Chapter 161: Old Zhu’s Small Batch Distillery North Lin Transmission

The seal had been removed, but Xing Wenlong did not leave. Instead, he stayed close to Li Xian, trying to ingratiate himself. Li Xian naturally understood his intentions.

The city's public notice had been out for about ten days. If Liu Weihuan's appointment process went smoothly, he would probably be officially taking office soon.

With a new official coming in, everyone in Bangye was scrambling to curry favor. But if Xing Wenlong left a bad impression with the new superior during this time, it could result in future troubles. Seeing how Xing Wenlong kept insisting on treating him to a meal, Li Xian smiled slightly and waved his hand, saying, "Director Xing, don't be nervous. I mentioned to Liu Director on the phone that you're the head of the Industrial and Commercial Bureau. Liu Director should... probably... mostly... not remember this matter, right?"

Xing Wenlong was drenched in cold sweat!

Ignoring the sarcasm on Li Xian's face, he clasped his hands and moved in front of him, "Little brother Li, you're on good terms with Director Liu. Please, just say a good word for me. I'm asking you as an old brother! I'm really wronged this time! It was the distillery's fault for the report, otherwise, why would we come here to cause trouble?"

Li Xian kept the distillery issue in mind.

Seeing that Xing Wenlong was entirely focused on "but," Li Xian pointed to the small distillery behind him, saying, "Director Liu paid great attention to Old Zhu's small batch distillery before. He will definitely come to check it out after taking office. If the business is good, he will be pleased. And I will be happy too."

This statement, if made clearer, would directly be seen as bribery!

Xing Wenlong slapped his head.

"Got it! Got it!"

He grabbed Li Xian's hand, "Little brother, just watch how I perform!"

...

After the enforcement team left, the distillery returned to normal after a period of chaos.

Although it was clear to everyone that Li Xian's phone call had caused the enforcement team to back down, the way Old Zhu had baffled the enforcement team became a hot topic among the locals. They laughed and joked, listening to Old Zhu bragging with his shirt off while mixing fragrant cooked sorghum into the big jars with brewing yeast.

The plump cooked sorghum quietly fermented in the joyful atmosphere.

Four days later.

Old Zhu, who had just reopened the distillery, was stunned!

The liquor was selling better and better, and small shops in Bangye County were coming to buy more every couple of days.

But today was clearly different.

In the past, small shop owners usually came in the afternoon to buy liquor. At that time, there would be a long queue outside the distillery. But today, as early as 9 a.m., there was already a commotion outside.

From the looks of it, there were probably about a hundred people!

These people were frowning and cursing, appearing quite angry.

What made Old Zhu even more uneasy was that people on tricycles or carts were also gathering from the main road.

Seeing this scene, Old Zhu's first thought was that something had gone wrong with his liquor and someone was here to cause trouble.

Shaking, he approached the door and asked, only to find out that these unfamiliar faces had come from various towns and villages in Bangye!

When they saw Old Zhu open the door, the crowd, taking advantage of their numbers, started shouting.

"What's the deal with your distillery and the Industrial and Commercial Bureau?"

"Yesterday's surprise inspection by the enforcement team seized our business license and insisted that we buy your liquor or we wouldn't get our license back. Even if you have connections, you can't do this! Isn't this forced selling?"

"Exactly! They even forced us to paint slogans on village walls, which is too domineering!"

Hearing this, Old Zhu was bewildered.

Then he realized this might be Li Xian's doing.

Seeing that the crowd was similar to himself in being forced into buying liquor, and having just experienced the enforcement team's trouble, Old Zhu felt a pang of sympathy.

He tried to send the unwilling crowd away and decided to personally go to the enforcement team to explain.

Seeing Old Zhu's sympathetic attitude, the crowd, who thought they were facing bullies, was taken aback. Although they had come reluctantly, they had prepared money for the purchase, and now that the situation seemed different, their worries eased a bit.

Many of the business licenses had been seized, but regardless of what Old Zhu said, the liquor still had to be bought.

