Chapter 108: Affirmation from the County Party Committee Secretary

On Sunday, high school classmate Huang Xiaoyu invited everyone to dinner to celebrate passing the provincial-level targeted recruitment of grassroots political and legal organ police officers. The position he applied for was the Municipal Public Security Bureau, which for an ordinary family is a step to the sky.

Arriving at the restaurant, Lu Fan secretly slipped Huang Xiaoyu a shopping card. He had gone to Lilang Menswear to get it when he came; it had a face value of 2,000 yuan to express his congratulations.

Several close classmates gathered together, firstly to celebrate Huang Xiaoyu's successful landing, and secondly to congratulate Lu Fan on his promotion to Township Secretary.

Everyone's goal was to enter the system, so naturally, they understood the gold content of this Secretary position. Even in the most remote township, it is the ceiling for ordinary people.

While drinking, everyone didn't mention a word about Chen Liqiong's matter, for fear of making Lu Fan sad.

Lu Fan didn't refuse anyone and took the initiative to attack. After a bottle and a half of white wine, he got himself drunk again. Only by getting drunk can one relieve a thousand sorrows.

On Monday, Lu Fan tidied himself up and called Township Head Cui Mingliang to go to the County Party Committee Office together.

Returning to the "base," Lu Fan received a warm reception from his colleagues. Gao Yuanfei's new secretary, Zhou Jinghong, diligently served tea and water because this secretary was recommended by Lu Fan. Several deputy directors also took the initiative to invite Lu Fan to sit in their offices for a while.

Before long, Office Director Guo Tongyu arrived and called Lu Fan and Cui Mingliang directly into his office, asking with a smile, "I guessed you would come today. After two weeks down there, have you figured out the clues?"

Lu Fan handed a copy of the prepared materials to Guo Tongyu and said, "Director, the development of Baishu Bay needs everyone's strong support. You have great prestige, and I still need your help to coordinate with the Municipal Forestry Bureau."

"No problem. You should do the basic work first. We must know who to look for and what we want. It's best to be specific."

Lu Fan had been a secretary and knew the importance of the people around the leaders. They can report the achievements in your work to the leaders silently, and speaking well of you is very useful.

Before they had chatted for long, Zhou Jinghong came in to say that Secretary Gao had arrived, so Lu Fan hurriedly stood up.

Entering Gao Yuanfei's office, the secretary poured tea and withdrew. Lu Fan smiled and said, "Secretary, we are here to report on work."

"I'll give you forty minutes. There is a video conference at 8:30, and I have to speak."

Lu Fan didn't dare to delay and immediately began to report: "Secretary, after careful investigation and research by the Township Party Committee and extensive solicitation of opinions, we have clarified the development ideas for Baishu Bay for the next few years. We will focus on creating five major industries, striving to make Baishu Bay's economic and social development double in one year, take on a new look in two years, and be reborn in three years, with the per capita net income of rural residents reaching over 20,000 yuan."

Gao Yuanfei laughed, "You are bragging a bit too much. This year, the per capita net income of rural residents in the whole county is 8,045 yuan, an increase of 16.0%. You are boasting too much. You haven't been in the township for many days, but you've learned the township style quite well. Be practical!"

"Secretary, achieving this goal is definitely not aimless. First, we must go all out to develop the 'coffin' industry. Utilizing Baishu Bay's high-quality wood and manual technology advantages, we will create a cooperative + forestry household model, planning to hand-craft 1,000—2,000 coffins annually, achieving an output value of over 50 million yuan and driving employment for over 300 people;

Second, vigorously develop the thyme mutton industry. Secretary, you know how fragrant Baishu Bay's thyme mutton is; it is in short supply during festivals. We have unique advantages. This year, we strive for a sheep stock of over 10,000, and double it year after year, achieving an output value of over 30 million yuan, making thyme mutton truly a pillar industry of Baishu Bay."

Gao Yuanfei interrupted, "Relying on the mountains to eat from the mountains, relying on the water to eat from the water—the idea is very correct. If these two goals can really be achieved, I will record a great merit for you! But knowing is easy and doing is difficult; doing is better than saying. It is easier to say than to do, and it is very difficult to really achieve it. There are many things in the middle that need to be solved. I hope you can persist in working towards this goal."

Lu Fan said, "Secretary, please rest assured, these ideas are collective decisions made after our careful consideration. We will definitely overcome difficulties and never give up until we reach our goal! I will continue to report to you. The third goal: vigorously develop the greenhouse industry. This year's goal is to at least double it twice, developing to over 600 greenhouses of various types, and making great efforts to improve the economic benefits of the greenhouses, achieving an output value of over 20 million yuan.

Fourth, Baishu Bay has a large amount of plantain, licorice, rhubarb, angelica, codonopsis, and natural fungus, etc. We must transform these resource advantages into economic benefits, vigorously develop artificial planting, and achieve an output value of over 10 million yuan, planning a new way out for the masses of Baishu Bay to increase their income.

Fifth, vigorously develop and exploit reservoir and dam resources, establish fish farming cooperatives, and broaden the channels for the masses to increase their income. Baishu Bay has 45 reservoirs and dams of various sizes, with a water area of 4,000 mu. We plan to hire provincial and municipal fishery experts to conduct face-to-face technical training for the masses and organize the masses to go out to visit and learn fish farming technology. We plan to stock fish fry in 28 reservoirs and dams, with the number of fish reaching 4 million, and the fishery output value reaching over 50 million yuan.

