"Chairman, the initial inclusion of the Cave People was for the purpose of targeted cultivation and domestication of mantle bacteria, at our Moon Affairs Department's request."

Jacob explained to Zhou Yi, "This is a long-term project; initially, we selected 7 Bone Fish for periods ranging from 7 to 49 days of mantle bacteria observation and screening."

The Bone Man Minister adjusted his position in the chair, "But now, there have been changes with the Cave People. They've become formal family members and are living together with the Bone Fish long-term."

"Unlike the evolutionary path of the Cave People, the mantle bacteria have retained only the essential survival functions. They possess extremely strong energy absorption properties, resistance to high temperatures and hydrolysis, and can hibernate for long periods. As long as there is a mineral layer carrier, they can survive. After death, they will adsorb and solidify many minerals, becoming a foundation for other similar organisms to survive."

"Although, like the Cave People, they use corpses of their kind, the mantle bacteria are closer to coral."

"They are simple and pure, and although the Cave People are also microorganisms, they occupy different ecological niches, so the Cave People consider them excellent symbiotic partners."

"The Cave People are undergoing long-term domestication to improve the precision of the Cosmic Heart and Skin Radar on a microscopic level, attempting to completely integrate and connect the two. This would eliminate the internal and external repulsion and the 'either/or' scenario, achieving balanced coexistence."

Zhou Yi was solemn.

If the necessity to choose between the two can be resolved, utilizing both cosmic rays for communication and the energy cannon would provide a super enhancement for all Bone Fish.

"That's quite good."

Zhou Yi couldn't help but question, "Is there a problem?"

"Chairman, the bone-related families are indeed becoming richer and more diverse, but family disputes are also becoming increasingly severe..."

The Bone Man Minister scratched his head, "Because it has become more like a small team, not just two or three people deciding by mutual agreement."

"Most Bone Fish cannot coordinate the demands of all internal parties. Fortunately, with the addition of Mechanical Life, they can simulate calculations and reach recognition by most family members through voting. Thus, when family members exceed three, Mechanical Life is generally introduced."

"Now we are perfecting the regulations mechanism for bone-related families. However, the existing flesh-and-blood life systems are not suitable, so we've borrowed from Mechanical Life's Family to establish 'father-son' and 'bloodline' identities. The family decision-maker, or the entire family guardian, is just one. This guardian also assumes the external social responsibilities and obligations of this family."

"Defining responsibilities and obligations can help reduce disputes."

Zhou Yi smiled wryly.

Unexpected, truly unexpected.

The family program of Mechanical Life has now become an exemplary advanced system, which the company will need to study closely.

"Chairman, there's also the matter of the seven-member family. Although there are currently only two cases, we can already see the trend... perhaps multi-racial family-style integration will continue to expand with Bone Fish as the hub."

Jacob continued, "The seven-member family includes humans."

"..."

Zhou Yi's smile froze.

What's going on here!?

The newly promoted humans who always pursued a laid-back lifestyle are suddenly chasing this trend?

"Explain in detail."

"Yes."

The Bone Man Minister paused, seemingly organizing his thoughts, "Initially, we were puzzled. Humans have their own internal communities, and the opposite sexes attract each other to come together, with family forms in human society aiming at similar kinds."

"We visited and inquired the two humans who joined the bone-related family. Both are company employees, one an engineer, the other a Lunar farmer."

"They explained their reasons. As company employees, their income is more than enough to support a family, especially with the company's free healthcare and education, making expenses practically irrelevant. But they find conventional marriage too troublesome and dangerous, as company employees are highly desirable everywhere, many have been tricked by outside men and women, losing both money and love, very tragic..."

"Additionally, there's the matter of raising children. Company employees' children are already winning at the starting line, but the level of competition is hard to imagine from the outside."

Jacob gestured with thin white-bone fingers, explaining, "Accustomed to a superior environment, if the child does not study well, the future option is to live outside the company. This will cause an enormous disparity, bringing much sorrow."

"And if the child is inherently not good at studying or has poor attention and memory, it's even more challenging."

"Some company employees have this mindset, thus choosing not to marry. They're afraid of deception and betrayal, and if they can't help their children in the future, it'll be even more painful."

Zhou Yi listened silently for a long time.

It seems that not marrying has little to do with income levels.

Respecting personal choices.

He said, "So these two non-marital individuals chose to join a bone-related family?"

"Yes."

Jacob nodded, "The Bone Fish, capable of supporting a family, are of significant size; the smallest has a body length of over 10 meters, and the largest Big Mouth has far surpassed the blue whale, reaching 300 meters. Its internal space easily provides humans with a private room."

"Joining a bone-related family, this multi-racial environment can offer mutual assistance, and due to differing ecological niches, conflicts and frictions are minimal."

"At the same time, they can have family and stable friends, with high growth potential. For singles, it's a whole new option."

"Bone-related families also need humans, as humans' greatest advantage is imagination and daydreaming, or creativity. This can offer creative suggestions and perspectives for the whole family. Humans are the variable of the bone-related family, crucial at key moments, helping to break existing frameworks."