Chapter 404

Si Daiqiang had been in Yingjiang for more than half a year. With the help of District Head Wu Xiaojun and Executive Deputy District Head Xue Yang, he quickly controlled the situation in Zhenbei District. After all, Zhenbei District had many leading cadres who were promoted during Wang Hongtao's administration of Zhenbei, and they quickly leaned toward Si Daiqiang.

After holding power, Si Daiqiang pushed forward reforms with great vigor, went all out for poverty alleviation, dared to draw his sword against corruption, improved people's livelihood, and increased welfare, achieving impressive political achievements and receiving widespread praise from cadres and the masses in Zhenbei District.

After all, having stayed by Wang Hongtao's side for so long, under the subtle influence, Si Daiqiang's ability was not bad.

Next, Si Daiqiang took the initiative to contact the leader's classmates, such as Anbao County Head Gao Zhihong, Ganshui County Head Jia Dahua, Xincheng District Management Committee Executive Deputy Director Wang Xiaoping, Municipal Committee Deputy Secretary-General Zheng Wei, Ningyang Executive Deputy County Head Liang Xiaofeng, Ningyang County Standing Committee member Shi Xin, and Standing Committee Deputy County Head Gao Yanfeng, and quickly united into a force that could not be ignored.

Si Daiqiang was young and wanted to cultivate a group of young cadres to build a solid foundation, just as the leader often did. Therefore, he wanted to adjust the Zhenbei District leadership team, replace the County Party Deputy Secretary, Organization Minister, and Political and Legal Committee Secretary with cadres who were young, strong, and worth cultivating, and build his own team.

But these three hadn't made any mistakes, so if he wanted them to "vacate their stools," he had to find good positions for them. Therefore, Si Daiqiang kept communicating with the Organization Department and finally found Secretary Li Ruifang again.

After hearing Si Daiqiang's demands, Li Ruifang said earnestly, "Daiqiang, while the rejuvenation of cadres is important, blindly pursuing youth is not necessarily a good thing. The old-middle-young ladder structure is the 'golden partnership' of a leadership team. Cadres in their forties and fifties have long working hours, are well-informed, and possess rich and valuable experience and work experience. We should encourage and support them to exert their remaining heat, shoulder the responsibility and heavy burden of being a 'ferryman,' clarify ideas, pass on experience, teach methods, and resolve confusion for young and middle-aged cadres, helping them move steadily and far."

Si Daiqiang said patiently, "Secretary Li, young cadres are full of vigor, high-spirited, and full of vitality and passion. Zhenbei District has a few good seedlings who urgently need to open up their doubts with experience and overcome difficulties on the grassroots front to forge practical skills. With a big stage, young talents can fly higher and further."

Li Ruifang didn't want to reason with him anymore and said directly, "Yingjiang has experienced several rounds of adjustments this year. Now it's one radish for one hole; we are not considering personnel adjustments for the time being."

Si Daiqiang was prepared and replied, "Secretary, I communicated with the Organization Department. A Deputy Minister of the Municipal Organization Department will 'reach the station' at the end of September, and the Chairman of the Disabled Persons' Federation and the Director of the Municipal Highway Station will reach the age of retiring to the second line in October. These are not important positions; I ask the Secretary to consider them at her discretion and support the work of Zhenbei District and myself."

Li Ruifang really wanted to say, who do you think you are? But out of consideration for Secretary Wang Hongtao's face, she suppressed the displeasure in her heart and said indifferently, "For personnel work, the Municipal Committee must consider it comprehensively and arrange it in a unified way. For example, in the Organization Department, there are many old-qualified section chiefs who have worked hard for so many years; we cannot ignore their feelings and future. How about this: you recommend a suitable candidate for the Chairman of the Disabled Persons' Federation. Don't say I don't support your work!"

