Chapter 413: The Face of the People of the Solar System State_1
Cheng Xin stood still beneath the city, unable to move her feet for a long while.
The grandeur of this space city was overwhelmingly shocking. Like in mainstream space cities, the inner walls of Stellar New Year City were also completely covered with buildings.
But the sheer size of the green spaces was astounding; everywhere the eye could see there was greenery. The buildings lacked the harsh, steel colors; instead, each house was clad in many different warm hues, turning them into pieces of art that were stunningly beautiful.
What was more crucial was how the colors of the buildings and vegetation complemented each other, creating a very comfortable feeling.
The design of those small islands was exceptional, as was the single river that threaded through them.
The water between the islands was a vertical column; judging from the flow, there was no evidence of zero gravity or uneven gravitational forces.
In space cities of the Solar System Federation, there was no gravity in the center—just a few giant orbs of light.
So why was it possible to build things in the center of this space city? And have normal river flow?
Cao Bin explained to Cheng Xin, "This is the result of the Solar System State's achievements in gravity and dark matter research. Although I understand the principles behind it, but..."
With a long sigh, he added, "I simply cannot fathom how the people of the Solar System State managed to do this."
Cao Bin somberly continued, "The technology mastered by the Solar System State has advanced to a level that seems like high-end technology from a different civilization compared to that of the Solar System Federation."
Cheng Xin didn't know what to say, for in comparison, this place truly seemed like heaven.
Cao Bin said, "I'm going to Central Park!"
Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet rose up, swiftly floating towards those islands.
Cheng Xin noticed that what they were standing on was also one of those square blocks that flew around, their speed much faster than she had imagined, yet incredibly stable—she barely felt any inertia.
The place they had left behind, which initially had a square indentation, quickly rose up from below, and soon the indentation disappeared too.
In the midst of the space city, those small islands were truly like a paradise, with grasslands, lotus ponds, flying birds, and various small animals.
Narrow paths wove between these scenes, with many people walking on them, feeding the fish, or playing with some of the fearless little animals.
Suddenly, a few figures dashed onto the island at high speed, their movements resembling what Cheng Xin recalled as skateboarding, with something shaped like broad bronze swords under their feet.
These were young men and women who flew past Cheng Xin quickly, then with peals of laughter, they sharply turned and flew back to the islands.
The attire of these young people was very different from that of Cheng Xin, Cao Bin, and the residents of the Solar System Federation.
Cheng Xin couldn't tell what material it was, but the design was utterly cool and handsome, radiating an overwhelming youthful energy.
She murmured, "Sword Control?"
Cao Bin clarified, "I was drinking with an expert from the Academy of Sciences once, and he let slip.
"What we're standing on, and those bronze-sword-shaped space skateboards, are all based on research derived from 'Dark Forest.'
"In essence, they're all anti-gravity devices, but compared to similar devices from the Solar System Federation, they are much more flexible!
"As for the bronze sword design, it has a lot to do with the education system of the Solar System State.
"They place great importance on the dissemination of traditional culture. Legends like 'Sword Control to ascend immortality' are known by the new generation, which is why many people's space skateboards are designed to look like swords."
Stepping onto the island, standing on the soft grass, inhaling the fragrance of the vegetation, and overlooking the entire space city, a tremendously spectacular sentiment filled Cheng Xin's chest.
It was as if a voice inside her asked, "Do you enjoy mountaineering?"
Standing at the peak of the mountain, looking down at everything below, it felt as if the entire world lay prostrate at one's feet.
That's why everyone loves to climb peaks.
But can any peak be one-tenth as spectacular as this place?
As Cheng Xin strolled along the path, she felt emotions of a grandeur she had never experienced before!
Space City residents, also out for walks, chatted merrily, seemingly accustomed to such a spectacular sight.
The clothes of the people here were neither glamorous nor fancy, but they simply looked good—the beauty was a universal aesthetic among humanity.
Every adult here was courteous, greeting Cheng Xin and Cao Bin with polite smiles.
From their eyes, Cheng Xin could be sure that they did not recognize her.
The men were mature and steady, the women graceful and elegant; Cheng Xin had never seen such refreshing qualities before.
Every young person here was full of energy and drive, they enjoyed excitement, they laughed freely!
Every child here was as innocent and adorable as angels, they were endearingly naive, they spoke their minds, they were carefree.
On the island was a restaurant where Cheng Xin unexpectedly tasted food reminiscent of Earth, yet even more delicious, evidently these dishes had been improved.
In chatting with a few young people at the next table, Cheng Xin learned that this was a city highly concentrated in spacecraft design industry.
About one-tenth of the city's population were designers, and approximately sixty percent were designer assistants or staff and students from related research institutions.
The remaining roughly thirty percent were their family members and some elderly who wished to settle down and retire in this city.
They worked only five hours a day, with weekends off; there were all sorts of clubs, literature and engineering societies here, no matter the interest, one could almost always find like-minded people here.
Cheng Xin asked Cao Bin in a low voice, "Is this Sun City, where the elite of the Solar System State live?"
Cao Bin also replied softly, "I have visited the industrial and mining cities of the Solar System State before, and the residential areas for workers are just as good as this one.
"They don't have the concept of an elite class either; from what I've seen, every citizen of the Solar System State considers themselves equal in dignity to all their compatriots, even to Wallfacers.
"The only difference is what each is good at. Although there are differences in salary, there is no distinction in status between people.
"Don't listen to those smears online; the Solar System State's heavy labor has long been fully entrusted to artificial intelligence. Workers nowadays are not engaged in physical labor at all, and there's no such thing as 'forced labor'."
Cao Bin exclaimed, "The Solar System State has created a new intellectual realm for humanity, resolving many interpersonal conflicts as gently as a spring breeze, this is what the future of humanity should look like."
Cheng Xin smiled, "I also want to settle here."
Cao Bin's expression changed, "We, we should visit another land-based space city."
Cheng Xin asked curiously, "What's wrong?"
Cao Bin didn't say much, leading Cheng Xin towards the dock.
Every year, the Solar System State publishes a list of unwelcome individuals, most of whom are those who have made slanderous statements about the Solar System State; but Cheng Xin's name is on that list every year.
Weide, Cao Bin, and others, through various means, have legally or illegally obtained many advanced technologies from the Solar System State Academy of Sciences, but have never appeared on that list.
Once on that list, one would permanently lose eligibility to immigrate to the Solar System State, nor would they be allowed to enter any of its cities.
Today, Cheng Xin's opportunity to visit was specially approved by the Governing Council; otherwise, she would not have been able to enter any of the Solar System State's space cities.