Chapter 442

The twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, Deputy Secretary Liu Linghao of Huayang Province and Political and Legal Committee Secretary Wang Jinwu, etc., came to visit; Lu Fan accompanied his grandfather in receiving the guests.

After two years of contact, Lu Fan and everyone had become familiar, and communication went smoothly.

At dinner time, Governor Li Mingzhou returned from Xihai Province, looking as if he had lost weight all over. Having just taken office as governor, the pressure was still great; he had to work diligently day and night, exhausting his energy.

Seeing his son-in-law, the father-in-law naturally offered some guidance. Governor Li Mingzhou, starting from the standpoint of the provincial government, gave Lu Fan many suggestions about his work at the Education Department; Li Lao also stood by and gave guidance together. The two elders spared no effort in nurturing Lu Fan, imparting all they knew.

On New Year's Eve, Lu Yao also returned from Grassland Province; she always persists until the very last moment each year.

In the afternoon, Li Lao's home was very lively, with everyone gathered together to see out the old year and welcome the new.

At six o'clock, the family had just begun eating the New Year's Eve dinner when Li Zimeng suddenly started having a stomachache. Second Aunt Song Xiaotong, who had experience, noticed that Li Zimeng's water had broken, so the family hurriedly sent her to Union Hospital.

The obstetrics and gynecology department of this hospital is a national key discipline and the national center for the diagnosis and treatment of difficult and critical cases in obstetrics and gynecology, ranking first on the specialty list.

Li Lao personally arrived, and the hospital naturally gave Zimeng the highest level of special care. After entering the delivery room, several directors and experts held an emergency consultation, formulating the most perfect plan and emergency contingency to ensure the baby's safe delivery and mother and child's safety. In fact, once here, it would be hard for anything to go wrong.

Lu Fan waited anxiously outside the delivery room; at this moment, what he most hoped to hear was the baby's cry and the doctor's words, 'Mother and child are safe.'

Li Mingzhou also paced back and forth; his daughter was his life.

Li Lao was also anxious, but having weathered many storms, he had already reached the state of 'unmoved even if Mount Tai weighs on his head, unperturbed even if the Yellow River collapses before him.' He comforted them, saying, 'Mingzhou, Lu Fan, don't be too anxious; Union Hospital's technology is quite good—trust the medical staff!'

When the director was communicating with the pregnant woman, Zimeng insisted on a vaginal delivery, because she knew that babies born vaginally receive a 'microbial gift package' that can help the baby avoid asthma, diabetes, obesity, and other diseases.

Maternal love is great and selfless, like a towering mountain peak that reaches into the clouds, transcending the limits of time and space.

When a mother puts on that most precious 'wristband,' whether it's ten fingers of bone-breaking or eight layers of a cesarean, she bears no resentment or regret, only hoping for her child's safe arrival in this world, and then she feels all suffering is worthwhile! Who would still care about her figure changing, her face covered in pregnancy spots, or even some women being abandoned by their husbands for their first wives! Yet even so, they still hold fast to their love for their children, unwavering and without hesitation.

After the child is born, the mother does not shy away from hard work; she nurtures and cares for the child attentively, like a bright lamp lighting the children's path forward; like a lighthouse, she guides the children home and safeguards every stage of their growth. No matter what pain and hardship she endures, the mother silently bears it, steadfastly accompanying the child, using her strength and courage to hold up a sky for them.

His wife suffered inside, while Lu Fan outside felt as if his heart were being cut by a knife, restless and uneasy.

By eleven o'clock at night, still no news had arrived, and Li Lao could not sit still.

But Second Aunt Song Xiaotong, who had experience, told everyone that this matter needed a process.

Exhausted from worry, they held on until midnight, when the delivery room finally brought the joyful news: the baby had been born via vaginal delivery, and mother and child were safe.

When everyone arrived at the special care ward and saw Zimeng's exhausted appearance, they felt heavy-hearted.

Lu Fan sat beside the bed, gently holding Zimeng's hand, feeling immense heartache; his nose soured and tears almost spilled out.

After a moment, a nurse carefully carried the infant into the ward. She gently handed the child to Lu Fan, smiling and indicating that all necessary checks had been done, and the baby had just been bathed, everything normal.

Lu Fan eagerly took in this tiny life, his eyes full of joy and emotion. He carefully examined the baby in his arms; everything was so small, except for the large eyes, which inherited his mother's beautiful genes.

Although wrinkled and reddened, the feeling of blood connection arose spontaneously.

He lightly touched his son's tiny hand, as if a weak electric current instantly spread through his whole body, leaving his scalp numb.

Lu Fan felt the sensation of being a father for the first time, a hundred feelings surging in his heart, and instantly a sense of responsibility filled his whole body.

Unprepared, it was as if heaven had sent a surprise, and the son suddenly appeared in his life.

Watching his son-in-law reluctant to let go, Li Mingzhou stepped forward and said, 'You're holding the child incorrectly; let me!' Having said that, he snatched the grandchild into his arms, his indulgent expression evident.

After holding him for just a minute or two, Li Lao commanded, 'Mingzhou, you're clumsy; let me hold him for a while!'

Unable to defy his father's order, Li Mingzhou reluctantly handed the grandchild over to his father's arms.

Li Lao carefully held his great-grandson in his arms, so happy he could hardly keep his mouth shut, and said delightedly, 'Look at this child, how cute, how pretty, how blessed he is!'

Although it was his own son, Lu Fan seemed unable to see what was handsome about him, marveling at how unique his grandfather's eye was!

Li Zijun's family also happily gathered around to play with the child, and the whole family was filled with joy.

