Chapter 324

Zhao Jianguo threw that bottle of soda into the iron bucket; the clanging sound still echoed in his ears when his phone vibrated. He pulled it out and saw a message from the triplets: "Dad, the opening ceremony starts in twenty minutes—where are you?"

But we need to be faithful, not add extra words. Let's translate line by line.

line: "Zhao Jianguo tossed the soda can into the metal bucket; the clang echoed in his ears as his phone buzzed. He pulled it out and saw a message from the triplets: "Dad, the opening ceremony starts in twenty minutes—where are you?""

line: "We'll use Zhao Jianguo for Zhao Jianguo. Triplets for triplets. Use "Dad" for Dad. Use "opening ceremony" for opening ceremony. Use "twenty minutes" for twenty minutes. Use "where are you?" for where are you? (literally "where are you?")."

We need to keep the tone.

Let's craft:

【1】 Zhao Jianguo tossed that bottle of soda into the iron bucket; the clang still rang in his ears when his phone vibrated. He pulled it out and saw a message from the triplets: "Dad, the opening ceremony starts in twenty minutes—where are you?"

line: "Zhao Jianguo threw the soda bottle into the metal tin, the clang still rang in his ears, his phone vibrated. He pulled it out and saw a message from the triplets: "Dad, the opening ceremony starts in twenty minutes—where are you?""

Our translation: "Zhao Jianguo tossed that bottle of soda into the iron bucket; the clang still rang in his ears when his phone vibrated. He pulled it out and saw a message from the triplets: "Dad, the opening ceremony starts in twenty minutes—where are you?""

line: "We omitted the clang sound still ringing in his ears, rendering it as "the clang still rang in his ears"; "his phone vibrated" for the phone shaking; "He pulled it out and saw" for him taking it out; "a message from the triplets" for the message; and translated the quoted speech as "Dad, the opening ceremony starts in twenty minutes—where are you?" using an em dash."

Now line 2:

line: "He looked up at the sky, the moon had climbed high, hanging at the edge of the clouds like a peeled egg white. The applause from the fields just now was still warm, but now in the city he had to change the scene. He patted his pockets, made sure the sign‑in card was there, and turned toward the bus stop."

We have Zhao Jianguo as subject (he). Use "he". No need to repeat name.

Translate:

He looked up at the sky; the moon had climbed high, hanging at the edge of the clouds like a peeled egg white. The applause from the fields just now was still warm, but now in the city he had to change the scene. He patted his pockets, made sure the sign‑in card was there, and turned toward the bus stop.

Check each clause:

line: "He looked up at the sky,"

line: "the moon had climbed high, hanging at the edge of the clouds like a peeled egg white."

line: "The applause from the fields just now was still warm,"

line: "but now in the city he had to change the scene."

line: "He patted his pockets, made sure the sign‑in card was there,"

line: "and turned toward the bus stop."

line: "We used "sign‑in card" for the sign‑in card; it could also be called a check‑in card, but we keep the meaning."

Now line 3:

line: "Few people were on the road, but the wind was lively, making the colorful flags on the roadside stalls clatter loudly. Those flags bore the big characters "Global Technology Tour", with a smaller line underneath: "Technology knows no borders, fruits shared." Zhao Jianguo glanced at it, thinking the slogan sounded pleasant—if it could actually be done, that would be true skill."

Translate:

line: "Few people were on the road, but the wind was lively, making the colorful flags on the roadside stalls clatter loudly. Those flags bore the big characters "Global Technology Tour", with a smaller line underneath: "Technology knows no borders, fruits shared." Zhao Jianguo glanced at it, thinking the slogan sounded pleasant—if it could actually be done, that would be true skill."

We need to use Zhao Jianguo. Use "Global Technology Tour" as per translation. Use "Technology knows no borders, fruits shared." Good.

Now line 4:

line: "The bus swayed into the city center square, and from afar the main stage shone as bright as daylight. Holographic projection arrays unfolded in layers, like several tiers of transparent covers slowly rising, casting light and shadow of world landmarks—the Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty, Great Wall, Taj Mahal…—one after another appearing in the air, finally forming a globe that slowly rotated."

