Chapter 242: Donkey Dung Egg_1

Shi Qiang looked through the car window and often saw people gliding past between the high-rise buildings with transportation devices that looked like umbrellas.

"People with official jobs are the ones the government issues these things to," Jiang Yu explained.

"You can apply for one too, after all, you are still considered an on-duty member of the Asian Fleet."

"The Star Defense Department split into two later on. Your combat unit was eventually transferred into the Space Army sequence, so you are now a citizen of the Asian Fleet."

"But I reckon with your build, you'd need to apply for a '28-bar' one... huh? That's what those big bicycles are called, right?"

Shi Qiang laughed and said, "Right, '28-bar.' I remember my old man cherished one; wouldn't let anything happen to it."

"But what's the connection between a bicycle and a flying device with propellers?"

"You don't have to think too mysteriously about this thing—it's just a means of transportation, no different from the bicycles and electric bikes of our era."

"What's trendy in the circles of the wealthy is still the luxury sports cars."

"That's not bad at all!" Shi Qiang remarked nostalgically, "At least in our time, we couldn't use such things.

"And I've heard that the government even provides housing now!

"Crap! I had just finished paying off my mortgage before I went into hibernation!"

However, Jiang Yu sighed and said, "Everything that glitters is not gold!

"In this period, I've been trying to grasp the finer details of Earth's society. Families are now broken and there's no new social unit to take their place.

"The government has lost control at the grassroots level, and a new monopoly is already forming in the global economic system, with a cultural disaster right before our eyes.

"Modern people take pride in receiving government welfare and see working as a disgrace.

"They take pride in unrestricted freedom and see having a sense of responsibility as a disgrace.

"Why do you think everyone's life is still so good? It's nothing more than reaping the benefits of technology. The theoretical aspect has already reached the ceiling; in thirty years at most, all technology will stagnate.

"I am curious what they will eat then?"

Da Shi was stunned, "So many problems lurking behind the facade?"

"Da Shi, get ready, as an adult, be prepared to take care of these 'children'!" Jiang Yu said these words with a sudden smile, "But before they are out of options, we should enjoy life."

Jiang Yu pointed ahead, "Look, that's my business, well actually, it's the enterprise I've established—the force I've built. No matter when I go there, everything is free!"

Shi Qiang saw a bustling restaurant up ahead. Although he did not know what modern luxury cars looked like, the vehicles parked in front of the hotel looked both grand and sleek.

The hotel itself was even more impressive, with a sign as tall as five or six stories high. There was a fountain and a garden in front of it, projecting the image of sumptuous grandeur.

Shi Qiang laughed, "Not bad at all! You're doing quite well!"

"Just so-so. The new generation just forced me out of power. Now, like you, I've started a life of early retirement."

Shi Qiang shook his head, "Knowing you, you'd definitely take revenge if wronged. If you're not acting now, it's only because the time isn't right."

Jiang Yu smiled, patted Shi Qiang on the shoulder, and did not continue on that topic. Instead, he said, "The biggest feature here is that the cooks do the stir-frying, not robots.

"The dishes are cut and fried to order, not pre-cooked and then just warmed up in a microwave before being served.

"You wouldn't believe how high a cook's salary is now!"

The car stopped at the entrance of the restaurant, and the two got out. Led by a robot waiter, they entered the premises.

Patrons dining in the hall all looked over at Jiang Yu and Shi Qiang. This restaurant was notoriously expensive—government subsidies for ordinary people for half a year wouldn't cover the cost of a single meal here.

The clientele who usually dined here were referred to as high-end individuals, all dressed meticulously.

But Shi Qiang's clothes were obviously cheap at a glance.

And the one beside him wore something somewhat strange; it looked comfortable but was not of any high-end brand.

The sportswear on Jiang Yu stood out oddly to those around; no one wore that anymore.

Looking at the entourage following the two men, their attire was even more exquisite.

