Chapter 606

After the Standing Committee concluded, the Provincial Party Committee Organization Department had drafted the "Implementation Plan for the Special Cleanup and Rectification of Contracted Personnel in Government and Public Institutions Across the Province"; this work was led by Director Yu Bin of the Provincial Compilation Office, with full cooperation from Deputy Secretary Lin Changping of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee, Deputy Director Han Shiming of the Provincial Finance Department, and Director Fan Jiarui of the Provincial Human Resources and Social Security Department, who drew elite personnel to work jointly.

October 30, Lu Fan was in the Provincial Party Committee Office when Organization Office Director Yu Bin pushed the door and entered, uttering a couple of complaints: "Secretary, I sent the Plan for Cleaning Up and Rectifying Off‑staff Personnel to the General Office three days ago, and I personally liaised several times, but the document still hasn't completed the process. We set November 1 to hold the provincial mobilization meeting—this isn't delaying things, is it?" Such an important document requires a joint issuance by the Provincial Party Committee General Office and the Provincial Government General Office.

"The efficiency is a bit low!" After saying that, Lu Fan pressed the call button and had Hou Wenwei notify Wang Tian to come to his office.

Less than a minute later, Comprehensive Division One Director Wang Tian knocked and entered, respectfully saying: "Secretary, please give your instructions!"

Lu Fan said calmly: "Xiao Wang, I have already signed the Off‑staff Personnel Retirement Plan; why hasn't it been issued? Have you given the plan to Secretary Jingchen?"

Wang Tian hurriedly said: "Secretary, I haven't seen the plan; the Confidential Room hasn't delivered it to me yet."

Lu Fan directly arranged: "The provincial mobilization meeting is on November 1, yet the document still hasn't been issued—is the General Office's work efficiency really this low? You go personally liaise, get it to Secretary Jingchen for approval before noon off‑work, and the document must be issued to all cities, counties and relevant units this afternoon—any problems?"

Wang Tian said firmly: "Secretary, I will personally oversee it and ensure your instructions are carried out on time!"

Alright, get busy!

Less than ten minutes later, Provincial Party Committee Secretary‑General Ma Yuze hurried to Lu Fan's office, and upon entering said: "Secretary, I'm really sorry—the Retirement Plan was submitted to me, but I've been accompanying Secretary Jingchen on research these past two days and didn't review it in time; please criticize me, Secretary."

Lu Fan waved his hand and said: "Just get the document issued this afternoon; the provincial mobilization meeting will be held the day after tomorrow."

Yuze, could it be that some leadership positions aren't properly staffed? I've noticed that the General Office's problems of lethargy, laziness, disorganization, and corruption have been rising; some documents and reports, after layers of approval, reach me, and I still find typos, even several of them—such low‑level mistakes are unacceptable and can only indicate that work isn't thorough enough.

Overall, the General Office's cadre team is of good quality, most comrades' political thinking and work style are solid, but we must also clearly see that, compared with the demands of the new situation and new tasks, and compared with the expectations of Provincial Party Committee leadership, various agencies, and cadres and the masses, there remain relatively large gaps and some prominent problems in cadre work style.

"Secretary, I will immediately arrange for rectification of the General Office's work style and efficiency problems, unify thinking with the Provincial Party Committee's deployment and requirements, earnestly conduct self‑inspection, deeply analyze the causes, actively make corrections, and effectively resolve the prominent problems in cadre work style."

Lu Fan shook his head and said: "You have a lot on your plate; you need to serve Secretary Jingchen well. I'll assign the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission's Discipline and Supervision Group stationed at the Provincial Party Committee General Office to handle the special rectification work. Oh, right—I will promptly recommend one or two deputy secretaries‑general of the Provincial Party Committee to the Organization Department for the vacant posts in the General Office; you should quickly draft an adjustment plan."

"Okay, Secretary, I'll implement your instructions as soon as possible." Although Ma Yuze was displeased inside, he dared not show his emotions, since Lu Fan presides over the daily work of the Provincial Party Committee and has the authority to arbitrarily issue orders to the office.

As the afternoon was drawing to a close, Cheng Ze xin, head of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission's Discipline and Supervision Group stationed at the Provincial Party Committee General Office, came to Lu Fan's office and said: "Secretary, did you look for me? What instructions do you have? Please tell me."

Lu Fan put down his pen and said: "Comrade Ze xin, please sit down. I intend to launch a concentrated rectification of the General Office's problems of lethargy, laziness, disorganization, and corruption, focusing on solving insufficient performance of duties, unrealistic work style, low efficiency, and lax discipline, continually strengthening cadres' sense of discipline, rules, and responsibility, thereby providing strong work‑style support for serving as the Provincial Party Committee's 'first counsel assistant', 'chief servant', and 'efficient supervisor', genuinely strengthening agency work‑style building and comprehensively enhancing agency efficiency. This work is to be specifically handled by the Discipline and Supervision Group; please quickly produce a work plan."

"Okay, I will certainly implement your instructions resolutely and complete the work with guaranteed quality and quantity." Cheng Ze xin replied earnestly.

"Well, after the plan is formed, we'll hold a meeting of all cadres, pick out some typical people and events, and if necessary we can deal with a few individuals—some people treat this place like a vegetable market and a nursing home; the General Office doesn't need dead‑weight 'rotten fish and shrimp'!"

After discussing work, Lu Fan added: "Ze xin, you've been coming to the General Office for three or four years, right?"

"Yes, Secretary, I became head of the stationed Discipline and Supervision Group at the General Office at the beginning of 2022." Cheng Ze xin instantly grew nervous, fully aware of what it means when a leader discusses one's résumé.

