With such thoughts, Nie Zhenbang held back his annoyance and said with a smile, “Comrade, could you make an exception for us? Look, I’ve come from Xibei, a long way from here. Going back and forth, it’s not easy you know. Can you accommodate us? Maybe we could handle this as an exceptional case. Comrade, what’s your surname? How about tonight we go to the Capital Restaurant together for a meal?”

Just as he had finished speaking, someone outside rang out in a screeching voice: “Oh, Old Hu, another dinner invite? The Capital Restaurant, not bad. However, nowadays Old Hu doesn’t go to the Capital Restaurant. He might reluctantly go to the Great Tang or the Dynasty Club.”

Looking in the direction of the voice, a man in his thirties or forties walked in from outside. After glancing at Nie Zhenbang, he addressed the man in front of the desk, “Old Hu, processing approval for an airport project? Does the leader of their area lack manners, by sending just a small-time staffer? They obviously don’t take us seriously.”

Continuing on, the man said, “Comrade, let me introduce you. This is our Director Hu of the Planning Department. It’s entirely up to him whether your local airport gets approval. I advise you to return first and have your leader come personally.” (To Be Continued… If you like this novel, please go to to vote and support it. Your encouragement is my biggest motivation.)