Medical technology is another example.
Wheeler Star's medical technology is extremely backward, to the point where even fever reducers are imported. If warlords need surgery, they have to hire alien "flying surgeons" at exorbitant prices. Ordinary people have almost no chance of undergoing surgery. A few prosperous cities have barely functional hospitals, but the prices are extremely high.
However, Wheeler Star experiences intense combat, resulting in a very large population of wounded and disabled individuals. In some regions, over seven thousand out of every hundred thousand people are disabled. There are also those suffering from chronic illnesses due to biological warfare. These individuals are largely unable to work and can only subsist on the meager income of their families.
In contrast, on Birong Star, every small city hospital is equipped with limb printers. Simple limb deficiencies can be rectified by printing new limbs in five minutes, at a very low cost, equivalent to just two days' wages for a local courier. Hospitals in major cities can also perform organ replacements, from hearts to prostates, often for the price of a month's salary for a working-class individual.
Without medical technology, hundreds of millions of war-wounded and disabled individuals cannot work. With this technology, they can recover their health and become productive laborers and consumers, transforming burdens into pillars of support. The economic impact is self-evident.
Technical issues are severe across all industries. Once Wheeler Star introduces more advanced and affordable technology, it will save a significant amount of expenditure while creating vast new wealth.
The fifth major reason is the population problem.
Wheeler Star suffers from excessively low population density, leading to two critical obstacles: labor shortages and a small consumer market.
Labor shortages hinder development across all sectors due to a lack of personnel.
A small consumer market means that manufactured goods have few buyers, forcing production to be compressed. This leads to miniaturization of various industries, preventing their growth.
However, the permanent demilitarized zone can swiftly resolve the issue of insufficient manpower.
With advancements in medicine and the cessation of war, a post-war baby boom is anticipated, leading to a rapid increase in families and population growth on Wheeler Star in the coming period.
Furthermore, artificial humans can quickly fill the labor gap on Wheeler Star. The establishment of space stations and the opening of interstellar trade mean that the entire universe becomes a consumer market. Products manufactured on Wheeler Star can be sold across the galaxy, earning revenue from various star systems.
Ultimately, we can see that the five factors that previously contributed to Wheeler Star's poverty – direct consumption by warfare, trade monopolies, the military-industrial complex, technological backwardness, and population issues – will all be rapidly resolved in the future.
Of course, these are merely theoretical plans. Whether Wheeler Star can escape its poverty and weakness will ultimately be tested by time.
Mr. Jiang Ye has created brilliant economic miracles on multiple planets. It is hoped that he will replicate this brilliance on Wheeler Star.
The clouds have now obscured the sky, and thunder rumbles. Money will soon fall, and countless sums of money will leap through the streets like schools of live fish. We wish every resident of Wheeler Star prosperity year after year.
Many years from now, perhaps Wheeler Star will have become a prosperous planet of dazzling lights and bustling activity. When we live in luxurious and comfortable homes, sipping wine late at night, will we still remember the wars and poverty of years past?
...
Saturday, 8 PM.
Jiang Ye returned to Birong Star to attend Birong Star's annual awards ceremony.
This event began three years ago and is held unfailingly every year, presenting over forty awards across various industries.
It recognizes soldiers, scientists, doctors, teachers, citizens who acted bravely for justice, and public welfare organizations. Essentially, typical representatives of all those deserving recognition are selected to receive awards.
After Jiang Ye personally presented the certificates and trophies, each award comes with tens of millions in prize money, a luxurious package tour, and a road on Birong Star will be named after the recipient, serving as an example.
Such a grand event is naturally broadcast globally, and its viewership ratings are consistently high each year.
Jiang Ye was there merely to make an appearance, demonstrating the highest leadership's emphasis on the matter.
However, unexpectedly, "Jiang Ye's poor complexion" immediately trended on Birong Star's internet, with its popularity several times higher than the second-place topic.
After presenting the awards, Jiang Ye returned home in his private car.
