Chapter 424: Meeting Guests

On February 10th, Lu Fan went home, and Li Zimeng went to pick him up at the airport in high spirits.

After getting in the car, Lu Fan took out his bank card, handed it to his wife, and said with a smile: "Great harvest this year, earned more than two million, all handed over!"

Li Zimeng's expression tightened, and she said: "Husband, our family has no big expenses, our salaries are enough. I don't want you to make mistakes in economics."

Lu Fan smiled and said: "What are you thinking? This is my investment promotion reward fund in Ganshui this year. There is document support, it is legal and compliant income. The rest is my salary and year-end bonus. Except for gift money, I basically can't spend much money all year round. Don't worry, I will definitely not make a mess in economics!"

Hearing this, Li Zimeng showed a smile and said: "Since it is legal income, then I will accept it and save it for our son!"

"We don't seem to have a son yet!"

"So you have to work hard, this holiday time is just right, come on!"

Lu Fan laughed: "Sure, then I will work day and night, and must run out of ammunition and food!"

Returning to Beizongbu Hutong, Li Lao was meeting guests.

Seeing Lu Fan walk in, he smiled and beckoned Lu Fan to come over and sit down, saying: "Back, come and sit!"

Lu Fan handed his briefcase to Li Zimeng, walked to Li Lao's side, and politely greeted the two guests: "Hello, Secretary Liu, hello, Secretary Wang!"

Huayuan Provincial Party Committee Deputy Secretary Liu Linghao smiled and said: "Lu Fan, you've been an executive for a year, right? You feel more steady!"

Lu Fan replied with a smile: "Over thirty, my heart is clear, I have to settle down!"

At this time, Huayuan Provincial Political and Legal Committee Secretary Wang Jinwu joked: "Lu Fan, you and Zimeng must work hard. The old leader is anxious, waiting to hold a great-grandson!"

Lu Fan smiled and said: "Thank you for your concern, Secretary Wang. I will definitely set my attitude, work twice as hard, and strive to add a son to the family soon!"

After chatting for a while, Lu Fan stood up and said: "Grandpa, is the mutton cut? I'll show off my skills for the two leaders!"

Li Lao smiled and said: "Everything is ready, just waiting for you, the chef. Linghao, Jinwu, Lu Fan's craftsmanship is worth looking forward to. When Mingzhou comes back, you accompany me for a few drinks!"

Liu Linghao smiled and said: "I've already started looking forward to it! Old leader, Mingzhou should move, right? He has been at the deputy ministerial level for several years."

Li Lao said: "There will be large-scale adjustments before 2022."

Wang Jinwu asked: "Will Mingzhou return to Huayuan?"

Li Lao shook his head and said: "You haven't been in your current positions for long, work honestly, do more practical and good things for the masses, don't be greedy for more!"

While chatting, Li Mingzhou walked in and said with a smile: "Linghao, Jinwu, let's have two drinks later!"

The two also greeted enthusiastically. Li Zimeng finished making tea for her father and went to the kitchen to help.

An hour later, wine, dishes, and meat were on the table, and Lu Fan and Li Zimeng invited everyone to take their seats.

Liu Linghao served as Li Lao's secretary, and Wang Jinwu was also promoted by Li Lao, so they were not restrained at all.

Everyone chatted and laughed, eating and drinking, and it was harmonious. Li Lao likes this atmosphere now.

After seven o'clock, the guests left, and Lu Fan and Li Zimeng also planned to go home.

Before leaving, Li Lao said to Lu Fan: "Come over at ten o'clock tomorrow morning to meet some guests."

"Okay, Grandpa, you and Dad rest early, we'll go back first."

After the two left, Li Mingzhou said: "Dad, how long will Lu Fan stay in Yingjiang?"

Li Lao thought for a while and said: "Stay for another year. After the term expires, change to another position, and then go to the city to take office. Don't easily break political rules."

Li Mingzhou sighed and said: "Last time I didn't reach the position of Deputy Secretary, it was a step slow after all."

Li Lao said: "Don't mention the past. Lu Fan is still young, he doesn't care about this year. Training in multiple positions is not necessarily a bad thing."

"Dad, is Lu Fan going to Huayuan Province? Or Fengning Province?"

"Let him choose himself, it's about the same."

A timely snow promises a good harvest! Night fell, the lights were on, and snowflakes began to drift in the sky over the city, covering the whole city with a clean white cotton quilt, which was beautiful.

Pedestrians stopped one after another to enjoy the beautiful snow scene, with happy smiles on their faces. Children ran happily in the snow, enjoying the joy brought by the snow, and laughter echoed over the city.

Lu Fan and Li Zimeng snuggled up to each other, strolling on the snow-covered streets, enjoying the tranquility and beauty of this moment, leaving long footprints behind them, as if recording their bits and pieces.

The two eyes met, full of love and tenderness, as if they could penetrate each other's souls, feeling endless warmth and happiness.

After returning home, the couple couldn't wait to throw themselves into the great project of creating a human, and never tired of it.

The next day, Lu Fan opened his eyes, and it was already high in the sun. After tidying up, the two hurried to Grandpa's house.

On the way, the two held hands naturally. Looking at his gentle, considerate, beautiful, and moving wife, Lu Fan felt lucky to have married such a beautiful wife. The greatest happiness is to be able to eat soft rice hard!

