Did the world end today?

Chapter 282 The Cold Screening

Do you often feel hopeless about life? Do you feel that life is too bitter? Do you feel that you can't get what you want, and what you do get is not worth mentioning?

Do you often feel that the world shouldn't be the way it is?

Do you want to change?

"Now, the opportunity is right in front of you!"

Hearing the voice on the phone, Wang Qi stopped eating.

He was momentarily stunned, and even couldn't help but click into "Against the Current" homepage to take a look.

That’s right!
A blue verified account means it's an official media outlet!
What does it mean? ?

Is state media leading a rebellion?

He looked puzzled and returned to the video interface to continue playing.

"Now the opportunity has arrived! Scientists have discovered something very, very amazing!"

"It can make the weak strong, give those who have nothing something, allow those who regret to start over, and make regrets disappear."

"It is a fragment of time!"

"Dang-dang-dang!"

Accompanied by a lively female voice, a polygonal "crystal" appears on the screen.

"This is the time fragment we discovered, which was produced by the Geneva high-dimensional information particle collision experiment and is an unstable collection of chaotic particles."

"The more technical stuff is beyond what most people would understand—in fact, I don't understand it myself, so I won't go into it!"

"But in any case, since it is a fragment of time, its function must be related to time."

"Next, let me introduce them to you one by one."

"After all, to use it, you have to understand it!"

Wang Qi stuffed a mouthful of braised pork trotters and rice into his mouth.

In the video, the host continues to enthusiastically explain the benefits of time fragmentation.

For example, this thing allows you to witness history and foresee the future.

For example, it might change your body structure, turning you into an invincible superman.

Furthermore, it might change the entire world because of your observations, or even mold the world into the way you want it to be.
Damn it? !
Does such a thing really exist?

Wang Qi could no longer eat.

He threw down his chopsticks and turned the video volume up to the maximum.

"So overall, the characteristics of time fragments are very similar to those of the 'high-dimensional channels' we studied before."

"Anyone who has come into contact with or entered this place will experience strange changes."

"But at the same time, it is also more dangerous than a high-dimensional passage."

"Because it is actually a 'partially opened' high-dimensional channel, a high-dimensional channel filled with 'other information'."

The host's voice became a little more composed, and it was then that Wang Qi finally realized that the "benefits" she had mentioned earlier were nothing but bait.

It's just a tactic to increase the completion rate!

These so-called time fragments are far more dangerous than I initially thought!
"The human body is also a collection of information, and time fragments can seriously interfere with the information in the human body"?
This theoretical explanation wasn't very clear, but soon the host presented a more intuitive example.

It's like a game character made of data entering a region of the game where there are no rules and the code is messed up.

Those distorted codes could potentially seep into the character's code, causing uncontrollable changes.
Oh, I would have understood if you had said so earlier!
Wang Qi nodded thoughtfully, while the female voice in the video continued speaking.

Therefore, in conclusion, rashly engaging with time fragments is not a wise choice.

"Or to be precise, it's a very dangerous choice."

"So, what exactly has this research on time fragments brought us?"

"We need to discuss this issue in two parts."

"Part of it is about 'society,' about the meaning of life for people like us."

"The other part is about technology, about the meaning of 'progress'."

"Let's start with a short story."

Wang Qi listened quietly.

This story is neither long nor complicated.

There are two people in the story.

One of them gained special abilities after coming into contact with a higher-dimensional channel. He could travel between different worlds, change the history of one world, and obtain unlimited benefits.

This person thought he was a god and that he could control everything.

But in the end, he suffered a crushing defeat and was swept away by the tide of history.

The other person was forced to accept the high-dimensional channel because of his "duty". He drifted in another world for an infinitely long time before finally returning to his own world and completing his mission.

Wang Qi didn't understand what the two stories meant at first.

He just felt that the person in the first story was a god, wasn't he?
Furthermore, if the accounts of higher-dimensional channels and time fragments in this story are true, then further research will reveal further possibilities.
Will more people become so-called "gods"?

Those tycoons who control massive amounts of resources, those businessmen, those capitalists
If such benefits truly exist, they will inevitably be the first to benefit.

Ordinary people, like the person in the second story, can only endure endless loneliness, pain, and torment, and ultimately can only "complete a task".

Is this fair?

This is completely unfair.

But, the next second, the female voice in the video continued:

"In fact, our scientists have discovered that the effects of time fragmentation and high-dimensional channels are not as simple as 'giving different people different abilities'."

"You never know whether you'll be the protagonist of story one or story two."

"Or, more likely, you will be reduced to ashes, just like the ordinary people in our reality who have unfortunately come into contact with fragments of time and perished."

"It won't recognize your identity."

"It will only invade your information collection equally, bringing you good or bad results in its own unique way."

"Therefore, the greatest significance of this experiment is that it destroyed the hopes of certain privileged individuals."

"There are no gods in the face of fragments of time, nor are there any differences in class or wealth."

"What it does is simply a cold, ruthless, and purely physical selection."

Selection in a purely physical sense?

Wang Qi instinctively felt that this assertion was of great significance.

But for a moment, he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

why?

Why bring this up?

Would anyone really want to touch those fragments of time?

No way, are you out of your mind?
and many more.

The video from the reverse channel says that human research into time fragments is accelerating and other results will soon be available.

Why don't we listen to what happens first and see what the outcome will be?
He pressed the play button on the video, but he didn't quite understand the second half of it.

Advances in materials science, energy revolution, new computer technologies, new directions in medicine—all these things.
What are all these things?

By the end, he still only vaguely remembered a few concepts.

Time fragments are terrifying, and high-dimensional channels are terrifying, but scientists are researching them, and breakthroughs are happening very quickly.