Although he was unwilling, he had at least managed to get one position, and at the very least, he had opened the "gap." Si Daiqiang said, "Thank you for your support, Secretary. Zhenbei District will definitely be enterprising, overcome difficulties, and forge ahead, and give the Municipal Committee a satisfactory answer at the end of the year!"

After Si Daiqiang came out, he happened to run into Lu Fan, who was preparing to go in to report work, and said, "You go in first; I'll go to your office."

Lu Fan smiled and replied, "Then brew your own tea; I'll only be a few words."

After entering, Lu Fan reported, "Secretary, the Sixth Comprehensive Inspection Group of the Provincial Committee is coming to Yingjiang tomorrow to carry out a 'Safe Production Hundred-Day Action' station inspection. The focus is on conducting investigations and governance around coal mines, non-coal mines, hazardous chemicals, road traffic, fire protection, and other fields to prevent and resolve risks and hidden dangers."

Li Ruifang's anger hadn't subsided, and she said with a straight face, "Let the Municipal Government cooperate with the station inspection work; I will attend the banquet."

After signing, just as Lu Fan was about to leave with the documents, Li Ruifang said, "You go to the Organization Department and let Ziqiang finalize the Deputy Minister candidate. For the Director of the Municipal Highway Station, focus on inspecting Liu Ning, Deputy County Head of Anbao County. Once it's decided, don't change it again!"

"Very well, Secretary, I'll go later."

Li Ruifang sighed and said, "Secretary Yongjiang is brewing personnel adjustments in the province. Guo Zhitao will likely have one, estimated to be between October and November. You should be careful yourself; don't let anyone fly over your head. It's best to discuss such a big matter with Secretary Mingzhou."

"Thank you for your guidance, Secretary; I will strive for it."

Returning to the office, Lu Fan saw Si Daiqiang leisurely tasting tea by himself and said with a smile, "Zhenbei District's indicators for the second quarter are outstanding; Secretary Si is not just 'having a hand'!"

Si Daiqiang smiled and said, "It's all because the foundation laid by Secretary Wang is good. As long as I can move Zhenbei District up one place in the national top 100 districts, I will be satisfied! Lu Fan, have you heard any rumors? Is Guo Zhitao preparing to move?"

Lu Fan shook his head and said, "I'm not clear, and I haven't heard the leader mention it. I'm afraid it's just groundless rumors?"

Si Daiqiang said disdainfully, "There's no smoke without fire. I heard Guo Zhitao has been running to the Provincial Committee a lot lately, wanting to climb a high branch!"

"Everyone has their own aspirations, follows their own path, and gets their own place; we can't control others!"

Si Daiqiang suddenly asked, "If Guo Zhitao leaves, do you have any ideas?"

Lu Fan smiled and replied, "How long have I been Secretary-General? My butt isn't even firmly seated; how dare I covet more?"

"Otherwise, you have the title of National Outstanding County Party Secretary; you will definitely be promoted and reused."

"I dare not think about it, nor have I thought about it. Brother Si, do you have ideas?"

Si Daiqiang smiled and said, "If you compete, then I will concede. If you have no ideas, then I will try. Let's just not have internal friction!"

Lu Fan asked, "Have you reported this idea to Secretary Ruifang?"

"Not yet. It's just in the rumor stage; Guo Zhitao may not get his wish. Let's wait and see! By the way, take time to make an appointment with Secretary Xiaohua to sit down. The Discipline Inspection Committee has strongly supported our work in Zhenbei District during this period."

"Fine, you set the time; I'll accompany you at any time."

There are no walls without cracks, and there are no secrets in officialdom. By September, the rumors about Guo Zhitao leaving were spreading wildly in Yingjiang. Various versions were rampant, sounding very convincing, as if the Provincial Standing Committee had already decided. It was unknown whether the province was "releasing wind" or if someone was doing it on purpose.

Executive Vice Mayor Zhang Rongqiu couldn't sit still and ran to Lu Fan's office to inquire about the news.

Although he was "one of our own," Zhang Rongqiu was also a competitor at this time, so Lu Fan could only deal with it vaguely.