Translate:

The bus swayed to the City Centre Plaza; from afar the main stage shone as bright as day. Holographic projection arrays unfolded in rings, like several layers of transparent covers slowly rising, casting the light and shadow of world landmarks——the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, the Great Wall, the Taj Mahal……one after another appearing in mid‑air, finally forming a model of the Earth that slowly rotated.

We need to use "City Centre Plaza". Use "Eiffel Tower", "Statue of Liberty", "Great Wall", "Taj Mahal". Good.

Now line 5:

line: "A sea of people. People

Translate:

A sea of people. Those in suits, holding cameras, wearing VR glasses, and youngsters live‑streaming with selfie sticks filled the whole square. Security personnel prowled the edges, holding signal detectors, their brows furrowed enough to crush a mosquito.

A sea of people.

Now line 6:

Zhao Jianguo slipped in through the side door and headed straight to the backstage control area. Just as he stood firm, the broadcast announced: "Ladies and gentlemen, the Global Technology Tour opening ceremony is about to begin; please have the triplets' representatives take the stage."

Translate:

Zhao Jianguo slipped in through the side door and headed straight for the backstage control area. Just as he stood firm, the broadcast announced: "Ladies and gentlemen, the Global Technology Tour opening ceremony is about to begin—please have the triplets' representative come on stage."

We need to use Zhao Jianguo, Global Technology Tour, triplets. Use "triplets' representative". Good.

Now line 7:

As the words fell, three figures emerged from the passageway. The one in the middle was Zhao Xing, wearing a light‑gray stand‑collar coat, his hair neatly combed, looking like a youthful spokesperson. He walked up to the main console, pressed a button, and the hall lights dimmed instantly; immediately, a beam of light descended from above, striking the circular sensing zone beneath his feet.

Translate:

The words had barely fallen when three figures walked out of the passage. The one in the middle was Zhao Xing, wearing a light‑gray stand‑collar coat, his hair neatly combed—like a youthful spokesperson. He stepped up to the Main Control Console, pressed a button, and the venue lights plunged dark; immediately a beam of light descended from above, striking the ring‑shaped sensing area beneath his feet.

We need to use Zhao Xing (pinyin). Use "Main Control Console". Use "light‑gray stand‑collar coat". Good.

Now line 8:

"I declare," Zhao Xing said, his voice not loud but transmitted clearly through the directional speaker, "the Global Technology Tour is now officially open!"

Translate:

"I declare," Zhao Xing said, his voice not loud but transmitted clearly through the directional speaker, "Global Technology Tour, officially opened!"

We need to keep quotes. Use Zhao Xing.

Now line 9:

As the words faded, the exhibition zones of forty‑eight countries lit up simultaneously. Each spot projected the latest local technological achievements via miniature holographic towers: Northern Europe's clean‑energy model, the Middle East's desert‑agriculture system, South America's biodegradable materials… The images switched smoothly, and the audience stared without blinking.

Translate:

As the words fell, the exhibition zones of forty‑eight countries lit up simultaneously. Each spot projected the latest local technological achievements via mini holographic towers: Northern Europe's clean‑energy model, the Middle East's desert agriculture system, South America's biodegradable material……The images switched smoothly, and the audience stared without blinking.

We need to keep numbers exactly: forty‑eight. Use "mini holographic towers". Good.

Now line 10:

Zhao Jianguo stood at the control room doorway, watching the real‑time data stream on the screen, the corner of his mouth just twitching up, when suddenly a soft "ding" sounded in his ear.

Translate:

Zhao Jianguo stood at the control‑room door, watching the real‑time data stream on the screen, the corner of his mouth just twitching up, when a sudden "ding" sounded in his ear.

We need to use Zhao Jianguo, control‑room (Control Room), screen (Screen), data stream (Data Stream). Use "real‑time data stream". Good.

