Chapter 559

Ten minutes later, Lu Fan began to feel his Dao heart unsettled, willingly yielding, mainly because he thought it was too much of a waste of time. In terms of perseverance, he definitely could not compare to an old fox who had weathered decades of officialdom. After all, that person's mindset had been forged through countless experiences of deceit and intrigue.

"The Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government have high hopes for Nanyuan; this year's push for a trillion‑yuan GDP can be said to be Nanyuan City's political task, the whole province's eyes are on Nanyuan, and my pressure is great. Seeing the year end approaching, Nanyuan still has a large gap to reach a trillion‑yuan GDP, eagerly eyeing the funds of those several provincial key projects—the water source area water‑quality protection project, the South‑North Water Diversion project, and the flood‑impact mitigation project. I also ask Governor De Zhi to issue a 'strict order' to the Water Resources Department; Nanyuan is urgently waiting for funds to cook its rice."

Peng Dezhi nodded seriously and said, "Please rest assured, Organization Department Head Lu, your matters are my matters; I will fully support Nanyuan's development. When I return later, I will personally arrange it and guarantee that the funds will reach Nanyuan's finance account within two days. Moreover, supporting Nanyuan's construction as a provincial sub‑central city is a strategic deployment of the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government; I am currently planning how to tilt projects, funds, and policies within my area of responsibility, and I intend to visit Nanyuan soon for on‑site research to see what support is needed where."

Having said all that, Lu Fan could only express sincere gratitude, inadvertently letting Peng Dezhi seize the initiative.

As it turned out, after a few casual remarks, Peng Dezhi said, "The Lihua Jiayuan project—I still made the mistake of relying on experience; their company used to be very strong, otherwise I wouldn't have helped Nanyuan attract investment. No matter what, we cannot let those projects become stalled ruins, or else I'd have nowhere to put my old face. Organization Department Head Lu, you must not let me 'tarnish my later years'! If the city has any relevant support policies, please, for my sake, lend a hand if you can."

Lu Fan thought for a moment and said, "Governor De Zhi, ordinary people pay money and must get their homes—that's the most basic bottom line! To be frank, the city has reported to me that the Beautiful Luxury Garden project has been reclaimed in accordance with law and regulations. Of course, any means are for solving problems; if Huang Qi has the ability to handle those 'stalled buildings', the Nanyuan City Government will provide certain support to help the enterprise overcome difficulties. But he must present a feasible plan, with a clear timetable and roadmap; if he defaults again, the Nanyuan City Party Committee and City Government will show no leniency! As for the specifics, let him liaise with Mayor Xianghai."

After reaching a preliminary agreement, the two talked happily; politics most of the time is simply mutual compromise.

In the afternoon, Executive Deputy Provincial Governor Huang Chongzhou came to Lu Fan's office, and upon entering said, "Organization Department Head Lu, I've come to discuss the statistical supervision work with you; the Municipal Party Secretary is pressing urgently!"

Lu Fan hurriedly rose to greet him, saying, "Just give me a call, I'll come over—how could I let you make the trip? That would confuse priorities; I'm here to cooperate with your work."

Huang Chongzhou laughed, "What's with all this cooperation talk? Let's just discuss it—first take a look, this is the plan put forward by the Statistics Bureau."

"I won't stand on ceremony with you—have some tea, I'll glance over it." Lu Fan took the document and began to scan it at a glance of ten lines, a skill essential for leaders.

Soon after, Lu Fan said, "No problem, but this work must be led by you; I'll lend a hand."

Huang Chongzhou said, "Fine, then we'll each take charge of nine cities, each drawing personnel; when done, have someone send the list to me, and we'll start the inspection next week."

"No problem, but let me make it clear beforehand: I'm someone who likes to get to the bottom of things, so if I run into serious data fabrication, I might very well give you 'trouble'."

Huang Chongzhou smiled and said, "Just give me a heads‑up beforehand, and avoid friendly fire."

After finishing work, Huang Chongzhou said, "Let me recommend a talent: Wang Zhiguo, Vice Mayor of Chaoge City. Do you recall him?"

Lu Fan nodded and said, "I've heard of him; he's in charge of investment promotion."

Huang Chongzhou spoke without reservation: "If there's an opportunity, see if we can get him appointed as a standing committee member; we were university classmates."

"Okay, I'll keep an eye out. But first let me say I need to look into it first."

"Don't worry, I won't recommend any corrupt elements to you either."

After Huang Chongzhou left, Lu Fan had the office summon Executive Deputy Director of the Evaluation Office Zheng Jiang, Director of the Supervision Office Ma Shaoxing, Head of the First Division of Cadre Supervision Yang Qushi, and Head of the Second Division Xie Simin, arranging them to form five work groups, drawing relevant department backbone staff, to go to each city next week to inspect statistical work.

Lu Fan specifically instructed that he himself would take charge of one group, drawing the Director of the First Inspection Room of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee, Lin Changping. This is a cadre recommended by Du Wenlong, who once served as his deputy section chief, has strong business ability, and impeccable character.

Lu Fan's target is Zhoukou City; Mayor Lei Xingxing talks a big game, blowing work out of proportion, so we need to go see in person whether he truly has the ability.

Lu Fan rose from the grassroots, usually emphasizes investigation, and deceit and falsification hardly escape his discerning eye.

