Chapter 392: Party School Training

After Secretary Li Ruifang returned to the city, Yan Peijie was the first to come and report on his work, his words filled with dissatisfaction and attacks against Lu Fan.

As Li Ruifang listened, she grew angry. She slammed the table hard, stood up, and said, "Yan Peijie, everything Lu Fan did was under my instruction. Are you here to question me now? Do you know that out of more than a hundred counties and districts in the province, yours is the only one in Xiuyan County that hasn't submitted a ledger for clearing arrears? At yesterday's Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee meeting, Governor Wang Hongtao criticized Yingjiang City by name and specifically pointed out Xiuyan County. You really have given me a 'great' reputation! And you still have the nerve to sow discord and slander the city's leadership here? Go back and submit the arrears ledger as soon as possible. As for the issues of Xiuyan County's lax work style, inaction, and slow action, the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission will supervise it personally. Wait for your handling!"

"Ah?" Yan Peijie realized the severity of the situation and immediately panicked, hurriedly pleading for mercy: "Secretary, I was wrong. Considering I have worked hard for the revolutionary cause my whole life, please, Secretary, help me mediate. I guarantee that from now on, any work assigned by the Municipal Party Committee will be completed by Xiuyan County with quality and quantity!"

If apologies were useful, what would we need the Discipline Inspection Commission for? Li Ruifang did not want to waste any more breath on him and waved her hand, saying, "Go back first. The organization will have its own verdict!"

Soon, Lu Fan received feedback from the audit team that there were serious economic problems with the engineering projects in Xiuyan County.

Lu Fan did not claim this "credit" and instructed the Municipal Audit Bureau Director, Luo Lin, to take Deputy Director Yang Shilong to report to Secretary Li Ruifang.

Subsequently, the audit team launched a comprehensive audit of Xiuyan County, extending into every field.

Having spent a lifetime in the "rivers and lakes" of officialdom, how could Yan Peijie not see the situation? This was a move to use him as a sacrificial lamb! If there were such a thing as a regret pill in this world, Yan Peijie would be willing to eat it as his daily meal!

On December 15, upon the decision of the Provincial and Municipal Party Committees, Xiuyan County Party Committee Secretary Yan Peijie was transferred to be a member of the Municipal CPPCC Party Group, enjoying deputy department-level treatment. The matter happened very suddenly; Yan Peijie honorably retreated to the second line without any dissatisfaction.

While reporting on his work, Secretary Li Ruifang suddenly asked, "Regarding the position of Xiuyan County Party Committee Secretary, do you have any suitable candidates? It must be selected from among county heads and heads of municipal departments."

Lu Fan replied without hesitation, "Secretary, the position of County Party Committee Secretary concerns the overall development of a county and carries heavy responsibility. I have no candidates to recommend. I believe the Municipal Party Committee can select an outstanding leading cadre to shoulder this heavy responsibility."

Li Ruifang smiled and said, "I'm not being polite with you. If you have a suitable candidate, you can also recommend them to the Municipal Party Committee. In the next step, you will serve as the Municipal Party Committee Secretary-General and also be a member of the leadership team; you must have this awareness and consciousness."

"Understood, Secretary. If I have a suitable candidate, I will definitely take the initiative to recommend them to you."

Li Ruifang nodded and said, "In two days, the Municipal Party School will hold a 'Special Training Class for County and Division Level Leading Cadres.' Is your training credit count insufficient? You must not let this delay your progress."

Lu Fan said embarrassedly, "I've been busy all along, so it really has been delayed. I'm still short 40 credit hours."

Li Ruifang said, "The 'Regulations on Cadre Education and Training' require a cumulative total of 3 months or over 550 credit hours every 5 years. You will participate in this training class to make up for this shortcoming. As everyone knows about training, learning is important, but work cannot be left behind. You can command remotely."

Lu Fan smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, Secretary. Please rest assured, I will definitely train seriously and ensure that both learning and work are not neglected."

