Dreaming for 10,000 years

Chapter 421 Envy
"Living is probably just the instinct for survival and reproduction!" Shi Fei said to him.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Old Liu didn't understand what Shi Fei meant.

Shi Fei said, "Humans are also creatures that evolved from nature. From a biological perspective, species that have survived to this day in the long river of evolution all have a strong reproductive instinct etched into their bones."

Creatures without the instinct to reproduce have been eliminated throughout the long history of evolution.

Old Liu squinted his drunken eyes as Shi Fei continued, "For most animals, there is actually no concept of 'living.' Only some intelligent beings are aware that they are 'alive.'"

“Take crows, for example. Crows collect shiny objects and perform actions that are difficult for others to understand. This is because, in addition to survival, they have extra time to engage in ‘abstract’ activities.”

"Humans are the same. After a long period of evolution, once people have satisfied their physiological and safety needs, they will pursue love and a sense of belonging, as well as respect and the realization of their self-worth."

"Old Liu, you belong to the overly sensitive group. When your physiological and safety needs are not met, you want to find love and a sense of belonging, and you want to realize your self-worth."

After saying this, Shi Fei picked up his wine glass.

Old Liu suddenly laughed, but there was a bitter taste in his mouth: "You mean to say that I'm broke, and I've developed a problem with wanting to realize my self-worth?"

“It’s not a problem, but rather…” Shi Fei changed his words and said, “It’s a lack of understanding of life.”

"So, I'm being a bit pretentious?" Old Liu muttered to himself, "Am I aiming too high?"

If he pursues self-worth before his physiological and safety needs are met, isn't that just being overly ambitious?

“No, it’s not your fault,” Shi Fei said, shaking his head.

A person's life cannot be solely about pursuing physiological and safety needs; otherwise, they would be merely living for the sake of living, like cattle and horses.

"Whose fault is that?" Old Liu retorted.

Shi Fei countered, "If you had a high-paying job, like one that would double or triple your income, would that alleviate your problem?"

Old Liu thought for a moment and said, "Of course!"

Money isn't everything, but you can't do without it. With money, many problems can be solved. With money, he might not have to work so hard overtime and could have more time to take care of his family.

"Then will you realize your own value?" Shi Fei asked again.

"..." Old Liu fell silent, then said bitterly, "I don't know what my life's value is!"

From the moment he entered society, he did jobs he didn't want to do and said things against his conscience just to work and earn money.

He has long since changed beyond recognition and forgotten his original aspirations.

"These things are priceless," Old Liu said.

“No, money can’t buy back your original aspirations,” Shi Fei said. “Money is a resource. When you have such a resource, you will naturally have the leisure to do what you want to do.”

Old Liu said, "The problem is I don't have any money!"

Shi Fei's words carried a strange tone: "Just because it's not happening today doesn't mean it won't happen tomorrow." Now, he could easily help Lao Liu.

The alienation of capital has made everything revolve around money. Having money certainly grants the right to pursue ideals, but this is merely a temporary solution.

If Lao Liu could change his fate because of Shi Fei, then what about the millions of ordinary people like Lao Liu? Or even the millions of people at the bottom of society who barely make ends meet?

How did they change? By pursuing their own potential?
Development can solve or change some problems, but it can also create problems in the process of development.

Problems are the result of contradictions; everything must revolve around identifying and resolving problems.

Shi Fei suddenly understood why the city was the way it was; it was because the city had developed little by little, rather than a perfect utopia falling from the sky.

It's precisely because of working overtime and striving to live that it becomes so addictive. Although there are many problems, it is precisely because of these problems that it becomes more real and meaningful.

Compared to other places Shi Fei dreamed of, or other dreams he fell into, this place was indeed very good. For those in other dreams, this place was free from disaster and calamity, just a bit tiring.

Old Liu was still contemplating the true value of life, while the other dreamers were concerned with life and death.

"It feels like the way you talk has changed after just one day," Old Liu said, his eyes glazed over with drunkenness. He suddenly felt that Shi Fei seemed to have changed.

"If, Lao Liu," Shi Fei said, "we were in a dream, would you choose to live the life you want in the dream, or wake up and become nothingness?"

Although the city was nice, it was ultimately a dream.

One cannot live in a dream world; no matter how cruel reality is, one must face it.

"Oh? Does this mean the data is reset after the game ends?" Old Liu chuckled and used an analogy.

"almost!"

"Let's just reset it to zero!" he said, picking up some food with his chopsticks.

"why?"

Old Liu said matter-of-factly, "Who would want to be someone else's electronic pet? How can a real man live a life of subservience to others?"

Everyone thinks they are unique, but in reality, everyone is replaceable. Just like the company where Lao Liu and Shi Fei work, the company can function without either of them.

Even in dreams?

Even in dreams!

"Let's drink to that!"

Old Liu, drunk, said, "That's enough for today, I have to go to work tomorrow!"

There's something he didn't say: his wife hates it when he goes out drinking because he always smells of alcohol and is drunk.

"I'll skip work again tomorrow," Shi Fei said, shaking his head. His eyes were clear; this little bit of alcohol wouldn't make him drunk at all.

"Damn it..." Old Liu laughed and cursed, "I really envy you for not being married."

If he hadn't started a family, he could have been like Shi Fei, skipping work whenever he wanted and getting fired whenever he wanted.

Now that he has a family, he has responsibilities. And he is not one to shirk those responsibilities.

No matter how bitter life is, you have to look forward.

“I envy you having a family.” Shi Fei’s eyes revealed envy.

He was all alone, even his parents were just figments of his imagination, and the immense emptiness nearly drove him to the brink of collapse. In his eyes, people like Lao Liu, who had families, were even more enviable.

You envy others, and others envy you.

Who is truly someone to be envied?

They are like two people in a mirror, each reflecting the other.

The two didn't say anything, they just drank one cup after another until very late, until Lao Liu's wife called to urge them to stop drinking, and only then did they end their drinking session.

(End of this chapter)