Chapter 474

Lu Fan, while in a meeting, received a call from Secretary Hao Guangqi that was highly significant, and it quickly spread within a small circle. Moreover, in this incident, the Secretary and the Mayor's responsibility and performance were clearly judged, letting the City Government's prominence gradually overshadow the Municipal Party Committee.

But Municipal Party Secretary Wang Haiyang seemed not to care at all, appearing completely free of desire or demand.

After more or less handling the matter, Lu Fan reported work to Wang Haiyang, receiving only a cursory affirmation and a few instructions that amounted to going through the motions.

Respect is something you earn for yourself, not something others give you; Wang Haiyang's attitude toward work left Lu Fan very disappointed. Oh well, this is fine too—the City Government can roll up its sleeves and work without anyone interfering.

Upon hearing Dou Zhengyang's report, the mayor's hotline received over a hundred calls in the past two days, all from parents expressing their demands, calling for the city-wide promotion of the No. 5 Middle School model.

The people's demands are the government's direction of effort. On November 28 at 3 p. m., the City Government convened a special meeting to study the improvement and upgrading of student cafeterias, attended by the Discipline Inspection Committee, the deputy mayor in charge, the City Government Office, the Finance Bureau, the Education Bureau, the Market Supervision Bureau, the Health Commission, and the leading officials of each county and district.

After the meeting began, Mayor Lu Fan got straight to the point, saying: 'Comrades, today we have gathered everyone together to discuss only one matter: the improvement and upgrading of student cafeterias. Over the past two days, I have received many calls from parents; the public's demands are very strong. What is government work for? It is to truly take the public's voices as the first signal, the public's needs as the first choice, the public's satisfaction as the first standard, and the public's worries, annoyances, and anxieties as our work's "top priority"!'

First, let me state the goals of the student cafeteria improvement and upgrading work: (1) to provide teachers and students with safe, reassuring food and dining environment, ensuring students eat enough and eat well, so parents can rest assured and society is satisfied;

Second, apply one ruler to the end, enforce one standard to the end, implement one policy to the end. All student cafeterias in the city will have uniform pricing: breakfast, lunch, and dinner at 3 yuan, 8 yuan, and 4 yuan respectively, with any shortfall covered by fiscal subsidies; a uniform menu will be set—for example, at lunch, four dishes and one soup, two meat and two vegetable dishes, plus a staple, to be reasonably balanced, nutritionally adequate, and tasty. If you are allowed to innovate, you'll end up with a "four nothings" mess, inviting corruption problems!

Third, strengthen food safety supervision, standardize food procurement and storage processes, increase investment in cafeteria infrastructure to build open kitchens and bright stoves, a food traceability system, and a rapid inspection room for raw materials; supervise the entire process of raw material procurement, acceptance, and processing and meal service;

Fourth, management and operation model.

Today we will discuss these four points. I emphasize that you are all busy people, time is precious, so we must hold useful, pragmatic meetings. Do not give me empty talk, boilerplate, nonsense, or flowery words; if we cannot reach a conclusion this year, we will not adjourn!

After hearing the mayor's demands, everyone realized that today's meeting was different from usual, they perked up and began to think seriously about work.

Vice Mayor Ma Caihong spoke first, saying: 'Mayor, let me take charge of the task—I will handle the menus for three meals a day in the student cafeterias. I will extensively solicit opinions from experts, parents, and students, striving to devise the most reasonable and scientific dietary plan.'

Lu Fan nodded in satisfaction and said: 'Good, I'll assign this task to Vice Mayor Caihong. She must produce a plan within a week, taking into account as many students' needs as possible, and it must be announced city‑wide.'

Education Bureau Director Chang Zhichao said: 'Mayor, I think student cafeterias should still be managed locally, with responsibility placed firmly on the county and district governments; our Education Bureau will handle supervision, inspection, evaluation, and fund disbursement.'

Wolong District Party Secretary Li Yuan laughed: 'Old Chang, your schemes are spot on! However, student cafeterias are of great importance; our district will certainly not shirk responsibility, and we will spare no expense or effort. I especially agree with the mayor's saying, "Implement one policy to the end." As long as the City Government sets the standard, our district will enforce it strictly. What we fear most in work is changing orders from day to day—today one way, tomorrow another—leaving us below clueless about what to do.'

……

Night fell, lights began to glow, and the five‑hour‑long meeting finally drew to a close!

In this special meeting, attendees spoke actively, putting forward their opinions and suggestions, jointly exploring how to better manage student cafeterias. Through collective brainstorming, the 'Nanyuan City Student Cafeteria Management Measures' took initial shape. The plan consists of six major sections, containing twenty‑one implementation clauses, covering management, ingredients, pricing, responsibility, and other aspects, fully considering students' needs and interests, aiming to improve the service quality and management level of student cafeterias, and is the crystallization of the collective wisdom of all participants!

After the meeting ended, Lu Fan expressed approval and thanks for everyone's diligent work attitude, and booked a large private room at the Nanyuan Guesthouse to entertain all participants, celebrating together with the people.

On November 30, Lu Fan summoned Vice Mayors Zhao Haorui and Ma Caihong, City Government Secretary‑General Dou Zhengyang, Finance Bureau Director Han Shimin, Education Bureau Director Chang Zhichao, Housing and Urban‑Rural Development Bureau Director Lu Jing, Transportation Bureau Director Hu Wen, and Health Commission Director Lu Kun to the office to arrange matters related to 'going to the departments and proceeding to the capital.'

