The Wallfacer: Everyone wants to break through my wall.

"Despite considerable opposition from various human powers, the major space cities strongly support the two-way immigration agreement we signed with them."

What Lin Feng least wanted to see was this matter escalate into a political confrontation.

He wasn't afraid; he simply didn't want to complicate simple things. It's like a problem that only requires simple addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, but is later changed to involve exponents, algebra, variance calculations, and so on.

Davis said, "The reason why these space cities behave this way is because the lowest level of these space cities generally chooses to lie down. These people who lie down neither create high consumption nor provide high-intensity labor. If they stay in the space city, they will affect those who are struggling. Therefore, there is little resistance to immigrating these people."

“However, it probably won’t be that easy after a while,” Davis reminded Lin Feng.

Lin Feng frowned. "Why?"

Davis explained, "In order to ensure a basic population market, many of the major space cities do not classify artificial insemination as a natural reproduction activity, and are therefore subject to strict regulation."

"While they will inevitably legalize artificial reproduction, like the New Ireland Community, the Space City government will take appropriate measures to prevent further population loss before legalization."

“We need to communicate with them properly. There’s no need for the Taylor Group to argue with them over this. Once artificial reproduction technology is legalized, these space cities will be eager to send their internal ‘blood clots’ to the Taylor Group.”

Within the space city, there are quite a few people at the bottom of society who are lying down. Although the space city thinks these people are lazy and good-for-nothing, they are still part of the population. In order to make the space city's financial report look better, they should at least keep some of them. At least until artificial breeding technology is legalized, the space city government will not allow the population to decline too much.

Lin Feng nodded knowingly. "I understand."

Davis suddenly asked, "Actually, there's something I've never understood: what do those space cities need such a large workforce for?"

Lin Feng explained, "It's all because of greed."

"Space cities are becoming industrialized. Factory owners will squeeze every last drop of value from their employees, even if the factory doesn't need that much labor. That's the nature of capital. You should read 'Capital' from more than half a century ago. The author of that book explained the relationship between workers and capitalists."

"Times may change, but people will not."

Chapter 171 Diligence Can Lead to Wealth

Because of the numerous relay stations established by the Taylor system within the solar system, even a space city as far away as Jupiter's orbit can establish video communication with the New Ireland Community, a space city in the asteroid belt.

"Brother Niu, I heard you stopped lying low in that shady factory and went to the Taylor Group. How's it going there?"

"It's alright, Brother Jiang."

Brother Niu looked at Brother Jiang in the video; he looked haggard, had very dark circles under his eyes, and was in very poor spirits.

Meanwhile, in the video, Brother Niu looked rosy-cheeked and appeared to be in excellent spirits.

Jiang Ge instinctively thought that Brother Niu was slacking off when he joined the Taylor faction, because the other party had been slacking off since the New Ireland Community, lying on the ground all day and just getting by.

This made Brother Jiang worry about the other party.

You should know that the Taylor Group is no pushover; it's a place of intense competition and extreme lack of freedom.

"I heard that in the Taylor Group, if you don't meet the performance targets, you'll be fired. You can't just lie around like before, or I'm worried you'll be exiled to Earth," Brother Jiang warned.

Brother Niu scratched his head, reflecting on his performance sweeping the streets in the space city during this time, and nodded in agreement.

The job is not complicated, and the working hours are only six hours. Four people are responsible for cleaning the street at different times. The problem is that the salary is high enough and there is no overtime.

He was unwilling to give up such a good job, and even less did he want to be exiled to Earth for being lazy.

“Brother Jiang, you’re absolutely right. That’s why I’ve stood up now and am no longer lying down. I’ve even saved up some money now,” Brother Niu said seriously.

Brother Jiang nodded with satisfaction because his younger brother was finally willing to work hard.

"I have good news for you. Brother Jiang, I've finally saved up ten million and I can finally get married. Your sister-in-law is also very reasonable. She only wants three million for the bride price. If she asks for more, I'll have to take out a high-interest loan."

When Brother Jiang talked about this, a happy smile appeared on his face. He had finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel.

