Chapter 551: with translation of chapter title

While chatting, a call came from Huang Wenbin, Deputy Director of the Provincial Agriculture Department; Lu Fan thought for a moment and answered the phone.

Minister, thanks for your support! Are you free tonight? I'd like to treat the team leader to a simple meal.

Lu Fan replied: "These times are special; we must know what to say and what not to say, what to do and what not to do, and keep within bounds. I won't have the meal; maybe another time."

Next, Wu Zhengyu, Deputy Director of the Education Department, also called to express thanks; Lu Fan said the same thing to him, speaking cautiously and acting prudently.

After hanging up, Zhao Lingyun said: "Next time in the reshuffle, consider the Discipline Inspection Committee, transfer a few people out; otherwise the unit will be like a stagnant pool, and nobody will have any motivation to work!"

Lu Fan laughed: "Adjusting the Discipline Inspection Committee is difficult; for ordinary posts, those section chiefs of yours don't even look at them—low rank but great power!"

"You're pointing at something specific!"

"This is a fact; you need to prevent darkness under the lamp!"

Zhao Lingyun looked at Lu Fan and asked seriously: "Have you heard any rumors?"

Lu Fan said solemnly: "To forge iron, one must be strong oneself; indeed there are some bad apples, and some section chiefs arbitrarily interfere in personnel and project matters at the prefecture‑city level, speaking very 'tough', as if they were the heavenly king and old master; their demands must be obeyed, otherwise at a critical moment they'll give you a 'blow to the head'—for example, in integrity appraisal you simply can't get it done. Superiors find it hard to control them, peers find it hard to control them, subordinates dare not control them; some people's reactions are extremely bad, even the question 'Who will supervise the supervisors?' has become a public doubt."

"Thanks for the reminder; this problem indeed needs to be faced squarely—cultivate oneself before correcting others, eradicate the 'darkness under the lamp', fight corruption without covering up, and I will investigate thoroughly!"

Lu Fan suddenly asked: "Lingyun, you've worked in the Organization Department; what's your impression of Deputy Minister Lin Dian?"

Zhao Lingyun smiled slightly and said: "I guessed you were about to ask me this. How to put it? During this period I learned some things at the Discipline Inspection Committee; in four words: greedy for wealth and lustful. But I should remind you that Lin Dian's wife and the lover of Secretary Mingyang are university classmates, basically inseparable female friends."

That's a new situation; Lu Fan nodded thoughtfully.

At half past five, the two were just about to leave work for a few drinks when Office Director Tan Yiqiao came in to report: "Hello, Secretary Zhao! Minister, a person named Chen Xu has come to see you."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Lingyun quickly asked: "Chen Xu? Is that little Xu?" He had once served as secretary to Chen Deming and is very close to Chen Xu.

Lu Fan said: "Go bring him in."

Soon after, Chen Xu pushed the door open, smiling and said: "Brother Zhao is here too!"

Then he said to Lu Fan: "Brother, Yaoyao asked me to bring you some beef jerky and two wool sweaters; the winter in Huayuan is dry and cold."

Lu Fan asked: "Did you go to the grassland?"

"Yeah, went to see Yaoyao; just got back today." Chen Xu looked a bit embarrassed, his face even flushed a little.

Seeing this, Zhao Lingyun roughly guessed: Chen Xu has actually become Lu Fan's brother-in-law? This is a major situation that must be taken seriously!

After a few casual remarks, the three went to Province Yizhao; Lu Fan specially brought Tan Yiqiao to handle service. During this period, this office director has been diligent and responsible, arranging Lu Fan's life and work in an orderly manner; his ability is still quite good.

Chen Xu is a tech guy, not good at drinking, but today he had to drink with his brother-in-law and couldn't refuse; after finishing a bottle of baijiu, he collapsed onto the table.

Zhao Lingyun laughed: "I've never seen little Xu drink before; you, as his brother, don't even feel sorry for your brother-in-law!"

Lu Fan replied: "They haven't even started the eight characters; my sister is stubborn, already old enough but still unmarried, really can't be persuaded—I think Chen Xu is quite good!"

"How could it not be good? It couldn't be better! Lu Fan, you really need to persuade our sister; little Xu speaks little, won't sweet‑talk, but he's absolutely a good match, with no bad habits; as a parent you should decide what needs deciding—for this matter, Secretary Deming and his sister‑in‑law are almost worried sick!"

"I will definitely say what needs to be said, but feelings are up to them; forced melons aren't sweet!"

"Never mind sweet or not, just quench thirst! If they get together, it'll be a huge boost to your prospects!"

Lu Fan said solemnly: "I won't use my sister's happiness to pave my own way; how big an office is enough? I've never even thought in eight lifetimes about reaching this level—what more could I want? To put it loftily, I now just want to serve the people earnestly!"

"Who says otherwise? I can still recall hoeing fields under the scorching sun when I was young; come, let's clink glasses!"

Lu Fan raised his cup and drank it all in one go.

The two exchanged a smile; everything was understood without words.

Drinking wasn't much fun for the two; after finishing two bottles, they helped Chen Xu back to his room to rest, then sat and chatted a while longer.

Lu Fan said: "I won't tolerate sand in my eyes; I intend to move against Lin Dian."

"Have you thought it through? How will we explain things to Secretary Li Mingyang? Their two families are closely connected!"