On October 30 afternoon, to implement and act on the feedback from the national statistical inspection of Huayuan Province, convey the spirit of the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government regarding inspection work, Huayuan held a special inspection mobilization and deployment video conference. Executive Deputy Provincial Governor Huang Chongzhou and Organization Department Head Lu Fan attended the meeting.

Huang Chongzhou chaired the meeting and conveyed the spirit of the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government regarding statistical inspection work; Liu Zan of the Provincial Statistics Bureau carried out mobilization and deployment for the statistical inspection work.

Huang Chongzhou emphasized that the tasks and requirements of statistical inspection work must be clarified, and the work should be carried out in an orderly and vigorous manner. For issues that can be corrected immediately, we should inspect and correct on the spot, knowing and fixing right away; for those that are hard to rectify in the short term, we should set clear stage‑by‑stage rectification targets, establish long‑term mechanisms, and ensure that responsibilities are assigned to individuals and posts.

Organization Department Head Lu Fan emphasized that we should take this inspection as an opportunity to detect and correct deviations in statistical work, further improve the institutional mechanisms for preventing and punishing statistical fabrication and falsification, continuously increase the intensity of statistical law‑enforcement inspections, strengthen warning education and strict investigation and punishment of statistical violations, and promote a sound statistical ecology in which one does not dare, cannot, or does not want to falsify data, thereby providing Huayuan Province's economic construction with more solid and reliable statistical support.

When everyone saw that the four senior cadres of the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department were appointed as heads of the inspection teams, they couldn't help but feel stirred, marveling that statistical inspection had never before been held to such a high standard, marveling that Organization Department Head Lu attached great importance to this work; it seemed that this inspection must be taken seriously, its gaps filled quickly, lest the Organization Department Head treat it as a 'negative example'—where would one's future lie then?

On November 1, Lu Fan led a team to Zhoukou City; Office Director Tan Yiqiao, Director of the First Inspection Room of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee Lin Changping, Head of the Industrial Statistics Division of the Provincial Statistics Bureau Lei Zhe, and eleven other leading cadres formed the investigation team. Lei Zhe had to pull out all stops just to squeeze into the small group led by Organization Department Head Lu; to be able to serve under the Organization Department Head is something everyone knows is a 'plush post'—once a leader takes notice of you, you won't just shoot straight up, of course, provided you have the ability.

Zhoukou City attached great importance to this statistical inspection; Municipal Party Secretary Li Jun and Mayor Lei Xingxing began preparations a week in advance, conducting a comprehensive self‑check and considering themselves fully ready.

Zhoukou City boasts a long history and splendid culture, with over 6,000 years of civilization; it is the ancient capital of Fuxi and the hometown of Laozi, earning it the reputation of 'the pioneer of Huaxia, the holy traces of Kyushu'.

After the inspection team arrived in the city, they went straight to Xi County to conduct statistical law‑enforcement checks, accompanied by Municipal Party Secretary Li Jun, Mayor Lei Xingxing, the Executive Vice Mayor, the Organization Department Head, and the heads of relevant departments.

Lu Fan immediately selected an organic fertilizer manufacturer above the designated size; its reported output value for January–October was 86 million yuan.

At the enterprise, Lu Fan briefly toured the workshop and equipment, feeling somewhat amused—how could such a tiny factory have an output value exceeding a hundred million? It proved the saying, 'the bigger the gall, the bigger the output.'

Upon reaching the finance room, Lu Fan personally examined the company's statistical reports; on the surface there appeared to be no problems.

Next, Lu Fan said to the enterprise's finance staff, "Trouble you, I'd like to take a look at the company's financial statements and tax returns."

As soon as he spoke, the finance staff panicked, and the leaders of Zhoukou City and Xi County exchanged glances; everyone knew the company kept two sets of books, one genuine and one 'statistical' report.

Seeing the finance staff hem and haw, Lu Fan said solemnly, "How come? Can't you let me see? You can't keep the reports 'covered up tight'; cooperating with the national statistical survey and enforcement is the company's duty and legal obligation—could there be something shameful?"

Zhoukou City didn't dare to leave the Organization Department Head hanging; Municipal Party Secretary Li Jun said solemnly, "Please have the company immediately cooperate with the statistical survey—go, fetch the reports the department head wants, right away, immediately!"

Seeing the Municipal Party Secretary's order, the enterprise boss hurriedly had the finance staff fetch the reports. Fortunately, there's someone to hold up the sky when it falls.

The Xi County Chief sidled up beside Mayor Lei Xingxing, his face full of worry, the two exchanging glances.

Soon after, the accountant brought in the financial statements and tax returns, handing them over to Lu Fan with nervous apprehension.

As he looked, Lu Fan's face darkened and he demanded sternly, "You really dare! As of this month, this factory's output value is only 11 million yuan, yet you dare to inflate it to over 86 million? Are the remaining 70‑plus million just inventory, or do you treat state law as a joke? Li Jun, Lei Xingxing, I need a reasonable explanation!"

Li Jun immediately replied, "Department Head, it's our work that wasn't done well; I'll promptly arrange people to investigate and verify!" As the Municipal Party Secretary, he had to state his position.

Lu Fan ignored him, turned to the enterprise boss, and asked, "You've got a lot of nerve—do you know that this kind of data fabrication seriously violates the law? Not only will the company be fined, but as its legal representative you will also bear criminal liability and face imprisonment!"