Chapter 549

After work, Lu Fan went to Province One for a banquet; Deputy Secretary-General of the Provincial Government Li Bowen, Deputy Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission Zhang Wenjun, Deputy Director of the Agriculture Department Huang Wenbin, Deputy Director of the Education Department Wu Zhengyu, and a few classmates wanted to have a small gathering; Runan City Mayor Wang Xiping and Shan City Municipal Party Committee Secretary Deng Guoqiang also rushed back specially.

Lu Fan also invited Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee Fang Yang, treating it as a small-scale gathering.

Entering the private room, the classmates stood up to greet.

After taking the main seat, Lu Fan smiled and said: "I've long wanted to get together with everyone, but I'm tied up with work; today I still can't drink to my heart's content with the classmates, I have to return to Nanyuan early tomorrow, Minister ZhaoWen is coming for an inspection, I need to accompany him. You enjoy yourselves; I'm just here to participate."

Deng Guoqiang laughed and said: "Work is important, we're very happy that the class monitor can come; we specially prepared sparkling wine for the class monitor. As long as there's feeling, whatever you drink is wine; as long as the feeling is good, you can drink as much as you like!"

Previously Lu Fan was the Municipal Party Secretary; everyone could still interact as peers, getting along relatively casually and naturally. However, times have changed; now Lu Fan has transformed, becoming the Organization Department Head who holds great power over provincial cadre appointments. While everyone was excited, they unconsciously felt a hint of awe toward Lu Fan, after all the Organization Department Head can decide their career development and fate—this is the honor, status, and meaning that power carries.

After the banquet began, the atmosphere was very harmonious. Everyone tacitly understood how to keep within bounds and behave appropriately; they either chatted with smiles or raised glasses together, consistently maintaining an attitude that was both respectful and warm.

While Lu Fan, smiling, held his sparkling wine and exchanged glasses with the classmates, interacting and mingling, the gathering proceeded in a subtle yet orderly atmosphere.

Lu Fan could sense the subtle changes among his classmates, as if an invisible barrier had arisen, but there was nothing he could do; perhaps this is the price of growth, "it's lonely at the top"! In the future, friends will become fewer, and "comrades" will become more.

The next day, as soon as work started, Lu Fan summoned his secretary Li Yu to the office and instructed him to inquire at the Provincial Party Committee about the deputy department-level leaders who frequently go to report work.

Li Yu understood immediately and went to carry it out.

At 8:30, Lu Fan went to Governor Liu Linghao's office.

After sitting down, Lu Fan said with a troubled expression: "Governor, the appointments of the heads of the Industry and Information Technology Department and the Culture and Tourism Department may need to be adjusted."

Liu Linghao furrowed his brows and asked: "Do you want to take both? Have any specific candidates been mentioned?"

Lu Fan replied truthfully: "The Culture and Tourism Department might go to the Executive Vice Director, while I'm still considering the Industry and Information Technology Department."

"Stop guessing; she wants He Bin, the Executive Vice Mayor of Chaoge City, a veteran selected cadet, to go to the Industry and Information Technology Department!"

Lu Fan had indeed considered this person; hearing Liu Linghao say this, he estimated it was eight or nine out of ten likely.

Liu Linghao pondered for a moment, then said: "What should be fought for must be fought; I'll go to the Provincial Party Committee myself to discuss it—wait for my word."

Lu Fan quickly replied: "Okay, Governor, I'll come back tomorrow to report on work; I need to make a trip back to Nanyuan shortly."

Liu Linghao nodded and said: "Please convey my regards to Minister ZhaoWen."

At around eleven, Lu Fan and Deputy Secretary Li Mingyang went to the airport to meet Deputy Minister Wang ZhaoWen of Yingjiang.

During the trip, Lu Fan whispered: "Secretary Li, there's now a disagreement over the head of the Industry and Information Technology Department; I'm waiting for the leadership to reach a decision." This means, your nominee has no chance!

Li Mingyang remained expressionless: "Then let's wait for the result! Comrade Yu Jiang is indeed a capable talent; if we delay further, age will cease to be an advantage; if there's a suitable position in the city, we can also consider it."

Lu Fan thought for a moment and asked: "Secretary, is the Executive Vice Mayor being considered?"

Now it was Li Mingyang's turn to ponder; after some thought, he asked: "Can we free up the Deputy Secretary position?"

"This round of adjustments is small; for now, it doesn't involve the Deputy Secretary position."

"Then let it be; however, this time we should include it in the candidate pool for discussion."

"Okay, Secretary." Lu Fan understood: "Being a 'running mate' is to lay the groundwork for future promotion, to leave an impression; sometimes personnel work is a long and arduous process."

At noon, Deputy Minister Wang ZhaoWen's entourage disembarked from the plane; Lu Fan and Li Mingyang warmly went forward to greet them.

After the pleasantries, the Coaster bus headed straight to Province One; Tang Bing and Governor Liu Linghao were already waiting in the private room.

After meeting, Tang Bing enthusiastically said: "Welcome Minister ZhaoWen to inspect and guide the work; when you go to Nanyuan, be sure to offer plenty of valuable suggestions! Lu Fan, you must ensure logistical support for the research team, so that Minister ZhaoWen sees the true face of Nanyuan."

Wang ZhaoWen smiled and replied: "Nanyuan's work over the past two years has many highlights; we come with a learning attitude for inspection, sorry for the disturbance!"

During the meal, Governor Liu Linghao lowered his voice to Lu Fan: "This time we won't be considering it!" His eyes revealed a hint of helplessness.

Lu Fan immediately understood, saying nothing.

Around 1 p. m., Wang ZhaoWen's entourage headed to Nanyuan, with Lu Fan accompanying them the whole way.