Indeed, Lu Fan said: "Secretary Lingyun speaks highly of you and has recommended you to me several times. I've thought it over—there are two directions for your next assignment: one is deputy secretary‑general of the Provincial Party Committee, which I can recommend to Secretary Jingchen; the other is to go down and serve as Discipline Inspection Commission secretary—how do you yourself consider it?"

At this moment, Cheng Ze xin's heart began to race; these two positions were things he dared only dream of, both being rockets to the sky! He could hardly believe it—why would a pie falling from the sky land on him?

Trying to calm his emotions, Cheng Ze xin clenched his fists and replied with a trembling voice: "Thank you, Secretary, for your patronage; no matter which post I may go to, I will always follow your lead wholeheartedly and work diligently; please make the decision, Secretary."

Lu Fan smiled slightly and said: "Alright, this is just a preliminary idea; whether it works out depends on Secretary Jingchen's opinion—adjust your mindset and get your current work done well."

After leaving Lu Fan's office, Cheng Ze xin hurried back to his own office, really wanting to shout to the heavens to vent his excitement and joy!

After the feeling of satisfaction passed, Cheng Ze xin immediately threw himself into work, carefully drafting the Implementation Plan for the Special Rectification of Work Style Construction in the Provincial Party Committee General Office, and his office light remained on until two in the morning.

November 1, the Provincial Leading Group for Retirement Work convened a provincial mobilization and deployment meeting on the cleanup and retirement of off‑staff personnel in administrative and public institutions. Provincial Party Committee Deputy Secretary and Organization Department Head Lu Fan attended and spoke; the meeting was chaired by Organization Office Director Yu Bin, with relevant heads of member units of the Leading Group for Cleanup and Retirement, as well as the principal leaders of all cities, counties, and provincial departments, participating.

At the meeting, Organization Office Director Yu Bin read out the Work Plan for the Cleanup and Retirement of Off‑staff Personnel in Administrative and Public Institutions of Huayuan Province, and the Nanyuan City Municipal Party Committee, the Provincial Human Resources and Social Security Department, and the Provincial Housing and Urban‑Rural Development Department each delivered statements of position.

Secretary Lu Fan pointed out that carrying out the cleanup and retirement of off‑staff personnel and promoting the "trim and strengthen" of personnel scale in administrative and public institutions is of great significance for consolidating and deepening the special governance results of "eating empty rations", alleviating the fiscal burden of public support, and improving cadres' work style; all departments and units must raise their awareness, attach great importance, and treat the matter seriously.

Lu Fan emphasized that one must accurately grasp the overall requirements of the cleanup and retirement work. First, fully understand the policy: strictly follow the clear guidance opinions of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee meeting, focusing on the requirements of "across‑the‑board retirement of three categories, tight control of three categories". Second, clarify the rules: resolutely enforce the "four strict prohibitions"—no leaving loose ends, no transferring contradictions, no deceiving the organization, no shirking responsibility. Third, refine the work: highlight compliance with laws and regulations, openness and fairness, education and guidance, and a people‑centered approach; the cleanup and retirement must not affect normal work, nor lead to petitions and negative public opinion.

Lu Fan demanded that all levels and departments definitely place the cleanup and retirement work in a more prominent position, solidify work responsibility, uphold discipline first, strengthen supervision and inspection, and spare no effort to ensure the work is implemented thoroughly and meticulously. Treat the retirement work as a top‑leader project, with principal leaders personally overseeing it and posting battle‑stations. For those who take chances, are complacent, carry out the retirement perfunctorily, go through the motions, do it incompletely, or cover up responsibility, the Provincial Party Committee Organization Department and the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission must seriously pursue accountability.

After the meeting concluded, provincial departments and all cities and counties attached great importance, and a sweeping "layoff" campaign was launched across the Huayuan region!

November 3, Nanyuan City's mobilization and deployment meeting for the cleanup and retirement of off‑staff personnel was convened, with Municipal Party Secretary Su Xiang Hai personally presiding, issuing death‑orders to all districts and municipal departments, demanding that "all that should be cleared must be cleared", and requiring Nanyuan to set a provincial example in the retirement work.

Mayor Wang Hong pointed out that the spirit of Provincial Party Secretary Lu Fan's instructions must be implemented without discount, raising awareness, strengthening responsibility, ensuring implementation, and strictly following the timetable and roadmap set by the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government to complete the retirement work with high quality.

Municipal Party Deputy Secretary Zhao Haorui likewise put forward work requirements and personally took charge of the retirement work.

Nanyuan City set an example, attaching great importance to the work spearheaded by Lu Fan, carefully organizing, thoroughly deploying, and ensuring implementation.

On the morning of November 4, Zhongzhong City convened a mobilization and deployment meeting for the cleanup and retirement work, with Municipal Party Secretary Ma Yuxiang personally arranging the deployment, Mayor Li Borning taking charge of the retirement work, and the level of attention being no less than that in Nanyuan City.

Ping Shan Municipal Party Secretary Deng Guoqiang presided over the launch meeting for the retirement work mobilization and deployment, Zhoujiakou Municipal Party Secretary Li Jun presided over the launch meeting for the retirement work mobilization and deployment, and Bianliang Municipal Party Secretary Li Jiaxiang and Xiangyang Municipal Party Secretary Ouyang Han likewise attached great importance to the retirement work.

November 5, Yiyang Municipal Party Secretary Dong Fuyuan, Dique Municipal Party Secretary Lin Pengxin, and Chaoge Municipal Party Secretary Xing Qinzhi personally presided over the launch meeting for the retirement work mobilization and deployment, fully launching the cleanup and retirement of off‑staff personnel.