Chapter 348 - 170: Award Ceremony

Chapter 348: Chapter 170: Award Ceremony

Now that he had the answer he wanted, the atmosphere at the banquet grew even more relaxed.

As drinks were passed around, He Jintang asked curiously, "Professor Jiang, many people in the Capital City have been talking about you lately. Your company contracted over a hundred million mu of desert, sandy, and saline-alkali land in Monan. Are you really confident you can transform it into farmland?"

"Whether it succeeds or not, we’ll see this October."

He Jintang didn’t think Jiang Miao was one to act rashly. After all, hastily contracting over a hundred million mu of desert before the results were even verified... He couldn’t believe Jiang Miao would take such an uncertain gamble. "Professor Jiang, you seem quite confident!"

"I’m not one hundred percent certain, of course, but I’d say I’m ninety percent sure," Jiang Miao replied modestly.

Hearing this, He Jintang understood. Jiang Miao was extremely confident about transforming the desert into farmland; it was practically a sure thing.

"If you can pull this off, Professor Jiang, then a spot in next year’s academician selection is all but guaranteed for you," He Jintang said with great certainty.

After all, a technology that could transform over a hundred million mu of desert—and judging by Jiang Miao’s series of bold moves, at an acceptable cost—was an achievement that would undoubtedly qualify him for an academician position.

He Jintang had no doubt that if Jiang Miao truly delivered on this, even if some people in the Academy of Sciences or the Academy of Engineering opposed his selection, the higher-ups would force it through.

Besides, the vast majority of those academicians were shrewd people. They knew which battles to pick and which to avoid.

An achievement as monumental as Jiang Miao’s was not something they could stand in the way of.

Rather than play the villain for nothing, it was better to simply go with the flow and grant the favor.

Moreover, Jiang Miao wasn’t some powerless commoner. Lion Mountain Agricultural University currently had six academicians, and with the five from the Cyrus Feed Association, that was a total of eleven people.

And those academicians had their own circles of academician friends.

Given his achievements with the Immortal Bean series, many academicians would likely even take the initiative to show him goodwill.

That was just how things were.

As for the issues of Jiang Miao being only 29 years old next year and not having enough published papers, those wouldn’t be enough to stop him from becoming an academician either.

Because the powerful don’t need to adapt to their environment; the environment adapts to them.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, He Jintang hurried back to work.

Meanwhile, Li Jingwan drove her son home.

He Youwei continued to act as Jiang Miao’s guide, showing him the scenic spots and historical sites of the Capital City.

Before he knew it, June 21st had quietly arrived.

After two days of enjoying the food and fun of the Capital City, Jiang Miao tidied up his appearance and arrived at the Great Hall of the Capital City early in the morning.

At the entrance, he presented his invitation, and a staff member enthusiastically led him inside.

He was soon guided to the lounge area for award recipients and researchers.

"General Manager Jiang, long time no see."

Hearing the resonant voice, Jiang Miao turned to see Academician Li, the president of the Feed Association. Beside him stood several other impressive-looking older and middle-aged men.

Jiang Miao smiled and walked over to greet him. "Academician Li, it’s good to see you’re doing well!"

"General Manager Jiang, let me make some introductions." Academician Li clapped one of the younger, middle-aged men on the shoulder. "This is Academician Jiao, currently the director of the National Feed Engineering Technology Research Center and the secretary-general of the National Animal Nutrition Steering Committee."

"Hello, General Manager Jiang. I’ve heard so much about you." Academician Jiao greeted him warmly while shaking his hand. "I’ve never had the chance to speak with you in person, so I can’t let this opportunity pass."

Academician Li explained with a smile, "Academician Jiao’s main research focus is in the field of animal nutrition and feed science. He’s recently made breakthroughs in protein and amino acid nutritional metabolism, the development of low-protein, amino-acid-balanced diet technologies and products, and the creation of core technologies and products to replace feed antibiotics. You two will definitely have a lot to talk about."

"I know. I’ve had the pleasure of reading Academician Jiao’s papers..." Jiang Miao then accurately recounted the details of Academician Jiao’s core publications.

Academician Jiao was ecstatic. To have someone remember the content of his papers so clearly could only mean that person was extremely familiar with his research.

Unfortunately, Academician Jiao was flattering himself.

Jiang Miao hadn’t specifically memorized his papers; he just had a photographic memory.

"Come, come, General Manager Jiang." Academician Li interrupted their discussion and pulled him over to another, older man. "This is Academician Yin."

"Hello, Academician Yin. I’ve read your research on amino acid nutritional metabolism and regulation in swine. The evaluation system for digestible and absorbable feed nutrients in pigs, which you helped create, was incredibly enlightening for me..."

"Oh? To think you’re so familiar with the research of an old man like me..." Academician Yin’s face also lit up with a smile.

Anyone who met a young man like Jiang Miao—one so talented, who could accurately describe their research accomplishments upon first meeting—would inevitably feel a sense of goodwill toward him.

With Academician Li making the introductions, Jiang Miao went around the room and became a familiar face to seven academicians and thirteen renowned experts and scholars.

Another academician, Li Yu, who researched edible fungi, pulled Jiang Miao aside and asked, "General Manager Jiang, why didn’t your wife come? I was hoping to discuss some issues regarding edible fungi cultivation techniques with her."

"My wife became pregnant a while ago and is currently resting at home. She wasn’t able to make it this time," Jiang Miao explained, a hint of apology in his voice.