Chapter 145

Life is a practice, full of endless challenges and tests. Everyone will experience various setbacks and hardships. Too much helplessness leaves people at a loss, and too much grievance leaves people with nowhere to complain.

Gao Yuanfei suddenly asked: "Do you have a grudge against Secretary Le Xueren?"

Lu Fan pondered for a long time and said: "Secretary, it's a long story! My father was a forest farm worker. When he was alive, it was my happiest time. When I was in elementary school, our family had a conflict with the Le family over a homestead. My father was seriously injured by Le Xueli and Le Xuezhi, which left him with a root of illness, and he passed away after more than a year. It can be said that I have an irreconcilable hatred with the Le family!"

Gao Yuanfei asked again: "Then your girlfriend's car accident, that wasn't an accident either?"

Lu Fan said sorrowfully: "Secretary, I can guarantee that it was done by Le Xuezhi, that is, the fourth son of the Le family!"

Gao Yuanfei felt very heavy; this matter was no small thing! If not handled well, it would bring disaster and trouble to himself. After all, Le Xueren was the Municipal Party Committee Secretary!

Seeking advantages and avoiding disadvantages, and weighing pros and cons, is human nature, and even more so for political figures.

Seeing Gao Yuanfei in a difficult position, for the sake of his own future, Lu Fan decided to give him some confidence: "If it weren't for the care of County Head Han Xuyang, I wouldn't have been able to enter the system, let alone have the opportunity to serve you. However, Uncle Han was framed by that despicable villain Le Xueyi and eventually ended up in prison. Fortunately, Director Han is in his prime, and Uncle Han is now out, finally escaping the sea of bitterness."

Lu Fan's words indeed put Gao Yuanfei in a dilemma. On one side was the former Executive Vice Mayor of Yingjiang, now the Hanjiang Municipal Party Committee Secretary; to be honest, he didn't want to offend him.

On the other side was the Director of the Provincial Department of Finance, who was not a bit inferior to the Municipal Party Committee Secretary, and in fact, had even greater real power and could provide more help to his work.

But this Le Xueren, when he was in Yingjiang before, he couldn't get close to him and had no deep friendship with him, just a normal superior-subordinate relationship. On the contrary, with Director Han, Lu Fan helped him build a relationship with him, and this "God of Wealth" had just given support of 200 million, which was truly significant.

When encountering things, slowing down makes them round. Gao Yuanfei decided to wait and see the situation, letting the bullets fly for a while, so he said: "Xiaofan, don't be depressed. Just treat it as giving yourself a vacation, take a rest first, recharge your energy, and get ready to go!"

Not hearing anything nutritious, Lu Fan sighed inwardly. He could understand Gao Yuanfei's hidden difficulties; after all, there was no deep entanglement of interests between them, and Gao Yuanfei naturally had no obligation to offend the Municipal Party Committee Secretary because of him.

Facing such a thorny situation, Lu Fan couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

In fact, this was not the first time Lu Fan had worried about such a terrible situation. However, no matter how he predicted and prepared, when this day really came, he still felt powerless to change the situation. Many times, the development of things is not controlled by personal will; no matter how hard one tries, it is difficult to change the final result.

"Secretary, when will I return to the county?"

"I'm telling you now; the five-person group meeting has already passed it. I plan to convene a Standing Committee meeting this afternoon. The Municipal Organization Department is urging us tightly; they have already started the appointment procedure for Niu Qinghe."

"Secretary, give me three more days. Some work still needs to be wrapped up; I don't want to leave too many regrets!"

"Okay, the transfer document will be issued in three days. Still the same saying, 'trees die when moved, people live when moved'; taking a step back might lead to a vast sky!"

"Thank you, Secretary!" Lu Fan nodded silently. He knew that saying more was useless, so he turned and left Gao Yuanfei's office, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

Returning to Baishu Bay, Lu Fan immediately convened a Township Party Committee meeting to study two major events. First, the year-end bonus for all cadres; Lu Fan clearly required it to be issued according to the county's first-tier standard, with general cadres receiving the 6,000-yuan standard, to be issued immediately.

Second, the implementation of various policies benefiting farmers from the township-level finance. There were still millions lying in the township government's account, all of which Lu Fan had begged and pleaded for; naturally, he couldn't let others take advantage of it. He simply issued all the subsidies for sheep farming, greenhouse planting, medicinal herb planting, and fish farming in one go.

Thus, Baishu Bay Township's vigorous "money-distributing" operation began!

The faces of the township government cadres were filled with joyful smiles. Except for the monthly "wimp" pay, being able to receive nearly two months' extra salary at the end of the year—such a good thing only happened since Secretary Lu came. It really was like changing a knife when changing a person!

In private, everyone praised Secretary Lu endlessly, praising him for being generous and magnanimous. Working with such a leader was a pleasure!

Since Secretary Lu took office, everything had become different, and Baishu Bay finally had hope!

