Chapter 619: Slightly Overbearing

Thinking that he will soon leave Huayuan, Lu Fan simply stopped pretending, stating that the Organization Department can give full support, but subtly asked whether Xingjun City could provide a County Party Secretary benchmark, as the Provincial Party Committee faces heavy personnel pressure and needs coordinated arrangements.

Lu Fan is a Deputy Secretary, holding a high and powerful position, and would not speak up lightly.

Peng Yongchang really finds it hard to refuse, but he's not one to take a loss, so he joked: "There are several important director vacancies in the department now; the Secretary can't favor some over others, must look after our Xingjun City!"

Lu Fan gave a slight smile and replied: "I don't know how many people are watching, it makes me frazzled. All the director positions are filled, but after adjustments, Cadre Division One or Two could free up a deputy director slot. If you find someone suitable, send a person over!"

Director? That's a pipe dream! The director of the Organization Department is a highly coveted post; even giving you a deputy director would be good!

One under a roof must bow one's head; a higher official level crushes you. Peng Yongchang had no choice, so he laughed and accepted the deputy director, secured a first‑tier position, but also had to free up a County Party Secretary.

The ninth day of the lunar month, in a daze, the Spring Festival holiday ended amid a joyful and harmonious atmosphere. Another spring arrives, another year of struggle.

Whether you like it or not, this Spring Festival of mountain delicacies, sea delicacies, calling friends, and clinking cups is gone forever, though many remember sayings like "the year isn't over until the fifteenth" and "idle January, bustling February, and the hustle through March."

On the day the holiday ends, the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government switch to work mode, with a backlog of a holiday's worth of tasks awaiting the leaders to handle and resolve, sketching a grand blueprint for the new year.

This is Lu Fan's final stretch in Huayuan; on his first day back at work, he threw himself into the battle with abundant vigor, soaring morale, and full confidence, eager to submit a satisfactory answer sheet for Huayuan.

The new year has begun, dreams have set off; having chosen the distant road, he presses on through wind and rain.

On the first working day of the new year, leaders of the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government dispersed to various locales for investigations, launching the deepening of the "Three Services" and promoting the "Opening Red" campaign.

During the event, the Provincial Deputy Secretary and Organization Department Head specially visited the "Pang Xilai" supermarket construction project in Ping Shan City to address the company's concerns. Municipal Party Secretary Deng Guoqiang accompanied the investigation, and Pang Xilai chairman Yu Xilai also rushed to Ping Shan City.

At the construction site, Lu Fan thoroughly learned about the project's planning and opening schedule, emphasizing that Ping Shan City must place great importance on the Pang Xilai construction, providing strong support in engineering, policy, etc., to ensure timely completion.

Deng Guoqiang stated on site that the Pang Xilai Plaza fills the gap of a large commercial shopping center in Ping Shan City, bringing convenience to nearby residents and attracting more quality brands. Both sides will strengthen cooperation, turning the Pang Xilai Plaza into a striking city card for Ping Shan, and use this as a catalyst to promote cooperation in more fields, achieving mutual benefit.

Yu Xilai enthusiastically reported that Ping Shan City's first Pang Xilai spans four floors, with a total floor area of about 25,000 square meters, forming a commercial complex integrating supermarket, department store, home appliances, dining, medical, and gaming facilities.

The basement level is a parking lot offering 150 underground spaces and 60 surface spaces, free for the first three hours; the first floor houses famous cigarettes and wines, home goods, daily chemicals, infant formula, medical goods, Xiaomi Home, KFC, etc.; the second floor contains a supermarket, fresh and cooked foods, snack foods, bakery; the third floor is dining and a gaming arcade.

Yu Xilai grandly introduced that there are 18 free after‑sales services, such as free car storage, free tire inflation, free provision of repair tools, free luggage storage, free phone charging, free delivery, free repair, free dry cleaning, free ironing, free edge‑binding, free shoe repair, etc. Whether or not one shops at Pang Xilai, these services are available.

Lu Fan praised: "Pang Xilai has sparked new thinking among retailers nationwide; it is a banner for private enterprises, and the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government will fully support the development of Pang Xilai."

Yu Xilai politely said: "We haven't done enough yet; we will keep striving, perfect the details, make customers more satisfied, and strive to contribute more to the development of Huayuan's retail industry!"

Recently, Ping Shan City will have four Pang Xilai supermarkets opening; Luo Jun City and Xingjun City each one; Zhou Jiakou City five; Xinzhong City four; Runan City two; Bianliang City four; Xiangyang City two; Zhangqiu City two; Chaoge City two; a total of 26 supermarkets will bloom across Huayuan. This owes to Lu Fan's strong backing; these cities have given Pang Xilai all the support they can.

At the same time, Wanhe Agriculture and Animal Husbandry officially entered these nine cities, also receiving strong support from the Municipal Party Committee and City Government.

On February 26, Lu Fan finished his investigation, returned to the province, and immediately went to Secretary Wang Jingchen's office to discuss matters concerning cadre adjustments.

After entering, Lu Fan said: "Secretary, I'm here to report the preliminary plan for cadre adjustments."

Wang Jingchen pointed to the cabinet, smiling: "There's some good tea; brew it yourself."

Lu Fan laughed: "Then I must try it!" He then went to brew the tea himself.

