Chapter 30: The Coffin Plan

That afternoon, Cao Tianma's father came to Lu Fan's office, marveling at the new director's youth. He was the same age as his own son, yet he held such a high position?

Lu Fan politely poured a cup of water and asked, "Uncle Cao, how long does it take you to make a coffin? How much is the labor fee?"

"Director Lu, if it's for you, I certainly can't take money. As for the time, the coffins I make are mortise-and-tenon designs, plus carving and painting; even if I hurry, it takes two weeks. If you want something like dragons and phoenixes dancing, it takes at least three weeks to see the finished product."

"Uncle Cao, it's not for me; it's to help a friend. You make your living this way, so you should charge what you should charge."

"Then I'll be thick-skinned and say it: I charge three thousand for an ordinary coffin, and five thousand if there are specific requirements. Director, it's not that I'm asking for too much, but the craftsmanship is there. Looking across Beichuan, no one dares to discuss this trade with me. The work of other craftsmen doesn't even enter my eyes!"

Lu Fan laughed. The biggest characteristic of this father and son was their confidence. However, if you make a living by your craft, you wouldn't dare say such things without real ability.

"Uncle Cao, I want the best—carved dragons and phoenixes. Just follow the five-thousand-yuan standard. Make me four pairs first. As for the materials, you don't need to worry; I'll send them directly to your house."

If anyone else said this, it would be bragging, but coming from the mouth of the forest farm director, Old Cao was ten thousand percent reassured, indicating that as soon as the materials arrived, he would start working.

After Old Cao left, Lu Fan went to the courtyard to pick and choose, gathering enough "materials" for two pairs of coffins. That night, he took Du Wenlong, Su Xiaoyi, and Wang Le, fully equipped, to the forest area to cut four sets of materials, which, along with the four sets stored at the forest farm, were all sent to Cao Tianma's house.

This scene left Old Cao dumbfounded, sighing that it had to be the director—what a big gesture!

Regarding this "stealing from the storehouse," Lu Fan had no psychological burden at all, because the entire Ningyang, and even the Yingjiang forestry system, operated this way. Otherwise, where would the coffins for hundreds of thousands of families come from? Ningyang people wouldn't look at the coffins in coffin shops.

These eight coffins had a great use; they had to become the stepping stone for integrating into Ningyang. Lu Fan knew his biggest shortcoming was connections; currently, he knew nothing about what was happening in Ningyang.

Lu Fan gradually understood that the relationship between people is one of using and being used. If you have no utility value, you will have very few friends around you.

If you can't bring value to others, don't bother them. If you are a community of interests, it doesn't matter how much you bother each other; everyone is particularly willing to bother each other.

There is no need to resent people for being too realistic. Making yourself strong is the greatest confidence. No matter what the relationship is, compared to feelings, the binding of interests is more solid.

"Poverty in the bustling city goes unnoticed; wealth in the deep mountains has distant relatives." This saying never goes out of style. One must strive to make oneself valuable; opportunities are always reserved for those who are prepared!

On the twentieth day of the twelfth lunar month, Lu Fan went to Ningyang to attend the forestry system's year-end summary meeting. He had another important task: to get an official document from the Forestry Bureau from Director Guo. Otherwise, the legal representative of the Baishu Bay Forest Farm could not be changed, and no accounts could be reported.

The meeting summarized the work of the county's forestry system in 2007 and arranged and deployed the specific work for 2008.

Lu Fan recorded carefully. The Baishu Bay Forest Farm had to complete the forest land change survey, complete 5,000 mu of forest closure and cultivation, do a good job in forest fire prevention, and handle wildlife protection and pest control. These were all tasks the forest farm had to do.

The meeting announced the assessment results of the 12 secondary units in the forestry system. The Baishu Bay Forest Farm ranked sixth. Lu Fan was quite satisfied; as long as it wasn't the last, it was fine this year.

After the meeting, Lu Fan went to Director Guo Tongyu's office and stammered that he wanted the bureau to issue a document clarifying that he was in charge of the work and serving as the legal representative.

Unexpectedly, Director Guo took the document directly from the folder, threw it to Lu Fan, and said, "I was ready to give it to you last time, but you ran too fast! Xiao Fan, I heard from Secretary Li Daqiang that the atmosphere at your forest farm has been very good recently, which is worthy of praise. I hope you will continue to make persistent efforts."

"Director, I will definitely not let you down!"

"I have a task for you."

"Please, just give the order!"

"The most famous thing in Baishu Bay is mutton. The New Year is coming soon, and some leaders in the province and city like to eat our mutton. Find a good chef, make 20 portions of mutton, choose premium meat, and use the water and seasonings from Baishu Bay; otherwise, the taste won't be right. After it's done, put it in a pressure cooker, ensure it's hot, get a car, and come with me to Chang'an and Yingjiang to deliver it."

"Director, you set the time, and I guarantee to get the job done beautifully." Lu Fan agreed without hesitation.

Guo Tongyu nodded with satisfaction. You have to know that 20 portions of mutton cost a lot of money, plus the pressure cookers to hold the meat—you couldn't take them back. Yet this young man agreed without a word and didn't even ask about the money. Not bad!