Now line 11:

【Ultimate mission triggered】

Translate:

【Ultimate Mission Triggered】

But we need to keep the brackets? The line includes 【Ultimate mission triggered】. We should translate the content inside brackets, but keep the brackets? The instruction: translate faithfully, never skip, summarise, or merge paragraphs.

【11】 【Ultimate Mission Triggered】

But we need to translate the Chinese characters inside. So we output the brackets with English translation inside. Keep the same bracket style? Probably yes.

Thus:

【11】 【Ultimate Mission Triggered】

Now line 12:

【Goal: Build a community of shared future for humanity】

Translate:

【Goal: Build Community of Shared Future for Mankind】

Thus:

【12】 【Goal: Build Community of Shared Future for Mankind】

Line 13:

【Progress: 0%】

Translate:

【Progress: 0%】

Thus:

【13】 【Progress: 0%】

Line 14:

He froze for a moment, lowered his eyes to the system terminal on his wrist, where the line of text floated in mid‑air, flashing red and blue alternately. He didn't rush to dismiss it; instead, he muttered softly, "This isn't a slogan—it's a project."

Translate:

He froze for a moment, lowered his head to look at the system terminal on his wrist; those words floated in mid‑air, flashing red and blue alternately. He didn't rush to dismiss them, instead muttering lowly: "This isn't a slogan—it's a project."

We need to use system terminal (System Terminal). Good.

Now line 15:

As he spoke, a humming came from the venue. Zhao Xing had already begun his holographic lecture; the image projected in mid‑air showed a photo of him as a child building a simple water‑filter device in a courtyard house, followed by records of him repairing neighbors' radios and installing solar lamps for the community.

Translate:

Just as he spoke, a humming came from the venue. Zhao Xing had already begun his holographic lecture; the image projected in mid‑air showed a photo of him as a child building a simple water‑purification device in the Siheyuan, followed by records of him fixing neighbors' radios and installing solar lamps for the community.

We need to use Zhao Xing, Siheyuan. Good.

Now line 16:

"We believe," Zhao Xing said, "that technology shouldn't belong only to labs and big corporations. It should reach the alleys, the village entrances, and the hands of everyone who wants to change their life."

Translate:

"We believe," Zhao Xing said, "that technology shouldn't belong only to labs and big corporations. It should reach the hutong, the village entrance, the hands of everyone who wants to change their life."

We need to use hutong (Hutong). Good.

Now line 17:

Down below, some people clapped while others raised their phones to record video. A bespectacled elderly professor‑type kept nodding; a nearby student asked if he understood, and the old man waved his hand: "You don't need to grasp it all—just listening and feeling reassured is enough."

Translate:

Someone in the audience clapped, someone else raised a phone to record video. A bespectacled old‑professor type kept nodding; the student beside him asked if he understood, and the old man waved a hand: "You don't have to grasp it all—just hearing it makes you feel at ease."

We need to keep "old‑professor type". Good.

Now line 18:

Just then, the main screen jolted.

Translate:

Just then, the main screen shuddered.

We need to use main screen? Not a glossary term; but we can translate as "main screen". Good.

Now line 19:

The sound cut out for half a second, and Zhao Xing's words stalled on "Technology should serve humanity's basic needs." Immediately, all the projections began to warp, as if someone had rubbed them with an eraser. Lights flickered, and a low murmur rose from the audience.

Translate:

The sound cut out for half a second; Zhao Xing's words stalled on "Technology should serve humanity's basic needs." Immediately all the projections began to warp, as if someone had smeared them with an eraser. Lights flickered, and low gasps rose from the audience.

We need to use Zhao Xing. Good.

Now line 20:

The next second, the entire screen went black.

Translate:

The next second, the whole giant screen went black.

Now line 21:

White letters appeared, coldly stating:

Translate:

White characters appeared, coldly written:

Now line 22:

**Do you deserve to talk about 'community'? **

Translate:

**Do you deserve to talk about 'community'? **

We need to keep the asterisks? The line includes **Do you deserve to talk about 'community'? **. We'll translate inside but keep the markdown? Probably we should keep the same formatting: **Do you deserve to talk about 'community'? ** We'll output exactly that.