The small distillery was bustling all day. The bottled liquor, which was previously reserved by Li Xian, was sold out before the sun set.

When Old Zhu finally had a moment to rest and looked at the account book recording today's business, he was stunned.

"Leyu Township, Laowang Town, Nilahe Township, Kao Head Town, Changshui Town, Motun Township…"

The account book entries covered all the towns and townships in Bangye! Even some larger villages were listed!

"Damn, the whole of Bangye is drinking our liquor!"

Looking at the account book, Old Zhu's hands trembled.

Meanwhile.

At the Bangye Distillery.

Factory manager Feng Xifeng looked at the completely halted production line, his mouth covered in bubbles.

What is going on!

Although the distillery had been struggling in recent years, it had previously maintained steady sales—about two to three hundred jin of liquor daily.

Supply and marketing cooperatives, grocery stores, and small shops in the county city would all buy some.

But these past few days, not only were small shops not buying, but even grocery stores and supply cooperatives had stopped selling!

With the factory's large scale, selling only fifty jin a day meant it would go under quickly!

As he was trying to understand this strange situation, a young man knocked on his office door.

The man appeared to be around twenty, looking fresh and clean, but his smile made Feng Xifeng uncomfortable.

"I know about the matter you entrusted to the enforcement team. I'm here with no other intention but to give you a message. If you're sensible, pack up the factory and wait for me to take over. Prepare for retirement if you continue to oppose Old Zhu's small batch distillery."

After delivering the message, the young man left without hesitation.

Watching the young man get into a rare white SUV in the county and leave the factory, Feng Xifeng was shaking with anger.

"Where did this guy come from!"

...

North Lin.

After twenty days of public notice, Liu Weihuan's appointment was officially confirmed.

After completing all the procedures, Wu Sitan, who had just moved his office from the District Committee to the top floor of the municipal government, personally sent off this trusted aide.

Before getting in the car, Wu Sitan looked at Liu Weihuan, his secretary for seven years, sighed, and patted his hand. "Weihuan, now that the appointment is confirmed, I won't persuade you further. Since you're determined to make a mark in Bangye, work hard once you're there. If you encounter any difficulties, let me know. Bangye and North Lin are not far apart; come back and visit often."

Liu Weihuan nodded heavily, "Please rest assured, leader. I won't let you down. I will definitely remove the label of this national-level poverty-stricken county!"

Seeing his determined aide, Wu Sitan firmly shook his hand and sent him off.

The car was from the municipal government.

The driver was someone Liu Weihuan knew, a rather talkative person.

As Liu Weihuan nostalgically watched the work environment he had known for seven years recede in the distance, the driver looked at him through the rearview mirror.

Smiling, he said, "Oh, I almost called you Director Liu, but then remembered you'll be County Head Liu from now on. County Head Liu, is there a red envelope for the title change?"

Liu Weihuan snapped out of his reverie and laughed as he kicked the front seat, "You little rascal... No red envelope, but once you're in Bangye, I can definitely provide a good meal."

"Hey!" Hearing about the meal, the driver was excited, "County Head Liu, don't mention it. I've been thinking about it! I went to Bangye a couple of days ago. Although it's still poor, Bangye is different now."

Liu Weihuan was taken aback, "Different in what way?"

"It's got potential!" The driver replied with a smile, "Before, when I went to Bangye, I just wanted to get things done and leave quickly. But last time, I kept looking back as I left!"

"What's up? Did you fall for a local girl in Bangye?" Liu Weihuan joked.

"Rubbish! I'm married. How could I be interested in girls? I just can't forget Old Zhu's small batch distillery! Damn, after drinking for so many years, I've never had such flavorful liquor. Last time I wanted to buy more but there was no stock. Now that I'm sending you off, you, as the county head, have to get me more... Hey, I used to think North Lin's liquor was quite good, but after drinking Bangye's small batch, I can't even drink North Lin's anymore."

Hearing the driver's enthusiastic talk, Liu Weihuan was stunned.

Old Zhu's small batch distillery... isn't that the one Li Xian set up?

How did it gain such fame in such a short time?