"Help me out—first gather evidence of Lin Dian's corruption, as detailed as possible. There will always be a way; rest assured, I won't clash with Secretary Mingyang, and I believe he too is kept in the dark."

"Okay, we'll keep in touch as things progress."

The next morning, Chen Xu bade farewell to Lu Fan and Zhao Lingyun and returned to Chang'an.

Lu Fan personally led Secretary General Li Yu, Office Director Tan Yiqiao, and Section Chief of the First Cadres Division Hu Tiankang to Yancheng to file the cadre adjustment plan.

Normally sending a deputy minister would suffice for such work, but Lu Fan used the opportunity to visit several leaders and expand his network, so this time he prepared thoroughly, intending to visit all the bureaus and departments with close work ties.

After arriving at the ministry, Li Yu and the others went to liaison work, while Lu Fan visited Minister Zhou.

Minister Zhou was very enthusiastic, encouraging Lu Fan to bring the vigor he showed in Nanyuan to the Organization Department, to dare act and bravely take responsibility, to push for a new situation in organizational work in the cause of entrepreneurship, and strive for renewed brilliance.

At first contact, both exchanged pleasantries; Lu Fan kept proper measure, neither overly enthusiastic nor fawning—there was no need for that.

In the afternoon, Lu Fan visited Deputy Minister Wang Zhaowen and others; through the introduction of Weiwei, he met seven or eight bureau and department heads, became familiar with them, and gained a lot.

In the evening, Li Yu and Tan Yiqiao brought local specialties to pay a visit, presenting Lu Fan's "goodwill".

On the afternoon of September 20, the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department held a cadre inspection mobilization meeting; Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee member and Organization Department Head Lu Fan attended in person and made work arrangements.

At the meeting, Lu Fan pointed out that the selection and appointment of cadres directly affects a locality's economic and social development, and its political ecosystem.

"No gold is pure, no person is perfect"; the rating of "no shortcomings" clearly contradicts reality. The avoidance of discussing shortcomings actually stems from the psychology of "unwilling to speak", "afraid to speak", or "unable to speak". If the inspection only talks up strengths and covers up weaknesses, it will lead to a shallow and opaque understanding of cadres, making scientific analysis and precise profiling impossible.

From the actual situation, some interviewees' "having something to say but not saying it" largely stems from the fear of wearing "small shoes"—they think cadre promotion in inspections is inevitable, fear retaliation if their words leak, and thus hesitate to speak. This requires a strict confidentiality system; before talks, inform interviewees of the relevant procedures and principles, genuinely dispel worries, so they speak the truth, state the facts, and reflect the situation and problems realistically.

During the inspection, everyone should employ "observation, listening, inquiry, and palpation". Besides focusing on cadres' usual performance, we must pay more attention to their performance in completing arduous, dangerous, and heavy tasks and facing major tests, so that political performance shows nowhere to hide, enabling precise selection and use of people.

"Observation" is visual—taking self‑evaluation as a "scroll", extending it into the cadre's "outline"; "Listening" is auditory—hearing public reputation as "ink", sketching the cadre's "drawing"; "Inquiry" is questioning—asking about daily performance as the "highlight", shading the cadre's "color painting"; "Palpation" is tactile—diagnosing overall condition as a "technique", permeating to produce the cadre's "precise image".

Finally, Lu Fan emphasized that if inspections remain as before—uniform and merely praising merit—then the relevant personnel's inspection qualifications should be cancelled, letting those who "know how to inspect" go down to do the inspecting!

On September 21, the five inspection teams of the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department went to various cities and provincial departments to conduct organizational inspections and talks on candidates slated for promotion.

Nanyuan City's team was led by Han Yu, head of the Second Cadres Division; before departure, Lu Fan, in his capacity as Municipal Party Secretary of Nanyuan, communicated with Han Yu and outlined the work items.

After the inspection team arrived in Nanyuan, Deputy Municipal Party Secretary Wang Hong coordinated the inspection work.

After the inspection notice was posted, the leading cadres of Nanyuan City were elated, because aside from the term change, Nanyuan had never seen such a large‑scale adjustment!

Zhenping County Party Secretary Wang Muyi is slated for promotion to Deputy Director of the Provincial Agriculture and Rural Affairs Department; the County Chief of Nan County is being transferred to serve as Party Secretary of Yangcheng County in Yingjun City; the County Chief Cheng Qing of Zhenping County is being adjusted to become Party Secretary of Zhenping County; the Deputy Secretary‑General of the Municipal Party Committee Cheng Haohao is being adjusted to become County Chief of Zhenping County—all are major strides in their careers, meaning that Nanyuan's internal personnel adjustments are imminent, and some people will again have advancement opportunities.

What also puts everyone at ease is that the Organization Department Head is none other than our Municipal Party Secretary; as long as everyone does their job well, there will be no worry about lacking advancement opportunities—this is the entrepreneurial environment that cadres dream of.

Nobody fears work itself; they fear working without clarity, with bleak prospects, and without finding meaning in their labor. Lu Fan has dispelled everyone's rear‑guard worries; the leading cadres of Nanyuan instantly burst forth with all their previous work enthusiasm, actively and proactively carrying out work, displaying their achievements to the secretary.

At the same time, this personnel adjustment produced a profound impact, in one move establishing Lu Fan's prestige among the provincial leadership cadres. As an Organization Department Head, only by truly exercising the authority to adjust cadres could one earn everyone's respect and awe.