Chapter 4: On the Firing Line

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  "Is Xiao Yang a top student at Yanjing University? How's his English? How's his spoken conversation?" Zhang Da looked at Yang Jie in front of him, with a hint of scrutiny in his eyes, and glanced at the foreign businessmen beside him before asking aloud.

  Zhou Dalong heard Zhang Daxian ask this, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, with an unpleasant expression on his face. Just now, he had already introduced Yang Jie, but Zhang Daxian asked again in public, which was undoubtedly questioning Zhou Dalong's judgment in front of everyone.

  Yang Jie is the talent that Zhou Dalong brought back from the city. If Yang Jie, in front of foreign businessmen and county leaders and staff, says that he didn't learn English well, then so-called high-achieving students and talents are just a joke. Not only would it humiliate Zhou Dalong, but also ruin Yang Jie's future prospects with just one word.

  Yang Jie said that Yang Jie's English was okay, so Zhang Dashan had to ask Yang Jie to be the translator for those few foreign businessmen. But think about it, a recent university graduate who isn't even an English major, how could he possibly do professional translation work? Even if Yang Jie managed to do it, it would still give people the impression that he was pretending to be something he's not.

  Furthermore, in order to receive these few foreign businessmen, the county specially invited two interpreters from the city. If Yang Jie intervenes, what will these two interpreters think? If due to translation issues, Yunhe County loses face in front of the foreign businessmen, it may lightly affect this project's investment and at worst make Yunhe County a laughing stock for foreign businesspeople.

  "Yang Jie is just a recent graduate of the Economics Department of Yanjing University, and he doesn't dare to be called an outstanding student. English is a compulsory course in college, and Yang Jie is not as good as those English majors in terms of professional proficiency, but he has no problem with basic daily conversations." Yang Jie answered Zhang Daxian's questions without leaking any information, although he was a bit too confident, fortunately, he didn't talk too much, which made Zhou Dalong feel relieved.

  Zhang Dashan's face revealed a hint of a smile as he heard the words, and he looked at Yang Jie and said: "I didn't expect that you, Yang Jie, would be an economics graduate. What a coincidence! These foreign businessmen are esteemed guests who have come all the way from Italy to our county to investigate the high-end stone material development project in our county.

  Since the city has assigned you to our county, and you are an excellent student in economics, also proficient in daily English conversation, I think it's better for you to represent the county committee and government, responsible for taking care of these foreign businessmen during their inspection period in our county, including daily life and related travel tasks. If there are any questions involving economic fields, you can answer them on the spot as well!

  "This way, we can cultivate and train our own foreign talent in Huanghe County, let Yang Jie play to his strengths, and also give foreign businessmen the impression that Huanghe County is not lacking in talent. It's a win-win-win situation!"

  "Director Zhou, people say that the son of a hero is also a good fellow. Yang Xinhua is a hero and an able manager, I believe Yang Jie won't be any worse. The central government has been advocating for vigorously cultivating and promoting young cadres. As an outstanding graduate of Yanjing University, Yang Jie was personally introduced by you as a talent. I think it's entirely possible to include him in the county's reserve team of cadres for training."

  "Why not take this reception task as a test for Yang Jie, with rewards for success and no punishment for failure? What do you think?" Zhang Da didn't wait for Zhou Dalong to object, and directly gave Zhou Dalong a military order in front of everyone, making it impossible for him to come up with a reason to oppose.

  Yang Xinhua is a hero and a capable manager. His son Yang Jie, not only an excellent student in the economics department of Yanjing University, but also a talent personally sought after by Zhou Dalong. Zhang Dashan first asked about Yang Jie's English skills, then emphasized that Yang Jie was an economics major, and finally used the central government's promotion and training of young cadres as leverage to pressure Zhou Dalong.

  Although Zhang Dasheng said in the end, 'merit is rewarded and fault is not punished', everyone present knew that if Yang Jie really made a mistake, he would definitely be held responsible. Zhou Dalong disagreed with Zhang Dasheng's words, which meant he did not trust Yang Jie. Whether or not to believe in his own judgment was contrary to the central government's call to give young people opportunities.

  Yang Jie was a newcomer to the official scene, but Zhang Da Xian's purpose and carefulness, although he didn't guess everything, also analyzed some of it. Originally wise eyes revealed a thread of anger, his whole demeanor changed, becoming sharp and keen, looking like an unsheathed precious sword with its edge exposed.

