Countdown: Humanity's struggle to survive against yesterday

The Spring Festival Gala was held as scheduled this year.

Many older viewers found it very enjoyable and exclaimed, "It brings back so many memories!"

This was the most explosive Spring Festival Gala in nearly 30 years; there was no sentimentality, no praise for the country, just pure comedy.

For example, the new version of the skit "Not Short of Money" tells the hilarious story of a world-class billionaire who has money but no way to spend it, against the backdrop of the current great regression, and portrays the helplessness of someone who is truly not short of money.

Another example is the skit "I Won the Lottery," which tells the story of a lottery enthusiast who wins the first prize every day by relying on his memory, but can never redeem it, which makes people all over the country burst into laughter.

When the countdown to midnight started, the host went wild, no longer offering New Year's greetings but welcoming the old year.

It further encourages everyone to feel free to set off fireworks and firecrackers.

That night, countless families were finally reunited because of the world's return to normalcy. The whole country celebrated, and the entire nation was immersed in a sea of ​​joy.

Many villages and communities have chosen to celebrate the Lunar New Year together, with everyone bringing out their best food to share. There is no distinction between "yours" and "mine," and everyone can take whatever they want to eat.

There are still people who are unable to reunite with their families.

Yes, this is not unusual in normal times, but it is even more common in this era of great regression.

Late at night, at the moment the "New Year" bells rang.

Jiang Ning stood alone on a boulder on Mount Taiqing, smoking a cigarette, quietly observing the brightly lit military camp at the foot of the mountain.

Does he know tonight whether it's the New Year or the old year?

"I don't regret not going home to visit!"

Chen Xiao, wearing a military overcoat, quietly appeared behind Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning neither turned around nor replied.

"Thank you for your hard work these past few days..."

After Chen Xiao finished speaking, he stepped forward and stood next to Jiang Ning, looking down the mountain together.

Jiang Ning remained silent.

Chen Xiao wasn't angry and chose to stay with Jiang Ning and enjoy the night breeze.

"Bang...bang..."

Brilliant fireworks exploded in the night sky above the military camp, their vibrant colors illuminating the desolate landscape.

This is Taiqing Mountain, located in the far northwest. The mountain is not high, with the highest point only reaching 1200 meters. There are no famous scenic spots or historical sites on the mountain, only scattered rocks and wild grass. Compared to the countless continuous mountain ridges around it, this place is very inconspicuous.

If you look at the map, the only relatively famous place nearby is Qinghai Lake, which is a few kilometers away and is the largest lake in China.

However, from the inside, the mountain has long been hollowed out and belongs to a secret national base.

The brain of the super AI "Luoshu" is hidden inside this mountain, and it is equipped with the Galaxy server cluster at the bottom of Qinghai Lake a few kilometers away, as well as a small nuclear power plant.

Chen Xiao stared intently at the fireworks in the night sky for a full ten minutes, his gaze deep and unfocused.

After the commotion at the foot of the mountain subsided and the starlight reappeared above their heads, they turned to look at Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning pursed her lips, her face calm and expressionless.

His biggest change is that his hair is finally neat and no longer looks like it's been chewed by a dog.

He was wearing a black windbreaker on his upper body, blue cargo pants with many pockets on his lower body, and black combat boots on his feet. This outfit made him look very neat and rugged, no longer showing the refined temperament of a scholar.

"If you've come here specifically to apologize, you can leave now."

After Jiang Ning finished speaking, he bent down and stubbed out his cigarette, wrapped his hands tightly around the black windbreaker he was wearing, and then crossed his arms.

"Before I made the choice to be honest with you, I had already prepared myself mentally, so I haven't complained about anyone during this time."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiao felt ashamed and dared not look at Jiang Ning again, turning his gaze to the night.

"Your unwillingness to listen is your choice, and I respect that. However, I'd also like to state my own opinion."

"Emergency organizations may have special rights during special times, but these rights are not mine alone. I can only do my best to meet your demands. If I fail to do so in the future, you are welcome to blame me."

After a pause, Chen Xiao looked at Jiang Ning seriously: "By the way, I also want to remind you that once you start working on something, there's no turning back. I just hope you won't regret it in the end..."

"Heh~"

Jiang Ning chuckled lightly, "There's nothing to regret. If we can really solve the problem of the world's regression in a year, I don't care even if I die."

"Don't worry about that, the country will protect you, but you're bound to get scolded a lot."

"Stop, stop talking nonsense..."

Jiang Ning suddenly looked at Chen Xiao and said seriously, "You just need to remember that no matter how useful this key is, I will only be able to hand it over after one year."

All I can do now is help you freeze the rollback of the "Luoshu" database.

"That's enough..." Chen Xiao nodded. "As long as the data in the Luo Shu doesn't roll back, human civilization can preserve its flame."

"Ha, you guys are thinking far ahead, aren't you?"

Jiang Ning scoffed. In his mind, he thought that after he revealed his "special" nature, the whole world would unite.

