Chapter 548: with translation of chapter title

After the meeting, the leaders of the Provincial Party Committee Organization Department returned to the province.

Lu Fan listened to the Municipal Government's report on various economic indicators, repeatedly emphasizing that third-quarter GDP must exceed 250 billion, laying a solid foundation for the "decisive battle" to achieve a trillion-yuan annual GDP.

On Saturday, Lu Fan did not go home but went to inspect land transfer work; Municipal Party Committee Deputy Secretary Wang Hong, Secretary-General Dou Zhengyang, Vice Mayor Zhu Xinlan, and Wanhe Agriculture and Livestock Chairman Su Xiaoyi accompanied him.

In Xijia County, County Party Committee Secretary Xiao Yun reported on rural land transfer work. Adhering to the principle of "government guidance, market adjustment, voluntary farmer participation, and compensated according to law," they actively explored new paths for large-scale rural land transfer, presenting throughout the county characteristics such as scaled land operation, specialized planting structure, diversified investment entities, varied operational methods, and expanded operational benefits. Currently, of the county's 780,000 mu of contracted farmland, 220,000 mu have been transferred, accounting for 26.7% of the total area, with the scale-operated area reaching 136,700 mu, and the per-mu benefit of transferred plots increased 3–4 times.

Lu Fangu evaluated the land transfer work in Xijia County, pointing out that implementing reasonable rural land transfer to achieve scaled agricultural operation is the current and near-future trend and direction of development, an effective way to increase agricultural efficiency and farmers' income, and hoped that Xijia County would further increase efforts in rural land transfer to promote modern agricultural development.

In the afternoon, Lu Fan came to Nan County, where County Party Committee Secretary Shen Youqing gave a detailed report on the construction of the rural property rights trading market, the scale of land transfer, transfer prices, and related aspects.

Lu Fan personally visited the cooperative farm, engaging in-depth discussions with township and village cadres and farmers on land transfer prices, farmers' income increase, employment, and related matters.

At villager Li Jun's home, Lu Fan asked, "After the land transfer, has your income increased?"

Li Jun laughed and replied, "This year I can earn over 6,000 more than last year, and my wife still does odd jobs at Wanhe Agriculture and Livestock, earning over 3,000 yuan a month; life is much better than before."

Lu Fan laughed and asked, "What do you do then?"

Li Jun said, "I haven't yet thought of a money-making 'business'; I'll wait and see."

Lu Fan said, "You can't just live off your savings; the city has organized a technician training program. I think you could go learn a skill—enterprises in our Nanyuan district have a high demand for technicians and also prefer to hire locals from Nanyuan."

Li Jun replied, "Secretary Lu, I've considered that, but the county promotes it every day. I'm worried—I'm over 40; is it too late to learn a skill? Would companies want workers my age?"

Lu Fan laughed and said, "Live and learn. If you study seriously for a year or so, once you master the skill, earning a few thousand yuan a month is no problem; the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government will prioritize recommending to enterprises workers involved in land transfer. If you don't study well and can't do anything, enterprises definitely won't want you."

"Secretary Lu is right—why would anyone want a useless person? I'll follow your advice and sign up these two days to become a fitter; I did this work when I was young, so I have some foundation."

On Sunday morning, the Municipal Party Committee held a special meeting on land transfer to study and deploy the next steps; secretaries and heads of all counties and districts, as well as relevant municipal departments, attended.

At the meeting, Municipal Party Committee Secretary Lu Fan affirmed the achievements of all counties and districts in rural land transfer, proposing: First, improve a strict and standardized rural land management system, granting farmers more complete and secure land contract management rights, carried out on the basis of voluntary households, and guaranteeing households' income rights.

Second, clearly distinguish between public welfare and commercial construction land, further improving land acquisition compensation standards according to the same-place-same-price principle. Develop efficient, ecological, and safe modern agriculture by using modern industrial achievements and scientific-technological equipment to transform agriculture, and manage agriculture with modern operational methods.

Third, focusing on increasing farmers' income and improving their material and cultural life to drive development, the Human Resources Bureau should continue to implement skill enhancement and training projects well, raising farmers' income-increasing ability, and prioritize training and recommending for factory employment those farming households involved in land transfer.

Finally, Lu Fan said earnestly, "Comrades, you are all frontline cadres; you must understand the people's demands—they hope for increased income, reduced burdens, technology entering households, improved infrastructure, revitalized circulation, good cadres, social stability, resolution of lingering issues, increased livelihood expenditures, and lawful administration! Your work should revolve around these aspects."

"Still the same saying: judge heroes by actual performance, assign seats by contribution, employ cadres based on merit; the Organization Department will prioritize promotion and reuse of counties and districts ranking in the top three at year-end evaluations."

Now that these words come from Lu Fan's mouth, they carry even greater weight!

On Sunday afternoon, Lu Fan returned to the province; although he left Nanyuan, the leading cadres of Nanyuan dare not slack off in the slightest regarding work, but instead have strengthened their initiative, enthusiasm, and autonomy.

On Monday morning, Lu Fan went to Secretary Tang Bing's office to report on the brewing personnel situation.