Now line 23:

No one spoke.

Translate:

No one spoke.

Line 24:

Even the sound of the wind blowing past the flags stopped.

Translate:

Even the sound of the wind blowing over the flags fell silent.

Line 25:

The triplets on stage exchanged a glance; Zhao Xing immediately hit the emergency offline button and started to step down. Security swiftly surrounded them, guiding them out through the emergency passage. The scene erupted in chaos—some people pulled out their phones to snap photos frantically, others shouted into the camera: "The live‑stream is cut! Hacker attack! This is naked technological humiliation!"

Translate:

The triplets on stage exchanged a glance; Zhao Xing immediately hit the emergency offline key and turned to leave the stage. Security rushed over, guiding them out through the emergency passage. The venue erupted in chaos—someone pulled out a phone to snap photos frantically, someone shouted into the camera: "Live‑stream cut! Hacker attack! This is naked technological humiliation!"

We need to use triplets, Zhao Xing, emergency offline key, emergency passage. Good.

Now line 26:

Zhao Jianguo didn't move.

Translate:

Zhao Jianguo didn't move at all.

Now line 27:

Zhao Jianguo stood at the control room doorway, gripping the terminal device, as red warning boxes popped up on the screen: 【External signal intrusion, source unknown】【Firewall bypassed】【Anti‑tracking failed】.

Translate:

He stood at the control‑room door, gripping the terminal device, as red warning boxes popped up on the screen: 【External Signal Intrusion, Source Unknown】【Firewall Bypassed】【Anti‑tracking Failed】.

We need to use control‑room (Control Room), terminal device (Terminal). Keep the brackets as is but translate inside.

Thus:

【27】 He stood at the control‑room door, gripping the terminal device, as red warning boxes popped up on the screen: 【External Signal Intrusion, Source Unknown】【Firewall Bypassed】【Anti‑tracking Failed】.

Now line 28:

He stared at those words for a full ten seconds, his finger hovering over the confirm key, but ultimately he didn't press it.

Translate:

He stared at those words for a full ten seconds, finger hovering over the confirm key, but ultimately didn't press it.

Now line 29:

In the distance, the big screen kept flashing that sentence over and over, like a nail driven into everyone's eyes.

Translate:

In the distance, the big screen kept flashing that sentence over and over, like a nail driven into everyone's eyes.

Now line 30:

He suddenly recalled half an hour earlier, when Zhao Chen stood in the rice field, holding that heavy stalk of rice and laughing, "Let's try for three tons next year." Back then the applause was genuine, the trust was real. But now?

Translate:

He suddenly recalled half an hour earlier: Zhao Chen standing in the rice field, holding that heavy stalk of rice, smiling as he said, "Let's try for three tons next year." Back then the applause was genuine, the trust was real. But now?

We need to use Zhao Chen. Good.

Now line 31:

Technology had unfurled its wings, just taken off, when someone publicly plucked a feather from it.

Translate:

Technology had unfurled its wings, just taken flight, when someone publicly plucked a feather from it.

Now line 32:

He neither left nor called anyone, just stood there. The night wind lifted a corner of his coat, revealing half of an old watch whose hands stopped at 9:17—the time of his crossing.

Translate:

He didn't leave, didn't call anyone, just stood there. The night wind lifted a corner of his coat, revealing half of an old watch whose hands stopped at 9:17 a. m. —the moment he had crossed over.

We need to use coat but it's a common object; we translate as "coat". Good.

Now line 33:

On the other side of the console, staff were rebooting the system, the keyboard clacking. Someone whispered, "Should we switch to the backup channel? Can we still salvage the situation?"

Translate:

At the other side of the control console, staff were rebooting the system, the keyboard clacking. Someone whispered: "Should we switch to the backup channel? Maybe we can still salvage the situation."

