Chapter 443

After the meeting ended, Lu Fan officially took office!

He tried hard to retain Organization Department Head Zhao Tianran, but the department head politely declined.

After work in the afternoon, Lu Fan had Ma Yajun notify the bureau leadership team to entertain Si Daiqiang and others.

Ma Yajun asked for instructions: "Bureau Chief, should we notify all members of the leadership team, or only the deputy secretary and deputy bureau chief?"

Lu Fan then realized that the bureau chief of the Education Bureau is one principal and three deputies; besides that, there are the Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee's Education Work Committee, members of that committee, the Director of the Provincial Discipline Inspection and Supervision Commission's stationed inspection group at the Education Bureau, the Provincial Government's Education Superintendent, and two second-rank inspectors, making the leadership team ten people in total.

After thinking it over, Lu Fan felt there was no need to favor some over others in this regard, so he had Ma Yajun notify the entire leadership team to attend the banquet.

Si Daiqiang is a rising official in Qinchuan's political circles and also the bureau chief's "natal family"; the Education Bureau leadership team naturally knows what to do, so a "big battle" is inevitable.

But when drinking, Lu Fan discovered that the provincial officials' drinking capacity could not even be compared to that of Yingjiang people; by the time the bureau leaders were all slumped over, Si Daiqiang and company were just starting to feel the alcohol.

Left with no choice, Lu Fan and Duan Yongjiao began "fighting within the same room," determined to take down Si Daiqiang and company, otherwise the Education Bureau's face would have nowhere to go.

This time Si Daiqiang only brought Vice Mayor Yang Shaokai and Bian Jide, lacking strength and resources; the final result was that both sides suffered losses, and everyone was helped back to their hotel rooms.

The next day, after breakfast, Si Daiqiang bade farewell to Lu Fan; he too bore a heavy responsibility.

Upon arriving at the bureau chief's office, Lu Fan felt a sense of pride and satisfaction; after all, he was only in his early thirties, yet he controlled the education work of an entire province—it would be abnormal not to feel elated.

Duan Yongjiao had already stepped into his role and started working, but the paperwork hadn't been completed, giving him a feeling of being improperly appointed; who would care? Everyone in the Education Bureau knows he is the office director brought by the bureau chief from Yingjiang.

At ten in the morning, Deputy Provincial Governor Han Guishan went to the Provincial Education Bureau for research and guidance, and held a discussion with the bureau leadership team members.

After hearing the bureau leadership team's work report, Han Guishan affirmed the Education Bureau's various work. He pointed out that under the strong leadership of the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government, and with joint efforts across the education system, the province's education reform and development have shown significant results and frequent highlights, and the education cause has made substantial progress.

Han Guishan stated that Comrade Lu Fan is an outstanding leadership cadre carefully selected by the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government; all cadres of the Education Bureau must, under the leadership of the new leadership team, talk politics, talk rules, talk discipline, talk responsibility, in work see clearly, have clear direction and clear thinking, deepen education reform, accelerate the modernization of the education governance system and capacity, strive to foster a good ecological environment for education development, and push our province's education cause to new heights.

Han Guishan made it clear he had come like a "chariot, horse, cannon" to give Lu Fan backing, causing the bureau leadership team members to let their imaginations run wild.

After the meeting, Deputy Provincial Governor Han Guishan went directly to the office with Lu Fan, the two showing extreme closeness.

After entering, Han Guishan sat down on the sofa with a bold and heroic air, smiling and saying: "Lu Fan, yesterday I accompanied Former Governor Qian Hua to Yinzhou, but I couldn't come to see you off on your appointment; today I made a special trip just to give you some support!"

Lu Fan brought over a cup of tea and said sincerely: "With the governor's support, I am absolutely confident I can get the job done well!"

Han Guishan said: "You handle the bureau's work yourself; I mainly provide logistical support. By the way, Former Governor Qian Hua isn't going out this afternoon—you should go 'pay your respects' to him, and also visit Secretary Yongjiang; these are basic protocols and courtesies, don't overlook them."

Lu Fan replied: "Thank you for the reminder, Governor; I'll go to the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government this afternoon to 'station myself.' Governor, I have a matter to consult you on: I want to make a minor adjustment to Qinchuan's teaching materials—some things look eyesore, feel bizarre, truly disgusting and infuriating! I can't control other places, but within my authority I will certainly correct them."

Han Guishan thought for a moment and said: "I recall Secretary Hong Tao mentioning this in a speech; if you want to do it, go ahead, just follow the proper procedures and file with the superior department and the provincial government."

Okay, Governor, there's another matter I need to consult you on: the ministry has clearly defined teachers' educational disciplinary authority, and various sectors also support 'returning the ruler to teachers.' But according to what I know, teachers' attitude is: 'You dare give it, I dare not take it!' This involves, under the premise of law and compliance, refining the relevant regulations to clarify the boundaries and limits of disciplinary authority, both granting teachers disciplinary power and preventing them from over-punishing.

The current situation is that when students make mistakes, teachers dare not manage, do not want to manage, are unwilling to manage, and even let things slide."

