Chapter 668: Name on the Golden List!

December 15, Lu Fan went to Yan City. As soon as he got off the plane, he received a call from Si Daiqiang.

"Lu Fan, I guess you're on this flight. Going back to give your wife the 'public grain'? Or looking for a place to sit? I'm with Guo Xiaopeng and Gangzi."

Lu Fan laughed and replied, "Barbecue Wan Restaurant, I'll book a private room right now; today I won't leave until I'm drunk!"

Si Daiqiang laughed heartily and said, "Just make sure Zimeng doesn't ask me for people, have you trained your drinking capacity on the grassland? I have to test it for the Organization Department."

…

After hanging up, Lu Fan had the Beijing Office Director Wang Yubin go straight to Barbecue Wan Restaurant, leaving the rest for him; Wang Yubin is absolutely a master at this, able to arrange everything meticulously.

Around one o'clock, Lu Fan arrived at Barbecue Wan Restaurant first, and unexpectedly saw Wang Mingyu and several of his classmates at the entrance.

Lu Fan walked forward with a smile and patted Wang Mingyu's back.

Wang Mingyu turned his head, saw it was Lu Fan, and said happily, "Uncle Lu, I didn't expect to see you here!"

Lu Fan smiled and said, "I just got back, what's up? Coming with classmates for a feast?"

Mingyu seemed a bit embarrassed and replied, "Yes, Uncle Lu, we came to improve our meals, but our pockets are shallow, so we dare not order whole roasted lamb or other specialty dishes. In two years when I graduate and start work, I'll definitely treat you to a big dinner!"

"Mingyu, you've become sly! Go ahead, eat to your heart's content, you don't have to worry about the bill!"

"You're generous, Uncle Lu, thank you! When I graduate, I'll definitely go 'mix' with you!"

"Go quickly, eat more, grow taller!"

…

Lu Fan entered the private room, and Beijing Office Director Wang Yubin immediately brewed a pot of good tea, using his own tea leaves.

As soon as the tea aroma drifted out, Si Daiqiang's hearty laugh rang from the doorway: "Lu, Senior Secretary, have you ordered the dishes?"

Lu Fan stood up to greet, shook hands proactively with Guo Xiaopeng and Wang Gang, gave a warm greeting, then said to Si Daiqiang, "We've ordered six or seven specialty dishes; you can add more, and I brought my own liquor."

Si Daiqiang looked at the liquor bottle and sighed, "Why didn't you bring a few bottles of 'Mendao Donkey'? You're the Deputy Secretary of the Grassland, shouldn't we promote the local brand? Next time bring some 62‑degree or 65‑degree ones, both scorching and strong, one sip hits you like a punch!"

Lu Fan laughed, "Do you think we're all like you? Forty‑to‑fifty degrees is enough; a 60‑plus degree 'Mendao Donkey' is too intense—one sip feels like fire in the mouth, those with low tolerance can't touch it, a tiny sip gets you drunk, a gulp feels like the stomach's on fire, the throat burns, and it takes a long time to subside. It reminds me of an ad slogan: 'Real men only drink Mendao Donkey! With Mendao Donkey, feel the grassland's wildness!'"

Si Daiqiang's words indeed gave Lu Fan a reminder; developing the grassland's specialty industry has great potential.

After the dishes and drinks were served, the four began to sip lightly, since there was a meeting tomorrow and they couldn't be reeking of alcohol.

Wang Yubin, Cheng Haohao, and Xiao Lu waited at the doorway, actually also on guard duty.

After a few rounds, the four naturally drifted into a discussion about Jilong Province, launching a heated debate, and a storm of ideas erupted at the table.

Lu Fan was well aware that the three of them would go there to make achievements!

It would be false to say there's no regret, but everyone has their own track; Lu Fan can also shine on the Grassland, gaining success and honor.

Today's banquet was a high‑end one; many things in this world can be packaged or faked, but fresh perspectives, rigorous logic, high‑dimensional cognition, and incisive insight can never be disguised.

Lu Fan exchanged thoughts with them, sparks of ideas constantly flew, leaving deep impressions, great benefit, and also deepening their friendship.

December 16, the meeting.

During a break in the meeting, Lu Fan took three minutes to briefly report his work to Wang Hongtao.

Wang Hongtao affirmed Lu Fan's style and thinking, and finally asked, "Your area is relatively complex; what kind of support do you still need? But feel free to say!"

Lu Fan had already planned, and said bluntly, "I want to step down from the Discipline Inspection Committee, let Du Wenlong take over; Zhao Ziren to the Organization Department, Wang Jianming to the Provincial Government."

"Wenlong has trained well, capable of great responsibilities! We need to find a place for Li Yuening. Lu Fan, I'll give you another year; I want to see the Grassland's wind clear and its air upright!"

Lu Fan replied without hesitation, "Please rest assured, Secretary; I will certainly not disappoint the heavy trust nor betray the mission!"

December 18, Si Daiqiang and Lu Fan were added as Committee Members in the capacity of Deputy Secretaries, unexpected yet reasonable, but it still caused a notable reaction.

