Chapter 184

October 10, County Party Secretary Gao Yuanfei returned to Ningyang from the city and immediately summoned Lu Fan to the office, speaking candidly: "Xiao Fan, the city is going to adjust personnel; I feel this time there is hope, I don't know if Director Han can help put in a good word?"

This kind of matter, how could Lu Fan dare to make decisions for Director Han? His own affairs are still unsettled!

Then he said: "Secretary, I don't really understand, and I can't be sure! You are a provincial-level cadre; personnel adjustments should be decided by provincial leaders, right? Isn't Director Han a bit lacking in strength?"

"Completely wrong, you underestimate Director Han's influence! That's the Finance Department; wherever you go, you can get some face. Come with me to the province; no matter what, we have to strive for it!"

Now is a critical moment for Gao Yuanfei; this kind of request, Lu Fan naturally cannot refuse. After lunch, the two drove to Chang'an.

Lu Fan wanted to be promoted to Deputy County Chief; following standard procedure, he needed a recommendation from the county, which in other words meant he needed Gao Yuanfei to recommend him to the Municipal Party Committee and the Organization Department; only then would it be proper and natural. Of course, those with background connections are excluded, after all, connections are the primary productive force.

But in terms of seniority, Lu Fan ranks outside the top ten in the county, after all, the Party Secretary of Chuanchuan Township, the heads of the two offices, the director of the Economic Development Bureau, and others are ahead of him; therefore, to have his name appear on the Municipal Party Committee Organization Department's list, he must first gain Gao Yuanfei's support in order to overtake others.

Along the way, Lu Fan probed: "Secretary, that day I went to the countryside together with County Chief Zhao, and I overheard her on the phone mentioning that she plans to be transferred back to the provincial capital recently."

Upon hearing this, Gao Yuanfei immediately became alert and asked: "Is the news reliable?"

Lu Fan hesitated for a moment, then replied: "Hmm… probably about eighty or ninety percent."

Then came a period of silence; after a while, Gao Yuanfei broke the quiet, calmly asking: "Do you have any ideas about becoming Deputy County Chief?"

Lu Fan smiled faintly and answered candidly: "Secretary, if I get the chance to advance further, I will naturally spare no effort to strive for it, so as not to let down your painstaking cultivation of me all along."

Gao Yuanfei thought of Lu Fan's background and felt that, with those few people exerting effort, this deputy county chief position might actually let him get his wish.

Gao Yuanfei had understood the principle that to take first you must give first ten years ago; he knew deeply that even if he were once a secretary, to make Lu Fan his aide, he also had to give him sufficient motivation.

He then said: "No matter what, you are my secretary; you cannot turn your elbows outward. I will keep this in mind. Let's both strive; I hope we can make progress together and both hear good news."

"My affairs are trivial compared to yours, Secretary; I sincerely hope you achieve your wishes and rise steadily."

Upon arriving at the Finance Department, seeing Lu Fan and the department chief's secretary Xu Tao in a warm, shoulder-to-shoulder manner, Gao Yuanfei felt moved and had to admit that Lu Fan had a unique talent in interpersonal relations; for example, the last time he went to Yinzhou, he got along very well with the secretary of Wang Hongtao, Si Daiqiang.

Half an hour later, Gao Yuanfei and Lu Fan arrived at the department chief's office; Han Guishan stood up, stretched, and said: "Ningyang's education work has been lively and impressive; at the last meeting, Secretary Deming specifically praised it, and that's how I learned that Xiao Fan had received the Ministry of Education's Outstanding Worker award."

Gao Yuanfei quickly said: "Indeed, Lu Fan often mentions his aspiration to get into Peking University or Tsinghua University, he is very determined, and I hope Ningyang will one day produce a few such students."

Han Guishan laughed: "Where there's a will, there is a way; education is the greatest people's livelihood project, its merit benefits the present and its blessings extend to future generations; no matter how much emphasis is placed on it, it is always appropriate."

After chatting for a while, Lu Fan was about to leave when Han Guishan called him back, saying: "Xiao Fan, perfect timing; let's have dinner together this afternoon, Xinpu is bringing his girlfriend, so it counts as meeting the parents."

Lu Fan happily said: "This is a good thing; I must definitely go!"

Gao Yuanfei listened, feeling envious; they were practically becoming one family!

After coming out, Lu Fan immediately contacted Han Xinpu, questioning him for forgetting righteousness upon seeing beauty—he had already met the parents, yet Lu Fan himself didn't know.

Han Xinpu laughed and said: "Fate is wonderfully mysterious, descending silently in an unnoticed moment. Love, like a flower that quietly blooms, gives off a charming fragrance. Her appearance is like a bright ray of light that illuminates my heart; amidst the vast sea of people, I have met the right her. Single dog, are you envious?"

"Today is your lucky day, so I won't rain on your parade. Tell me, what's your background?"

"Do you think I'm the kind of person who fawns on the powerful? My sister-in-law is called Li Ruqin; her mother is just an ordinary deputy provincial governor. How about that, buddy—awesome, right?"

"Deputy Provincial Governor Tang? Brother Han, you're incredibly awesome, truly impressive!"

"Don't overthink it; we're together because of love!"

"Okay, okay, okay, I know you don't care about your sister-in-law's background; you are pure and noble."

"That's good to know! I'm still driving; Secretary Guo's specially approved leave—let's not talk about it now; we'll have dinner together this afternoon."

"Fine, I'll decide where to eat; you don't need to worry."

After hanging up, Xu Tao came over and said: "Xinpu is going to meet the parents? Great news, the Propaganda Department's top flower—this kid finally managed to bring home a beauty!"

