Chapter 452

On the morning of August 17, Lu Fan received a notice from the Provincial Party Committee Office that Secretary Xu Yongjiang wanted to see him, guessing that documents had been issued, so he immediately went to the Provincial Party Committee.

This time there was no waiting; as soon as Lu Fan arrived at the Provincial Party Committee Office, Secretary Sun Ao took him into the secretary's office.

Xu Yongjiang was very enthusiastic, smiling and saying: 'This Hao Guangqi secretly poached a key cadre from Qinchuan; next time I will have a good talk with him! Lu Fan, the documents have come down, you must go to Nanyuan City in Huayuan Province to take up your post! We are a brick of the party, to be moved wherever needed. Once you go to Huayuan Province, you must temper yourself, achieve new accomplishments, and display the spirit of Qinchuan cadres!'

Lu Fan expressed his stance, firmly supporting the superiors' decision, firmly complying with the organization's arrangements, and fully fulfilling his duties. He would maintain absolute loyalty, keep in mind diligent governance for the people, persist in integrity and self-discipline, and not betray the trust and expectations of the organization and the masses.

Xu Yongjiang continued: 'The Provincial Party Committee has decided that the Department of Education will be temporarily overseen by Deputy Secretary Wang Hanzhi; you just need to hand over your work normally.'

After exchanging some pleasantries, Lu Fan rose to say goodbye and went to the Provincial Government.

Governor Niu Qianhua congratulated Lu Fan on his new post, offering some encouraging words, after all, everyone likes to lift a fancy sedan.

Upon arriving at the office of Vice Governor Han Guishan, Lu Fan laughed and said: 'Governor, I have no choice but to leave!'

Han Guishan said: 'You little rascal, you're moving faster than I am! Going to Huayuan Province is good, Nanyuan City is also not bad, Lu Fan—everything is ready, the east wind has also come; I sincerely hope you will achieve something there!'

Lu Fan sincerely replied: 'Uncle Han, thank you for your continued support of my work; I will keep striving. No matter what post I hold, I will give it my all with full work enthusiasm and a strong sense of responsibility, striving to achieve work results that satisfy the organization and the masses.'

Han Guishan nodded and said: 'You have a positive work ethic and a spirit of striving for excellence, and you can do things conscientiously and solidly; with favorable timing, location, and harmony among people, your journey to Nanyuan will surely lead to a great future, and the future is promising.'

On August 20, Lu Fan finished handing over his work at the Department of Education, without disturbing anyone, and set out alone for Huayuan Province.

Along the way, Lu Fan carefully studied Nanyuan City, which got its name from being south of Mount Funiu and north of the Han River. The city currently administers two municipal districts, four development zones, and eleven counties (cities), with a total area of 27,000 square kilometers and a population of 9.5 million.

Nanyuan is a national historical and cultural city, the cradle of civilization, with a long history, brilliant culture, beautiful scenery, pleasant landscapes, abundant resources, gathered treasures, convenient transportation, and smooth communications.

Nanyuan is the birthplace of Chu-Han culture, having nurtured historical figures such as the Sage of Science Zhang Heng, the Sage of Medicine Zhang Zhongjing, the Sage of Commerce Fan Li, the Sage of Wisdom Zhuge Liang, the Sage of Strategy Jiang Ziya, and the renowned minister Bai Li Xi, among others. During the Three Kingdoms period, Nanyuan was where Zhuge Liang tilled the fields and where Liu Bei's 'three visits to the thatched cottage' originated. The South-to-North Water Diversion project originates in Nanyuan, making it a core water source area.

Nanyuan is the secondary central city of Huayuan Province, serving as the political, economic, cultural, scientific and educational, transportation, financial, and commercial hub of the southwest. It has successively earned honors such as National Excellent Tourist City, Home of Roses, First Batch of National New Energy Demonstration Cities, National Top Ten Most Innovative Cities, and National Happiest City, among others. In 2015 it was selected among the top 20 in the ranking of investment attractiveness for emerging cities; in 2017 it was named a National Hygienic City; and in 2018 it received the honor of National Forest City.

Nanyuan City is rich in mineral resources, one of the regions with the densest mineral products in the country. It has discovered 85 mineral types, with proven reserves for 45 types, and has developed and utilized 45 types. Among them, there are 3 energy minerals, 8 metallic minerals, 37 non-metallic minerals, and 2 water-gas minerals. Three new large- to medium-sized mineral deposits have been discovered. Nanyuan's unique jade is one of the nation's four famous jades, known as 'Oriental Jade', with proven reserves of 20,000 tons and prospective reserves of 200,000 tons, making it a unique natural jade variety.

Notable local products include jade carvings, burnt paintings, horn carvings, carpets, silk, Huangstone inkstones, cornelian cherries, Chinese kiwi, magnolia buds, fragrant small chili peppers, yellow cattle, white lotus, and mugwort, etc.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, Lu Fan arrived at Xingjun City, the provincial capital of Huayuan Province, a city rich in cultural and historical heritage, historically referred to as 'the center of heaven and earth', with fertile plains stretching a thousand li, the Yellow River like a belt flowing east around the city, nourishing this warm land. Mount Song stands tall and majestic, towering between heaven and earth. Skyscrapers rise in orderly rows, vehicles and horses bustle, crowds surge. Ancient and modern blend, the city's new appearance displays the spirit of the times.

After reporting to the Provincial Party Committee Organization Department, Minister Zhang Xiaoye personally met Lu Fan in his office, enthusiastically saying: 'Lu Fan, welcome to work in Huayuan Province! Back when I worked in the Provincial Party Committee General Office, I often listened to the teachings of Li Lao. If you encounter any difficulties or problems in your work, you can communicate with me at any time.'

