I See through Everything

Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Assistance and Awards

It was the same grand auditorium from the morning.

The symposium had two items on the agenda for the afternoon.

First was a discussion on aiding the development of underdeveloped regions and contributing to the cause of poverty alleviation.

Second was the presentation of the Technological Breakthrough Award, the Technological Innovation Award, and the Industry Newcomer Award.

The person chairing the meeting was still Dong Baicheng, president of the Fisheries Association.

After taking the stage, Dong Baicheng didn’t waste any time. Following about ten minutes of procedural platitudes, he got straight to the point. "This year, the provincial government has tasked our Fisheries Association with focusing on providing aid to the Gannan Region. Please, feel free to speak your minds and share your opinions."

Many of the general managers in attendance began offering their suggestions and advice one after another.

However, this matter had little to do with Jiang Miao. The overall cost of eel farming was relatively high, the Gannan Region was not a traditional area for eel cultivation, and the locals had no custom of eating eel.

Therefore, even if Hailufeng Company were to step up and offer assistance, he would be like a clever housewife trying to cook without rice.

Of course, a number of farmers had indeed started raising eels in the Northern Jiangxi Region in recent years, mainly because the water quality there was better, which was conducive to cultivating high-quality eels.

But the Gannan Region lacked this foundation.

To have impoverished households raise eels with no existing foundation would involve an excessively high initial investment and enormous risk.

That was why Jiang Miao didn’t dare to casually make any promises.

Such a high-risk aquaculture industry was unsuitable as a means of aiding impoverished households.

If things went wrong, he would only end up getting burned.

Beside him, Researcher Hu Fei also reminded him in a low voice, "General Manager Jiang, your company’s eel fry aren’t suitable for helping impoverished households."

"I know. An industry with such high costs and high risks is indeed unsuitable."

"It’s good that you understand, General Manager Jiang." Hu Fei nodded slightly. He had been afraid that Jiang Miao, in his youthful ambition, would impulsively try to start an eel farming aid project in Gannan. freёwebnoѵel.com

After a moment, Researcher Hu asked quietly again, "General Manager Jiang, have you thought about your acceptance speech?"

"I have," Jiang Miao replied with a smile.

In fact, the Fisheries Association had already informed him that morning that Hailufeng Company would be receiving an award. After all, if you needed to go on stage to give an acceptance speech, the winning companies would certainly be notified in advance.

Hailufeng Company had won two awards in total: the Technological Breakthrough Award and the Industry Newcomer Award.

The Technological Breakthrough Award was, naturally, for their artificial eel breeding technology.

As for the Industry Newcomer Award, the main considerations were the company’s founding date, regional influence, revenue, and number of employees.

Hailufeng Company was a well-deserved recipient of both awards.

Truthfully, Jiang Miao didn’t care much. After all, these small, regional awards were mostly for show. Unless it was a national-level award, they didn’t hold much value.

Many companies, if they wanted one, could grease a few wheels and get an award, as long as the company wasn’t too terrible.

Awards like "Outstanding Enterprise of XX City" or "Top Ten Enterprises of XX Industry" were common. Any reasonably well-known company had at least two or three such plaques.

Hu Fei continued in a low voice, "General Manager Jiang, your company has excellent prospects. I’m very optimistic about its future."

"Is Researcher Hu perhaps thinking of joining our company? If so, I’d have to roll out the red carpet for you!" Jiang Miao replied, half-joking.

Hu Fei shook his head. "My whole family has settled down in Yangcheng, so it’s not convenient for me to work elsewhere. Besides, my work as a researcher is actually quite nice. As long as you don’t aim for a promotion, you have very little to worry about."

"That’s true. It is an iron rice bowl, after all."

But then Hu Fei changed the subject. "A relative of mine’s son has been looking for a job recently. It’s just that his major isn’t a great fit for your company, otherwise I’d have to be shameless and recommend him to you, General Manager Jiang. He’s my wife’s brother’s son, and I’ve been trying to help him find work."

"Oh? What’s his major?"

"Environmental Engineering."