Sixth, attract investment from the whole population, adhering to the concept of 'whatever you pick into the basket is a dish,' actively attacking according to the resource advantages of Baishu Bay, and striving to introduce a cement plant..."

Gao Yuanfei became more and more interested as he listened, and he kept writing and calculating with a pen. After Lu Fan finished reporting, he laughed, "50 million + 30 million + 20 million + 10 million + 50 million, you have drawn me a big cake of 160 million in a moment. Baishu Bay's annual GDP is only about 10 million. If it can really be achieved, then I don't have to worry about next year's economic growth point? I see that you are talking reasonably and have great confidence!"

"To tell you the truth, I was indeed moved by what you said, but to achieve the goals you mentioned, it ultimately depends on the implementation of one practical thing after another, the implementation of one project after another, and the promotion of one task after another. The leadership team must take the lead in doing things, have the courage to take responsibility, and strive to solve the difficulties encountered in development."

"Only by fighting will you win; a good life is fought for and worked for. I hope you will always maintain such a spirit of forging ahead and daring to fight, conform to the masses' expectation for a happy life, and realize the 'brag' you blew!"

"Tell me, what requirements do you have? The County Party Committee fully supports the development of Baishu Bay."

Lu Fan hurriedly said, "Without the strong support of the County Party Committee, we cannot develop. Baishu Bay Township has poor site conditions, serious soil desertification, a weak economic foundation, and the masses have low cultural quality and are slow to accept new things. If we want to develop the industry, we must have solid financial investment."

"There is not a single asphalt road in the township. The two roads connecting the township are dilapidated, bumpy, and uneven. They are passable in sunny weather but blocked in rain, making travel very difficult, and the masses are complaining. As for the roads connecting village to village, they are almost dirt roads, and a jingle circulates among the masses: 'Going out basically relies on walking'."

"I want to take advantage of the opportunity of building key poverty alleviation villages to build 65 kilometers of new village-level roads in the whole township, repair and widen 35 kilometers, and connect 81 natural villages with roads, so that the problem of difficult travel can be fundamentally alleviated."

"Vigorously developing the industry also requires solving the problem of production roads. This requirement is not high; just paving brick roads will do. It is estimated that an investment of about 4 million yuan is needed."

"Water is the fundamental guarantee for development. This year, the township plans to invest 5 million yuan to drill 35 new machine-drilled wells, laying a solid foundation for the development of various industries such as greenhouse planting and livestock breeding in the whole township."

"In terms of industrial development, we need key support from various departments..."

After another ten-plus minutes, Gao Yuanfei looked at his watch and said, "I have to go to a meeting. I have noted down what you said."

Lu Fan knew the leader's style of doing things very well; this was using the "drag" tactic, so he hurriedly said, "Secretary, you go to the meeting first. I will continue to report after the meeting."

Gao Yuanfei sighed and said, "I also want to support you, but there are only so many dishes in the basket, and both the palm and the back of the hand are meat. How about this: you make a table of all the projects that need support, clearly mark those with higher-level funding support, let me see how much money you want, and how much money the county government needs to take out. Xiaofan, it's not that I'm dampening your enthusiasm, but the county's finances are not well-off, and it's impossible to take out so much money to support Baishu Bay relying on local finances."

Lu Fan took out a table like magic and reported, "Secretary, everything is planned. There are 9 infrastructure construction projects, requiring an investment of 88 million yuan, all within the policy scope. There are provincial and municipal support funds, but they need to be strived for. Among them, road construction requires the county to provide a certain amount of matching funds, about 6 million yuan; there are 4 major categories of industrial subsidies, 7 projects, with an estimated subsidy fund of 26 million yuan, which can also fit the policy, and there are provincial and municipal reward and subsidy funds. However, in order to accelerate development, I want to apply for the county finance to provide a special support fund of 5 million yuan. Please take a look."

"You are a township, and you want 11 million without any movement? I'll take a look first, don't hold too much hope." After speaking, Gao Yuanfei got up and went to the meeting.

When Secretary Zhou Jinghong helped organize the water cups and documents, Lu Fan pointed to the project table and gave him a wink.

Zhou Jinghong immediately understood and put the table together with other documents. Secretary Gao also needs to approve documents when he is in a meeting.

Next, Lu Fan took Cui Mingliang to the office of County Party Committee Deputy Secretary Bian Jide and reported the development ideas of Baishu Bay for this year without any deviation.

After listening, Bian Jide laughed, "I don't manage projects or money, so it's useless to report to me. However, your work ideas and energy are worth praising. I feel that if you persist, there is a lot to be done."

Lu Fan said, "Secretary, you are the Deputy Secretary. What doesn't need your nod? It's almost the Spring Festival. I don't even need to 'brag' about Baishu Bay's mutton. When you connect with higher-level work this year, you can't leave the opportunity for 'local specialties' to others."

"You! Baishu Bay does have poor conditions, and it's not easy to do something. You find an excuse and make an application for 300,000 to the labor union, and I will say hello."

"Thank you so much, Secretary! We just happened to hold a staff sports meeting this year." ===== CHAPTER 109 =====