Chapter 183

Lu Fan smiled and said: "According to the Education Bureau's previous management regulations, student cafeteria outsourcing contracts are signed once every half year or one year and must be filed with the Education Bureau. If you signed a half-year contract, then the outsourcing period still has two or three months left, right?"

Upon hearing this, the contractors' faces darkened.

Lu Fan continued: "Let's not talk about how you got hold of this cafeteria, nor whether you considered the kids in your operations—I can overlook those. The Education Bureau's unified management of student cafeterias is to let the children eat well, reduce the burden on parents, a good policy benefiting the whole county. For just these two or three months of the outsourcing period, you're making a big fuss, running to the County Committee and County Government to petition—is that necessary?"

Fat Head Big Ear said: "Even after the outsourcing period ends, we can still renew! We've been outsourcing for several years, and parents and students are quite satisfied!"

"Whether you're satisfied or not isn't up to you; we can invite some parent and student representatives to voice their opinions here. I'll provide the roster, you decide the selection—how about that? We'll randomly draw 50 people; if more than half are satisfied, you can continue to operate this cafeteria—how about that?"

Several contractors looked at each other, speechless.

Seeing this, Lu Fan struck while the iron was hot: "The contract was signed jointly by you and the school; if we terminate it, the outsourcing fee certainly won't cause you a loss—I can decide to refund the full half-year outsourcing fee to you. How about that?"

Several people whispered among themselves, and Fat Head Big Ear spoke for everyone: "Director Lu, what about the loss for these three months? Also, after the contract is terminated, our livelihood will be cut off—either arrange some work for us or give us compensation!"

This society is sick; in many cases, whoever causes a disturbance gets the benefit—this has become a widespread consensus!

Lu Fan didn't want to waste words with them; he stood up and said: "Since you care so much about the contract, fine—let's not terminate the outsourcing contract for now. You can continue to operate the student cafeterias of these three schools! Any other demands?"

"Ah?" several exclaimed, the matter was resolved just like that?

Fat Head Big Ear asked: "Director Lu, what about the renewal?"

Lu Fan said indifferently: "There's no such thing as renewal; the Education Bureau has issued a document, which you've surely seen—it's set in stone, with no room for negotiation. I guarantee that starting next semester, there will be no outsourced student cafeterias anywhere in the county."

"Then what should we do?"

Lu Fan said firmly: "Follow the contract; if you think there's an issue, you can sue in court, and the Education Bureau will resolutely obey and enforce the court's ruling!"

Several contractors stared dumbfounded, their hearts filled with bewilderment—this development was completely unlike what they had imagined! They felt they hadn't gotten even a single hair's worth.

Moreover, now they've promised not to terminate the contract—what should we do next?

Fat Head Big Ear hurriedly said: "Director Lu, let's have a good talk; some things aren't clear yet, and we have other demands as well!"

Lu Fan remained calm and patient, communicating with these people, listening to their opinions and suggestions, his attitude exceptionally sincere, yet he never expressed a position or made concessions.

Before they knew it, two hours slipped by quietly; the crowd of petitioners outside gradually dispersed, and the County Government returned to normal order.

At that moment, three principals rushed into the letters-and-visits reception room, their faces drenched in sweat, looking extremely anxious, their eyes fixed on the director.

Lu Fan said lightly to them: "Take your people back, satisfy the contractors' reasonable and lawful demands, resolve the issue within a day, reach an agreement on the handling outcome and sign it—you three, personally deliver the handling result to my office!"

After saying that, Lu Fan stood up, gave Deputy County Chief Zhao Sijie a look, and left the letters-and-visits reception room.

After they left, the principal of County No. 2 Elementary School, Sun Rui, glared viciously at "Fat Head Big Ear" and snapped: "You're just going to ruin me like that?"

"Principal Sun, you've misunderstood! We, we were just here to express our reasonable demands!"

Sun Rui sighed: "Go ahead and do it; the day you remove me as principal, you'll feel relieved! Come on, let's go to the office!"

Likewise, the other two principals unhappily took back their own "contracted cafeteria" staff.

In the office, Zhao Sijie asked with slight concern: "Lu Fan, won't other problems arise?"

Lu Fan said confidently: "Don't worry; those few principals are the most anxious right now. Besides, if they insist on holding onto the cafeteria, it's only for these two or three months—let them continue to operate it, and they don't even need to refund the outsourcing fee. As for whether students eat at the cafeteria, that depends on the teachers's 'guidance'! Anyway, after the contract expires, there definitely won't be any renewal; that principal of County No. 2 Elementary School lacks the big picture, his work is very sloppy, and his reputation is poor."

Zhao Sijie laughed: "That's your business; I can't control it!"

Lu Fan hurriedly asked: "County Chief Zhao, is the time set? When are we leaving?"

"We'll leave when the provincial-level departments adjust personnel—probably around November; my family's connections are pretty much ready."

Lu Fan thought, what more maneuvering is needed? The Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee Secretary wants to transfer his daughter back; even the Heavenly King couldn't stop it, and no one would try to stop it—not even the Provincial Party Secretary Chen Deming, who would surely ask concernedly: which unit does his daughter want to go to? What position does he want?

