Chapter 285: The First Investment

Arriving at the Provincial Party Committee, Li Mingzhou took a day to take Lu Fan to visit Provincial Party Committee Deputy Secretary Gao Zhen, Provincial Party Committee Organization Department Head Li Yixiao, Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary Liu Tuo, Standing Committee Vice Provincial Governor Niu Qianhua, and Provincial Party Committee Secretary-General Xie Mingyong.

Because of Li Mingzhou's relationship, the standing committee members' attitude towards Lu Fan was not bad. They gave Lu Fan some suggestions more or less, and Lu Fan also took this opportunity to get closer to the leaders, which was considered to be familiar.

However, for Li Yixiao and Liu Tuo, they valued Lu Fan's other identity more—Wang Hongtao's student!

Then, Lu Fan paid a New Year's greeting to Deputy Provincial Governor Tang Bing alone.

In the officialdom, the County Party Committee Secretary is considered to have entered the hall. Governor Tang Bing's importance to Lu Fan has increased by a few points, his attitude is more kind, chatting for ten or twenty minutes, encouraging Lu Fan to strive for some achievements in his new position.

Finally, Lu Fan went to the Provincial Department of Finance to pay a New Year's greeting to Director Han Guishan.

After meeting, Director Han said with gratification: "Not bad, this has become a County Party Committee Secretary, worthy of praise! This position has great potential, work hard, strive to make some movement!"

Lu Fan smiled: "Still have to rely on the Director's consistent support! Ganshui is poor, government debt is nearly 20 billion, and local fiscal revenue is only 150 million. You say what can this money do? Knowing that I am going to take office there, I have been worried to death these few days!"

Han Guishan smiled: "There are not a hundred, but eighty people who come to me to cry poor every day. I am just an accountant for the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government, and I am powerless!"

Lu Fan said: "I don't believe the Director is iron-hearted and can't save the dead? I don't have high requirements. You help me, resolve Ganshui's government debt, and I represent 100,000 Ganshui people, thank you for your great kindness!"

"Lu Fan, you have to look at each other with admiration after three days of separation! Your ability hasn't increased much, but your skin is thick to the extreme! 20 billion in government debt, let me solve it? How can you open this mouth?"

"Director, you have to support me, otherwise where do I have the courage to take office? Money is the courage of the poor, you have to give me confidence!"

In fact, Han Guishan had long considered this problem. Anyway, it is all fiscal money. Giving it to anyone is not giving it?

"Ganshui is indeed not rich, and it is unreasonable not to support you. How about this, I will think of a way to 'squeeze' out 100 million for you! Don't thank me yet, you have to have a reasonable name, so I can allocate money!"

Lu Fan was happy in his heart, but based on the principle that children who cry have milk to eat, he continued to beg: "Director, 100 million is not enough to plug the teeth, give more, 500 million and I will be satisfied!"

Han Guishan said simply: "No! If you talk too much, this 100 million will be yellow!"

"Don't, I know the Director loves me, how about 400 million?"

Han Guishan was too lazy to speak and turned his head to look out the window.

"Director, 300 million, you give 300 million, I promise not to trouble you anymore!"

Finally, under Lu Fan's soft and hard bubble, Han Guishan finally loosened his mouth, promised to strive for 200 million in transfer payment funds for Ganshui, and exhorted earnestly: "You have to use this money on the blade, use it in industrial development or livelihood areas. The County Party Committee Secretary has heavy responsibilities and is also very glamorous. In some places, it is almost a 'local emperor'. Various temptations attack together, sometimes it is very difficult to deal with, and many people embark on the road of illegal crime. It is not easy for you to get to this step. I hope you can walk on thin ice, stick to your original heart, put your mind on work, be an

Lu Fan said with a firm gaze, "Uncle Han, please rest assured. If work isn't done well, that's a matter of ability. But as for corruption and graft, I will absolutely never touch them. I have my principles for living and my bottom line for being an official!"

Busy until the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, Lu Fan followed Li Mingzhou to Jingcheng to spend the New Year.

In the evening, the family sat around the living room, chatting and laughing, the atmosphere exceptionally warm.

Watching his younger sister excitedly tell everyone about her experiences and feelings working at the Discipline Inspection Commission, her words filled with longing for the future, Lu Fan felt very gratified!

His sister had finally grown up and started working; he could finally comfort the spirits of their parents in heaven!

Lu Fan cherished everything he had now and would spend his whole life protecting it!

On New Year's Eve, Lu Fan and his sister followed Li Mingzhou and his daughter to the Beizongbu Hutong to pay a New Year's call to Li Lao and have the reunion dinner together.

For the first time, Li Lao set requirements for Lu Fan's work and warned him: to govern is to be down-to-earth, without falsehood or exaggeration; one must practice strict self-discipline, hold fast to the bottom line, control personal desires, and put aside selfishness. One must wholeheartedly do their job well, seek welfare for the people, and contribute to society.

Lu Fan accepted this humbly, made a sincere statement, and then went to the kitchen to show off his specialty—clear broth mutton!

Near noon, Li Zijun's family also arrived.

After his grandfather finished his lecture, Li Siwei ran to the kitchen to chat with Lu Fan.

"You're really something, a County Party Committee Secretary already? Big Uncle has a good eye; you're not even thirty yet—even in Jingcheng, that's top-tier!"