This wasn't a small amount of money. If others didn't want it, Guo Tongyu couldn't not give it, so he said, "Choose 6 to 8 catties of premium meat for each pot, don't put in any fat, and the quality of the pressure cookers should be medium-to-high so they can be used in the future. Let's do this: the bureau will allocate 50,000 yuan to you as the funding for this trip. I'll give you one day to prepare, and we'll set off on the twenty-second day of the twelfth lunar month."

Just as he finished speaking, Guo Tongyu's phone rang. He answered it and said enthusiastically, "Hello, County Chief Bian, what are your instructions?"

The deep voice of Deputy County Chief Bian Jide came over the phone: "Tongyu, my father passed away in the hospital after rescue efforts failed!"

"Ah? How could this happen? Please accept my condolences. What do you need me to do? Just give the order!"

"My old father had a taboo against preparing longevity wood for himself while he was alive. We, as children, didn't dare to disobey, which led to no preparations at all. Now I want to ask you for a favor: prepare two high-quality coffins."

Guo Tongyu was in a bit of a dilemma and said bluntly, "County Chief Bian, if you had arranged it in advance, I would definitely have handled it beautifully for you. But in such a rush, even if we make them now, we might not be able to finish in time. The kind that is done perfunctorily definitely won't do. We have a custom in Ningyang of preparing longevity wood for the elderly in advance. Why don't you see whose family we can acquire one from?"

"That definitely won't do. The things that should have been prepared belong to whom they belong. My old father worked hard all his life; I can't let him be wronged in this regard. Tongyu, is there really no other way? Can't you work overtime to get them out?"

"County Chief, don't worry, I'll find a way immediately!"

"Sigh, I know it's really putting you in a difficult position, but as children, filial piety comes first. This matter can only be entrusted to you. It doesn't matter how much it costs!" After saying this, County Chief Bian hung up the phone, which was equivalent to giving a death order.

Guo Tongyu scratched his head and said anxiously, "What should I do! If we bring the person back today, we need 'coffins and burial clothes' when the 'Chen Han' ceremony happens. In three or four days, the paint won't even be dry!"

Lu Fan heard the gist of it and felt that the opportunity had come, so he said, "Director, do you need coffins? I have two that are about to be finished."

Guo Tongyu's eyes lit up, and he immediately asked, "Who are they for? What stage are they at? What is the material? Who made them?"

Four questions in a row showed that he was indeed anxious, because there were rumors that County Chief Bian might be transferred to be the Head of the Organization Department. He couldn't let a good opportunity to curry favor turn into a bad thing.

Lu Fan replied, "They were made by Carpenter Cao from Baishu Bay. The paint should be dry today. They are made of the best materials. In the cold of the twelfth lunar month, it's hard for the elderly, and there are many funerals. I was worried that you might need them urgently, Director, so I prepared two 'woods' in advance. The workmanship is absolutely no problem. I've seen them myself; the side panels and lids are very grand, the carvings are all handmade, the front and back 'cross-heads' are very thick, and the bottom panels are three layers. They are beautiful!"

Guo Tongyu was overjoyed and laughed loudly, "Xiao Fan, you've solved a big problem for me. By the time we get back from Chang'an, the 'woods' should be completely ready. You come with me to deliver them to County Chief Bian."

"Okay, Director, I'll have Old Cao move the 'woods' into the kiln so they dry faster. If that doesn't work, we'll use a blower to dry them."

"Old Cao's craftsmanship is unquestionable. You're still the thoughtful one. This matter was handled beautifully. Not bad!"

A leader's recognition is the greatest affirmation. Satisfying a private matter is ten times better than doing a good job. There is also a saying: doing ten good deeds for a leader is not as good as doing one 'bad deed' with them. Only matters involving private affairs count as breaking into the leader's circle.

After leaving the Forestry Bureau, Lu Fan went straight to the largest home appliance store in the county, selected a pressure cooker for 580 yuan, and wanted to buy 25 of them. He pushed the price down to 420 yuan, and the boss called Yingjiang City to deliver the goods directly.

At the same time, he called Wang Le and asked him to go to the farmers' houses personally to pick from the sheep pens, ensuring they were locally grass-fed sheep. He selected 200 catties of good meat, discarding all the fat, and had it all chopped up and brought back to the unit.

Upon receiving the instructions, Wang Le immediately went to handle it.

Bringing the pressure cookers back to Baishu Bay, it was already nine o'clock in the evening. Lu Fan didn't even eat a bite before going to Cao Tianma's house to see the progress of the coffins with his own eyes, instructing Old Cao that one must be ready to be taken away within three days.

Old Cao laughed, "It's convenient even if you want to take it today. I'll handle the details tomorrow, and I guarantee that anyone who sees it will praise it!"

Lu Fan was relieved; he liked this confidence of the Cao father and son.

Time had worn away the youthful arrogance, allowing eighteen-year-old Lu Fan to settle into the knowledge of the world's warmth and cold. Now the situation was excellent, giving Lu Fan infinite hope.

The second day of the first show, starting the rating. Five-star reviews are needed. Thank you for your support! ===== CHAPTER 31 =====