Chapter 13: Shared Honor

  Nie Zhenbang's words were extremely piercing, at least that was how Nie Jialiang felt at the moment. Looking at Nie Zhenbang with his usual arrogant and careless demeanor, sitting without any decorum, it seemed like he had just done something insignificant on his playful and irreverent face. However, Nie Jialiang knew the impact this article would have on the Nie family. Even the old master was shocked, which proved how serious things were. But at that moment, Nie Jialiang didn't know how to respond.

  Thinking back, in the past when he was working, others had been very polite to him due to his identity and background. However, it was just a superficial politeness, a fear of the power behind him. It was only because Huang, the deputy general manager, was his maternal grandfather that they treated him with such respect.

  But after the article was published, Nie Jialiang clearly felt the change in his colleagues' attitudes towards him. The fake smiles decreased, and there were more genuine ones. The relationships between colleagues became much more harmonious than before. Moreover, many people admired him greatly because, in their eyes, Nie Jialiang had become one of them. There was no need for superficial politeness or secret vigilance.

  With this article as the foundation, Nie Jialiang believed that within a year's time, he would be able to solve problems at the Zhēngkě level. At 21 years old, achieving the Zhēngkě level in this era is absolutely unprecedented.

  His lips moved slightly, but Nie Jialiang still stubbornly said: "What does that have to do with anything? Do you know what politics is? Do you know the impact this has on my Nie family? This has nothing to do with circumstances. It's related to the rise and fall of our entire Nie family."

  Nie Jiamin's expression also showed some concern. He immediately went to Nie Zhenbang's side and said discontentedly, "Old Three, are you harming the Nie family?"

  Nie Jiamin, despite his usual fearless demeanor, is not someone with low political awareness. At this moment, he feels like he's been deceived.

  Nie Zhenbang's expression also turned serious. To be honest, no matter what Nie Jialiang's attitude was, Nie Zhenbang didn't care at the moment. However, Nie Jiamin's attitude made Nie Zhenbang take it very seriously. Immediately, Nie Zhenbang stood up and stared at Nie Jiamin: "Second brother, do you think I would do such a thing? Don't forget, whether I admit it or not, whether Old Master admits it or not, I am still a member of the Nie family. We rise and fall together. I understand this principle. Don't treat me like an idiot. No one instructed me to do this. It was all done by my own hands."

  As he spoke, Nie Zhenbang looked at the eldest of the Nie family and said: "Nie Jialiang, I'd like to ask you a question. Do you think life is better now or was it better before the reform and opening up?"

  Reform and opening-up, for people with a background like Nie Jialiang's, didn't bring too much of a feeling. With the status and position of the Nie family, material goods were not lacking. However, it can't be denied that there are more things on the streets of Beijing now. There are more foreign products. There are also more modernized things. Although they're not scarce, you don't need to rely on your parents or elders going abroad to bring one back when you want a Walkman like before. All in all, it's still convenient.

  As for the common people, Nie's family knew very little about them. However, from the data and information on people's livelihood reported by various places to the General Office, it can be seen that most of the common people supported him.

  In such a situation, Nie Jialiang wouldn't bother to deceive. After a moment of silence, Nie Jialiang spoke up: "Nowadays, life is good. Material goods are regulated by the market. Whatever is lacking, the market will have it. Merchants seek profit. Things that are scarce become valuable. A lack represents demand. Naturally, someone will be willing to fill this gap. But isn't this just speculation?"

  Nie Jialiang's idea was shared by many people in this era. In the first few years after reform and opening-up, many individual entrepreneurs were even sentenced to prison on the grounds of speculation and profiteering. Nie Zhenbang smiled and said: "Speculation and profiteering? Brother, what is the definition of speculation and profiteering? It refers to the behavior of disrupting the market and seeking exorbitant profits by hoarding goods, buying and selling empty goods, adulterating and counterfeiting, manipulating prices, etc. However, individual entrepreneurs nowadays are just seizing business opportunities in the market due to the lack of certain materials. Then, they obtain goods through their own production or other means and sell them at market price or even lower than market price. Is this also considered speculation and profiteering? On the contrary, I think it is a supplement to our planned economy."

