Cataclysmic Era: I can unlock the tech tree

The sound from the television continued to play.

"Based on the suggestion of Lu Yongchang, chief scientist of the People's Federation, the People's Federation will begin construction of the second large-scale space elevator."

Project Code: [Jianmu]!

"Considering the large population of Eurasia, the second space elevator, [Jianmu], will be built on the roof of the world within the former Xia Kingdom."

"At the same time, the People's Federation will simultaneously launch an escape plan, which requires..."

The living room was eerily quiet, with only the solemn voice of the TV presenter and the whirring of the air conditioner as the only sounds.

for a long time.

Wearing a white undershirt, Grandpa Qi shakily picked up the glass on the table and took a small sip of the tea inside.

Seemingly startled by his movement, Grandpa Zhang across the table suddenly looked up and asked him a question.

"Old Qi, what are you going to do?"

"Wh-what do we do?" Grandpa Qi's hand holding the teacup trembled slightly, and the scalding tea spilled onto his thigh.

But he seemed oblivious, silently putting down his teacup and wiping it with a napkin.

"Old Qi, the news said that citizens under the age of 65 can apply for an escape plan."

"Why don't you..."

Grandpa Qi shook his head and turned to look out the window.

Looking at that familiar scene, a hint of melancholy flashed in his eyes.

"Forget it."

He sighed deeply: "I'm too old for that. I'm not going to compete with young people anymore."

"I'm a rough man with little education. I've lived in this village since I was a child."

According to the older generation, after a person dies, they should return to their roots.

"And you, Lao Zhang?"

"I remember you're also 65 years old this year, right?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Man, who was sitting to the side, immediately perked up her ears and looked at her grandfather.

Grandpa Zhang chuckled softly and reached out to move a chess piece on the chessboard in front of him.

"I?"

"I'm definitely staying here."

"If it weren't for me, could you, an old man, have endured the loneliness?"

"Grandpa!" A hint of urgency flashed in Zhang Man's eyes.

Although she was young, she could still vaguely understand their conversation.

"Good girl, Xiaoman."

Grandpa Zhang patted Zhang Man's head affectionately and chuckled, "When your parents come back tonight, you can go to the city to register."

"Grandpa is old and can't walk anymore."

Looking at the carefree smiles on the faces of the two elderly people in front of her, Zhang Man's vision suddenly blurred.

……

night.

After the sun went down, the temperature dropped considerably.

But the air in the small mountain village was still somewhat hot and dry.

In the living room, Zhang Man sat silently on the sofa without saying a word.

As for Grandpa Zhang, he sat next to Zhang Man with a wry smile, trying to comfort his granddaughter.

The sound of the security door opening could be heard.

"Dad?" a woman's voice rang out. "What's wrong with Xiaoman?"

Upon hearing the woman's voice, Zhang Man, who had been sitting silently on the sofa, suddenly jumped up, ran quickly to the front door, and hugged the woman who was still somewhat hot.

"mom!"

Zhang Man wiped away the remaining tears on her face, her voice trembling with sobs, and said, "Mom, Grandpa won't leave!"

Upon hearing her daughter's words, the woman's body stiffened abruptly.

"Dad?" a man's voice rang out. "Why won't you leave?"

"The TV said that in a few months, the global average temperature will rise by 20 degrees Celsius. At that point, this place will be uninhabitable!"

Faced with his son and daughter-in-law's persuasion, Grandpa Zhang sighed slightly and said to the man.

"Bojun, you don't need to persuade me. I've made up my mind."

"I'm too old for that kind of thing."

"Besides, with Old Qi from next door keeping me company, I'm fine."

"Tomorrow, take Xiaoman to the city to register."

"But..." Faced with his father's request to "commit suicide," Zhang Bojun was clearly unwilling, and he opened his mouth to continue persuading him.

"Alright!" the old man said, somewhat annoyed. "Don't try to persuade me anymore!"

"Although I don't have much education, I do understand one thing."

"Our technology hasn't developed to that point yet!"

Sending five billion people abroad... that's easier said than done!

The old man's previously calm expression vanished. His lips trembled, and his face turned slightly pale as he said, "My withdrawal will definitely increase the success rate of the escape plan."

"Although it's not very useful."

"But I'm old, I've lived enough."

"The life that follows belongs to you."

"Live well."

As he spoke, the old man gently patted his son's shoulder, gave the three of them a deep look, and then turned and walked towards the stairs.

The stairwell lights are off.

"dad……"

Zhang Bojun called out softly, his voice choked with emotion.

The old man didn't look back, but resolutely put down his feet and walked into the darkness.

Watching her grandfather's figure disappear completely into the darkness, Zhang Man could no longer hold back and burst into tears, crying out, "Grandpa, is Grandpa not coming with us?"

"Xiaoman, don't cry..."

The woman's eyes reddened, she sniffed, and squatted down to comfort him, saying, "Grandpa just plans to stay here with Grandpa Qi."

"I don't believe it! The teacher said the earth is going to end!" Zhang Man's cries grew even more piercing. "If Grandpa doesn't leave, I won't leave either!"

……

late at night.

Looking at Zhang Man, who was lying on the sofa after crying herself to sleep, Zhang Bojun sighed softly.

"Su Nan, let's set off now."

Upon hearing Zhang Bojun's words, the woman's shoulders twitched slightly.

"Now? Why the rush?"

Zhang Bojun turned to look at Zhang Man lying on the sofa, his face filled with even more worry: "You've seen Xiaoman like this."

"Who knows what kind of trouble they'll cause tomorrow?"

"I was thinking..."

Having said that, Su Nan understood.

She gently pursed her lips, picked up Zhang Man from the sofa, and nodded to her husband: "Let's go say hello to Dad."

The two tiptoed up the stairs.

The light was on in the old man's room.

"Who?"

Grandpa Zhang's voice came through.

The next moment, the neatly dressed old man appeared in front of the two.

Clearly, the old man wasn't asleep either.

The old man nodded silently, his gaze fixed intently on Zhang Man in Su Nan's arms: "Let me hold Xiao Man one more time."

……

More than ten minutes later.

Zhang Bojun and Su Nan walked out of their self-built house in the countryside.

As for Zhang Man, she nestled in Zhang Bojun's arms, her head resting on his shoulder.

I heard the sound of a window being opened behind me.

Zhang Bojun and Su Nan trembled slightly, their eyes reddening, but they did not turn around and walked straight ahead.

Zhang Man, who had been asleep, quietly opened her slightly red and swollen eyes.

Looking at the familiar figure at the window, a tear slowly slid down her cheek.