Chapter 375

After getting on the expressway, Lu Fan urged Du Wenlong: "When you go to the Municipal Discipline Inspection Committee, you must follow the leadership of Secretary Wu Xiaohua, take initiative and responsibility in your work, be diligent and conscientious, strive for excellence, aim to handle more cases, let your achievements speak for themselves, and when the next adjustment comes, compete for the position of Standing Deputy Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Committee."

Now translate the line:

"After getting on the expressway, Lu Fan urged Du Wenlong: 'Going to the Municipal Discipline Inspection Committee, you must definitely follow Secretary Wu Xiaohua's leadership, take responsibility and be proactive in work, fulfill duties conscientiously, strive for excellence, seek to handle more cases, let achievements speak, and when the next adjustment comes, strive for the position of Standing Deputy Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Committee.'"

Make sure it's one line.

Du Wenlong laughed and said: "I've been itching for action; I've gone a whole year in Ganshui without handling any cases, which is really frustrating. Brother Fan, don't worry—once I'm at the Municipal Discipline Inspection Committee, I'll focus my efforts on handling cases and aim to nab several corrupt individuals. Oh, by the way, everyone on the team has improved this time; I'd like to get together with you, Brother Fan."

The corresponding translations are: Du Wenlong, Ganshui, Lu Fan (Brother Fan), the Municipal Discipline Inspection Committee, corrupt elements, the brothers/comrades, and Lu Fan (Brother Fan) again.

Translate:

"Du Wenlong laughed and said: 'I've been itching for action; I've gone a whole year in Ganshui without handling any cases, really frustrating. Brother Fan, rest assured—going to the Municipal Discipline Inspection Committee, I'll focus my main energy on handling cases, aiming to nab several corrupt elements. Oh, by the way, the brothers have all improved this time; they want to get together with Brother Fan.'"

Lu Fan said: "First, get familiar with the work; the City Government is no easy task—it's actually the busiest position in the whole city. If I can free up some time, you can then get in touch with them."

Lu Fan, City Government.

Translate:

"Lu Fan said: 'First get familiar with the work; the City Government is no easy job, even the busiest post in the whole city. If I can free up time, you contact them again.'"

Lu Fan, the Deputy Secretary-General of the City Government, one has gone to work in the county, another to a state-owned enterprise; I heard the City Government Office is in fierce competition, and they're waiting for you, the person in charge, to take office.

The corresponding translations are: Lu Fan, City Government, Deputy Secretary-General, state-owned enterprise, City Government Office, and person in charge.

Translate:

"'Brother Fan, one of the City Government's Deputy Secretary-Generals went to work in a county, another went to a state-owned enterprise; I heard the City Government Office is in fierce competition for the post, just waiting for you, the 'person in charge,' to take office.'"

Someone has already been lobbying me on this; when promoting and employing cadres, we must appoint the right person at the right time, utilizing their strengths, placing suitable people in suitable positions, to fully motivate cadres' initiative, enthusiasm, and creativity. Even when just starting at the government office, we should prioritize stability, as cadres at different stages of growth vary in thinking, mindset, temperament, ability, and cultivation, so their training and use should also adapt accordingly.

No specific names. The term, which is a typo for cadres, should be translated as cadres. The term referring to the Government Office (City Government Office) should be translated as "the office".

Translate:

"'Someone has already approached me about this; when promoting and using cadres, we must employ them at the right time, utilize their strengths, and place the right person in the right position at the right time to maximize their initiative, motivation, and creativity. When just starting at the office, we should prioritize stability; cadres at different stages of growth have varying thinking, mindset, temperament, ability, and literacy, so their training and use should also adapt accordingly.'"

Du Wenlong laughed and said: "No matter how important the Government Office is, it's still just a small unit. Brother Fan can straighten out an entire county and hundreds of leaders, so managing a single unit is naturally no problem for him."

Government Office, Lu Fan.

Translate:

"Du Wenlong laughed and said: 'No matter how important the office is, it's just a small unit. Brother Fan can straighten out a county and several hundred leaders; naturally, managing a unit poses no problem.'"

After returning to the city, it was already late at night; the two lived next door to each other and, after getting home, talked through the night.

The city.

Translate:

"Back in the city, it was already late at night; the two lived opposite each other, and after returning home they chatted all night."

The next day, Lu Fan woke up early, freshened up, and went to the City Government staff canteen for breakfast.

Lu Fan, City Government, and the staff canteen.

Translate:

"The next day, Lu Fan woke up early, freshened up, and went to the City Government staff canteen for breakfast."

This is a treatment never before enjoyed; the City Government Secretary-General is the only one qualified as a division-level leader, while everyone else holds municipal-level positions.

City Government Secretary-General, division-level, and municipal-level.

Translate:

"This was a treatment never before enjoyed; the City Government Secretary-General is the only division-level leader eligible, while everyone else is a municipal-level leader."