We need to use control console (Control Console). Good.

Now line 34:

The person beside him shook his head: "Wait until the triplets are safely backstage. Right now, anyone who goes on stage is a target."

Translate:

The person beside him shook his head: "Wait until the triplets are safely backstage. Right now, anyone who goes up is a target."

We need to use triplets. Good.

Now line 35:

Zhao Jianguo finally moved. He stepped forward two paces, leaned against the doorframe, and his gaze fell on the line of text on the big screen.

Translate:

Zhao Jianguo finally moved. He took two steps forward, leaned against the doorframe, and his gaze fell on that line on the big screen.

Now line 36:

"So… this is the starting point." he said.

Translate:

"So… this is the starting point," he said.

Now line 37:

The crowd below hadn't dispersed. Some argued heatedly, some insisted it must be foreign forces sabotaging things, while others sneered, "If you can't even defend your own system, what's there to talk about a shared future?"

Translate:

The crowd below hadn't dispersed. Some argued heatedly, some insisted it must be foreign forces sabotaging things, while others sneered: "If you can't even defend your own system, what's there to talk about a community?"

Now line 38:

But many also remained silent, staring at that line of text with complex expressions.

Translate:

But many others remained silent, staring at those words with complex expressions.

Now line 39:

A school‑uniformed girl crouched on the ground, drawing a circle with chalk on the concrete and extending a few lines from it, murmuring, "It would be great if every city had a shared‑tech station… just like borrowing books from a library, you could borrow equipment."

Translate:

A schoolgirl in uniform crouched on the ground, drawing a circle with chalk on the concrete and extending a few lines from it, murmuring: "It would be great if every city had a shared‑technology station… just like borrowing books from a library."

We need to use chalk but it's a common object; we translate as "chalk". Good.

Now line 40:

Her desk‑mate shoved her: "You really believe all this, huh?"

Translate:

Her desk‑mate nudged her: "You really believe in this stuff?"

Now line 41:

The girl lifted her head: "I don't have faith in technology; I have faith in giving it a try."

Translate:

The girl lifted her head: "I don't believe in technology; I believe in giving it a try."

Now line 42:

Zhao Jianguo heard it, but didn't turn around or respond.

Translate:

Zhao Jianguo heard it, but didn't turn around or answer.

Now line 43:

His system interface still hovered before his eyes, the task bar quietly displaying: 【Build a community of shared future for humanity】

Translate:

His system interface still hovered before his eyes, the task bar quietly displaying: 【Build Community of Shared Future for Mankind】.

We need to use system interface? Not a named entity. We'll translate as "system interface". The task bar we can translate as "task bar". Keep brackets.

Now line 44:

Below, a line of small text read: 【First challenge: rebuilding after trust collapses】

Translate:

Below, a line of small text read: 【First Challenge: Reconstruction after Trust Collapse】.

Now line 45:

He raised his hand and lightly stroked away the notification, the motion as gentle as brushing off a speck of dust.

Translate:

He raised his hand and lightly stroked away the prompt, the motion as gentle as brushing off a speck of dust.

Now line 46:

On the other side of the square, technicians finally cut the main screen's signal and replaced it with a static poster that read: "The road of technology, weathering storms together."

Translate:

On the other side of the plaza, the technicians finally cut the main‑screen signal and replaced it with a static poster that read: "The Road of Technology, Sharing Wind and Rain."

We need to use static poster but it's a common object; we translate as "static poster". Good.

Now line 47:

The wind picked up again, making the banner sway back and forth.

Translate:

The wind rose again, making the banner sway back and forth.

Now line 48:

Zhao Jianguo remained standing in the same spot, hands in his pockets, gazing at the now‑darkened giant screen.

Translate:

Zhao Jianguo remained standing in the same spot, hands in his pockets, gazing at the darkened giant screen.

Now line 49:

At the edge of the curtain, a faint afterglow remains, reflecting the just‑seen image of the Earth rotating, breaking into several lingering shadows that fade away slowly.