Chapter 638: The Third Fire — Newcomer to the Discipline Inspection Committee!

Chen Hangjia thought briefly and said: "Secretary Lu, when I served as county Party secretary, I deeply participated in Discipline Inspection Committee work, accumulated some experience, and have some humble opinions. If I express them poorly or there is anything inappropriate, please Secretary Lu don't laugh at me."

Lu Fan said: "In the world, nothing is harder than speaking sincerely; a kind-hearted person dares to speak frankly, while a sweet-tongued person hides deceit."

Not hearing the truth is like a blind man riding a blind horse. Today I invited you here; we will speak only the truth! You need have no mental burdens, you can speak freely, even if you curse, truly achieving speak without reservation, speak without omission!

Chen Hangjia straightened his expression and said: "Secretary, with your open-mindedness, I will share my shallow views!"

I believe the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Department, as a sharp sword of the Party and the masses, and its cadres, as enforcers of discipline, must have a high sense of political awareness and rule consciousness, firmly establish the political belief of loyalty, integrity, and responsibility, take loyalty to the Party, sharing the Party's worries, fulfilling duties for the Party, and benefiting the people as the fundamental political responsibility, forever retain the political character, and not be a fence-sitter or rootless duckweed.

Those who enforce discipline must first observe discipline; those who judge others must first judge themselves. Discipline inspection and supervision cadres must place observance of political discipline and rules at the forefront, always maintain awe of power, not do 'things done in secret under the lamp', not be 'two-faced', consciously purify their life circle, social circle, and friends circle, so that discipline and rules are internalized in the heart and externalized in action, truly achieving loyalty through self-discipline.

Well said, a scholar must be broad-minded and resolute, the task is heavy and the road long. Discipline inspection cadres, when handling cases, must always uphold impartiality, not seek personal gain, not pursue private interests, while upholding fairness and justice, neither falsifying nor leniency, precisely assigning responsibility, being diligent and conscientious discipline inspection personnel." Lu Fan suddenly shifted tone, asking: "Did you ever regret resigning back then?"

Chen Hangjia sighed and said: "Don't blame me, Secretary, at the worst time I suffered from depression, even once had the extreme thought of ending my life! Since there was no place for me, I could only withdraw politely and cut losses in time. To keep knocking on a door that refuses to open is impolite! Feelings were voluntary, after the event no regrets, no talk of owed debts, no betrayal of the encounter."

Lu Fan said: "The character 'person' has two strokes: a left slash writes the first half of life, a right slash writes the second half; the first half writes perseverance, the second half writes letting go. After so long, you should have had an epiphany: in this life, one need not mourn yesterday nor worry about tomorrow; wind and rain striking the face is normal, hardship then sweetness is life. The detours you should walk, the bitterness you should eat, the southern walls you should bump into, the pits you should fall into—none can be missed. Persevere, cross over, endure all hardship, and you will attain sweetness after hardship."

Thank you for your guidance, Secretary; it's been many years, I have long let it go. Now doing public welfare is good, and I can also contribute my modest strength to help others.

Lu Fan looked at Chen Hangjia with encouraging eyes and said: "A person's awakening is 1% due to others' reminders, 99% from countless trials; if the heart does not die, the Dao does not arise; if desire does not perish, the Dao does not endure."

A man, ten years of study, ten years of training, ten years of summation and precipitation, true life begins after forty. At this age, the youthful recklessness of the twenties is shed, the anxieties and confusion of the thirties are overcome, having seen mountains and waters, having jumped into the rivers and lakes, only then can one truly set sail.

A man does not compete in the first half; the real competition is in the second half. At this time you are at your best condition; I hope you summon your courage, restart, and believe the good show is yet to come.

Upon hearing these words, Chen Hangjia felt somewhat at a loss, not entirely sure of Secretary Lu's intention, and said: "Please rest assured, Secretary; I will do whatever I can, within my ability, to do something beneficial to society."

Feeling the atmosphere had been sufficiently set, Lu Fan suddenly turned solemn and said earnestly: "Comrade Chen Hangjia, this invitation to come to the grassland intends to let you re-emerge from seclusion, return to the organization, work at the Grassland Province Discipline Inspection Committee, and continue serving the people!"

It is never too late to change oneself; life has no waiting-for glory, only achieved brilliance; as long as you are willing, the worst outcome is merely late blooming.

"Ah?" Upon hearing this, Chen Hangjia stared blankly at Lu Fan, his face full of disbelief. Then he gave a bitter laugh and said: "Secretary Lu, thank you very much for your invitation and goodwill, but having left the organization for so many years, I have long fallen behind the times; returning to systemic work is truly beyond my capacity, and I even feel somewhat fearful, afraid I would disappoint your goodwill."

Lu Fan said earnestly: "Chen Hangjia, it is not your ability that determines your fate, but your decision that changes your fate. Only action is the answer; standing still makes you forever a spectator. I think you are very suited for discipline inspection and supervision work, which many also look forward to seeing! Don't you have any regrets? Don't you want to prove yourself anew?"

