"Originally, I came to Beijing to ask the leadership for talented people. But the leadership insisted on having me speak onstage, saying I was the most suitable person to talk about Jinling. They even assigned me a topic and gave me an outline: three parts—past, present, and future. They specifically reminded me to stick to the facts and not exaggerate.
To be honest, standing here makes me very nervous. Everyone present is a senior leader. What qualifications does a little county factory director from Jinling County have to give a speech to all of you? Calling it a report would be more appropriate. So, let me begin with the past.
Jinling County has existed for thirteen hundred years and has passed through many dynasties. Its population is more than 240,000, with over 30,000 urban residents. Half its terrain is mountainous and half plains; its grain cultivation is half irrigated and half dryland. In terms of living standards, a small half of the population has enough to eat and wear, while the greater half still lives in poverty.
Those who have enough are the urban residents, along with some well-situated, high-yielding prosperous farmers. Those in poverty live in places with large populations but little, dry land. Still, the county has made adjustments, having poorer people take on more of the county's public construction work and awarding them more work points.
Along with coordination and subsidies from the city, Jinling's overall situation has remained relatively stable. The people cannot eat their fill, but they are never truly left hungry. They do not have new clothes, but at least they no longer have only one outfit for an entire family to share. They cannot eat meat every day, but during holidays and festivals, they can still have something meaty.
Although we have not