pond to fish.

The East Village brick factory, due to soil extraction for brick-making, had left numerous deep pits which Secretary Liu utilized for fish farming as a welfare provision for the villagers. Elder Min dismissed it, saying that the fish there, starved and eager, would take the bait instantly, making it uninteresting. Understandably, the fish, left to fend for themselves in the pond, were indeed hungry.

Since Elder Min preferred the outdoors, Deputy Secretary Fu arranged for fishing at a nearby reservoir. This reservoir was vastly different from the streams of Liu and Fu's childhood, where fish were abundant. Presently, wild fish were nearly extinct. Elder Min attributed this to excessive use of chemical pesticides and industrial wastewater pollution, and Deputy Secretary Fu found this rationale convincing.

Regardless of whether the reasoning was valid, let’s focus on how Elder Min fished. He used highly professional fishing gear and possessed excellent fishing skills. Despite directing Deputy Secretary Fu on where to cast and what bait to use, not a single fish took the bait. Elder Min, drawing on years of expertise, insisted that the reservoir certainly harbored fish, and big ones at that.

Deputy Secretary Fu found this amusing. With such professional equipment, even an experienced angler hadn't caught a single fish all day. Yet, as long as Elder Min was happy, Deputy Secretary Fu had the patience to humor him.

While listening to Elder Min share his fishing knowledge, Er Dog came hurriedly with urgent news. He whispered something to Deputy Secretary Fu, who nodded in acknowledgment. Er Dog left quickly after obtaining permission.

After Secretary Liu and his entourage accompanied Mr. Shao on a tour of the mine, Mr. Shao proposed two key points regarding the iron mine. These points elevated his status among the group, who admired him immensely.

Mr. Shao's points were: management and potential. He discussed the transition from family-run operations to international modern enterprise management, speaking passionately about the formation of mineral resources and their significance to human life. His eloquence left the others enthralled.

Secretary Liu and his team were in complete awe, seeing Mr. Shao as a godsend. Even the newly hired technicians and executives couldn’t stop praising him. Enthusiastic to learn, Headman Liu took out his notebook to jot down key points.

“This mine has immense potential! Beyond its reserves, its market prospects are vast. Touring the mine, I found its ore quality astonishingly high. However...” Mr. Shao paused for effect.

“However, the management and infrastructure here are severely lacking. To put it simply, this mine doesn’t even qualify as a family-operated workshop. Do you have any certified blaste

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