Chapter 197: Promotion

In the morning, the sun spilled onto his face. Lu Fan was woken up by a phone call and answered it in a daze.

Lu Xingzhou said, "Director, the County Party Committee Office just notified us that you are to attend a meeting in the small conference room at 10 o'clock. The inspection team from the Municipal Organization Department has arrived!"

"What? The Municipal Organization Department's inspection team?" Lu Fan woke up immediately and said, "Alright, I understand."

After hanging up, Lu Fan scrambled out of bed and hurriedly put on his clothes.

Si Daiqiang, who was sleeping nearby, was also woken up. He sat up and asked, "Organization Department? Are they inspecting you?"

"Probably!"

"Lu Fan, are you getting promoted? Damn it, you're already going to be at the Deputy Division Level?"

Lu Fan laughed, "No rush. Good things come to those who wait. Following my teacher, do you still need to worry about progress? Don't forget my liquor, four cases, which Hongpeng promised. I'll have someone go with you to pick it up later!"

"Don't you worry about that. However, I suggest you take a shower; the smell of alcohol is too strong. Then drink two cups of strong tea."

"That makes sense!" Lu Fan hurried to the bathroom to take a shower.

After getting ready, Lu Fan said to Si Daiqiang, "Sorry, I can't accompany you today. I'll arrange for a driver later to take you all to eat some Ningyang lamb, and then send you back to Yinzhou."

Si Daiqiang smiled slyly, "You don't need to worry about that. I brought a driver; there are three of us!"

"Playing military strategy with me over a drink? Too cunning! The world isn't what it used to be. If I have the chance to work with you in the future, I'll have to be on guard at all times!"

"Go do your work. I'm a very honest person; I just happened to be on your turf. This is called not fighting a battle without preparation!"

After a few jokes, Lu Fan bid farewell to Si Daiqiang, went home to change clothes, ate breakfast, and then went to his unit.

By now, the news of the Municipal Organization Department's inspection team arriving in Ningyang had already spread. The entire county compound was buzzing with discussion, debating who would get which position—for example, whether Executive Deputy County Chief Yang Chuanbei would succeed as Deputy Secretary of the County Party Committee, or if Organization Department Head Hao Qiang would succeed as Executive Deputy County Chief. But no matter how they speculated, no one thought of Lu Fan; after all, he had only been a bureau director for two years.

At 9:30, the cars of the municipal inspection team drove into the county compound.

The team leader exchanged views with County Party Committee Secretary Hu Chengwei and conveyed the intentions of the Municipal Party Committee.

Although somewhat surprised, Hu Chengwei stated that he would resolutely obey the Municipal Party Committee's decision and ensure the implementation of the organization's intentions.

At 10 o'clock, Ningyang County held a meeting of leading cadres to announce that an inspection would be conducted on candidates for the county-level leadership team.

After the meeting, the inspection team officially released the inspection announcement. This move was like throwing a stone into water, stirring up layers of ripples.

Immediately following this, the inspection team carried out subsequent work in a tight and orderly manner. They carefully arranged individual interview sessions, distributed opinion-soliciting forms to widely collect feedback from all sides, and organized a rigorous and fair democratic evaluation.

Based on democratic recommendations, Comrade Lu Fan was finally determined as a candidate for a Deputy Division Level leading cadre!

Once this result was announced, it was like a bombshell, causing an uproar throughout the county!

People were discussing this newly minted Deputy Division Level leading cadre. Setting aside whether he was capable or what his political achievements were, he was still so young!

However, fortunately, with Wang Hongtao as a precedent, Lu Fan's promotion was within everyone's range of acceptance. One must know that Wang Hongtao was already the Deputy Secretary of the Yinzhou Municipal Party Committee and Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission—the pride of the people of Ningyang!

Everyone was discussing Lu Fan's qualifications and age; conversely, few discussed his achievements. After all, after Lu Fan took over the Education Bureau, the middle and high school entrance exam results had skyrocketed, creating the best "record" in history, and the improvement in the atmosphere was obvious to all. Using this to make an issue of it would be somewhat uncalled for.

County Party Committee Office Director Liu Guannan and Economic Development Bureau Director Li Shengjie were cursing in the office!

Li Shengjie said, "I can understand not having a share, but you are the number one Zhengke-level official in the whole county. No matter what, it shouldn't be Lu Fan's turn, right?"

Liu Guannan sighed and said, "What can we do? Damn it, what kind of world is this!"

"Are you just going to watch Lu Fan snatch your position?"

"The matter is settled, what else can be done? Do you dare to oppose the organization?"

"I certainly don't dare, but I reckon someone does! If this were stirred up a bit, would his promotion be put on hold? Wouldn't you have a chance then?"

Liu Guannan was already unwilling to accept this, and after being incited by Li Shengjie, he immediately began to stir.

But after thinking for a long time, he felt he couldn't find a breakthrough to topple Lu Fan. He heard that this person didn't even touch the unit's finances, and he had never heard of him taking anyone's money for adjusting principals or transferring teachers.

"He's slippery; he's not easy to deal with!"

Li Shengjie immediately "handed him a knife": "How can you not offend people when doing work? I remember he dealt with several principals; can they not hold a grudge? If someone gives those principals a chance to make a comeback, I think they will resolutely report Lu Fan's 'atrocities'!"

Liu Guannan nodded thoughtfully and said, "Let's just work honestly; who told us we have no background!"

Li Shengjie stopped persuading him, stood up, and said, "Director, you are the number one Zhengke-level official in the county. The organization should give you fair and just treatment. Everyone supports you!"

