Noon. The sun is shining brightly.
The entrance of ‘Hai Shen’ Seafood restaurant.
Guo Panwei drove the Mercedes MPV into the open-air carpark, and Lin Pingping alighted first. She quickly opened the rear passenger door for Dong Xuebing. A staff member from Business Section One, Zhang Fan, had come along with them. Lin Pingping had brought him along is because he had been working on this investment, and his alcohol tolerance is high. She had heard that Liang Zeyuan loves drinking, and Zhang Fan’s job today is to drink with him.
Lin Pingping instructed. “Xiao Zhang, we will be counting on you later.”
Zhang Fan smiled embarrassedly. “Section Chief Lin, Mr. Liang’s alcohol tolerance is about 1 liter to 1.5 liters. The last time we drank, Mr. Liang made me drink…”
“You are getting scared before we even drink?!” Lin Pingping frowned. “You got the wrong attitude. I want you to go all out today. If we get the contract, I will give you the biggest credit.”
“I will do my best.” Zhang Fan replied.
Dong Xuebing overheard their conversation. “The investor is very good at drinking?”
Lin Pingping smiled. “I saw Mr. Liang finishing a bottle of Maotai himself with my own eyes. It is about 1.5 liters, and despite drinking one bottle, he still looks fine. I think he can still drink. Mr. Liang also likes people who can drink. We had dinner with him yesterday, and I thought we could reach a deal. But Xiao Zhang can’t drink after 500ml, and we couldn’t finish the negotiation.”
Dong Xuebing was surprised to hear all these. “You all measure one’s alcohol tolerance in units of 0.5 liters?! I only measure my drinking by units of 100ml.”
Lin Pingping laughed. “Me too. My limit is around 250ml.”
“Haha… It’s quite a lot.” Dong Xuebing can only drink around 200ml at most.
Suddenly, a black Toyota Crown turned into the carpark, and a middle-aged man with a dark complexion alighted. His leather shoes are covered with dust and look like he had just visited a construction site. Lin Pingping whispered to Dong Xuebing, and Dong Xuebing knew this man is Liang Zeyuan. He doesn’t look like a billionaire and looks more like a businessman from a small village.
Liang Zeyuan saw Lin Pingping and Zhang Fan and walks over. He laughed as he greeted them. “Chief Lin, Xiao Zhang, sorry to keep you all waiting.”
Lin Pingping laughed. “We had just reach also. Mr. Liang, let me introduce you. This is our Investment Promotion Agency’s Chief.”
Dong Xuebing extended his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
Agency Chief?! Mr. Liang is quite a surprise to see the Agency’s Chief to be so young. He laughed and shook Dong Xuebing’s hand. “Chief Dong, nice to meet you.”
After a while, Deputy Mayor Zhao Xinglong arrived, and everyone entered the restaurant after some introductions.
They entered a private room on the second floor. Zhao Xinglong sat in the main seat, followed by Dong Xuebing, Lin Pingping, Guo Panwei, Zhang Fan, Liang Zeyuan, and his driver. On their way into the restaurant, Liang Zeyuan had asked his driver to bring two boxes of Maotai from his car. He must really love drinking, or else, why would he have boxes of Maotai in his car?
All the dishes were served, and most of it is seafood dishes.
Liang Zeyuan did not say anything, and his driver poured everyone a glass of Baijiu.
Dong Xuebing and the Investment Promotion Agency staff are fine, as drinking is part of their job. But the County Government has strict regulations on drinking during office hours. Zhao Xinglong still must return to work after lunch, and Lin Pingping explained to Liang Zeyuan. To everyone’s surprise, Zhao Xinglong raised his glass and laughed. “I still have to work in the afternoon. But since Mr. Liang says so, I will drink this glass. I will be reprimanded by Mayor Xie if she smells alcohol on me… Hahaha…” This is his way of supporting Dong Xuebing’s work.
Lin Pingping and the rest bottom up.
Guo Panwei also looks like he has high alcohol tolerance like Zhang Fan.
Dong Xuebing is the only one who is getting worried. The glass of Baijiu is around 125ml, and drinking on an empty stomach is making him uncomfortable. He is also worried that he would disgrace himself if he got drunk. Dong Xuebing had to finish his glass of Baijiu in several parts. He felt he had reached his limit after this glass, and he will be drunk if he has to drink one more glass.
Dong Xuebing’s alcohol tolerance is too low.
Dong Xuebing can feel a slight headache now. He knew he must attend such lunch and dinners in the future, and if he drinks with the investors, he will get drunk and embarrass himself. But if he doesn’t drink, the investors might felt they are not respected. He will be facing investors who love drinking, and he cannot handle it.
This is an issue for Dong Xuebing, and it is a big issue.
They chatted while eating, and Dong Xuebing is thinking about solving his low alcohol tolerance issue.