"Huh? High-interest loans?" Brother Niu was stunned for a moment, then frowned and said, "Brother Jiang, it's not that I'm being nosy, but why don't you go to the bank for a loan? Bank loan interest rates are low, but high-interest loans have too high interest rates, and you'll have a hard time paying them off."

Brother Niu was badly burned by loans, but he was lucky that a wealthy person urgently needed a healthy kidney, and he paid off the loan by selling his kidney.

Jiang Ge shrugged helplessly and sighed.

“What can I do? I still have a mortgage and car loan to pay off. Banks are unlikely to increase my leverage. I can only look for high-interest loans.”

"But who am I, Brother Jiang? I'm the best of the best among those who strive. Even if it's a high-interest loan, I can solve it in a few years by working hard. My boss even said he can't imagine life without me." Brother Jiang laughed and brought the atmosphere back on track.

Jiang was still very relieved that his girlfriend's parents only asked for such a small dowry.

Seeing his brother so happy, Brother Niu was happy for him too.

He thought to himself, "I might as well tell Brother Jiang about my good news too." So he said, "Brother Jiang, actually I'm also planning to get married and start a new family."

Jiang Ge's smile froze, and he couldn't help but gasp, "Hiss... You've only been working at Taylor's Group for a short time, and you already have ten million in savings?"

"No, I only have 20,000 in savings and a monthly income of 10,000," Brother Niu replied with a smile, scratching his head.

Brother Niu's response did not reassure Brother Jiang; instead, it made him even more anxious.

"Then where do you get the courage to get married and start a new family? I work from seven to eleven every day and earn 100,000 a month, but I still don't dare to get married so early," Brother Jiang said, sounding rather disappointed.

In Jiang Ge's opinion, his younger brother's family is likely to encounter problems in the future.

"Brother Niu, let me tell you, marriage is a major life event. You need to consider many things. You must not act impulsively, otherwise you will make your wife and children suffer. You need to consider household expenses, children's education, wife's shopping, couple's retirement, mortgage, car loan, savings, and then..."

Brother Jiang talked on and on, and Brother Niu listened attentively as Brother Jiang finished explaining all his concerns.

After Brother Jiang finished speaking, Brother Niu replied, "Brother Jiang, I have already considered all of this. My expenses are much lower than yours. Even if I eat the most expensive meat, the daily food cost is only a single-digit number per kilogram."

"Then there are issues like children's education, retirement, and housing. The Taylor system will take care of all these things. I just need to fill out the forms. My girlfriend advised me not to save money because it's almost impossible for my children to use my savings in the future..."

To reassure his brother, Brother Niu truthfully described his work environment, salary, social benefits, and so on at the Taylor Group.

Prices in the Taylor series are very low, mainly because there are so many space facilities, such as space farms, space fields, and space factories.

To train qualified construction personnel, the Taylor system regularly conducts infrastructure training, and the results of these constructions keep the prices of various goods in the Taylor system very low.

With an abundance of food, clothing, and housing, the standard of living is naturally very high.

If we're talking about the most expensive component in the Taylor series, it's hydrogen.

Industry needs hydrogen, space city reactors need hydrogen, spacecraft fuel needs hydrogen, and the synthesis of liquid water also requires hydrogen.

High demand has led to a high price for hydrogen resources, but this "high" price is relative to other commodity prices and is still within an acceptable range for ordinary people. Moreover, the fuel for piloting spacecraft is generally reimbursed by the Taylor system, so workers do not need to worry about these issues.

Brother Niu didn't notice that the more he talked, the more gloomy Brother Jiang's expression became, as if he was about to vomit blood at any moment.

"Brother Niu, let's call it a day. I have a social engagement to attend to later, so I'll be leaving now."

Jiang Ge suddenly interrupted his younger brother's endless narration, and only then did he realize that people really are different.

"Um... Brother Jiang, you really should take care of your health. I'm very worried about your health. You have ten million in savings now, which is much more than my twenty thousand. You don't need to work so hard... Brother Jiang? Are you still there? Brother Jiang?"

Brother Niu noticed Brother Jiang's gloomy expression, but before he could ask if something had happened, Brother Jiang hurriedly hung up the call.

