Chapter 654: with translation of chapter title

The next day, Lu Fan returned to the province and reported to Secretary Li Xingyuan the 'grand scene' of the Discipline Inspection Committee's 'arrest' operation.

After watching the on-site video, Li Xingyuan sighed: 'Truly, all their ugly sides are exposed, the myriad beings! It's not that they won't be punished, the time hasn't come! If I had known it would be like this, why bother in the first place? Look at those sitting in the venue—who isn't trembling with fear? Why are they afraid? Isn't it because they have guilty consciences? Out of several hundred people, how many are clean? The fight against corruption is arduous and long; I have let down the organization's trust and heavy responsibility!'

Lu Fan hurriedly said: 'You need not blame yourself; the problems of the grasslands have long existed, the struggle is arduous, complex, and long-term. As long as we persist, rectify conduct, enforce discipline, and fight corruption, we will surely achieve ultimate victory! The higher-ups are well aware of this, and Secretary Hong Tao has emphasized it many times.'

Li Xingyuan couldn't help asking: 'Have you been in touch with the Secretary these past two days?'

Lu Fan replied: 'We spoke on the phone last night; you know, now the winds are rising and clouds surging, the situation changes in an instant, his pressure is great, he truly has myriad affairs to handle.'

Li Xingyuan exclaimed: 'With spirit that moves mountains and rivers, and righteous qi filling the heavens, a hero is one who harbors great ambitions, possesses wise plans, harbors the mechanism of the universe, and swallows the aspirations of heaven and earth!'

The Secretary is a hero because he is selfless and impartial, because he has a loyal heart of red devotion to the motherland and the people; at critical junctures he bows his head and exerts himself, goes through fire and water, charges into battle. He truly is a pillar of the state and a model for us all!

Lu Fan echoed: 'Secretary Hong Tao is indeed our role model to learn from! Secretary, at yesterday's Ximeng League meeting, I announced on behalf of the Provincial Party Committee that Men Junhao would preside over the League Committee work and Song Junhui would preside over the League Discipline Inspection Committee work. Ximeng League has just experienced the greatest upheaval in its history; the urgent task is to quickly fill the leadership lineup so they can each fulfill their duties, perform their responsibilities conscientiously, stabilize the cadre team, and ensure all work proceeds smoothly and orderly.'

Li Xingyuan nodded and said: 'Quickly direct the Organization Department to produce a cadre adjustment plan; once it's mature, immediately convene the five-person group meeting. Lu Fan, I have a feeling that the Standing Committee might spring some surprises!'

Hearing this, Lu Fan's face darkened, and he said in a low voice: 'Do they really dare to act so recklessly?'

'Even a cornered dog will jump over the wall! Moreover, they are deeply entrenched; they cannot simply submit passively, they will certainly take action.'

Lu Fan said firmly: 'I firmly believe this is the Party's heaven, the people's heaven; a few petty clowns are nothing to fear—let them jump out, the better, we'll root them out one by one!'

'You yourself be careful, don't let them 'ensnare' you; their methods are endless and vile, you must protect yourself well.'

'Thank you for the reminder, Secretary; I will pay attention.'

Just returned to the office, Cheng Haohao came in to report; the head of the Provincial Resources Resources Department, Ma Qiang, came to report work.

This person has been running around a lot lately; Lu Fan had Cheng Haohao bring him in to observe his words, examine his actions, and discern his character, to see what he really intends.

After entering, Ma Qiang respectfully and properly reported the work plan for the remaining three months of this year and next year for the Department of Natural Resources, covering ten aspects: safeguarding farmland—the 'lifeline'; ensuring land use for key construction projects is fully protected; rectifying 'hollow villages'; conducting a thorough investigation of idle land; increasing geological survey efforts; enhancing the capacity to safeguard mineral resources; ecological protection and restoration; strengthening natural resources supervision and enforcement; he elaborated his ideas in detail.

Lu Fan could tell that Ma Qiang had put considerable effort into this report; it was substantive, and he even proactively noted down some of his viewpoints and measures.

After hearing the report, Lu Fan commented: 'I have given thought to the grasslands' land and resources work; I personally believe we should plan around the 'four emphases': greater emphasis on farmland protection, greater emphasis on thrift and intensive use, greater emphasis on innovation-driven development, greater emphasis on safeguarding the people's rights and interests; we should focus on advancing law enforcement supervision, mineral resources management, and conduct building; by fully eliminating excess capacity, reducing inventory, cutting costs, and making up shortcomings, we will comprehensively improve the guarantee and service level of land and resources, ensuring the grasslands' economy develops steadily and forges ahead.'

Ma Qiang's face showed admiration as he flattered: 'Secretary, your instructions are truly lofty and far-reaching—high standpoint, clear direction, solid implementation; I will surely implement them comprehensively in all work of the Department of Natural Resources.'

After discussing work, Ma Qiang said somewhat embarrassedly: 'Secretary, as the saying goes, a soldier who does not want to be a general is not a good soldier; now there is a vacancy for a Deputy Provincial Governor in the province, and I believe I am not inferior to anyone in terms of seniority, ability, and performance; the department's annual target responsibility assessment also ranks among the top. I want to give it a try, strive for further advancement, and I ask for your support, Secretary!' Having said that, he looked at Lu Fan full of expectation, his eyes revealing earnestness.

