Chapter 13

Reward for merit, punishment for fault—this is the most basic principle. As the county magistrate, Zhang Daxian could not possibly be unaware of this. His previous words to Yang Jie directly cornered him. As long as Yang Jie still wanted to work within the system, he had no choice but to comply.

Zhou Dalong's indignation on Yang Jie's behalf was expected. After seeing Yang Jie drink a bowl of wine, Zhang Daxian's expression had changed, knowing well that Yang Jie's alcohol tolerance was definitely not as good as Jimmy's. His insistence on making Yang Jie drink was merely to have Yang Jie accompany Jimmy, hoping that Yang Jie would drink until he fell, making Jimmy feel guilty and thus giving the county an advantage in the project negotiations.

His idea was good, but he used Yang Jie as a disposable pawn. No matter how Yang Jie performed, Zhang Daxian would not suffer any loss. However, he overlooked Zhou Dalong's high regard for Yang Jie. Now, with Zhou Dalong demanding an explanation in public, Zhang Daxian was in a difficult position.

Zhou Dalong's words were not without merit. At this point, the way Yang Jie and Jimmy were drinking was far from the standard reception protocol.

Drinking five ounces of 56-degree white wine in one go, even seasoned officials might struggle, let alone Yang Jie, a young man just out of college. No one knew the extent of his alcohol tolerance.

From the looks of it, Yang Jie could handle a few more bowls. The statement about risking his life was not an exaggeration. Zhang Daxian was at a loss for how to reward Yang Jie if he successfully accompanied Jimmy and secured the project.

Secretary Lei, sitting next to Zhang Daxian, couldn't help but smile when he heard Zhou Dalong's words. Zhang Daxian wanted to put Secretary Zhou and Yang Jie in a difficult position, but now Yang Jie had accepted the challenge and was drinking with Jimmy in full view of everyone, without any pretense.

If Yang Jie could make Jimmy happy, the county would certainly give him credit. Otherwise, who would be willing to work hard for the county in the future?

"Secretary Zhou, as the saying goes, 'reward for merit, punishment for fault.' Yang Jie's actions are still a mix of merit and fault. Isn't it a bit premature to discuss rewards now?" Zhang Daxian, seeing that Secretary Lei and Director Chen were watching, and with leaders like Li Mingsheng and Fang Chaoming from the tungsten mine also paying attention, had to respond to Zhou Dalong.

"County Magistrate Zhang, that's a bit petty. I think Yang Jie has done more good than harm. He has made Jimmy so happy, and through him, we have learned about Jimmy's fondness for alcohol. Even if Yang Jie can't fully accompany Jimmy today, can't we find someone to properly entertain him back in the county?

Therefore, the county must correctly recognize Yang Jie's contribution. Otherwise, who will dare to step up for the county's work in the future? Who will trust us as leaders? No reward for merit, but punishment for fault!" Zhou Dalong, hearing Zhang Daxian's words, exuded a powerful aura, his eyes like hawks, staring at Zhang Daxian, the authority of a secretary evident as he asked a series of questions.

"County Magistrate, Secretary Zhou is right. Although Yang Jie's organizational relationship has been transferred to the county, his formal employment procedures have not been completed. He didn't have to work so hard, but he stepped up for the county's investment project without hesitation.

Not only did he shorten the inspection time, allowing us to directly enter the project negotiation phase, but he also established a very good personal relationship with Mr. Jimmy, which is beneficial for future project negotiations. Therefore, it is necessary and essential to give Yang Jie appropriate recognition afterward." Lei Shuping, the deputy secretary in charge of the economy and industry, a member of the county party committee, spoke with considerable weight, which Zhang Daxian could not ignore.

Seeing Zhang Daxian's unhappy expression, Chen Yuan took the initiative to defuse the situation: "Secretary, County Magistrate, shouldn't we discuss the specific rewards for Yang Jie back in the county? After all, the current setting is not appropriate, and we don't want outsiders to mock us."