  At this moment, Nie Zhenbang really wants to tell Nie Jialiang that the market economy is not capitalism. Socialism also has a market. Planned economy is not socialism. Capitalism also has planning. But these words were spoken by the superior. So naturally, Nie Zhenbang will not say them now.

  Seeing Nie Jialiang's contemplative appearance, Nie Zhenbang's heart skipped a beat. Indeed, just like in the previous life. In fact, after the old master left, the attitude of Nie Guodong's family gradually changed. This is also why the first house can barely hold on. As long as Nie Jialiang can change his mindset, Nie Zhenbang will have confidence in his plan. Because under current circumstances, Nie Jialiang, as the eldest son and heir, is the most important and heaviest link.

  "Big brother, the reason our party was able to seize power from Old Chiang is not only because of the wisdom and intelligence of the old generation of revolutionaries, but more importantly, it's because of the people's hearts. Our party has taken root among the grassroots, serving the people is its essence, and this will never change. The people's hearts are the foundation. Do you understand? Now, with reform and opening up, everything centers around economic construction. This is what the people want. You say, in such a situation, can Comrade Nan still lose? No! Because he has already stood on the winning side. This is the fundamental reason why I wanted to write that article through Old Two, in your name." NIE Zhenbang's words were not loud, but they had a somewhat shocking effect on NIE Jialiang's ears.

  Nie Jialiang as the third-generation successor appointed by Old Master Nie. He has his own abilities and skills. The old master would never support a Liu Adou to come up. This is the principle.

  At this moment, listening to Nie Zhenbang's words, Nie Jialiang also understood. One honor together, one loss together, Nie Zhenbang's words were not wrong. The Nie family is now conservative. In the future, they will definitely lose. The cruelty of political struggle. Nie Jialiang was very clear. Once defeated, the Nie family would be nothing. As a member of the Nie family, whether Nie Zhenbang himself or other members of the Nie family acknowledged it or not, it didn't matter, outsiders all thought that Nie Zhenbang was a member of the Nie family. This is what Nie Zhenbang truly meant. This is why Nie Zhenbang used his own hands to play his cards.

  Looking at Nie Zhenbang, Nie Jialiang's expression was very serious and also shocked. What kind of person is this? At such a young age, he actually has such keen political instincts. His thinking is meticulous and his plans are perfect. Everything that is happening now is going according to his plan. Will someone like him affect his own position in the future? Nie Jialiang also began to hesitate.

  Seeing Nie Jialiang's expression, Nie Zhenbang thought to himself that things were not going well. His own performance had been too eye-catching. Not only had he failed to put Nie Jialiang at ease, but instead had made him wary of himself. Immediately, Nie Zhenbang also smiled and said: "Big brother, are you worried that I'll snatch your position?"

  If Nie Zhenbang is too secretive, it will be somewhat unfavorable. However, saying this makes Nie Jialiang put his mind at ease, as people often are. He hopes to ponder over it in private. After a pause, Nie Zhenbang continues: "Big brother, in our rural Yanbei, when children grow up, they all need to separate households. Although we've separated households, the kinship remains. Once something happens, we'll come forward to help each other out. Even if I enter officialdom, do you think that in the future, as grown adults, you can control my thoughts? In other words, even if I become the head of the household, can I control your thoughts? This is impossible."

  Nie Zhenbang's meaning is very clear. The family head thing, it's just a symbolic thing. It's not about whether you can grab it or not. Whoever has the higher position, outsiders will recognize who that is, this is a very realistic problem. Normally, they don't interfere with each other, but if someone wants to bully the Nie family, then among themselves, they will immediately unite and form a massive entity that can shock people.

  "Haha, big brother, I'm just a metaphor. My ambition is not here. Currently, I'm interested in business. In this environment, I think it's most meaningful to start from commerce." Nie Zhenbang threw out his own idea again.

  Nie Jialiang was stunned for a long time, looking at Nie Zhenbang. Half a day later, he finally stood up and said: "Old three, I hope you can be careful!"