Chapter 431

The middle-aged and young reserve cadres class, the Organization Department had a dedicated person participating in each discussion session, observing the trainees' performance throughout.

The trainees successfully completed their studies; at graduation, the evaluation method was group discussion, which is a distinctive way of internally assessing cadres.

Using one week's time, the Training Department prepared practical evaluations for each trainee and made preparations for the graduation ceremony.

July 15, the 2021 Spring Festival middle-aged and young cadres training class held its graduation ceremony.

Entrusted by Department Head Chen Jiazhong, Department Committee member Lin Zifan attended the graduation ceremony and presented graduation certificates to the trainees.

The graduation ceremony was hosted by the director of the Training Office, the vice principal attended the ceremony and delivered a concluding speech, and Lin Zifan read out the decision of the Organization Department and the Party School on commending outstanding trainees of the middle‑aged and young cadres training class.

In hosting, the director of the Training Office emphasized that the end of study is not the finish line but should become a new starting point for the trainees to reach a higher level in work and life. All trainees should creatively apply the knowledge learned and theories mastered in school to practical work, contributing wisdom and playing a role in economic and social development.

The vice principal summarized in his speech the basic situation of the four‑and‑a‑half‑month study and training of the middle‑aged and young cadres class, affirmed the trainees' outstanding performance in school study, and pointed out that the teaching arrangements for this session were meticulously deployed with highlighted priorities; teaching forms were flexible and diverse, emphasizing practical results, truly achieving further improvement of the trainees' theoretical level, further strengthening of their party spirit cultivation, and further deepening of classmate friendship, yielding significant results.

He expressed expectations for the trainees' future development, urging them to continually temper their thoughts, forge their party spirit, hone their abilities, always keep a reverent heart, constantly strengthen their resolve to undertake and build enterprises, solidify the foundation for undertaking and build enterprises, enrich the drive for undertaking and build enterprises, and uphold the bottom line for undertaking and build enterprises.

At the graduation ceremony, Lin Zifan presented honor certificates to ten outstanding trainees and outstanding class groups, and Lu Fan won both of the two major awards.

Lin Zifan congratulated the trainees on completing their study tasks, combining his own work and study experience, and put forward three hopes for them: first, strengthen theoretical armament to solve the ballast problem; continually enhance political judgment, comprehension, and execution abilities, truly engrave loyalty in the heart and fuse it into the blood. Second, improve job performance capabilities to solve the diamond drill problem; really put in effort, study hard and practice diligently to enhance abilities, truly develop a few brushes, genuinely strengthen the confidence to walk the new era's examination path. Third, strictly cultivate self-discipline to solve the amulet problem; firmly guard the political gate, power gate, social gate, life gate, and kin gate, truly achieve undertaking and being clean, clean plus undertaking, forever maintain the political integrity of integrity and cleanliness.

Outstanding trainee and outstanding class group Lu Fan, as the trainee representative, reported what he had learned, thought, felt, and gained during his study at the party school.

"In a flash, the four‑and‑a‑half‑month training came to an end; looking back on the bits and pieces of the middle‑aged and young cadres class study, recalling my own growth experience, feelings of gratitude, appreciation, insight, and emotion surged up unbidden; the new era, party spirit, top‑level design, implementation path, sentiment, struggle, youth, responsibility, dedication — the training has given us a clearer understanding of the requirements for new‑era cadres."

Remembering our original aspiration and setting out again, we must have lofty ambitions and keep pace with the times; broaden our vision, think diligently, to point out the direction for future work; strengthen quality, dare to take responsibility, after returning to our posts we must fulfill our duties and missions. With belief in heart one can go far; each generation has its mission, each generation has its responsibility. We will certainly take this training as a new starting point, apply the learning outcomes to practice, with a higher political stance, stronger sense of responsibility, and more practical work measures, to practice our oath. 「……」

Participating in this middle‑aged and young cadres class, Lu Fan could be said to have gained abundantly. After the training class ended, various banquets were naturally inevitable, and then everyone went their separate ways home.

For three consecutive days, Lu Fan was either hosting guests or on the way to host them. He categorized the classmates he had befriended during this training and gathered them together to talk about their friendship.

On the first day, Lu Fan gathered with Chen Jianfei, Wang Gang, Bai Chengzhi, Wang Jianming, and others, chatting and laughing happily.

On the second day, Lu Fan entertained Wang Hong, Deng Guoqiang, and several other classmates from Huayuan Province, about a dozen in total; they exchanged cups and deepened their friendship.

On the third day, Lu Fan invited friends who had clicked with him during school, such as Liu Jiaqi from the Cyberspace Administration Office and others, to consolidate friendship and expand his network.

Lu Fan, with a sincere heart and enthusiastic attitude, established deeper connections with friends from different circles.

As the saying goes, prepare for a rainy day; the road must be repaired in advance. Most of these classmates will likely go on to higher leadership positions in the future, and may become strong supports for his career development.

After completely concluding the middle‑aged and young cadres class activities, Lu Fan took Li Zimeng to the northern headquarters hutong and reported to Li Lao the gains from this training class.

Li Lao said satisfiedly: "The achievement did not come easily; do not underestimate these two honors—they are enough to bring you into view and make you a reserve cadre. Your future work performance will be closely tracked and recorded on file. Lu Fan, after returning to Yingjiang, you must stand guard at the last post, properly handle the people and matters at hand, and after your term of office ends in two years, you should improve your resume and switch to a different post."