His secretary, Su Yueming, saw it on her phone and showed it to Jiang Ye.
Netizens were quite concerned, discussing it on various platforms:
"Did you watch the awards ceremony? Jiang Ye looked so tired..."
"It's sad. Jiang Ye has sacrificed so much for our planet. His work must be exhausting."
"I just immigrated to Birong Star this year, and here I have a brand-new life. I hope Mr. Jiang Ye stays healthy!"
"(Crying) (Crying) Jiang Ye's complexion is not good. Could something be wrong with his health? I'm so worried..."
"Jiang Ye, you need to rest! Take a vacation!"
"This complexion is due to long hours of staying up late and immense pressure. What is Jiang Ye's medical team doing!"
Jiang Ye frowned as he scrolled through the netizens' comments. Almost all of them were of this nature.
"Poor complexion?" Jiang Ye wondered, touching his face. "Do I look like I have a poor complexion?"
"It seems a bit so lately," Su Yueming nodded. "You haven't appeared in public for a while. The last time you appeared, you were in excellent condition. Tonight, you look a bit tired, and the contrast is very obvious."
Jiang Ye browsed the netizens' comments. One highly praised comment even enlarged several photos from the awards ceremony and circled Jiang Ye's wrinkles.
"Holy crap, I have wrinkles?" Jiang Ye exclaimed in horror. "This is ridiculous! These photos must have been heavily edited!"
"There's also white hair," Su Yueming said. "The makeup artist told me you have four or five white hairs on your head."
Jiang Ye was even more horrified. "Am I getting old this quickly?"
"You're not old, but you are indeed overworked. Anger, anxiety, and irregular sleep schedules can all cause facial aging. Now that the situation on Wheeler Star is settled, why don't you get surgery to adjust your age?" Su Yueming suggested. "For example, adjusting it to seventeen or eighteen would definitely give you boundless vitality!"
"Then let's get it adjusted," Jiang Ye nodded. "My wife should get it adjusted too. We're the same age, so it would be nice."
"Director Cen would surely be happy to adjust her age," Su Yueming nodded. "I'll arrange the schedule as soon as possible."
"Shao Wan also needs to get it adjusted. He's already old, and now he holds an important position. He looks too old, with very obvious wrinkles, and he even gets breathless going upstairs," Jiang Ye said. "Tell him to call him and let him know to get it adjusted when he has time."
"Understood," Su Yueming nodded. "Should others get adjusted too?"
"Isabel should get it adjusted. She's also aging terribly. She aged rapidly this year, and wrinkles appeared all at once. White girls age quickly," Jiang Ye said. "You should call her too and tell her to find time to get it adjusted."
"Yes."
"Xu Yan... she has her own money, so it's up to her. If she wants to get it adjusted, she can do it herself. I won't reimburse her. She's the oldest, yet she doesn't look old at all. She might have already gotten it adjusted. Che Zhen is still in great shape; it's not too late to get it adjusted in a couple of years. Ju Lanlan is also fine. Liu Ji Zi can get it adjusted," Jiang Ye murmured. "I haven't seen Tian Rao in a while. I'll see when I meet her later. How much longer until we arrive?"
"We'll be at Tian Rao's place in half an hour. Are you tired? Would you like to sleep for a while?"
"Yes, I'll sleep for a bit. This awards ceremony is quite tiring. Damn it, I'm really getting old. Ten years ago, I could run a marathon and still have plenty of energy," Jiang Ye nodded and closed his eyes.
Su Yueming reached out, pulled down a seat, took out a small towel blanket, and covered Jiang Ye. She also adjusted the air conditioning temperature. She was also tired, resting her head against the window and looking outside, quiet, perhaps thinking about something.
"You should get it adjusted too," Jiang Ye suddenly said.
"Ah?" Su Yueming was startled. "I... I don't need to."
"It's decided then. I'll cover the cost," Jiang Ye said with his eyes closed.