Chapter 242

Zhao Jianguo gently placed the communicator on the desk; the screen was still lit, the last system log had been saved. He stood up, his shoulders a bit stiff from sitting too long. Outside, the sky was already bright; sounds of sweeping came from the courtyard, and someone's child was laughing.

He walked out of the laboratory, casually pulling the door shut. There was movement in the nursery; Su Qing was changing the three children's clothes. Today was their first‑birthday ceremony; after breakfast they would begin the grab‑test.

People arrived early in the courtyard. San Daye strode in carrying a camera, shouting as he walked, "Make way, don't block the lens!" He was wearing a freshly washed white shirt, collar neat and tidy, clearly prepared specially.

"This is a big deal," he said while adjusting the focus, "It's the first time our Siheyuan is holding this ceremony; we need to film it clearly."

Jia Dongxu also arrived, holding a small cloth bundle containing the grab‑test items he had prepared last night. He took them out one by one: an old‑style abacus, which had been Zhao Jianguo's grandfather's; a copper coin; an old book; and a small iron pot, which his wife had brought especially.

"Kids will grab what they like," Jia Dongxu said. "We won't force them."

Zhao Jianguo glanced at the items on the table, then took two more things from his room. One was a crystal model, palm‑sized, with a silver‑gray shell that glimmered; the other was the activation module for a holographic projector, which could cast a rotating tiny animal pattern when pressed.

Someone who saw the crystal muttered, "This thing is too advanced—what could a child possibly understand about it?"

"Whether they understand or not doesn't matter," Zhao Jianguo said. "They've grown up seeing these things; it's as natural to them as playing in the mud was for us when we were kids."

San Daye nodded. "Exactly. The times have changed; we have to change with them."

A clear space was opened in the middle of the desk and covered with red cloth. All the items were arranged, eight in total, placed on either side. Traditional and modern objects were mixed together, looking a bit odd, but no one laughed.

Su Qing brought the three children over and laid them on the mat. The triplets wore identical red belly covers, their round cheeks puffed, eyes open as they looked around.

"It's starting!" San Daye steadied the camera mount and pressed the record button.

Zhao Xing was the first to move. He crawled forward using hands and feet, his eyes fixed on the desk. Before anyone else could react, he had already reached out.

One hand grabbed the crystal model, the other hand clutched the abacus.

"Whoa!" San Daye slapped his thigh. "This kid wants both?"

The abacus was wider than his body, but he refused to let go, his cheek rubbing against the wooden frame. The crystal was clenched in his palm, while his other hand kept sliding the abacus beads.

The crowd instantly buzzed with excitement.

"He's going to do tech‑savvy accounting!"

"In the future he'll handle finances like a pro—left hand calculating, right hand programming!"

Zhao Chen ignored the flashy trinkets. He crept over slowly, goal clear, and snatched up the bundle of wheat stalks in one grab.

That was the wheat stalks Jia Dongxu had brought from the suburbs, dried and golden‑yellow. Zhao Chen clung to them, refusing to let go, and even took a bite.

"Does this kid want to farm?" someone asked.

"Maybe he'll be in charge of the granary someday," another replied.

"Solid," Jia Dongxu laughed. "Since food is heaven to the people, grabbing this is a good omen."

The most surprising was Zhao Yang. He hadn't moved at all, just sitting there staring into the air. The projector switched on, and a blue little bird flew in circles mid‑air.

He suddenly broke into a grin, reached up to swat at it. Even though he couldn't hit it, he wasn't upset; he just tilted his head back and kept waving his hands.

"Does this baby like light and shadow?" San Daye adjusted the lens, zooming in.

Zhao Yang simply flipped onto his belly, propped himself up on his hands, eyes locked on the virtual image as he crawled after it. Reaching the edge of the desk, he steadied the projector module with one hand and giggled happily.

"He's not grabbing objects; he just wants to play with that device," someone observed.

"Interesting," Zhao Jianguo said, standing to the side with a smile that never faded.

San Daye swung the camera around and said to him, "Say something, will you? As a father, you ought to say a few words."