Lu Fan smiled and said: 'You seem to have knocked on the wrong door; for this matter you should go to Secretary Li Xingyuan and Governor Shi Yu.'

Ma Qiang hurriedly said: 'Secretary, you are young and capable, your outstanding achievements are evident to all, and you are deeply trusted and valued by superiors. If you could speak a word for me, it would outweigh a hundred others; I earnestly ask you to help, to mediate strongly in this matter. I sincerely hope that on a larger platform I can do more practical deeds for our grassland people and seek more blessings for them!'

'Secretary, I am not an ungrateful person; your help I will surely keep in mind. No matter what, as long as you give a word, I will certainly carry it out clearly and unequivocally! If you tell me to go east, I will never go west; if you tell me to kill a chicken, I would never dare to kill a sheep!'

Lu Fan casually brushed off: 'Pursuing progress is not wrong; personal growth has no shortcuts, only by down-to-earth conscientious work and delivering real results can one advance. If the organization seeks my opinion, I will certainly state the facts truthfully.'

Ma Qiang said excitedly: 'Thank you very much for your strong support, Secretary; I will work diligently and conscientiously, and will never betray your trust and help!'

On the morning of September 29, the head of the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department, Li Yuenning, came to the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee and reported to Lu Fan the cadre adjustment plan, which involved three major parts: first, internal adjustment of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee; second, staffing of the Ximeng League leadership team; third, filling vacant positions in the provincial judicial system.

Regarding the internal adjustment of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee, Du Wenlong has already submitted the plan to the Organization Department; this is not open to discussion, and now no one will point fingers or gossip about the Discipline Inspection Committee's cadre adjustments.

Regarding the candidate for Ximeng League Committee Secretary, Lu Fan clearly stated he wanted to use Men Junhao, but Li Yuenning said that several leaders had proposed giving priority consideration to Provincial Party Committee Deputy Secretary-General Xu Yan, citing his greater seniority, stronger overall perspective, and more pragmatic, responsible work; moreover, Li Yuenning's attitude was firm, insisting that Xu Yan be included in the candidate pool.

Lu Fan did not want to break with him, so he agreed to include Xu Yan in the list of candidates for inspection.

As for staffing the judicial system, Lu Fan did not intervene, mainly because he had no one at hand; he therefore asked Li Yuenning to solicit opinions from Governor Shi Yu and the Political and Legal Affairs Committee, and finally asked Secretary Li Xingyuan to make the decision.

The half-hour exchange was somewhat 'bumpy'; Li Yuenning acted out of character, becoming utterly 'principled,' which reminded Lu Fan of the saying: 'If a person acts abnormally, there must be a ghost; if matters arise abnormally, there must be a demon.' Li Xingyuan's concerns are not without reason; he knows these people better, and now he can only wait and see how things develop.

At 8 p. m. on September 30, Lu Fan finished a day's busyness, returned to Compound No. 3, intending to rest well for the night, and the next day he would go back to his residence to enjoy a lovely long holiday.

Just as he entered his home, someone came to pay a visit.

Xiao Lu checked the surveillance and reported to Lu Fan: 'Secretary, it's Ma Qiang from the Department of Natural Resources, holding a bag in one hand and a large suitcase in the other, with a business car parked at the gate.'

'Let him in first; you should avoid him later.'

Soon after, Ma Qiang came in panting, first placing the suitcase beside the tea table, then putting the plastic bag on the table, and said respectfully: 'Secretary, I just saw your office light still on; you must have forgotten to eat again this afternoon? You need to take care of your health! I brought some late-night snacks, though I don't know if they suit your taste.'

Lu Fan smiled and said: 'It's thoughtful, but I'll have to disappoint your kindness—I already grabbed a few bites outside when I came back. It's so late; what do you need from me?'

Ma Qiang steeled himself and said, "Secretary, as I said last time, I want to get ahead—it's the final push. Lately I haven't been eating well, I can't sleep, anxious and sleepless night after night, I've lost weight. Everyone knows you care for cadres, Secretary, you're warm-hearted. I really have no other way now, but I truly don't want to waste this precious opportunity; I'd like to ask you to help me grease the wheels above. I know it's all about connections nowadays—everything has a price. Today I brought a little token; please, Secretary, help me!"

Lu Fan glanced at the suitcase and asked, "How much did you bring?"

Feeling hopeful, Ma Qiang blurted, "There are 500 in the box!"

Lu Fan looked at Ma Qiang, teasingly said, "Trying to secure a Deputy Provincial Governor with just 500? That's a bit far-fetched, isn't it?"

Originally I thought you were aloof, but you're also "like-minded"! Ma Qiang relaxed, saying, "Secretary, for this Deputy Provincial Governor I'd even smash my pots and sell my iron! The 500 are just meal money; there's more in the car—I'm absolutely sincere!"

"How many are in the car?"

Ma Qiang gritted his teeth and said, "Secretary, I've prepared 5,000 in the car. If I can get what I want, I'll try to make 200 million!"

Lu Fan sighed and said, "Looks like managing land is quite lucrative, huh? You're not exactly poor! Take me to have a look."

"All right, Secretary!" Ma Qiang stood up, led Lu Fan to the business car, opened the door, and saw the inside filled with "suitcases."

Seeing this, Lu Fan felt a mix of emotions, anger burning, but more so sorrow.

"Ma Qiang, I'll have someone come and take the suitcases away!"

"Secretary, I'll follow your arrangements!"