Lu Fan suddenly felt a mix of gain and loss; the opportunity was right at hand—could he possibly make it? He didn't know whether Bureau Chief Han had been pulling strings.

Immediately after, County Chief Zhao said in a voice as moving as heavenly music: "Lu Fan, don't worry about the matter you're handling; last time I already mentioned it to my father. After my 'soft persuasion and hard pressure,' he finally agreed to find an opportunity to speak a few good words for you."

Upon hearing this, Lu Fan instantly felt like basking in spring breeze, refreshed and delighted, as if in the scorching summer he had tasted a cool, refreshing old popsicle, feeling utterly comfortable throughout; he sincerely said: "Sister Zhao, I never expected you would help me so much—this favor is too great, I'll never forget it! A great kindness needs no thanks; no matter when or where, if you say a word, I will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

Zhao Sijie chuckled lightly, saying: "Aren't you at all curious about my father's identity? Does he have the ability to help you?"

Lu Fan showed a faint smile, responding: "Your father is my uncle! Whether he has the ability isn't important; as long as he has this goodwill, I'm already deeply grateful! In this society, those who can help you are nobles—too few, too few—but those who ridicule and laugh at you are many."

"Lu Fan, do you know why I want to help you? Because I wish to see with my own eyes an official who wholeheartedly seeks the people's welfare and can truly accomplish concrete deeds for the populace grow into a good official. In all of Ningyang, I've only seen this possibility in you, so you must not let me down!" Zhao Sijie gazed at Lu Fan with firm eyes.

Lu Fan nodded vigorously and replied solemnly: "Sister Zhao, please rest assured! Serving the people is my faith; I am willing to devote my lifelong efforts to contribute a modest share to societal progress and the people's happiness!"

"Failure to reciprocate is impolite"—no matter what, yesterday's petition incident caused a negative impact on the Education Bureau, and now it's a critical moment; Lu Fan doesn't want to invite complications because of this.

Thus, the next morning, the Education Bureau publicly organized a grand symposium, inviting over 200 student parents, teacher representatives, experts, media, etc., to explain the petition incident and discuss the "Regulations on Standardizing Cafeteria Management in Schools."

At the meeting, Education Bureau Director Lu Fan elaborated in detail on the purpose, significance, methods, and desired effects of the reform of student cafeterias in all schools.

Everyone present understood Director Lu's painstaking efforts and expressed absolute support for his approach.

In the afternoon, the three principals came to the Education Bureau one after another, reporting to Director Lu Fan the handling results of the petition incident and delivering the agreement to terminate the contract.

Lu Fan said nothing, but in his heart he had already sentenced these three to "death": next summer vacation, wherever you find cool, go stay there!

Ultimately, thanks to Lu Fan's efforts, the petition issue was satisfactorily resolved.

Parents all gave Lu Fan a thumbs-up; the entire county's populace knows that the students' dietary safety will soon be strongly guaranteed.

Moreover, Lu Fan also earned recognition from the County Committee and County Government's top leaders, winning widespread praise from cadres and the masses throughout the county.

The National Day holiday arrived; Lu Fan, Du Wenlong, Yang Minghao, and Xia Li set off on a grassland trip, while Liu Jin Zhu couldn't join due to case work.

Far from the city's clamor, they immersed themselves in nature's embrace.

The boundless grassland stretched as far as the eye could see; a gentle breeze blew over, and waves of grass rolled.

Under blue skies and white clouds, Lu Fan and his brothers galloped across the grassland, breathing fresh air and sensing the earth's aura.

In the evening, several people sat around the bonfire, enjoying delicious roasted whole lamb, listening to the traditional music of the grassland province, immersed in the joyful atmosphere.

In the hustle and bustle of life, people always yearn to relax body and mind; travel is an excellent way, not only to relieve stress but also to visit unfamiliar places and experience different local customs.

Setting out on a journey, leaving familiar surroundings behind, all worries seem to gradually fade away, giving the mind immense satisfaction.

After the holiday ended, Lu Fan, full of energy, dove back into work, preparing to inspect each school's implementation of student cafeteria arrangements.

But shortly after starting work, he heard many rumors that Li Mingzhou, the Secretary, intended to adjust the Municipal Party Committee and City Government leadership; Ningyang County Committee Secretary Gao Yuanfei was under consideration—sometimes it was said he would become Vice Mayor, sometimes that he would become Municipal Party Committee Secretary; the Ningyang County compound buzzed with discussion.

Lu Fan called his classmate Deng Junchi, who works at the Municipal Organization Department, not expecting that this little guy's level was too low to access inside information; Lu Fan earnestly told him: "You're not young anymore—you need to be ambitious; don't just drift through life!"

Deng Junchi felt wronged: "Boss, I just hope you keep rising so you can save me! After starting work, I finally understood what 'small temple, big demon wind; shallow water, many turtles; hyenas running everywhere; the place full of bosses' means!"

"Wait and see, in two years I'll make you a minister!"

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