The lunch started, and everyone did not mention anything about the investment. The important issues are usually discussed at the end of the meal after everyone had eaten and drank. Dong Xuebing has a good impression of Liang Zeyuan. He is a straightforward person and speaks his mind. During the meal, Liang Zeyuan received a phone call from a friend. His friend wants to borrow 1 million RMB from him, and Liang Zeyuan agreed immediately without any questions.
Dong Xuebing nodded in his heart, as he loves to befriend people like Liang Zeyuan.
“Eh?” Liang Zeyuan suddenly looks at Dong Xuebing’s wrist. “Chief Dong, your watch…”
Lin Pingping looks over. She knew Liang Zeyuan had seen Chief Dong’s Patek Philippe. She is also curious why Dong Xuebing is wearing such an expensive watch.
“Watch?” Dong Xuebing raised his hand and laughed. “Mr. Liang, you also like watches?”
Liang Zeyuan laughed. “I don’t know about watches. I am an unrefined person, but I love diamonds. Chief Dong, the diamonds on your watch is worth at least a million, right?” Liang Zeyuan does not know what the brand of Dong Xuebing’s watch is, but he knows about diamonds.
Guo Panwei’s face changed, and he is worried.
Dong Xuebing thought nothing about it and laughed. “I don’t know how much they are worth.”
Zhao Xinglong is afraid Liang Zeyuan might misunderstand, and affect his impression of Yan Tai County Government staff. He laughed and said. “Chief Dong is different. He is the richest leader in Yan Tai County.” Zhao Xinglong saw Liang Zeyuan, Lin Pingping, and the rest were puzzled and continued. “Chie Dong had won the top prize in the lottery in Beijing.” All the leaders in Yan Tai County Government knew about this, but not the staff on the ground.
It suddenly dawned on Lin Pingping. She finally knows what is going on.
Guo Panwei was also surprised, and Zhang Fan’s eyes almost pop out.
Dong Xuebing laughed. “Mayor Zhao had exposed me. Hahaha…”
“Oh, I see.” Liang Zeyuan immediately becomes interested in Dong Xuebing. Someone who won the top prize of the lottery and becomes an Investment Promotion Agency’s Chief should be extraordinary at his age.
After some exchanges, they started to go into the main topic.
Lin Pingping said. “Chief Liang, how do you feel after you visit our County?”
Dong Xuebing and Zhao Xinglong looked at Liang Zeyuan.
Liang Zeyuan finished the Baijiu in his glass and said. “Not bad. I had visited Yan Tai County five to six years ago, and it had changed quite a lot now. The economy here is much better, but I don’t like to beat around the bush. I had visited the plot reserved for cold storage, and to be honest, Da Feng County is better.”
Zhao Xinglong said. “Mr. Liang, this pork processing plant is very important to the County, and it will be one of our County’s core industries in the future.”
Liang Zeyuan did not say anything, as Da Feng County’s Leaders had said the same thing.
Dong Xuebing added. “You should have seen the subsidies our County is offering you. Not only are we offering tax subsidies, but we will also give you a discount on the land.”
Lin Pingping took out a document and showed it to Liang Zeyuan. “This is the quotation I prepared this morning. The land usage is 3 million, construction is 4 million, facilities and equipment are about 10 million, the installation and calibration, transportation, environmental protection facilities, and additional costs will add up to 21 million. We will also be offering tax subsidies, and this is our best off to you.”
Liang Zeyuan looks at the document. “Hmm… the land usage fee is not high, and it is within my budget. Da Feng County’s fees are slightly higher than your County. Still, their facilities are more comprehensive, and their supply chain is more developed. That is what I am looking for, and I will not lie to you all that I will go back to consider. Comparing both Counties, Da Feng County is more suitable to build a factory.
Rejection.
Lin Pingping and the rest kept quiet. Sigh… we still failed in the end.
Zhang Fan is already tipsy, and he asked. “Mr. Liang, can you reconsider this?”
Liang Zeyuan shook his head and suddenly look at Zhang Fan. He laughed. “Xiao Zhang, you had drunk about 250 ml already?! Not bad. Since young, I have respected people who can drink. My limit is around 1 liter… hahaha… If you can drink more than me and can finish 1.5 liters, I will reconsider my investment in your County.” Liang Zeyuan loves to befriend people who can drink, and his buddies are all good drinkers.
Xiao Zhang was stunned when he heard this.
WTF?! 1.5 liters of Baijiu?! I will die from alcohol poisoning! Other than those professional drinkers, how many people can finish 1.5 liters of alcohol?!
Lin Pingping, Zhao Xinglong, and the rest turned and look at Zhang Fan.
Lin Pingping is saying in her eyes. “Go! Xiao Zhang!”
Zhao Xinglong also gave Zhang Fan an encouraging look.
Zhang Fan almost cried. I really cannot drink anymore!
Suddenly, Dong Xuebing asked. “Mr. Liang, are you serious?”
