Chapter 260

In officialdom, one is often at the mercy of circumstances, especially during the New Year, which is the perfect time to fully display worldly wisdom and social graces!

After returning to Yingjiang, Lu Fan began to maintain his own 'social graces,' which is a required course for any leading cadre!

First, the Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, Guo Zhitao, and the Secretary-General of the Municipal Party Committee, Zhang Ziqiang, are Lu Fan's direct superiors and must be respected!

The biggest headache for Lu Fan was choosing gifts—cash was out of the question. Not knowing what else to prepare, he brought the most conventional presents—two packs of cigarettes and a box of tea—to pay New Year calls on them respectively, in order to draw closer.

Next came the Secretary of the Municipal Discipline Inspection Committee, Wu Xiaohua, and the Head of the Municipal Organization Department, Zhang Rongqiu—one is an ironclad buddy, the other is the secretary's direct lineage; both are pure power holders, and during holidays they must make the rounds and maintain relations.

The remaining Political and Legal Committee Secretary Chen Zijun, Propaganda Department Head Wang Yuxin, Zhenbei District Party Committee Secretary Zhao Honglan, and Vice Mayor Zhang Shibin are all to be paid ceremonial visits, with high-quality tea as gifts; they are all standing committee members, and we need to cultivate ties with them.

The only one left out was the Head of the United Front Work Department, Hao Chaoyang, because Lu Fan had a very poor impression of him, and the secretary also took no liking to him; many say he embezzled a lot when he was county party secretary, and even now people occasionally report him.

As work was about to end, Lu Fan went to Mayor Li Mingzhou's office to ask about the New Year duty schedule, but unexpectedly ran into the mayor, and Lu Fan politely greeted him: 'Good morning, Mayor!'

Unexpectedly, Sun Weidong stopped in his tracks, looked sternly at Lu Fan, and said, 'You're still young; let me give you a piece of advice: grievances should be resolved, not entrenched; be lenient where you can.'

Lu Fan feigned incomprehension and asked, 'Mayor, I'm a bit dense! If I've done something wrong or overlooked anything in my work, please point it out—I will certainly correct it!'

Sun Weidong gave a faint smile and said, 'You know what I mean. At your young age, don't push people to the extreme; making countless enemies will bring endless trouble, making your future path difficult. If you're willing to let go, I can act as this mediator.'

Lu Fan dropped the pretense and replied, 'Every cause has its effect; everyone must pay for what they've done. As the old saying goes, 'You reap what you sow'—it's not that retribution doesn't come, it's just that the time hasn't arrived yet! Please understand, Mayor.'

The resolve and decisiveness in Lu Fan's words moved people deeply.

Sun Weidong sighed, shook his head helplessly, then turned and left.

Upon entering the secretary's office, Lu Fan without hesitation repeated the mayor's warning in full.

Unexpectedly, Li Mingzhou dismissed it, saying, 'Your own backside isn't clean, yet you have the leisure to meddle in others' affairs? Don't pay him any mind—just do what you're supposed to do!'

Hearing that, Lu Fan felt reassured and reported, 'Secretary, regarding the New Year duty schedule, do you have any instructions?'

'Just work it out with Secretary Guo Zhitao and Secretary-General Zhang Ziqiang; anyway, I won't be returning to the capital for the New Year, so feel free to schedule it any day.'

Lu Fan then asked, 'Secretary, do you need anything prepared for the New Year, or something to your taste? I'll get ready in advance.'

Li Mingzhou laughed, 'I've been in Qinchuan for several years now and am already used to the local cuisine—just prepare the usual: crispy meat, crispy chicken, meatballs, youtiao, and huangtiao are fine. Oh, and by the way, on the third and fourth days of the lunar new year, come with me back to the capital to pay New Year respects to my father.'

Lu Fan hurriedly agreed, feeling honored just to meet Elder Li, and at the same time marveled at how thick and sturdy the secretary's leg was!

On the twenty-sixth of the twelfth lunar month, Li Mingzhou began enjoying the Spring Festival holiday, showing up at Lu Fan's house without even saying hello, leaving the host unable to gather friends. Later, those brothers and high school classmates will surely come by in turns to liven things up, but no matter how vast heaven and earth, the secretary reigns supreme!

When Li Mingzhou was seen lounging in the living room watching TV like a 'landlord Old Chen,' Li Zimeng secretly warned her father, 'In this household, freeloading isn't allowed—if you want to eat, you have to work!'

Li Mingzhou took the advice to heart and voluntarily took on the mopping duty.

Watching the secretary work 'earnestly,' Lu Fan was speechless—how could one make a leader do such menial labor? Yet unable to wrest the mop from his hands, he could only stare helplessly as the leader diligently mopped the floor.

After lunch, Li Mingzhou instructed, 'Lu Fan, prepare this afternoon and invite some Municipal Party Committee comrades to come over for a casual meal. It's the New Year—let's get together!'

'Okay, Secretary, though our place isn't very spacious.'

'No problem, I think we can fit; the place will have more atmosphere!'

Hearing that, Li Zimeng whispered to Lu Yao, 'We'll have to clean again!'

Lu Yao laughed, 'Sister-in-law, we need to support my brother's work, stay in touch with the leaders, so he can advance!'

Lu Fan got busy; the first thing was to summon Chen Tianhao to prepare the food. Since they were all leaders, Lu Fan dared not embarrass himself.

Next, Lu Fan called the Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee Guo Zhitao, the Secretary-General Zhang Ziqiang, the Organization Department Head Zhang Rongqiu, the Discipline Inspection Committee Secretary Wu Xiaohua, the Propaganda Department Head Wang Yuxin, and the Political and Legal Committee Secretary Chen Zijun, conveying the secretary's instructions and inviting them to a small gathering at his home.

