Most people in this world strive to prolong their lives.
Some spend 12 million yuan on a single injection to treat their illnesses.
Some spend 50,000 yuan a month on targeted drugs.
Some eat ginseng, Cordyceps, and drink deer blood.
Longevity is a topic that everyone cannot avoid, because everyone will eventually die.
Life is too short. When people are at their most immature, they squander their most precious youth; when they gradually mature, they squander their middle age, only to regret it in their old age.
Many people in their old age like to say that life is like a dream.
Yes, life is indeed like a big dream, it's gone in the blink of an eye.
Qing Chen looked at the president who was truly feeling the return of his youth: "Mr. Ning, how does it feel?"
The president stared blankly at the back of his hand, the wrinkles had disappeared, and the shortness of breath he usually suffered had also improved significantly. He stared blankly at Qing Chen, tears welling up in his eyes: "What's going on?"A moment ago, when Qing Chen placed his palm on the president's head, the president thought the young man was going to open his skull.
Who would have thought such a miraculous thing would happen.
"Wipe your tears first," Qing Chen said.
The president quickly wiped away his tears with his sleeve.
The president's tears were not from emotion, but because Qing Chen's Knight True Qi was too shocking.
Qing Chen smiled and said: "There is a saying in the Zhunti Method about investiture. As long as one receives the investiture, they can increase their lifespan by 21 years. That True Qi will stay in your body, activating your slowly declining bodily functions and restoring a new balance. Also, your telomeres will..."
He made up a bunch of stuff, and couldn't continue.
To be honest, Qing Chen hadn't studied in detail why Zhunti Investiture could prolong life. As long as it could prolong life, that's all that mattered.
The president was stunned for a moment: "Cultivation matters are so miraculous?"
Qing Chen asked: "Now City 10 is in a state of disrepair. As far as I know, this city was built to accommodate 20 million people, but now there are only 6 million. What do you think? If I use a 21-year lifespan extension as a condition, can I attract talent to work for me here?"
The president stared blankly at the young man in front of him, thinking: You're planning to cheat, right!
He gathered his thoughts, wiped away his tears and said: "Yes. As long as this matter is real and effective, I can guarantee that people will continuously come here, especially wealthy people, elderly doctors, and elderly scientists. These people are too old, their organs are aging. If they can regain their youth, most people would be willing to pay a high price, even half their assets!"
Never underestimate humanity's survival instinct!
Qing Chen nodded: "Mr. Ning, go back and rest. You will have a lot of hard work ahead of you."
City 10 was his first major base, he wanted to develop it.
At least, he needed to quickly get rid of his dependence on the Qing Family.
"Boss, Luo Wanya has arrived," Qing Ye said beside him.
Qing Chen's eyes lit up.
At the northern border checkpoint, Qing Chen welcomed Luo Wanya with Xiao San and others.
As soon as Luo Wanya got out of the car, Qing Chen enthusiastically walked over and shook his hand: "You've worked hard, Old Luo!"
"Boss, just tell me what you need. This attitude of yours makes me a little scared," Luo Wanya was still shrewd. As soon as he saw Qing Chen's attitude, he knew that he had a lot of trouble waiting for him.
Qing Chen pulled him towards the city, smiling: "City 10 is in a state of disrepair, but you know I'm a Knight. How can a Knight be burdened with mundane affairs? Is that still a Knight?"
Qing Chen had already made up his mind to be a hands-off manager. He couldn't stay in this city for the rest of his life. He had many things to do, and running a city was not something that could keep him.
At this time, Luo Wanya heard Qing Chen say this, and his mind went numb. He hurriedly said: "Boss, you can't give me all this. You can't give me so much power!"
"Trust is given to the deserving, not to those who are doubted. It's not a matter of power, it's that I trust you," Qing Chen smiled, "The PCE Safety Committee, and the PCA Intelligence Agency will be led by Qing Yi, city defense and Garrison Troops will be led by Qing Ye, judicial affairs will be led by Qing Qu, and the City 10 Guardians' Union Internal Affairs will be handled by Little Seven. He and Qin Shuli will work together, you just concentrate on your government affairs and treat yourself as the mayor of City 10."
Luo Wanya breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this. He thought Qing Chen was going to give him all these things. After all, in history, too many people died because they had too much power and made too many contributions.
But now, with Qing Yi, Qing Ye, Qing Qu, Little Seven, and Qin Shuli sharing the responsibilities, there shouldn't be any problems.
"Boss, you want to develop City 10?" Luo Wanya asked. "Development depends on people, but Federation residents don't like to immigrate. Many people live in one city their whole lives."
Qing Chen continued: "I plan to use Zhunti Investiture to revitalize City 10's economy. What do you think?"
