Chapter 196

They say that one should have a calm spirit when facing major events, but that's only when the matter hasn't fallen on one's own head; no one can be as calm as water when facing a promotion.

Starting from January 10, Lu Fan counted the days on his fingers, anxiously waiting for the arrival of the assessment team from the Municipal Party Committee Organization Department.

On the day winter break began, Lu Fan called Deputy Director Wang Fei to go to the County First Primary School to check on the situation.

Seeing the Bureau Director enter, the principal of the County First Primary School, Shao Yi, ran down from his office, panting as he ran to Lu Fan and said, "Bureau Director, you didn't even give a heads-up when you came, so I could make some preparations."

Lu Fan laughed, "It's not an inspection, what's there to prepare? I'm just dropping by to take a look and chat with the teachers." After saying this, he walked straight into an office.

The county primary school had collective offices, and Lu Fan arrived at the office for third-grade teachers.

Seeing the Bureau Director enter, the teachers were surprised and all stood up from their chairs.

Lu Fan found a chair and sat down, smiling, "School is about to break, so I came to see you all."

A teacher said, "Welcome, Bureau Director Lu. The office is a bit messy, please excuse us!"

Lu Fan glanced around; every desk was piled high with homework and test papers, so he smiled and said, "This is a testament to your hard work. I want to ask, how are the bureau's 'Ten Measures' being implemented? Has the school reduced your burden?"

Hearing this, the principal looked nervous, but that teacher said, "Bureau Director, ever since the bureau started reducing the burden on teachers, I feel the effect is quite obvious. We basically don't do those messy things anymore. There have been almost no inspections in the past two months, and we are indeed much more relaxed!"

Lu Fan laughed, "That's good. Let's just chat casually and talk about the problems existing in education."

A male teacher was bolder and sighed, "Bureau Director, there are some things I must say!"

"Feel free to speak boldly!"

"Bureau Director, take a look!" This teacher brought over a few textbooks.

Leaving the County First Primary School, Lu Fan's mood was exceptionally heavy. Some problems really needed someone to manage them!

But he was just a small county-level bureau director; even if he wanted to speak out, his words would be too insignificant to cause any ripples!

If one day he had that ability, he would definitely throw all that trash into the sewer!

Arriving downstairs at the unit, Lu Fan said in a low voice, "Wang Fei, if I am transferred away from this unit, I will recommend you to be the director."

"Ah?" Wang Fei said in surprise, "Bureau Director, are you leaving?"

"No, I'm talking about the future. Even if I recommend you with all my might, it will be very difficult for you to become this director."

Wang Fei scratched his head. He knew the Bureau Director wouldn't say these things for no reason, which meant the opportunity was coming! But the problem was that even if he carried a pig's head as an offering, he couldn't find the temple door!

Lu Fan asked, "Do you dare to go find Secretary Hongtao?"

Wang Fei was silent; he was considering whether this classmate would help him. Even if he were willing to help, did he have the ability to influence Secretary Hu Chengwei?

After considering for a moment, Wang Fei said, "If there is a chance, even if I have to be thick-skinned, I have to go find him!"

Just after arriving at the office, Lu Fan received an unexpected call; it was actually from Secretary Wang Hongtao's secretary.

After answering the phone, Lu Fan said enthusiastically, "Daiqiang, why are you calling me all of a sudden?"

Si Daiqiang laughed, "I'm almost in Ningyang. I wonder if I'm welcome?"

"Ah? Are you coming with Secretary Wang?"

"What? If your teacher isn't coming, am I not welcome?"

Lu Fan laughed, "What are you saying! How much longer until you arrive? I'll make arrangements immediately. I guarantee I won't let you walk to sleep today!"

"Haha, drinking! We Yinzhou people have never been afraid of anyone. As long as you don't play a 'wheel war' tactic, it's not certain who will fall down! Oh, right, I'm coming alone to pick up some liquor for the Secretary. I've already contacted Hongpeng. We'll be together tonight; I estimate I'll be there in half an hour."

"Alright, let's meet at the Ningyang Hotel. If you can't find it, just use the navigation."

Hanging up the phone, seeing that it was almost time to get off work, Lu Fan gave instructions to the office and went straight to the Ningyang Hotel, calling Wang Hongpeng on the way.

Lu Fan didn't have much confidence in his own drinking capacity, so he called Du Wenlong to help drink.

In less than ten minutes, Wang Hongpeng arrived at the private room with Liu Jin Zhu. As soon as he entered, he said, "Bureau Director Lu, no matter what, we must drink Si Daiqiang under the table today! You don't know, last time I went to Yinzhou, he drank me until I was unconscious. That guy can really drink; he doesn't even get drunk after two bottles!"

Lu Fan laughed, "We are four against one; if we can't drink him under the table, why even bother in the drinking scene? Hongpeng, I heard from Si Daiqiang that he's here to pick up liquor. Is it that deer blood wine of Teacher Wang's?"

"Yes, he asks for it every year."

Lu Fan leaned over, smiling very brightly, and said, "Hongpeng, look at how good our relationship is. Can you spare me some of that wine? I'm not greedy, just ten or eight cases will do!"

Wang Hongpeng said in astonishment, "Where's your face? Ten or eight cases? Not even one case! At most, I'll give you two bottles!"

"Don't, don't, don't, Hongpeng. To tell you the truth, brother is at a critical moment and needs to use some good stuff to exert force. Leaders don't care for those yellow and white things!"

"Oh, if you put it that way, I'll give you two cases. Don't be greedy again; this is giving you my own share!"