Han Guishan nodded and said: "Exactly, nowadays students are the apples of their parents' eyes; if teachers lightly criticize education a few sentences, some parents can't accept it, readily complain about teachers, let alone beat or scold students—teachers lack legal safeguards for disciplining students."

Lu Fan replied: "In concrete practice, it's hard to define what counts as education and what counts as corporal punishment by teachers. As soon as parents show up at the door, teachers must be dealt with. This makes teachers timid and at a loss when educating students, eventually resorting to a 'let-it-be' approach for some children. What I think is that the government and the Education Bureau should back teachers, formulate relevant regulations, clarify the limits of the 'ruler,' after all, education without discipline suffers from serious shortcomings."

Han Guishan laughed and said: "You always want to do these thankless, troublesome things, aren't you bothered by the hassle?"

Lu Fan sighed and said: "To hold office for one term is to benefit one region; as bureau chief, one must accomplish a few things. With so many problems, I can only do what little I can—fix one thing at a time!"

"Lu Fan, Deputy Bureau Chief Zheng Shengyao and Personnel Division Head Mo Jieping are cadres I recommended for promotion; you can entrust them with any matter confidently."

Lu Fangu excitedly said: "The governor is truly a timely rain! I'm currently worried about having no one to use."

The two chatted until noon off work, then ate together in the Education Bureau's cafeteria.

At two in the afternoon, Lu Fan went early to line up at the Provincial Government to report work to Governor Qian Hua.

Many leaders were in line; everyone was curious and scrutinizing this youngest bureau chief in the province, but what showed was friendliness—after all, he is the Education Bureau chief; who doesn't have a kid? Nobody can be separated from education.

At three o'clock, it was Lu Fan's turn to enter the governor's office.

"Governor, I'm here to report work."

Governor Qian Hua lifted his head, smiling, and said: "Lu Fan, let me see what 'three heads and six arms' you have—several leaders have been asking for you!"

Lu Fan humbly said: "Governor, you overpraise me; I am merely a soldier under your leadership, resolutely implementing all decisions and deployments of the Provincial Government, and conscientiously completing the work tasks you assign."

Governor Qian Hua laughed and said: "Now that you're bureau chief, what are your plans for this year's education work?"

Lu Fan opened his notebook and replied: "Governor, besides routine work, I plan to carry out work in the following areas: first, implement new curricula and new textbooks; second, set clear limits for teachers disciplining students; third, continue advancing the 'double reduction,' conduct routine inspections, and carry out special governance of covert variation training; fourth, fully implement free, nearby enrollment for compulsory education and 'citizen joint recruitment'; fifth, support relevant universities in striving for world-class university construction; sixth, promote teacher-principal exchange and rotation, correct the phenomenon of 'having positions but not filling them' and the large-scale hiring of substitute teachers leading to 'new private school teachers'; seventh, steadily advance the standardized development of private compulsory education; eighth, improve quality and foster excellence in vocational education; ninth, promote school conditions, teacher rotation and training in rural compulsory education; tenth, improve after-school extended services, enhance after-school service quality, and reduce parents' burden. That's all I can think of for now."

Governor Qian Hua mused: "It's clear you've given deep thought and unique insight to education work—no wonder you're a professional talent who has won national advanced worker awards in education. But I'm thinking, for you to do these things I'll have to come up with how much funding! Lu Fan, the government must tighten its belt; we need to do big things with small money."

Lu Fan smiled and said: "Without the governor's support, carrying out work would be like trying to catch the moon in water—impossible to make any progress!"

Governor Qian Hua said: "Goals can be set, but we must achieve them one by one, studying each concrete problem specifically! Lu Fan, last year I went to Jingcheng for a meeting and had deep exchanges with Governor Mingzhou; rest assured, I will support whatever needs supporting in your work."

After chatting for about ten minutes, Lu Fan rose to say goodbye; building relations with the leadership cannot happen overnight, it requires measure and proportion, and must proceed step by step.

At three-thirty, Lu Fan arrived at the Provincial Party Committee, registered with Section Chief Sun Ao, began a long wait, and engaged in idle chatter with familiar and unfamiliar leaders.

At four-thirty, it was finally Lu Fan's turn!

After entering, Lu Fan's smile was almost stiffening, and he said: "Secretary, I'm here to report work."

Xu Yongjiang put down his pen, lifted his head, showed a faint smile, and said: "Position equals responsibility; taking up a new post is like 'rushing to the exam.' In a new position one must strive aggressively, advance with determination, uphold political direction, face arduous and hazardous tasks with courage to step forward, constantly keep the courage to surpass oneself, strive for top performance. At the same time, one must uphold integrity and self-discipline, consciously resist all improper practices, build a solid spiritual dam against corruption and degeneration, always maintain a clear mind and pure thoughts, truly achieve using power for the people's benefit and seeking benefits for the people."

Lu Fan replied: "Please rest assured, Secretary; I will actively fulfill my duties in the new post and new starting point, proceed steadily and far along the 'rushing to the exam' path, interpret political loyalty through the responsibility of commitment, unite and lead good comrades, uphold the integrity and self-discipline baseline, accurately grasp the people's thoughts and expectations, be clean in conduct and diligent in deed, contribute strength to Qinchuan's education cause, and not betray your and the Provincial Party Committee's heavy trust."