"You old fossil, picking a fight first thing in the morning! I just finished sweeping the corridor, what are you messing around for?"
"You little brat, watch your mouth! You didn't sweep it clean, so I have to redo it!"
"Heh, you're like an old lady in a quilt, making me laugh so hard. My brush head is more advanced than yours, and my suction is stronger. What I sweep will only be cleaner than what you do!"
"Nonsense!"
"Bring it on!"
"Come on, till death do us part! I'm going to finish you off today, you little brat!"
The clatter of collisions, like bumper cars, echoed as the two sweeping robots downstairs fought fiercely.
Jiang Ye was woken up and sat up in bed, shouting, "Stop making noise!"
Silence immediately fell downstairs. The sweeping robots were completely obedient. However, such commands only lasted for a while. It wouldn't be long before the two robots started fighting again.
The sky outside was already faintly lit, but the sun hadn't risen yet. The phone screen showed the time as "6:02," with an unread private message below.
Jiang Ye tapped on the message.
Tian Rao: "Are you back yet? Are you home? (dog emoji)"
Jiang Ye: "Just got back last night, I'm home. (dog emoji)"
Tian Rao: "I'll be right over."
Jiang Ye didn't know why she was coming over so early, before the sun had even risen. She must have an urgent matter.
He threw off the covers and got out of bed. Just as he finished dressing and went downstairs, Tian Rao bounced in through the door. Perhaps because the weather was warming up, she was dressed very lightly today: a white basketball tank top, athletic shorts, and her hair tied up in a high ponytail that swayed back and forth.
"Yo! Another sweeping robot!" Tian Rao's eyes were sharp.
"Don't even mention it. They fight every day, like two natural enemies." Jiang Ye glanced at the two discs sweeping in the corner. "They're from the same factory, just different models. I don't understand why they're so antagonistic. Born of the same root, why must they torment each other so?"
Jiang Ye reached out and tapped the coffee table. A small water dispenser rose up, along with a glass cup. Jiang Ye poured a cup of warm water and handed it to Tian Rao, "Here, drink some water."
"Thanks!" Tian Rao took the cup, sat down on the sofa, bit her lip, and smiled shyly. "Jiang Ye, that, uh, I have something I need your help with today, and I'm a bit embarrassed to say it."
"Oh, asking me for help? You flatter me." Jiang Ye moved a small stool and sat opposite her. "Your Majesty, please command me. What task requires this humble servant to run errands? What could possibly be embarrassing to say?"
"It's just, it's just..." Tian Rao fidgeted for a long time, then suddenly said loudly, "I want to be a boss!"
"Aren't you already a boss?" Jiang Ye didn't understand.
"Not now. Right now, it's just a small workshop, nothing is official. I want to set up my own company, with registration and complete procedures. To create my own clothing brand and make it big and strong." Tian Rao's face turned slightly red. "Then build a large office building, and I'll have a boss's office, sitting there imposingly like Xu Yan, having my subordinates report work to me. After they cautiously finish their reports, I'll criticize them with a cold face, acting all cool!"
Jiang Ye couldn't help but laugh.
"Don't laugh, don't laugh!" Tian Rao's face turned even redder, and she raised her small fist. "I know this idea is a bit childish, but I just want to! Hey, if you laugh again, I'll hit you!"
"You should have saved up quite a bit of money by now, right? Starting a company shouldn't be difficult," Jiang Ye said. "An office building shouldn't be a problem either. Have Xu Yan's construction team build it for you, and your idea could be realized within a week?"
"Money isn't the problem; the money I have is enough," Tian Rao said. "The difficulty lies in company registration."
Jiang Ye's expression changed slightly, as if he had thought of something.
Tian Rao took a sip of water. "A few days ago, before you came back, I went to the police station to ask what procedures I needed to prepare to start a company. The police officers were confused. They said companies couldn't be established here. I asked where I should go to handle the procedures. The officers looked at me, and I looked at them, and none of them could say anything."
"So, our colony doesn't have a place to register companies for now, right?" Tian Rao frowned.
"Indeed, there isn't. Everyone just does business as they please, and companies and enterprises are all from outside," Jiang Ye scratched his head. "Now that you mention it, it seems I should set up an organization to manage local enterprises."
"Yes, yes!" Tian Rao nodded vigorously. "Hurry up! I'm waiting to register my company. I want to be the boss of the first local enterprise!"
"And then sit in the office with a cold face, listening to subordinates report work, acting super cool, right?" Jiang Ye asked, trying to suppress his laughter.
Tian Rao stood up and hit him a few times, her face as red as an apple. "Don't laugh at me! Hurry up and handle this. When it's done, remember to save the first spot for me and call me."
"Okay, no problem," Jiang Ye nodded. "But this matter cannot be rushed. It's a significant issue. I'll give you an answer within about two weeks."
"So long?" Tian Rao was surprised, disappointment written all over her small face.
"Local enterprises, foreign enterprises, we might also need to set taxes, various rules and regulations, legal clauses, and establish a database, as well as select reliable and suitable personnel," Jiang Ye explained patiently. "There are too many things to do, and it might not be completed within two weeks."
"Alright, alright, I don't understand these things. I only understand making clothes. You get it done as soon as possible," Tian Rao patted his shoulder. "Go, go, I'm leaving."
"Aren't you going to stay for a meal?"
"I'm on a diet, only eating one meal a day," Tian Rao shook her head.
"You're still on a diet? You're already so thin!" Jiang Ye was surprised. "We shouldn't blindly diet. Other people diet because they're genuinely fat; you're not fat, why are you joining the fun?"
Tian Rao lifted her tank top, revealing her fair, soft belly, slightly plump.
She patted her stomach with her hand. "See, my little belly is almost showing. I used to have abs! Turning into a pig is something that must never start. Once you start turning into a pig, you can't stop. So, we must use decisive measures to stop it immediately!"
"Alright, alright, you look half-asleep. Go back and get some more sleep," Tian Rao waved her hand and ran off, bouncing happily, clearly in a good mood.
Jiang Ye yawned. It wasn't that he hadn't slept enough, but he had slept too much these past two days. Sleeping too much often makes one feel more tired.
He went upstairs, had breakfast, changed into his going-out clothes, and left home, officially starting work!
He drove to the Second Continent Naval Port first.
As soon as his car entered the port, he was captivated by the scene in the open space.
Rows upon rows of bare-chested, strong men, wearing only camouflage pants, were doing push-ups on the ground. There were thousands of them.
Under the scorching sun, sweat poured off each person like water.
Some officers stood in various places, holding high-pressure water guns, drenching the soldiers with water. Many were knocked over by the strong water flow, only to get up and continue their push-ups.
Several officers were shouting through megaphones:
"Why are your arms shaking! Are you generating electricity by hand? Or did you do too much last night?"
"Don't be limp! Keep your bodies straight! Can a man be limp and still be useful?"
"Let me say it again, keep your bodies straight! If you're not straight, your waist will be injured. What will you do if your waist is damaged?"
"It's too hot, so we're cooling you down. Increase the water flow!"
"Everyone stand up! The Commander is here! Shout until your throats are hoarse, three times 'Greetings, Commander!'"
Thousands of wet soldiers suddenly stood up, their faces contorted with ferocity, roaring at Jiang Ye's car, "Greetings, Commander! Greetings, Commander! Greetings, Commander!"
The car windows seemed about to shatter from the force.