The connections of a County Party Committee Office Director in the county can be imagined. Moreover, Liu Guannan had also served as a township secretary and Economic Development Bureau Director, and had always been a popular figure in the county.

Driven by greed, he immediately contacted a few die-hard supporters and began a conspiracy...

At 2:00 PM, the inspection team held a talk with Lu Fan, communicating face-to-face to understand his political stance, ideological quality, value orientation, and other aspects.

Lu Fan had long been prepared for this, expounding on his actual performance from the aspects of morality, ability, diligence, performance, and integrity, following the procedures in a standard manner.

That afternoon, the Municipal Organization Department issued a pre-appointment public notice: According to the "Regulations on the Selection and Appointment of Party and Government Leading Cadres" and other relevant provisions, the following comrades are now being publicized for their proposed positions:

Lu Fan, male, Han ethnicity, born in April 1989, with an on-the-job postgraduate degree, started working in November 2007, a Party member. Currently serving as the Director of the Ningyang County Education Bureau. After research, this comrade is proposed to be nominated as a candidate for Deputy County (City, District) Head of the County (City, District) People's Government.

Mi Xuwen, male, Han ethnicity...

The public notice period is 5 working days. If there are opinions on the publicized personnel, they can be reflected to the Cadre Supervision Section of the Yingjiang Municipal Party Committee Organization Department through letters, calls, or visits. Problems reflected should be based on facts, objective, and fair. It is encouraged to sign with a real name and provide contact information.

Other county-level leaders were also talked to by the organization, but horizontal transfers do not require public notice.

Now, everything became clear and bright. Lu Fan had actually successfully sat in the position of Deputy County Chief of Ningyang County!

When that public notice was posted, it swept through the entire county like a whirlwind.

At the entrance of the county compound, people stopped to watch, their eyes flashing with surprise and envy.

Voices of discussion were everywhere in the streets and alleys: "Lu Fan is really amazing!"

"To be able to become a Deputy County Chief at such a young age, the future is boundless!"

"Then is he still in charge of education? What if someone else takes over? My child is in the third year of high school this year!"

"Lu Fan, that 'baby director'? He does have ability, but he's already a Deputy County Chief?"

"Our Ningyang really produces talent. First there was Wang Hongtao, and now there is Lu Fan; both are young successors!"

"He has ability; such a person should be a high-ranking official!"

"Why give up a perfectly good bureau director position to be a Deputy County Chief? What if someone else messes up education?"

For a time, Lu Fan became the focus of everyone's attention. His name was on everyone's lips, becoming a topic of conversation.

Returning home in the afternoon, Lu Fan's phone was almost blown up, so he had no choice but to set it to silent. But before long, various congratulatory text messages flooded in like a tide, almost freezing the phone.

In the evening, Du Wenlong came over with a beaming face and said, "Brother Fan, do you want to have a little drink??"

Lu Fan waved his hand to refuse, "No, if I keep drinking, my life will be in danger. It's better to keep a low profile during this period."

"Alright, then no drinking. Brother Fan, Deputy County Chief!"

In front of his brother, Lu Fan stopped pretending and no longer hid his inner joy, laughing, "It can be considered a first glimpse of the path. There is still a long way to go in the future, and we must work hard!"

Before long, Yang Minghao, Xia Li, and others also came to express their most sincere blessings.

After Si Daiqiang returned to Yinzhou, he told his leader about Lu Fan's promotion.

Wang Hongtao nodded and said, "Lu Fan has done well. He has made Ningyang's education quite impressive, though he is a bit young. You must also work hard!"

The next day, Lu Fan arrived at the unit on time. Everyone in the unit was discussing the director's promotion, and several deputies took turns coming in to congratulate him according to their ranking.

After Wang Fei entered, he said with a full face of smiles, "Congratulations, Director!" He now understood what the director had said two days ago.

Lu Fan laughed, "It's still in the public notice period; I obey the organization's arrangements. Wang Fei, how is the matter I told you about two days ago?"

"Director, I plan to go to Ningyang today."

"Hmm, when there is an opportunity, you must strive for it with all your might. As for the unit, you don't need to worry; I will recommend you to the County Party Committee and County Government."

"Thank you, Director, for your promotion. Regardless of whether this matter succeeds or not, in future work, I will follow your lead!"

He hadn't been sitting for long when the County Party Committee Office called; Secretary Hu wanted to see him.

Ten minutes later, Lu Fan arrived at Hu Chengwei's office.

"Secretary, do you have any instructions?"

Hu Chengwei laughed, "Congratulations!"

"It's all thanks to the leader's care and cultivation. Without your support, I wouldn't have achieved any results."

"No need to be humble. You have gained some insights in education. When arranging the division of labor, I will suggest that the County Government let you continue to be in charge of education."

"Secretary, I obey the organization's assignment. Thank you for your support. I do have some ideas for Ningyang's education work that I want to put into practice."

"Hmm, I believe you can do it well. I called you here today to seek your opinion. What do you think about the candidate for the Education Bureau Director?"

As the current director and the future Deputy County Chief in charge of education, Lu Fan naturally had a certain right to speak and recommend, so he said straightforwardly, "From the perspective of work, I personally feel that it is best for the director to be produced from within. Considering ability, I recommend Deputy Director Wang Fei!"

Hu Chengwei nodded and said, "Hmm, I understand!" In fact, he was just going through the motions to tell Lu Fan that once he became Deputy County Chief, he should vacate the director's position; as for who to use, that was his business!

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