Chapter 410: Executive Vice Mayor

In the following days, the news that Lu Fan had assumed the post of Executive Vice Mayor gradually spread, sparking heated discussion among the city's leading cadres.

The government office was filled with joy and laughter, everyone eagerly awaiting Mayor Lu's arrival.

Vice Mayors Yang Shaokai, Li Xiaoya, Gaoke and Public Security Bureau Chief Ye Chen came to Lu Fan's office for various reasons.

Leaders from all counties and districts turned Lu Fan's office into a "marketplace," bustling from morning till night.

Finally, on October 30th, the Provincial Party Committee convened a standing committee meeting to discuss personnel matters.

On October 31st, the Provincial Organization Department issued the cadre adjustment notice, which for Yingjiang City included: Comrade Zhang Rongqiu appointed Director of Qinchuan Province Emergency Management Department; Comrade Lu Fan appointed as a member of the Yingjiang Municipal Party Standing Committee and Deputy Party Secretary of the Yingjiang Municipal Government, nominated as a vice‑mayor candidate.

After Secretary Li Ruifang returned from the province, she directly arranged for Lu Fan to hand over work with Zibei County Party Secretary Guo Shanbo, and designated Zibei County Chief Zhou Daxiong to preside over the Zibei County Party Committee work. Although no formal appointment was made, this move already revealed the upcoming personnel orientation and was a done deal.

In the afternoon, after the handover, Lu Fan reported to Mayor Zhao Tao's office.

Upon meeting, Mayor Zhao Tao warmly welcomed Lu Fan, happily saying: "I've been looking forward to your arrival; now I can relax a lot!"

Lu Fan replied with a smile: "I'm honored to work under your leadership, Mayor. I will stay true to my post, fulfill my duties, and do my utmost to cooperate with you in all tasks."

Mayor Zhao Tao said: "Your abilities are evident to all; I have complete confidence in you! I have already drafted the division of labor document—you will assist me in overseeing finance and audit, specifically managing the Municipal Government Office, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal State‑owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, Municipal Emergency Management Bureau, Municipal Administrative Approval Bureau, Municipal Statistics Bureau, Municipal Industry and Information Technology Bureau, Municipal Government Affairs Bureau, Municipal Energy Bureau, Municipal National Defense Mobilization Office, Municipal Finance Office, Municipal Data Bureau, and Municipal Tobacco Monopoly Bureau; you will also liaison with the Municipal People's Congress, Municipal Discipline Inspection and Supervision Commission, Municipal Party Committee Organization Department, etc., as well as the provincial‑stationed enterprises in Yingjiang such as Qinchuan Petroleum, the three major telecom operators, and Iron Tower Company."

The workload is huge, but Lu Fan said without hesitation: "Mayor, please rest assured—I will quickly familiarize myself with the work, driven by a sense of urgency that cannot sit still, a crisis that cannot be delayed, and a responsibility that cannot wait, and throw myself into it wholeheartedly."

"We'll discuss work matters; you first go hand over with Rongqiu. Secretary Li Ruifang just called me and arranged a banquet tonight for municipal leaders to welcome you and see off Rongqiu."

"Alright, I'll go handle the handover; if you have anything, just call me anytime, Mayor."

Opening Zhang Rongqiu's office, Lu Fan said with a smile: "Director, you have remarkable composure—sitting there as steady as Mount Tai; the Emergency Management Department has been looking forward to you!"

Zhang Rongqiu laughed: "What? Are you urging me to give you a 'stool'? The work on my desk is just these; I've organized them all—take a look, and we'll formally hand over."

"No rush; I'll examine it carefully later. If I have any questions, I'll call you anytime. Now that you're a senior leader, I'm in charge of emergency management work and must look after you!"

"Don't worry, there will be no problem! However, the safety production of the 66 coal mines must be constantly grasped, with the sword hanging high—remember, perform your duties without exemption, and get the job done. Once a coal mine accident occurs, it will be earth‑shattering; if it causes a major or especially major accident, none of us can escape!"

Lu Fan nodded solemnly and replied: "I will discard paralyzed thinking and wishful mentality; in the near future I will organize the Safety Committee to conduct a comprehensive inspection and rectification of hidden dangers in the 66 coal mines, solving problems at the bud stage before they turn into disasters. Next, we must accelerate the mechanization, standardization, and intelligent transformation of the city's coal‑mining enterprises, merging where possible, to improve safety coefficients, management standards, and production efficiency."

"Mm, the idea is correct; if you need support from the provincial department, just give me a call anytime."

Lu Fan laughed: "Support must be all‑round—including technical personnel, projects, and funds; otherwise I'll just refuse to leave your office!"

"Rest assured, I won't sit crooked! By the way, I have something to tell you: Duan Moushuang has been coordinating my work; I plan to bring him to the Emergency Management Department—you tell Mayor Zhao Tao, I don't want to talk to him myself."

"That's a good thing; there will definitely be no problem—just bring him over directly."

As the workday was ending, Secretary Li Ruifang personally called and asked the two to go to the government canteen, where the banquet would be held.

Night fell, lights were just lit, the government canteen was unusually lively—lights blazing, voices buzzing—all municipal leaders present gathered together to see off Zhang Rongqiu, while also celebrating Lu Fan's arrival, after all, a director's help to Yingjiang's work is enormous.

The leaders chatted and clinked glasses, aiming to get Zhang Rongqiu drunk—this is typical political wine; even Mayor Zhao Tao let go of his prejudices and clinked cups with Zhang Rongqiu many times.