"Four cases, I'll trade you 'Maozi' for it!"

"'Maozi'? Forget it, do you think I care? For the sake of our relationship, I'll think of a way to get you three cases. One must know how to be content; don't be insatiable!"

Lu Fan said with satisfaction, "Thank you! Hongpeng, remember my share for next year; strive for four cases. I'll do whatever you want!"

Before long, Si Daiqiang arrived with his driver. Lu Fan and Wang Hongpeng went to the lobby to welcome them, exchanging pleasantries for quite a while.

Once in the private room, they started right away!

Si Daiqiang proposed starting with a large water glass, but Lu Fan vetoed it; this was a "kill a thousand enemies and lose eight hundred" move, so they couldn't do that. So he proposed drinking two glasses to start, as good things come in pairs—this was the rule in Ningyang, and he urged Si Daiqiang to follow the local customs.

After two glasses, everyone started clinking glasses with Si Daiqiang to welcome the guest.

Unexpectedly, Si Daiqiang showed no fear at all and accepted every challenge, claiming that since they were all going to get drunk anyway, they might as well be heroic, unlike some people who play strategies while drinking!

This angered Lu Fan, who poured two full water glasses of white liquor and downed them with Si Daiqiang!

After three rounds of drinks, Si Daiqiang was a bit tipsy and told some of Wang Hongtao's great achievements in Yinzhou and the extremely complex situation in Yinzhou, which made everyone's blood boil.

Finally, Si Daiqiang said mysteriously, "Just wait, the sky in Yinzhou is about to clear up. This year there will definitely be earth-shattering, world-turning changes!"

Although it was just a few words, Lu Fan seemed to see the teacher killing in Yinzhou and dominating the scene; it was so fascinating that he wanted to follow him!

The power of a role model is infinite. Wang Hongtao was the goal for countless Qinchuan people, a banner for Ningyang people, and a benchmark for Yingjiang people!

After drinking for nearly an hour, Si Daiqiang actually started to counterattack. Hongpeng was right; he really was a big wine barrel.

But in a 4-on-1 situation, how could they admit defeat?

But what surprised everyone was that when everyone was tipsy, the driver Si Daiqiang brought joined the "battle"!

Lu Fan was dumbfounded and asked, "Brother, we can't play dirty like this, right? We've already drunk this much, and you suddenly want to add fresh troops?"

Si Daiqiang laughed, "Do you really think I'm stupid? If I didn't play like this, wouldn't you guys drink me to death? When did I say he was a driver? He is clearly a cadre from the Yinzhou Discipline Inspection Commission! It's you guys who didn't give him wine to drink, not that he didn't want to drink!"

Lu Fan said, "Then we have to be blamed for being impolite? Du Long, let me ask you, was it you who said you were the driver just now?"

Du Long laughed, "Bureau Director Lu, I only said I was driving, I didn't say I wasn't drinking!"

Si Daiqiang chimed in, "Yes, yes, yes, you can find a driver to send us back to Yinzhou tomorrow! You come to Ningyang and don't give a brother wine to drink?"

Lu Fan was speechless and had to say, "Alright, I guess it's our fault for being impolite! But let's get the ugly words out first: Du Long just entered the field, he has to make up for the drinks he missed earlier!"

Si Daiqiang wouldn't have it and shouted, "It was you who were impolite first. Just letting him drink alone definitely won't work; someone must accompany him!"

Unable to win the argument, Du Wenlong poured two water glasses, handed one to Du Long, and said, "Brother Du, let's not talk about the past. Our names only differ by one character, and my hometown is also in Yinzhou. Maybe after digging deep, we're still family. Welcome to Ningyang, I'll toast you a glass!"

Du Long was very heroic; he picked up the glass, clinked it with Du Wenlong's, and downed it!

Liu Jin Zhu knew it was his turn, so he also poured two water glasses, found an excuse, and downed another glass with Du Long.

In less than five minutes, Du Wenlong had downed five taels of liquor, but his face didn't change color, and he didn't even eat any food. Lu Fan felt a shiver inside, secretly sighing, what a ruthless person! Could it be that all the people in Yinzhou are wine barrels?

Originally, everyone was only slightly gaining the upper hand in the drinking battle with Si Daiqiang, but now that a fierce fresh force had suddenly joined, the Yinzhou people turned the tide in one fell swoop and actually started to counterattack!

Wang Hongpeng and Lu Fan looked at each other and understood; there was no way to pretend anymore today. They had to show their cards and go all out!

Thus, a thrilling battle began. Lu Fan changed his style of "playing dead" and started to attack fiercely.

Wang Hongpeng was the same; he threw away the small cup, and every time they clinked glasses, it started at two taels.

Drinking until past 10 o'clock, everyone else had fallen, only Lu Fan and Si Daiqiang were arm-in-arm, whispering "secrets" in each other's ears.

"Lu Fan, I didn't realize you could drink so well, you're a real man! But you still can't drink as much as me; you're far from my capacity!"

"Don't think that just because you're older you have a higher capacity. I'm not drunk; if you have the ability, let's fight a few more rounds!"

"Come on then, who's afraid of whom? You Ningyang people just have low capacity!"

Lu Fan poured two more large glasses of white liquor, stuffed them to Si Daiqiang, and said, "Don't be stubborn, if you have the ability, let's clink!"

Si Daiqiang grabbed the glass and downed it! In less than five seconds, with a "waa" sound, he vomited everything out! He was finally drunk under the table!

Lu Fan silently put down his glass, becoming the last man standing!

Then he called Xia Li and asked him to come to the hotel to send the drunks back to their rooms.

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