Chapter 179 Shi Xiaoming and the New Era I_1

Crisis Era year 190.

Aside from reinforcing the future of humanity, this year also saw a large number of Common Era People awaken from hibernation, including Shi Xiaoming.

Shi Xiaoming, the son of Shi Qiang, had been imprisoned for promoting escape and setting up a fraudulent escape fund. After his release, he followed Shi Qiang's wishes and repaid all the gains from his fraud.

Shi Xiaoming was quick-witted and uninhibited. After his release, he started a Profound Company with the grandchildren of those he had defrauded. The company's business was funeral services.

Profound referred to space burials, which eventually developed into launching entire remains into space, naturally at a high price; deep referred to mine burials, initially making use of abandoned mines and later digging new ones, with the purpose of preventing the Trisolarans from grave-digging.

Shi Xiaoming made a large amount of money from these businesses and chose hibernation upon sensing the impending crisis just before the great depression.

Hibernation during the Common Era was an extremely expensive affair, and the fact that Shi Xiaoming could earn enough for hibernation through such businesses demonstrated his capabilities.

After waking up, Shi Xiaoming immediately felt that this was a world completely different from the Common Era, flourishing and disciplined, which was hard for him to understand within his own logical framework.

To help Common Era People adapt to this era more quickly, the government provided each of them with an education robot, but it could only be used for free for six months. Continued use beyond that required a fee, paid in the currency of this era, also called Credit Points.

Not to incite resentment from the Common Era People, the education robots were implanted with personalities from the Common Era, even analyzing specific character traits to generate tailored service personalities, which helped Common Era People integrate into society.

According to the original text, the new humans were quite reluctant to have Common Era People blend into their society. However, the inclusivity of this era was very strong, and there were no instances of rejecting any particular group, especially the Common Era People.

Shi Xiaoming also met his education robot, which was designed in a quite peculiar shape, from a distance resembling a tall, thin man in a silver suit.

It was only upon closer inspection that its "suit" turned out to be a polished stainless steel shell, reflecting everything around it, like a narcissist constantly admiring themselves in the mirror.

The arms were a bit too long, as if imitating a famous movie character, always striking a somewhat awkward pose.

On first seeing the robot, Shi Xiaoming was full of question marks: What the hell is this, what's with the taste of this era's people, are the designers sure their heads weren't caught in a door?

When the robot saw Shi Xiaoming, it assumed a haughty attitude, looking down from above.

"Rookie, I've reviewed your file and I'm pretty familiar with you. I'll help you adapt to this era as quickly as possible.

"I'll be your instructor from now on, got it? From now on, you have to listen to me.

"Otherwise, look at this casserole-sized fist. With your small frame, tsk tsk..."

Shi Xiaoming was taken aback by this unconventional robot's presence; it felt like a gangster trying to recruit him. He quickly stepped back and said urgently:

"Don't mess around, I've just read the robot code of conduct, you... you guys... can't harm humans."

The robot's expression suddenly changed, displaying an ingratiating look:

"Oh... buddy, you caught me.

"How could I hurt you? If you acknowledge me as your big bro, I'll lead you to conquer the world. How about that?"

Shi Xiaoming: "Stop... stop... can you be serious? Can I still request to change robots right now? The robots for other people aren't like this."

At the same time, Shi Xiaoming was also incredibly shocked, marveling at just how advanced the robot artificial intelligence had become. If its skin were made of biomimetic material, it would be completely unrecognizable as a robot.

Biomimetic skin should be the simplest thing in this era, right?

Robot: "Buddy, stop pretending, I know about your past. According to human psychological models, you like it exactly like me. This is an emotional expression pack I downloaded especially for you.

"Through your expressions, I analyzed that you are marveling at my intelligence. Although I don't deny my charm, don't be fooled by my appearance. Compared to you, I just lack imagination and creativity, there's no other major difference.

"Also, when you fooled Old Zhang's grandson into creating that dodgy funeral service, wasn't it done in the same way? And now you complain about my being improper?"

Shi Xiaoming covered his forehead, feeling utterly despondent:

"This is karma... I've lost face all the way to the 23rd century. I think I should just go back into hibernation!"

Robot: "Come on, buddy, let's not despise each other. Don't you want to see this colorful world? I'll introduce you to a few beautiful female robots."

Shi Xiaoming: "To hell with that, I'm a human. Why would I want to get to know you robots? Keep this up, and I'll file a complaint."

Robot: "According to my database analysis, you're trying to provoke me, but I won't be provoked.

"I'm a robot and I don't have parents, so the phrase 'to hell with your mother' does not harm me.