"What should I say?" Zhao Jianguo chuckled. "They chose it themselves—how could I be dissatisfied?"

"Then do you have a preference in your heart? For example, hoping someone would take over your position?"

"I don't expect anyone to succeed me," Zhao Jianguo said, looking at the three children. "Let them do what they want; all I can do is give them choices."

As soon as he said that, the surroundings fell silent for a moment.

Then some nodded, while others whispered, "Someone who understands."

Su Qing held Zhao Chen and whispered, "You're surprisingly open‑minded."

"I used to want to change things, to control them," Zhao Jianguo said, crouching to stroke Zhao Xing's head. "Now I feel that letting them grow up free is better than anything."

San Daye continued filming, muttering, "This segment must be cut in; it's too meaningful."

At noon, after finishing the Meal Ticket, people gradually dispersed. The kids were tired from playing and went to sleep early.

Zhao Jianguo sat on the edge of the bed, watching the three people squeezed onto a large bed. Zhao Xing still clutched a Crystal model in his hand, Zhao Chen held onto a stalk of wheat and wouldn't let go, and Zhao Yang wanted to glance at the Projection before sleeping.

He gently turned off the projector.

The phone vibrated once.

System Prompt popped up: "Second-generation growth reached 20%, reward: future observation fragment."

He opened the main interface again, and a new line of message appeared: "Civilization inheritance chain formed."

Zhao Jianguo stared at it for a few seconds, said nothing, and just slowly withdrew his hand.

He got up to turn off the lights, moving lightly. When he reached the doorway, he paused and looked back.

The three children slept deeply, their breathing even.

The next morning, the courtyard was still talking about yesterday's events.

"Those three from the Zhao Family, each one more thoughtful than the last."

"That's right, they each grabbed different things."

"I reckon, this household will become lively from now on."

Zhao Jianguo was cooking porridge in the Kitchen, heard the outside conversation but didn't respond. Su Qing came in holding a bowl, smiling and said, "Your kids have become the talk of the town."

"Let them say what they want." Zhao Jianguo stirred the rice in the pot, "It's not the first time anyway."

San Daye finished breakfast, then came over swaying while carrying the camera.

"I cut a small clip from yesterday's footage." He said, "See if you want to store it in a dedicated place."

"Anywhere is fine." Zhao Jianguo said, "As long as it's not lost."

"Of course." San Daye patted his chest, "San Daye gets things done, you can rest assured."

At noon, Jia Dongxu came to find him, saying he had something to discuss.

"On the day of the zhua zhou ceremony, the holographic module you set up." He said, "Can you make another one? I also want to let my son try it."

"Sure." Zhao Jianguo nodded, "But he's only five, he might not be able to express himself yet."

"Let's give it a try." Jia Dongxu laughed, "Maybe he'll like it too."

The two were talking when a child's laughter came from outside.

Zhao Jianguo looked outside and saw Zhao Yang awake, being held by Su Qing as they walked toward the courtyard. Seeing him, he reached out from afar, shouting "Dad—"

He stood up and walked over there.

Jia Dongxu looked at his back and suddenly said, "Have you ever thought that when they grow up, they might also be like you, leading others forward?"

Zhao Jianguo didn't turn back, only saying, "How they go is their own business."

He walked into the courtyard, squatted down and opened his arms.

Zhao Yang lunged into his embrace, his little arms wrapping around his neck, his face full of smiles.

Zhao Jianguo picked him up, turned and looked toward the house.

Zhao Xing and Zhao Chen were also brought out, the three children huddled together, chattering in unintelligible words.

Sunlight shone on them.

Zhao Jianguo stood in place, holding the child, suddenly feeling that the weight on his shoulders had lightened considerably.

At night, he looked over the system record again.

The line "Civilization inheritance chain formation" was still there.

He tapped confirm and closed the interface.

Outside the window, the courtyard lamp lit, shining on the children's cart in the corner of the wall.

On the car seat sat that crystal model, beside it an old abacus.

Zhao Jianguo rose and closed the window tightly.