"Familiar? Do you know her?"
Hearing this, Xu An asked while unpacking the box.
"No, just very familiar. Plus, the man mentioned the Chu Group... If I remember correctly, the Chu Group was the sole manufacturer controlling the most advanced technology chips in the country before the apocalypse."
Upon hearing Xu Yan's words, Xu An seemed to recall something. "Is it that Chu Group chip that was rumored to have refused to be acquired by the state?"
"Yes, and more than that. There were even rumors in the industry back then that the Chu Group had stood strong for so many years because they recruited a genius scientist. That person even said that with enough support, he could create a 'perpetual motion machine'."
"However, we all took it as a joke. Those who understood knew it was impossible, and people like me who were just there for the spectacle certainly didn't grasp the details."
Xu An's heart skipped a beat. "What if the perpetual motion machine was actually created?"
Xu Yan looked at Xu An, her expression equally stunned, and hesitated. "...It's probably impossible..."
A perpetual motion machine is a machine that can perform work indefinitely without consuming energy.
It violates the law of conservation of energy and the concepts of current objective scientific laws. It cannot be manufactured and is a "scientific product" that exists only in theory.
"But the Lighthouse, isn't that also a product that... shouldn't exist?"
Thinking of this, the two of them fell silent, as some things were better left unknown.
"However, Mom, if that woman really is the Chu Group's daughter, I'm truly a bit curious."
Xu Yan was puzzled. "Curious about what?"
"Think about it, people who can master that kind of technology can only live in small apartments on the first floor. Then what kind of people live on the second floor? Also... given your former status, why weren't we transferred?"
"Hmm... Perhaps I wasn't qualified?" Xu Yan fell silent at this point.
How did it feel to be insulted?
The two of them worked together to install the curtains, finally feeling at ease. There wasn't much furniture in the living room, which was perfect for Gou Dan to frolic freely.
Although the apartment was small, it was a hundred times better than the communal dormitories. Given the current circumstances, they couldn't take their dog out for a walk. Xu An had no intention of leaving the Lighthouse for the time being, so Gou Dan would have to make do with running around in the room.
"When are you planning to find the rat?"
"Tomorrow, it's too late now."
"That works. What's today's date? Is the Lighthouse about to ascend?"
Xu An put on the iris system she had bought earlier. As she willed it, the communicator on her wrist emitted a faint blue light.
"Hello, madam. Today is December 25th."
Xu Yan watched her daughter stare at the communicator for a long time without speaking and asked curiously, "What's wrong?"
"Didn't you hear?"
"Hear what?"
"My communicator was broadcasting the time just now? It's the 25th."
"No? Does this thing have a voice system?"
Xu An guessed that her mother couldn't hear or see because she hadn't activated the iris system, so she immediately took it off.
"It's probably because of this system. You haven't activated your iris, so you can't see or hear it."
"It's a shame this thing can only be bound to one person at a time," Xu Yan said with some regret.
However, she didn't plan to buy another one. It would be useless for her. Times were different now; they had to be frugal.
Xu An didn't say anything outwardly, but inwardly, she thought about getting her mother a set when she had the chance.
"But speaking of which, this rain... it hasn't stopped since we boarded the Lighthouse."
Xu An also looked at the transparent cover that enveloped the entire Lighthouse and sighed softly, "The floods should be coming soon. I wonder what the situation is like outside now."
After tidying up the room completely, Xu An felt at ease and took Gou Dan back to the bedroom to sleep. She took out a cup of milk tea and a tablet from her spatial storage and finished watching the variety show she had been looking forward to.
The next morning.
After breakfast, Xu An said goodbye to Xu Yan and set off alone for the hover train station.
"No wonder there's such a severe class division. Just these hover cars are unaffordable for ordinary people."
Most people, to save money, likely went out very little, which led to a certain degree of isolation.
As soon as she got on the train, Xu An saw a familiar figure. "Little Xu, you're out so early too. Have you eaten breakfast?"
Xu An smiled in response. It was only here that someone could greet her like they did before the apocalypse. "Good morning, Uncle Song. I've eaten. How about you? What are you going out so early for?"
"Haha, I've eaten too. I have to go to work early."
"Work?"
"Yes. People like us can live here thanks to the special care of the state. Of course, we have to contribute our share!"
Xu An saw the same familiar sense of pride on Song Jing's face as the shop owner who sold communication devices yesterday.
"What kind of work does Uncle Song do?"
"I really can't say, hahaha..."
Song Jing's smile was open. Even when it came to state secrets, he frankly told Xu An that he couldn't tell her.
Song Jing's sincere way of interacting inexplicably touched Xu An, and the smile on her lips became a bit more genuine.
After bidding farewell to Song Jing, Xu An followed the route she remembered and returned to the negative first floor. This time, she headed straight for Warehouse No. 2.
After not returning for just a few days, Xu An looked at these relief warehouses now and felt a great sense of unfamiliarity.
"Is the rat here?"
Following Zhizhi's instructions, Xu An found a one-eyed middle-aged man at the entrance.
The man was startled. His remaining eye stared intently at Xu An's face, appraising her. When he spoke, his voice was hoarse and rough.
"Buying or selling?"
"Buying."
Zhizhi had instructed her earlier that when she found the one-eyed man, she would be asked a question, and all she had to do was say she was "buying" or "selling."
The man said no more, just glanced at Xu An and said, "Follow me."
Xu An followed the man's retreating figure, turning away from Warehouse No. 2 and heading towards a deep, dark passageway outside the relief warehouse.
......
Having grown accustomed to the clean, bright, and grand architecture of the Lighthouse, Xu An never knew that there were such dilapidated and ugly streets on the Lighthouse.
This should have been the Lighthouse's sewage system. Various pipes were intertwined and laid out on the ground. A foul odor, emanating from somewhere, assaulted Xu An's nostrils, and she could only temporarily hold her breath.
But it was of no use.
Beneath rows of hastily constructed shacks hid pairs of numb and greedy eyes. Xu An couldn't make out their faces, but she had to endure the countless scrutinizing gazes.
Xu An followed the man ahead at a brisk pace, not looking sideways. After ten minutes, they finally passed through the alleyway filled with slop.
A clear and pleasant sound rang out. A woman who looked quite young, wearing a dark brown sports vest that revealed half of her sexy, firm abdomen.
She lifted her face, which was a mix of heroism and ferocity, and narrowed her eyes lazily. She let out a whistle, giving Xu An a flippant appraisal.
"Beauty, what do you want to buy?"