  "Since the county magistrate thinks Yang Jie is worth cultivating, we should naturally give young people an opportunity to exercise and learn!" Zhou Dalong looked at Yang Jie in front of him, who was still calm and composed after realizing the county magistrate's intentions, and felt a surge of confidence in his heart.

  Zhou Dalong is a military man by birth, born and died, killing decisively. Since you want to fight, then fight. He has confidence in Yang Jie.

  "Director Chen, Yang Jie's organizational relationship has been transferred to the county, right? His current work has not been specifically arranged, I think it's better to arrange him to the Foreign Affairs Office of the County Party Committee. From today on, he will represent the county party committee and government to take care of the daily life of these foreign businessmen during their inspection in Yuhang County, as well as related travel tasks."

  The original project recruitment working group members remain unchanged, just add Yang Jie to it. This afternoon, you let Yang Jie take a look at the project files and materials, and convey the instructions and requirements of the county party committee and government on this recruitment work. Be sure to let him integrate into the work in the shortest time possible." Zhou Dalong instructed Chen Yuan, the director of the county party committee office, in a low voice.

  "Alright! I'll help Little Yang get into work mode as soon as possible!"

  Chen Yuan said, with a flash of color in her eyes. She didn't think Zhou Dalong would agree to Zhang Dasan's proposal. To be sure, Zhang Dasan's proposal was absolutely not good-hearted. Looking at Yang Jie, who still had a calm and composed expression, Chen Yuan couldn't help but feel a sense of unease in her heart. She worried that the current good situation Zhou Dalong was in in Yuhang County would undergo unpredictable changes because of this young man.

  A few simple sentences exchanged in just a few minutes, yet it determined the fate of a young man who had just entered politics for his whole life, and also changed Zhou Dalong's future destiny. However, at this moment, no one present was aware of all this.

  Zhou Dalong and others talked, without attracting the attention of several foreign businessmen nearby. They were introduced by two translators to understand this seemingly prosperous small town.

  Fuxin Town is the most prosperous town in the entire Xunhe County due to the existence of Fuxin Tungsten Mine. This time, Zhou Dalong and his team brought several foreign businessmen to Fuxin Town for two reasons: one was to let them see the development of Fuxin Town due to the exploitation of resources and minerals, and the other was because Fuxin Tungsten Mine has a very famous machinery factory in the Yangcheng area.

  If the stone project is successfully carried out, a large number of cutting, grinding and other mechanical equipment will be needed. Fuxin Tungsten Mine Machinery Factory happens to produce such equipment. Although Fuxin Tungsten Mine does not belong to the county's jurisdiction, after all, the tungsten mine is located within the boundaries of Xinghua County, and in terms of electricity consumption, water use, children's education, and public security, the mine still needs strong support from the county government.

  Therefore, in Fuxin County, at the Wuming Mechanical Factory of Fuxin Tungsten Mine, you can absolutely purchase the most suitable equipment at the cheapest price.

  This time, the county has come to ask for something. The tungsten mine is a level cadre and the secretary is also a level cadre. If other county leaders were to come over, it would be somewhat inappropriate and show disrespect to the mine. Therefore, Zhou Daliang and Zhang Dasen, the two top leaders of Yuhang County, personally accompanied foreign businessmen to visit and negotiate with Fuxin Tungsten Mine.

  "Xiao translation, this is Comrade Yang Jie, a graduate of the Economics Department of Yenching University. He works in the Foreign Affairs Office of our county government and will represent the county government in the next few days to take care of the daily life and itinerary of several foreign businessmen during their inspection tour in Qujiang County."

  I hope you can introduce a few foreign businessmen later and help guide them to complete the reception task in the next few days." Zhou Dalong saw that Chen Yuan was already introducing the reception task to Yang Jie, so he called over the translator who had been invited from the city, introduced Yang Jie, and then carefully instructed him.

  Xiao Yuan is a graduate of the English Department of Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, and has worked in the Provincial Department of Foreign Trade. He has extensive experience in foreign reception translation. When he saw Zhou Dali, the county party secretary, being so cautious and instructing him to help guide Yang Jie with this task, it was clear that Yang Jie had little experience in foreign reception.

  Although he was unhappy in his heart, after all, they came down from the city to coordinate and support the Huaihe County, to complete this foreign business translation reception task perfectly. If something went wrong, as the leader of the municipal bureau of commerce translation group, he would lose face and prestige.