Chapter 44

On the morning of July 15th, Lu Fan waited in Niuzhuang Village. Secretary Li Daqiang, Township Head Shi Qiancheng, and the leaders of the township government all arrived early to welcome the observation group.

Today, the County Committee and County Government organized a "Forest Creation" afforestation and greening observation and evaluation activity.

Led by Secretary Guo Mingxiong and County Head Li Guoquan, more than 40 people, including secretaries of various townships and heads of relevant units, participated in the observation and evaluation of the county's "Forest Creation" and afforestation situation.

The observation focused on the completion of the annual "Forest Creation" goals, adopting methods of on-site inspection, listening to reports, and scoring. It focused on evaluating the scale of afforestation, seedling specifications, planting quality, and comprehensive effectiveness, and inspecting on-site indicators such as reserve forests, characteristic economic forests, ecological afforestation, corridor greening, voluntary tree planting, and forest villages.

Through these two days of observation, Guo Mingxiong was very disappointed. Although coordinating the national inspection team for "Forest Creation" work was the main event, the basic work should at least be passable, but the current situation was really unsatisfactory!

Guo Mingxiong said earnestly: "Chuanbei, the 'Forest Creation' work has a long way to go! You are the leader in charge, you have to put more effort into this work. Along the way, I haven't seen any township with a highlight. When the national inspection team comes, what will we show them? We can't just burn newspapers at a grave—fooling ghosts, right?"

The secretary's criticism made Yang Chuanbei feel ashamed. Rumors had already spread in the city that Secretary Guo would likely be promoted to a member of the Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee and Head of the Organization Department, holding the power of promotion for all cadres in the city. If he really looked down on himself, how would he develop in the future? This was an extremely serious problem.

"Secretary, I will definitely strengthen it! After the observation is over, I will solve the existing problems one by one, thoroughly implement the main responsibility, strengthen supervision, and will definitely not hold back the 'Forest Creation' work. However, this point in Baishu Bay is worth seeing, it is an observation point I focused on building."

Guo Mingxiong was noncommittal; after all, hearing is believing, but seeing is believing.

Li Guoquan said: "Secretary, Baishu Bay has implemented several projects. I went there once in May, I don't know what it's like now."

When the Coaster drove into the territory of Baishu Bay Township, the observation group felt a different atmosphere. Along the way, they could see people planting trees, watering, and cultivating soil on the hillsides from time to time. Coupled with the fact that Baishu Bay already had good forest vegetation, it made Guo Mingxiong's eyes light up, and he felt that this place could be shown to the national inspection team.

After arriving at the Niuzhuang Village observation point, as soon as he got off the bus, Guo Mingxiong smiled, because the scene before him was exactly what he wanted to see. He immediately made a decision: when the national inspection team comes, they must see this place.

Guo Mingxiong watched as he walked, and Lu Fan, as the project leader, reported on-site. Although he had memorized the report by heart, he was still a little nervous.

"Secretary Guo, County Head Li, leaders, the Baishu Bay Forest Farm, in accordance with the arrangements and deployments of the County Committee and County Government, under the key attention of County Head Yang, and under the specific guidance of the County Forestry Bureau and the Township Party Committee, has organized villagers and forest management labor professional teams to carry out tree planting activities locally since March. We have mobilized more than 30,000 person-times, implemented a 350-mu landscape forest project, added 885 mu of new afforestation area, including 300 mu of national reserve forests, 100 mu of high-quality fruit forests, 135 mu of seedling flowers, developed 200 mu of under-forest economy, and tended 150 mu of young forests.

During the implementation process, we signed responsibility letters with the project construction units, and technical personnel strengthened follow-up guidance. From seedling transportation, hole digging, pulping, to planting, every process was strictly required to ensure the quality of seedling planting..."

Guo Mingxiong nodded continuously, asking questions from time to time.

This naturally didn't stump Lu Fan, who answered all questions fluently and knew all the data like the back of his hand, which made Guo Mingxiong very satisfied and made Deputy County Head Yang Chuanbei breathe a huge sigh of relief.

"Secretary Guo, under the organization of the township government, the forest farm has relied on the township's idle land and open spaces to hire excavators to weed and level the land along roads, in front of houses, and behind houses, achieving 'planting green in every gap' and 'planting green wherever possible'."

"Through tree planting activities, the scene of overgrown weeds and slight desolation in the past is gone forever. Now, the whole township is dotted with small forests, and the production and living environment of the villagers has been significantly improved."

"Well, not bad, this point is worth learning from by other townships. Daqiang, form a report material as soon as possible, good experience should be promoted throughout the county."

Secretary Li Daqiang behind him smiled from ear to ear, praising Lu Fan in his heart for being sensible.

Half an hour later, the observation activity ended. On-site scoring showed that Baishu Bay's "Forest Creation" work was unanimously recognized by everyone, obtaining a high score of 92. It should be known that no other township scored over 80.

Lunch was arranged at the township government's integrity canteen. The leaders dined in a private room, accompanied by Secretary Li Daqiang and Township Head Shi Qiancheng. Lu Fan waited outside so that the county leaders could ask questions at any time.

Overall, Lu Fan felt that today's performance was passable, but there were flaws in many places. After all, it was his first time experiencing such a scene, and he would have to constantly strengthen his learning and strive to improve his own level in the future.