The situation in Nanyuan City is special: the former mayor Wang Shuai is under investigation; the municipal party secretary Wang Haiyang will retire in a year; their enterprising and career-minded spirits have clearly declined, causing Nanyuan's GDP growth to rank at the bottom of the province for two consecutive years. In last year's provincial target responsibility assessment, Nanyuan even fell to ninth place. Nowadays, everyone is slacking off, the 'lying flat' trend is rampant, and it's time to tighten management!

Lu Fan earnestly replied: 'Please rest assured, Minister; I will vigorously promote the wind of integrity and cleanliness, lead by example, be ready to shoulder the burden, dare to tackle tough challenges, firmly grasp the building of work style, place the people's interests foremost, and vigorously foster a clean and upright environment for undertaking and entrepreneurship. I will truly accomplish practical deeds that follow the people's will, relieve their worries, and benefit their livelihood, achieving, safeguarding, and developing the fundamental interests of the people.'

Zhang Xiaoye said with a smile: 'National outstanding county party secretary, your ability is beyond doubt; I hope you quickly familiarize yourself with the situation, swiftly assume your role, efficiently engage in work, clarify your work ideas, and push all work in Nanyuan City to a new level! Lu Fan, later you will go to the Provincial Party Committee; Secretary Guangqi specifically instructed that I will take you to Nanyuan for your appointment tomorrow morning.'

"Thank you for the minister's concern and support; I will certainly not disappoint you and the organization!"

Upon arriving at the Provincial Party Committee, Lu Fan found Secretary Li Qianyu's office to state his identity and purpose.

Upon hearing Lu Fan's name, Li Qianyu immediately smiled and said: 'Mayor Lu, welcome to Huayuan Province; the secretary has specifically instructed this. Secretary Linghao is currently reporting work; after he returns, I will take you in.'

Lu Fan laughed and replied: 'Then I'll trouble you, Section Chief Li; I'll need your continued support in the future!'

Li Qianyu enthusiastically said: 'Mayor Lu, you're too polite; wherever I can help, I will certainly take responsibility without hesitation!'

Ten minutes later, Deputy Provincial Party Committee Secretary Liu Linghao came out of the secretary's office, casually glanced at Li Qianyu's office, unexpectedly caught sight of Lu Fan, smiled and walked in, saying: 'Have you come to report? Come sit in my office later.'

Lu Fan hastily rose and said: 'Okay, Secretary Liu, I will go report to you later.'

This scene caused Li Qianyu and others in the office to show unusual expressions, for Secretary Liu Linghao is known as the 'Cold-faced Secretary', usually treating everyone without showing any facial expression.

As Li Qianyu escorted him to Secretary Guangqi's office, Lu Fan respectfully said: 'Secretary, I have come to report.'

Guangqi raised his head, smiling and said: 'Have you finished handing over the work in Qinchuan? Have you been to the Organization Department?'

Lu Fan replied: 'Secretary, the work in Qinchuan has been fully transferred. I just came from the Organization Department; Director Zhang gave me some work-related instructions, arranging for me to go to Nanyuan tomorrow morning.'

Guangqi nodded and said: 'Lu Fan, the situation in Nanyuan City is rather complex; after Mayor Wang Shuai's downfall, the municipal government is in a state of unrest. It has been ascertained that the standing deputy mayor and the deputy mayor in charge of education, colluding with Wang Shuai, are implicated in serious corruption. When you take office tomorrow, the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission will also go there; you should cooperate with the commission in taking custodial measures against those two individuals, and you should promptly select candidates for those positions. You must focus on the overall economic and social development, genuinely strengthen the municipal government's combat effectiveness and cohesion, and fully promote Nanyuan's economic and social development to be better and faster.'

'Killing a chicken to scare the monkeys, striking the mountain to startle the tiger, recommending cadres'—Secretary Hao's support is considerable; Lu Fan gratefully said: 'Thank you for your strong support, Secretary; I will certainly unite and lead the municipal government team, pool our efforts and redouble our vigor, and with effective work quality fully accomplish all the target tasks assigned by the Provincial Party Committee.'

Guangqi continued: 'The municipal party secretary of Nanyuan, Wang Haiyang, is an old comrade who has been diligent and conscientious all his life, but recently there have been some negative remarks about him. Many public servants, after decades of diligence and law-abiding conduct, thought they could securely hold the 'final post', yet they exhibit the '59‑year‑old phenomenon', fail to maintain their integrity in later years, and heavily collapse at that final post, which is truly lamentable.'

"Where there is a car, there are ruts; the footprints of one's life, whether deep or shallow, right or wrong, cannot be erased. Lu Fan, after you assume office, get to understand the situation and remember that strict Party governance is 'always on the road'; no one may harbor the delusion of 'resting easy' or the fantasy of 'living carefree forever'. Even in retirement, disciplinary and illegal acts will definitely not be automatically cleared!"

Lu Fan replied earnestly, "Secretary, I will focus on it, and once problems are discovered I will report to you and the Provincial Party Committee at any time."

Hao Guangqi said earnestly, "Nanyuan City enjoys uniquely advantageous natural conditions, an excellent geographic location, and a certain industrial foundation, but its development has been full of setbacks and unsatisfactory; subjective reasons such as rigid thinking and backward concepts dominate, and the leadership team bears inescapable responsibility. I hope Nanyuan, under your leadership, with the courage of bold innovation, the vigor of daring to be first, and the vitality of upward momentum, can, within the broad development framework, make full use of policies, advance at a jogging pace against the wind, weather the storm, and forge ahead, showcasing Nanyuan's new demeanor to the world. The Provincial Party Committee places great expectations on you!"