Chapter 206

After climbing the Great Wall and returning to the city, Chen Xu insisted on treating everyone to a meal, and despite his stubbornness, everyone had to follow him to eat Peking duck in the capital; moreover, Chen Xu specially brought out his father's cherished deer blood wine to entertain everyone.

Others didn't recognize its value, but Lu Fan instantly recognized it as a fun item belonging to Teacher Wang Hongtao, naturally curious about Chen Xu's identity.

During the meal, the atmosphere appeared harmonious and peaceful, but Lu Yao keenly noticed that Wang Yujia and Li Zimeng, while seemingly courteous on the surface, were actually hiding sharp intentions, armed with hidden daggers.

These two, always proud and arrogant heavenly talents, never imagined they would feel a sense of crisis over just a mere man!

If it weren't for the other's sudden appearance, they might have merely regarded Lu Fan as a friend they slightly liked. However, that damned competitive spirit stirred, filling them with unwillingness to yield and a hint of hostility toward each other.

Lu Fan was enjoying himself in Jingcheng, but then the backyard caught fire!

On Friday, County Party Secretary Hu Chengwei personally went to the highway exit to meet the vice chairman of the Provincial Science and Technology Association who had come to Ningyang for research.

Don't look down on him just because he's only a deputy division-level vice chairman of the Science and Technology Association; his abilities are truly not small, and going to the association is merely a transition.

When Hu Chengwei was vying for County Party Secretary, this old classmate had exerted great effort, and this time his coming to Ningyang was also at his strong invitation.

However, during the wait, the overseeing Deputy County Chief Lu Fan never showed up, Hu Chengwei's face darkened, and he asked Guo Tongyu, "Where did Lu Fan go?"

Guo Tongyu said, "It seems there was a meeting; I reported to Deputy County Chief Bian and arranged to accompany the inspection."

Hu Chengwei pondered, then said before everyone, "There are no provincial-municipal meetings today; just promoted and already getting cocky? You don't even come for such an important reception? You have to shirk your duties through deceit? All you do is seek shortcuts, truly meaningless!"

Many of the department heads under Lu Fan's charge were present; hearing these words, they exchanged glances, realizing this was the secretary's veiled rebuke of the county chief.

By Saturday, Lu Fan still hadn't come to join the research; Hu Chengwei felt his authority challenged, so he specifically instructed Guo Tongyu to have Lu Fan come to his office for an explanation.

Guo Tongyu dared not delay; right after the banquet he immediately reported Hu Chengwei's dissatisfaction to Deputy County Chief Bian Jide, and personally called Lu Fan.

Just after finishing the roast duck, Lu Fan was saying goodbye to everyone when Guo Tongyu's call came; upon answering, he said, "Guo County, any instructions?"

"The secretary is furious!" Then Guo Tongyu detailed the situation.

As he listened, Lu Fan's expression grew increasingly solemn, and he finally said, "Thank you; I'll treat you to a meal when I return."

After hanging up, Lu Yao nervously asked, "Brother, nothing happened, right?"

Lu Fan smiled and said, "It's fine; just a minor issue at work, I'll take care of it when I get back."

Li Zimeng said confidently, "Lu Fan, if you can't handle it, tell me and I'll help you think of a solution!" All the affairs of Yingjiang are still just a word from my father!

Wang Yujia refused to yield: "Lu Fan, don't forget I'm from the Qinchuan Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee!"

Lu Fan laughed, "Thank you, ladies, for your kindness; I'm really fine."

At this moment, Chen Xu also came to join the fun, approaching Lu Fan and saying, "If you have any trouble handling things in Qinchuan, contact me!"

Well, this attitude, one after another, is bigger than athlete's foot; Jingcheng folks are truly awesome!

After returning home in the afternoon, Li Mingzhou, sitting in the living room, immediately asked, "How is it? Any progress?"

Li Zimeng helplessly said, "Dad, you really worry I won't get married!"

"This isn't just concern; as far as I know, you haven't dated anyone yet, so Dad is giving you some advice!"

"Dad, does your provincial Discipline Inspection Committee have someone named Wang Yujia?"

Li Mingzhou shook his head and said, "I haven't been in Qinchuan long; I only know the secretary and two deputy secretaries of the provincial Discipline Inspection Committee, so I'm not sure if such a person exists. What? A Cheng Yaojin has appeared out of nowhere?"

"What are you talking about! We're just ordinary friends!"

Li Mingzhou laughed, "Outstanding people are welcomed wherever they go, and others aren't blind; a 25-year-old deputy county chief—how many could there be even in your Ministry of Education? If Lu Fan weren't outstanding, Dad wouldn't think highly of him!"

Look at our province's Wang Hongtao, a 30-year-old division-level cadre—'dazzling' doesn't even do him justice; he's already become a target for many factions to court. I see Lu Fan having Wang Hongtao's potential, and besides, he's Wang Hongtao's student; his future is absolutely promising!

Wang Yujia also received special attention from her grandfather Liu Guoqiang upon returning home, as he indirectly asked her some puzzling questions.

Wang Yujia said, "Grandfather, sorry, I didn't take a liking to that Chen Xu."

Liu Guoqiang laughed, "It's fine; marriage is a lifelong matter, one needs mutual affection. Grandfather wishes you happiness; if you don't like us, just keep looking. Yujia, what do you think of Lu Fan?"

"He's pretty good; at least I don't dislike him, just ordinary friends."

"Ordinary friends? He went all the way to Chang'an to bring you tasty food—Du family chicken tastes great!"

"Grandfather, it was just on the way; he couldn't have made a special trip just to bring me something!"

"Alright, I won't interfere in your young people's affairs; what I want to tell you is that your happiness is in your own hands—I won't force you to marry someone you dislike, and neither will your parents."

