Chapter 411: with translation of chapter title

Two people had just left the office when they bumped into Vice Mayor Li Xiaoya and exchanged greetings.

Just after walking a few steps, Vice Mayor Bian Jide also came out of the office; it was about mealtime.

After going downstairs, Lu Fan quietly said to Li Xiaoya, "Mayor Ye has prepared some game; why don't we go to the Public Security Bureau for a bite?"

Li Xiaoya laughed and said, "With such a good thing, you can't leave me out!"

Bian Jide hurriedly asked, "Is it wild boar meat, stir-fried or stewed?"

Ye Chen smiled and said, "One pig, four ways of eating—everything you could want!"

After leaving the main gate, two police cars were already parked at the roadside.

Lu Fan and Ye Chen discussed briefly, then called Vice Mayor Yang Shaokai and Gao Ke, and after they came down, they all went together to the Public Security Bureau.

At noon, in the private dining room of the Public Security Bureau's canteen, Lu Fan took the seat of honor; five vice mayors chatted and laughed, eating heartily. If Mayor Zhao Tao saw this scene, he would likely be uneasy!

Li Xiaoya, while eating, said: "Mayor Lu, I need to 'file a complaint' with you. After Mayor Shibin left, the General Office reassigned duties; my deputy secretary-general went to 'serve' Mayor Jide, and some section chiefs were also rotated. I think Bo Lei is just bored out of his mind!"

Bian Jide echoed: "Indeed, some of it is nonsense. It's not that these section chiefs lack ability, but expertise is specialized—changing departments means you have to get familiar with the work again; isn't that just wasting effort? They call it 'rotation' just to make you uncomfortable."

Yang Shaokai said: "Does Bo Lei really have the gall? Director Rongqiu was also angry back then, but he didn't fall out over this minor matter. If he truly had talent, he would have promoted those section chiefs, transferred them out, and brought in his own people; everyone would say he's awesome. Doing it this way is just like a toad squatting on a foot—it doesn't bite, but it's annoying."

Ye Chen chimed in: "Mayor Lu, public outrage is rampant—you need to 'set things right'!"

Lu Fan smiled and said: "The original intention of reform is surely good, but sometimes the results fall short of expectations. Since everyone has complaints, it shows the method or direction is flawed; we must have the courage and determination to correct it. I will discuss this with the mayor and try to respect everyone's wishes. Actually, the purpose of adjusting posts is still to improve work efficiency; if it backfires, it's more loss than gain and puts the cart before the horse."

Li Xiaoya said: "Mayor Lu, I have no other demands; just put the original people back."

Bian Jide expressed the same wish; Yang Shaokai said nothing, because as a standing committee member, his service staff weren't adjusted—this is like "you have to look at the owner when beating a dog." Vice mayors not in the standing committee are a "disadvantaged group."

After finishing the meal, everyone went their separate ways back to the City Government.

Lu Fan had just entered his office when Director Gao Zhanpeng of the City Emergency Management Bureau came knocking.

After entering, Gao Zhanpeng said apologetically: "Mayor, I had planned to go to the provincial department to liaison on work, but after receiving a call from Secretary-General Duan, I rushed over and still arrived late, disturbing your rest."

Lu Fan smiled and said: "It's not urgent these couple of days; coordinating with the provincial department is also important. Since you're here, I'll emphasize a few points: when Director Rongqiu left, I discussed with him the merger and reorganization of the Yingjiang coal mine and industrial upgrading. You are responsible for the specific liaison; you must find a way to retrieve funds and policies for us, using higher-level money to get work done."

Gao Zhanpeng was shocked that such a major matter was completely unknown to him as the head of the Emergency Management Bureau—this is absolutely unacceptable! He secretly resolved to closely follow Lu Fan's steps; matters involving interest distribution must not be overlooked, otherwise who would care about those coal mining enterprises?

"Mayor, please rest assured, I will keep a close watch and strive to achieve the maximum effect."

Lu Fan continued: "Coal mine work safety must be tightly, solidly, and meticulously grasped, building a solid safety dam. You and Yongjiao should plan: using two months, we will inspect all the city's coal mines, bringing experts from the provincial department and the municipal bureau to give each mine a 'checkup,' and seek new outlets for small coal mines with backward extraction techniques and low safety management levels."

"Okay, Mayor, I'll get the plan right away."

"Zhanpeng, work safety is a huge responsibility, concerning the people's lives and property and the city's high-quality economic development; we absolutely cannot be careless or harbor any fluke mentality. We must keep the sword of accountability hanging high, with a strong sense of responsibility, mission, and dedication, truly shouldering the political responsibility to promote development on one side and ensure safety on the other. Besides, I have strict standards for work; I hope you actively cooperate with the City Government's work and avoid perfunctory, evasive, or buck-passing behavior."

Gao Zhanpeng replied without hesitation: "Mayor, please rest assured; I will certainly, with high political awareness, a strong sense of responsibility, and a solid work ethic, stay true to my post, take initiative, and cooperate with you to ensure work safety."

Although Lu Fan is young, Gao Zhanpeng dare not have the slightest contempt. We're all from Yingjiang; everyone knows who's capable and who's useless. For a person with real authority like Lu Fan, he must be given full respect and attention, otherwise he'd be making a joke of his own official hat.