Lu Fan asked: "Grandfather, should I stay in Qinchuan or go to Huayuan Province?"

Li Lao thought for a moment and replied: "First stay in Qinchuan, go to a provincial‑level department for a transition; that way your resume will have no problem, then after being transferred down you can take charge as the main party‑government leader. Lu Fan, which department do you yourself want to go to?"

Lu Fan after a brief thought said: "Grandfather, I currently have no preferred industry; actually every department is important. Through this training I have genuinely felt my own limitations, and many aspects of my abilities are still lacking."

Li Lao nodded and said: "The process of growth is one of continual trial and ultimately gaining wisdom; recognizing one's shortcomings is good, as it can clarify the direction of future effort. Since you have no clear preference, I suggest you go to the agriculture or education department, keeping a low profile and avoiding exposure, so you can conceal your brilliance and nurture obscurity, doing some solid, down‑to‑earth people's livelihood work."

"Okay, I'll listen to you!"

Li Lao laughed and said: "Lu Fan, after you leave, let Zimeng stay with me; now is a special moment, I don't feel at ease letting her live alone."

Lu Fan raised both hands in approval; Li Lao's place has better conditions, and moreover someone attentively takes care of Zimeng's food and daily life, so he has no worries behind him.

Finally, Li Lao instructed, asking Lu Fan to first go to the Provincial Party Committee and report to Xu Yongjiang the gains from the middle‑aged and young cadres class.

July 20, Lu Fan went to Chang'an, feeling an added concern in his heart.

At two o'clock in the afternoon, Lu Fan arrived at the Provincial Party Committee, found the office of Section Chief Sun Ao, stated his identity, and expressed his purpose.

Sun Ao heard that Lu Fan had participated in the middle‑aged and young cadres class and had won two major honors; he genuinely felt some envy, and immediately reported to Secretary Xu.

After waiting over an hour, Sun Ao brought Lu Fan into Secretary Xu Yongjiang's office.

"Secretary Xu, hello!"

Xu Yongjiang put down his pen, lifted his head, showed a hint of a smile, and said: "Your performance this time was quite good; you won the honors of outstanding class group and outstanding trainee, bringing glory to our Qinchuan!"

Lu Fan hurriedly said: "Secretary, you overpraise me; I will consciously apply the outcomes of this study, temper my abilities and forge my moral cultivation, devote myself to work with a more full spirit, and act with consistency between appearance and reality, unity of knowledge and action, and steadfastness, firmly upholding all decisions and deployments of the Provincial Party Committee."

Xu Yongjiang nodded approvingly and said: "Only with talented people can a cause prosper! You currently hold the position of executive vice mayor, having previously earned the honor of national outstanding county party secretary; this time you have shone again in the middle‑aged and young cadres class. The Provincial Party Committee will employ you according to your strengths and specialties. You have always worked at the county level, with rich grassroots experience; next you should go to a provincial‑level department to train, experience a more standardized and professional work model, improve your ability to coordinate decisions, and strive to become a composite‑type leading cadre."

Lu Fan firmly and powerfully replied: "I will resolutely follow organizational arrangements; no matter which post I hold, I will devote myself wholeheartedly to work, actively fulfill my duties, take initiative to assume responsibility, dare to tackle tough challenges, and contribute the greatest possible strength to Qinchuan's development."

As for where to go, Xu Yongjiang did not say, and Lu Fan did not ask, because he lacked the qualifications to bargain with the Provincial Party Secretary; Li Lao would naturally arrange everything.

After chatting for about five minutes, seeing Xu Yongjiang pick up his pen, Lu Fan, sensing the cue, rose to take his leave.

After coming out, Lu Fan specifically went to Secretary Sun Ao's office to say hello, and they exchanged contact information.

Seeing that the time was still early, Lu Fan went to the provincial government.

Fortunately, after waiting over half an hour, Lu Fan met Executive Deputy Provincial Governor Tang Bing and reported on work for about ten minutes.

Governor Tang congratulated Lu Fan on his achievements, encouraging him to keep up the good work and strive for new merits.

Next, Lu Fan went to the office of Deputy Provincial Governor Han Guishan, and, as if presenting a treasure, displayed the two honor certificates.

Han Guishan laughed and said: "I certainly don't have this; it has high gold content, enough to clear obstacles for your promotion to a full bureau‑level post."

Lu Fan asked: "Uncle Han, may I ask you something? I want to do something for the people of Yingjiang, striving to pay the old‑age insurance on behalf of the rural population."

Han Guishan pondered a moment and said: "This needs the finance bureau to provide money, and requires support from Secretary Ruifang and Zhao Tao; but I worry that they won't bother with something that brings no benefit."

Lu Fan again asked: "Do you say it's possible to contend with the province for a portion of funds?"

Han Guishan said: "If Yingjiang makes a big show of it, the province certainly won't ignore it, after all Yingjiang's political position stands there. As for how much funding can be supported, that depends on the resolve of Secretary Xu and Governor Niu. How much longer can you stay in Yingjiang? Is it necessary to undertake such a high‑difficulty move?"

Lu Fan firmly said: "Having stayed in Yingjiang for thirty years, at least I should leave something for my hometown people. Once a start is made, this people‑benefiting policy will not easily be interrupted; I will give it my all to try!"