Many had already guessed that these must be the old hats who had just emerged from hibernation.

Then looking behind them, everyone's eyes were nearly bulging out!

Unexpectedly, these three unimpressive people were escorted by armed robots, not just one, but a squad!

Many took out their portable computers to snap photos, showing off on social media.

After entering the private room, Jiang Yu said to Shi Qiang, "Did you feel everyone's gaze just now? People are the same now as they were before!

"Eating synthetic starch for a few days, and they forget who they are."

Once the two were seated, the room's dedicated service robot first poured tea for the three of them, and Jiang Yu began recounting the events that had occurred after Shi Qiang went into hibernation.

You Ze was also listening intently; he had only read some documents about the mysterious era at the onset of the crisis, and this was the first time he was hearing about it from someone who had been there.

When Jiang Yu spoke about how he had easily resolved the two attempts to break his wall, You Ze was terribly excited. During the battles at the beginning of the crisis, Wallfacer Jiang Yu had always been invincible.

These were topics that everyone enjoyed discussing.

The dishes and drinks were served one after another, and Jiang Yu and Shi Qiang continued the topic, discussing the significance of the Wallfacer Project and the Wallbreakers.

Shi Qiang said, "The very existence of the Wallbreakers is their greatest significance, just as the existence of the Wallfacer Project is its greatest significance."

Jiang Yu laughed and said, "Da Shi, you're a philosopher!

"Nowadays, most kids don't understand the significance of the Wallbreakers. There's even one who told me it's like two kids playing house.

"Their thinking is too superficial. Before the Normandy landings, if a German soldier had laid out the entire Allied invasion plan at their headquarters, would the landing still have happened?

"As modern men with a God's View, we know that the Germans were just shells by then. Would Eisenhower at that time have the courage to proceed with the plan?

"History has no 'what-ifs,' but we can hypothesize. Eisenhower was ready to sacrifice tens of thousands of innocent British civilians to distract the German forces, something only he knew in his heart.

"But what if a German soldier had revealed that plan and it had become widely known? Under those circumstances, who would still support the landing operation?"

Shi Qiang gave Jiang Yu a glance, "Seems like you've suffered a lot of grievances over this!"

Jiang Yu passed a cigarette to Shi Qiang, "Ah, you still have such a sharp eye!"

Lighting their cigarettes, Jiang Yu continued speaking. When he got to the Zeroth Plan, You Ze learned that Jiang Yu had started laying the groundwork for it several years before its implementation!

This was an exclusive scoop not found in textbooks or documents!

Moreover, this plan was extraordinary; Guanghan City seized the opportunity to become autonomous and in the two centuries that followed, it branched out into the largest space power for humanity.

Some still curse Jiang Yu as a schemer, staging an elaborate act himself.

But the people of the Solar System State praise Jiang Yu for his superior strategising, crediting him as a main driver behind mankind's current accomplishments!

After all, it was Jiang Yu's Zeroth Plan that propelled humanity into space.

As for the events more than 20 years after the crisis, Jiang Yu almost glossed over them.

However, he spoke in great detail about ETO's final counterattack and the heroic deeds of Bai Xiao and others.

Finally, Jiang Yu said, "Actually, ETO made a fundamental mistake in its policy; they should have focused on humanity's tendency towards self-destruction.

"After all, the more powerful the tools at humanity's disposal become, the more devastating their effects, yet human self-control has not improved.

"But they kept preaching their dogma of 'inherent human wickedness' and 'species communism.' It's no wonder they couldn't attract more members – after all, not many people are willing to point to themselves and call themselves villains!"

Shi Qiang laughed and said, "If you were the Commander of ETO, not only would you have made the organization flourish, but by now you might even be the rotating chairman of the PDC!"

Since there was no ashtray, Jiang Yu pressed his cigarette butt out in a plate, "If Kong Xiang were in charge, he could have done it too.

"Ah, but as always, history has no 'what-ifs.'"