On December 18, Lu Fan went to the Municipal Party School to report for the training class for county and division level leading cadres.

While filling out the registration book, Lu Fan discovered that someone had already helped him register. Ganshui County Party Committee Secretary Guo Xiaopeng walked over and said with a smile, "Secretary-General, I specifically arranged for us to be in the same dormitory. Being close to the water, one gets the moon first; I can listen to the leader's teachings morning and night."

Lu Fan laughed, "It's a rare opportunity to learn. We must study hard, make progress every day, and arm ourselves with theory. Xiaopeng, I have a habit of snoring; you must be mentally prepared."

"Secretary-General, then let's have a contest. I'm no slouch at snoring either!"

Just as they were chatting, Finance Bureau Director Wei Jingyun, Anbao County Head Gao Zhihong, Ganshui County Party Committee Deputy Secretary Dahua, and Zibei County Party Committee Secretary Guo Shanbo gathered around to greet Lu Fan enthusiastically.

Soon, with Lu Fan as the center, more than a dozen leaders surrounded him, chatting and laughing in a very harmonious atmosphere.

At 2:00 PM, to boost morale, enhance capabilities, increase pressure, and inspire enthusiasm, the Municipal Party School held the opening ceremony for the division-level cadre training class.

Municipal Party Secretary Li Ruifang attended the meeting and delivered a speech. She emphasized the need to persist in focusing on the central work of economic construction and the primary task of high-quality development; to focus on concentrating spirit and soul to find the coordinates of thought and action at a higher level; to focus on energy storage and empowerment to manifest the mission and responsibility at a higher standard; and to focus on discipline and compliance to forge a hard-nosed and pragmatic work style under stricter requirements.

Municipal Party Committee Deputy Secretary Guo Zhitao put forward three requirements for the training class. First, he hoped that the students would answer the "questions of the era" well and shoulder the mission of "walking in the front and carrying the heavy load." Second, they should apply what they have learned, effectively liberating themselves from "old thinking," "small worlds," and "waiting, relying, and asking." They must dare to break through, act, and accelerate, strive to be the "experimental field" for pioneers, and compete to be the vanguard of comprehensive deepening reform. Third, they should forge "hardcore strength" and inspire the spirit of working hard and forging ahead.

Lu Fan was indisputably designated as the class monitor to serve everyone.

The Party School specially held a banquet for this batch of students. Secretary Li Ruifang, Deputy Secretary Guo Zhitao, and Minister Zhang Ziqiang attended, showing the leadership's importance attached to this training.

It was no wonder; when everyone learned that Lu Fan was participating in this training, six county party secretaries, seven county heads, and eight municipal department heads also signed up. The training class could be described as extremely heavyweight; those below the rank of deputy county party secretary could not even get a spot.

Training is an excellent opportunity to exchange feelings. Everyone attended classes during the day and gathered together at night. Through day-to-day interaction, they could build very deep revolutionary friendships.

The "Regulations" emphasize that no matter what level of cadre participates in learning and training, they are ordinary students. They must correct their learning attitude, establish student consciousness, strictly abide by all regulations on learning, training, and clean self-discipline, and focus their energy primarily on learning. They must live in student dormitories and eat in student canteens. Students, as well as teachers and students, must not use public funds to entertain each other. Classes and groups must not hold dinners or entertainments in the name of collective activities.

But rules are dead, and people are alive. It is human nature for everyone to pay out of their own pockets and find a quiet environment to have a few drinks.

On December 25, it was Lu Fan's turn to treat. It happened to be the weekend, so the classmates took a coaster to Baishu Bay in Ningyang County to fish, barbecue, and stew mutton, enjoying a rare, comfortable life.

Ningyang County Party Committee Secretary Yang Chuanbei and County Head He Jiafeng attached great importance to it, organized it meticulously, and deployed it carefully to ensure that everyone ate with peace of mind, lived comfortably, had fun, and drank to their heart's content, serving everyone thoroughly.