After lunch, Secretary Guo Mingxiong came out first. After seeing Lu Fan, he specifically greeted him and encouraged him: "The observation point is well built, but there are still areas that need to be improved. Put in more effort. At the end of the year, the national inspection team will come for the initial inspection. Baishu Bay is a key inspection object, you must prepare for all aspects of the inspection. Chuanbei, Tongyu, you must also come down frequently to guide the work and check for omissions. Also, the work of other townships must also be closely monitored and grasped. If they still don't attach importance to it in their thinking and treat the 'Forest Creation' work as child's play, then if they don't change their thinking, they will be replaced; if they don't take responsibility, they will be moved; if they don't act, they will be dismissed!"

County Head Li Guoquan also gave an encouraging smile, and Deputy County Head Yang Chuanbei specifically stayed behind to give Lu Fan a few instructions.

Lu Fan took the opportunity to say: "County Head, the 300 mu of national reserve forests are all in place, I would like to report the work to you."

They were all shrewd people, how could Yang Chuanbei not understand Lu Fan's meaning? He thought for a while and said: "Doing the work well is the greatest support for me!"

Not expressing an attitude was the greatest attitude. Lu Fan knew what to do. After the leaders left the township government, he drove his car and followed closely with two "file bags".

Arriving at the county seat, Lu Fan first went to Director Guo Tongyu's office. After locking the door, he took out the "file bag" without much ado and said: "Director Guo, the 300 mu of national reserve forests have all been planted, and the funds are all in place. This is a little token of my appreciation."

Looking at the thickness, Guo Tongyu knew it was 50,000, and said: "Xiao Fan, you've worked hard during this period. Today, Secretary Guo and County Head Li are both quite satisfied with Baishu Bay's 'Forest Creation' work, so we don't need to be polite. I know your situation, save up for two years and buy a house in the county, otherwise how will you get married?"

"Director Guo, without your care, how could I have today? When drinking water, don't forget the well-digger. If you don't accept it, my conscience will be uneasy!" Lu Fan's attitude was unusually firm.

After a stalemate for a while, Guo Tongyu saw that Lu Fan was a stubborn one, so he compromised, took 20,000 yuan out of the file bag, pushed the rest to Lu Fan, and said: "Don't push it with me anymore, you have many places to spend money. How are things going with Wang Yewei?"

"This, Director Guo, maybe I'm not good at this aspect."

Guo Tongyu said with a sense of "iron not becoming steel": "You really are a blockhead. I haven't said few good words to her parents, praising you to the skies. Xiao Fan, Xiao Wei's dad is my classmate, now he is the Deputy Director of the Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau, and she is his only daughter. You must seize the opportunity, take her down, and you won't have to worry about the deputy section level?"

Hearing this, Lu Fan felt a bit uncomfortable in his heart.

Although he was poor, he knew how to be poor without flattery; a person's value lies in having backbone.

If he climbed the social ladder just to get ahead, wouldn't that be like marrying into a wealthy family? Once he lost his integrity as a person and lowered his proud head, he would never be able to possess dignity again.

Coming out of Guo Tongyu's office, seeing that there was still time, Lu Fan went directly to the County Government; he had to send out the other file bag.

Knocking open Yang Chuanbei's office, Lu Fan secretly locked the door, sat opposite County Head Yang's desk, and said with a smile: "Sorry to bother you, County Head. I'm here today to report on the 300-mu reserve forest project; all cypress seedlings have been planted according to requirements."

Yang Chuanbei nodded and said: "I've been to the reserve forest several times, I trust you with your work. Among more than a dozen townships, only you have saved face. During this period, you must check for omissions. I estimate that the national inspection initial review will come soon, and Baishu Bay will 100% become an observation point, so you can't have any fluke mentality, perfect everything that needs to be perfected."

"Don't worry, I will keep an eye on the point during this period, I will definitely not hold back the county, and I won't lose face for you! County Head Yang, this is my first time being responsible for such a big job, I don't know the rules, if there is anything inadequate, you must often give me pointers. This is a little token of my appreciation!"

Yang Chuanbei hesitated a bit. The benefits were allocated by him and Guo Tongyu, and spreading the wealth was the long-term plan. Lu Fan's "being on the path" made him feel slightly surprised, but his favor increased by another point. Who doesn't like sensible people? However, did Guo Tongyu take this money?

Before he could express his attitude, Lu Fan put the file bag directly into the cabinet, and then continued to report on his work as if nothing had happened. The two had a tacit understanding.

Taking this money out, Lu Fan didn't feel distressed at all. He knew deeply that in the officialdom, it was difficult to move an inch without a backer. Since he finally had the opportunity to get on the line with County Head Yang, he had to rely on it at all costs. Money was an external object, and it was worthless compared to relationships.

With his worries resolved, after work in the afternoon, Lu Fan found Deputy Director of the Human Resources Bureau Xu Zheng and Fang Hui for a simple meal, drank some wine, and inquired about some trends in the county.

He heard that Secretary Guo Mingxiong had already reported to the Municipal Organization Department, and County Head Li Guoquan was going to succeed as secretary. He didn't know who would be the County Head. What made Lu Fangu most excited was that Secretary Wang Hongtao was in his prime, and his entry into the County Committee team was unstoppable!

Life lies in movement, friendship lies in interaction, and relationships lie in walking. Two years later, these two would be of great use.

The last day of the first show, scoring begins, five-star reviews needed, thank you for your support!

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