"Secretary, after extensively soliciting opinions and following the principle of matching people to posts, suitability, making full use of talent, and making full use of ability, the Organization Department has formed a preliminary personnel adjustment plan. Secretary Mingyang recommends Li Yumjiang, Executive Vice Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, to serve as Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology; Governor Linghao recommends Chen Wentao, Executive Vice Mayor of Sanmen City, to serve as Minister of the Provincial Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and Zheng Ruihe, Deputy Secretary-General of the Provincial Government, to serve as Minister of the Provincial Ministry of Culture and Tourism, while a division director serves as Deputy Secretary-General."

Tang Bing looked at the plan, pondered for a moment, then said: "The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology bears great responsibility and a heavy burden; we need a comrade who is pioneering, enterprising, and full of energy to take on this important task."

"Our Huayuan is advancing from a province rich in cultural and tourism resources to a strong cultural and tourism province; the roadmap, task list, and timetable are already laid out—touching spring and autumn culture with a hand, stepping on Qin bricks and Han tiles with feet. We need a leader who is familiar with the business and possesses responsibility and initiative to steer the helm; as for other posts, the Organization Department should comprehensively coordinate, and this adjustment plan should continue to be optimized."

Lu Fan, having served as a top official, possesses rich work experience and keen insight; he immediately grasped Tang Bing's intention, nodded slightly, and said calmly: "All right, I will broaden the scope of inspection, placing suitability of person to post first and putting suitable cadres in appropriate positions. Secretary, do you have any specific instructions regarding the other posts?"

Tang Bing said lightly: "The position of Municipal Party Committee Organization Department Head in Bianliang is vacant; you may select candidates province-wide. As for other deputy minister-level posts, the Organization Department should exercise initiative, coordinate overall, and mobilize the enthusiasm of work at all levels and departments as much as possible."

Returning to the office, Lu Fan seriously pondered Tang Bing's words: "Who does 'pioneering, enterprising, and full of energy' refer to? As for the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, it should probably be the Executive Vice Minister."

In that way, the two minister-level posts already have incumbents; the Deputy Secretary-General of the Provincial Government will surely carry out the governor's will, leaving the four positions of Luojun City Vice Mayor, Bianliang City Organization Department Head, Provincial Ministry of Water Resources Vice Minister, and Provincial Ministry of Agriculture Vice Minister—there certainly isn't a place that Li Mingyang and Liu Linghao would look up to, so let's keep communicating.

As for the Minister of the Provincial Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Lu Fan racked his brains in vain, unable to guess whom the secretary intended to use, and dare not ask outright.

Helpless, Lu Fan could only call his father-in-law Li Mingzhou to ask for the deeper meaning behind Tang Bing's words.

After hearing his son-in-law's worries, Li Mingzhou laughed and said: "First, this is certainly not a regular personnel arrangement; otherwise Tang Bing would not have used 'enterprising,' and the scope would be limited to deputy minister level, so deputy secretaries of various cities and standing members of provincial departments would not be considered. Second, 'full of energy' represents youth. You should inquire who has frequently gone to the Provincial Party Committee to report work recently, then screen accordingly."

Lu Fan helplessly said: "Dad, for this little matter, can't you just say it straight? Why do I have to guess while clenching my fists?"

"This is political wisdom; when you reach that position it will be the same, otherwise why would we need your Organization Department? Xiao Fan, Tang Bing won't stay in Huayuan for long, she isn't an especially strong secretary; in your work you cannot be a mere yes-man, cannot smooth things over, you must have your own ideas and realize some of your own intentions, otherwise you would lose the significance of being trained in this post."

"The Organization Department Head is important and subtle, testing your coordination ability and political wisdom, and must not be too prominent. Consider this saying: A gentleman should stand between talent and lack thereof—advance when appropriate, retreat when appropriate, and when there is a transformation of dragons and snakes. Wood that stands out in the forest will be blown down by the wind; conduct that towers above the crowd will be condemned. A gentleman should conceal his abilities within himself, await the right moment to act; great wisdom appears foolish, use bluntness to show others, use sharpness to sharpen oneself, and drawing the sword shakes mountains and rivers."

"Dad, I will savor it carefully!"

"Xiao Fan, judging people is harder than judging matters; an abyss of ten thousand feet may have a bottom, but only the human heart is unfathomable! This is a required course on your path forward."

Just after hanging up, Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee member and Yingjun City Party Committee Secretary Peng Yongchang pushed the door open and entered, smiling and saying: "Minister, am I disturbing your work?"

Lu Fan rose to greet him, smiling and replying: "Welcome, Secretary Yongchang, please have a seat!" After saying that, he personally brewed tea; the secretary of the municipal party committee of the provincial capital enjoys such courtesy.

"I've wanted to visit for a while; I guess there were too many people these past few days, so I didn't come to join the fun—Minister, please don't take offense!"

Lu Fan replied: "Receiving and seeing off is already troublesome enough; we don't need to bother with all these formalities!"

After the pleasantries, Peng Yongchang smiled and said: "Minister, I have another matter this time; a vice mayor of the city has gone to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and I am here to recommend cadres."

Lu Fan showed a difficult expression, wryly smiling: "Yingjun is after all the provincial capital; the leaders are all paying attention, and I already have three candidates! Secretary Yongchang knows Yingjun's cadres best; the Organization Department will certainly value the persons you recommend, but you had better report this directly to the secretary, for my role here is quite limited!"

"Minister, you're too modest! In any case, I'll first leave a note with you to at least get onto the long list; I'll find an opportunity to report to the secretary."