Chapter 445: Resounding Response

Education most easily resonates with people; as soon as Lu Fan finished speaking, a chorus of voices began to criticize the textbook's problems, and the discussion was lively.

Lu Fan laughed, "I didn't expect you to still be angry youths!"

Wu Xiaohua said, "Which family doesn't have a child? Of course everyone cares about textbook issues. Lu Fan, you as Education Department head have truly chosen the right person; right after taking office you tackled this problem, acting decisively and swiftly, which is admirable! On behalf of the many parents of Qinchuan Province, I express our gratitude to you."

Lu Fan humbly said, "One who holds office should benefit the region; since I've become this department head, I must do something. Education is a century‑long plan, the foundation of the nation, and cannot tolerate carelessness. I can only address the problems of Qinchuan Province!"

After the banquet began, Wu Xiaohua, on behalf of everyone, celebrated Lu Fan's promotion, gave him a warm welcome back to the province, and hoped that everyone would continue to visit each other frequently.

All those present today have deep friendships with Lu Fan; they raised glasses, chatted merrily, and the atmosphere was very harmonious.

As the conversation went on, Lu Fan inadvertently mentioned the second task scheduled for today: disciplinary measures for students.

The moment the topic was raised, it sparked heated discussion, because every family has a "problem child"!

Zhang Rongqiu, director of the Emergency Management Department, sighed, "In the past two years we have had many missions because children have taken their own lives! After a minor dispute with their parents, they jump off buildings or into rivers; the fortunate ones are injured or crippled, the unfortunate end up in another world, leaving their parents and relatives in unbearable grief. Sigh, a problem child must have a pair of problem parents; nowadays children cannot be beaten or scolded, and are pampered into being 'ancestors' themselves!"

Zhang Shibin empathized, saying, "Many people, when a child makes a mistake, like to say, 'He's still young.' They have no idea how harmful that phrase is! The sentence 'He's still young' becomes an excuse for the child to shirk responsibility! Parents have long forgotten that habits are formed from childhood."

Yang Chuanbei said, "In our generation we lacked food and clothing, but we never stole or took things without permission. Even if the fields were full of food that could fill our bellies, no one would go harvesting them. If a child disobeyed and stole or dug, once the parents found out, they would receive a good beating without hesitation."

Wu Xiaohua replied, "Indeed, conditions are good now and children are fewer, so parents are reluctant to hit even when a child truly errs; some parents even skip lecturing, letting the child become increasingly brazen. Yet children will eventually grow up; once they are out of your sight and without your protection, they find it hard to go forward alone. Such children will encounter far more setbacks on the road to adulthood than others; not every misfortune can be avoided, and those that aren't will leave lifelong regret!"

Lu Fan said, "Education Discipline is a small entry point in the field of education, yet it ties into the grand strategy of talent cultivation. A child is a family's hope; with good behavioral habits, knowledge of right and wrong, and discernment, they can grow robustly. Once the Education Department's "Disciplinary Rules" are issued, you should help guard them and resolve the problems that trouble teachers who dare not, are unwilling to, or cannot manage students."

After the gathering dispersed, Du Wenlong escorted Lu Fan to his hotel room and asked, "Brother Fan, are you planning to buy a house?"

Lu Fan thought for a moment and replied, "I won't buy one; I'll make do for a year or so, and besides the Education Department will arrange accommodation."

Du Wenlong exclaimed, "Brother Fan, are you leaving again?"

Lu Fan nodded and said, "I expect that once this year's work is done, I'll leave; you're the only one who knows this."

He said, "Ah, after finally getting together, I thought you'd serve a few years as department head, but unexpectedly you have to leave again! Brother Fan, wherever you go, can you take me along?"

"You're already a division‑level cadre, it's hard to bring me along; we'll talk about it later! Chou Chou, help me investigate the Education Department's corruption issues."

Du Wenlong agreed without hesitation, saying he would handle it tomorrow, and added, "Brother Fan, you have a deputy department head named Wu Daobo, whose reputation for lechery is widespread! I hear he has 'special relationships' with many female teachers, and we have a tip‑off letter about him. However, such matters are hard to investigate; the leadership hasn't given instructions, so for now no one is handling it. In my experience, lechery inevitably comes with greed, otherwise the expenses can't be sustained. Moreover, the director in charge of titles has also received many tip‑offs, though none have solid evidence. In any case, the Education Department has plenty of corruption, given its industry advantages and many money‑making channels."

Lu Fan frowned and said, "Corruption is like an unwelcome wind, eroding this clean land—infuriating, tragic, lamentable! The reason the corrupt wind spreads is that some people place their private interests above the future of teachers and students, brazenly violating this sacred cause! We need a severe anti‑corruption storm to make some people bear the thunderous wrath, cleanse the dust from education, and suppress the madness of corruption!"

Du Wenlong sighed, "I'm not surprised; I'm almost numb! Let's drop these distressing topics. Brother Fan, I'm planning to get engaged!"

Hearing the happy news, Lu Fan smiled and said delightedly, "Your mother hasn't stopped giving me orders; this iron tree of yours finally blossoms! Be sure to let me know when the engagement happens; you haven't switched partners, have you?"

