Chapter 438

January 7, the Provincial Party Committee decided that Executive Vice Mayor Lu Fan would preside over the work of Yingjiang City Government.

Lu Fan could finally get his fix as acting mayor, but he knew he couldn't become the official mayor, and the municipal-level avoidance principle had not yet been relaxed.

January 10, after the city's economic indicators were all submitted, the Statistics Bureau promptly compiled an economic operation report.

January 11, Lu Fan led the departments of development and reform, statistics, industry and information technology, and commerce—those involved in economic indicators—to the province, visiting the relevant officials and bureau chiefs to secure a better ranking for Yingjiang.

Secretary Li Ruifang also went to the province; Yingjiang's ranking mattered to her as well, and as the top leader she bore overall responsibility.

Upon arriving at Deputy Provincial Governor Han Guishan's office, Lu Fan's attitude was unusually firm—he insisted on being first this year no matter what!

Han Guishan laughed, "You mayor are just a temporary worker—why bother caring so much?"

Lu Fan replied, "Governor, you can't say that. Being mayor for a day means doing the mayor's job for that day. You've often taught me to 'be in the position and seek its governance,' to make high standards of duty fulfillment a basic requirement. Now is the critical moment of the year‑end assessment; facing urgent, difficult, risky, and heavy tasks, I must step up and take charge. I need to demonstrate my ability, otherwise how can the organization promote and reuse me? Governor, when it concerns my personal future, you can't just look on and do nothing!"

Okay, okay, you've got me—every year you're a handful! Lu Fan, which department are you planning to go to next? I heard Cheng Jian and the Governor want you—are you going to serve him?

Lu Fan replied helplessly, "Uncle Han, to be honest, I want to work in a department."

Hehe, after getting used to being a leader, you don't want to serve people anymore?"

Lu Fan laughed, "Only Uncle Han understands me! At least get a unit where I can call the shots."

Han Guishan suddenly said, "The Provincial Party Committee and I have been in touch; the director of the Education Department is going to take a post in Weiyang. How about you come to the Education Department?"

Lu Fan's eyes lit up, and he said, "Working under Uncle Han's leadership would of course be perfect!"

Han Guishan replied, "All right, I'll go ask Secretary Xu Yongjiang and former Provincial Governor Qianhua for personnel. Next year's education work will be relatively heavy; we need a decisive and vigorous leader to push it forward."

After busying himself in the province for two days, Lu Fan personally liaised with six or seven bureau chiefs, achieving quite good results.

January 13, Lu Fan returned to Yingjiang, and not long after, Si Daiqiang came over for a visit.

Lu Fan laughed and said, "What, coming to inspect my 'territory'? See if I've messed up the city government for you?"

Si Daiqiang hurriedly said, "Don't talk nonsense like that—you're the acting mayor!"

Lu Fan replied, "Don't worry, I'll hold the fort for you. These past few days I've sketched out next year's key work; if you like it, keep it for use."

Si Daiqiang snatched up the documents, beaming like he'd found a treasure, and said with a smile, "I'll take these back to study. You'd better produce more stuff like this—hiding one's talent is not the way of a gentleman. Remember, Yingjiang is your hometown; you should have a grateful heart, and the hometown folk will naturally thank you for being here."

Lu Fan laughed, "Your fox's tail is showing, Secretary Si? I've told Shao Kai and Acting Mayor Ji De to fully cooperate and support your work; if possible, let Shao Kai take over as executive vice mayor and Ji De join the standing committee."

Si Daiqiang nodded seriously and said, "Lu Fan, thanks! I have something to discuss with you. In a few days I'm going to Yancheng to bring some liquor to the secretary; if you're free, could you be my 'coolie' and accompany me?"

Lu Fan had no reason to refuse and immediately said, "Thanks, Brother Si, for the opportunity—I'll definitely buy you a drink, and we must have maotai!"

After chatting a while, Lu Fan asked, "Brother Si, I can't show up empty‑handed, can I? What should I prepare?"

Si Daiqiang replied, "That's up to you; anyway I haven't brought anything these past few years."

"You treat the secretary's home like your own, just like me? When you first visit, there's no reason to show up empty‑handed!"

Si Daiqiang thought and said, "Why don't you prepare a few packs of Yingjiang's 'premium' cigarettes? The secretary likes to smoke those."

"Premium? Even workers don't smoke that anymore! Does the secretary really smoke that?"

"No can do; the secretary prefers that brand, though he occasionally smokes Red Tower Mountain or Yuxi, but the premium has always been his staple cigarette."

Lu Fan suddenly asked, "How old is the secretary's child?"

"Mingyu is in ninth grade, born in 2008, and Ziyi is still under one year old."

After Si Daiqiang left, Lu Fan began to think about what to bring when visiting Secretary Hong Tao's home—a gift should be original, not too valuable, and best convey his feelings.

After thinking it over, Lu Fan went straight back to Ningyang, first visiting the Old Buddha Temple to pray for a peace lock.

In Ningyang, the peace lock from the Old Buddha Temple is a must‑have for newborns; its meaning is to lock the child, borrow blessings from a hundred families, suppress fright and ward off evil, drive away ghosts and eliminate disaster, praying for the child's healthy growth and a long life of a hundred years.