The next morning, after a group photo in front of the municipal government building, Zhang Rongqiu departed for the Provincial Emergency Management Department to take up his post amid the send‑off of the leaders; several deputy directors had already come to greet him.

Lu Fan returned to his office, and Municipal Government Secretary‑General Bo Lei came in to report work.

"Mayor Lu, do you think the office needs adjustment?"

Lu Fan shook his head: "I don't have so many particulars—just this office will do; documents and such need not be moved, I'll use what's already there."

"Please direct the coordination of your secretary‑general and staff, Mayor Lu!"

"Let's appoint Deputy Secretary‑General Duan Yongjiao and Development Section Chief Mu Lankai; as for Director Rongqiu's secretary, I propose promoting him to Deputy Secretary‑General of the Municipal Party Committee—I'll discuss this with the secretary and the mayor."

Hearing this, Bo Lei felt a jolt inside, his plans completely thrown into disarray.

Even if unwilling, Bo Lei dared not confront Lu Fan head‑on; he could only helplessly say: "Okay, Mayor Lu, I'll make the arrangements—just tell me if you need anything."

Lu Fan smiled faintly: "Put your energy on the mayor; I'm familiar with these office comrades. You'll be specifically responsible for the office's daily work, but financial work must be standardized—I'll review it once a month. For now, that's it; I'll look for you if anything else comes up—go get busy."

After Bo Lei left, he immediately went to Mayor Zhao Tao's office.

After hearing the report, Mayor Zhao Tao frowned and said: "Lu Fan is the supervising leader of the government office; these people are his promotions. In work you must respect Mayor Lu—if you need to report, just do so."

Bo Lei replied: "Mayor, I worry that some necessary expenditures will be hard to account for."

"You don't need to worry—Lu Fan once served as county party secretary, he understands all this; just don't smuggle in 'private goods'!"

Deputy Secretary‑General Duan Yongjiao, feeling excited, came to Lu Fan's office, his face beaming with a heartfelt smile, and said: "Mayor, I'm here to report for duty!"

Lu Fan looked up and said: "Yongjiao, from now on you'll have to work hard!"

Duan Yongjiao hurriedly replied: "Being able to serve you is a dream come true—I will devote myself wholeheartedly, with red‑blood loyalty, and coordinate all your work for the mayor!"

"Yongjiao, I'm in charge of emergency management work; for non‑coal mines we absolutely cannot be lax. You and Emergency Management Bureau Chief Gao Zhanpeng should dock and formulate a special inspection plan. I want to use two months to visit all 66 coal mines in the city, focusing on sorting out safety hazards, concentrating on rectifying 'small stove' practices, then screening which coal mines can be merged, and finally upgrading intelligent construction."

"Okay, Mayor, I'll go right away—just that Bureau Chief Gao Zhanpeng is senior and quite formidable; I'm worried I won't be able to coordinate with him."

Lu Fan smiled slightly: "You represent the municipal government—when you need to be tough, be tough! The departments I oversee must firmly shoulder responsibility and take initiative, hold their posts, plan governance, guard their territory, fulfill their duties—no passing the buck, making excuses, or dragging feet. For departments that fail to implement work, you call their people to my office. If I can't rein them in, there's still the Discipline Inspection Commission and the Municipal Party Committee—those who should be taken down will not be shown mercy!"

After Bo Lei left, his confidence surged; he immediately dialed the phone of Emergency Management Bureau Chief Gao Zhanpeng and said boldly: "Chief Gao, I'm Duan Yongjiao!"

"It's Yongjiao—what's up?"

"If you have time now, come to the municipal government for a while—there's some work to dock with."

"Xiao Duan, if you have something just say it on the phone; I'm planning to go to the province to dock work. Or, wait till I return?"

Duan Yongjiao said: "Mayor Lu's arrangement is urgent—if you're busy, send the deputy bureau chief in charge of business over; work cannot be delayed."

"Mayor Lu? Yongjiao, you're coordinating Mayor Lu's work?"

"Yes, the mayor just ordered—right away formulate a special action plan for rectifying non‑coal mines; it cannot be delayed!"

"Secretary‑General Duan, the work the mayor assigned must be done well! Wait a moment, I'll be at the municipal government right away." Then the phone transmitted Chief Gao Zhanpeng's voice: "Xiao Ma, turn around, go to the municipal government—speed up!"

After hanging up, Duan Yongjiao sighed: "Indeed, it's a person's fame and a tree's shade! Looking over the whole city, I dare say no one who doesn't know the rules would dare to openly defy and secretly violate in front of the leaders."

Around noon, as work was ending, Vice Mayor and Public Security Bureau Chief Ye Chen came to Lu Fan's office, smiling: "I came specially to pay my respects to the leader!"

Lu Fan personally brewed tea, smiling: "You, this big bureau chief, appear and disappear like a divine dragon—what kind of leader am I?"

Ye Chen said: "You are the Deputy Party Secretary and a standing committee member; we vice mayors all need to carry out work under your leadership."

Lu Fan hurriedly said: "The walls have ears—don't get me into trouble!"

Ye Chen laughed: "No more joking—come, let's eat at our public security bureau; I've had someone prepare ostrich and wild boar meat."

Lu Fan laughed: "You, as Public Security Bureau Chief, cannot lead illegal acts just for the sake of gluttony!"

「Mayor Lu, need to strengthen study, ah, we can't be legal illiterates! Yingjiang forest abundant, from October 1 to next year's February is wild boar hunting season, we eat it to eliminate harm for the people, this thing damages corn fields in large swaths. 」

「Let's go, today we eat big! 」