Chapter 107: Planning

The final item in the planning is the greenhouse industry; this is a tough nut to crack, but if done well, it will yield the best results.

Before Lu Fan went down to the township, he knew that township work was complex and that there were many various inspections to deal with, but Baishu Bay seemed like a paradise, rarely visited by higher-level departments for inspections or research. Aside from the poor roads, the fundamental reason was that there was nothing here—what would people come to research? To put it bluntly, it was "unpopular" and "annoying." If one doesn't strive for improvement, being discriminated against is normal; this awkward and shameful situation must be changed.

Over the past two days, the township government cadres have shed their usual lazy atmosphere, arriving and leaving work on time, going into the villages and households as required, and beginning to complete the work at hand.

There is no shortage of ambitious people anywhere, but seeing the constant traffic in and out of the Secretary's office, and considering that the position of Deputy Township Head is still vacant, some people started looking for excuses to report their work.

Deng Qingwen, the head of the Animal Husbandry Station, adjusted his mood and knocked on the door of Lu Fan's office.

"Secretary, I'm here to report on work."

Lu Fan looked up and said, "Oh, Station Head Deng, sit down, pour yourself some water."

"No need, I just had some in the office. I would like to report on the Animal Husbandry Station's work for this year."

Lu Fan nodded and said, "I would like to understand the relevant support policies from the central, provincial, municipal, and county levels."

"Very well, Secretary. Regarding shed-feeding, the province is implementing the construction of 10 million organic sheep farms and has designated 8 meat sheep base counties for key support. Our Ningyang is among them. The sheep-raising subsidy standards are: for breeding sheep farms with a stock of 500 or more foundation ewes, a subsidy of 200,000 yuan per farm; for standardized meat sheep fattening farms with a stock of 1,000 or more, a subsidy of 200,000 yuan per farm; for meat sheep raising households or family farms with a stock of 200 or more, a subsidy of 50,000 yuan per household, organized and implemented by the Municipal Animal Husbandry Bureau..."

He spoke fluently for over twenty minutes without a single pause. He had memorized all the policies, which gave Lu Fan an intuitive understanding of the support policies. It was no wonder that most people recommended him when opinions were being sought.

After finishing the work report, Deng Qingwen gathered his courage and said, "Secretary, the township still has a vacancy for a Deputy Township Head, and I would like to strive for it."

Lu Fan said, "Wanting to progress is a good thing, but progress must rely on solid work. The position of Deputy Township Head is indeed vacant. The township wants to vigorously develop the greenhouse industry this year, with the goal of tripling the existing 200 greenhouses. Therefore, I want to leave this position for a cadre who can get things done, dares to act, and does practical work!"

Deng Qingwen considered for a moment and said, "Secretary, I can do it! Goumen Village, which I am responsible for, is the village group with the best greenhouse industry development in the whole township. I am familiar with the policies in this area. As long as the policies are implemented properly and the masses are mobilized, I have the confidence to complete the tasks assigned by the organization!"

"Station Head Deng, having confidence is a good thing, but one cannot be blindly optimistic. You must recognize our shortcomings and have concrete methods. Tell me, what problems need to be solved if Baishu Bay wants to develop the greenhouse industry?"

"Secretary, as far as the whole county is concerned, the greenhouse industry ranks first in agricultural industries. However, due to limitations in soil, transportation, and especially water sources, the scale cannot be increased here. Because the cultural quality of the masses is low and they are slow to master new technologies, our greenhouse efficiency can only reach the lower-middle level of the county, with an average annual income per greenhouse of only about 8,000 yuan. Therefore, the primary task is to solve the technical problem. We need to invite experts in and go out to learn. Moreover, we don't need to go far; Zhouchuan Town is the best object for learning. It would be even better if the County Agriculture Bureau and Vegetable Bureau could station a few technicians here year-round..."

Another ten-plus minutes passed. Lu Fan sighed; the grassroots forge people, and the grassroots have capable people. They are more familiar with the situation at the grassroots level and once had dreams, but most were buried. After seeing no hope, they muddled through their days. Those who spoke too much were even ridiculed, so it was better to be indistinguishable from the crowd and lie flat until retirement.

Lu Fan nodded appreciatively and said, "Qingwen, it seems you have a plan in your chest and have indeed thought about these things. Since you are so confident, the Township Party Committee must build a platform for cadres who are willing to work. I will do my best to help you strive for this Deputy Township Head position. You can start planning your work now; the focus will be on the greenhouse and forestry/fruit industries. I hope I haven't misjudged you!"

Deng Qingwen said excitedly, "Secretary, I will definitely not let you down. Just watch my performance!"

A general on the march does not chase small rabbits.

A single beam cannot support a house. The main responsibility of a "top leader" is to set the direction, grasp major events, and plan the overall situation. No matter how great one's ability is, one cannot finish all the work. The key is to mobilize the enthusiasm of the team members and cadres, then take on the heaviest burdens, chew the hardest bones, and become the lubricant for the efficient operation of the leadership team, the adhesive for close unity, and the catalyst for stimulating potential.

After implementing several ideas to specific responsible persons, Lu Fan had the office draft several documents according to his own ideas and returned to Ningyang on Friday afternoon.

After dropping Lu Fan off at home, the driver Zhang Fan said, "Secretary, just say the word if you need the car; I am on standby at any time."

"No need, you take your normal rest on the weekend. The Eight-point Regulation has just been implemented and is currently in the spotlight. Be careful and do not use the official car for private purposes."

"Please rest assured, Secretary, I will not violate the regulations."