That day, Jiang Ge, who had worked hard for more than ten years, cried silently, tears welling up in his eyes and he couldn't stop them no matter how hard he wiped them away.

Looking at the eight-digit number in his account, he no longer felt the initial joy, only a sense of emptiness.

He knew that after a while, the value of this number would be reduced by half again. If he slowed down and stopped working hard, he would fall into the abyss and become a useless person who could not provide a happy life for his wife and children.

But compared to Brother Niu in the Taylor Group, Brother Jiang lay down dejectedly.

"What the hell do I need all these numbers for?"

For the first time, Brother Jiang began to doubt his statement—can hard work really lead to wealth?

If it's possible to get rich, why is it that those who die from overwork don't even have enough inheritance to make their children rich?

Chapter 172 The Master of Feigning Confusion

Peter clocked in for work as usual, but noticed something unusual about today.

The executive's seat was empty. In the past, Manager Jiang, who liked to work overtime every day, was not sitting in the executive's seat. The seat was empty, and the neat arrangement of the desk indicated that no one had sat at this desk since Manager Jiang left after get off work last time.

In the past, Supervisor Jiang was always the first to arrive at his post. At least in Peter's memory, since he started working here, he had never arrived at his post earlier than Supervisor Jiang.

Peter often suspected that Manager Jiang didn't actually go home; after get off work, he would just find a place in the company to sleep.

Peter, upon arriving at his work station, quietly asked his colleague.

Why isn't the supervisor here today?

A colleague said, "Manager Jiang's stomach problems suddenly flared up last night. Xiao Wang, who lives near Manager Jiang, took him to the hospital. The doctor said it was quite serious, and the treatment cost 500,000 yuan. Fortunately, Manager Jiang regularly contributes to the medical fund, otherwise the treatment cost might have been more than 1 million yuan."

"Why did your stomach problems suddenly flare up?" Peter asked, puzzled.

My colleague chuckled. "What else could it be? That Jiang Fendou works overtime like crazy all the time, and he even drags us all overtime with him. If you ask me, he deserves it. This is God punishing him. Let's go out for some barbecue to celebrate."

To be honest, none of the people working here felt much pity for the ailing Supervisor Jiang. Even Xiao Wang, who took him to the hospital, was only doing so out of humanitarian concern.

Another colleague nearby, listening to their conversation, told them to lower their voices even further.

"Shh, can you keep your voices down? If other executives hear this, we'll be in trouble."

During working hours, Peter and his employees were all busy, and the room was unusually quiet.

Even when the supervisor is not around, no one slacks off, because there are surveillance cameras in the room, and the cameras are operated by tireless AI. If anyone slacks off, the AI ​​will immediately record the time of slacking off in that person's electronic file.

A man walked in from outside and greeted everyone.

"Hello everyone, your supervisor Jiang is hospitalized. Until he returns, I will be your new supervisor."

“My surname is An, you can call me Supervisor An.”

What Supervisor An said did not elicit any reaction; the employees ignored him and continued busy with their work.

Anyone would feel awkward in the face of an awkward silence, said Manager An with a dry cough.

"Please stop for a moment, everyone. You have half an hour of rest today."

Hmm? On vacation?

Peter, who was busy, stopped, and the other employees also looked up at Supervisor Ann, puzzled.

Peter has worked for the company for so long that he knows it better than anyone else. The chances of him getting a leave of absence approved are much smaller than winning the lottery.

Allowing leave means there are things that directly affect the company that need to be announced.

An Zhu said, "Here's the thing, the boss needs you to fill out a social survey questionnaire. Open your personal terminals and scan this QR code to log in."

As he spoke, Supervisor An used his personal terminal to project a QR code onto the wall for employees to scan.

The main person in charge said, "You need to be careful when you fill out this social survey questionnaire. We will have someone check it afterwards, and then the boss will review it. If anyone's answer does not satisfy the boss, then he can be fired from the company tomorrow."

After Peter scanned the QR code, his personal terminal automatically logged into an electronic questionnaire with unusual content.

Are you satisfied with the salary and benefits offered to you by the company?