The wild grass on the ground turns green and then yellow, yellow and then green, layer after layer.
The city’s scale expands and then shrinks, shrinks and then expands, repeatedly.
Three tis has the teaching building within Rhein University been rebuilt, the White Jade Statue at the entrance has been refurbished five tis.
Everything is changing.
Everything is replacing.
The only thing that remains unchanged...
Seems to be the hafnium alloy trash can robot beneath the White Jade Statue, unchanged for decades, centuries, day-to-day.
It still gleams silver.
It still works diligently.
It still works lethargically.
Every day, many students pass by the statue, and they can see this hafnium alloy trash can that never fades, never scratches, picking up garbage here.
It’s always so new, yet always so old.
No one rembers when it started picking up trash here; they only hear from many who study school history, that ever since Rhein University was founded, it’s been guarding the founder’s statue.
Principal Zhao Yingjun, Principal Yu Xi, respectively, were the first and second principals of this world’s top institution.
But...
Besides that?
Their stories, their specific lives, are not rembered by many, nor understood by many.
The only traces left through the years seem to be just the nas on the base, and...this trash can robot, which has beco both the mascot and guardian of Rhein University, accompanying countless generations of students, through countless springs and autumns.
...
"Senior, senior, won’t the trash can robot break?"
Two freshn junior sisters followed behind the senior, full of curiosity about everything within the campus gates.
"Hafnium alloy isn’t that easy to break!"
The senior patted his chest, showcasing his erudition:
"Hafnium alloy is the hardest, most stable, most durable material in the world! No matter how sharp, nothing can leave a scratch on it... Of course, that is after forming; before forming, hafnium alloy is still malleable."
Another junior sister raised her hand:
"Senior, then why... its appearance is indeed very new, but the model is very outdated? Outside on the streets now, all the garbage trucks fly in the air, fast, high-efficiency, large capacity."
"In comparison, this trash can robot feels like an antique product from hundreds of years ago... and it picks up trash using old-fashioned clamps. Plus, it works as if it’s out of power every day, showing a very lethargic working attitude, like loafing off."
"Uh..."
The senior scratched his head:
"Well, that, that I don’t know, anyway, when my senior’s senior, even the teacher’s teacher studied here, this trash can robot was like that."
"No one knows why it’s here, nor does anyone know its aning, but it holds a high status, no one dares to provoke it, even if a president cos... it gives no face, and might just knock them flying."
"You don’t have to worry about the power problem, the miniature nuclear battery it uses has been working for hundreds of years, but still has sufficient power, and this is also Rhein University’s product technology! If you’re interested, you can choose to take this course in the future."
The two junior sisters widened their eyes.
Knock...
Knock the president flying!?
Is this inconspicuous trash can robot really so mighty? Is there law left? Are there school rules left?
However, since the senior said so.
It’s better to provoke less and stay away from this local tyrant in the future, its slacker look seems tough to deal with.
Suddenly.
A great figure imprinted on the cover of the admission notice appears!
[President Gao Wen!]
Just then.
This middle-aged man with slightly graying hair, looking about 50 years old, walks step by step toward the lethargic and dispirited hafnium alloy trash can.
The two junior sisters imdiately recognize this great scientist, showing solemn respect:
"Quick, look, that’s President Gao Wen! The great President Gao Wen!"
The senior stands upright as well, speaking softly:
"To be precise... he’s a rotating president."
"Ahem, here I should enlighten you on Rhein University’s managent system; basically, all presidents are on a rotating basis because most of their ti is spent in hibernation, and usually presidents take turns."
"But undeniably, every president is very formidable! Very respected! Like the more famous President Du Yao, President Liu Feng, President Jask, etc., uh... although it has to be said, President Jask is a bit crazy, he always likes organizing so bizarre projects and activities."
"Let’s go, we’ll continue to the teaching buildings behind..."
...
Ka, cha.
The lazy hafnium alloy claw picks up a small piece of paper blown by the wind, a soft thud opens the cranium, and the Hafnium Alloy VV tosses the small paper inside the head.
"Trash, trash, found trash."
Still so lethargic.
These past 200 plus years, although the cutting-edge technology field has developed slowly, taking many wrong turns, civilian areas have benefited from frontier technology dissemination, and are evidently changing day by day.
Everywhere are automated flying garbage trucks, forming an inescapable net for various trash, and very little garbage can float to its location.
This results in, it working for half a year without filling the trash can even once.
Boring.
And uninteresting.
The cranium closes, VV’s tracks reverse, ready to return to its small nook for rest.
"VV."
From behind.
A middle-aged man’s voice reaches.
VV rotates its body, discovering it’s indeed Rhein University’s current rotating president, Gao Wen.
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