The truth is that the country made a one-year agreement with him, and if he failed, the agreement would be announced to the world.

Of course, Jiang Ning could understand this idea. If it could really make the country stronger and accumulate some advantages in this year, he would be happy to do so.

The reason I just laughed was because I realized that even if the world keeps regressing, excluding the last hundred years, China is still a powerful country.

With two thousand years of civilization, the ancients may have been smarter than modern people.

"Then let's talk about something closer to home..."

"Hey, don't push your luck. I have limited abilities too. I'm not a savior. Don't expect everything from me..."

Chen Xiao smiled sheepishly; he had just been acting like a superior, very dignified.

The next second, she started haggling like an old lady buying vegetables at a market: "They're all the same, they're all the same. I happen to have a tricky matter here that I need Master Jiang's help with?"

"Oh, you old man, now I finally know where the nickname 'Master Jiang' came from. It all came from your mouth."

Jiang Ning glared at Chen Xiao with disdain. It was hard to imagine that someone who appeared stern and unapproachable on the surface would give people nicknames in private, revealing a different side to him.

Chen Xiao remained expressionless, as if he hadn't noticed Jiang Ning's expression and didn't mind the other calling him "Old Deng." He continued to bargain, saying, "Great Immortal, Great Immortal Jiang, this matter is really troublesome. We really can't do it without you. Why don't you help us out? The country will definitely not forget your contribution."

"Stop, halt! Don't pull that." Jiang Ning frowned. "Tell me what it is first? I'll consider it..."

"It's not complicated, just a bit strenuous..."

Seeing that there was hope, Chen Xiao quickly explained, "It's the Ouroboros Project. We plan to station some soldiers at key stations so that even if the volunteers gradually lose motivation and stop persisting, we can still stabilize the transportation problem and keep the relay going."

"How many relay stations do you plan to set up?"

"1000..." Chen Xiao finished speaking, but seeing Jiang Ning's expression begin to darken, he quickly changed his mind, "800, or 500 if that doesn't work."

"A maximum of 300." Jiang Ning slowly held up three fingers.

"At the same time, you also need to think carefully. Once I take out the 'beads' that represent them and leave them in place, unless I can retrieve them in time after the world goes backward, they will remain there permanently after one hour."

These are the results of your tests. You should understand what this means.

As soon as Jiang Ning finished speaking, Chen Xiao's expression became complicated.

He understood what Jiang Ning was saying!

If 300 relay stations were to be set up, it would mean that at least 900 people would be trapped in a lifelong "confinement."

Cui Huaiyu is the first example. This "silly girl" volunteered to be the first tester. She will no longer follow the world backward and keep rolling back. She will become younger and younger, but she will only reset in the same place for her entire life.

For her, aside from the change in age, life will become a cycle.

Perhaps she can still leave Beijing, but the furthest she can travel is only a day's journey. After the world rolls back, she will continue to appear in Beijing until she returns to her mother's womb.

Or perhaps we'll only be able to escape this predicament in our lifetime, once this disaster is resolved.

"The rapid implementation of the Ouroboros Project was less a result of being stimulated by Grandpa Jiang and a self-rescue impulse following the public's emotional response, and more a result of the inertia of social order."

Chen Xiao did not answer Jiang Ning's question directly. Instead, he looked up at the starry sky in a low voice. The night sky in Northwest China was very clear, and countless stars hung high like gems.

"This kind of inertia of order will not last, and people will not selflessly do the same thing all the time."

To be precise, the world progresses because people have desires—whether for survival, for procreation, or for enjoyment. But now, these external pressures and motivations are almost gone. If humanity doesn't want to slowly perish in this stagnant existence, someone must sacrifice themselves first…

"So, you've already found someone?"

After asking the question, Jiang Ning couldn't help but think of Cui Huaimeng, whom he had only met twice. He had heard that she was from the south and had been transferred to work in Beijing three years ago. But lately, this woman had been like a nightmare, appearing in his mind from time to time.

He himself killed her in Beijing. If the problem of the world going backwards cannot be solved, everyone will still have a chance to enjoy the apocalyptic revelry and live again, but she has lost that opportunity forever.

"Yes! I've found the person..."

Chen Xiao's voice was devoid of emotion, but his eyes were full of pleading as he turned to look at Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning did not avoid that gaze; emotionally, he strongly resisted the idea.

However, it was difficult to refute Chen Xiao's sober words, especially when someone was willing to make a sacrifice. If one were to be pretentious and refuse with self-pity, it would be difficult to do so.

That would be the greatest disrespect to the old man and to those who were willing to sacrifice themselves.

"Have all the people I needed been arranged?"

Jiang Ning turned and walked down the mountain, leaving Chen Xiao standing there, puzzled.

Jiang Ning walked for a while, then turned back and saw Chen Xiao still deep in thought. Frowning, he said loudly, "Aren't they arriving tomorrow? Shouldn't we wait until they get here before we deal with this?"