At the restaurant, Executive Vice Mayor Zhang Rongqiu waved at Lu Fan, who smiled and walked over, sat down, and greeted: "I don't even know how to address the two Mayor Zhangs, but from today on I am your soldier, wholeheartedly serving the leadership."

Executive Vice Mayor, Zhang Rongqiu, Lu Fan, both Mayor Zhangs, and later Zhang Shibin.

Translate:

"At the restaurant, Executive Vice Mayor Zhang Rongqiu waved at Lu Fan; Lu Fan smiled, walked over, sat down, and greeted: 'Both Mayor Zhangs, I don't know how to address you, but from today on I am your soldier, wholeheartedly serving the leadership!'"

Standing Committee Vice Mayor Zhang Shibin laughed and said: "We've been looking forward to you, watching the stars and the moon; finally you've come! Quickly assign my deputy secretary-general to the position—without a suitable person, work gets seriously delayed."

Standing Committee Vice Mayor, Zhang Shibin, and Deputy Secretary-General.

Translate:

"Standing Committee Vice Mayor Zhang Shibin laughed and said: 'We've been looking forward to you, finally you've come! Quickly assign my Deputy Secretary-General; lacking a capable person really hinders work!'"

Lu Fan replied: "I will carry out the orders, but the leadership must first give me directions; otherwise my work will have no direction."

Lu Fan

Translate:

"Lu Fan replied: 'I guarantee to carry out orders, but the leadership must first give me directions for my work to have a clear direction.'"

Zhang Shibin said: "The head of the Commerce and Trade Section, Hu Kem? has always cooperated with my work; he's handy to use and his ability is not bad."

Lu Fan asked: "Have you talked with Mayor Li Ruifang?"

Zhang Shibin shook his head and said: "You are the Secretary-General; I just need to report to you."

Lu Fan hurriedly bowed and pleaded: "Mayor, your words put me in a difficult position; if this gets out, how can I still stay in the City Government? I certainly dare not!"

Zhang Shibin laughed: "You are the chief steward; if not to you, to whom should I report?"

As they were speaking, the Municipal Discipline Inspection Committee Secretary Wu Xiaohua walked in, saw Lu Fan and directly came over, patted his shoulder, and said with a smile: "You little rascal, you've finally come back!"

At mealtime, the leaders arrived one after another, warmly greeting Lu Fan; the table was fully seated, with Organization Department Head Zhang Ziqiang, Municipal Party Committee Deputy Secretary Guo Zhitao, Vice Mayor Bian Jide, Political and Legal Committee Secretary Chen Zijun, and Public Security Bureau Chief Ye Chen.

Soon after, Mayor Li Ruifang entered, seeing Lu Fan surrounded like stars holding the moon, she smiled and said: "My 'chief steward' is in place; it seems there's no room for me here!"

Lu Fan hurriedly stood up, gave way to Mayor Li Ruifang, and several vice mayors also stood up to indicate.

Li Ruifang smiled and said: "Please sit, it's not the only table." After saying that, she walked to the nearby dining table and sat down; the service staff hurriedly helped serve the dishes.

Lu Fan naturally picked up his bowl and chopsticks, sat over, and asked for instructions: "Mayor, I haven't gone to the office yet; any important arrangements today?"

Li Ruifang said: "A deputy director-general from the Ministry of Agriculture has come down for research; I need to accompany him. You just arrived, first get familiar with the work; today you'll 'keep watch'."

Not two sentences had been spoken when Secretary Li Mingzhou entered; everyone stood up to greet the leader.

Li Mingzhou smiled and greeted everyone, naturally sat beside Lu Fan, and said with a smile: "Once you're in post, serve Mayor Li Ruifang well!"

Lu Fan said nothing, but nodded in acknowledgment; this wasn't his "playground," and leaders' words are not lightly interrupted.

Li Ruifang said: "Secretary, Lu Fan is in place; I want to adjust the personnel of the General Office, especially the vacant deputy secretary-general positions, which cannot effectively serve the various vice mayors, causing delays in work."

Li Mingzhou nodded, called over Organization Department Head Zhang Ziqiang, and arranged: "According to the Municipal Government's opinion, first get the plan, then place the several deputy secretary-generals in position."

"Okay, Secretary; I'll wait until the Mayor has time and then go to ask for instructions."

The small restaurant holds great learning; every move of each person here is watched by everyone, and afterward they will carefully ponder and study it earnestly. Moreover, it is closely watched by the city's leading cadres; this place is the wind vane and "barometer" of Yingjiang's politics.

After Secretary Li Mingzhou left, Mayor Li Ruifang also put down her chopsticks, and Lu Fan followed suit in standing up; whether they had eaten enough didn't matter.

