Chapter 18: Misfortune and Fortune Depend on Each Other

Just after the career unit recruitment exam ended, the exam papers were collected and sent to a commercial vehicle parked on campus. Han Xuyang drove away from Ningyang with five people, including the Director of the Human Resources Bureau and the Deputy Secretary of Discipline Inspection. No one knew where they were going.

The offices of every County Committee and County Government leader were overcrowded with Ningyang "power brokers" wanting to pull strings for their children. Ordinary people couldn't even find the temple door even if they carried a pig's head. The recruitment affected the hearts of everyone in the county.

Guo Mingxiong gave a death order at the Standing Committee meeting: no one was allowed to pull strings or use back doors. Once verified, responsibility would be pursued according to the law. This recruitment work must be conducted in the sunlight.

A few days later, Han Xuyang appeared at the County Government. The results of the recruitment exam that day were posted at the gate of the County Government. Guo Mingxiong's instruction was to make a quick decision; the longer it dragged on, the more troublesome things would be.

Several bulletin boards were surrounded by crowds, all coming to see if their children were on the list.

Before long, exclamations of "tsk tsk" were heard. Someone said: "My son passed! Heaven has opened its eyes, I didn't spend a penny!"

"Eh, my nephew also passed! Great news, this exam is very fair!"

Other candidates were discussing: "Why didn't Li Fei pass? His father is a director?"

Listening to everyone's discussion, Lu Fan also squeezed into the crowd, looking at the 388 names over and over again, disappointed over and over again. There were few people with the surname Lu on the list, let alone the two characters "Lu Fan." The last glimmer of luck was shattered!

Lu Fan returned to the construction site, picked up his books, and pinned all his hopes on two years later.

On November 10th, the County Hospital was bustling. The admitted candidates began physical examinations and political reviews.

On November 15th, the County Government held an executive meeting. The last agenda item was the Human Resources Bureau reporting the distribution plan for the 388 admitted career unit staff.

When he saw the name "Lu Fan," Deputy County Chief Le Xueyi couldn't believe his eyes. He looked at it several times, and the image of the child full of hatred in the village immediately appeared in his mind.

He had long heard that there was a child whose parents were both dead on the special care list, but he didn't expect it to be him!

Le Xueyi was unsettled!

He concluded that if this Lu Fan ever gained power, he would definitely be the biggest hidden danger for the Le family, and might even become a disaster.

The boat was already built; Le Xueyi didn't intend to overturn the result, but no matter what, he couldn't let this kid enter the County Government Office!

After the Human Resources Bureau Director finished reporting, the leaders spoke one by one, all agreeing, because those with personal demands had already been handled privately.

No one expected that an accident would happen at County Chief Le's turn.

Le Xueyi said: "County Chief, comrades, I have no opinion on the others, but I think the distribution of this Lu Fan is not very appropriate. To tell you the truth, I am from the same village as Lu Fan. His parents are both dead, and his father was a worker at the forest farm before he died. Let's talk behind closed doors. This belongs to organizational care, reflecting the County Committee and County Government's care and humanitarian spirit. But I think doing such a good deed shouldn't be publicized, and he shouldn't be placed in a high-profile department like the Government Office, lest people discuss it, causing a negative impact on the government and turning a good deed into a bad one."

County Chief Li Guoquan felt it made sense. This matter didn't have much to do with him anyway, so he asked: "Xueyi, since you know something about Lu Fan, tell us your opinion. Which position should he be assigned to?"

Le Xueyi blurted out: "Baishu Bay Forest Farm!"

Han Xuyang was a bit angry. He knew that this career unit recruitment was basically arranged in county-level departments, and a few people went to the traffic police team and the police station.

This guy not only rejected his plan but also wanted to exile Lu Fan to the most remote township and the worst position!

Just as he was about to explode, he was interrupted by the County Chief. Li Guoquan directly expressed his agreement.

He certainly couldn't refute the main leader's face on the spot, so Han Xuyang could only suppress his anger, feeling very unwilling.

This job assignment was handled by him, and with leaders pulling strings, more than a hundred people were adjusted, but the person he most wanted to take care of wasn't taken care of!

After the meeting, Han Xuyang waited for Le Xueyi and joked: "Old Le, do you have a grudge against that Lu Fan?"

Le Xueyi pretended to be indifferent: "No? I am thinking for the overall situation. Don't you think what I said makes sense?"

"Hehe, people do, heaven watches!"

"Old Han, what do you mean by that? Is such a small matter worth raising to such a level?"

"Sorry, just a feeling! County Chief Le, your younger brother is very excellent!"

"County Chief Han, if there is any misunderstanding, please make it clear."

"Forget it, some things are hard to make clear, lest I be targeted!" After saying that, he turned and left.

Le Xueyi had a gloomy face and left the meeting room last, cursing.

Returning to his office, Han Xuyang dialed Lu Fan's phone.

Lu Fan was doing accounts. When the phone rang, he looked up and saw it was County Chief Han. He immediately became unsettled, answered the phone, and said: "Hello, County Chief Han!"

"Xiaofan, come to my office, Room 306 of the County Government building!"

"Okay, I'll be there right away!"

Hanging up the phone, Lu Fan ran directly to the street and hailed a taxi to the County Government!

Walking into the government building, he saw people coming and going in every office, and the leading cadres looked busy!

Finding 306, Lu Fan knocked carefully, and the familiar voice "Please come in" came from inside!

Lu Fan pushed the office door open gently and saw Han Xuyang sitting at his desk writing furiously. He said softly: "Hello, County Chief Han!"

Han Xuyang looked up and said: "Sit down first, pour yourself some water, wait for me to finish approving these documents."

Lu Fan sat properly on the sofa.

Before long, Han Xuyang put down his pen and smiled: "Xiaofan, both the government executive meeting and the standing committee meeting have passed. Go to the school to get your file, submit it to the Human Resources Bureau before November 28th, and report to the unit on December 1st."

Lu Fan didn't expect a turn for the better and said excitedly: "Thank you, County Chief Han!"

Seeing Lu Fan's excited look, Han Xuyang wanted to teach him and said: "Don't be excited. Remember, no matter when, no matter what happens, you must be able to keep your joy and anger off your face, your likes and dislikes off your expression, and your sorrow and joy off your face, otherwise it's hard to become a great talent!"

Lu Fan said humbly: "Thank you for your teaching!"

"Xiaofan, do you know County Chief Le Xueyi?"

Lu Fan said with grief and indignation: "I know him. Back then, my father was beaten by his two younger brothers, suffered a lingering illness, and died without a cure!"

Han Xuyang suddenly realized and said: "No wonder he wanted to block your future. Originally, I planned to keep you in the Government Office to take care of you, but who knew Le Xueyi would interfere and ruin the matter. You have to go to work at the Baishu Bay Township Forest Farm."

Although he didn't understand the ins and outs of the system, Lu Fan at least knew the gap between the Government Office and Baishu Bay. One was in the county town, working beside the leaders, and the other was in the most remote township doing nothing. Even a fool knew it was the difference between clouds and mud.

Han Xuyang comforted him: "At least you have a job. Going to Baishu Bay is a foregone conclusion. It's beautiful there..."

As he spoke, Han Xuyang couldn't continue and changed his words: "You settle down and work first, and we'll see if there's a chance to transfer you back later."

Then, Han Xuyang told Lu Fan some precautions in the unit, as well as some experience and insights, which benefited Lu Fan a lot. ===== CHAPTER 19 =====