Chapter 9

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"Xiao Yang is a top student from Yanjing University? How is his English? How is his conversational ability?" Zhang Daxian looked at Yang Jie in front of him, his eyes filled with a hint of scrutiny, and glanced at the few foreign businessmen beside him, asking Yang Jie in public.

When Zhou Dalong heard Zhang Daxian's question, a sharp light flashed in his eyes, and a trace of displeasure appeared on his face. He had already introduced Yang Jie just now, but Zhang Daxian was questioning Yang Jie in public, which was undoubtedly a public challenge to Zhou Dalong's judgment.

Yang Jie was a talent Zhou Dalong had brought from the city. If Yang Jie admitted to the foreign businessmen, as well as the leaders and staff of the county party committee and government, that his English was not good, then the so-called top student and talent would just be a joke, not only embarrassing Zhou Dalong but also potentially ruining Yang Jie's future.

If Yang Jie said his English was still okay, then Zhang Daxian would certainly ask Yang Jie to translate for the foreign businessmen. How could a recent university graduate, who was not an English major, handle professional translation work? Even if Yang Jie勉强为之, it would leave everyone with the impression that he was overconfident and unrealistic.

Moreover, the county had specially invited two translators from the city to receive these foreign businessmen. If Yang Jie intervened, what would the two translators think? If the translation issues caused the county to embarrass itself in front of the foreign businessmen, it could at best affect this project's investment and at worst make the county a laughingstock to foreign businessmen.

"Yang Jie is merely a recent graduate from the economics department of Yanjing University. The title of top student is too much for him. English is a required course in university, and while Yang Jie is not as proficient as those top students in English majors, he can handle basic daily conversations without any problem." Yang Jie answered Zhang Daxian's question flawlessly. Although he was a bit too confident, he didn't overstate his abilities, which greatly relieved Zhou Dalong.

Hearing this, a smile appeared on Zhang Daxian's face. He looked at Yang Jie and said, "I didn't expect you, Yang Jie, to be a graduate of the economics department. What a coincidence. These foreign businessmen are distinguished guests who have come to our Wuhe County from Italy to examine the high-end stone development project. Since the city has assigned you to our Wuhe County, and you are a top student in economics who can handle daily English conversations, I think you should represent the county party committee and government to take care of the foreign businessmen's daily life and related travel tasks during their visit. If there are any economic issues, you can answer them on the spot. This way, we can cultivate and train our own foreign affairs talent, allow Yang Jie to utilize his professional strengths, and give the foreign businessmen the impression that Wuhe County is not short of talent. It's a win-win situation!"

"Secretary Zhou, they say that a hero's son is a hero. Yang Xinhua is a hero and a business expert. I believe Yang Jie won't be any worse. The central government has been advocating the vigorous cultivation and promotion of young cadres. As an outstanding graduate of Yanjing University and a talent you personally brought in, I think Yang Jie can be listed as a reserve cadre for our county. Why don't we treat this reception task as a test for Yang Jie? There will be rewards for success and no punishment for failure. What do you think?" Zhang Daxian didn't wait for Zhou Dalong to object and directly put him on the spot in front of everyone, leaving him no reason to oppose.

Yang Xinhua is a hero and a business expert. His son, Yang Jie, is not only a top student in the economics department of Yanjing University but also a talent Zhou Dalong personally brought from the city. Zhang Daxian first asked about Yang Jie's English, then emphasized that he was an economics student, and finally used the central government's call to cultivate and promote young cadres to pressure Zhou Dalong.

Although Zhang Daxian said, "There will be rewards for success and no punishment for failure," everyone knew that if Yang Jie really made a mistake, he would have to take responsibility. If Zhou Dalong disagreed with Zhang Daxian, it would mean he didn't trust Yang Jie, doubted his own judgment, and went against the central government's call to give young people a chance.

Yang Jie was a newcomer to the political arena, but he could sense Zhang Daxian's intentions and purposes. His originally wise eyes flashed with anger, and his entire demeanor changed, becoming sharp and incisive, like a sword drawn from its sheath.

