Chapter 457: Caught Off Guard

On August 25th, the Provincial Party Committee held a Standing Committee meeting, which involved personnel issues.

Soon, news of the Standing Committee meeting spread. Nanyuan Municipal Party Secretary Wang Haiyang sat in his office, feeling dejected and quite depressed.

He never expected that just two days ago, he had recommended cadres to the Provincial Party Committee, but the results were vastly different from what he had plotted; not a single one of his goals had been achieved.

Having drifted through the sea of officialdom for decades, Wang Haiyang immediately realized the severity of the problem: he was no longer trusted by the Provincial Party Committee! Was it because he was about to retire? Or was it for other reasons?

Zhao Haorui, Feng Guanqiao, and Li Yuan, who had also received the news, came to Lu Fan's office at the first opportunity to express their gratitude.

There are no secrets in officialdom; Lu Fan had only been in office for a week, yet he had already let the cadres of Nanyuan see his power.

There are only two main leaders; it is either the east wind prevailing over the west wind, or the west wind prevailing over the east wind. Now, anyone with a discerning eye could see that one was like the setting sun, while the other was like the midday sun. Many leading cadres began to waver; one must choose a side early!

Consequently, there was an endless stream of people coming to the Municipal Government to report on their work. Lu Fan listened to reports for a full week, finally gaining a rough understanding of the city's work.

On Friday afternoon, the Municipal Political and Legal Committee Secretary Yang Jiajian came to "drop by," asking with a smile: "Mayor, the plane has already flown away; you won't be going home this weekend, right?"

Lu Fan sighed and said: "The Director of the Health Commission is coming down for research, and I have to accompany them; the flight was delayed. Forget it, I'll catch up on work this week and prepare to go down for research next week."

Yang Jiajian said: "Balance work and rest. Secretary Ling Hao is hosting a banquet to welcome the Mayor, and he gave me a death order: no matter what, I must invite the Mayor to the province!"

Lu Fan replied with a smile: "Secretary Ling Hao is too polite. I already sat through one last time; today, I must be the one to host!"

"Mayor, there is a situation I must report. Secretary Haiyang talked to me yesterday about personnel adjustments in the political and legal system. It involves the adjustment of several county-level Political and Legal Committee Secretaries, and he also wants to 'squeeze' a Deputy Secretary into the Municipal Political and Legal Committee. I am truly at a loss!"

Lu Fan thought for a moment and said: "Specialization is key. Personnel adjustments in the political and legal system should be based primarily on the opinions of the Political and Legal Committee. However, Secretary Haiyang might be considering the city as a whole. If you have different opinions, you can report and communicate more with the Secretary."

Yang Jiajian said straightforwardly: "Mayor, this year's National Political and Legal Work Conference emphasized that political and legal organs must enhance their sense of anxiety and responsibility, fulfill their duties of maintaining overall social stability, promoting social fairness and justice, and ensuring the people live and work in peace and contentment. This provides us with fundamental guidance and points out the direction forward for our political and legal work."

"Under the leadership of the Municipal Government, the Municipal Political and Legal Committee will fully exert its subjective initiative, adopt various means and measures, and provide a safeguard for Nanyuan's economic development!"

Lu Fan knew that he had served Secretary Liu Linghao and could be considered "one of our own," so he smiled and said: "Government work cannot be separated from the support of the rule of law. It requires the Political and Legal Committee to contribute to optimizing the business environment and maintaining social fairness and justice, providing a powerful legal guarantee for Nanyuan to sound the assembly call for economic development and fight the main battle for a strong rise."

After reaching a consensus, the two looked at each other and smiled; some things did not need to be said too clearly.

After work, Lu Fan took Executive Vice Mayor Wang Hong, Vice Mayor Zhao Haorui, and Secretary Cheng Haohao to the province to keep the appointment.

The evening banquet was arranged at the Huayuan First Reception House. Deputy Secretary Liu Linghao, Political and Legal Committee Secretary Wang Jinwu, and Vice Provincial Governor Huang Chongzhou arrived early.