Everyone naturally agreed; in fact, they had all been looking forward to sharing this meal with the secretary before heading home for the New Year.

Lu Fan also took it upon himself to invite Secretary Bian Jide and Public Security Bureau Chief Ye Chen, hoping to bring them into the 'circle' as well.

Seeing Chen Tianhao busy in the kitchen, Li Mingzhou felt a tug and said to Lu Fan, 'If he's not occupied, bring him along when we return to the capital so he can cook a lamb dish for my father.'

Lu Fan laughed, 'Secretary, no need—I wouldn't boast about my other skills, but I've already mastered his secret technique for lamb; just leave the father's lamb to me.'

'I didn't expect you to be such a jack-of-all-trades! Fine, when we get back to the capital, you can be the chef.'

By five in the afternoon, the leaders arrived one after another, none coming empty-handed.

Seeing Secretary Li at ease and relaxed, as if he felt right at home, they kept their composure outwardly but were inwardly shocked, and their regard for Lu Fan rose another notch.

Last to arrive were Bian Jide and Ye Chen; upon seeing the room full of bigwigs, they both gave Lu Fan grateful looks—everything was understood without words.

The meal went very harmoniously, with lively conversation and everyone maintaining proper decorum—this was the highest‑level 'political meal' Lu Fan had ever experienced.

During a lull in the drinking, Lu Fan called Public Security Bureau Chief Ye Chen into the bedroom and said, 'Chief Ye, I have a matter I'd like to ask you, my elder brother, to help with.'

'Brother, asking for help sounds formal—if I can do it, I'll do it without hesitation!'

Lu Fan began to pour out his heart: 'Back in 2007, I worked as a temporary staffer at the Municipal Human Resources Bureau; the then deputy chief, Yang Ye, looked after me specially. It's a shame that good people don't live long—Chief Yang was killed while on duty! I found his body in the hills behind, and no matter what anyone says, I refuse to believe he hanged himself. To this day, the case remains a headless mystery, ignored by all. Chief Ye, I truly can't bear to see Chief Yang die with injustice; I implore you, my elder brother, to let this case see the light of day and the truth come out.'

Ye Chen sighed and said, 'Although ten years have passed and it's not under my purview, I've heard of this case and even thought about looking into it, but someone gave me a heads‑up—there's resistance.'

'Chief Ye, if necessary, I can ask the secretary to issue an order—can that overcome the resistance?'

'Since you've put it that way, if I were to hide anything, I wouldn't be one of us! Let me speak frankly: the secretaries of Governor Le and Mayor Sun have both hinted at this case obliquely, as has the executive vice‑chief of the Provincial Public Security Department.'

Lu Fan pondered for a moment and said, 'I understand your difficulty; I'll find a suitable opportunity and report to the secretary.'

Ye Chen said, 'How about this: I'll first have people conduct a covert investigation; once the secretary gives the order, the Public Security Bureau will immediately set up a special task force. I've also heard some rumors, and I estimate the difficulty of overturning the case won't be great.'

Lu Fan gratefully said, 'Chief Ye, a great kindness needs no thanks—whenever I can be of use, I will never refuse. Also, there's a small matter: would it be convenient for you to transfer my childhood friend, Liu Jin Zhu, who is a criminal police squad leader at the Ningyang Public Security Bureau, to the municipal bureau so he can join this case?'

Ye Chen confidently smiled, 'It's a matter of a single sentence—I'll take care of it after the New Year, and it will be a bona fide Zhengke‑level position!'

Having a weight on his mind now seeing a prospect, Lu Fan's spirits lifted, and he pulled Ye Chen out for a drink.

By past nine, everyone had drunk their fill, and the drinking party dispersed.

As the host and the most junior official, Lu Fan naturally drank too much, sitting on the sofa and engaging in heart‑to‑heart, nonsensical rambling with Li Mingzhou!

'Secretary, you've been too good to me—better than anyone! In this lifetime, if you point east, I won't go west; if you let me steal chickens, I'll never chase away dogs!'

Li Mingzhou was also pleased, feeling a bit light‑headed from drink, and said, 'I just take a liking to you, kid—that's fate! Work hard, and next I'll make you a county party secretary.'

'I'm afraid I can't handle it—I'm too young, and others won't accept it!'

'That's not for you to worry about—I have my own ways!'

'Secretary, I have a request!'

'Between us two, whether you ask or not—if it can be done, I'll get it done for you!'

"I want to investigate the Personnel Bureau. To be frank, the former deputy director Yang Ye treated me with immense kindness, but he was murdered by someone's poisonous hand! At that time I swore I would avenge Uncle Yang Ye! Secretary, we must not let the wicked go scot-free!"

"Then let's investigate, it's just a small matter!"

Lu Fan suddenly began to sob softly: "Secretary, for over ten years, since I met you, my life has had hope," his voice low and suppressed, carrying years of sorrowful past and hardship.

Li Mingzhou lay on the sofa and said: "Look forward, everything will get better! Zi Meng, help Lu Fan go inside and let him sleep!"

Lu Fan muttered: "Secretary, I'm not drunk, I still want to talk to you!"

"Lu Fan, sleep first, we'll talk more tomorrow!" Li Zimeng forcibly pulled Lu Fan up, supporting him back to the bedroom.

Li Zimeng helped Lu Fan cover with a blanket, looking at her boyfriend with tear stains at the corners of his eyes, Li Zimeng gently stroked his forehead, her heart full of pity.