Chapter 418: Attending the Wedding

To implement the instructions of Executive Vice Mayor Lu Fan regarding the eradication of wage arrears, the Municipal Human Resources Bureau immediately drafted an action plan and reported it to Lu Fan.

After reading the plan, Lu Fan said to Director Li Guanglei: "This is a red line. There is no room for negotiation; we must protect the labor remuneration rights and interests of migrant workers in accordance with the law! For wage arrears cases involving government-invested projects and state-owned enterprise projects, all must be cleared within 10 days. For verified wage arrears cases in social investment projects, all must be settled before New Year's Day. We must ensure that all migrant workers in the city who are owed wages receive their due pay in time to return home for the New Year, effectively enhancing the sense of happiness, gain, and satisfaction of the vast number of migrant workers. If there are any difficulties in the work, you can use direct measures—arrest those who should be arrested and detain those who should be detained. If there are any 'hard bones' you cannot crack, push them directly to me."

Li Guanglei replied decisively: "Please rest assured, Mayor. I will establish 13 inspection teams to go to each county and district to supervise the special action, ensuring that all wage arrears cases in the city are cleared before New Year's Day!"

Lu Fan was in charge of human resources work, and Director Li Guanglei was a cadre promoted by Lu Fan, so the implementation of orders was naturally swift and vigorous. Consequently, Yingjiang City launched a grand and vigorous investigation and rectification of migrant worker wage arrears. In just one week, 350 reports and complaints of wage arrears were accepted, all handled with an iron fist, with a 100% case closure rate within the time limit. Five dishonest enterprises and individuals verified to have violated labor security laws were placed on the "blacklist" for wage arrears, with increased disciplinary measures to maintain high-pressure deterrence against wage arrears.

On December 28, an unexpected event occurred. Wang Hongtao's departure caused widespread heated discussion across the country, with everyone speaking out for Secretary Wang, and the sentiment only intensified.

Lu Fan was inspecting coal mines in Zibei County when his old classmate Wang Honghai called.

Hiding in a secluded spot, Lu Fan answered the phone and said with a smile: "So free today, richest man? How do you have time to call me?"

"Lu Fan, buddy is getting married, are you coming or not?"

"A prodigal son's return is worth more than gold. Such a big happy event, a good thing—even if it rains knives from the sky, I have to go! What day exactly? Where is the wedding being held?"

"January 1st. I'm holding the wedding together with my second brother. You should come on December 31st."

"I'll go early. See where I can help out?"

"No need. Daiqiang and Wang Gang are in charge of the wedding matters. I'm a hands-off manager myself. When you come, I'll just accompany you to eat and drink. Oh, right, bring Wenlong along too. Out of our class, I only invited you two."

"Alright, send me the location once the hotel is booked. Wenlong and I will definitely arrive on time!"

After hanging up, Lu Fan felt a hint of bitterness in his heart. Distinguishing between close and distant, from near to far, is human instinct.

Weiwei, who once served as a county head under him, has already reached the position of mayor. Secretary Xiaobin has reached the height of Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary, and Si Daiqiang has also taken a step ahead of him to serve as Deputy Secretary. It is estimated that serving as mayor next will be a matter of course. Am I supposed to work under him?

At this moment, Lu Fan had the thought of leaving Yingjiang and leaving Qin Province, because here he would never be the first choice. To go higher and further in the future, he must find another path; changing tracks might be a better choice.

On December 31, Lu Fan finished his work and called Du Wenlong to head to Chang'an to attend Wang Honghai's wedding.

On the way, Du Wenlong asked: "Brother Fan, how much are you preparing for the gift money?"

Lu Fan laughed: "I prepared ten thousand, but Honghai's wedding definitely won't accept gift money. I estimate there's a high probability I won't be able to give it."

"Brother Fan, is Honghai's current wealth very exaggerated?"

"I don't know about that either, but just looking at Longteng Medicine, it's not simple. Those true invisible billionaires often don't show their wealth."

Du Wenlong suddenly said: "Secretary Si is very aggressive in Zhenbei District. Except for the District Chief and the Executive Deputy District Chief, he has basically replaced the entire Standing Committee and the Deputy District Chiefs."

Lu Fan replied: "This is normal. After all, he is the Deputy Municipal Party Secretary, so it is still very easy for him to control the situation. Moreover, those who left were all promoted, so everyone is happy."

"Brother Fan, Secretary Si has blocked the position of Deputy Secretary. Will it have an impact on you?"

Lu Fan smiled slightly: "I'm only in my early 30s, what's the rush? It's you who needs to find a way to get to the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission or take a position in a county or district, otherwise the road ahead will be very narrow."

"Sigh, I'll just honestly work in the discipline inspection department. I don't have the ability to work in the government. Brother Fan, are you planning to fight for Deputy Secretary next? Or leave Yingjiang?"

Lu Fan thought for a moment and replied: "I won't hide it from you, leaving Yingjiang might be a better choice."

"That's fine too. People often say that taking a step back opens up a vast sky!"

Following the location Honghai gave, the two arrived at the hotel, parked the car, and headed to the lobby.

Just as they entered the lobby, they saw Si Daiqiang greeting guests.

Seeing Lu Fan enter, Si Daiqiang walked over and said with a smile: "Lu Fan, you're here! Honghai went to send a friend to their room, he'll be down in a moment."

Lu Fan replied with a smile: "Sorry for the trouble, Brother Si! Honghai is busy, why don't we go to the room first?"

"Sure, you guys rest first, I'll tell Honghai in a bit." After speaking, Si Daiqiang went to the front desk to get the room key and handed it to Lu Fan.

Just after entering the room and washing his face, Honghai's hearty laughter came from the door: "Little Fanzi, Chou Chou, thanks for the hard work on the journey!"

