Seeing Nie Zhenbang lost in thought, Xu Hongzhuan naturally understood what Secretary Nie was currently contemplating. Secretary Nie's status in Hongjiang Province was relatively detached because, looking through the history of Hongjiang over the years, one could find that the head positions of both the Party and government teams usually, at most, included an alternate member. However, Nie Zhenbang was a full member of the Central Committee, which was the significant difference.
At the Ministry of Civil Affairs, it was only the Minister who was on an equal level for exchange with Secretary Nie. Of course, officials from Jingcheng might be regarded as one rank higher, but that would just be the rank of a Deputy Minister. If Nie Zhenbang came out to meet them and show the local respect, that would be sufficient. But now, with a group of bureau and division-level leaders coming down, it was inevitable that Nie Zhenbang would have to consider personally greeting them.
