Nie Zhenbang didn't know exactly what was going on. However, judging from Fang Gushan's tone, it seemed that it couldn't be something bad. Even though under these circumstances, Nie Zhenbang had no choice but to be on high alert, as trouble seemed imminent; Zhou Chen's presumptuousness was growing and he was receiving officials from Lixian, humiliating Nie Zhenbang publicly and giving Zhu Chubin high respect. This whole sequence was alarming, although they still held control over Lixian, maintaining such harmony as they had now looked impossible.
This was the disparity of power that came with positions. Zhou Xiaoshe, a mere low-ranking deputy commissioner, nonetheless attracted many people's hopes.