Just at this time, many industrial households in Baishu Bay suddenly received an urgent notice from the cadres assigned to the village: Secretary Lu required that the application materials for the reward and subsidy funds must be prepared within one day. Facing such an urgent task, these industrial households couldn't help but be a bit flustered, but fortunately, the cadres assigned to the village came to guide them in person, telling them in detail how to fill out the forms correctly.

Originally, everyone was prepared to wait, thinking that it would take at least a few days to get this subsidy. However, to everyone's surprise, just one day later, the subsidy funds had already been deposited into the accounts of various villages in full. Such efficiency was truly astonishing!

In his own office, Lu Fan began to organize his work. Using these three days, he tidied up all the work at hand. Things that needed to be done were done immediately, such as the funds for Meng Qingchi's application for geographical indication certification, which were reimbursed in full to avoid leaving "sequelae."

At the same time, he was also thinking about his future. He knew that this transfer might be a turning point in his life, and he wondered how he could make a comeback against the wind.

Three days was very short. After handling everything he could think of, Lu Fan called Township Head Cui Mingliang into his office and told him that he was leaving Baishu Bay!

The sudden news shocked Cui Mingliang to the extreme, and he couldn't help but say: "Why so sudden? We didn't make any mistakes, did we? Secretary Lu, is there any room for maneuver?"

Lu Fan sighed and said: "The matter is set in stone. I estimate the document will be drafted tonight; someone is coming to Baishu Bay!"

"Damn it, isn't this picking peaches? We've worked ourselves to death this year, and Baishu Bay finally has some hope. This is really fucking shameless!"

"Old Cui, complaining about heaven and others is useless; we can only accept reality. In the year I've worked with you, we've gotten along very well. Thank you very much for your support in my work.

Everything I need to hand over is on the table; I'll leave it to you. I won't be coming back to Baishu Bay for the time being!" No matter who came, Lu Fan would never go to "kiss their ass."

"Secretary, I understand. Sigh, what the hell is this!"

In the dead of night, Baishu Bay was silent.

Du Wenlong and Yang Minghao drove a car to Baishu Bay. The car stopped at the entrance of the township government, and after getting out, the two walked straight to Lu Fan's office.

They silently packed Lu Fan's luggage without any extra verbal communication. Everything was so quiet and fast, as if they were afraid of waking up this sleeping small town.

Lu Fan stood to the side, watching the busy figures of the two. His eyes revealed a deep attachment and reluctance; this was the place where his dreams once set sail, but now he was forced to leave.

He silently watched the courtyard of the township government; those familiar buildings, flowers, plants, and trees, as well as the laughter and joy that once remained, all became exceptionally precious at this moment.

Finally, the luggage was moved onto the car. Lu Fan took a deep breath, turned his head, and cast his gaze one last time toward Baishu Bay in the pitch-black night. The moonlight spilled over the earth, illuminating the distant mountains and the nearby houses. This small village had witnessed his growth and efforts and also carried too many beautiful memories.

Lu Fan waved, saying goodbye to this small township of "returning to Chang'an for the second time."

He knew that the road of life is always full of variables and challenges, but no matter what the future holds, the experience in Baishu Bay would become an indelible memory in his heart.

The car drove further and further away, and Lu Fan's figure was gradually swallowed by the endless darkness.

However, deep in his heart, that firm persistence for dreams and light had not diminished in the slightest.

He knew clearly that complaining about heaven and others was just a futile effort. Since his own strength was insufficient, he would try his best to grow and progress. There was no other choice.

Ahead, there must be a more vast sky waiting for him to spread his wings and fly high.

The next morning, the sun spilled over the remote small town of Baishu Bay.

However, a mysterious document from the County Party Committee Organization Department was like a blockbuster, instantly detonating the entire township.

Just today, that Secretary Lu, who was highly praised by all the cadres and masses in the township, had actually been quietly transferred away overnight!

You must know that meeting a good leader with both virtue and talent in one place is as rare as hitting the jackpot or winning the top prize.

And now, just when Baishu Bay had begun to show signs of vigorous development, Secretary Lu had left without warning, and even his new job position had not yet been determined. This undoubtedly could only point to one fact: someone was attempting to sit back and enjoy the fruits of others' labor, coming to "pick the fruits of victory"!

Under the "explanation" of Township Head Cui Mingliang, for a time, the township government cadres were full of complaints. Everyone expressed indignation and dissatisfaction with this "peach-picking" behavior, and curses were heard one after another. After all, everyone had just received tangible benefits from Secretary Lu.

At the same time, the masses of Baishu Bay were also filled with righteous indignation. Although Secretary Lu had only been here for one year, the changes he brought were obvious to all.

Everyone has a scale in their heart to distinguish right from wrong; who is sincerely for the people and who is hypocritical, they naturally know clearly!

Niu Qinghe hadn't arrived yet, but his bad reputation had already arrived in Baishu Bay in advance. If he did well, that was fine, but if he did worse than Lu Fan, the scolding in comparison would be even worse, and Township Head Cui Mingliang also seemed to have some thoughts.

But no matter what, it couldn't change one fact: Lu Fan's mission in Baishu Bay had been forced to an end!