On the weekend, Lu Fan returned to Jingcheng to seek advice from his father-in-law.

Hearing that Lu Fan wanted to compete for Municipal Party Deputy Secretary, Li Mingzhou took Lu Fan back to the North Headquarters Hutong to consult with the old man.

Although Elder Li had retired, his political wisdom was not comparable to that of ordinary people.

Hearing that Lu Fan wanted to move up, Elder Li first expressed his support and then analyzed, "The situation in Qinchuan is a bit complicated. Xu Yongjiang hasn't stood firm yet, but it's also difficult for ordinary people to control the situation in Qinchuan. The position of Municipal Party Deputy Secretary is very important and has already entered the 'eyes of the law' of the Provincial Committee. Competition is inevitable. Lu Fan's biggest competitor now is Si Daiqiang, who served as Wang Hongtao's secretary. If Wang Hongtao fully recommends Si Daiqiang, Lu Fan probably won't have much of a chance. After all, Wang Hongtao has moved a step further and won't let the tea go cold when people leave. His team in Qinchuan is all there, plus the support of Niu Qianhua, even Xu Yongjiang cannot change the situation."

Li Mingzhou said, "Indeed. Deputy Secretary Li Yixiao, Executive Vice Governor Tang Bing, Political and Legal Committee Secretary Yu Jianfeng, Standing Committee Vice Governor Cheng Jian, plus Li Guoquan, and Niu Qianhua—no one can shake them! As long as Wang Hongtao makes a move, it's a done deal, unless Dad speaks in person."

Elder Li shook his head and said, "This old face of mine might be useful, but I can't rely on being old to sell old, always making demands on the organization. I can only try at the most critical moment. Mingzhou's next year or two are critical. I'll communicate with Xu Yongjiang about Lu Fan's matter; I was in charge of him back then, and there's still some incense left!"

Lu Fan said, "Grandpa, don't overwork yourself for my sake. I'm still young; as long as I work hard, there will always be opportunities in the future."

Elder Li shook his head and said, "Once an opportunity comes, you cannot give it up easily. On the administrative path, one step slow means every step slow, one step late means every step late. You must have a grand vision of climbing high and looking far, borrowing a ladder to climb."

Lu Fan asked again, "Dad, if I get my wish, what about Zhang Rongqiu? He already missed an opportunity last time."

Li Mingzhou thought for a moment and said, "Rongqiu is very good, but the higher you go, the narrower the road becomes. Someone always has to sacrifice. If there is an opportunity in the future, we will compensate him. I will talk to him personally; I believe Rongqiu can understand the big picture."

After discussing the big matters, Lu Fan reported his recent work in detail. Elder Li and Li Mingzhou listened carefully, pointing out areas that needed improvement and improvement from time to time, teaching him the way of being an official hand-in-hand, which made Lu Fan feel warm and valued, and also boosted his confidence.

Finally, Elder Li sighed, "Lu Fan, there are thousands of people in the world, and it's hard to see clearly. Those who burn incense are not necessarily good people, those who beg are not necessarily poor people, those who follow you are not necessarily good people, and those who wear clothes are not necessarily people. You can see the expressions on others' faces, but you can't guess their inner thoughts. Therefore, you can't say everything you know, and you can't believe everything you hear. It's hard to draw the bones of a dragon or a tiger, and it's hard to know a person's heart by their face. Leaving room for everything is not for others, but for yourself!"

Li Mingzhou also said, "Officialdom is like a battlefield, and people's hearts are unpredictable. You need to be cautious in your actions and keep a clear head at all times. Don't be confused by appearances. Only by being good at observing and analyzing can you make correct decisions. At the same time, you must also learn to protect yourself and avoid falling into unnecessary trouble. Lu Fan, communicate more with Chen Zijun in Yingjiang. This person has a firm character, is decisive in his actions, and has a righteous heart. He is a very good partner!"