By a little after two o'clock, Zimeng had regained some energy, but still appeared very weak and fatigued; she said weakly, 'Husband, I want to see our son!'

Upon hearing this, he immediately carefully placed the baby beside Zimeng. Instantly he felt the maternal love overflowing from Zimeng's eyes.

When she saw her son's adorable little face, Li Zimeng's eyes instantly filled with endless maternal love, as if the whole world contained only this tiny life.

Li Lao laughed and said, 'The child is born; it's time to give him a name! I've thought about it for a long time—what do you think of the name Lu Chenxi? The morning sun, full of vigorous vitality!'

Li Mingzhou said, 'I think Lu Yihau is good—euphonious, easy to pronounce, and with a good meaning!'

Lu Fan also had considered a name for his son, saying, 'How about Lu Yuxuan? With an impressive bearing, he will surely have an extraordinary appearance, be tall and mighty, possess a sense of responsibility and ambition.'

Upon hearing these three names, Li Zimeng declared in one sentence, 'Let's call him Lu Yuxuan—this is the first gift Dad gives to his son!'

Li Lao and Li Mingzhou felt a slight regret, but without hesitation they respected Li Zimeng and Lu Fan's opinions, and the child's name was thus set—Lu Yuxuan!

By three o'clock, Li Lao was utterly exhausted and went to the guest room to rest, while Li Mingzhou remained in high spirits, playing with his grandchild, full of energy!

After staying in the hospital for three days, Li Zimeng recovered quickly under everyone's attentive care, basically able to move freely. She then left the hospital and returned to her grandfather's home to recuperate.

Lu Fan became a super dad—though he didn't know how to do anything, he eagerly took on every task. He also personally stewed mutton for Zimeng every day to nourish his wife's body.

On the seventh day of the first lunar month, Lu Fan returned to Yingjiang with reluctance and helplessness.

Li Lao told him to relax, guaranteeing to take good care of Zimeng and the child, and said that Lu Fan was now at a critical juncture in his career; he must return to his unit, stand his final post, and smoothly complete the handover between the old and new units. He also warned Lu Fan that a man must put his career first.

On the first day after the Spring Festival holiday, the Provincial Party Committee convened a standing committee meeting, studied the personnel issue, and Lu Fan's appointment was smoothly approved.

After Li Ruifang returned to Yingjiang, she immediately expressed her congratulations to Lu Fan.

The two also communicated about the personnel adjustments in Yingjiang, and Li Ruifang made some promises.

That evening, the Yingjiang Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government held a banquet at the guesthouse to see Lu Fan off, and the atmosphere was very lively.

After the banquet ended, Lu Fan and Si Daiqiang engaged in an earnest late-night discussion, exchanging ideas in depth.

The next day, Si Daiqiang personally saw Lu Fan off to his new post at the Provincial Education Department, acting as a 'family from his natal side.'

Upon arriving at the provincial capital, Si Daiqiang and Yang Shaokai went to the Education Department to lay the groundwork.

Lu Fan, meanwhile, went to the Provincial Party Committee Organization Department, where Minister Zhao Tianran gave him a pre-assignment talk.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, the Provincial Education Department and the Provincial Party Committee's Education Work Commission convened a cadre meeting.

At the meeting, Zhao Tianran announced: Comrade Lu Fan assumes the post of Party Secretary and Director of the Provincial Education Department.

Zhao Tianran pointed out that this adjustment of the leading cadres of the Provincial Education Department was made by the Provincial Party Committee from the overall perspective of strengthening cadre team building, combining the actual work of the Provincial Education Department and the construction of its leadership team, after comprehensive consideration and careful deliberation. He hoped everyone would voluntarily uphold the Provincial Party Committee's decision and further maintain unity and harmony within the leadership team of the Provincial Education Department.

Zhao Tianran said that Comrade Lu Fan has a firm political stance, a relatively high level of policy theory, clear work ideas, rich leadership experience, strong sense of career and responsibility, diligent and dedicated in his work, daring to take responsibility, being fair and upright, honest and self-disciplined, and has previously received the honors of National Outstanding Educator and National Outstanding County Party Secretary. He believes that under the strong leadership of the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government, with Lu Fan as the head of the department's Party group, the team will lead everyone to do their work better and write a new chapter in achieving early modernization of the province's education.

I will take the spirit of 'without needing the whip to spur myself forward,' the attitude of 'being cautious when facing matters and good at planning to succeed,' and truly achieve 'fair, upright, clean, diligent,' faithfully fulfilling my duties and pioneering innovation.' The newly appointed director of the Education Department, Lu Fan, made a solemn declaration, saying he would rely closely on the leadership of the department's Party committee, all department staff and workers, and the strength of the entire provincial education system, under the firm leadership of the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government, to add new achievements to the construction of a strong education province.

Regarding future work, Lu Fan said he would strive to be a good team leader uniting forces, strive to set an example of integrity and self-discipline, strive to be enterprising and unremitting, always maintain a spirit of daring, perseverance, and vigor, follow a single blueprint to the end, focus efforts on major tasks, and maintain a clean and upright educational environment and good atmosphere.

Executive Deputy Director Ma Yajun, when summarizing the meeting, said that education system cadres would firmly uphold the Provincial Committee's decisions, firmly obey the leadership of the Department Party Group with Comrade Lu Fan as team leader, firmly implement the Department Party Group's decisions and arrangements, and strive to help advance the construction of a strong education province to a new level.

All cadres of the Department Committee organ and the principal party and government responsible persons of directly subordinate units attended the meeting.