"Huh?" Luo Wanya was stunned. "Use the Zhunti Method to make money? I think many rich people would be willing to pay 100 million, even 1 billion yuan to buy it, but it's like oil resources. Once it's used up, it's used up. Those wealthy people who come for the investiture won't stay to contribute to the city. It's not a long-term solution."
Qing Chen smiled: "Do you think I want to use the Zhunti Method to make money? Of course not. It's a systematic matter. Come, let's go see someone first."
Luo Wanya was stunned. Was he going to deal with government affairs in the middle of the night?
Several people took a vehicle to Qing He University, where Principal Lu Yingong was standing straight at the school gate.
After getting off the car, Qing Chen was surprised: "Principal Lu, you don't have to come out to greet me. I'm young and can't handle it."
Lu Yingong shook his head: "I'm here to greet you because you saved six million people in this city, as well as 5,411 teachers and students from Qing He University. In this matter, my personal dignity and honor are nothing. Even if I kneel down for you, it doesn't matter."
"Oh?" Qing Chen was surprised: "But there's something else behind your words, Principal Lu."
Lu Yingong said earnestly: "Let's be frank. You made an appointment with me in the middle of the night, it seems very urgent, it must be for the Qing Family, right? I know many Conglomerates covet the academic achievements and patents of Qing He University and want to take it for themselves. I also know you saved us, but the knowledge of Qing He University is a treasure, it belongs to all Federation citizens, I can't let a certain Conglomerate take it for themselves."
Lu Yingong continued: "Also, Qing He University's enrollment will not give Conglomerates special privileges. A thousand years ago, it was like this, and a thousand years later, it will still be like this. As a millennium-old university, it will not open its doors to the children of a certain Conglomerate, nor will it allow those spoiled rich kids to come here for gilding. Everyone must participate in the exam fairly and justly. I can't give you special enrollment quotas."
These were the conditions proposed by various Conglomerates in the past, but Qing He had never accepted them.
This Principal Lu probably thought that Qing Chen came in the middle of the night for the interests of the Qing Family.
Qing Chen laughed: "Then what can Principal Lu give? Don't expect me to stand up for you like those politicians."
Lu Yingong had been the principal of Qing He University for 30 years, and his reputation in the Federation was extremely high, incredibly high.
Qing Chen smiled: "My condition is only two. The first is that I hope that this year's Qing He University recruitment will lower the admission threshold by 20 points for students with City 10 residency."
"What?" Lu Yingong was really surprised this time.
The condition Qing Chen proposed had nothing to do with the Qing Family. If those Conglomerate spoiled rich kids were to take the exam, let alone lowering it by 20 points, even if it was lowered by 200 points, they still wouldn't be able to pass.
"Today during the day, I saw Principal Lu leading students to help transport materials and helping the refugees in the West Third District rebuild their homes," Qing Chen said earnestly, "Looking at everything, I believe that Principal Lu has a public heart. Now City 10 is in a state of disrepair. I hope to attract more people to come here, rebuild their homes, and hope to change some things."
Lu Yingong wondered: "What is the second condition?"
"I hope that Qing He University can expand its enrollment by 20 percent," Qing Chen said solemnly, "It is too difficult to go to university, and the college entrance examination is also too difficult. I have witnessed many candidates who failed to go to university and ended up working in factories for the rest of their lives. I am not saying that being a worker is bad, but among those people, there are obviously very hardworking and very smart students, it's just that the single-plank bridge is too narrow, and they can't cross it."
Unlike the blind expansion of Outer World, Inner World took a more extreme path. Now, Qing Chen just hoped to balance them, so that Qing He University could educate more talents.
Currently, there are seven universities in the Federation. Except for Ember Military Academy and Qing He University, which are relatively independent, the other five universities serve various Conglomerates, almost immediately entering the Conglomerates after graduation.
Qing Chen's current strategy is to try to turn Qing He University into a university of City 10, providing talents for City 10.
Qing Chen said: "And I'm not asking Qing He to blindly expand its enrollment. I hope Qing He can establish a teacher training academy to help me cultivate a group of excellent teachers in basic subjects."
"Wait, why do you need so many teachers?" Lu Yingong was even more puzzled.
Qing Chen said earnestly: "Yesterday, I reviewed City 10's accounts for the past 30 years. They were very chaotic. Almost every mayor had a huge gray industrial chain behind them. Almost 40 percent of the fiscal revenue was unknown, and 20 percent was used for various ostentatious official expenses and reception fees in the city. I decided to make up for this revenue and then provide nine years of compulsory education for primary and secondary schools. Such a compulsory education industry needs excellent teachers to fill it."
Qing Chen didn't have any experience in governing the city, but he had the roads and experiences summarized by his predecessors in Outer World.