Chen Yuan's words, ostensibly to help Zhang Daxian, actually aligned with Zhou Dalong's opinion, setting the tone for the discussion. Zhou Dalong smiled slightly, no longer paying attention to the grim-faced Zhang Daxian, and turned his gaze to Yang Jie, who was drinking with Jimmy.

After three large bowls, even the highly tolerant Jimmy was slightly out of breath. Looking at Yang Jie, who still seemed unaffected, Jimmy's eyes sparkled. He smiled and said to Yang Jie, "Jie! I didn't expect you to be such a drinking expert. If I had known you could drink so much, I would have found you to drink when I first came to Wuhexian."

Yang Jie smiled and said to Jimmy, "It's not too late! Jimmy, how is the wine?"

"Great! Your father's distillery's wine is no worse than some of the famous wines I've had. The packaging is a bit lacking, but if it could be improved, the quality would be much higher. I would like to visit your father's distillery if I have the chance."

Jimmy, after a brief rest, opened another bottle of Wuhexian grain wine, pouring it into a large bowl as he spoke.

"Sure! I formally invite you to visit my father's distillery. I hope you can provide valuable suggestions for its development!" Yang Jie raised the wine bowl on the table, gesturing to Jimmy, and drank first as a sign of respect.

Hearing Yang Jie's words, Jimmy's face lit up with a happy smile, "I accept your invitation!"

"Regarding the project, I will leave it to you and Jameson. After we return to the county, I will visit your father's distillery with Jie, hoping to help Jie's father." Jimmy, after speaking to Yang Jie, turned to Loren and instructed him.

Loren smiled and nodded, "Chairman, why not have the group's designers create a new packaging for Jie's father's distillery, turning it into a new premium white wine brand? If we can improve the brewing formula to make the wine taste better, exporting it won't be difficult. If you're interested, you can invest in it."

Hearing Loren's suggestion, Jimmy's eyes sparkled. He smiled and said, "Loren's suggestion is good. After visiting Jie's father's distillery, I will consider it."

At this moment, Jimmy didn't know that while he was talking to Loren, Yang Jie was chatting with Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu, knowing that Yang Jie's father ran a distillery, had a gleam in her eyes and was enticing Yang Jie, "Brother Jie~! I have many brewing formulas! Some of them even have the effect of enhancing human bioenergy, which is commonly known as functional wine. Drinking functional wine is very beneficial to the human body. Do you want to try it?"

Yang Jie's heart leaped with joy. Xiao Wu, being a future AI, would not provide ordinary formulas. According to Yang Jie's understanding, bioenergy is the energy required for human survival. A wine that enhances bioenergy would certainly be beneficial to the human body.

"No, when the wine is made, no matter how much I drink, it will all be absorbed by you, and I won't get any benefit!" Yang Jie, with a twinkle in his eye, looked at Xiao Wu's confident expression and decided to tease her.

Sure enough, as soon as Yang Jie spoke, Xiao Wu's smiling face froze. Looking at the serious Yang Jie, she said doubtfully, "Do you really think so? The more bioenergy in the human body, the better it is for one's health. When bioenergy accumulates to a certain level, it will bring a qualitative improvement to the body.

Moreover, in this era, there are no good functional wines. If your father's distillery can produce functional wine, it will surely make a lot of money. If you choose a political career without a solid economic foundation, you might make mistakes in the future. I am doing this all for your benefit!"

"But no matter how good it is, the bioenergy I absorb will still be taken by you, and I won't get any benefit! Even if we make a lot of money, it won't buy my health, right?" Yang Jie pretended to be dissatisfied and said to Xiao Wu.

"Oh, Brother Jie, you are my host, and we are a community of interests. I want you to be well, so I hope you will trust me! As long as the functional wine can be produced, after making money, we can create the simplest energy liquid, which will provide the system with the energy it needs without drawing from your body."

"Really?"

"Of course!"

"Alright, I'll trust you this time!" Yang Jie, satisfied with Xiao Wu's confirmation, looked at Jimmy, who was raising another wine bowl, and without hesitation, raised his own bowl, clinking it with Jimmy's and smiling as he drank the white wine.