JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<select id="opts">
    <option value="1">p</option>
    <option value="4">e</option>
    <option value="3">n</option>
    <option value="2">i</option>
    <option value="6">s</option>
</select>
    
<input type="button" value="click me" data-val="4" />
<input type="button" value="click me" data-val="2" />

JavaScript

$('input:button').click(function()  {
    $('#opts').val($(this).data('val'));
});