Chapter 387: with translation of chapter title

September 5–10, following the principle of 'determining staffing by duties and selecting personnel by work,' Lu Fan carried out multiple rounds of heart‑to‑talks, visited 30 key departments undergoing reform for discussion and research, guided cadres to consciously follow organizational arrangements, ensuring that during the reform thinking would not be confused, work would not stop, the team would not scatter, and vigor would not diminish, achieving accurate approval of staffing numbers, accurate transfer of personnel responsibilities, and accurate staffing of leadership teams.

On September 10, the municipal‑level unit institutional reform was officially launched; the city's party and government institutions were streamlined from 47 to 37, and department leadership positions from 235 to 205, basically establishing a system that is complete, scientifically standardized, and highly efficient in operation.

Deputy Secretary‑General of the Municipal Party Committee Lu Fan used ten days to research the 37 units after the reform; Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Discipline Inspection Committee Du Wenlong accompanied him, and the Municipal Discipline Inspection and Supervision Commission was fully involved, promptly detecting and handling emergent and tendency‑related problems, achieving 'wherever the reform advances, warning and supervision follow'; they built a solid 'firewall' for the smooth progress of the reform and effectively ensured that the reform work took effect on the ground.

Starting September 11, the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government convened a city‑wide mobilization conference on institutional reform, deploying arrangements for deepening the reform; Deputy Secretary‑General Lu Fan made specific work arrangements, and the institutional reform in all counties and districts was officially launched.

To ensure the institutional reform was implemented thoroughly, Lu Fan drew personnel from the Municipal Party Committee Office, Municipal Government Office, Municipal Discipline Inspection Committee, and Municipal Organization Department, dispatched four inspection teams, and conducted a special supervision of the progress of the institutional reform work in county and district governments.

Lu Fan demanded that all counties and districts raise their political standing, follow the Municipal Party Committee's already‑set reform 'roadmap' and 'timeline', clarify tasks, schedule work in reverse, and must complete the reform tasks by the end of the month.

Lu Fan personally led an inspection team to Ganshui County, Ningyang County, and Anbao County; through holding symposiums, reviewing relevant materials, conducting on‑site inspections, and holding face‑to‑face talks with the leading officials of the county Party committees and county governments, he gained a detailed grasp of the institutional reform situation in the counties and districts.

Regarding the slow progress of reform in Zibei County, Fangzhou County, and Ding shui County, the Municipal Party Committee Office issued a supervisory notice; Lu Fan personally held talks with the three county Party secretaries, demanding that they complete the institutional reform by month‑end without any discount.

Although Lu Fan is merely a Deputy Secretary‑General of the Municipal Party Committee, no leading cadre in the whole city treats him as a section‑level leader; even the leaders of the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government interact with him on equal terms. Anyone with discernment knows that the vacancy of the Municipal Party Committee Secretary has been kept open for a long time precisely for Lu Fan.

On September 20, the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee's website announced the list of 100 nominees for national outstanding county Party secretaries. Among these 100 nominees, 34 come from key counties for poverty‑alleviation development and contiguous severely disadvantaged areas; Qinchuan Province has two nominees, and Lu Fan is on the list!

That's a national outstanding county Party secretary! The news struck like a thunderbolt; the Municipal Party Committee compound buzzed like a boiling pot, even shaking the whole city, sparking extensive discussion among cadres and the public, and Lu Fan became the focus of everyone's attention.

Lu Fan's phone was blown up with congratulatory calls that came nonstop; wherever he went, he was greeted with unanimous praise.

Municipal Party Secretary Li Ruifang, upon hearing this good news, specially summoned Lu Fan to her office, personally expressed congratulations, and gave Lu Fangu praise and affirmation.

Lu Fan humbly replied, 'Thank you for the secretary's concern and the organization's cultivation; I will continue to work hard and not disappoint everyone's expectations.'

Li Ruifang nodded satisfiedly and then said, 'Comrade Lu Fan, your work achievements are evident to all; this institutional reform went especially smoothly. I hope you will take this award as a new starting point and achieve greater accomplishments in the future. With this honor as a foundation, there will be no obstacle to further advancement.'

'I still have to rely on the secretary's attention! I will wholeheartedly serve and cooperate well with the secretary's work!'

After a brief chat, Lu Fan said, 'Secretary, I want to take leave on September 28 to return early to Jingcheng to prepare for my wedding!'

Upon hearing this happy news, Li Ruifang, slightly excited, said, 'Oh my, you're finally getting married! This is a great joy, a wonderful thing! Lu Fan, how do you plan to celebrate? After all, I'm your superior—I can't not be invited!'

Lu Fan spoke frankly: 'Secretary, the wedding in Jingcheng is being arranged by Minister Mingzhou; I plan to ask colleagues for a small gathering after the National Day holiday ends, keeping it as low‑key as possible.'

Li Ruifang nodded and said, 'That's understandable; marrying the daughter of Minister Mingzhou calls for a low‑key affair! Lu Fan, I wish you in advance a happy marriage, bliss and fulfillment, growing old together, and a hundred years of harmony! I also wish your career to rise steadily, with success blooming step by step.'

In the following week, Lu Fan went deep into the counties and districts, increased inspection efforts, and strove to have the whole city finish the institutional reform before his leave.

On September 28, Lu Fan went to Jingcheng, with his second uncle's family accompanying him. As for friends, Lu Fan only invited Han Guishan, Wu Xiaohua, Bian Jide, Du Wenlong, Ceng Ming, Yang Minghao, Liu Jin Zhu, Su Xiao‑yi, and Xia Li's six brothers.

