Chapter 263: Do Not Mock a Poor Youth

Zhang Qianyuan, director of the Municipal Party Committee's duty room, is a smart person; in the past two months he has been closely attached to Lu Fan, repeatedly expressing a desire to get close, and he is proactive at work, gradually earning Lu Fan's approval.

Around the end of the workday at noon, Zhang Qianyuan came in as usual to report his work.

When he finished, Lu Fan suddenly asked, "Qianyuan, how many years have you been working at the Municipal Party Committee Office?"

Zhang Qianyuan immediately realized something, grew nervous, and said, "Secretary‑General, I was transferred from Zibei County to the Municipal Party Committee Office in 2007, and became duty‑room director in 2013."

Lu Fan laughed, "I started working in 2007, so you're already a 'veteran' of the Municipal Party Committee Office. Are you interested in taking a post in a county or district?"

Sure enough, Zhang Qianyuan felt a joy like a daughter‑in‑law finally becoming a mother‑in‑law after many years, and tried to restrain his exhilaration, saying, "I'll follow the Secretary‑General's orders; wherever I'm placed, I'll always be your soldier!"

"Alright, you know the city will soon reshuffle personnel, and the Municipal Party Committee Office plans to recommend you for a county or district post. In the meantime, you must foster unity with colleagues, keep a low profile, and watch your words, so no trouble arises!"

"Secretary‑General, rest assured, I know what's at stake!"

After Zhang Qianyuan left, Lu Fan went to Li Mingzhou's office to seek instructions, but by chance he ran into an unexpected yet anticipated person in Secretary Tan Yin's office—Wang Baoguo, the father of his ex‑girlfriend Wang Yewei!

The past immediately replayed scene by scene in his mind; to say he bore no hatred toward him, Lu Fan himself didn't believe it—people aren't that magnanimous!

But after so many years, Lu Fan is somewhat reconciled, yet he doesn't want any contact with him, simply looks past him and says to Tan Yin, "Secretary, is anyone there?"

Tan Yin hurriedly rose and replied, "Secretary‑General, the Ganshui County Committee Secretary is inside; he's been in for over ten minutes. I'll call you as soon as he comes out!"

Lu Fan nodded and left, ignoring the "stranger" sitting on the sofa!

Wang Baoguo wore an awkward expression, unsure whether to greet anyone.

It truly fits the saying, "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—never look down on a poor youth!" The small worker from a remote forest farm back then has now become the Municipal Party Committee's Deputy Secretary‑General, even managing the Municipal Party Committee Office. What a bizarre turn of fate!

Even if he held a County Chief position now, people would probably still look down on him!

His daughter appears to have been traumatized and is still single; sigh, had he known this earlier, why did he do it in the first place!

In the Municipal Party Committee Secretary's office, Ganshui County Committee Secretary Wu Pengzhang pleaded, "Secretary, I have been in Ganshui for eight years; the anti‑Japanese war has won! My demand is modest—I only need to be transferred to another county or district!"

Li Mingzhou said, "Pengzhang, the Municipal Party Committee values your work, so your request isn't unreasonable, but this adjustment does not consider the Ganshui Secretary or County Chief. Here's the deal: keep it up for another year, and when vacancies arise in the Municipal Party Committee or City Government leadership, you'll be given priority!"

It was an unexpected delight! Wu Pengzhang was the first person Li Mingzhou approached after arriving in Yingjiang; he is honest and absolutely obeys orders, earning Li Mingzhou's trust, yet he didn't expect the Secretary to intend to promote him!

Good fellow, now at the deputy‑department rank; if luck is good, maybe he could enjoy a stint in the National People's Congress or the Political Consultative Conference, extending his political career by ten years!

He gratefully said, "Secretary, I don't even know what to say; I will absolutely obey you and stand firm in my final post!"

Li Mingzhou continued, "In this personnel adjustment, the Ganshui County Committee and County Government may see a major shift; be mentally prepared. When these officials go to Ganshui, you must fully delegate power, help them quickly seize the situation, get into work mode, and avoid forming factions or any chaotic nonsense!"

Wu Pengzhang seemed to recall something and said thoughtfully, "Secretary, I now know what to do!"

Leaving Li Mingzhou's office, Wu Pengzhang turned a corner and went to Lu Fan's office.

Seeing the Ganshui County Committee Secretary enter, Lu Fan hurriedly stood up, offered tea, and said, "Secretary Wu, please sit; I've just set aside some good tea for you to sample!"

Wu Pengzhang laughed, "Good tea must be drunk; I just came from the Secretary and thought I'd drop by. You've been in office so long and still haven't visited Ganshui County—do you think we lack good wine, or good scenery?"

Lu Fan quickly said, "Secretary Wu, you're criticizing; next time there's a chance I'll definitely go to Ganshui to study!"

Lu Fan knows exactly who is close to the Secretary, and naturally shows respect to those leaders.

Wu Pengzhang said pointedly, "As some towns have discovered crude oil, Ganshui faces new development opportunities, and it needs a young, capable leader like you to make great achievements!"