"Grandfather, you're truly wonderful!" Wang Yujia felt deeply moved and also grateful to have a grandfather who genuinely loves her.

She has seen too much helplessness; wealthy families lack affection!

That evening, Lu Fan successively received several tip-off messages, such as from the Education Bureau's Deputy Director Wang Fei and the head of the Science and Technology Bureau, who had participated in the research by the vice chairman of the Provincial Science and Technology Association.

Lu Fan began to consider how to explain to Secretary Gao. If the County Party Secretary doesn't support your work, putting it bluntly, you'll be ineffective in the county!

On Sunday, Lu Fan went alone to the Forbidden City and the Old Summer Palace for a stroll.

At five in the afternoon, he met with Municipal Party Secretary Li Mingzhou at the airport and boarded the flight back to Yingjiang.

Secretary Li was in first class, with no chance to speak along the way.

After getting off the plane, Lu Fan approached Li Mingzhou and reported the weak points of Ningyang's "Double High, Double Popularization," saying softly, "Secretary, Ningyang's educational infrastructure is relatively weak compared to other counties; could you consider giving Ningyang some additional support?"

Li Mingzhou laughed, "I have to keep things balanced; I can't favor one over the other—we'll see later!"

At that moment, Ningyang County Party Secretary Hu Chengwei saw off the vice chairman of the Provincial Science and Technology Association at the airport.

Suddenly, the old classmate pointed ahead and said, "Chengwei, isn't that your Municipal Party Committee's Secretary Li Mingzhou?"

Hu Chengwei looked up and saw Li Mingzhou and Lu Fan chatting and laughing as they got into the Municipal Party Committee's car!

Seeing Hu Chengwei's astonished gaze, his classmate said, "Secretary Li isn't simple; through cross-provincial exchange he seized the Yingjiang Municipal Party Committee secretary's seat, in one move entered the Central Committee, and I estimate he'll soar to great heights within two years!"

"Well, Secretary Li has great determination!" Hu Chengwei gave a vague reply, his mind full of doubts: why would Lu Fan follow Li Mingzhou? What were they doing? Why were they acting so intimate?

Besides, whether public or private, it's obvious Lu Fan went to accompany Li Mingzhou—would my public criticism of Lu Fan then be inappropriate? Has that talk reached Secretary Li's ears?

Hu Chengwei wanted to go over and say hello, but Li Mingzhou's car quickly drove away from the airport.

After seeing off the old classmate, Hu Chengwei hurriedly contacted a friend from the Municipal Party Committee office to inquire what Secretary Li had been up to these two days.

After an hour, he finally figured out the truth, but Hu Chengwei still couldn't understand why they brought Lu Fan to Jingcheng for the project—does he have special connections in the Ministry of Education? Or is Lu Fan himself closely tied to Li Mingzhou?

All kinds of doubts and speculations left Hu Chengwei unable to rest or eat!

After Monday's workday began, Lu Fan went to Deputy County Chief Bian Jide's office to cancel his leave and reported on the process of this trip to the capital.

Bian Jide said with a smile: "Not bad, this rare opportunity must be seized! Lu Fan, I heard the Municipal Party Committee has opinions!"

Lu Fan nodded and said: "I also heard that, County Chief, what do you think I should do?"

"What to do? Just forget it! You're on an official trip, approved by me. However, the Municipal Party Committee still needs to be respected; later you go over there, you can truthfully report, you are going to contribute to Peaceful Sun, not something shameful!"

"Alright, then I'll follow your 'orders'!"

At 9 o'clock, Lu Fan went to the Municipal Party Committee; the secretary's office happened to be empty, so he pushed the door open.

Upon entering, he explained: "Secretary, sorry, on Thursday I received a notice from the Municipal Party Committee Office to go to Jingcheng Education Department for liaison work; possibly the Government Office failed to timely report to the County Party Committee Office, delaying the work; I apologize to you."

Hu Chengwei said with a full-face smile: "No problem, Peaceful Sun is carrying out work under the leadership of the Municipal Party Committee; we must definitely follow the Municipal Party Committee's overall work arrangement. It's my fault for not clarifying things, saying some inappropriate remarks; please don't mind!"

Lu Fan hurriedly said: "Secretary, it's my fault first; next time I will definitely pay attention to organization and discipline, and when going out, I will personally report to the Municipal Party Committee!"

Hu Chengwei changed the topic, smiling: "Going to Jingcheng with Li Secretary, is it for the 'Double High and Double Popular' project? Any gains?"

Lu Fan said: "Li Secretary has great influence; the Education Department agreed to support Yingjiang's education work, possibly providing a three-to-five-hundred-million project. When I return, I will strive to secure more quotas for Peaceful Sun, though I don't know if it will work."

"Having this intention is good! Some of our comrades only know to constantly reach out to the organization for handouts, never thinking to take initiative. What if all county leaders and cadres were like you, always thinking about the county's overall work? Peaceful Sun would have no reason not to develop. Oh, by the way, did you incur any expenses on this trip?"

Lu Fan truthfully reported: "I brought 100 pieces of high-quality ground rubber lamb."

"Hmm, I can tell you, this expense we, Peaceful Sun, will take, after all it's also a contribution to the city's education cause!"

"Alright, Secretary, I'll go talk to the reception office about the specifics."

Immediately afterward, Hu Chengwei also communicated with Lu Fan regarding the education work, expressed earnest expectations, encouraged Lu Fan to continue striving, to strive for this year's Middle School Entrance Exam and College Entrance Exam scores to achieve even better results; his attitude can be described as quite sincere and friendly!

This made Lu Fan feel that sometimes it's necessary to pull a tiger's skin and wave a big flag!

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