Chapter 287

Zhao Chen's terminal was still vibrating, the message "Be careful" two characters hanging on the screen, with no follow-up. He stared at it for a few seconds, his finger just about to swipe to check the source, when the main control console suddenly emitted a soft sound.

It was not an alarm, nor a mechanical sound, like someone lightly tapping the glass.

Zhao Jianguo lifted his head, the mark on his wrist still glowing, he didn't move, just asked: "Another message?"

Zhao Chen shook his head. "Not from the system. It's… something else."

Zhao Xing walked to the terminal, took a glance, frowned. "The signal source is encrypted, but the waveband frequency matches the future data we previously received."

Zhao Yang had already opened the receiving interface on the main control console, his finger tapping quickly on the virtual keyboard. "A new data stream is coming in, being decoded."

The light screen flickered, and a figure appeared.

Chen Jianguo stood in the holographic projection, wearing the same old jacket as usual, holding a document emitting blue light, his face more solemn than before.

"Can you see me?" he said. "Listen carefully, I don't have much time, this message can only be sent once."

Zhao Jianguo stood up, took the cigarette from his mouth. "What are you up to this time? Putting on a projection early in the morning, isn't it tiring to scare people?"

"Not to scare." Chen Jianguo pushed the document forward, the image syncing to the main control console. "This is the 2035 Earth ecological total report. In ten years, atmospheric carbon concentration will exceed standards threefold, ocean acidification over seventy percent, Arctic permafrost thawing, releasing a batch of old viruses. Grain yields drop, cities cut off water, mass population migration."

The room fell silent instantly.

Zhao Chen stared at the document's title, "2035 Earth Ecological Assessment Total Report", the characters floating, gently swaying like water ripples.

"This is not a prediction." Zhao Xing said softly. "It's a record."

"Right." Chen Jianguo nodded. "This is not a model simulation, it's what actually happened. We—our future selves—have tried six response plans, all failed. The last time, a third of the world's cities completely shut down."

Zhao Jianguo scratched the back of his head. "So you're coming to tell us this, what do you want us to do? Go plant trees?"

"Not planting trees." Chen Jianguo looked at him. "It's to rebuild the entire ecological cycle system—air, water, soil, energy, all redesigned. Your current technology is enough to kick off the first step."

Zhao Chen looked up. "You mean the underground root network?"

"Yes." Chen Jianguo's eyes lit up. "You know about this?"

"I've seen it in a dream." Zhao Chen said. "A person in a white robe standing in a hall full of green vines, saying 'Roots connect the city, air circulates on its own'."

Zhao Xing interjected: "There's also nano-algae purifying water bodies, using microbial membranes to cover polluted lake surfaces."

Zhao Yang unfolded a sketch. "The monitoring module of the elder-care robot can be refitted, adding soil sensors and air samplers, turning it into a mobile ecological station."

Chen Jianguo chuckled slightly. "Looks like you've already prepared."

"Not preparation." Zhao Xing shook his head. "It's remembrance. Some things are etched in the mind, becoming clearer at critical moments."

The main control console suddenly lit up with a green light, the gold trim fading slowly, the whole interface turning into a forest-like deep green. A line of text gradually appeared:

【Detected cross-dimensional ecological crisis response intent, meets S-level permission activation conditions. Activating 【Ecological Rescue Plan】, granting 【Environmental Engineering Specialty】.】

Zhao Jianguo froze for a moment. "This thing is giving out rewards again?"

"Not an ordinary reward." Zhao Chen looked at the data stream. "It's the system formally acknowledging our entry into the ecological intervention tier. Henceforth, resource allocation and environmental parameter modifications will be backed by permission."

Zhao Jianguo lowered his head to look at the mark on his wrist, the gear-with-star pattern flickered faintly, as if responding to him.

He said nothing, turned and walked to the desk, opened the drawer, pulled out a lollipop, tore off the wrapper and put it in his mouth.

"So now it's not a question of whether to fight or not." He chewed the candy, voice a bit muffled. "We need to get down to some real work."

Zhao Xing looked at him. "You agree to launch it?"

"What can we do if we don't agree?" Zhao Jianguo shrugged. "Those metal lumps outside are kneeling motionless, we can't get out either. Rather than wait idly here, we might as well start. Anyway, we'll have to face this sooner or later."

He walked to the main control console, tapped in the air, pulled up the Siheyuan floor plan. "First phase, start from our courtyard. Install photosynthetic panels on the roof, convert the basement into a water purification chamber, dig pits in the backyard to bury ecological reactors. Let this land come alive first."

"The reactor needs materials." Zhao Chen said. "Titanium alloy casing, biocatalyst, stable power supply."

"I'll figure out the materials." Zhao Jianguo said. "Yesterday Xu Da Mao had someone deliver two truckloads of stainless steel pipes, saying thanks for us helping his son get into a key high school. Perfect to dismantle and use."

Zhao Xing chuckled. "He really believes you can help his kid improve scores."

