Chapter 287

Lu Fan and Wang Honghai were chatting heatedly outside, but inside the café it was worlds apart—Lu Yao and Chen Xu sat there awkwardly.

After chatting on and off for a while, Chen Xu gathered his courage and said, "Lu Yao, today's blind date was arranged by me asking Brother Wang. I want you to know that no matter what, I can share the burden with you."

Lu Yao thought of the Le family, not wanting to implicate others, so she shook her head and said, "Brother Chen, thank you for your kindness! Everyone has their own responsibilities and missions; if one day I get what I wish for, I will consider personal matters."

"Lu Yao, I'm going to work in Peng City!"

"Oh, you've been transferred there?"

"No, I plan to resign and develop my career in Peng City!"

Lu Yao didn't know what to say, still thinking Chen Xu was resigning for her sake. After a moment, she said, "Brother Chen, sorry, you're a good person!"

Chen Xu gave a wry smile inside; the last thing he wanted to hear was: "You're a good person!"

On the sixth day of the first lunar month, Lu Fan returned to Yingjiang, while Li Mingzhou went to the Provincial Party Committee to attend the standing committee meeting; he would have to go to work tomorrow, so the pleasant Spring Festival holiday was effectively over!

After returning to Yingjiang, Lu Fan went to the office, tidied up his current work ahead of time, handling what he could, so it would be easy to hand over later.

But less than an hour later, Ganshui County Discipline Inspection Committee Secretary Zhang Qianyuan arrived; having previously worked in the Municipal Party Committee office, he surely had an "inside line" to leak information.

After entering, Zhang Qianyuan put down the "file bag" and, with a beaming face, said, "Secretary, I didn't have a chance to pay you a New Year's visit during the holidays!"

Lu Fan put down his pen and said, "Qianyuan, no need for formalities between us!"

"Secretary, I'll report on Ganshui's discipline inspection work."

Lu Fan interrupted: "No rush, you can report after I take office—no delay! But there's something you should pay attention to: help me find a suitable secretary."

"Okay, Secretary, I'll make sure it's done!"

After chatting for about ten minutes, Zhang Qianyuan considered his New Year's visit done, stood up, and took his leave.

Not long after, Ganshui County Deputy County Chief Chen Shifeng entered; he too had been transferred down from the Municipal Party Committee office, and was Lu Fan's doing.

Putting down the "file bag", Chen Shifeng smiled and said, "Hearing the news that you, Secretary, would be coming to take office in Ganshui, I'm still excited to this day!"

Lu Fan laughed and said, "We'll be working together again; let me say this first: at work, don't give me diarrhea or drag me down—there are aspects of Ganshui's work I'm very dissatisfied with! Tomorrow the holiday ends, so you'd better plan well: what should we do this year, how to do it, and what results we should achieve."

"Secretary, I've been thinking about this issue lately: for Ganshui to develop, we must first solve the ideological problem—too many people are lying flat!"

Lu Fan likewise interrupted: "If you have specific ideas, put them into a document; we'll study it after I take office—now is not the time to discuss this."

"Okay, Secretary!" Then he gave a simple and clear overview of the county government's situation.

As work was about to end, Ganshui County Organization Department Head Guo Tongyu also arrived.

Back then, Lu Fan worked at the Baishu Bay forest farm, while Guo Tongyu was the head of the Forestry Bureau—a subordinate of a subordinate.

Now Lu Fan is about to become his direct superior, and Guo Tongyu's ability to transfer into the Ganshui Organization Department head position is also thanks to Lu Fan's advocacy.

So Guo Tongyu had long adjusted his mindset, positioned himself correctly, and was enthusiastic toward Lu Fan while still showing respect.

The Organization Department head is important to the County Party Secretary; after a bit of small talk, Lu Fan instructed: "Put together a booklet of officials at the deputy director level and above in the Administrative Functions Bureau, as well as deputy town heads and above, focusing mainly on their resumes, abilities, performance, and background."

Guo Tongyu straightforwardly said, "Sure, I'll have it done before you take office. Secretary, are we going to adjust personnel?"

"Go there first and assess the situation; the head of the County Party Committee Office needs to be adjusted, and surely there will be rotations below—do your research in advance."

"Okay, Ganshui still has four top leaders born in 1961 who are about to retire to the second line; here's the list."

Lu Fan took it, glanced over, and saw the heads of the Civil Affairs Bureau, Culture Bureau, Editorial Office, and Health Bureau. Not bad—at least there's room to maneuver in Ganshui.

The County Party Secretary's authority largely comes from personnel adjustments; the reasoning is simple: I gave you the "hat"—will you listen to me or not?

After Lu Fan put down the list, Guo Tongyu pondered for a while and then said, "Secretary, back then I introduced you to Wang Yewei; County Chief Baoguo indeed did things improperly, bluntly splitting you two up, and I wasn't happy about it either. Now it's good—you two will be on the same team—what a twist of fate!"

Lu Fan gave a light smile and said, "Those past matters are over; I've long let go. Instead, I worry that he might feel uncomfortable."

Upon second thought, Lu Fan added, "Do you think I want to team up with him? I have no choice—this is the organization's decision. But once I take office, in work it will be one is one, two is two; everyone must obey the County Party Committee's decisions and deployments!"

Tongyu, Wang Baoguo rose from deputy secretary to county chief; he's been in Ganshui for some years—how's his prestige? Any issues regarding integrity and clean governance?

