The phone vibrated wildly, like it was leaking electricity.
Jiang Ye woke up in a daze, first glancing at the clock on the wall. It was only 3:30 AM. He hadn't set his alarm this early.
He grabbed his phone and was stunned.
[You have 10,000 unread new messages]
It was a miracle the phone hadn't exploded. Jiang Ye had never seen such a sight – ten thousand unread messages.
He opened it and understood.
[Ten thousand refugee applications that meet the preliminary selection criteria have been issued to you. Please click the green checkmark at the bottom left of the refugee applications you are willing to accept, or the red cross at the bottom right if you are not.]
Jiang Ye sat up and cleared his throat, "Lights on!"
The office lights automatically illuminated the room, making it bright.
"Pu'er!" Jiang Ye called again.
The sound of water from the pantry followed, and a large bowl of hot Pu'er tea was automatically brewed.
Jiang Ye groggily got up, splashed cold water on his face, and downed the Pu'er tea, becoming completely alert. He sat down behind his desk and began reviewing refugee applications on the large screen.
The first application:
A photo appeared first – a plump white woman with a simple, beaming smile and many freckles on her face.
[Personal Information: Babit Martha, 34 years old, female, no disabilities, no body modifications, no major illnesses.]
[Refugee Application: Grandpa King! Take me in! I can do so many things: farm, pest control for fruit trees, assist with pig births, foal births, human births, repair simple engines, fix children's toys, fix bugs in low-level software programs – I can do all of these! I have a little money and hope to buy a small house in the new city. I've never been to jail and have always obeyed the law! Please take me in!]
Jiang Ye almost spat out his tea.
What kind of application was this? What was this "Grandpa King" title?
However, she seemed like a good person. He clicked the green checkmark, approving it.
The second application popped up. It was an elderly East Asian man with white hair, wearing a black garment similar to a Tang suit and small, gold-rimmed glasses with lenses as thick as beer bottle bottoms.
[Personal Information: Lu Bian, 69 years old, male, no disabilities, artificial heart, no major illnesses.]
[Refugee Application: Esteemed Your Excellency, I am of limited knowledge and have spent half my life studying the history of philosophy, with only a few insignificant achievements. It is my great fortune to have served as a professor at two universities. This time, I hope to find an academic institution where I can contribute my remaining years on the podium. Although I am old, I am healthy and strong, a horse in its stable, and capable of working for another thirty years without issue. I have some savings and wish to purchase a large house with a garden in the suburbs, requiring a study of over one hundred square meters. If there is a city near the new settlement, I am willing to continue my public welfare project of philosophical lectures. If you approve my application, I will be immensely grateful. If you deem me unsuitable, I wish you a bright future and success in your endeavors.]
Jiang Ye decisively agreed. This old man appeared to be a scholar. The colony was currently lacking in educated individuals, and a bit of intellectual infusion was needed.
He reviewed the applications one by one, no longer reading them carefully but scanning them. He finished each one in two to three seconds, clicking the checkmark or the cross.
The information in each application varied greatly, truly embodying the saying, "There are all sorts of people among a hundred."
The youngest applicant was only eight years old, and the oldest was eighty.
Beautiful and ugly, tall and short, rich and poor, with or without criminal records – no two people were alike.
He spent three hours straight and had only reviewed two thousand applications.
Just as Jiang Ye was about to take a break, his phone vibrated wildly again.
It vibrated with the sound of a drill, almost flying off the desk.
He grabbed his phone, unlocked it, and another prompt appeared:
[Ten thousand refugee applications that meet the preliminary selection criteria have been issued to you. Please click the green checkmark at the bottom left of the refugee applications you are willing to accept, or the red cross at the bottom right if you are not.]
Another ten thousand!
Now there were eighteen thousand unreviewed applications.
Jiang Ye was troubled. At his current pace, without eating, drinking, or sleeping, it would take two days to finish. Other work would definitely be neglected.
He directly called Isabella.
After waiting for more than ten seconds, the call was connected.
"Waking me up from a deep sleep so early in the morning!" Isabella said angrily. "What is it!"
"Come help me with some work, reviewing refugee applications," Jiang Ye said. "Second Continent Military Base, top floor, my office. Come as soon as possible!"
"What the heck? Why should I come?" Isabella was very confused.
"You're mature, steady, and reliable. I don't trust anyone else with this," Jiang Ye said sweetly. "Good sister, please come!"
"Will you pay me? I'm not coming without pay."
"How much do you want."
"Ten thousand," Isabella said.
Jiang Ye was overjoyed. Such cheap labor? Did she think this job was easy?
He readily agreed and asked her not to go back on her word.
He hung up and continued reviewing.
Less than an hour later, Isabella's call came again.
"What is this! I came all this way, and your guards won't let me in!" Isabella was very angry. "They even pointed guns at me!"
"Calm down, calm down. I'll have them let you through! My fault, my fault!" Jiang Ye slapped his forehead.
Jiang Ye quickly sent a message to the duty guard captain.
Less than five minutes later, the office door was pushed open, and Isabella entered with sharp eyes.
She was wearing a puffy white down jacket, like a polar bear, and took it off as soon as she entered, throwing it onto the sofa. Underneath, she wore a fitted green sweater and a short skirt with black stockings, which accentuated her excellent figure.
"Come, come, thank you for your hard work. Please sit, I'll pour you some tea." Jiang Ye was very pleased.
Isabella glared at him and sat down behind the desk.
Jiang Ye scurried to the pantry. As he was halfway through pouring a bowl of tea, a shout came from behind him.
"Holy cow! Seventeen thousand applications! Jiang Ye, are you treating me like an animal?"
Jiang Ye quickly brought the tea out, a fawning smile on his face. "Thank you for your hard work! Be sure to review them carefully and select people you think are suitable for our colony. The hard requirement is to be a good person, no hooligans or gangsters, only law-abiding citizens. Don't be too strict; accept those who are relatively suitable."
Isabella glared at him fiercely. "If you want to get promoted and rich, go somewhere else. All the dirty and tiring work falls on me. Jiang Ye, I must have owed you in a past life!"
Jiang Ye reached out and patted her back. "Calm down, calm down. I know it was wrong to call you here so early to work, but the situation is urgent, and the matter is of great importance. I have other official duties to attend to, and this cannot be delayed."
"Get lost. I'll handle it. If it goes wrong, it's not my fault."
"No, no! Sister, thank you for your hard work! I'll have my secretary bring you food and drinks. Just tell her what you need."
Jiang Ye made a phone call, summoning Liu Jizi, and asked her to prepare some substantial food.
When Liu Jizi entered, she was pushing a meal cart, very professional.
Isabella was stunned when she saw her and looked at Jiang Ye with disdain. "Such a beautiful female secretary? Have you become so disgusting now?"
"What are you thinking! It's purely a professional relationship!" Jiang Ye felt a bit awkward and turned to instruct Liu Jizi, "This distinguished guest is in your care. Make sure she's well taken care of!"
"Yes!" Liu Jizi stood at attention and saluted.
Jiang Ye left the office directly and hurried downstairs.