In the afternoon, Deputy Minister Wang ZhaoWen researched Nanyuan City's community Party building work. The entourage first went to the Wuhou Community in Wolong District, listened to the introduction of Party building work by the community Party branch secretary, and affirmed the practice of community and stationed units jointly building and sharing, effectively tightening the Party organizational ties between the community and the stationed units.

Deputy Minister Wang ZhaoWen hoped to increase recruitment efforts for full-time community workers, gradually improve benefits, so that outstanding talent working in the community would have motivation, drive, and prospects.

In the Wan Cheng District community, Deputy Minister Wang ZhaoWen inquired in detail about the situation of the community service hall's business operations, demanding the implementation of the "four downward transfers" of personnel, institutions, funds, and services, so that ordinary people could handle affairs without leaving the community.

After an afternoon of research, Deputy Minister Wang ZhaoWen affirmed Nanyuan's solid development of service-oriented community Party organizations and the improvement of public service standards.

Municipal Party Secretary Lu Fan said that Nanyuan City is accelerating streamlining and delegating power, implementing place-based management, and continually raising community management standards. The Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government will increase financial investment, improve the community's soft and hard environments, establish a welfare and benefits guarantee mechanism for community workers, support non-public enterprises in establishing Party organizations, and continually raise the city's grassroots Party building level.

At seven in the evening, Lu Fan solemnly entertained Deputy Minister Wang ZhaoWen's entourage with Nanyuan's specialty aged liquor; the Standing Committee members and vice mayors all attended, as ordinary people rarely have the chance to meet leaders.

Wang ZhaoWen paid no attention to the toast, and the banquet naturally proceeded with host and guest enjoying themselves fully.

After the banquet ended, Lu Fan saw Wang ZhaoWen back to his room and then had a private conversation, knowing that Minister Wang could not have come to Nanyuan for research without a reason.

As expected, Wang ZhaoWen revealed his feelings: "Lu Fan, I'm at an awkward age now; if I can't advance further, I won't be able to serve the people on the front lines! I hope to wait until Secretary Hong Tao returns to Yancheng next time, but I'm frustrated that there's no one to pull strings and make connections!"

Given the magnitude, Lu Fan dared not lightly promise, replying: "Minister, I understand your meaning; to say something ashamed, I'm insignificant and my words carry little weight; I'll report this to my grandfather first!"

Wang ZhaoWen said: "Last week I visited Li Lao; his opinion was that I should talk to you. Lu Fan, I know you are Secretary Hong Tao's prized disciple!"

Since the conversation had reached this point, Lu Fan couldn't refuse, replying: "Minister, I can only say I'll do my best! After all, uh, you understand!"

Upon hearing this reply, Wang ZhaoWen's face broke into a smile.

The next morning, Nanyuan City's government solemnly held an investment promotion conference, announcing that Pangxi Lai would fully station in Nanyuan City!

Deputy Minister of the Organization Department Wang ZhaoWen and Municipal Party Secretary Lu Fan attended the press conference.

At the meeting, Director Ren Hanqing of the Municipal Investment Promotion Bureau, with a faint smile and solemn demeanor, announced: Pangxi Lai will invest in building 14 supermarkets in Nanyuan City and form a strategic cooperation with Wanhe Animal Husbandry Co., Ltd., both sides will fully leverage their respective strengths to achieve mutual benefit.

Municipal Party Secretary Lu Fan solemnly stated: Pangxi Lai, with its excellent service quality and extremely high employee satisfaction, in the tumultuous, fiercely competitive market, is like a radiant pearl shining brightly, successfully forging its unique core competitiveness, bringing consumers a superior, high-quality, and health-beneficial shopping experience.

Hereby, I, on behalf of the Municipal Party Committee, Municipal Government, and all the people of Nanyuan, warmly welcome Pangxi Lai's entry into Nanyuan, injecting vibrant vitality into the commercial market of 'Nandu Duxiang' and presenting a feast of shopping experiences to the people of Nanyuan.

The Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government will actively foster a fair, just, stable, and orderly business environment, wholeheartedly safeguarding enterprise development, ensuring that Pangxi Lai takes root and thrives on this land of hope and opportunity in Nanyuan, growing vigorously, establishing deep roots, and flourishing luxuriantly.

Deputy Minister Wang ZhaoWen also expressed congratulations on this cooperation.

Although a dozen supermarkets' investment amount is not earth-shattering, Pangxi Lai's such high-profile investment in Nanyuan City undoubtedly stirred up an industry storm, and the news caused a huge splash online.

For a while, major social media platforms and news websites were flooded with related topics; netizens expressed envy, jealousy, and hatred, collectively urging Pangxi Lai to open a store at their doorstep.

Voices like "We also need Pangxi Lai here!" and "Please, Pangxi Lai, come to us quickly!" rose and fell, forming a powerful public opinion wave that swept across the entire internet with the force of mountains overturning seas. This shows people's extreme yearning for quality service and healthy products.

Behind this investment lies the deep cooperation between Pangxi Lai and Wanhe Animal Husbandry, with mutual shareholding. All of this proceeded smoothly thanks to Lu Fan's resounding promise, which gave Pangxi Lai infinite confidence and strength, enabling him to see Pangxi Lai breaking through regional constraints, growing bigger and stronger, developing vigorously, and stepping out of Huayuan to embrace a vast expanse of sky and a grand blueprint.

After seeing off Wang ZhaoWen's entourage, Lu Fan returned to the Provincial Party Committee Organization Department to continue planning personnel adjustments.

Soon, Lu Fan welcomed an unexpected guest, Mayor Lei Xingxing of Zhoujiakou City, whose arrival reminded Lu Fan of some past events.

Treat comrades warmly like spring, treat enemies ruthlessly like harsh winter!