"Since the county magistrate thinks Yang Jie is worth cultivating, we should naturally give young people a chance to learn and grow!" Zhou Dalong looked at the sharp and incisive Yang Jie, seeing that he remained calm and composed even after realizing the county magistrate's intentions, showing a steady and commanding presence. A sense of confidence welled up in his heart.

Zhou Dalong was a military man, used to making decisive decisions. If you want to fight, then let's fight. He had confidence in Yang Jie.

"Director Chen, has Yang Jie's organizational relationship been transferred to the county? His current work has not been specifically arranged. I think we should assign him to the Foreign Affairs and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the county party committee. From today, he will represent the county party committee and government to take care of the foreign businessmen's daily life and related travel tasks during their visit. The original project recruitment team members will remain unchanged, and we will add Yang Jie. This afternoon, show him the project documents and materials and convey the county party committee and government's instructions and requirements for this recruitment work, ensuring he integrates into the work as soon as possible." Zhou Dalong instructed the county party committee office director, Chen Yuan, in a serious tone.

"Okay! I will help Xiao Yang get into the work as soon as possible!"

Chen Yuan's eyes flashed with surprise. She didn't expect Zhou Dalong to agree to Zhang Daxian's proposal. Knowing that Zhang Daxian's proposal was not well-intentioned, she felt a sense of unease, worrying that the current favorable situation in Wuhe County might change unpredictably because of this young man.

The brief conversation among the few people took only a few minutes but decided the fate of a young man just entering the political arena and also changed Zhou Dalong's future. However, no one present realized this at the moment.

Zhou Dalong's conversation did not attract the attention of the nearby foreign businessmen. They were being introduced to this seemingly prosperous town by the two translators.

Fuxin Town, due to the presence of the Fuxin Tungsten Mine, is the most prosperous town in Wuhe County. This time, Zhou Dalong and his team brought the foreign businessmen to Fuxin Town for two reasons: to show them the development of Fuxin Town due to resource mining and because the Fuxin Tungsten Mine has a well-known machinery factory in the Yangcheng region.

If the stone project is successfully launched, a large number of cutting and polishing machines will be needed, and the Fuxin Tungsten Mine Machinery Factory can produce these machines. Although the tungsten mine is not under the county's jurisdiction, it is located within Wuhe County and still needs the county's support in areas such as electricity, water, education for employees' children, and public security.

Therefore, the county can purchase the most suitable equipment at the lowest price from the Fuxin Tungsten Mine Machinery Factory.

This time, the county has a request, and the mine manager and party secretary are both at the county level. It would be inappropriate for other county leaders to come, as it would show a lack of respect. Therefore, Zhou Dalong and Zhang Daxian, the heads of the county party committee and government, personally accompanied the foreign businessmen to inspect and negotiate at the Fuxin Tungsten Mine.

"Translator Xiao, this comrade Yang Jie is a graduate of the economics department of Yanjing University and a staff member of the Foreign Affairs and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the county party committee. In the next few days, he will represent the county party committee and government to take care of the foreign businessmen's daily life and travel tasks during their visit. I hope you can introduce him to the foreign businessmen and help guide him in handling the reception tasks over the next few days." Seeing that Chen Yuan was already introducing the reception tasks to Yang Jie, Zhou Dalong called over the translator from the city, introduced Yang Jie, and gave a serious reminder.

Xiao Yuan is a graduate of the English major at the Guangzhou University of Foreign Studies and has worked in the provincial foreign trade department, with very rich experience in foreign reception and translation. Seeing the county party secretary, Zhou Dalong, give such a serious reminder and explicitly ask him to help guide Yang Jie, he knew that Yang Jie had no experience in foreign reception.

Although he was unhappy, they had come from the city to support Wuhe County and complete the foreign reception task. If anything went wrong, he, as the head of the city's economic and trade bureau translation team, would be greatly embarrassed.

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