Then Lu Fan returned to the village, found an old carpenter, and had him craft two fire‑guns that Ningyang folks used to play with, and he also carefully made two wooden swords.

What hasn't Mingyu seen? Lu Fan planned to use the toys his father played with as a kid to "trick" him, since children are naturally curious.

As for Secretary Hong Tao, he would simply bring two boxes of tea and ten packs of "premium" cigarettes.

For Liu Mengyao, he prepared Ningyang‑produced honey; having grown up in a rural village, Lu Fan naturally knows how to tell good from bad.

Finally he took a few items of Baishu Bay's ground pepper lamb and mixed grains, especially yellow millet, so the two elders could make youtiao and huangtiao.

After three days of preparation, Lu Fan finally got these things ready and put them in the trunk.

As for this car, Lu Fan planned to give it to his second uncle when he left Yingjiang—a dignified bureau‑level official driving a 100,000‑yuan car; this is another kind of "showing off", which only invites ridicule and is despicable.

After Deputy Provincial Governor Han Guishan talked with Lu Fan, he attached great importance to Lu Fan's taking a post in the Education Department; for this he specially prepared the 2022 Qinchuan education overall plan and key work, and went to report it to Secretary Xu Yongjiang.

After discussing the work, Han Guishan said, "Secretary, next year's education tasks are heavy, the responsibility great, and the standards high—we need a pioneering, innovative go‑getter, preferably someone familiar with education work. I've thought long and hard, and I earnestly recommend to you and the Provincial Party Committee Yingjiang City's Executive Vice Mayor Lu Fan. This comrade once oversaw education work and also won the national award for outstanding individual in education work—a unique honor among provincial bureau‑level leaders. As for his ability, he has also received the national honor of outstanding county Party secretary; his thinking is broad, his ideas many, his effort great, and he excels at tackling tough problems. In my view, he is the most suitable candidate for director of the Education Department."

Xu Yongjiang laughed and said, "Lu Fan has become a hot commodity—Cheng Jian asked me for him two days ago, wanting him as his deputy secretary‑general, and Jianfeng wants to transfer him to be deputy secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission's standing committee. Lu Fan is a national outstanding county Party secretary, and in the mid‑youth class he also won outstanding student and outstanding cadre awards; we can't bury such talent, next step we should transfer him back to a provincial‑level department for key cultivation. As for which unit, the Provincial Party Committee still needs to weigh. I will give your opinion careful consideration, but we also need to hear Lu Fan's own view."

After leaving the Provincial Party Committee, Han Guishan again went to report work to Provincial Governor Niu Qianhua, likewise proposing that Lu Fan serve as director of the Education Department.

Niu Qianhua laughed and said, "Go discuss it with Cheng Jian—we need to form a consensus before we can request personnel from the Provincial Party Committee. I'm just curious to see whether this Lu Fan has three heads and six arms; you're starting to fight over him!"

Han Guishan laughed and replied, "Indeed, talent is scarce; he has perseverance and drive, plenty of ideas, and is familiar with education work. The governor might not know, but he once received the national award for outstanding education worker."

"There's more? That's indeed rare, and he truly is a fitting candidate for director of the Education Department."

January 18, Lu Fan and Si Daiqiang took a small truck to the hometown of Wang Hongpeng, deputy chief of Ningyang City Public Security Bureau, to move the "deer blood wine".

The wine cellar was specially built, and the deer blood wine was stacked full to the brim.

Lu Fan looked on with longing, pulled Wang Hongpeng aside, and whispered, "Hong Tao, what's our relationship like?"

Wang Hongpeng replied, "Since Baishu Bay you've been bossing me around—for over ten years you've ordered me about at will, never showing any deference, just relying on your higher rank to push me around! Mayor, all you want is liquor, right? I'll grit my teeth and give you two cases—this is all my brother's stock; I could never let it leak out easily."

Lu Fan said, "Last year you gave me four cases—can't we go down instead of up? Besides, I have to deliver it to Jingcheng for you; the service fee ought to be something. I don't want more, just give me ten cases."

Wang Hongpeng turned and left without another word.

Lu Fan hurriedly grabbed him and said, "Hongpeng, normally I'd be satisfied with three or five cases, but this year is different—I'm plotting a promotion, so I need to prepare some good stuff, and I have nothing on hand. This is a major matter concerning my future; you're so righteous, you can't just ignore it."

Wang Hongpeng scoffed, "You need to 'work the connections' for a promotion? Everyone in the city knows that—are you treating me like a three‑year‑old? Forget it; in view of your making this special trip, I'll grit my teeth and stamp my foot, giving you a share of five cases—this is my own allotment."

Lu Fan kept pressing, "Hongpeng, you also know my wife's family is a prominent clan; when I go back for the New Year I want to bring back two cases to 'save face'—ordinary stuff won't cut it in their eyes! For the sake of brotherly dignity, think of another way."

Wang Hongpeng resignedly said, "Mayor Lu, I now see why you can be officials—you can turn black into white, dead into alive, and leave no room for refusal. I'm convinced; add two more cases, okay?"

"Good brothers for life! Hongpeng, if you have anything, just speak up!" Lu Fan looked thoroughly pleased.

Si Daiqiang was directing workers to move wine; after moving enough 300 boxes, he also put his own two boxes inside.