Chapter 137: Suddenly, Everyone Wanted a Piece of the Pie

"Good morning, Director Kong."

Tang Boyuan smiled and shook hands with Kong Yunhe.

"Please, 'Director Kong' makes me feel so old. I only graduated last year. If you don't mind, just call me Brother Yun."

Kong Yunhe was easygoing and lacked any air of superiority. He knew full well that these astronomy graduates he was recruiting would eventually enter the company's research institute. They might soon rise to senior management, far surpassing his own administrative role.

"Brother Yun, how is it that your company is recruiting astronomy graduates this time?" Tang Boyuan was quick to adapt and addressed him as "Brother" immediately.

"You might not know this yet, but you astronomy graduates are quite the hot commodity right now. With China's continuous expansion in the space sector, we’ll need a massive number of astronomy professionals in the future. Our company is here to recruit heavily to prepare for the development of the space industry."

Kong Yunhe didn't hold back. With China’s manned moon landing successfully completed and aerospace planes shuttling between Earth and the moon every week, the nation was busy constructing a lunar base at an incredible pace. It was estimated that the moon would open to the private sector by next year, and by then, all sorts of space companies across the country would scramble to snap up these graduates.

"A hot commodity? Honestly, I've been worrying about finding a job," Tang Boyuan said, still skeptical. He never imagined that the astronomy department would become so sought after—it was like the sun rising in the west.

"Believe me, it's true. In the future, fields related to space and astronomy will be highly valued. Especially as China expands its reach into the cosmos, you will all have the chance to truly shine."

Professor Zhang, standing nearby, nodded in agreement. He had also received an invitation from the Fuyun Group to join them as a department head. The salary and benefits were incredibly tempting, but he had grown accustomed to university life and didn't want to change, so he had declined.

"It looks like everyone is here. Let's begin."

While they were chatting, the classroom had gradually filled up. It wasn't just astronomy students; students from other departments who had caught wind of the news came to join the crowd. The Fuyun Group was a world-renowned high-tech enterprise known for its exceptional compensation.

More importantly, beyond the salary, the Fuyun Group was famous for its training and growth opportunities. Figures like Yan Zhang, Chen Bin, Cao Haitao, and Yang Yiping were already renowned scientists across China. Many others, like the young Kong Yunhe, had also become leaders in their own right. The Fuyun Group was undeniably one of the most ideal choices for any graduate.

However, the Fuyun Group was not easy to get into; their standards were high, and they typically only recruited for scientific and research positions. Since they were rarely seen on campus, the opportunity drew students from all over. The classroom, which could hold over 200 people, was soon packed, with more students arriving constantly. Students from fields that usually struggled with employment—such as aerospace, geodesy, astrophysics, and mathematics—rushed over as soon as they heard the news.

"Thank you all for taking the time to attend this recruitment fair for the Fuyun Group's Space Exploration Company. Originally, we only intended to recruit astronomy graduates, but I see many students from other disciplines here as well. We wouldn't want you to have come for nothing. I’ve just reported the situation to my superiors, and with their approval, we will be hiring some students from other relevant fields as well."

Kong Yunhe walked onto the podium, smiling at the sea of faces below. A good company never lacks applicants; given the terms offered by the Fuyun Group, they were highly competitive even at a top-tier institution like Jinling University.

"Astronomy is the science that uses the latest mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and cutting-edge technology to conduct professional research on stars, planets, galaxies, and astronomical phenomena like black holes in the universe. It is a fundamental discipline and a comprehensive system that embodies the pinnacle of human wisdom. Astronomy students primarily study the foundational theories of astronomy, physics, and mathematics, receiving training in scientific thinking and observation. They possess strong scientific literacy and master essential skills in theoretical analysis, data processing, and computer applications. The program aims to cultivate high-level professionals capable of engaging in research, teaching, and technical work in astronomy and related fields."

The introduction was naturally filled with praise for the field. It wasn't just empty talk—the curriculum for astronomy is indeed demanding and rigorous. However, students in the department often felt as though they were learning "dragon-slaying techniques"—useless in the real world—and only they knew the bitterness of their job-hunting struggles.

After a day of recruiting, the Fuyun Group had hired over 200 people, all from astronomy, physics, mathematics, aerospace, and related fields. They had essentially swept up Tang Boyuan's entire class, including some who had originally planned to study abroad.

The terms offered by the Fuyun Group were impossible to refuse. Starting salaries for new researchers at the Fuyun Institute ranged from 200,000 to 500,000 yuan per year, depending on test results—a level of compensation other companies simply couldn't match.

Furthermore, regarding career planning, all recruits were assigned to the Fuyun Research Institute. With hard work and results, promotions and raises didn't follow a conventional path; a talented individual could potentially reach senior management within a year.

Most importantly, the Fuyun Group clearly stated that everyone would be part of their newly established Space Exploration Company. The prospect of going to space or the moon—even becoming an astronaut—was a dream for many young people, and it was a temptation that those in astronomy, aerospace, and astrophysics simply couldn't resist.

"Haha, Zhifei, we’ll be together again! Who knows, maybe one day we’ll even head to space and the moon together to explore," Tang Boyuan said, unable to hide his excitement when he returned to his dormitory that night. He had signed a top-tier contract with the Fuyun Group, with an annual salary of 500,000 yuan—something he never would have dared to dream of before.

"I never imagined it either. Who would have thought our astronomy degree would become a hot commodity? It felt so good to see the envious looks from the other students today, haha!" Dong Zhifei was grinning from ear to ear, dumping all his finance textbooks into the trash.

"Shi Yun, are you sure you don't want to reconsider? Studying abroad doesn't guarantee you'll learn anything useful. When it comes to space, China is the strongest now," Tang Boyuan said to their other roommate.

"Forget it. I’d rather go abroad to learn more. Fuyun is a private company, and companies are profit-driven. They can't possibly teach as much as a university, and Uncle Sam has always been the world's leader in science and technology," Shi Yun replied, shaking his head. His family was well-off, and he wasn't in a rush to work; he wanted to go abroad to polish his resume.

"Fair enough, to each their own."

Tang Boyuan smiled and nodded. He and Dong Zhifei continued to discuss the Fuyun Group, both clearly thrilled. Their contracts had far exceeded their expectations, and more importantly, they would be working in the field they loved, with the potential to reach the stars.

Shi Yun watched them, shaking his head slightly. To him, getting a degree from abroad was the only way to ensure a better future. Starting work now, especially at a private company, didn't seem like the best path.

Perhaps as Kong Yunhe had predicted, in the following days, many major corporations came to Jinling University to recruit from previously "unpopular" majors like astronomy, aerospace, and mathematics, offering increasingly high incentives.

Even though Tang Boyuan had already signed with Fuyun, he was still being scouted daily. These companies were clearly preparing to enter the space industry and were scrambling to recruit talent, just as the Fuyun Group had. But none of them could compete with the Fuyun Group's offer and future prospects. Poaching talent from them would be no easy task.