Lu Fan wiped his face clean, walked out, and said: "Honghai, happy wedding! Why so rushed? Notified the day before yesterday, getting married tomorrow?"

"Sigh, my brother was dismissed, I was bored, it was purely a spur-of-the-moment decision! But it's fine, I'm definitely not changing wives. We have to have a proper, formal marriage!"

Lu Fan took a red envelope from his pocket, stuffed it into Honghai's hand, and said: "A small token, don't mind it being too little!" Seeing this, Chou Chou also took out the red envelope he had prepared.

Honghai pushed it back, saying: "We don't do these empty formalities. Besides, when you got married, I didn't make it, and my gift money wasn't given to you either? It just cancels out! Lu Fan, I have to apologize to you. Last time you were hosting a banquet in Yingjiang, I happened to be abroad. The matter was very important, I really couldn't make it back, sorry!"

Lu Fan replied with a smile: "I know you're busy, saying this makes it seem like we're strangers! Honghai, what does your wife do for work?"

"Lu Fan, don't call her that, you have to call her sister-in-law! Your sister-in-law used to be a teacher, her name is Guo Ningning. It seems she said she was going to adjust her work, but I've been too busy lately and haven't paid much attention."

"Alright, you're awesome! You need to care more about your wife. You're no longer a diamond bachelor now!"

"Lu Fan, I just heard from Brother Si that you became Executive Vice Mayor? Chou Chou became Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission? You guys are worthy of being my brothers, you finally achieved some results!"

Lu Fan said with a smile: "Thanks to the 'richest man's' care, how could we not strive and forge ahead?"

"Work hard, I'm rooting for you! Oh, right, the banquet is at four o'clock, right here on the third floor of the hotel. Including you two, I only invited five people. My brother, on the other hand, invited thirty or forty."

Lu Fan thought for a moment and asked: "Hongtao, is it appropriate for us to go?"

Hongtao replied carelessly: "You are the guests I invited, what's inappropriate about it? You guys sit first, I'm going to discuss something with my big brother. Be at the third-floor banquet hall at four o'clock sharp."

After Honghai left, Du Wenlong asked: "Brother Fan, I guess the banquet later won't be simple, right?"

Lu Fan said: "According to our Qinchuan customs, tonight's banquet is for those helping with the wedding tomorrow, but I estimate it will be a scene for Secretary Wang to entertain distinguished guests. After all, many people find it inconvenient to show their faces at tomorrow's wedding. It's fine, since Honghai asked us to go, we'll go."

At 3:30, Lu Fan and Chou Chou headed to the third-floor banquet hall.

Just as they arrived on the third floor, Xiaobin walked over with a smile and said: "Lu Fan, you're here! You're at table number four, I'll take you over."

Lu Fan hurriedly said: "Hello, Secretary Zhang, haven't seen you in a long time!"

Xiaobin smiled and said: "It's been a while since I've been back. Lu Fan, I heard from Weiwei that you were promoted to Executive Vice Mayor? Very good!"

"Thank you for your concern, Secretary Zhang!"

Entering the banquet hall, Weiwei, who was busy, walked over with a smile and said: "Old leader, you're here!"

Lu Fan hurriedly said: "Mayor Yuan, I dare not be called that!"

Weiwei took Lu Fan to table number four and said: "We're both at this table, let's chat properly later. You guys sit first, I still have some work to do."

Before long, Secretary Li Ruifang, the Yinzhou Municipal Party Secretary, and the Chang'an Municipal Party Secretary walked in. Lu Fan hurriedly stood up.

Li Ruifang nodded at Lu Fan and, guided by Xiaobin, went to table number one. The Yinzhou Municipal Party Secretary went to table number two.

At four o'clock, several heads of provincial departments arrived together; they were all heavyweights.

By nearly five o'clock, Provincial Governor Niu Qianhua walked into the banquet hall accompanied by Vice Provincial Governors Tang Bing, Cheng Jian, and Han Guishan, followed by several Standing Committee members.

At five o'clock sharp, Wang Hongtao walked in accompanying Secretary Xu Yongjiang, followed by Provincial Deputy Party Secretary Li Yixiao and Si Daiqiang.

Even when attending a wedding, the order in which everyone appeared was orderly, full of a sense of rules and discipline.

Lu Fan and Du Wenlong were dazzled, feeling as if they had walked into the wrong set and shouldn't be sitting here.

Only after Honghai and Weiwei sat down next to them did Lu Fan breathe a sigh of relief; finally, there was someone to talk to.

After the food and drinks were served, Wang Hongtao took his parents to toast; this is the custom in Qinchuan.

When they reached Lu Fan's table, everyone stood up collectively. Wang Hongtao toasted each person twice and clinked glasses once.

When it was Lu Fan's turn, Wang Hongtao said with a smile: "Lu Fan, I heard from Daiqiang that you were adjusted to the executive position. This position is very good for training people; you must work hard and contribute more to your hometown!"

Lu Fan drank the wine in his glass and replied: "Secretary, I will definitely keep your instructions in mind, fulfill my duties, and live up to your expectations!"

When it was Du Wenlong's turn, seeing that Wang Hongtao looked a bit unfamiliar, Honghai hurriedly said: "Brother, this is Du Wenlong, he was in the same class as me in middle school, and now he is the Deputy Secretary of the Yingjiang Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission."

Wang Hongtao immediately recalled and said with a smile: "Your seat was in front of Honghai's, your math grades really gave me a lot of worry!"

Lu Wenlong hurriedly said: "Hello, Secretary Wang, I was naughty back then, sorry for the trouble!"

After clinking glasses, Wang Hongtao said to Weiwei: "Take good care of everyone!" Then he took Si Daiqiang to other tables. ===== CHAPTER 419 =====