Chapter 624: with translation of chapter title

Before coming to the grasslands, Cheng Haohao had already notified the Provincial Party Committee General Office; Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee member and Secretary-General He Yuanhang personally came to pick him up at the airport.

After meeting, He Yuanhang was very enthusiastic, clasping Lu Fan's hand with both hands, his face beaming as he said: "You've endured a long journey, Secretary Lu, you've worked hard! Secretary Li Xingyuan and Governor Luo Shiyu have prepared a luncheon at the New City Hotel to welcome you and wash away the dust of travel!"

Lu Fan replied with a smile: "Secretary He Yuanhang, there's really no need for you to make the trip; just sending a car would do. From now on we'll be working together in the same pot, and we'll still need your continued support and assistance!"

He Yuanhang hurriedly said: "Secretary, you overpraise me; I will certainly follow orders and obey commands, cooperating well with your work!" He lowered his posture considerably, on one hand hoping to win over Lu Fan, and on the other hand Lu Fan is indeed his direct superior and supervising leader.

Lu Fan pointed at Du Wenlong behind He Yuanhang and said: "Comrade He Yuanhang, let's go; we can't keep Secretary Li Xingyuan and Governor Luo Shiyu waiting!"

Having said that, everyone boarded the special car and headed straight for the New City Hotel.

Qingcheng City is the capital of the grasslands and also a city with a long history and rich culture. In recent years, although Qingcheng City has indeed been developing and the state has many supportive policies, many problems still remain.

Upon entering the urban area, what met Lu Fan's eyes was a scene of congestion and construction sites in disarray; compared with the expected pastoral scenery, it left people feeling somewhat disappointed.

Before coming, Lu Fan had studied this city; it lies close to Zhigu and Yancheng, but its education and wage levels are far below those of first-tier cities, while its housing and commodity prices are far higher than those of comparable cities, and traffic congestion even surpasses that of first-tier cities.

Nowadays, Qingcheng faces bottlenecks in resources, environment, talent, transportation, industrial structure, and difficulties for tourism enterprises; economic development is less than satisfactory, perhaps the cultural and entertainment economy could be better. Lu Fan has already been pondering how Qingcheng City's economy should develop.

Upon arriving at the New City Hotel, Lu Fan, accompanied by He Yuanhang and Du Wenlong, came to a private room on the third floor.

As soon as they entered the door, Secretary Li Xingyuan and Governor Luo Shiyu rose to greet them.

Lu Fan hurried a few steps, smiling as he said: "How could I trouble Secretary Li Xingyuan and Governor Luo Shiyu to come out in person? I was delayed a bit on the road, making the two leaders wait; I am truly overwhelmed!" His enthusiasm remained courteous, sincere and just right.

Li Xingyuan laughed and said: "Hearing about you is no match for seeing you; seeing you surpasses hearsay! The organization has dispatched the finest young cadres to the grasslands, which is tremendous support for our work. Comrade Lu Fan, welcome to work in the grasslands!"

Luo Shiyu gave a faint smile and said: "Secretary Lu, you've worked hard on the journey; the beautiful grasslands welcome you!"

After a brief chat, distinctive grassland cuisine began to be served: a whole roasted lamb, golden‑yellow and crisp, fragrant all over; colorful hand‑grabbed meat, tender and juicy; thick‑tasting milk skin and cheese, delivering a double blow to both sight and taste.

Although the luncheon atmosphere appeared harmonious on the surface, the two leaders' seemingly casual probes forced Lu Fan to stay alert and respond.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, the Provincial Discipline Inspection and Supervision Commission's organ held a cadre meeting, announcing the decisions of the superiors and the Provincial Party Committee regarding the appointments of leading officials. Secretary Li Xingyuan attended the meeting and delivered a speech.

Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee member and Organization Department head Li Yuening chaired the meeting and read out the superiors' and Provincial Party Committee's decisions: the superiors approved Comrade Lu Fan's appointment as a member of the Grasslands Provincial Party Committee, a Standing Committee member, Deputy Secretary, and Secretary of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission; the Provincial Party Committee decided that Comrade Lu Fan serve as a member and Standing Committee member of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission.

Li Xingyuan pointed out that Comrade Lu Fan's coming to the grasslands to assume office was intended by the superiors to strengthen the leadership teams of the Grasslands Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission, decided after comprehensive consideration and careful study, fully demonstrating the superiors' high regard and warm concern for our province's discipline inspection and supervision work, which the Provincial Party Committee firmly endorses.

Li Xingyuan emphasized that the new leadership team must continually purify the political ecosystem, carry out in-depth warning education so that all Party members and cadres become alert, know the bottom line, and feel reverence; strengthen political cultural construction, vigorously advocate clean and upright comrade relations, orderly superior‑subordinate relations, and immaculate government‑business relations. Maintain a high‑pressure stance in punishing corruption, dare to struggle, be skilled at struggle, keep the strict mainstay long‑term, and advance in unison the goals of not daring to corrupt, being unable to corrupt, and not wanting to corrupt. Focus on key areas, critical links, and key persons—where there is corruption, there must be opposition; where there is a case, there must be investigation. Resolutely struggle against all violations of discipline and law, loudly endorsing what we support and clearly opposing what we oppose, forging a disciplinary inspection and supervision iron army that the Party can rely on, the people can trust, and that is loyal, clean, and responsible.

When Lu Fan picked up the microphone, all the discipline inspection personnel immediately sat up straight; even Secretary Li Xingyuan and Department Head Li Yuening pricked up their ears, wanting to hear the ideas of this Provincial Party Committee Deputy Secretary and Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary, to listen to his words and observe his actions. Even many Standing Committee members and Deputy Provincial Governors sitting in the office were paying attention to Lu Fan's appointment speech.

Lu Fan rose, bowed slightly, sat down and said: "Thank you for the organization's cultivation and trust, thank you all for your support. Today is a brand‑new starting point; I will quickly assume the new role with a new demeanor and new realm, and with good performance repay the organization and colleagues' trust and expectations. Here I make the following statements:"

First, absolute political loyalty. As a leading figure of the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Commission, I must actively set an example, lead the team and the workforce, raise my political stance, enhance political awareness, highlight political construction, be a politically clear‑minded person, and serve as a loyal guardian of the Party and the people.

Second, bear in mind the responsibility that is always on the road. Resolutely implement the requirement to further purify and optimize the grasslands' political ecosystem, fully perform the duties of supervising, enforcing discipline, and holding accountable, as well as supervising investigations and disposals; identify sources of political contamination, cleanse the political contamination sediment and factors, and make good use of the discipline inspection and supervision organ's political "microscope," "searchlight," and "sensor" functions to help build a clean and upright political ecosystem, providing strong political guarantees for the grasslands' economic and social development.

Third, practice strict self‑discipline. Let us together firmly hold to iron‑clad faith, iron‑clad conviction, iron‑clad discipline, and iron‑clad responsibility, always keeping our thoughts, spirit, culture, and conduct clean; in fulfilling our duties we will forge a good team and strive to build an iron army that is loyal and resolute, responsible and dutiful, law‑abiding, and clean and honest, ensuring that no member of the discipline inspection and supervision ranks falls behind, that the power entrusted to us by the Party and the people is never abused, and that the sword of punishing evil and promoting good never gathers dust.

Fourth, return to our core duties. The provincial discipline inspection and supervision system should, through talks, research supervision, notifications and accountability, urge municipal and county discipline inspection organs and resident institutions to revert to their primary responsibilities, return to the original essence, focus on their main work, and concentrate their efforts on the front line of supervising, enforcing discipline, and holding accountable—both "striking tigers" and "swatting flies"—resolutely investigating and dealing with the "Four Winds" and corruption that occur among the masses, placing discipline at the forefront, establishing it, enforcing it strictly, and implementing it fully.