Lu Fan put forward three requirements: (1) each unit shall coordinate with the corresponding provincial ministries and central commissions to ensure that, upon arriving in the capital, they can meet the top leaders, relying on the provincial ministries for this; (2) each unit shall do well in project planning, drafting funding application documents and project proposals; (3) the Housing and Urban‑Rural Development Bureau shall take the lead, with the Finance Bureau cooperating, to handle the logistical support for going to the capital, especially funds and gifts. To this end, Lu Fan specially allocated 10 million yuan of special funds to the City Housing and Urban‑Rural Development Bureau.

Thereafter, Lu Fan also contacted Deputy Provincial Governor Huang Chongzhou, a member of the Standing Committee, and Deputy Provincial Governor Lei Juan, to coordinate the timing and itinerary for going to the capital.

On December 1, Lu Fan dialed Secretary Wang Hongtao's number and waited a dozen seconds for the call to connect.

Lu Fan said respectfully: 'Secretary Wang, hello!'

From the phone came Secretary Hongtao's stern voice: 'Lu Fan, a few days ago I saw your video on Douyin; public interests are no small matter, you handled it quite well, and you are becoming increasingly experienced and mature! What is the purpose of your call today?'

Lu Fan hurriedly said: 'Thank you, Secretary, for the encouragement; I have a few items of work I would like to report to you in Nanyue.'

Secretary Wang Hongtao asked: 'Which aspect?'

It concerns Nanyuan's transportation, urban construction, and education work. Moreover, I plan to restore and rebuild Zhang Zhongjing National Medical University, hoping to receive your guidance and support.

Secretary Wang Hongtao thought for a moment and said: 'Don't make a special trip; I'm returning to the capital this weekend, you weekend!'

Lu Fangu excitedly said: 'Thank you, Secretary, I will definitely be there on time!'

After hanging up, Lu Fan's heart surged with excitement; he could finally report work face to face again!

In a private room of a hotel in the provincial capital sat only the Nanyuan Municipal Party Secretary, the Deputy Provincial Governor, and Zhang Yinheng, head of the Provincial Public Security Department; the two came from the same village, were in the same class from elementary school through vocational college, had worked together for ten years, shared an extraordinary friendship, and inevitably had many interests entangled.

The two chatted while drinking, and Zhang Yinheng sighed: 'Haiyang, I see you have no fighting spirit left! But that's fine too—Lu Fan is the grandson‑in‑law of an old leader; you can give him a lift, help him along, and bring him a stretch, which would also be good!'

Wang Haiyang let out a sigh and said: 'I can't worry about these things now, Yinheng; we can talk about anything—I might be under investigation!'

'Ah?' Zhang Yinheng exclaimed in surprise: 'No rumors? Is the information reliable?'

'A friend from the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee leaked it; the relationship has been maintained for over ten years, so the information should be reliable!'

'Haiyang, is there no room for maneuver left?'

'I don't know; I went to Secretary Guangqi's place several times to test the waters, but felt nothing unusual.'

Zhang Yinheng analyzed: 'At your level, even gathering peripheral clues would take a year and a half. Haiyang, why not talk with Secretary Guangqi, vacate your position, and strive for a safe landing?'

Wang Haiyang shook his head and said: 'I'm afraid it's not just the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee investigating! Yinheng, to avoid implicating you, I plan to "leave"! There are some things I want you to cooperate on.'

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yinheng's mind raced, weighing pros and cons, and after a long while he said: 'Where do you plan to go?'

'Australia!'

Zhang Yinheng is no stranger to this; in recent cases, the basic route is the same: transfer assets — family first — prepare passports — make a big score — slip away secretly — hide in a dwelling — obtain an identity, colloquially known as the 'seven‑step method'.

Zhang Yinheng asked: 'Take your sister‑in‑law along?'

'Ah, I won't bring them; let them stay. I'll go alone, keeping a low profile for now—we can talk about later matters later!'

'That's fine; let me think it over carefully.'

'Yinheng, my departure will be good for everyone. At my age, I simply cannot withstand the Discipline Inspection Committee's tactics!'

'All right, I'll help you think of a way! Haiyang, once you're there, take care of yourself!'

On Friday morning, the Nanyuan 'going to the departments and proceeding to the capital' team set off for Jingcheng with a truck; this weekend they need to make advance preparations, for sometimes it's easy to see the King of Hell but hard to deal with minor demons, so foundational work must be solid.

In the afternoon, Lu Fan brought Chen Haohao back to Jingcheng and went straight to the Northern Headquarters hutong. Li Zimeng had thoroughly taken root at his grandfather's house; still, this is fine—his wife and children are cared for, so Lu Fan has no rear‑area worries, and furthermore the old gentleman treasures Yuxuan like gold, practically about to reach the heavens!

After playing with his son for a while, Lu Fan, as usual, began to report recent work to Li Lao, who was responsible for giving feedback.

When the conversation turned to the food‑poisoning incident, Li Lao said: 'A person establishes himself through integrity; a nation establishes its heart through integrity. Integrity in governance is the wind‑direction indicator of societal integrity; a government's promises are like spilled water—cannot be retrieved, and must not be changed from day to day. You must fulfill each pledge concretely; only by earning the people's trust can you truly govern for the people!'