At seven in the evening, Lu Fan and his party finally arrived at the reception house.

After entering, seeing the leaders chatting, Lu Fan hurriedly said: "I rushed and rushed but still arrived late. I truly feel ashamed in my heart. I beg the leaders to be magnanimous; later, we will definitely punish ourselves with three cups!"

Liu Linghao said with a smile: "It's a journey of over two hundred kilometers, and it hasn't even been two hours since you got off work; it doesn't count as late. Lu Fan, we ordered a few dishes; see what else you want to eat and order it yourself!"

Lu Fan replied with a smile: "What to eat or drink is not important; what's important is who you eat with! It is truly our honor that the leaders spared their precious time!"

After Nanyuan Municipal Political and Legal Committee Secretary Yang Jiajian arrived, the drinking session officially began.

Without rules, there is no square. The dining etiquette of Huayuan Province is long-standing, and the rules of the drinking table are very different from those in Qinchuan. In the "whole universe," they should be among the best. Lu Fan, who had just arrived, was easily confused and couldn't find north, south, east, or west.

One must wait for four or six dishes before starting to drink; if there are only three dishes, it is called a "decapitation drink," which is a major taboo.

Fill the wine glasses, propose three cups first to show respect; once the three cups are bottomed out, the drinking session officially begins.

After three rounds of drinks, the toasting began. Besides the well-deserved "fish head drink," the toasting rules are the soul of the Huayuan drinking table. The traditional rule is to drink one and toast two, also called proposing one cup and drinking two.

Everyone rejoices together, avoid private whispers; aim at the guests and hosts, grasp the overall situation; toast in order, distinguish between primary and secondary; use appropriate language, be witty and humorous; observe words and expressions, understand people's hearts; the three representations: wine quality represents character, wine capacity represents tolerance, and wine style represents work style!

In the province, at the level of Standing Committee member, everyone counts as a "small mountain stronghold." While they certainly respect Secretary Hao Guangqi, everyone has their own thoughts. Moreover, everyone reached their current position because of Li Lao, not because of you, Hao Guangqi, and wanting to advance further is not something the Provincial Party Committee can control. Therefore, supporting Hao Guangqi's work is an incumbent duty; this is a matter of political stance, but expecting everyone to obey orders is impossible.

Lu Fan's arrival gave these three Standing Committee members a "sense of belonging" and hope, so fully assisting him was a matter of course.

As for Wang Hong and Cheng Haohao brought by Lu Fan, everyone accepted them happily, and the atmosphere of the drinking table was very harmonious.

Eight people finished five bottles of 53-degree white spirit. Secretary Liu Linghao proposed a closing drink; there is no banquet in the world that does not end.

After the banquet, the three leaders went to the room opened for Lu Fan and chatted for more than half an hour, encouraging Lu Fan to act boldly and forge ahead in his work, make achievements as soon as possible, and prepare to take over from Wang Haiyang.

Liu Linghao also said: "Wang Haiyang ran around everywhere for a few provincial-managed cadres and came to me three times. Who can't see it's driven by interests? If this continues, I'm afraid he won't be able to 'land safely.' It's truly the crazier the closer to the end; human hearts are never satisfied!"

Wang Jinwu said: "Some things are not easy to say. I already reminded him obliquely last time; I don't believe he couldn't feel it! If others want to go their own way, what can we do? Money, how much is enough?"

Huang Chongzhou sighed and said: "Feeling that retirement is near and having such an opportunity, under great temptation, one often harbors a fluke mentality, thinking that since retirement is near, they won't investigate, wanting to 'rake in' a big one at the end. The '59-year-old' phenomenon kills people!"

Liu Linghao said: "Heaven-made sins can be avoided; self-made sins cannot be lived through. We have already done our best! Lu Fan, pay more attention in your daily life and be cautious in your actions, especially regarding cadre adjustments. You must assess the situation and don't be implicated by him."

