Chapter 632: The Reception Center Banquet

Night fell quickly.

I had Secretary Qin arrange it.

Secretary Qin assigned Cui Chengshan to Xin Cheng to continue overseeing security work.

Cui Chengshan was pleased; it meant the city now valued his abilities.

So I took Yang Tao and Li Jia to attend the farewell banquet organized by Tian Shi.

At the Reception Center in Zaocheng,

the second‑floor banquet hall was brightly lit.

Tian Shi and Zhuang Shi sat at the head table; the others took their seats in order.

I, along with Yang Tao and Li Jia, sat at the outermost end seat.

It was probably Li Jia's first time at such an event, and she was very excited.

At that moment Secretary Qin came over,

leaned close to my ear,

"Mr. Zhao, Tian Shi has assigned you to sit up front."

"No, the seats above are all for leaders; we'll sit here," I said.

"This was specifically arranged by Tian Shi," Secretary Qin said in a tone that left no room for refusal.

What else could I say?

So I had no choice but to bring Yang Tao and Li Jia up to the seats.

When Tian Shi saw me,

he was very pleased,

"Jianqiang, come sit by my side.

Which of these two is Yang Tao and which is Li Jia?"

I quickly introduced Yang Tao and Li Jia to Tian Shi.

Tian Shi examined them carefully,

then said, "Li Jia, right? The Cultural Tourism Bureau chief of Xue County, your abilities are impressive. Today you presented Zaocheng's scenery excellently.

When Zhuang Shi returned, he told me,

Zaocheng has talent. Seeing you today, you truly are a talent.

So sit beside Zhuang Shi. Continue to introduce our local customs of Zaocheng to him. Make sure to impress them."

"Thank you, Tian Shi, for this opportunity. I will gladly introduce Zaocheng to Zhuang Shi. It will move them," Li Jia said with a smile.

After Li Jia finished speaking, Secretary Qin led her to a seat beside Zhuang Shi.

At that moment Tian Shi turned to Yang Tao and said, "Ms. Yang Tao, I heard you are a foreigner. When did you return? You didn't tell us you were back in Zaocheng.

Jianqiang, you are hoarding treasure.

Today, Ms. Yang Tao, after seeing Xue County's investment environment,

any opinions you have must be voiced.

We'll discuss them at the banquet later."

"Thank you for your hospitality, Tian Shi. Returning to Zaocheng feels like returning home. I've been away for almost ten years and miss my hometown dearly.

Mr. Zhao Jianqiang and I are old friends; he has always told me that Zaocheng's development potential is great and invited me to come home and see.

I came back especially to see my hometown.

The development of my hometown has truly undergone a massive change, leaving me in awe.

Today I finally found the reason why my hometown changed so dramatically—it is thanks to Tian Shi's excellent leadership. Thank you, Tian Shi," Yang Tao said sweetly.

Tian Shi laughed happily.

Secretary Qin gestured for Yang Tao to sit beside Tian Shi.

The two beautiful women each sat beside Zhuang Shi and Tian Shi.

I could only sit next to Secretary Qin.

Secretary Qin finally finished arranging the seats.

At that moment Secretary Qin stepped onto the podium,

and said, "Next, please welcome Tian Shi to give a speech."

Tian Shi walked onto the podium amid applause,

Tian Shi quieted the applause,

then said, "Good evening, everyone. I'm delighted to gather here with you all. Tonight's banquet is a farewell for Zhuang Shi.

As the ancients said, 'I urge you to finish another cup of wine; heading west beyond Yangguan, there are no old friends.'

Such a poem is somewhat melancholy,

Zhuang Shi and I are old friends; Zaocheng and Huaihai face each other across the lake.

I should say today,

The flower path has never been swept by guests; the humble gate now opens for you.

Zaocheng's main gate has always been open to Zhuang Shi, welcoming frequent visits."

Everyone promptly clapped.

After Tian Shi finished, Secretary Qin invited Zhuang Shi to the stage to speak.

Dining at formal occasions is a troublesome matter.

Leaders must all speak onstage, and some give speeches that are both long and dull.

It can ruin one's appetite. So for such events, you must eat a full meal first.

Zhuang Shi walked up to the podium.

He first bowed to the people below.

Then he spoke: "Thank you, Tian Shi, and everyone else for your hard work. In these short two days in Zaocheng, I felt the warmth of family."

Our two cities are close; whether in lifestyle habits or dialect, there is hardly any difference.

After arriving in Zaocheng, I saw that under Tian Shi's leadership, Zaocheng is undergoing rapid, day-by-day changes.

Zaocheng's growth is astonishing. In my exchanges with Tian Shi,

Tian Shi repeatedly said that Zaocheng must break free from the constraints of heavy industry like coal and move toward a more environmentally sustainable development.

This is a splendid idea, and it aligns with the ideas proposed above.

We are on a fast-developing path; how a city develops hinges on how its leader thinks.

I think Tian Shi's ideas are already ahead of the curve.

This time I visited Zaocheng's coal mines, county town, mountainous areas, etc.

In short, I saw Zaocheng's appearance full of vigor.

All show great potential.

Because Zaocheng hides dragons and crouches tigers, people and land are spirited; I believe under Tian Shi's leadership there will be an even brighter tomorrow.

I will also surely come back often.

Let the two cities grow closer.

Thank you all, I won't keep you from your meal. In our Huaihai dialect, I say: everyone must eat and drink well.

Zhuang Shi bowed and stepped down from the podium.

Everyone hurriedly applauded.

The main speakers have finished their talks,

others need not speak further; everyone began eating and drinking.

Here meals are served individually.

Each person has their own utensils.

All dishes are divided into portions for several people.

Some dishes are served by staff using communal chopsticks on the spot.

Each person decides what alcohol to drink according to their preference; beverages are also fine.

Here no one urges drinking, nor is there any heavy drinking like Shi Yong's.

Everyone should drink casually and relaxed.

I drank baijiu; the baijiu here is good.

If not baijiu, then I don't drink.

I saw that Tian Shi and they all drank red wine.

Because Zhuang Shi drank red wine, Tian Shi had to accompany the guests in drinking red wine.

Talking while drinking is handled by the main people; I just need to eat quietly.

After finishing the bones on the plate, the staff also clears the plate.

In short, the service makes you comfortable.

After three rounds of drinking, it's time to start toasting.

Toasting here is different from outside restaurants.

The person making a toast must hold their own glass and walk up to Tian Shi or Zhuang Shi,

to express their feelings; they must drink casually and must never say, "I've downed it, you figure it out."

Doing so would cause trouble. Toasting also must follow a hierarchy.

Zhuang Shi and Tian Shi will not move; they just sit there waiting for others to toast them.

After toasting them, the remaining people can then start mutually toasting each other.

How much you drink depends on your capacity; here drinking must absolutely not be excessive.

If someone is greedy for drink in a formal setting, others will look down on them.

One should also speak little.

In any case, one must not let oneself relax.

A meal can make you sweat all over.

In order, everyone respectively toasts Tian Shi and Zhuang Shi.

I was the last to toast.

I held my glass and walked up to Zhuang Shi.

"Zhuang Shi, nice to meet you.

I toast you."

Zhuang Shi then stood up,

I quickly said, "Zhuang Shi, please sit, you don't need to stand."

"No, I'm a few years older than you, so I'll call you Jianqiang. I just heard from Tian Shi about your deeds.

Very inspiring. I'm also glad to meet you in Zaocheng. What are you drinking?" Zhuang Shi asked.

I said, "I'm drinking baijiu."

"Change it to baijiu for me." Zhuang Shi said generously.