CHAPTER 306: CHAPTER 193: THE NEXT GENERATION OF HUMAN CIVILIZATION_2

"Hmm, we’ve arrived," Chen Feng said.

"That was quick." Sun Yan was taken aback.

"Didn’t you check the destination? Our original hometown has now become an ecological reserve, hardly anyone lives there anymore," Chen Feng said. "Now only the city still has residents, but I’ve looked, our families have taken military family arrangements and moved to the Space City."

"It’s true," Sun Yan sighed, "In the end, the population is still too small, houses are distributed for free based on contribution, and our contributions can benefit our families. So, not only are we fellow townsmen, but we’re also neighbors now."

Because their contributions were similar, their families were arranged in the same neighborhood.

"We’ve entered the high-speed area," Chen Feng said again, then let go, handing control over to the Star Spirit.

The so-called high-speed area refers to a section of the route where the speed is at least below fifty mach; traveling to any place takes only a few minutes.

So, in just a minute, their flying shuttle automatically decelerated, and in a few more minutes, they reached their destination.

——A massive structure hovering above the Space City.

Indeed, it’s enormous.

The entire building presents a regular polyhedron, and if not for the numerous channels for fast movement on its surface, it wouldn’t look much different from a spaceship.

"Old Chen, come out tonight for a get-together." Sun Yan eagerly stepped out.

"Sure." Chen Feng remained very calm.

He didn’t let go of his emotions like Sun Yan but kept them under tight control; in fact, this was his personality.

Then he slowly walked around here.

Taking in the surroundings.

The building doesn’t quite resemble a spaceship for another reason — there are too many decorations on the surface.

From wooden carved patterns, shining crystals, soft and comfortable carpets, to clean and tidy walls...

Even far more luxurious than the grand halls from before the Starry Era.

Not to mention the breathtaking space views that directly face the starry sky and sunlight.

Chen Feng also saw many shops and entertainment places.

But most of all, there were children.

Yes, while walking through the internal streets of the neighborhood, the number of children was the highest. Each one was well dressed, cute, with bright smiles, looking not mischievous at all, but rather like little grown-ups.

Chen Feng stopped as there was a fruit shop ahead.

Having been away for over a decade, he had to bring something back.

However, after walking into the shop, he was immediately troubled.

What kinds of fruits are these?

He couldn’t recognize any of them.

Looking around, not a single familiar one was in sight.

"Hello, uncle, are you looking to buy some new types of fruit?" A soft voice called, and Chen Feng looked down to find a little girl looking around seven or eight years old.

Her features were very delicate, with big eyes, presently looking up. Her adult-like mannerisms actually revealed an indescribable cuteness.

"Yes," Chen Feng nodded, then asked, "Is this your shop?"

"No," the child looked at Chen Feng with a bit of curiosity, "According to the trading rules introduced in Space City in ’04, all small shops within the Space City belong to civilization collectively, and individuals only have the management rights. I am the secondary manager of this shop, which means I am the shop owner."

"..." Chen Feng already realized that he indeed was somewhat out of touch with society.

This feeling was not like returning home, but rather as if he had suddenly traveled through time.

"Are you a Sleeper, uncle?" The little girl seemed somewhat excited.

"What is a Sleeper?" Chen Feng no longer regarded her as merely a child, and when he asked sincerely, he didn’t feel any embarrassment.

"A Sleeper refers to someone who uses the C5-level Star Sea Original Energy Training Equipment for more than a year of sleep training; they are quite remarkable. But such people may experience a disconnect with the fast-evolving society when they wake up. However, uncle, since you don’t even know the rules introduced in ’04, could it be you’ve been asleep ever since the Worren War ended?"

"..." Chen Feng was utterly unprepared to have his identity revealed so suddenly. He couldn’t help but look more carefully at the little one in front of him. He squatted down and smiled, "How old are you this year?"

"Yinyin is already eight years old," exclaimed the girl named Yinyin, filled with excitement, "Just as the information database says, the earliest batch of Sleepers loves to ask children about their ages."

"..." For a moment, Chen Feng didn’t know what to say.

"Uncle, you probably want to ask me why I’m working at such a young age, right?" Yinyin patted her small chest with an air of importance, "Now, children born after the Starry Era are quite capable. Most of us finish learning what took uncles twelve years to study in school, by the age of six. After that, we qualify to engage in learning-based work to raise our contribution scores. But Yinyin is particularly excellent, which is why I became the secondary manager of a first-level shop at the age of eight."

"..." Chen Feng was slowly feeling numbed.

Child labor? No, this probably doesn’t count, if the child actually mastered all the knowledge.

And judging by her behavior, she was already adept.

Are children nowadays all that mature?

"Uncle, are you planning to buy fruits to go somewhere?" Yinyin asked directly when Chen Feng remained silent.

"Home," Chen Feng pulled himself together, smiling.

He held strong confidence in human civilization and in the Commander-in-Chief. Though the little girl before him was truly somewhat unexpected, she was indeed adorable; seeing such outstanding next generations brings a comforting feeling to warriors like him.

"Going home, then just bring some along," Yinyin realized, smiling sweetly, "It’s the thought that counts; uncle just returning home is the best gift for your family."

Chen Feng paused, nodding slightly, then smiled: "You’re right."

When he left carrying a huge bag of fruits he had never seen before, he saw the little girl swapping shifts with another slightly older boy, then happily bounding out of the shop. That playful, cute manner reminiscent of children during the Earth Star Period.

Meanwhile, Chen Feng had already received explanations from the Star Spirit.

Due to various optimization technologies used now, the average intelligence and learning capacity of children are over three to four times those from the Earth Star Era.

In other words, each would have been considered an astonishing prodigy back then.

This high intelligence has prioritized educational reform for the next generation. The so-called "learning-based work" represents an educational reform bill proposed and rapidly passed by the Commander-in-Chief, aimed to help children fully unleash their potentials in inclusive "missions" while growing healthily.

For them, work is probably like interesting "games" and "play."

Chen Feng could sense some Original Energy fluctuations on the slightly older boy.

These children start Original Energy training from the age of six.

"The next generation is always the future of civilization."

Chen Feng murmured to himself, with a sense of fulfillment continued along the navigation towards his parents’ home.

According to the Star Spirit’s description, his parents—once ordinary farmers who labored half a lifetime in the fields—are now production employees at the "Antimatter Energy Factory".

Although "antimatter" sounds particularly grandiose, in Chen Feng’s mind, he imagined his parents doing some simple work.

However, when he finally met them, even with his current Primordial Energy Mastery, he was taken aback.