Lu Fan asked quietly: "Brother Han's girlfriend works in the Propaganda Department?"

Xu Tao nodded and said: "Yes, she's a section chief, very beautiful; she's the beloved daughter of Provincial Governor Tang Bing, though many people don't know. The department head introduced her, and I never expected Xinpu to win her over so quickly."

After some joking, Xu Tao began helping Lu Fan decide on a restaurant, while also hoping the department head would invite him to join the meal.

Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee Secretary Zhao Wenfeng suddenly visited the Provincial Party Committee Organization Department; department head Yang Qiu shi personally brewed tea to receive him, smiling and saying: "Secretary Zhao, it's rare for you to come here; today the Organization Department is shining with even a humble abode, please sample my treasured collection!"

After some fuss, Zhao Wenfeng lifted his teacup and laughed: "The cup hasn't yet reached my lips, yet the fragrance fills my nose!"

After taking two sips, he said: "The tea aroma is pure, the flavor rich and strong; after drinking, saliva fills the cheeks, it goes down smooth and refreshing, carrying a honey scent—top-grade pu'er."

"Secretary Zhao is versed in the tea ceremony; admirable!"

"Behind a good cup of tea, from tea tree planting, tea leaf picking, tea production, tea brewing…… every step is indispensable!"

After beating around the bush for a while, Zhao Wenfeng finally got to the point, saying: "My good-for-nothing daughter has been in Ningyang for two years now; she's dating a boyfriend and plans a late marriage at year's end—by then you'd better show up!"

That's the matter; Yang Qiu shi understood implicitly. At this level, even if they are not like-minded comrades, when it comes to children's issues they will give the green light.

"Congratulations, Secretary Zhao; I never thought Si Jie would get married—I wonder which lucky fool has this fortune!"

"I don't usually meddle in children's affairs; what matters most is that the child feels they like each other and are compatible; her boyfriend is Wu Xiaohua from the Provincial Party Committee General Office."

Yang Qiu shi's expression remained normal, but he was actually shocked inside, silently sighing that this old fox had played a good hand, actually, without a sound, secretly inching toward Secretary Chen!

"Newlyweds, living apart definitely won't work. Secretary Zhao, I think we should let Si Jie return to work!" Yang Qiu shi's face was full of concern.

"Thank you for your trouble, Minister Yang; Si Jie is in charge of education in Ningyang, let her continue her profession!"

"Ningyang's education work is praised by all; I've heard about it throughout the province; talents like Si Jie are exactly what the Education Department urgently needs!"

Zhao Wenfeng suddenly said: "Speaking of Ningyang's education work, I actually want to recommend a talent to Minister Yang: the head of Ningyang Education Bureau, Lu Fan, who has just received the national Outstanding Educator honor; Si Jie thinks highly of him, praising him to the skies at home! I remember Secretary Deming apparently issued a special directive, calling on the provincial education system to learn from Lu Fan and his comrades."

"Lu Fan?" Yang Qiu shi noted the name, saying he would definitely look at Secretary Chen's directive later.

"Secretary Zhao, I will pay close attention; organizational work is about giving those who want to act an opportunity, those who are willing to act a stage, and those who succeed heavy responsibility."

Provincial Party Committee General Office; Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee member and Yingjiang Municipal Party Secretary Li Mingzhou had just left the office of Provincial Party Secretary Chen Deming; his secretary Wu Xiaohua dutifully followed at his side, whispering: "Secretary Li, I want to report some work to you."

Li Mingzhou chuckled and said: "Secretary Wu, you have something? Feel free to speak plainly!" After saying that, he voluntarily went into Wu Xiaohua's office; as the top secretary, he ought to give some face.

Wu Xiaohua hurriedly served tea and water, saying: "Secretary Li, my girlfriend works in Ningyang County; she plans to marry at year's end, living apart in two places is not suitable, so she may need to be transferred back to work soon."

"Secretary Wu, congratulations! I'll have to drink to the wedding wine!" Li Mingzhou was a bit puzzled, feeling this matter had nothing to do with him.

Wu Xiaohua continued: "She is in charge of education in Ningyang; I want to recommend a talent to Secretary Li: the head of Ningyang Education Bureau, Lu Fan, who has just received the national Outstanding Educator honor, and Secretary Chen also issued a special directive about it."

Li Mingzhou nodded and only said: "I will pay attention!"

Unexpectedly, before he even returned to Yingjiang, the phone call from Yang Qiu Shi, head of the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee, came in, communicating the matter of Deputy County Chief Zhao Sijie of Ningyang Xian taking up a position at the Provincial Department of Education.

What Li Mingzhou didn't expect was that Yang Qiushi also mentioned Lu Fan's receipt of the "National Outstanding Educator" honor—needless to say, he was the one who recommended him!

October 25, Provincial Finance Department Party Committee Secretary and Director Han Guishan, taking advantage of the break during the provincial third-quarter key project observation meeting, went deep into Yingjiang City Finance Bureau to research grassroots fiscal operations, with Mayor Sun Weidong accompanying.

During the investigation, Director Han Guishan demanded that the finance system focus on its main duties, pinpoint the entry points, points of concentration, and points of effort, unite efforts to promote projects, spare no means to optimize the environment, and spare no effort to strengthen work discipline, solidly advancing grassroots fiscal operations.

After pointing out the problems, he emphasized that Yingjiang's fiscal debt was excessively huge, and in preventing risks of fiscal expenditure, they must solidly manage debt, strictly enforce financial discipline, and promote stable and healthy fiscal operations.

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