Du Wenlong laughed, "No, she's still Old Yin's daughter."

"You still call him Old Yin; you should call him father‑in‑law!"

The two talked until two or three in the morning before each went to sleep.

The next morning, Lu Fan went to Chang'an Middle School and found that Ma Yajun and Huang Weihuan had already organized everyone to start work.

Seeing the department head arrive, the two hurried forward to greet him. Ma Yajun reported, "Director, with the addition of these grassroots frontline teachers and experts, I am full of confidence in this task. After learning the purpose of the selection, their enthusiasm is very high, and everyone knows the existing problems inside out. We estimate that we can identify all issues by this morning and begin the revision work this afternoon."

Huang Weihuan added, "In fact, everyone regularly discusses the existing problems and has many mature solutions; the work proceeds with half the effort for double the result. We are confident we can finish the task within the deadline set by the director!"

Lu Fan instructed, "We must walk on two legs: on one side handle the revision work, on the other plan the textbook printing. The volume is huge, time is tight, and the task is heavy; we need to rush to distribute the books to schools before the new term, so we must find several more printing presses and work overtime. Ma Yajun, Huang Weihuan, thank you for your hard work!"

After giving some guidance, Lu Fan returned to the Education Department, without interfering with their work.

That afternoon, the Education Department's action attracted the attention of Qinchuan people, since five or six hundred personnel were mobilized, and the matter could not be kept secret.

As a result, the Education Department received public praise from cadres and the masses for the first time, being lauded for finally handling "personnel" matters! Moreover, Qinchuan residents directly participated, launching a nationwide "problem‑finding" campaign and feeding feedback to the Education Department.

Lu Fan arrived at the office and asked his secretary to invite Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee member, the head of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee's supervision team stationed at the Provincial Education Department, and Huang Yan, a member of the Provincial Party Committee's Education Work Committee, to the office.

Soon after, Huang Yan entered with a notebook, smiling, and said, "Director, I came this morning to report, but you hadn't arrived yet."

Lu Fan laughed, "Group Leader Huang, I need to explain: I wasn't late; at eight I was at Chang'an Middle School."

Huang Yan hurriedly said, "Director, you misunderstand; I wouldn't dare say that. Your work style is evident to all and praised by everyone; you are a model for us to learn from!"

Lu Fan said seriously, "Group Leader Huang, I called you here to discuss the department's corruption issues!"

Huang Yan asked with a hint of meaning, "Director, are you aware of the situation? Do you want to hear the truth or the official line?"

Interesting! Lu Fan said lightly, "Group Leader Huang, education is the nation's hope and also a sanctuary for youth growth. As the saying goes, 'If the top beam is crooked, the lower beams will be warped.' The Education Department, as the provincial administrative authority over education, must strengthen its own construction, maintain integrity, establish a pure educational belief, truly safeguard educational fairness, keep all greedy individuals out, and let education shine with genuine brilliance. My stance is: any corruption will be punished, any case will be investigated, any responsibility will be pursued, any greed will be purged, and we have Zero Tolerance for corrupt acts."

Having reviewed Lu Fan's political résumé, Huang Yan knew the director was a tough anti‑corruption figure, so she spoke candidly, saying, "As long as the director is determined, I have confidence to do the job well! I've been at the Education Department for five years and detest the behavior of some comrades, but for various reasons I could only turn a blind eye. Some comrades in the department abuse the power at their disposal, approving excessive enrollment plans, upgrading junior colleges to universities, or approving school name changes, and they provide 'favor' in provincial demonstration high school evaluations, regulation of school operations, project approvals, and so on. Schools operate in groups, bustling by day and reveling by night, while behind the scenes power and money are exchanged."

Lu Fan asked, "You're talking about Wu Daobo, right?"

Huang Yan replied calmly, "He oversees enrollment plans, essentially controlling the schools' lifeline; the flexibility of approvals has become a rent‑seeking backdoor. The Development Planning Department and the Finance Department are responsible for drafting enrollment plans for all provincial colleges and secondary vocational schools, as well as handling applications and reviews for school establishment, cancellation, and renaming. Each additional student brings additional revenue; every school's annual enrollment plan must be submitted to the department for approval, and the province's overall enrollment plan is a single pool—if more is allocated to him, less is left for you. Consequently, many schools come to the department to cultivate relationships, requiring long‑term 'tinkering'! Thus, the increase in a school's enrollment plan is strongly proportional to the size of the gifts given."

Lu Fan asked, "Group Leader Huang, do you have solid evidence for these issues you mentioned?"

Huang Yan replied, "I have some leads, but they still need to be investigated and verified."

Lu Fan thought for a moment and said, "The establishment, major offerings, and enrollment plans of all provincial colleges and secondary vocational schools, as well as the title evaluations of some school staff and teacher transfers, must all be approved by the department; the education funds from higher‑level education and finance departments are also concentrated in a few divisions."

"Corruption occurs not only because of school public relations and personal greed, but also due to deeper reasons: the allocation of management power is overly centralized, and the exercise of administrative authority lacks openness and transparency."

"Group Leader Huang, investigate! No matter who is involved, see the inquiry through to the end, and never show leniency!"