Lu Yingong suddenly said: "I heard some time ago that there were gangs wielding sticks in the Lower Three Districts, driving the students back to school. Was that your doing?"
"Yes," Qing Chen nodded.
Lu Yingong pondered for a moment: "I lost."
At this moment, Li Shutong smiled and walked out of the school gate: "Pay up."
Lu Yingong sighed and transferred 1,000 yuan through his mobile phone. Qing Chen was dumbfounded. He didn't expect that his master could still use him to make money after he left the boxing ring.
"Master, what did you bet on?" Qing Chen asked.
Li Shutong laughed: "Lu Yingong and I have been friends for many years. When he came to Qing He to take the college entrance exam, he encountered Wildlanders on the way, and I saved him. Before leaving the city, I planned to chat with him. You came just as we were chatting. He has prejudices against Conglomerates, and after observing that the materials for City 10 were provided free of charge by the Qing Family, he thought that you would come to him and would make demands on behalf of the Qing Family. As for me, I naturally unconditionally trust my disciple. Lu Yingong, how about that?"
Lu Yingong was silent for a few seconds: "As expected of a Knight, I didn't see any self-interest related to the Conglomerate in the two conditions, only a public heart that wants to change the world. I agree with your conditions. However, I'm afraid it's not enough to rely solely on the school to attract talented immigrants."
Qing Chen smiled: "Of course it's not just the school, I still need to go to another place to get the business settled."
"It's already 3 am," Lu Yingong was a little surprised, "Don't you need to rest?"
Qing Chen turned to leave, waving his hand: "Time waits for no one, I don't want to wait for a moment."
Li Shutong and Lu Yingong stood side by side, watching Qing Chen's departing figure, windswept and weary.
Lu Yingong suddenly asked: "Where did you find such a disciple? He's much better than you, and he's more responsible. When I wanted to change the world, I, Qin, and Cheng Xiao persuaded you for so long, but you didn't think the good and bad of this world had anything to do with you, you just wanted to be a warrior peacefully. How can a person like you find such a disciple."
No one knew that Lu Yingong also participated in what happened eight years ago, and Cheng Xiao was imprisoned in a secret prison for eight years without revealing him.
Li Shutong didn't care about the belittling tone in the other party's words at all. He chuckled: "A cheap disciple who came to me, I just picked up a bargain. Now, the one on Ginkgo Mountain is probably going to be furious."
Qing Chen took Luo Wanya back to the Garrison Troops camp, banged gongs and drums to wake up the council members, and pulled them to the conference room.
The council members looked at the pale lights in the conference room in terror, thinking they were going to be secretly executed!
"Don't be nervous, don't be nervous," Qing Chen pointed to Luo Wanya, "This is the future mayor of City 10, everyone get to know him, you'll be dealing with him often."
A council member cautiously asked: "Why did you come here so late? What's the matter?"
"I want to pass a temporary bill now," Qing Chen said earnestly, "City 10 needs to encourage small and micro enterprises. In the past, Conglomerates set the taxes for small and micro enterprises very high, earning 1 million yuan, they even had to pay 550,000 yuan to the Federation. On the other hand, some large companies could get tax policies, paying only 3 million yuan in tax for 100 million yuan. In this case, who would dare to start a business? Now we're going to lower the taxes for small and micro enterprises and encourage talents from all over the place to come here to start businesses."
The previous tax policy meant that small businesses simply couldn't survive and could only rely on Conglomerates for survival.
Only by changing this tax policy in City 10 can the vitality of ordinary people's businesses be revived.
The council members looked at each other, what Qing Chen said was completely contrary to the interests of the Conglomerates!
Someone whispered: "Aren't you also from the Qing Family Conglomerate? Why do you want to pass such a bill? A council member who proposed to reduce taxes for small and micro enterprises was drowned before, the Conglomerate wouldn't agree."
Qing Chen smiled: "They're busy fighting, who has time to care about me? Besides, isn't it easy to pass a bill? The votes are in your hands. Come on, now raise your hands to vote. I'd like to see you pass it unanimously. If it passes unanimously, there will be whiskey to drink."
Luo Wanya: "Wow."
This Black Family member had just arrived in City 10, he didn't expect that Boss now controlled all the political resources and was planning a big event.
The council members silently raised their hands to vote. Qing Chen looked at a middle-aged man in the corner: "Why aren't you raising your hand?"
The middle-aged man trembled: "I... I am the vice president, I don't participate in parliamentary voting."
Qing Chen was annoyed: "I don't care, raise your hand, Old Luo take a picture to prove they voted."
Luo Wanya silently took a picture. Qing Chen took a look. The expressions on the council members' faces were as bitter as they could be.
Qing Chen muttered: "Your photography skills are not good, are you a forensic photographer?"
Luo Wanya thought, can I blame my photography skills? It's the council members' expressions that were bad.