December 19, Lu Fan went to the Discipline Inspection Committee to report his duties, and reported twenty minutes of work to Secretary Chen Jiazong, focusing on five project groups and some issues raised by Provincial Medical Insurance Bureau Director Cheng Jingbo.

Chen Jiazong said earnestly, "The more pressure you face, the calmer and firmer you become; when the Discipline Inspection Committee handles cases, it must rely on evidence, close broken evidence chains, and the more evidence chains you have for the same issue, the better, so the case becomes ironclad!"

"Hong Tao has communicated with me, I know Du Wenlong fairly well; his ability isn't the problem, only his seniority is a bit thin, and his big‑picture view needs improvement. Fine, give it a try, keep a close eye on him."

Lu Fan sincerely said, "Thank you for the support, Secretary; Wenlong and I will definitely deliver a satisfactory answer sheet!"

After leaving the Discipline Inspection Committee, Lu Fan received a call from the Organization Department and hurried to meet Minister Zhou Xi.

This was the fifth time he reported work to Minister Zhou alone; Lu Fan felt the minister's attitude toward him was getting better, which was actually Zhou Xi's recognition of his ability.

When discussing the adjustment of the Grassland leadership team, Zhou Xi suggested that the Propaganda Department Head Shang Youyang be moved to become Organization Department Head, and Wang Jianming be promoted to Propaganda Department Head.

Lu Fan naturally could not refute the minister's suggestion; he knew there are never adjustments without reason, and this adjustment also fulfilled his strategic intent. As for Zhao Ziren, he could only look for an opportunity later.

Back on the Grassland, several standing committee members came to congratulate him; Lu Fan clearly felt comrades' attitudes toward him had changed a lot, and it seemed the title "Committee Member" was indeed intimidating.

December 21, Provincial Medical Insurance Bureau Director Cheng Jingbo came to the Provincial Party Committee to report work, also to congratulate Secretary Lu on his promotion to "Committee Member".

After a few polite words, Lu Fan began to explain, "Jingbo, you know best the 'dealings' of medicines and medical devices; a few yuan worth of items end up in the hands of the people as tens or dozens of yuan. I want to eliminate this profit margin completely, so both the treasury and the people bear less burden.

All medical institutions belonging to county‑level and above governments, state‑owned enterprises, etc., in the Grassland Province must participate in centralized drug procurement.

The Provincial Medical Insurance Bureau will first draft a centralized drug procurement catalogue; the evaluation method adheres to the principle of 'quality first, price reasonable', reasonably classifies drug categories, gives higher weight to quality, and considers clinical efficacy, quality standards, technological level, etc., to comprehensively assess drug quality, price, service, and reputation.

Then it will summarize and propose the varieties, specifications, and quantities of drugs for centralized procurement in Grassland Province, ensuring clinical use for medical institutions and meeting the diverse medication needs of the people.

At the same time, for drugs included in the centralized catalogue, public bidding, online auction, centralized negotiation, and direct online procurement will be implemented, so that the whole province can clearly see the factory price of each drug and the price when it reaches the people.

From today onward, addressing the prominent issues of unbalanced development across the Grassland, inconsistent procurement policies, imperfect procurement methods, and high intermediary service costs, you shall organize 'elite troops', formulate the 'Implementation Opinions on the Centralized Procurement of Medicines for Medical Institutions in Grassland Province', and must achieve guaranteeing drug quality, controlling inflated prices, rectifying purchase‑sale order, combating commercial bribery, correcting unhealthy practices, and reducing the medical cost burden of the people!

The 'Opinions' must cover the 'two‑invoice system' and direct delivery, crack down on 'ticket‑washing', and can explore establishing a fully fiscally subsidized centralized procurement agency.

"Jingbo, medicines are special commodities that safeguard the health of the people and are closely tied to public interests; I entrust this heavy responsibility to you, and have you draft the Implementation Opinions as soon as possible!"

Feeling the Secretary's deep trust, Cheng Jingbo replied tearfully, "Please rest assured, Secretary; I will certainly bear guilt and achieve merit, doing everything I can to draft the Implementation Opinions well. Under your leadership, we will truly do something for the Grassland people!"

Lu Fan calmly replied, "People are not saints; if there's a mistake, correct it, it's never too late. Knowing one's fault and improving is the greatest virtue! Let's not dwell on the past; we must look forward, sincerely serve the people, address their worries, and only then is our work meaningful!"

After returning to the unit, Cheng Jingbo personally participated, gathered more than ten 'core troops', all business backbones, and began secretly drafting the Implementation Opinions, treating it as the top priority.

December 22, Wu Hai Municipal Party Secretary Wang Jianming was ordered to go to the Provincial Party Committee; this was Lu Fan's first time proactively summoning him.

In fact, when Lu Fan first arrived on the Grassland, Wang Jianming was to visit, but Lu Fan stopped him.

The two had forged a deep friendship during the Youth Cadre Class years; although they had never met since, Wang Jianming had been biding his time, convinced that he would eventually have a place to wield his talents.