Guo Tongyu thought and said, "To be frank, he hasn't achieved much—you know Ganshui's development has been stagnant. As for integrity and self-discipline, I can't speak recklessly since I lack investigative authority and thus the right to comment. However, there are rumors he has a few work teams under his command; you can ask Zhang Qianyuan about that—he's the Discipline Inspection Committee secretary."

"Alright, I got it!"

After chatting for half an hour, Guo Tongyu stood up and took his leave.

After work, Lu Fan returned home, and Du Wenlong immediately brought over some dishes for drinks.

Not long after, Yang Minghao, Su Xiaoyi, Xia Li and several other brothers and classmates arrived as promised; the annual gathering is a must.

Today was extraordinarily lively—nearly twenty people came to the house, filling the living room to capacity; the rooms were filled with laughter and chatter, the atmosphere quite heated!

Reveling with friends, sharing drinks and conversation, is truly one of life's great joys! In this bustling world, to have such a small circle where one can pour out one's heart and share happiness, and to have a group of like‑minded friends, is no small feat.

February 3, the Spring Festival holiday ended, and the Provincial Party Committee convened its standing committee meeting.

Provincial Party Secretary Chen Jiazhong emphasized mobilizing the whole province to muster vigor and forge ahead, deeply advancing the dual "Number One Project" of development and reform, fully stimulating economic development dynamism, driving a strong start to the year, and laying a solid foundation for high‑quality leapfrog development!

The last item on the meeting agenda was personnel; Organization Department Head Li Yixiao gave a detailed report, and the standing committee unanimously approved.

February 4, the Provincial Party Committee Organization Department issued its document; as expected, Lu Fan's name was on the list, and he was appointed Secretary of the Ganshui County Party Committee!

Secretary Li Mingzhou brought the document back to Yingjiang, immediately summoned Lu Fan to the office, handed over the file and said, "Take a look; I'll notify the Ganshui County Party Committee Office later, and tomorrow I'll personally see you to your post!"

Holding the document, seeing his own name and the position he was about to assume, Lu Fan's heart surged with excitement—he had finally reached this step!

The County Party Secretary, who governs a county and leads its myriad people, can overturn heaven and earth, working from the mountaintop. The prevailing view on personnel is that the grassroots is the main battlefield of development, the first line of stability, and the forefront of serving the masses; only by tempering oneself in the post of County Party Secretary can one become more grounded, hear the people's voices, understand the nation's conditions, forge genuine abilities, and accumulate true experience!

Li Mingzhou adopted a solemn expression and said, "Lu Fan, entrusted by the organization, I am now giving you a pre‑appointment talk!"

Lu Fan immediately sat up straight, looking at Li Mingzhou with focused attention.

"First, let me share my understanding of the County Party Secretary: being a county official is no easy task!"

"At the same time, the County Party Secretary is still a 'high‑risk profession'."

"No matter how many things are said, one must have integrity; no matter how many concerns, one must look to political resolve."

"When you get to Ganshui, you'll feel it for yourself!"

"I sincerely hope that after you undergo the tempering of being County Party Secretary, your abilities in all aspects will be elevated."

"When the time comes for you to leave, I hope you can confidently say, I have done some things, and have not let down the organization and the people of Ganshui! In this regard, Wang Hongtao is your role model—no one has done better than him!"

Lu Fan could feel that Li Mingzhou was imparting all his knowledge, could sense his expectations for him, as well as the concern of many people like Secretary Wang Hongtao, Li Lao, and others, together with the yearning of the 100,000 people of Ganshui for a better life—a strong sense of responsibility welled up spontaneously!

Lu Fan said firmly: "Secretary, your golden words and earnest teachings I will keep in mind; thank you for giving me this precious opportunity. I will, with the courage of 'Leaning Toward Tiger Mountain,' the tenacity of 'Daring to Gnaw Hard Bones,' and the boldness of 'Striving to Be the First to Speak Out,' wholeheartedly seek welfare for the people of Ganshui! Ten thousand years is too long; we strive for the present moment!"

Li Mingzhou heard this, smiling with relief, and said: "After you go down, let loose and get to work; any problems needing city coordination and resolution can come find me anytime."

At night lying in bed, Lu Fan even felt too excited to sleep, recalling the past ten years' experiences with many feelings; they thought of those who had once mocked them, the situations that had plunged them into desperation, and the moments that had once broken their heart, flashing before their eyes like a movie.

It is precisely because of these experiences that Lu Fan cherishes everything before them even more and understands the meaning of hard work and struggle.

Today, their official career is truly beginning; this success is merely a start, there is still a long road ahead in the future, and more challenges await them to face.

Now, Lu Fan just wants to say: The Le family's few dogs — I'm here!

The next morning after getting up, Lu Fan quickly took a shower, picked out a well-fitting top, tidied themselves up neat and proper, and went to work with an excited mood.

Along the way, too many people greeted Lu Fan, each enthusiastically saying: "Congratulations, Secretary Lu!"

Upon entering the office, the Director of the Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Yang Shaokai, and the Director of the Municipal Human Resources Bureau, Li Guanglei, pushed the door open, saying, "We've come to see you off, Lu Fan."

Soon after, the Chief of the Public Security Bureau, Ye Chen, the Director of the Compilation Office, Chen Hangji, and the Director of the Housing Management Bureau, Wang Jiaming, also came.

In the end, the office couldn't hold everyone; Lu Fan already had deep connections in the city.