Qing Chen turned and smiled at the council members: "Okay, you can all rest now."
In the newly emptied conference room, Qing Chen continued: "Education and business have been decided. Now let's talk about the household registration policy. In the future, City 10's household registration will have an independent policy, and there will be three ways to get a household registration."
"The first is special treatment. First, Qing He University students can directly obtain a household registration. Second, high-level talents in medical, industrial, technological, and information technology fields need to be rated, and those with valuable patents can also directly obtain a household registration."
"The second is to work in City 10 for seven years, pay social medical and pension insurance for seven years, obtain a seven-year residence permit, pay taxes for seven years, and then obtain a household registration."
"The third is investment. Invest more than 10 million yuan, and pay annual taxes exceeding three times the average level for three consecutive years, you can get a household registration."
Qing Chen smiled: "After obtaining a household registration, you are eligible to receive the Zhunti Method and extend your life by 21 years. Of course, if you are over 60 years old, a leader in various industries, you will receive the investiture immediately after settling down, provided that you bring your patents here. Old Luo, if you want to sell investiture qualifications, that's a one-off deal, it will become like Saudi Arabia selling oil. I want a long-term plan."
Qing Chen didn't mention many supporting policies, it would probably take a hundred pages to explain them all. It would be a complete plan for the revival of City 10, a comprehensive one!
And lifespan extension through investiture is the ultimate goal that everyone will pursue.
If you want to extend your life, come and contribute to City 10, and you will naturally be able to gain longevity after you make enough contributions.
In the Outer World, in Haicheng and Beijing, millions of people worked hard, paid taxes, and paid social insurance for a household registration, just for a superior household registration.
And City 10 in Inner World can not only get a household registration, but also extend their lifespan.
Luo Wanya hesitated: "I believe that many scientific researchers will want to come, but the problem is that various Conglomerates won't let them go. I heard that some high-tech talents can't even pass through the border checkpoint when they want to enter and leave the city."
"We have the Key Gate," Qing Chen said meaningfully, "Actually, the Shadow Gate is more convenient, but I can't control that big shot. The Key Gate is enough."
"Then how do we make the people of the entire Federation believe that the investiture can indeed extend lifespan?" Luo Wanya curiously asked, "This thing seems a bit difficult to prove."
Qing Chen smiled meaningfully: "I've thought of a way, but I still need to prepare. I need to trick someone."
Midnight on Ginkgo Mountain.
Qing Ji, wearing white linen clothes, walked up the steps. He came to the door of the small house: "Boss, I'm back, everything is basically done."
"Hmm, come in," the old man seemed not to need to sleep, he was still playing chess by moonlight.
On the Go board in front of him, the pieces had just been placed, a black dragon lying on the board in the center, starting with the Tianyuan opening.
There is a saying in Go that the center is the best, but actually it's the worst. Tianyuan is the opening move in the center of the board. It seems to take advantage, but actually it is very disadvantageous.
Qing Ji glanced at it and said: "Boss, giving him the political center of City 10 is like playing Tianyuan, it seems advantageous, but in the future it will be a place where everyone will compete, he will be at a disadvantage. According to the AI statistical data, the winning rate of starting with Tianyuan is about 6 percentage points lower than that of starting with Star Point."
The old man rarely smiled: "You, a martial arts fanatic, are actually paying attention to AI's statistical win rate."
Qing Ji honestly said: "I want to win a game against you. I've been playing chess with you for 30 years, and I haven't won a single game."
The old man smiled and shook his head: "It's a pity that you don't understand change, and your mind is rigid, you only know how to fight and kill. You say that the Tianyuan opening move is a bad move because the board is empty, and the move in the center is isolated and helpless. But you must understand, Qing Ji, the board I gave him is one I've already played half of."
The situation the old man gave Qing Chen wasn't letting Qing Chen start from scratch, but was already prepared for Qing Chen.
Playing Tianyuan now is to decide the outcome, life and death, win or lose!
"I've played a game of chess for more than ten years. How many decades are there in a lifetime?" the old man said softly, "It's time to end the game."
Qing Ji curiously asked: "Boss, do you think he can learn to govern if you just hand City 10 over to him like this? Will three months be too hasty? Also, will he continue to rely on the Qing Family?"
The old man smiled: "I don't know. Li Shutong, Li Xiurui, and Xiao Zhun have given him too much. I don't know if he still needs the Qing Family, but so what? It's still the same sentence, wherever he is, that's where the new Qing Family is."
"What about the war in the north? What do you think?" Qing Ji asked.
"The barbarians overseas think they can trample Shendai under their feet, I'm afraid they'll be bitten back," the old man took another piece from the chess box and placed it in the upper right corner, "Let's try to drive the wolves and swallow the tigers first."