Lu Fan said with a smile, "Don't forget the investment you promised me, for that winery!"

"I didn't expect you to have been digging a pit for me for so long, but it doesn't matter. A real man keeps his word; you decide on any investment under one hundred million!"

"Siwei, Ganshui Wine definitely has potential, but it needs professional talent to manage it. Marketing is king now! Think about the form of cooperation; capital injection or buying shares are both fine."

Li Siwei said nonchalantly, "Since you say it has potential, I'll just acquire that small winery. You can run it however you want; it's just small change, and it doesn't matter if you mess it up!"

"That works too. I expect to take office after the New Year; the winery is an important industry I'm planning."

"Don't worry, I'll get it done before you take office, consider it supporting you!"

As night fell, the sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner was laid out on the table, emitting an enticing aroma. However, not a single person in the family dared to pick up their chopsticks, because Li Zimeng was sitting there quietly, her gaze fixed on the kitchen.

Not until Lu Fan brought out the mutton and took his seat did Li Lao say with a smile, "The New Year is here. This year our family has much to celebrate; we have a new member. I hope you can support each other and live in harmony!"

Everyone raised their glasses together and began to eat, laughter rising one after another.

Li Lao smiled as he watched everything before him, his eyes full of gratification and joy; when people get old, they love reunions.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Lu Fan and Lu Yao spent the holiday at home, and naturally, Li Zimeng went along too.

But Li Mingzhou had to stay at the courtyard in Beizongbu Hutong, because many people would come to pay New Year's calls today, including some heavyweight leaders. Now was not the time for Lu Fan to show his face; after all, his name was not yet justified, and Li Mingzhou had not yet transferred out of Yingjiang.

At three in the morning, Lu Fan walked the streets alone. For some reason, he just wanted to watch the first national flag-raising of the New Year!

Hearing the national anthem play and seeing the boundless crowd and the steady, uniform steps of the honor guard, Lu Fan's soul felt as if it had been sublimated!

Looking back, the light boat has passed ten thousand mountains, the journey has crossed a thousand waves;

Looking forward, the long road is also brilliant, the path of ideals is blooming;

Looking up, ten thousand miles of bright lamps illuminate the world, starlight glimmers to point the way forward;

Looking down, the yellow earth beneath our feet has been soft for a thousand years, the fertile soil feeds us for ten thousand generations;

Looking carefully, a heart full of passion burns for the country, the noble spirit will never be extinguished;

As long as there is a heart, a dream, and action, the country has strength and the nation has hope! Our generation must shoulder the responsibility of being the pillar in the middle of the stream, merge our life's struggles into the torrent of the era, release passion, pursue ideals, and write a magnificent chapter in our struggle!

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Lu Fan tentatively dialed the phone of Secretary Wang Hongtao, wanting to try his luck to pay a New Year's call, but unexpectedly, the call was hung up.

At this moment, Wang Hongtao was paying a New Year's call at the home of Minister Chen Deming.

Chen Deming introduced his son to Wang Hongtao, saying, "Hongtao, this is Chen Xu. He does some research and development work, but lately he's been clamoring to resign, which is quite worrying!"

Chen Xu was the only son in the family, and his parents certainly wanted him to have a stable job; the older generation's obsession with the "iron rice bowl" was deep-rooted. Moreover, Chen Xu had an introverted personality and no great ambition; his parents thought he was suited for a nine-to-five job.

Chen Xu greeted Wang Hongtao and said, "The major I studied is basically useless in my current unit; I feel like I'm just drifting along. Mom, Dad, it's not that I'm incompetent, I want to try a place where I can realize my own value! Although Longteng Technology is a private enterprise, it is developing very rapidly in the chip field, ranking among the best in the country. It's an enterprise that many high-tech people yearn for!"

Wang Rong chimed in, "I've heard of that company too; it's quite big. But for that kind of tech company, you have to have real skills to get in, right?"

Wang Hongtao suddenly said, "Chen Xu's major is a match. It's good for young people to have ambition and ideas. If you really want to go, then go. That's an enterprise founded by my second brother, Hongwei!"

Hearing this, Chen Xu said happily, "Brother Wang, I've wanted to go to Longteng for a long time. I didn't expect to have such a connection with you!"

Chen Deming and his wife were also somewhat surprised; they hadn't expected Wang Hongtao to have such achievements in this area.

Chen Deming said, "Hongtao, I didn't expect you to think so far ahead. You must have laid the groundwork a long time ago, right?"

"Well, I had some spare money at the time, and since my brother was in this major, I wanted to let him try. I didn't expect him to actually make something of it. It was a stroke of luck; at least we can contribute a bit to the country in the chip field!"

Chen Deming laughed, "You're being modest. You've contributed a lot! Longteng has made major breakthroughs in many fields. I even mentioned this enterprise at a meeting a few days ago; it belongs to the category of key protected enterprises."

Wang Hongtao asked Chen Xu, "Little Xu, do you want to engage in research work? Or business management?"

Chen Xu said without hesitation, "Brother Wang, I want to go to the R&D center and engage in research work."

"Well, that's fine. I'll get this settled when I go back today. You can decide the specific start date yourself; any time is fine."

Chen Deming urged, "Hongtao, when Chen Xu goes, treat him the same as everyone else. Don't force the seedlings to grow!"