After afternoon work began, Lu Fan went to Mayor Zhao Tao's office, preparing to discuss a few vice mayors' "complaints." To win people over, you must first get things done; winning hearts wins the world.

Upon seeing Lu Fan, Mayor's secretary Hong Tu hurried out, respectfully saying: "Mayor Lu, the mayor's office is empty; I'll lead you in."

Lu Fan smiled and said: "Little Hong, you're the one who vets the mayor's speeches, right? You've improved a lot; keep it up!"

Hong Tu hurriedly replied: "Thank you for your concern, Leader; I will continue to work hard, and please feel free to give me any instructions at any time."

After entering, Lu Fan sat opposite Zhao Tao, smiling and said: "I have a task to report to you, Mayor: I plan to conduct a major inspection and rectification of safety hazards in all the city's coal mines."

Zhao Tao nodded and said: "Work safety has always been the top priority in coal mine development; we truly need the alarm to ring constantly, warnings to stay high, and constant vigilance. Making a trip is fine—it fulfills duty and exempts liability—but we must ensure every coal mine strengthens its safety responsibility, properly handles gas and flood prevention; if a coal mine has an accident, it's a major accident, and we'll all suffer the consequences."

Lu Fan said: "I plan to spend two months visiting all 66 coal mines, coordinating with the emergency and environmental protection departments, and then inviting provincial department experts to conduct a detailed 'diagnosis' of our city's coal mines."

"Fine, you handle the logistical support yourself."

After discussing work safety, Zhao Tao laughed and said: "After Director Rongqiu 'borrowed' Duan Mou Shuang, he hasn't returned him. Still, supporting the provincial department's work is appropriate; we can't stand in the way of someone's advancement, but the vacant deputy secretary-general post needs to be filled soon. You oversee the General Office specifically—do you have a suitable candidate?"

Lu Fan gave it some thought and replied: "In terms of seniority and ability, among mid-level cadres, the Finance Section Chief Chen Yang stands out. Director Rongqiu also specifically discussed this matter; after all, Chen Yang has always served him, and I think we should consider that factor, given that the City Government and the Emergency Management Bureau have close dealings, and safety work also needs strong support from higher departments."

"Okay, then let's decide on Chen Yang; you go coordinate with the Organization Department." Zhao Tao agreed readily, because there was no need for "entanglement": first, Chen Yang is indeed a strong contender for deputy secretary-general; second, regardless of whom the General Office promotes, it doesn't concern him much, and he hasn't yet had the bandwidth to overhaul the General Office.

Lu Fan said: "Okay, then I'll follow the mayor's instructions and liaise with the Organization Department. Also, I need to report to the mayor: these past few days I've heard several vice mayors complain that they're not satisfied with the General Office's recent duty adjustment, which has even affected everyone's work efficiency. Bo Lei's original intention was surely good, but he hasn't been in the General Office long, so his understanding of the comrades is still shallow; thus it's understandable that the adjustment didn't turn out as hoped."

The mayor knows I once served as secretary-general of the City Government; to be frank, back then adjusting the division of labor required painstaking effort—not only did Secretary Rui Fang personally guide it, but I also repeatedly solicited opinions from the various deputy mayors in charge, aiming to meet post needs and achieve 'person-to-post fit'; focusing on cadre training to achieve 'post nurtures person'; and focusing on career development to achieve 'person and post promote each other.'

These words made Zhao Tao feel uneasy inside; the duty assignment was his idea—how could he take it back? Isn't that just slapping himself in the face?

"Lu Fan, regular rotation of mid-level cadres can promote cadre growth from multiple angles, stimulate their enthusiasm for entrepreneurship and work, prevent some cadres from forming cliques, small groups, and corruption or decadence, and break the situation of 'a unit for life, a post forever,' thereby cultivating everyone into higher-level leadership talent—I think it's still quite necessary."

It's inevitable that some will experience 'culture shock' due to unfamiliar business or lack of experience; I believe everyone can certainly rise to higher standards and requirements, strengthen learning, change roles, clarify work ideas, and integrate into the new post.

I didn't expect the mayor's eloquence to be so good; Lu Fan, not wanting to directly oppose, said: "Mayor, why not practice some democracy and put this issue on the Party Group meeting agenda for discussion? Let's hear everyone's opinions."

Zhao Tao frowned and said: "Is that really necessary?"

Lu Fan replied: "I plan to have Duan Yongjiao assist with my work, involving the adjustment of the two deputy secretaries-general's duties; as for other personnel, please let the mayor decide! I won't disturb you further—I'm getting back to work."

After Lu Fan left, Zhao Tao thought about the projects currently under consideration and fell into contemplation.

Lu Fan returned to his office, and Finance Bureau Director Zhang Qianyuan closely followed him in, taking out a box of tea from his bag and smiling: "Congratulations, Leader, on taking up your new post again, and being able to work under your leadership once more!"

Lu Fan asked: "How much fiscal reserve funds do we have?"

Zhang Qianyuan immediately replied: "The projected total fiscal revenue for the city is 4.31 billion yuan, of which local fiscal revenue is 1.65 billion yuan, up about 5%; projected annual fiscal expenditure is 4.5 billion yuan; the treasury currently has about 3.5 billion yuan, and the mayor has set aside 2 billion yuan as reserves."