In a small town, a man dressed like a rural landowner stepped cautiously through the door.
"Um, sir, I'd like to apply to join Longcheng."
"Fill out this form."
"Sir, I heard it only takes three months, is that right?"
"That's ancient history. These days, if you want to join Longcheng, you have to queue. When exactly you'll get in — hard to say."
"That said, there are ways to speed things up. Working for a government office or enterprise under Longcheng's banner will move your application along faster."
"Or you can obtain primary, secondary, or university qualifications recognized by Longcheng."
"Simply put, the more you contribute to Longcheng, the faster your application goes through."
"Well — what if I just paid money?"
"Ha. You think Longcheng is short of money?"
"Is your form finished?"
"Yes."
"Hand it here, let me have a look." The officer took the form and began entering the information into the computer.
This same scene was playing out in many places at once.
Longcheng's internet infrastructure had been laid with remarkable speed. Within a matter of months, every district and county-level area was connected.
The operation itself wasn't difficult — a few glances and anyone could manage it. The real challenge was typing. But since everyone in Longcheng had learned to write using pinyin from the start, even that obstacle soon melted away. At first things were naturally slow, but as practice made perfect, one person after another eventually transformed into a fully-fledged keyboard warrior.
Zhao Baihui had very nearly emptied his personal treasury, exchanging for all the servers, cables, and sundry materials needed for the rollout. He then exchanged for two hundred thousand computers in a single transaction and handed them over to Jinyi, leaving the distribution to her discretion.
It was as though Longcheng stepped into the internet age overnight. Every bank now had computers on the desks, and the machines were even beginning to make their way into mid-sized private enterprises. There were no large private enterprises in Longcheng.
Jinyi was at work in her office. She opened her computer, saw a blinking icon, and clicked to find an email from the Master.
"Come home a little earlier tonight — we're having a BBQ!"
Jinyi glanced at the watch on her wrist and typed back, still a little clumsily: "Of course, Master. I'll be back before four."
The reply came almost before she'd finished sending.
"I'll be waiting! I've already emailed everyone else."
Jinyi smiled, pushed through the most pressing items on her desk as quickly as she could, tidied up, headed downstairs, and rode home in the Longcheng Series Two sedan her driver had waiting.
The Series Two lacked the raw performance of the system-exchanged Series One, but it more than made up for it in elegance and comfort. The early batch of Series Ones had all been shipped overseas. Development on the Series Three was now underway — better all-around performance, even more comfortable — with mass production expected in another year or two.
The car glided through the streets. Both sides of the road were lively with people. Passing a café, she glimpsed stylishly dressed urban women sitting inside with their coffee.
Once upon a time such a sight would have been unthinkable. Now women could do the same work as any man. Their standing in society had risen enormously; no longer did they have to live as subordinates, humble and without choices. Gradually, options had opened up to them.
Jinyi arrived home, changed into something comfortable, and wandered out to the edge of the ornamental lake in their courtyard.
A swarm of children — twenty or thirty of them, big and small — came rushing over, calling out "Auntie Jinyi!" She produced a great fistful of sweets as if conjured from thin air, distributed them, ruffled a few heads, and then made her way over to Zhao Baihui, who was busy at the grill.
"Master, let me take over."
"I've got it, I've got it — you've been at work all day. Go sit down. When things are ready I'll bring them to you. No stealing my job, now. Behave!"
The corner of Jinyi's mouth curved upward. She didn't argue. She glanced over at Jinxiu, who was sitting to one side, poised as ever, still tapping away at her laptop, and walked toward her.
"Still busy?"
"Elder Sister, do you think staying home all day means I have nothing to do? I'm far busier than you."
"By the way—" Jinxiu's hands paused mid-keystroke. She shot a furtive glance at Zhao Baihui in the distance, then leaned in and murmured, "Elder Sister, has your belly had any signs lately?"
"I stopped paying attention to all that long ago. What do I have to be dissatisfied with in this life?"
"Why do you suddenly ask? Don't tell me you're thinking of dragging the Master back to another doctor. I keep telling you, stop putting him through that."
"No, Elder Sister — I think I might be pregnant."
"What? What?! Really?"
"I'm not sure. I just missed this month."
"This is serious. Actually — wait, don't tell the Master yet. Later tonight, let me go with you to get checked. If it's confirmed, that's the most wonderful news."
"In case it's not — I don't want to get the Master's hopes up for nothing."
"That's exactly what I was thinking. I'm content with the life we have now. But not being able to give the Master a child — I've always felt I was letting him down."
"Honestly, I feel the same. If you really are pregnant, I can finally breathe easy too."
The whole family spent the evening around the grill, cheerful and full of laughter.
Late that night, the two sisters slipped away quietly for the examination.
It was confirmed. She was pregnant.
The Master was finally going to have an heir.