1478: Chapter 1474: Good Intentions?
1478: Chapter 1474: Good Intentions?
Disasters often co fast and furious, the kind of suddenness that violently disrupts everyday life is the hardest pain for people to endure.
And this world, from the start, was a bit different.
“War?
Epidemic?
Natural disaster?
Uh, do we have them?
Isn’t it always like this?”
Sotis, this kind of resignation particularly makes people feel helpless.
But inside the Capital of New Kingdom, whether it was the bustling workers on the streets or the ordinary vendors in the alleys, there was an overflowing vitality.
Smiles, a brisk pace, and optimistic tones.
This spirit and vigor, as Lu Ping’an saw it, was the anticipation of better days ahead…
“Did we, do the right thing?”
Lu Ping’an picked up an apple from a street vendor, wiped it off, and took a bite.
Quite delicate, cheap goods aren’t good, it seed like the product of a failed transplant, so were sour or even a little bitter, but there was also a hint of sweetness.
But to the people of this world, it had already beco a rare treasure.
“…Uh, want one?”
But a scruffy little kid by the vendor’s side was looking at Lu Ping’an with yearning.
Even with the involvent of the “God of Magic Plants,” which made the world’s fruit and vegetable yield increase by a thousandfold and drastically reduced prices, it was still a luxury item.
“Uncle!
I want one.”
And this little kid from the Long Hand Clan was nodding his head excitedly.
“Want one…
want one but not getting one!”
Lu Ping’an cheerfully crunched the apple to the core, even though he still found it not tasty at all.
Ha, who’s uncle…
cough, teaching the little boy to stand on his own two feet, not to always expect handouts from others.
“Wah wah wah, I wanna eat the apple, an uncle…” Imdiately, the little guy began to roll around on the ground.
Uh, a girl?
That…
um, girls need to be more careful, not to be tricked by a little apple, even if it’s not bait to lure you into so shady room, accepting food from strangers could be quite troubleso.
“Seeing you talk your usual nonsense, I feel at peace.”
Xia Qin, looking tired, ca over, paid for a bag of apples, and gave it to the crying little girl.
“Thank you, older sister!
Older sister is so pretty!”
With food, the little girl was instantly happy.
Uncle?
Older sister?
Looking at the little girl making faces from behind Xia Qin’s back, Lu Ping’an unhappily returned her a face.
“Acting like a child at your age,” Xia Qin said irritably as she saw Lu Ping’an still acting cheeky.
“Tsk, I’ve just co of age…
in a few months, this kid might grow taller and bigger than .”
Lu Ping’an wasn’t just being stubborn, he was stating facts, as the Long Hand Clan of this world still had “rapid growth” as a feature, with eight-year-olds who actually exceeded thirty years of human age all too common.
“….If possible, I wish this kind of life never cos back.”
“That’s impossible, the best-selling among Zero Level Taboo Items now is the ‘Fruit of Growth’…
Childhood is too much of a luxury for the residents of this world, for a frontline that constantly needs reinforcents.”
The Fruit of Success was originally a special product during those ten years, an “official cheat code” provided by the World Consciousness to the Long Hand Clan and other native races.
It could accelerate the growth of these races, enabling them to quickly reach adulthood and produce offspring, along with so rule bonuses.
As a result, the population of the Long Hand Clan and other native races has multiplied many tis over these years…
As for exactly how many tis, since a population census is unrealistic, it cannot be calculated, but a conservative estimate is also more than ten tis.
After the “decade”, this species, which contained the “World’s Reason,” should have disappeared, but as a result of the disappearance of the World Consciousness, it beca a “Treasure”.
Of course, it was naturally declining…
but at this ti, a Deity and the local high-level Gardeners ca forward and ultimately managed to turn these wild treasures into mass-produced “Ti Fruits”.
The only issue was that its performance was probably not as good as before…
but as long as the supply was sufficient, this was not a problem.
“It seems that soone has suggested banning this Fruit?”
“It won’t pass, on one hand, there’s the demand, and if it really gets banned, the locals will revolt first.”
Local Long Hand Clan families, even with monogamous marriages, with the special Fruit’s blessing, the pregnancy period would be greatly shortened, resulting in households with a dozen mbers, both adults and children.
If they are all children, could two adults possibly support over ten mouths with their labor?
This is unrealistic by any asure; in fact, most families produce many offspring to increase their labor force and chances of prosperity.
At the very least, a newborn could beco a fisherman, a farr, a worker, and if a high-quality talent were to erge, becoming a High-Tier Professional, official, or great Craftsman, a whole family could achieve happiness.
Especially after Lu Ping’an’s “Courtyard” began mass production of Professionals, such large-scale lottery-like opportunities beca even more realistic.
When “having children” and “letting children” grow up quickly beca a path to wealth, who could stop them?
“…You can’t stop it, this city, this race, this nation, this world, all are in need of more human resources.”
As he walked past Xia Qin, picked up the girl, and squeezed her cheeks, Lu Ping’an responded with a harsh reality.
No one could truly step out of their era…
“…However, we are also rolling out so new policies; otherwise, you wouldn’t see this ‘child.’ Even if it may be called hypocritical, we are indeed gradually changing the world.”
Seeing that Xia Qin still didn’t understand, Lu Ping’an explained.
“The minimum childhood and the maximum working hours, along with similar systems…”
The minimum childhood rule ant that from infancy to adulthood, a child must have at least two years of childhood, during which they can only work as low-paid child laborers.
Such savage laws, which could lead to execution countless tis in other worlds, are in fact a great progress in theirs.
“Isn’t it said that in order for a high-quality potential talent or labor force to develop, they need to spend ti in various stages of childhood?”
“Uh, you have to tell other people that this is actually…
about half of it is nonsense I made up.”
At Lu Ping’an’s level, he could indeed intervene and legislate by force, but if done excessively, it would not only be ineffective but could also provoke backlash.
He could only go with the current of the tis, understanding the needs of the masses, and guide them slightly.
Ten years had proven that six months of childhood were already enough, and even many children did not have that…
Two years could indeed increase their potential, but even more so, it provided them with a relatively full “childhood” and a more complete psyche.
Even so, there were still many parents who reduced the period of childhood; if the law raised the limit further, it would naturally beco worthless.
In a sense, this was indeed the sa as the twelve-hour work rule…
It was under the guise that better rest leads to more sustainable work, and speaking only of benefits made such “benevolent” regulations potentially enforceable.
Internally, Lu Ping’an persuaded others that the more mature ones’ psyche and the more diverse/harsh their experiences, the stronger their Talent Abilities could beco upon Awakening as Professionals, or the variety could increase.
He always spoke the truth, but how effective it was, or whether it was cost-effective, he himself was unsure.
But from what could be seen, at least for now, everyone accepted it…
“At least, let these ‘children’ know what they are fighting for…
If they feel empty inside, losing control would just be a matter of a mont.”
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