My dream connects to three thousand years later.

Chapter 181 The Emperor of the Capital, Huo Qiming, the One Favored by Nuwa

11:45 a.m.

Chu Zhu and Bi Xuan left the police station together.

Then, Chu Zhu watched as Bi Xuan made a face at the police station behind him, looking smug, and her eye twitched slightly: "Have you forgotten that there are security cameras at the entrance of the police station? Just in case Uncle Li takes a look..."

At this moment, Bi Xuan gave him the feeling that students in a full-time boarding high school were overjoyed to be free from their suffering on Friday nights, and were so proud that they were carried away with their joy.

Bi Xuan froze: "..."

"Alright. Let's go!" Chu Zhu pursed her lips, then looked at the patrolman still operating the drone in the distance, narrowed her eyes, and her voice took on a strange tone at this moment: "A messenger of the goddess Nuwa."

Bi Xuan followed Chu Zhu's gaze, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Are you feeling a little disappointed? Actually, you weren't the only one favored by the Goddess Nuwa, were you? But I think you don't need to think about it so much..."

"Perhaps, those giant steel birds that you rode after being blessed by the goddess Nuwa were the true ancient divine messengers from mythology!"

Chu Zhu looked at Bi Xuan.

Seeing this, Bi Xuan added, "Isn't that right? They are so small that they can only serve as lookouts in the sky."

Bi Xuan carefully considered his words, a hint of uncertainty in them: "They should be considered... descendants of ancient divine messengers? Or derivative beings? Only someone like you, who can ambush cultivators... I mean, people with martial arts skills, can be called a god, right?"

"Besides, those other divine messengers... the captain tried them too! They didn't work... so you're the only special one! Don't overthink it... In our hands, they're just puppets. Only in your hands do they truly come alive..."

Bi Xuan put herself in Chu Zhu's shoes, trying to guess Chu Zhu's thoughts, and then offered comfort.

"Then this god is really worthless." Chu Zhu said expressionlessly, walking faster and faster.

“That’s true…” Bi Xuan quickly caught up, grinning sheepishly, “It’s also possible that those assigned from headquarters are descendants of the divine messengers… and those little ones are descendants of the divine messengers’ descendants!”

"Don't you think it looks like an industrial creation?" Chu Zhu finally couldn't contain her confusion and asked, "Or rather, no matter what, it's an ancient relic! Something about a divine messenger..."

“?” Bi Xuan stared at Chu Zhu in astonishment.

Chu Zhu was somewhat confused by the gaze and wondered if he had said something wrong. Then he said, "Ancient relics are originally derivatives of gods, so what's the difference between them and divine messengers?"

"As for industrial creations, how is that possible... they simply cannot be made! I can't even understand how we can make what these ancient relics see appear before us."

Bi Xuan took a deep breath, a bitter look on his face: "Not to mention, an ancient relic that can generate and absorb lightning power on its own without needing to replenish its energy! Permanent use, such power... isn't that godlike? Can you explain this with science?"

Chu Zhu: "..."

"Moreover... when you issue a command, the divine messengers will obey you and perfectly understand your meaning! Ancient relics can only be controlled by us..." Bi Xuan spoke eloquently, "Doesn't this precisely prove that the divine messengers are actually alive... they just disdain to pay attention to us!"

"They're all alive, how could they possibly be ancient relics..."

Chu Zhu opened his mouth, feeling he could explain, but in the end, he gave a bitter smile and didn't continue.

He felt that what he said was useless... How could he possibly make someone who lived in the steam age and studied university knowledge from the steam industrial era understand electronics and artificial intelligence?

Furthermore, nuclear fusion combined with wireless charging, and still usable across millennia… While it seems some civil engineer is working on it, this is truly incomprehensible in this steam age. No, it should be said that even Chu Zhu was astonished! He could only roughly understand the logic and principles behind its operation.

But then again, if even university students are like this in their propaganda efforts... then what about ordinary people...?

"Alright, don't worry too much!" Bi Xuan clearly misunderstood Chu Zhu's thoughts and comforted him, "Didn't the captain say to cover it up as much as possible? If the higher-ups keep pursuing it and it's impossible to hide it any longer, then tell the headquarters that you've been blessed by the goddess Nuwa!"

“Seeing how much the headquarters took care of you before… they should also help you suppress this issue! At most, the news will just get to higher levels… but considering the current dynasty’s attitude towards the goddess Nuwa.” Bi Xuan swallowed, envy appearing in his eyes.

He muttered to himself, "Actually, I don't understand why the captain insists on trying to use subtle wording to suppress it! Wouldn't it be better to just report it directly? You'd definitely be given an important position by the court then!"

"Perhaps." Chu Zhu remained noncommittal, but her gaze held a hint of deep thought.

Good news? The capital's attitude towards those favored by Nuwa is something worth pondering.

However, Chu Zhu remained calm; he understood Lao Huo. It was absolutely impossible for Lao Huo to betray the capital…

However, as long as Chu Zhu doesn't show any sign of betraying the Great Qian Dynasty, then based on their past relationship, if Huo Qiming truly believes that reporting this matter to the capital would do more harm than good to Chu Zhu, then he will subtly downplay the situation.