Baishu Bay Township Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary Cheng Haohao was assigned by the organization to have the honor of being a "waiter" because he was responsible for helping Goumen Village, and the "tour group" happened to be staying in that village.

Seeing Cheng Haohao busy back and forth, Lu Fan specifically called him over and asked with a smile, "Haohao, have you made any progress in the past few years?"

Cheng Haohao said embarrassedly, "I've disappointed you, Secretary. In the township, every radish has its own hole. I'm still responsible for that pile of work in the Discipline Inspection Commission."

Back then, Cheng Haohao was very supportive of his work and showed quite good ability; he also had some foundation in writing materials. Lu Fan recognized him quite well, so he wanted to take the opportunity to promote him, saying, "Haohao, are you willing to come to the Municipal Party Committee to help me? I happen to be missing someone by my side."

Hearing this "sound of nature," Cheng Haohao simply couldn't believe his ears. He clenched his fists tightly, trying hard to restrain his inner excitement to avoid losing his composure in front of the leader, and then replied in a slightly trembling voice, "If you don't mind my meager ability, Secretary, I will definitely devote myself wholeheartedly to serving you. Thank you for your promotion, Secretary!"

Hearing the affirmative answer, Lu Fan called Ningyang County Party Committee Secretary Yang Chuanbei over and said with a smile, "I'm asking you for a talent. I'm taking Cheng Haohao away!"

Yang Chuanbei said happily, "It is the honor of our Ningyang cadres that the Secretary-General cares about his hometown and can take a fancy to him. The County Party Committee will definitely do its best to facilitate this and resolve the cadre's rank issue."

Lu Fan nodded, expressing approval. There is a world of difference between a deputy section level and a full section level. It is best to resolve the rank when entering the unit so that it will be easier to arrange for a substantive leadership position in the next step.

Things are often so wonderful; a leader's whim can completely change a person's destiny. Because of Lu Fan's promotion, Cheng Haohao went to the Municipal Party Committee Office, and even if he just slogged through it, he could eventually reach the division level. But if he stayed in Baishu Bay, the full section level would be his ceiling.

By Monday, the Ningyang County Party Committee urgently convened a Standing Committee meeting to specially study the promotion and use of Baishu Bay Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary Cheng Haohao, giving him the rank of first-level chief staff member in one step. Regarding this proposal, the standing committee members knew it in their hearts; no one would be so out of place as to raise objections.

At the end of December, Cheng Haohao was seconded to the Municipal Party Committee Office to serve as the deputy section chief of the Secretarial Section, responsible for coordinating the work of Deputy Secretary-General Lu Fan—in reality, he was a secretary.

On January 18, the Party School held the graduation ceremony for the division-level cadre training class. Lu Fan was rated as an outstanding student and successfully "collected enough" credits, clearing the last obstacle on his path to promotion.

At the graduation ceremony, Lu Fan spoke on behalf of all students. He stated that through concentrated study and discussion, the students' theoretical literacy had been improved, their party spirit tempered, and their knowledge and abilities enhanced. After returning to their work posts, they would continue to uphold the fine style of study, transform the learning results into work measures for embarking on a new journey and making contributions in the new era, put the major decisions and deployments of the Municipal Party Committee into action step by step, see them through to results, forge ahead with determination, and march forward bravely.

In his concluding speech, Municipal Party Committee Deputy Secretary Guo Zhitao fully affirmed the various learning results achieved by this training class and expressed his hopes for all students, requiring everyone to strictly demand of themselves in their work, consciously be cadres who are upright, clean, and do things cleanly, firm their confidence, work with one heart and one mind, inspire the spirit of unremitting progress, and hand in an excellent answer sheet on the "exam road" of building a beautiful and happy Yingjiang. ===== CHAPTER 393 =====