After arriving home, Lu Fan saw Grandpa chatting with someone in the living room, so he hurried a few steps and went in to greet: "Hello, Governor Hao, Minister Wang, Director Chen, Happy New Year!"

Huayuan Provincial Governor Hao Guangqi, Organization Department Deputy Minister Wang Zhaowen, and Development and Reform Commission Deputy Director Chen Ziyan all smiled and chatted with Lu Fan and his wife, and occasionally teased them a few times.

After sitting for more than half an hour, several people stood up to say goodbye.

Less than five minutes later, Ministry of Transport Mo Xuan and Ministry of Natural Resources Tian Shanchuan arrived together. Lu Fan acted as a waiter, serving tea and water to the leaders, then stood honestly beside Grandpa, occasionally responding to everyone's inquiries.

All morning, four waves of guests came to the house, all of whom Lu Fan knew, and they had attended his wedding.

In the afternoon, several more waves of people came, from Fengning Province and Ling Province. Lu Fan hadn't seen some of them, but he must have heard their names.

These two days, "receiving guests" became Lu Fan's main business. He met sixty or seventy people one after another, the lowest of whom was higher than Yingjiang Mayor Zhao Tao, and he was almost numb!

Until New Year's Eve, the house was finally quiet.

Lu Fan and Li Zimeng went to the airport, looking forward to his sister's return. This was the first time Lu Yao returned to Beijing after going down to hang a position.

When seeing Lu Yao walk out of the arrival hall, Lu Fan and Li Zimeng were filled with heartfelt joy.

After seeing her brother, Lu Yao's nose was sore, and her eyes were wet. Even if she was strong on weekdays, facing her closest people, she couldn't hide her inner longing and grievances.

Lu Fan hurriedly walked up, hugged his sister tightly, and comforted: "If you don't come back, your sister-in-law and I will go find you!"

Li Zimeng also hurried forward and said softly: "Yaoyao, it's good to be back. Let's have a reunion for the New Year, don't take the past to heart!"

Lu Yao wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, controlled her emotions, and her voice was still choked: "Brother, sister-in-law, I really miss you!"

Lu Fan felt distressed, held his sister's hand, and put the luggage into the trunk.

The three got into the car together and drove to Grandpa's house. This was strongly requested by Zimeng's family, who hoped to let Lu Yao feel the warmth of the family and the care of family affection.

On the way, the sister-in-law and sister-in-law talked to each other, poured out their longing for each other, shared the bits and pieces of life and work, and soon laughter echoed in the car.

When Lu Yao arrived at Li Lao's house, she was warmly received by the whole family. Everyone treated her as their own family. Li Lao also talked to Lu Yao about work alone, making Lu Yao feel incomparably warm and having a sense of belonging to this big family.

After eating the New Year's Eve dinner, Li Lao called Lu Fan to the living room and said: "In early March, the Party School has a training class for bureau-level cadres. The specifications are relatively high, lasting for one month, with closed management. You go and participate."

Lu Fan replied decisively: "Okay, Grandpa, I will handle the work at hand as soon as possible after the holiday."

Li Lao asked: "After working as Executive Vice Mayor for a few months, what gains do you feel?"

Lu Fan pondered for a while and replied: "The executive work is very messy. It seems to manage a lot, the weight is very heavy, and the status is very high, but in the city and county, it doesn't touch the core business, such as transportation, urban construction, land, water conservancy, agriculture, education, health, etc. It feels like a fire-fighting team, dealing with some temporary affairs, and sent wherever needed."

Li Lao smiled and said: "One flower alone is not spring, a hundred flowers blooming is spring. Power is a double-edged sword. If used well, it can order and prohibit, and benefit the people; once abused, it will breed corruption and cause endless harm. Absolute power causes absolute corruption. Only by mutual supervision and mutual restraint can the balance of power be maintained, and people can have scruples in the process of exercising power! Besides that, what other feelings do you have?"

Lu Fan thought for a while and said: "Did I reach my hand too long?"

Li Lao nodded with relief and said: "It's good to be able to realize this point. I haven't reminded you, just want you to realize it yourself. You must remember one point: administrative work requires power and responsibility to match, power and responsibility to be equal, and power and responsibility to be unified. Li Ruifang is the Municipal Party Secretary, her authority must be established, Zhao Tao is the Mayor, managing government affairs, these are all appointed by the organization, giving them this power.

If you are not in that position, don't seek government. If someone becomes a 'stumbling block', 'thorn in the eye', 'thorn in the flesh', then this person will inevitably be attacked by everyone! In addition, higher-level organizations do not allow such situations to exist for a long time. Looking at the local hardliners, the final outcome is often unsatisfactory, and they will even be uprooted by the main party and government leaders!"

Lu Fan replied: "Grandpa, I understand. I will focus on my own work, be in place but not out of place, fill the stage but not dismantle the stage, pay attention to principles in big things, and pay attention to style in small things."

Li Lao said earnestly: "I have learned for a lifetime, realized for a lifetime: observe calmly, stabilize the position, deal with it calmly, hide one's light, be good at hiding clumsiness, never be the leader, and make achievements! The crystallization of the wisdom of the teacher is worth our lifetime to learn and realize." ===== CHAPTER 425 =====