"Secretary Lu, to speak frankly, I am afraid! My nature is such that if I work at the Discipline Inspection Committee, I will surely offend people; I fear repeating past mistakes, and I cannot endure such a blow again."

Lu Fan replied: "Don't I offend more people than you? Right now I am offending a large batch of grassland corrupt elements! Do we have a choice? Not offending corrupt elements means offending Party discipline and state law! That would inevitably betray the Party and the people! This is a crystal-clear political ledger, a ledger of popular sentiment!"

Eliminate one harm and myriad sprouts thrive; punish one evil and ten thousand people rejoice. In short, it is to fight corruption for the people; anti-corruption is both the people's will and their interest. Anti-corruption conforms to the Party's and the people's hearts, it is a 'just war', it will surely win victory; even if it means sacrificing body and bones, what of it? I just don't believe your courage, Chen Hangjia, has been scared away!

Let me be frank, the matter of reinstating you has already been reported to Secretary De Ming, and I have also obtained Secretary Hong Tao's agreement. You worry about repeating past mistakes—no need, I will be your 'protective umbrella'! As long as I stand, you can act boldly and work fearlessly; the sky will not fall! The anti-corruption struggle is forever on the road; though the road is long, walking leads to arrival; though the matter is difficult, doing makes it possible. Persevere, and even metal and stone can be carved; utmost sincerity can open metal and stone.

Chen Hangjia's eyes visibly gleamed, and he said: "Secretary, good mud is fine as is, yet you insist on lifting me onto the wall; a salted fish lying fine as is, yet you insist on flipping me; a piece of rotten wood, yet you insist on carving me into talent. If I decline again, that would be not knowing good from bad!"

Back then, I merely resigned my position, never renounced, and will never renounce my Party member identity; I firmly believe and uphold the principle of wholeheartedly serving the people! I will surely cherish this hard-won opportunity, devote myself wholeheartedly to the anti-corruption struggle, and practice a Party member's original aspiration and mission with my lifetime! Secretary, thank you; I am willing to serve under your command!

Lu Fan nodded and said: "Secretary Hong Tao once said, and I now pass it to you: without mountains exhausted and waters drained, where would there be dark willows and bright flowers? Without all thoughts lost to despair, where would there be survival in desperation? Only by enduring the pain of rebirth can one deserve the beauty of renewal; change, growth, challenge, breakthrough! Bid farewell to the past, embrace the future, cherish the present."

Chen Hangjia said with firm gaze: "I will certainly keep the Secretary's earnest teachings in mind! May I boldly ask, when can I start work? I now feel eager to begin!"

Lu Fan chuckled and said: "If there is nothing else to handle, then let work begin from this moment."

Chen Hangjia replied: "Secretary, some matters still need handover; please give me two days to settle them—I will certainly report for duty on time this Thursday."

Lu Fan dialed the internal line and had the secretary summon Du Wenlong.

Five minutes later, Du Wenlong pushed the door open and asked for instructions: "Secretary, what are your orders?"

Lu Fan said: "You personally coordinate with the Provincial Party Organization Department, go through the special talent introduction channel, arrange for Comrade Chen Hangjia to be hired, with benefits set at Second Inspection and the post as Director of Monitoring Office Eight. Let him first report to duty and carry out work; formalities can be completed later."

"All right, Secretary, I will personally see to it." Having said that, Du Wenlong smiled at Chen Hangjia and said: "Welcome to the Grassland Discipline Inspection Committee; I am Du Wenlong, from now on we will fight side by side in the same 'trench'!"

Chen Hangjia hastily rose and said: "Hello, Secretary Du; please look after me in the future!"

From his name alone one can tell Du Wenlong's position; it seems he is not acting without purpose, having previously learned about the Grassland Discipline Inspection Committee's situation.

At noon, as work was about to end, Du Wenlong brought Chen Hangjia to Monitoring Office Eight, gathered everyone, and announced: "Comrades, after research it is decided: Comrade Chen Hangjia will take charge of Monitoring Office Eight's work. Surely you are not unfamiliar with Comrade Chen Hangjia; his political stance is firm, his ideological quality solid, his work style pragmatic, he is integrity and cleanliness, and in the face of difficulty and complex contradictions he dares to confront them head-on. I hope that under Comrade Chen Hangjia's leadership, you will defend the dignity of Party discipline with loyalty, exchange sweat for abundant results, and write a new chapter of undertakings with perseverance."

After Du Wenlong's words fell, the scene first fell into brief silence; everyone was stunned by the sudden news, faces showing astonishment, but then warm applause broke out.

Who would have thought the new director would be him! As for Chen Hangjia, everyone certainly knows him, his deeds are familiar to all. But him becoming our own director—is it a good thing or a bad thing?

Chen Hangjia said with his signature smile: "Thanks for the organization's trust; having chosen such a significant task, I will give it my all, study diligently, and quickly become an 'expert hand' in discipline inspection. At the same time, please supervise me; I will surely resist temptation, endure loneliness, uphold poverty, steady my mind, withstand trials, with my own strength and purity maintain the good image of new-era discipline inspection and supervision cadres, and absolutely not disappoint the organization and the people's expectations."