'Bo Xilai might be corrupt, but he is a capable leader and is good to poor people,' said one Beijing taxi driver.
It's a 'but' that is often heard across the mainland these days in workplaces and coffee shops as people discuss the ousting of the former Politburo member and Chongqing party chief.
Bo's political career has been effectively snuffed out, but he still enjoys a good reputation for his economic management skills.
Then there are his campaigns to spruce up the southwestern municipality and help the poor find affordable accommodation. Indeed, if numbers say anything about a region's development, Bo can lay claim to being Chongqing's most outstanding leader.
Under his guidance, it made great strides in many areas, allowing it to top the mainland rankings for five major economic indicators last year, including economic growth.
The municipality's gross domestic product grew by 16.5 per cent last year, much faster than the national average of 9.2 per cent.