Chapter 191: then title translation, then ===GLOSSARY=== with list of named entities appearing in these lines

After hearing An Ruosuo's explanation, Chen Mu somewhat understood Qingbei's management model, and asked: "You divide people into ranks this way; do the lower-level people have no objections?"

"What objections could there be?" An Ruosuo spread her hands: "Those above are stronger than oneself, and below there are the bottom rung— not enough compared to those above, more than enough compared to those below; people gradually get used to it. And the lowest layer isn't ordinary people without Special Ability, but people like Xin Ping who are half-dead; even if they have objections, what can they do?"

However.

An Ruosuo also said: "Among Qingbei's slogans, one is equality. Although everyone is in different layers, this layer actually only determines each person's daily food and daily necessities quota; it does not mean that those in a higher layer are nobler than those in a lower layer. Except for Xia Qing and the two others, the rest cannot directly command those below, and as long as your ability grows, you can move up."

"That's not too bad, then." Chen Mu said.

Although it's not as harmonious as our own, thinking that Qingbei has over two hundred people, with Qiming's current management model, it might actually not be suitable.

However, An Ruosuo sighed: "Saying is one thing, but reality is another. At first everyone was indeed harmonious, even the lower-layer people were very motivated; as more and more people awakened abilities, everyone increasingly felt Qingbei could bear the responsibility for humanity's future development… but gradually, things changed."

What problem arose?

It seems because the principal's health is deteriorating, the three senior officials who were superficially harmonious have seen their conflicts become increasingly evident, and up until the Xin Ping incident, Tong Bin and Song Yu almost came to blows.

"Xin Ping? Why?" Chen Mu didn't understand.

Because Xin Ping is Tong Bin's person, and now he's ended up like this, Senior Song instead says he brought it on himself, while Tong Bin is spreading rumors within the organization, saying that Senior Song and Senior Chen Mu are colluding, seeking external help…

An Ruosuo looked at Chen Mu's calm expression, and found it a bit hard to continue saying this.

But the meaning had already been expressed clearly.

Chen Mu thought, "No wonder An Ruosuo said that at the beginning; it turns out I'm already quite famous inside Qingbei."

This is obviously not a good thing.

At least Tong Bin surely already bears a grudge against me, and it's no wonder Xin Ping showed such hostility the first time he saw me.

"How is the principal now?" Chen Mu asked again.

On the day Xin Ping returned, he fainted; it's said he was unconscious for several days before waking, but his health is even worse now.

"Are you part of Xia Qing's faction?"

"Yes."

"And which side is she on?"

Senior Xia Qing actually doesn't like conflict, but she said she simply doesn't want to see Tong Bin and Song Yu managing Qingbei.

An Ruosuo thought for a moment, then added: "Senior Xia Qing never takes the initiative to provoke others; she seems cold toward everyone, but because she's female and strong, we girls prefer to stay under her."

"If that's the case, why did the two of you come here?"

"Was it Senior Xia Qing who sent us here?"

"What exactly does she mean?" Chen Mu wondered.

"I'm not entirely clear either."

An Ruosuo said: "That day, Senior Xia Qing found us and asked if we were disappointed with Qingbei and wanted to leave; I naturally said no, but Senior Xia Qing became very angry, insisting we must leave, and specifically told the two of us to come here to find Senior Chen Mu."

After hearing that, Chen Mu exchanged glances with Dong Junwei and the others.

"Just what kind of person is Xia Qing?"

Even though she is in Qingbei and one of the managers, she actually lets her subordinates go seek refuge elsewhere; not to mention that Qiming and Qingbei have no relation, just actively driving away her subordinates and weakening her own power is already incomprehensible.

"She had you come? And you actually came?" He Ying still looked a bit doubtful.

"Actually…"

An Ruosuo hesitated a moment, then said: "Even without Senior Xia Qing's order, we are indeed already quite disappointed with Qingbei."

"Why?" He Ying asked: "Besides the three managers not being united, other aspects of Qingbei are fairly fair, right?"

"It's not just that." An Ruosuo said: "Although Qingbei has always proclaimed equality, in fact the polarization has always been severe; the oppression of non-combat ability users by combat ability users is almost public, and because those above are all combat ability users, as long as it's not too excessive, ultimately everything gets downplayed."

Moreover, it's we support-type ability users who do the most work; over time, our mindsets have changed, and we make up the majority. Now inside Qingbei, negative sentiment is severe; although we dare to be angry but not speak, we no longer approach tasks with the same enthusiasm as before, and it's unclear whether those above are aware.

Actually, at the beginning we really liked Qingbei and hoped to contribute to the organization; back then everyone was of one mind, and although we worked hard every day, we could still discuss ideals and humanity's future, imagining how our later days would be; but now…

After An Ruosuo finished speaking, she sighed, seeming to immerse herself somewhat in past happy times.

Meanwhile, the people of Qiming deeply felt this.

Especially Feng Xiao Yu and those without ability, or whose ability is of little use, thinking that if they were in Qingbei, working themselves to death every day yet still being oppressed, they would certainly feel resentful.

Putting ourselves in their shoes, if we truly faced that situation, there really wouldn't be a good solution.

Resist?

They are combat-type ability users; if they could resist, how could they be oppressed?

Endure?

In the short term it's bearable, but who would want to live through days with no hope in sight?

Thinking this way, Qiming having people like Dong Junwei and Chen Mu can truly be called fortunate; incidentally, these two originally vied for the chief position.

People really are different from each other.

An Ruosuo then said: "Actually, if it were just this, everyone could still endure it; but now the upper levels are preoccupied with internal strife, making it even harder to consider the thoughts of those below, and recently the food rations have been reduced further, so we have to seek another way out."

He Ying suddenly exclaimed: "Although I don't know Tong Bin or Xia Qing, I do know Song Yu; doesn't he realize that in this situation, internal strife and suicide are hardly different?"

Tang Jing, however, said: "Not having been in that position, it's actually not easy to pass judgment."

"To outsiders, this looks like internal strife, but whether it's Tong Bin or Song Yu, every insider believes they are the side of justice."

"Moreover, in some people's view, internal strife doesn't necessarily lead to destruction, but if you don't strive, you will surely be eliminated; why not fight? For the future of humanity, what could be more important than one's own future?"