Chapter 500: with translation of chapter title

At 4 p. m., when Lu Fan and Zhao Lingyun led the way into the conference room, the hall erupted in warm applause!

Lu Fan smiled as he walked up to the podium, constantly reminding himself: Early success easily capsizes; great talent matures late, that is the Dao! The moment has come—do not be greedy, do not be arrogant, do not be conceited; be steady, be calm, be resolute!

The municipal leading cadres meeting convened, and Organization Department Head Zhao Lingyun announced the Provincial Party Committee's decision: Comrade Lu Fan appointed Municipal Party Secretary of Nanyuan City; Comrade Gao Ba appointed member of the Municipal Party Standing Committee and head of the United Front Work Department; Comrade Li Jingchen appointed a member of the Municipal Party Committee of the City Government, nominated as a candidate for Vice Mayor.

Hardly had his words fallen when applause rang out again, lasting without cease!

Zhao Lingyun pointed out in his speech that this adjustment of Nanyuan City's leading cadres' posts was made by the Provincial Party Committee starting from the overall provincial work situation and the actual construction of Nanyuan's leadership team, after comprehensive consideration and careful study. He hoped everyone would truly unify their thinking and actions with the Provincial Party Committee's decision and give full support to Comrade Lu Fan's work.

Hope Comrade Lu Fan leads all municipal cadres and masses to fulfill duties, share the same boat, unite and strive, endeavoring to maintain Nanyuan's current fine situation of unity, harmony, and enterprising advancement, continue to keep the spirit of daring to venture and try, to be first, constantly fostering a political ecosystem filled with righteousness, and work together to push Nanyuan's undertakings to a new level!

The newly appointed Municipal Party Secretary Lu Fan made a statement speech, expressing his firm compliance and wholehearted endorsement of the Provincial Party Committee's decision.

Lu Fan said: "Comrades, Nanyuan has a long history, profound cultural heritage, abundant natural resources, and outstanding talents. As Municipal Party Secretary, I deeply feel the burden on my shoulders heavier and the responsibility greater, but I firmly believe that with the strong leadership of the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government, and the earnest support of comrades, I will surely not disappoint expectations nor betray the mission!"

In future work, I will strive even more earnestly for Nanyuan's high-quality development and the people's wellbeing, putting in more effort, doing more, giving my all; striving to build first-rate, create first-rate, achieve first-rate; 'not doing trivial matters', unite and lead the entire city up and down to better depict the beautiful blueprint on Nanyuan's land; 'not making superficial articles', truly engrave 'seek truth and prioritize, being good at doing and accomplishing' in the soul and implement it in action; 'not being a refined egoist', face difficulties head-on, dare to tackle the tough, dare to act genuinely, dare to take responsibility, with solid actions solve problems and promote development; 'not betraying youth, not betraying Nanyuan's people', any promise made to the masses will have feedback and follow-up, measuring public sentiment with our footsteps, winning hearts through concrete deeds.

I firmly believe: the people's interests outweigh heaven. As one of Nanyuan's 10 million residents, I will take root in this land with sincere emotion, serve the local folks wholeheartedly, to the greatest extent gather the wishes of cadres and masses, concentrate their wisdom, unleash their strength, and strive to solidly and well handle the issues concerning clothing, food, housing, transportation, education development, medical and health care that the city's people care about, so that the people gain more sense of fulfillment and stronger happiness.

Many hands make the fire high; a fence needs three posts; a good man needs three helpers. With the mission ahead, a solo act cannot be splendid; with heavy responsibility on the shoulders, a lone army fighting cannot succeed. I will take the lead in promoting democracy, strictly observe rules and discipline, with an open and aboveboard mind, foster an atmosphere of mutual respect, understanding, and support, rely closely on collective wisdom and strength, wholeheartedly seek development, focus single-mindedly on construction.

To forge iron, one must be strong oneself; 'Heaven's movement is vigorous; the gentleman constantly strives for self-improvement.' I will maintain an exalted fighting spirit, meet difficulties head-on, overcome obstacles to advance, not be lax in the face of responsibility, not retreat in the face of difficulty, not avoid contradictions. 'Earth's condition is receptive; the gentleman carries things with great virtue.' I will be diligent in self-cultivation, brave in self-reflection, not lose myself in honor, not waver in temptation, keep the natural and simple, single-minded nature of a person, do my duty, administer with integrity, put on no official airs, put on no frills, be a sincere, just, and clean person!

Today I reiterate to everyone: in Nanyuan there will absolutely be no 'project team' introduced by Lu Fan, no 'agent' of Lu Fan, no 'special friend' of Lu Fan. Anyone who uses my name to say hello, 'raise a basket', seek projects, or pursue private interests, must not be trusted, not be dealt with, not be helped. Please continue to supervise me strictly and support me wholeheartedly as before!

Finally, I want to emphasize one point: our few leading cadres have incorrect 'official mindset', 'seeking promotion not demotion, pursuing wealth not poverty', being close to leaders and distant from the masses, cozying up to big money and looking for backers. Some use office for private gain, looking at cliques, at tickets, at backdoors. Some practice nepotism, fostering cronyism…… Under the sway of such 'official-centric' thinking, where will there still be 'eyes looking downward', where will work still be placed in the heart? Where will the people's interests still be kept in the heart?