Returning home, it was cold and desolate. In a trance, he seemed to see Liqiong busy in the kitchen.

There were things he wanted to say, but looking around, there was no one. If I hadn't met you, I could have endured the loneliness!

Before long, Ding Tongxin arrived with several food boxes and also brought two bottles of wine.

After entering, she said with a look of guilt, "Lu Fan, it was Xiaoyi and my lack of consideration. I'm sorry!"

Lu Fan gave a miserable smile and said, "A person's fate is destined by heaven. Everything is arranged by heaven; apart from accepting it, there is no other choice. Let's not mention the past. You two must forget about this matter completely!"

Opening the food boxes, Ding Tongxin said, "Eat something. I'll drink with you."

Just as they sat down, there was another knock on the door. Du Wenlong and Liu Jin Zhu arrived, also bringing some food and wine.

Lu Fan laughed, "Everyone is afraid I'll starve to death. Let's eat together!"

"Brother Fan, Ji Luhui insisted on drunk driving. The traffic police team's handling opinion has come out; it is a negligent crime, convicted and punished as the crime of causing a traffic accident. It is estimated that the court will sentence him to at most three years."

"Jin Zhu, thank you for your hard work!" Lu Fan didn't say anything else and silently drank a glass of wine.

Du Wenlong knew Brother Fan was suffering inside and said bitterly, "Damn it, I could cause an accident while drunk driving too!"

Lu Fan stared fiercely at Du Wenlong and said, "If you say such bullshit again, we won't be brothers! Let's stop this topic here. No one is allowed to mention it again in the future. Next year, you and Jin Zhu will have been working for three years. Considering how to get promoted is the real business!"

Liu Jin Zhu sighed, "Brother Fan, I estimate there's no chance. There are as many old cadres queuing up in the bureau as there are hairs on an ox. Who knows when it will be my turn!"

Lu Fan said, "Your Bureau Chief Su isn't that pure and flawless. Didn't you visit him during festivals without being rejected? It's just a small deputy section level. If it's hard to get promoted in the bureau, then find a way to be sent down to the police station to raise your level first. If others spend three, you take ten; don't be reluctant!"

"Brother Fan, I know now. I won't be reluctant!"

"Brother Fan, I estimate I have a bit of a chance. The leader in charge and the section chief are very satisfied with me, and I often interact with them."

"That's useless. In your Discipline Inspection Commission, promotions are decided by Secretary Luo. Moreover, there are many leadership positions in the Discipline Inspection Commission, which is much easier than the Public Security Bureau. When doing things, you must grasp the core. When the New Year comes, load the 'gunpowder' heavier. First, throw a stone to ask the way; as long as they accept it, there won't be a big problem. Wait until the eve of the promotion to place a 'heavy bet'."

Cup after cup, tasting the bitter wine in the glass; the wine in the glass is full of heartlessness, and there is no one left in one's eyes to cherish. What is being drunk is not wine, but worries that are hard to swallow.

Life is nothing more than two taels of wine, one tael of heartache and one tael of sorrow. Heartache brews bitter wine, bitter wine folds smoke into the throat, no wind, no moon, and no you.

He drank more than a bottle before he got himself drunk and fell into a deep sleep.

Lu Fan woke up at six in the morning; his biological clock had become like this. After getting up, he drove directly to the cemetery to keep Liqiong company.

Life has three thousand illnesses, but only lovesickness is the hardest to cure. Lu Fan sat for most of the day; only here could he feel the company of his beloved.

Smoking, his heart was calm. Lu Fan muttered to himself: Everyone hopes to be loved, to be held in the palm of someone's hand, to be loved passionately, to watch the sea and the stars together. You are gone, who will help me piece together my shattered life!

The heart is broken, the tears are dry, the pain is in the marrow. No one knows how helpless and collapsed the difficult days are. Every night lying on the bed, looking at the ceiling in confusion, when will I be able to turn the tide against the wind?

This road must be walked; even if you cry while walking, you must walk with your head held high.

Sunrise at the top of the mountain, watching the morning sun rise slowly, the gorgeous light spilling over the earth, another day full of vitality has begun.

There is no pain or trouble in heaven; everything is fine!

At noon, County Committee Office Director Guo Tongyu summoned him. Lu Fan went to the appointment and found that Health Bureau Director Li Daqiang, Agriculture Bureau Director Shi Qiancheng, and Forestry Bureau Deputy Director Chen Shuai were also there, so he hurriedly greeted everyone enthusiastically.

In a county town, one must distinguish who is from which township and where they have worked, using this to classify fellow villagers, classmates, and comrades-in-arms to discuss closeness. This faction or that system, visible or invisible, can condense into a relatively solid community of interests. This is the ecology in a county town, and this concept is deeply rooted.

If you are an outsider, even if you work and live here, you cannot truly integrate into the so-called circle. This situation has been passed down for thousands of years and is difficult to truly eradicate.

If life in a big city is unsatisfactory, and one later returns to their hometown county, they will soon fall in love with the small county because, relying on family resources, they will be like a fish in water in the small county and begin to taste the life of a superior person.

Once they taste the marrow and know the flavor, they will fall in love with this wonderful taste; and the small county is ultimately controlled by such people. Lu Fan is now qualified to enter the circle, so naturally, he will be recruited by many circles.

While drinking, Lu Fan mentioned the support to Agriculture Bureau Director Li Daqiang. Director Li took full responsibility, stating that within the scope of the policy, he would absolutely go all out to support Lu Fan's work. This is the benefit of the circle. ===== CHAPTER 108 =====