Lu Fan nodded and said: "The Secretary manages people, and the Mayor manages things. I will focus on Nanyuan's development and try not to interfere in personnel matters."

Finally, Standing Committee member and Vice Provincial Governor Huang Chongzhou said to Lu Fan: "I am in charge of transportation. You plan it out; I will try my best to tilt support toward Nanyuan where it is due."

Lu Fan said gratefully: "Thank you for your strong support, Provincial Governor. I have already planned it out: implement ten major transportation projects, strive to build a national comprehensive transportation hub, further promote the transformation of Nanyuan's transportation location advantages into hub economic advantages, and provide powerful support for building a strong sub-center and heading toward new glory!"

As soon as the words fell, Lu Fan took a document out of his briefcase and handed it to Huang Chongzhou.

Liu Linghao teased with a smile: "Lu Fan came prepared. Chongzhou, now you have to support it even if you don't want to; the big words have already been spoken!"

Huang Chongzhou took the document, glanced at it, and said: "I will do my best and go all out. I will study it again and submit it to the Provincial Government Standing Committee as soon as possible."

On Saturday morning, unable to bear the longing for his wife and son, Lu Fan took Cheng Haohao back to Jingcheng early in the morning to enjoy family happiness.

Cheng Haohao arranged everything properly; after he arrived, Lu Fan basically didn't have to worry about life matters.

On August 28th, the Provincial Party Committee Organization Department issued a cadre adjustment document. Four leading cadres involved in Nanyuan City arrived at their posts quickly: Ma Caihong served as Vice Mayor, Zhao Haorui was adjusted to Executive Vice Mayor, Feng Guanqiao was promoted to Vice Mayor, and Wolong District Party Secretary Li Jun concurrently served as a member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee.

The "inside story" of this adjustment was soon dug out by interested people: the Secretary gained nothing, while the Mayor returned fully loaded, causing a huge sensation in Nanyuan City.

After Vice Mayor Ma Caihong arrived at her post, she came to the Mayor's office to report at the first opportunity.

Lu Fan responded enthusiastically, saying: "You are a female comrade; it's just right for you to take charge of culture, education, and health. The division of labor adjustments will be officially announced at the next executive meeting. I have a few requirements for educational work: First, we must take the lead in breaking through in college entrance examination results, and continue to break through. The number of students admitted to 985, 211, and first-tier universities must maintain a high-growth trend, essentially solving the problem of student loss in Nanyuan. If we handle our own education well, why would children need to run around and suffer to study elsewhere? I don't care about the process; I want the results! Second, build three to five provincial demonstration high schools under your watch, and add 15,000 new school places. The Municipal Government will go all out on hardware, and the quality depends on you. I have managed education, and you can't fool me in this regard! Third, improve the professional ability of the teaching staff and vigorously cultivate teaching forces, especially various famous teachers. Fourth, relax the conditions for teachers' professional titles, set as few barriers as possible, and raise the wages for teachers."

"Mayor Caihong, you must focus on the goals and strive for first-class. Where the goal points, the direction lies. Establish a 'jump and reach' consciousness, and in accordance with the requirements of 'Nanyuan's top, provincial first-class,' turn shortcomings into springboards, and springboards into long boards. You must focus on expectations and build an image."

"Education connects thousands of households; the masses have expectations, and social expectations are very high. How we do, the common people's eyes are a lamp, and there is a scale in their hearts; there is a standard for judgment. Currently, good schools, good degrees, and good teachers are the expectations of all sectors of society. You must focus on problems and see results. Grasp implementation with a distinct problem-oriented approach, and test work effectiveness with the actual effectiveness of solving problems. You must never 'take what is said as done, and take what is done as accomplished.'"

"Mayor, I will definitely sink my body down, seek progress while maintaining stability, seek innovation in excellence, focus on fairness and equality, run education from the perspective of people's livelihood, and go all out to promote Nanyuan's move from a major education city to a strong education city, striving to run Nanyuan education that the people are satisfied with!" ===== CHAPTER 458 =====