Liu Keyi, then secretary of the municipal Party committee of Hubei's city of Jingzhou, said at a critical moment as the peak of flooding approached, Jiang climbed on an embankment and directed the rescue mission, motivating workers with his actions. "History definitely will take note of his great achievements," he said.

Wang Yumei, a villager from Tailai county, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, recalled that Jiang's personal involvement lifted people's spirits.

"The flood destroyed my home. At the hardest moment, Jiang came to visit us, the victims of the floods, and shook hands with me. This kind of warmth will stay in my heart throughout my life. I just can't forget that," Wang said.

Jiang's diligence and professionalism as an engineer and his popularity as a grassroots manager, before he led the Party and country decades later, were testified to by many of his colleagues.

In 1954, the country was in need of a large number of technical and management officials for the construction of the First Automotive Works in Changchun, Jilin province. Jiang was assigned to the plant.