Lu Fan smiled and said, "Secretary Wu, I personally would love such a chance, but I must obey the organization's arrangement. We are a brick of the revolution, moved east, west, north, south by the Party—whether set into the Great Wall or placed in a toilet, we remain neither proud nor despondent!"

They talked back and forth for a long time; Wu Pengzhang attempted to lead the talk, but Lu Fan was watertight.

On March 1, a notice from the Yingjiang City Discipline Inspection Committee drew citywide attention.

The notice said: After investigation, Le Xue Li, during his tenure in Ningyang Xian, violated organizational discipline by not truthfully reporting personal matters; breached clean‑government discipline by using his position to accept gifts and cash; breached work discipline by improperly performing duties; violated laws and regulations by using his authority to invest in enterprises within his jurisdiction, obtaining huge illicit gains, and by accepting bribes.

Le Xue Li, as a Party‑member leader, has lost his ideals and Party consciousness, severely violating Party discipline; his conduct is egregious and serious. According to the Discipline Punishment Regulations and the Civil Servant Disciplinary Regulations, the Yingjiang City Discipline Inspection Committee and Supervisory Committee decided, with approval from the Municipal Party Committee and City Government, to expel him from the Party and dismiss him from public office, and to transfer his suspected illegal criminal matters and clues to judicial organs for lawful handling.

The Municipal Party Committee and City Discipline Inspection Committee decided to utterly disgrace Deputy Provincial Governor Le Xue Ren and Anbao County Committee Secretary Le Xue Yi; the city's cadres and masses are fervently discussing—why could the third brother, Le Lao San, be taken down? Are his two older brothers also like grasshoppers after autumn, soon unable to leap?

It is said that the Le Provincial Governor, angry, smashed a cup in his office, fully settling the score with Secretary Li Mingzhou.

On March 2, after all legal procedures, Le Xue Zhi was escorted to Yingjiang Prison, assigned to the infectious disease quarantine block.

Now promoted to chief of the Third Prison Block, Ceng Ming arranged for Ji Luhui to encounter the "law‑bound" Le Xue Zhi.

When he saw the once all‑powerful "big boss" now imprisoned, Ji Luhui's soul seemed lost, his whole being became dazed, and he completely lost hope for the future.

Worse still, due to Ceng Ming's "special care," Ji Luhui's prison term was increased by a full three years!

Ningyang Criminal Police Team Captain Liu Jin Zhu has received a dispatch from the City Bureau, yet he did not immediately go to report.

These past years, he has continuously tracked Ji Luhui, because Chen Liqiong's "car‑accident case" contains many doubts, keeping Liu Jin Zhu unable to settle.

Through his unremitting effort, he gradually obtained many clues and pieces of evidence.

On March 5, Liu Jin Zhu, with two colleagues, went to Yingjiang Prison and interrogated Ji Luhui.

Years of frontline detective work have made Liu Jin Zhu seasoned; upon seeing Ji Luhui, he stared sharply, saying firmly, "Ji Luhui, answer two questions: first, why have you been tailing Lu Fan near the county committee for days? No excuses, the surveillance video shows it! Second, where did the 600,000 yuan of unexplained cash in your old house come from? Your fingerprints are on it!"

Ji Luhui, already despondent, fell silent under Liu Jin Zhu's fierce attack.

Liu Jin Zhu continued, "You know the law; if the 'car‑accident case' was premeditated murder, you know the consequences! I solemnly warn you, the principal offender and accomplice face vastly different sentences; do you still think you need to take the blame for others? Voluntary surrender can lead to leniency! The law's net is wide but never lets a guilty slip; if I had no evidence, I wouldn't come after you!"

Ji Luhui's complexion grew increasingly grim; deep‑seated fear and hesitation made it hard for him to decide.

Liu Jin Zhu sensed Ji Luhui's struggle, knowing pressure and guidance were needed, and emphasized, "Le Xue Zhi has already been sentenced; if he confesses first or shifts all responsibility onto you, think of the consequences—think of your wife, children, and elderly parents!"

Sweat dotted Ji Luhui's forehead; he realized he had no other choice.

Finally, he trembled with voice, saying, "I… I'm willing to cooperate with your investigation, I'll confess everything; I was used by Le Xue Zhi!"

Liu Jin Zhu nodded approvingly, knowing the case was about to reach a crucial breakthrough, feeling pleased that he could finally do something for Brother Lu.

Meanwhile, Lu Fan's other brother Du Wenlong, after successfully "taking down" Le Xue Li, did not stop; he began a deep investigation into Anbao County Committee Secretary Le Xue Yi's work during his tenure in Ningyang, scrutinizing every project he handled, leaving no trace unchecked, determined to bring down this corrupt element!

Lately, good news has come one after another, filling Lu Fan with satisfaction and making him keenly realize a truth: a hero needs three allies!

Progressing on the official path is arduous, and a single person's power is limited; one must have a group of like‑minded comrades to cooperate and support each other to achieve great deeds!

Finding like‑minded people isn't easy; it requires the test of time, as the great waves sift the sand, and only when the sand is gone does true gold appear!

It also requires careful cultivation; with such a platform and opportunity now, Lu Fan feels he should do something!