After sitting down, Lu Fan said: "Before the New Year, I consulted Governor Ling Hong and Comrade Lei Juan, who is in charge; the Provincial Government's view is to promote Li Jia Hui, Executive Vice Mayor of Yinyang City, to the Health and Wellness Committee."

Wang Jingchen, unchanged, asked: "What's your opinion?"

Lu Fan, not wanting to stall, replied straightforwardly: "The Health and Wellness Committee is a key component of the Provincial Government, highly operational and with great responsibility; Governor Ling Hong's and Comrade Lei Juan's views deserve weight. Between Yang Qingshan and Li Jia Hui, I favor Li Jia Hui. He has overseen health work for four years, so serving as director of the Health and Wellness Committee would be familiar territory. Yang Qingshan has been in the propaganda and education system; as the saying goes, switching fields is like crossing a mountain. Cadre adjustments must uphold the principle of putting the cause first, matching people to tasks, and ensuring fit between person and post."

Seeing Wang Jingchen frown, Lu Fan added: "Governor Ling Hong has no objection to Zhang Jiukun serving as Party Secretary of Huai City. If the Provincial Party Committee then selects a capable cadre to be Huai City's Mayor, I believe they will learn from shame and become courageous, and will seize Huai's economic work."

Wang Jingchen thought to himself: originally the plan was Municipal Party Secretary plus Provincial Health and Wellness Committee Director; now it's Municipal Party Secretary plus Mayor, which would give full control over Huai City—completely acceptable.

So he nodded and said: "Wu Yi Wei, Deputy Secretary of the Yingtian Municipal Party Committee, young and vigorous, with rich grassroots experience and having served as Executive Vice Mayor, is a suitable candidate."

Lu Fan replied: "Alright, I'll promptly draft a plan according to your instructions; these positions are important and should not remain vacant for long."

"Fine, get the plan quickly and submit it to the five‑person group for study."

This amounted to a consensus; the remaining adjustments Wang Jingchen would not further inquire about. Lu Fan now held a Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee and an Executive Vice Mayor, with great prospects. At parting, Lu Fan did not intend to be modest or courteous—there was no need.

Back at the department, Lu Fan summoned Zou Weipeng, Gao Shuo, and Li Yu, instructing them to swiftly draft the Provincial Organization Department's cadre adjustment plan and equip it in one go.

Lu Fan directly ordered: Cheng Haohao, County Chief of Zhenping County, Nanyuan City, to serve as Director of Cadre Division One, liaise with the Xingjun Municipal Party Committee, leave a deputy director slot open; the remaining positions should be selected for loyalty, reliability, fairness, integrity, and both virtue and talent, with a selection process that is fair, just, and open.

After arranging the work, Lu Fan began to work behind closed doors, personally drafting the cadre adjustment plan: Huai City Mayor Zhang Jiukun reassigned to Party Secretary of Huai City; Wu Yi Wei, Deputy Secretary of the Yingtian Municipal Party Committee, promoted to Mayor of Huai City; the Executive Vice Mayor of Yinyang City promoted to Director of the Provincial Health and Wellness Committee; Li Mu Ci, Deputy Mayor of Nanyuan City, reassigned to Executive Vice Mayor of Yinyang City; Li Yu, Secretary‑General of the Provincial Organization Department, reassigned to Deputy Secretary of the Yingtian Municipal Party Committee.

As for Nanyuan City's adjustments, Lu Fan intends to fully accept Su Xiang Hai's suggestions.

On March 1, Secretary Wang Jingchen convened the five‑person group meeting to study cadre adjustments.

At the meeting, Lu Fan reported the cadre adjustment plan, involving a total of 16 people.

The senior leaders ate meat, Lu Fan drank thick soup, and the plan passed unanimously.

This was Lu Fan's last personnel adjustment in Huayuan; after the Party School training, it's expected they'll "reset the stage and perform a new play"!

On March 2, the Organization Department dispatched five inspection teams to conduct organizational assessments and talks regarding the proposed promotions and adjustments.

On March 5, Lu Fan went to the Provincial Government and formally submitted two proposals to Governor Liu Linghao: "Huayuan Province Land Transfer Support Opinions" and "Huayuan Province Opinions on Supporting the Development of Pang Xilai," focusing on supporting the enterprises Wanhe Agriculture and Animal Husbandry and Pang Xilai.

Governor Liu Linghao took Lu Fan's suggestions seriously, saying he would promptly convene the Provincial Government Standing Committee, list the two plans as "key items" for study, and personally give his full support.

On March 10, the Provincial Party Committee held a Standing Committee meeting to discuss the government work report and other documents, study personnel issues, and the appointments of 16 cadres passed smoothly.

On March 15, the Provincial Government convened an executive meeting, and the two proposals submitted by Lu Fan were approved.

On March 20, the Party School training notice was issued; upon seeing it, Wang Jingchen immediately called Lu Fan to his office to congratulate him.

Lu Fan smiled and replied: "Opportunities like this are rare; I'll cherish them, seize the chance, and strive to improve my abilities in every way, living up to the organization's trust and expectations!"

Wang Jingchen smiled contentedly and said: "The last time I attended the Party School, I gained a lot and benefited greatly; it's a very pleasant memory in my life. Studying also provides great mental and physical relaxation. After you finish your studies, I expect you'll be ready to set sail!"

Lu Fan sensed an underlying meaning in Wang Jingchen's words but did not follow up, instead replying: "In this study, I will work hard to enrich myself, improve my work level, and strive to return to my post in a better condition."