"That major! That’s a perfect major for taking the civil service exam!"

Hu Fei shook his head with a wry smile. "That’s what I suggested too, but unfortunately, the kid doesn’t like the atmosphere of the system."

"Actually, our company could use someone like that. It’s just that the salary at Hailufeng Company is on the lower side. As an environmental engineer, his starting base salary would be around 5,500 yuan."

Hu Fei declined Jiang Miao’s kind offer. "General Manager Jiang, please don’t feel obligated. You don’t need to hire an environmental engineer just for this."

"It’s not about creating a position specially for him. Our company has been expanding very rapidly lately, and we genuinely need a professional environmental engineer."

Jiang Miao wasn’t lying.

At lunch today, while discussing production lines with General Manager Du, he had already been thinking about environmental protection issues.

’A feed mill inevitably produces waste gas and wastewater during production. For small factories or those far from residential areas, not treating this waste is an unspoken rule among many businesses.’

However, Jiang Miao had no intention of letting it slide.

’Although you could use the company’s local influence to get the environmental protection department to turn a blind eye, nearby residents would definitely complain and grow resentful. Take Xiangjiang Avenue in Shanmei District, for example. There are several seafood processing plants and cold storage factories there. When they’re in production, you can smell an incredibly pungent stench just passing by on the road. And those factories are surrounded by residential areas. In the summer, especially, the rotten smell from fish and shrimp entrails is noticeable from a kilometer away.’

Jiang Miao knew that with Hailufeng Company’s influence in Magong Town, he could also make the local environmental protection department "not see" these things. freeωebnovēl.c૦m

But he also knew that doing so would drain the company’s vitality and potential, while also creating a stain on both his and the company’s reputation.

Therefore, he planned to establish a dedicated environmental protection office to handle the environmental planning and engineering for all of the company’s various divisions.

In reality, at its current stage of development, Hailufeng Company truly needed to start paying more attention to environmental protection.

For instance, the cannery, the farms, and the feed mill—all of these operations would produce large amounts of waste gas and wastewater.

Given the company’s current profitability, there was no need to skimp on a few million yuan for environmental protection equipment.

"Your company is really hiring an environmental engineer, General Manager Jiang?" Hu Fei asked, still a bit skeptical.

"Of course. We’re planning to upgrade and renovate some of our operations soon, which will include adding some environmental protection equipment."

Hu Fei was deeply impressed. "It’s quite rare to see a company that proactively implements environmentally friendly production like yours, General Manager Jiang."

"I’ll give you my secretary’s number, Researcher Hu. If your relative’s son is interested, he can come to Magong Town in Hailufeng to apply."

Hu Fei thanked him profusely. "Thank you so much, General Manager Jiang. But if he doesn’t meet your company’s hiring standards, please don’t feel obligated."

As the two of them were chatting quietly, the discussion on aid finally came to an end.

The event moved on to the awards ceremony.

Soon, Jiang Miao accepted the Industry Newcomer Award on behalf of Hailufeng Company. A total of ten companies received this award, as if they were being given out wholesale.

Next was the Technological Innovation Award, which was also given to ten companies, including Seaview Company, owned by Jiang Miao’s old acquaintance, Gu Haijing.

Finally, Dong Baicheng solemnly announced, "And now, to reveal the winner of the 2025 Technological Breakthrough Award... It is Hailufeng Agricultural Technology Company from Shanmei City! Let us welcome Mr. Jiang Miao to the stage to accept the award on behalf of Hailufeng Company and deliver an acceptance speech."

CLAP CLAP CLAP...

This applause rose for a true powerhouse.

Jiang Miao walked onto the stage and accepted the plaque. "I thank the Association and the Agricultural and Forestry Research Institute for this recognition, and I also thank our country for its strong support of technological development. My company and I are deeply honored to receive this award."

"This award is the greatest reward for all my hard work over the past three years. I will continue to strive, to lead Hailufeng Company in building on our current foundation, to delve deeper into technology, and to bring affordable, high-quality agricultural products to the people. Thank you all!"

CLAP CLAP CLAP...

The applause rang out once more.