From today onward, Lu Fan is Mayor Li Ruifang's "chief steward" and must follow her closely.

Following the mayor to the office, Li Ruifang said: "Lu Fan, today your positions as Municipal Government Secretary-General and Director of the Municipal Affairs Office are considered officially assumed; I won't hold a special meeting to announce it. You just need to make a round to each vice mayor. As you just heard, the vacant posts must be filled promptly. How to select and employ people— the municipal government has the significance of a 'wind vane' for the whole city; we must treat people fairly, identify people impartially, and use people justly, selecting cadres with solid ideology and solid quality. You gauge the discretion yourself and consult the various vice mayors for their opinions."

Is this delegating authority? Lu Fan hurriedly said: "Mayor, I'm not yet very familiar with the General Office; I dare not rashly propose ideas."

Li Ruifang laughed and said: "Even if you're not familiar, you're still more familiar than I am; I can't even get most people's names right. You, as my chief steward, are here to share my burdens. All right, this is settled: first gather opinions from all sides, draft a plan, then hold a Party Group meeting to study it."

Seeing that the leaders were not being polite, Lu Fan did not decline and said: "Okay, Mayor, I will first solicit opinions from the various leaders, form a preliminary plan, then report to you."

Li Ruifang nodded and said: "Lu Fan, you have worked at the grassroots and done excellently; if you have any good opinions or suggestions, you must communicate them to me promptly; don't hide your talent."

"Please rest assured, Mayor; I will certainly devote my utmost effort to serve and cooperate with your work."

"During this period, I've found that enterprises are not very enthusiastic about the municipal government's 'pro-enterprise' policies; Ganshui saw the largest increase last year in enterprises above the designated size. What's your view? Speak fully, hold nothing back."

Lu Fan thought for a moment and said, "Mayor, let me share my humble opinion; if there's anything inappropriate, please criticize and correct me! Through my contact with enterprises, I've learned that enterprises generally feel there are too many and overly complicated policies, and their sense of gain and satisfaction fail to meet policy expectations. Firstly, policies are not disclosed in time and publicity is insufficient—enterprises may not even know such preferential policies exist. Secondly, policies contain too many professional terms and new words; many enterprise bosses simply can't understand them and find them troublesome. Thirdly, universal benefit policies are too weak, giving enterprises little sense of gain; one could say they disdain even tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, finding it too troublesome. Benchmark-type and selection-type policies have strong intensity but are highly professional, even involving application risks, requiring cautious enjoyment, so enterprises simply choose not to apply."

During my enterprise research I also discovered that application items are usually handled by accountants; after documents are sent to the enterprise, some accountants simply 'hide' them, because applying for items is their responsibility while the boss gives them no benefit, so accountants will push or avoid whenever they can, hoping best to not apply for any, making things easier for themselves.

Li Ruifang nodded satisfiedly, smiling and said: "As the saying goes: Without accumulating small steps, one cannot reach a thousand miles; without accumulating small streams, one cannot form rivers. Practice yields true knowledge; grassroots cadres' abilities, you spoke very aptly, enlightening me. Since you have ideas, there must be a way. Here's what we'll do: you organize the Government Office to draft an 'Opinion on the Implementation Mechanism for Concentrated Publicity and Implementation of Preferential Policies for Enterprises'; you must personally oversee it and submit it to the Standing Committee for study."

We have hard‑won funds; we must ensure that in the process of implementing and executing policies, there are no discounts, no perfunctory actions, no mere formalities, no extra thresholds set, so that every policy measure can truly play its due effect.

"Okay, Mayor, I will implement it immediately." Lu Fan deeply realized: the more you talk, the more trouble you get.

After receiving his assignment, Lu Fan had just left the mayor's office when Mayor's secretary Wang Minghui came up to him, smiling broadly and said: "Secretary‑General, your office is in Room 306; I have arranged for someone to tidy it up, and I will take you there."

Lu Fan laughed and said: "Minghui, thank you! From now on, working together, we must coordinate well and serve the mayor well."

Wang Minghui quickly replied: "Okay, Secretary‑General, I will report frequently; whenever you have any instructions, just tell me!"

Wang Minghui's attitude toward Lu Fan represents the feelings of all the leading cadres in the City Government Office.

Although Lu Fan serves in Ganshui, his legend has long been known throughout the city; he is a big shot favored by the Municipal Party Secretary, and now the mayor has reused him, enabling him to navigate smoothly wherever he goes—what kind of logic is this? Looking across the Government Office, nobody dares to provoke him; everyone shares the same thought, trying every possible way to get close to him!

Upon entering the office, Lu Fan found that all office supplies were brand new; the office had been cleaned spotless, and with a few potted plants adding a touch of greenery, it felt especially comfortable—one could tell it had been carefully arranged.

Lu Fan nodded at Wang Minghui, accepting this goodwill.