"I don't just help him raise his score." Zhao Jianguo grinned. "I also arranged a summer internship for his son at a robot factory, tightening screws, said to cultivate hands-on ability."

Everyone in the room laughed.

The atmosphere relaxed all at once.

Zhao Yang took the opportunity to open the design module, began drafting schematics. "I can take two cores out of the elder-care robot, refit them into monitoring nodes. Patrol by day, charge at night, meanwhile collecting air quality data."

"Okay." Zhao Jianguo nodded. "You two brothers handle tech, I handle logistics. Tell me what you need, I'll go outside to beg, borrow, take, or scrounge—always able to get it."

"Don't scrounge." Zhao Chen warned. "Last time you 'borrowed' three batteries from the factory, the security office still has your photo posted."

"That was a misunderstanding." Zhao Jianguo waved his hand. "I posted back a note saying 'Zhao Jianguo returns lost money,' and they took the photo down."

Zhao Xing, while inputting parameters, said: "First-stage goal, turn our Siheyuan into a micro ecological closed loop—air self-purifying, water recyclable, energy self-sufficient. After success, we'll expand to surrounding neighborhoods."

"Expansion needs a model." Zhao Chen said. "People need to see the results."

"Then we need to move fast." Zhao Yang looked up. "The report shows the next ten years are a window of opportunity. Miss this stage, and repair costs will increase tenfold."

The main control console suddenly popped up a prompt:

【Ecological renovation first-stage task generated:

1. Install roof photosynthetic panels (progress 0%)

2. Rebuild basement water purification system (progress 0%)

3. Deploy soil restoration microbes (progress 0%)

4. Initiate energy cycle test (TBD)}

Zhao Jianguo looked at the list, bit into the lollipop, the stick cracking in his mouth.

"Alright." He threw the lollipop stick into the trash can. "No more talk, no practice. Starting now, the whole courtyard enters combat readiness!"

"Combat readiness?" Zhao Chen raised an eyebrow.

"Right." Zhao Jianguo slapped the table. "From today on, meals at set times, sleep in fixed amounts, work scored. Whoever completes a task gets work points, exchangeable for prizes at month's end."

"What's the prize?" Zhao Xing asked.

"I decide." Zhao Jianguo gave a mysterious smile. "Could be instant noodles, could be new sneakers, could be a plate of Kung Pao chicken personally cooked by Sha Zhu."

"Then I'll do more." Zhao Yang said immediately. "I love chicken pieces."

"You eat less meat." Zhao Jianguo glared, "Ecological transformation still has to count carbon emissions; if you eat too much, I also have to share the blame."

Everyone laughed.

Just then, a soft sound came from outside the window.

They looked up.

Those black Mechanical Lesson still knelt in mid‑air, neatly arranged, the light cores in their palms still glowing, but their positions hadn't changed and they made no new moves.

"They're still waiting." Zhao Chen said.

"Waiting for what?" Zhao Yang asked.

"Waiting for our next step." Zhao Jianguo looked outside, "They're not in a hurry, we are. Because Earth can't wait."

He turned back, picked up a pen and wrote several big characters on the blackboard:

**Ecological Transformation·Phase One Activation**

Below were three lines of tasks, each person claimed one.

Zhao Xing was responsible for installing the photosynthetic panels, Zhao Chen interfaced with the water purification system, and Zhao Yang debugged the monitoring module.

"Work starts at six tomorrow morning." Zhao Jianguo said, "Latecomers lose work points."

"What counts as late?" Zhao Chen asked.

"Past six‑oh‑five counts as late." Zhao Jianguo said solemnly, "I'll blast the Speaker three times; if you don't come, it's absenteeism."

"Where did you get that Speaker?" Zhao Xing said disbelievingly.

Zhao Jianguo pulled a red plastic Speaker from the cabinet, brand‑new, still with its packaging film.

"I've had it ready." He smiled proudly, "I couldn't sleep last night, so I went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy it."

Zhao Yang looked at him. "Are you also dreaming about this in your sleep?"

"I dreamed I was made the production team leader." Zhao Jianguo set the Speaker down on the table, "Still the kind with the tech squad."

The three stopped asking, each gathered their tools, preparing to start work tomorrow.

Zhao Jianguo sat back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling.

He knew those Mechanical Lesson outside were still watching, and he knew bigger trouble hadn't arrived yet.

But now, he didn't want to wait for others' orders.

He had to take the lead and do something.

Even if it started from a single Siheyuan.

He touched the mark on his wrist; the light was still flashing, not fast nor slow, like breathing.

"Come on." He whispered, "Let's see how much land we can save."

Zhao Chen stood by the window, taking one last look at the sky.

Those Mechanical Lesson remained kneeling, their light cores not extinguished.

He lowered his gaze to the Terminal in his hand; on the Screen, the progress bar beside the first item on the ecological task list began to tick slowly.

From 0% to 1%.

The circuit of the photosynthetic panel was connected.