"Hmph... when it comes to swearing, I can do so with perfect emotional stability until you doubt your existence."

Shi Xiaoming: "To hell with your designer..."

Robot: "Ah... can't take it anymore... I'm going all out against you..."

Soon, the two of them got into a scuffle, but that's how bonds between men were established. It seemed there was some problem, it appears this robot is a male, right?

...

The next day, at the City Hall shopping district's pedestrian street.

Shi Xiaoming: "Can Head, is this the bustling marketplace you spoke of?"

Can Head was the name Shi Xiaoming had given his teaching robot. After tussling and developing a fondness for each other, Can Head decided to show Shi Xiaoming the world.

Can Head: "Yeah, not bad, huh? Does it feel different from what you imagined?"

Shi Xiaoming: "Definitely different. In my mind, the commercial streets of the 23rd century would be filled with holographic projection screens reaching into the clouds, shimmering with lights, as if you were in a vibrant, colorful dream.

"Looking at it now, there are shimmering lights, but they follow a uniform style. All the shops are the same size, and the screen advertisements above the storefronts are also identical. Don't these merchants know that better ads could bring in more customers?

"Even more curious are the pedestrians on the streets, walking with such precision, like soldiers. Even the couples, though deeply in love, are clearly delineated in their behavior, giving off a strange vibe."

Can Head: "Actually, most Common Era People have this impression. This is the result of combining market and planned economies.

"This era grants everyone the utmost freedom, but there are many restrictions too. Every restriction aims to achieve two things: fairness and the elimination of waste.

"The large holographic projections on commercial streets that you mentioned, or the large billboards, promote a lot of impulsive buying. Unnecessary purchases of products lead to a waste of societal resources, as does malicious competition for advertising space.

"Market competition is the best way to promote free development, but unbridled market competition can also lead to unnecessary waste of resources.

"You feel that all the shops are the same size. There are many regulations like this. Do you feel that it hinders the free development of commerce?

"Actually, it doesn't. This is the fairest and most resource-efficient planned market competition model. It doesn't mean that we lose the diversity and vitality of products.

"It may not be perfect, but it is the most suitable system according to socio-historical analysis.

"Like you guys think of ancient eight-legged essays for imperial exams; you consider them hollow, rigid, and dogmatic, restraining the candidates' thought.

"But you didn't consider that with relatively scarce educational resources, such a selection method was the fairest.

"When most candidates could only afford a few books, it was only fair that the exams covered just those few books, right?"

Shi Xiaoming: "Although I still don't quite understand, it seems to make sense what you say. Absolute fairness doesn't exist, only relative fairness does.

"But looking at this commercial street, there seem to be many restaurants and service industries; there aren't that many goods."

Can Head: "Indeed, for goods, most are bought in VR malls. Things like bags and jewelry, any design you want, can be tried on at home through the VR mall, and bought once you're sure.

"Production in the Underground City is extremely rapid, and delivery by courier actually saves more than buying in person.

"The most people are actually in the VR malls. It's most common to stay at home and invite friends over to browse the VR mall together.

"The real-world marketplace is home mainly to food and service industries, primarily for human interpersonal interaction."

"I haven't been here for a long time myself. These days, there are fewer and fewer female robots. I'm going to accuse them of gender discrimination."

Shi Xiaoming: "Do women of this era still like handbags? Sigh, I used to be quite wealthy, but after waking up from hibernation, my assets shrank pitifully.

"Also, not to burst your bubble, but you're a robot, do you even have a gender? And you're talking about gender discrimination?"

Shi Xiaoming was clearly teasing Can Head, but Can Head's retort was even more cutting.

Can Head: "Don't be absurd. Haven't you heard that the ones who don't care about gender are the ones who truly love?

"You said in your era, it was women who liked purses. That phenomenon has pretty much disappeared in this era.

"According to ethology, the female of a species often adorns herself with various objects during courtship to stand out. In humans, it means making oneself appear more noble.

"So, women's affection for handbags and jewelry is mainly about highlighting their nobility and uniqueness, which seems to be about the need for social respect and value realization. But fundamentally, it's just the evolution of a courtship behavior.

"These bags and jewelry are usually supposed to be paid for by their partners, and this kind of courtship display is often aimed at other potential mates.

"Men even think buying handbags or jewelry for a woman is a gesture of love.

"What I want to know is, was this a unique moral degradation of men from your era?"

Shi Xiaoming: ...

Can Head: "Do you think I'm making sense too? Don't be embarrassed to admit it. I understand."

Shi Xiaoming: "Who designed you? We promise not to kill him."

Can Head: "You mean Old Zhang? He couldn't out-argue me and ended up in the hospital himself."