Loyalty is one thing, but it doesn't mean that those below are completely loyal to the emperor and keep no secrets from him!

These are two different things. Just like those eunuchs in real-world history who were loyal to the emperor, even if the emperor repeatedly ordered them to stop, they were still incredibly greedy in private... Humans are, after all, emotional beings, complex creatures!
With the added benefit of a contingency plan that spans across timelines, Chu Zhu wasn't too worried.

……

It was past midnight.

Chu Zhu first led Bi Xuan to the industrial headquarters of the shantytown renovation area.

The layout of the shantytown redevelopment area has undergone tremendous changes.

Originally, only about one-tenth of the shantytown redevelopment area consisted of small tenement buildings and a few breakfast shops and noodle shops...

But now, that proportion has increased to one-fifth or one-fifth. Walking on the street, the shantytowns built with steel frames and awnings are intertwined with low and dilapidated buildings, creating a peculiar magical realism atmosphere.

Chu Zhu left Bi Xuan waiting at the entrance and went directly into the headquarters, then went to the archives.

After flipping through the pages, Chu Zhu frowned.

"The disability rate is one-tenth lower than before! But the mortality rate is higher than the previous timeline..."

"Work intensity... this indicator... is at least 1.5 times higher than the previous timeline! In return, the demand for workers has also decreased... no, the demand for workers has decreased this much?"

Chu Zhu was shocked. He realized that, overall, industry had indeed developed.

Perhaps it's because there are more ancient relics left over from this timeline... and they are cheaper... so some ancient relics can be used to assist in production.

Although the products being produced are still industrial products from the steam age, the aid of ancient artifacts has genuinely and significantly improved efficiency.

This has led to a decrease in the demand for workers among factory owners, even though demand for industrial products has not surged!

Workers receive slightly better pay after joining the company due to increased productivity... but the workload is also greater, resulting in a higher rate of sudden death from overwork.

"...Sigh, it's become even more deformed." Chu Zhu sighed, everything was just as he had predicted.

Compared to the previous timeline, it appears much more prosperous. But this prosperity is merely a facade created by more ancient artifacts!

The shantytown redevelopment areas seem a bit better... but in reality, those who are unemployed, those whose breadwinners died suddenly, are living in even worse conditions, and the mortality rate is even higher...

They just huddled in places out of sight, silently waiting to die!
The mortality rate for all residents in the shantytown redevelopment area, including workers, is at least ten percentage points higher than before—the reason for saying "at least" is because the statistics show a ten percentage point increase! However, Chu Zhu only ever believed half of the statistics.

He usually flips up the list of problems he finds! This is based on his past experience... people who do the statistics always subconsciously try to make the figures look a little better. No matter how much you emphasize it, it can only work temporarily!
Chu Zhu rubbed her temples, her head aching. The most troublesome problem right now was that these residents of the shantytown redevelopment area were in even worse shape than in the previous timeline... even the labor union couldn't save them!
After all, the demand for workers has decreased... We can't force factories to solve employment problems, can we?

"Hopefully, the Xue family can solve some more jobs! If they can solve a few thousand jobs, these jobs can create new jobs, which should indirectly solve tens of thousands of jobs... and save tens of thousands of families! Then the situation will be very similar to the previous timeline."

Chu Zhu patted her cheeks and cheered herself up.

Then, he glanced at the past meeting reports in the archives again, and after confirming that there were no major problems, he decided not to go back to the meeting room to watch the group of people having a meeting, and simply left.

……

Half past one in the afternoon.

In the library of the third district.

Chu Zhu carried a pile of books to the table. These were, of course, the officially recommended readings on Taoism, other religions, and mythology that Li Kang had mentioned.

"...So, when are you planning to come with me to the Mo Sect?" Bi Xuan took out his phone and glanced at the time, his voice tinged with anxiety. He couldn't quite understand Chu Zhu's carefree attitude at this moment.

It's a long way from Zone 3 to Zone 4! If I take an electric scooter now, I'll probably get there around 4 PM! And yet... with such a tight schedule, you came to the library first, planning to leisurely browse the books?!

"It's alright, you civil engineering guys are all notorious night owls!" Chu Zhu's tone remained as calm as before as he casually flipped through the pages. "Looking for them in the middle of the night, they're probably wide awake..."

“Actually, I suspect that if the Mo Sect’s civil engineering guys had only just returned today, they would probably still be catching up on sleep this afternoon. If you went early, you wouldn’t be able to find them…” Chu Zhu sighed, “Now, entering your Mo Sect’s headquarters in Jinghai City is probably like entering a haunted house.”

Wall announcement: "...?!"

After a moment's thought, Bi Xuan felt that Chu Zhu's words made sense. But the next moment, he realized what Chu Zhu meant and looked at him in shock.

No, how do you know so much? And this tone... just how many times have you been to the Mo Cult?!
(End of this chapter)