As the saying goes, "To forge iron, one must be strong oneself; if one is not upright, how can one correct others?" Starting today, the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission will target discipline inspection and supervision cadres who take the lead in violating rules and discipline, resolve to deal with them strictly and severely, make full use of our supervisory and disciplinary authority, greatly strengthen the construction of supervisory teams for discipline inspection and supervision cadres, and absolutely cannot tolerate the "under‑the‑lamp darkness" behavior of a few individuals.

Comrades, whether the construction of Party conduct and clean government and the anti‑corruption struggle can continue to deepen depends greatly on the role of discipline inspection and supervision cadres; we bear a heavy responsibility, a glorious mission, and an arduous task. As long as everyone keeps a firm watch on corrupt individuals and corrupt behavior—ensuring that every matter has someone in charge, every affair has a resolution, and every item gets a response—the masses will be largely satisfied with discipline inspection and supervision work.

Please join me, under the leadership of the superior Discipline Inspection Commission and the Provincial Party Committee, to struggle to the end against corrupt elements, to promote upright conduct and enforce discipline, to unite our efforts and build a clean and upright political ecosystem; in focusing on key tasks we will demonstrate responsibility, and strive to forge a discipline inspection commission that is politically clear, reveres honesty and rejects corruption, is efficient and pragmatic, and satisfies the masses—a clean and upright discipline inspection commission!

"Thank you all!"

As soon as his words fell, thunderous applause erupted throughout the hall, yet how many of them were sincere supporters remains a question mark.

After the meeting concluded, Lu Fan followed Secretary Li Xingyuan to the Provincial Party Committee headquarters.

Upon reaching the secretary's office, Li Xingyuan personally brewed tea for Lu Fan.

After taking a seat, Li Xingyuan smiled and said: "In Huayuan you were already a deputy secretary; here at the Provincial Party Committee you are also well‑versed. The division of labor for a full‑time deputy secretary is clear: you are responsible for the daily work of the Provincial Party Committee, oversee the Provincial Party Committee General Office, take charge of Party building, organizational work, spiritual civilization, social management, institutional reform, etc., coordinate the work of the province's four leadership teams, and concurrently serve as president of the Provincial Party Committee School and dean of the Provincial Administrative Institute."

Lu Fan nodded and responded resolutely: "All right, Secretary; under the leadership of the Provincial Party Committee I will fulfill my duties conscientiously and carry out my responsibilities."

Li Xingyuan continued: "Among the three deputy secretaries‑general of the Provincial Party Committee, Liu Xianhao coordinated your predecessor's work, while Liu Qingyun has never served a leader before; I intend to have him coordinate your work. If you are not satisfied, you may select another deputy secretary‑general."

Lu Fan replied: "Secretary, no need to go to great trouble; let Liu Qingyun do it. When I came from Huayuan I brought along a secretary, a communications officer, and a driver."

Li Xingyuan said indifferently: "You are in charge of the General Office; you can arrange these matters yourself. Lu Fan, I have studied your résumé in detail; to speak from the heart, I welcome your coming to the grasslands to assume office, and sincerely hope you will inject new vitality into the grasslands! The political environment of the grasslands is very complex; keep your original aspiration, advance steadily—eh!"

"Superficial talk, deep feelings—what a gentleman avoids," Lu Fan replied without changing expression: "I will do my utmost to carry out the tasks assigned by the Secretary. As the saying goes, 'When the spirit is upright, the mind is focused; when the mind is focused, things succeed.' I firmly believe that under the leadership of the Provincial Party Committee, the grasslands' cadres and masses will, on the grand stage of doing things cleanly and getting things done, elevate the lofty realm of a clean and upright political atmosphere, and consciously strive to build a prosperous, democratic, and harmonious grassland."