After getting off the plane and leaving the airport, Li Siwei welcomed everyone with a luxurious minibus and took them to his own hotel for an enthusiastic reception.

After settling everyone, Lu Fan took his second uncle and second aunt to the headquarters hutong in the north, where the elders of both families discussed the marriage.

Li Lao went outside the gate to greet the second uncle and second aunt, giving them due courtesy. However, upon meeting them the second uncle was frightened badly, his speech becoming incoherent.

After inviting everyone into the living room, Li Lao laughed and said, 'Marriage is about blessing two children to tie the knot and be of one heart; we all like this child Lu Fan, his feelings with Zimeng have always been good, and I believe they will surely grow old together. As for the ceremony, I think the simpler the better. Lu Bin, you are Lu Fan's second uncle and also his guardian—what's your opinion?'

The second uncle hastily replied, 'We'll follow your instructions, Elder; we have no opinion.'

Li Mingzhou laughed and said, 'Old Lu, from now on we are one family; if you have any ideas, or if we neglect any etiquette, just tell me—after all, customs differ between Jingcheng and Yingjiang, but we must never lose propriety.'

The second uncle quickly waved his hands, face full of smiles, and promptly responded, 'Nowadays who has so many formalities? The two children's happy and beautiful life is more important than anything! Our little Fan owes his today's achievements to your help; on behalf of his elder brother and sister‑in‑law, I thank you.'

Li Lao laughed heartily, waved his hand, and said, 'That's not right; if Lu Fan himself doesn't strive, even if others want to lend a hand, they'd be willing but unable to start—ultimately it's still Lu Fan who must make his own effort.'

Li Zijun had long changed his view of Lu Fan; in resources he is ten times richer than Lu Fan, but in achievements he willingly bows to Lu Fan, and Lu Fan's rank is about to catch up with him. It is foreseeable that Lu Fan's future is brighter than his; if he continues to put on airs, it will be out of date, so he is also extremely warm toward members of the Lu family.

After finishing the wedding talk, Lu Fan returned to the hotel with his second uncle.

According to Li Siwei, Zimeng is also staying at the hotel; these two days they cannot meet.

Not long after returning, Lu Yao happily came to see the second uncle and second aunt; the family sat together cheerfully chatting.

Lu Yao pulled her brother aside and mysteriously said, 'Brother, do you know who the bridesmaid is?'

Lu Fan truly didn't know; he had entrusted all wedding matters to Zimeng.

'Brother, I bet you can't guess either—the bridesmaid is Sister Tianhui!'

Hearing that name, Lu Fan curiously asked, 'Does Zimeng know Tianhui well?'

'Of course they're close; in Jingcheng I have a sister‑in‑law and Sister Tianhui as two bosom friends, Sister Tianhui's unit is also in Jingcheng, and we often eat and shop together. Brother, isn't Sister Tianhui being the bridesmaid perfect?'

'Perfect my foot—what does your sister‑in‑law think? Don't you know I once arranged a childhood engagement with Tianhui?'

'I know; I already told my sister‑in‑law—she asked Sister Tianhui to be the bridesmaid!'

'Alright, as long as your sister‑in‑law is happy, that's fine!'

This hotel belongs to Li Siwei; starting the next day it ceased external business and began full preparations for the wedding.

The next day, just as Lu Fan got out of bed, Li Siwei sent someone to deliver the groom's attire.

Lu Fan tried on clothes for over half an hour before picking out a few that fit; aside from that, there was nothing else he needed to prepare personally, as the wedding was entirely under the charge of Li Siwei and Li Dizhan.

On the afternoon of September 30, Li Lao came to the hotel accompanied by Li Mingzhou to receive guests, with Lu Fan accompanying him throughout; this was Lu Fan's first appearance before the Li family.

Starting at six o'clock, guests arrived one after another, and Lu Fan saw many familiar faces.

Li Lao introduced Lu Fan to everyone individually; each guest exchanged friendly words with the 'bridegroom official', some offered encouragement to Lu Fan, and Li Lao also particularly presented these disciples and former subordinates.

Tonight, Lu Fan was greatly shaken, having witnessed another world!

A wedding is the culmination of lovers' long‑running love and an important moment in their lives. Throughout life, people yearn for a perfect wedding, for it is not only a promise and oath between two people, but also an opportunity to declare their love to the world. Lu Fan's wedding is destined to be 'a hall full of distinguished guests', further highlighting the wedding's 'luxury'.

On October 1, accompanied by his brothers, Lu Fan went to the seventh‑floor presidential suite to receive the bride.

When everyone pushed the door open, they were all dumbfounded—they actually saw that the bridesmaid was Tianhui!

However, the brothers reacted quickly, immediately turning their gaze to the newlywed couple.

At the wedding scene, the beautiful bride wore a splendid wedding gown, holding a bouquet of flowers; under Li Mingzhou's guidance she slowly walked toward her beloved groom; Lu Fan stood at the center of the stage, his eyes full of anticipation as he awaited his beloved.

In the presence of nearly a hundred relatives and friends bearing witness and offering blessings, Lu Fan and Li Dizhan exchanged rings, their eyes brimming with happiness and love, as they pledged eternal vows.

At this moment, it seemed as if time had frozen; the whole world consisted only of the two of them, their eyes filled with determination and tenderness, love blossoming into splendid flowers—today they finally achieved fruition!