"I've invited everyone here today, perhaps rather abruptly, and I'd like to explain why I organized this gathering," Jiang Ye said.
Everyone at the table looked at Jiang Ye seriously, listening intently.
Most of them felt a degree of nervousness. After all, the man before them was the de facto leader of Spiral Star. By all normal accounts, they would never have had the chance to meet Jiang Ye face-to-face, much like ants in the dirt never seeing a dragon in the sky.
Despite Jiang Ye's casual attire and demeanor, they could all sense a powerful aura, akin to small animals sitting next to a fierce tiger; it was impossible not to feel tense.
"I sit in my office every day, reviewing the statistics and data that are reported to me to do my work. However, I believe that the world is not a simple mathematical model. The society on this planet is composed of countless people with flesh and blood. Therefore, I want to talk with people from different industries and regions," Jiang Ye said with a smile.
"I want to hear about your reasons for coming to Spiral Star, your current living situations, and any grievances or suggestions you might have."
"Everyone present here today was personally selected by me from over seven hundred million people. It's a one-in-a-hundred-million connection, so I hope everyone can be frank. Thank you all very much."
As Jiang Ye finished speaking, applause erupted around the table.
"No, no, we're just having a casual chat. Why the applause?" Jiang Ye said with a wry smile. "Let's start with the gentleman next to me, Mr. Ji Zhengqi, and go clockwise."
All eyes turned to Ji Zhengqi.
Ji Zhengqi was a refined, balding professor. His thinning hair was a testament to his vast knowledge.
He was dressed formally in a solemn black suit, exuding the air of someone attending an academic ceremony.
"To be honest, before coming here today, I was so nervous I could barely walk. But upon seeing Chief Jiang, I felt a sense of familiarity, which helped me relax," Ji Zhengqi began with a smile.
The others chuckled, and the atmosphere instantly became more relaxed.
"Mr. Ji, what was the reason you decided to come to Spiral Star?" Jiang Ye asked.
"Actually, I didn't originally want to come to Spiral Star; I wanted to go to Birong Star," Ji Zhengqi explained. "But Birong Star's immigration slots were full, and I couldn't get an application through. When they opened online applications, all seven members of my family used their phones to refresh the page repeatedly, staying up all night to try and secure a spot. I stayed up five nights in a row over two months, but I still couldn't get one."
Ji Zhengqi gave a wry smile and continued.
"Then I searched online and discovered that Chief Jiang not only owned Birong Star but also Jiang Ye Star and Exile Star. However, those were also full, with immigration approvals backed up for ten years. Only Spiral Star was available, so I applied."
"Ultimately, there are two main reasons I came: money and the academic environment," Ji Zhengqi stated.
"Oh?" Jiang Ye smiled. "What about the money? And the academic environment?"
"I was originally a professor at the Capital University of Krane Star, a native of Krane Star," Ji Zhengqi said. "But Krane Star's economy is truly dire; it has been in decline for over sixty years, transforming from a prosperous planet into a destitute one."
"The per capita disposable income on Krane Star is twenty-four thousand yuan. However, in Suhe City, the poorest city on Birong Star, the per capita disposable income is forty-eight thousand yuan. This means that the poorest small city on Birong Star is twice as wealthy as the entire Krane Star."
"Doctors are well-compensated professions on all planets. My wife is a surgeon at the Capital City Hospital on Krane Star. She has been working for six years, but her monthly salary is only three thousand one hundred yuan."
"Last year, my wife attended an academic exchange conference and was sent to the First People's Hospital in Yuluo City on Birong Star for a visiting study."
"Upon arrival, my wife was extremely shocked. She discovered that the nurses at Yuluo City Hospital earned up to eight thousand yuan a month, and doctors with similar experience to my wife could earn thirty thousand yuan a month, not including holiday bonuses."
"Yuluo City is merely a third-tier city on Birong Star, yet its income level is nearly ten times that of Krane Star's capital city. At the time, the doctors at Yuluo City Hospital were astonished to learn my wife's salary; they couldn't believe it was so low. So, when my wife returned home, she brought back several boxes of gifts from the doctors and nurses at Yuluo City who sympathized with her. They were things like dried meat and preserved fruits, items our family could barely afford."
"To give another example from an academic perspective, as I am a professor," Ji Zhengqi smiled, "Yuluo City University's impact factor is 128, while Krane Star's is 130. This means that the strength of a local university on Birong Star is equivalent to that of our entire planet."
"The reason for this situation is research funding," Ji Zhengqi explained. "Yuluo City University's research funding last year was 2.8 billion, while Krane Star's total research funding last year was 3.1 billion."
"Without money, research cannot progress. On Krane Star, I see no hope for academic advancement, which is why I decided to leave Krane Star and no longer live on a diet of three meals of black bread and turnip soup."
"But..." Jiang Ye interjected, "you wanted to go to Birong Star? Birong Star is indeed quite prosperous, but Spiral Star is a wild planet."
"Although I couldn't become a citizen of Birong Star, I am very satisfied to be a citizen of Spiral Star," Ji Zhengqi said. "I believe Spiral Star will develop rapidly because I've reviewed Chief Jiang's profile and found that every planet he establishes experiences an economic boom."
"How long have you been on Spiral Star?" Jiang Ye asked. "Have you settled in? Do you have a job?"
"I have settled in. I am now a professor at Spiral Star Institute of Technology. The teaching buildings are still under construction, but the faculty housing has been completed, and my family and I are living in the housing complex. The house was allocated to me by the school; it's 170 square meters, thirty square meters larger than my old home. My family is very happy."
"My wife has started working at a district hospital near the university, earning eighteen thousand yuan a month. The school is currently paying me fifty-four thousand yuan a month, which is five times my previous salary."
"During the interview, the principal apologized profusely, saying that Spiral Star was just beginning to be built and the conditions were rather poor, so they could only offer me this salary for now. He said the pay was indeed quite low and expressed his sincerest apologies. He promised that once the school was operational and began admitting students, they would increase my salary immediately. I was already overjoyed at that point, but I deliberately put on a solemn expression, as if I were reluctantly agreeing," Ji Zhengqi said with a sly smile.
Everyone at the table burst into laughter.
"That's quite good," Jiang Ye nodded. "Does Mr. Ji have any suggestions for Spiral Star's development? Have you witnessed any chaos or irregularities?"
"I don't understand the entire planet, but I do have some thoughts on the academic circles."
"Please, go ahead." Jiang Ye took out a small notebook and pen from his pocket.