The Municipal Party Committee will certainly correct the unhealthy tendencies in personnel selection, so that the capable get positions, the hardworking are rewarded, those who take responsibility assume it, those who are accountable are held accountable, those who do work are backed, and we will draw the sword against 'seeking office for office', creating a clean and upright political ecosystem of pragmatic responsibility, fostering a clean Party and government conduct.

At 6 p. m., Lu Fan hosted a banquet for Zhao Lingyun at the Nanyuan Hotel, with all members of the municipal Party and government leadership attending, just to let comrades get acquainted with the Organization Department head and draw closer to the organization.

Zhao Lingyun gave face, chatting and laughing happily with Nanyuan's leaders, exchanging cups, and in the end was successfully 'thrown down'.

The next day, after seeing off Zhao Lingyun, Lu Fan went to the municipal Party offices; now it was the turn of the municipal government leaders to run to the Party office to report work, and the Provincial Party Committee had not yet removed Lu Fan's mayoral position.

Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee Member

United Front Work Department Head

At 2 p. m., Municipal Party Secretary Lu Fan went to Xinyue County to investigate the textile and garment industry. Municipal Party Secretary-General Dou Zhengyang, Vice Mayor Ma Caihong, Finance Bureau Head Han Shimmer, Xinyue County Party Secretary Xie Simín, County Chief Wang Fan, and other leaders accompanied him.

In the Xinyue textile printing and dyeing project and Huake Stock Co., Ltd., Lu Fan's team went deep into the enterprise's production workshop for on-site inspection, thoroughly understood the company's production and operation, industry characteristics, development vision, etc., listened to the enterprise's demands, and urged the enterprise to further firm confidence, muster vigor, enhance core competitiveness, truly leverage the leading core enterprise's driving advantage, and strive to become the industry leader.

In early summer, the land of Xinyue teemed with life, the surge of competing development never ceasing. In the production workshop of Luomon Apparel Co., Ltd., the spinning machines roared, the weaving sounds rose and fell, line after line of production operated at full load, presenting a bustling scene.

From the knitting workshop to the packaging workshop, then to the warehousing center, Lu Fan walked and observed, occasionally stopping to inquire, affirming the achievements made in the development of Xinyue's textile and garment industry, and hoping that all enterprises would unite for joint development, making efforts in improving quality, creating brands, and increasing varieties to generate more imaginative space and expand the industrial chain's competitiveness and influence.

Thereafter a symposium was held, and Lu Fan listened to the report on the development of Xinyue County's textile and garment industry. Some enterprises and representatives of municipal financial work departments and the banking sector, surrounding the issues of solving enterprise financing difficulties and strengthening the leading textile and garment industry, spoke in turn.

Lu Fan listened and took notes, occasionally making responsive remarks on the enterprises' feedback problems.

After settling some issues, Lu Fan smiled and said: "The municipal Party Committee and government will strongly support Xinyue's garment industry; I have come today to deliver orders! As everyone knows, Nanyuan's elementary school students rank second nationwide, numbering 1.13 million; junior high has 610,000; senior high has 290,000; kindergartens have 200,000; total 2.23 million students in school. You are all experts in the apparel industry; I want to know the cost price of a set of school uniform? Including summer uniform, spring-autumn uniform, and winter uniform, quality must not be poor, especially the winter padded jacket."

As soon as he said that, the entrepreneurs instantly became excited, for everyone knows that the school uniforms of Nanyuan's schools are basically outsourced, and the 'small kickback' is well known. Even if they beg grandparents and plead with grandmothers to pull strings, they cannot secure many orders. Hearing Secretary Lu's meaning, could he be intending to hand the orders over to us?

Huake's general manager said: "Secretary Lu, the school uniform market is now transparent; our costs and profits are plainly laid out. If you are interested, I can have finance bring the ledger right away. On the market, a set of uniforms costs one or two hundred, even three or five hundred yuan, not much different from our cost price—twenty to fifty yuan is already sky-high!"

Another entrepreneur said: "Secretary, you may not know, in Nanyuan's school uniform market, our local enterprises hold less than 20% share!"

Lu Fan said with a smile: "If we give you the uniform order for 2.23 million students, how long will it take to finish? I not only want good quality and low price, genuine materials, but also novel styles, youthful and energetic, and we must ensure long-term after-sales service. Of course, we will definitely leave you a certain profit margin, but don't think about 'eating the whole elephant in one bite'; wanting to 'slaughter' the Municipal Party Committee and City Government is immoral. I plan to provide uniforms free of charge to all students in the city."

Organization Department

Zhang Qiang, General Manager of Huake said: "Secretary Lu is wholeheartedly doing good deeds for the people, which we admire immensely! Let me state my position first: I am one of us from Nanyuan; in matters involving the interests of all the city's people, I am definitely no coward; just let me not do it, that's enough!"

(maybe also "County Secretary"? Not needed)

(maybe also "County Chief" we have)

Secretary Lu, I did the math, let me give you a heads-up: according to your requirements for the uniforms, the cost for 2.23 million sets can be kept within 500 million, the quality is about the same, as for the profit, you decide.