Humanity seems to be facing a significant change, but so far everything is going smoothly.

Time fragments may cause disasters, but they are nothing more than things like temporal disorder, force chaos, or projection disorder. Although the principle is not yet clear, it is not a big problem.

After much thought, what impressed him most was that sentence.

"Our future world will be a world that develops in accordance with the development of 'high-dimensional technology'."

"If higher-dimensional technology itself does not possess privilege, then the privilege of our world will gradually disappear."

Is a communist world on the horizon?

"not yet."

"But friends, it will be soon."

Communism?

To be honest, although I often engage in online political discussions and occasionally like some leftist videos,

But if you were to ask me what communism is, I honestly wouldn't know.

Wang Qi just instinctively felt that it should be a wonderful world.

Everyone has food to eat, everyone has clothes to wear, and everyone has access to medical care.
If such a world truly existed, even if the process was more difficult and risky, it would be acceptable, right? Unfortunately, that's still a long way off.

Wang Qi sighed.

After watching the video, he felt much better.

It's like a seed has been planted in your heart.

That seed represents hope.

However, this seed will ultimately have to lie dormant in this still barren land for a long time.

He stood up, casually tied the empty lunchbox in a knot, and carried it out the door.

But just as he threw the trash into the bin outside the door, he noticed the old man walking towards Ruoruo's house.

Wang Qi's expression changed instantly.

Fearing the old man was looking for trouble, he quickly followed.

But then he saw that Ruoruo's door was already surrounded by people.

The old man was just there to watch the fun.

Wang Qi also squeezed into the crowd. He heard Ruoruo's mother, who was holding Ruoruo, talking to a man.

"Is the surgery you're talking about really safe?"

The man's answer revealed a hint of indifference.

"I can't comment on the safety aspects; I need to discuss that with an expert."

"This is a new technology, and it was developed because an old revolutionary donated his body."

"I don't know if it will work, but it definitely won't harm you."

"Besides, you have no other choice regarding safety. Our community only reported it because we considered your family's situation."

“Your daughter’s condition is very bad right now, and further chemotherapy is not very helpful.”

"To put it bluntly, according to the doctor, if we continue with the traditional treatment methods, it will only last three or four months at most, and you will be left with a huge debt."

"Why not make some changes and try new treatments?"

"If you agree, we'll submit the report tomorrow, and they'll send someone to pick you up."

"If you disagree, then it's up to you to choose."

"There are only so many slots available in the first batch, so we can only select residential areas with special circumstances that meet the standards for reporting."

"You need to hurry up—this is something others can wait for. Maybe in another year or two, or even three years, the treatment will have passed clinical trials and be rolled out on a large scale."

"But I can't wait for your daughter."

"That's all I have to say—everyone else, stop crowding around! Is this your family's business for you to watch the show?"

A reprimand from a community worker caused some of the onlookers to disperse.

Wang Qi saw Ruoruo's mother's expression.

She seemed to be crying, yet she also seemed to be laughing.

After hesitating for a moment, she asked:
"Why is it our turn? Why not choose the rich people?"

"It's not suitable, the conditions for treatment aren't met, what else could it be?"

The community worker was getting a little impatient, but it was clear that he genuinely had good intentions towards this family.

After hearing his words, Wang Qi seemed to be deep in thought.

Not suitable?
The video he just watched also mentioned something similar.

If it's not suitable, it's not suitable. It has nothing to do with who you are.

Why do I feel like the video I just saw has come true in real life?

Or is it that something like this has already happened, and I just happened to stumble upon it today?

He prefers to believe the latter.

Seeing that Ruoruo's mother was still hesitating, the community staff directly called Ruoruo's father.

He explained the matter clearly in just a few words, and Wang Qi understood most of it.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a new therapy targeting human cells that appears to be able to treat some cancers.

However, based on current experiments, the results are relatively limited.

It is particularly effective against gliomas, supposedly because of something like "magnetic navigation system relying on physical guidance paths" or "conductivity differences".

The community workers themselves didn't understand these things, and what they said was all nonsense.

Fortunately, compared to Ruoruo's mother, Ruoruo's father was much more decisive.

"There's no other chance, so let's give it a try!"

"it is good!"

The staff member nodded decisively.

"The researchers from the Institute of Physics will send someone to pick you up tomorrow, so pack your things tonight."

"Don't go out to work tonight, take a day off today!"

Ruoruo's father thanked him repeatedly on the phone. On the other end, Ruoruo stared at his eyes, which seemed to bulge out of their sockets due to high intracranial pressure, and asked curiously:
"Mom, can my illness be cured?"

Before Ruoruo's mother could reply, the staff member spoke up:
"It's almost the same."

"I heard there were already cases of recovery recently, but the news hasn't been released yet."

"Don't worry, we're all neighbors, would I lie to you?"

"This is a legitimate institute of physics from the Chinese Academy of Sciences!"

After he finished speaking, the old man who had been listening all along couldn't help but say something.

"Go to the Institute of Physics for treatment? What's the connection between those two places?"

"What's it to you?"

The staff member rolled their eyes and said:

"You moved someone's electric bike again today, didn't you? I already told you that it's a piece of junk with a lead-acid battery, it won't catch fire. If you insist on doing this, I won't be so polite!"

"You think you're so rude to me?"

The old man mumbled something unintelligible. Wang Qi turned around, rummaged through the corner, and pulled out the electric car charger, placing it in front of Ruoruo's mother.

He turned to leave, when he heard the old man sneer:

"Ha, it's just cancer. If I get sick in the future, there's no need for such a fuss."

Wang Qi was instantly enraged, but before he could speak, he heard a staff member say mockingly:

"You don't need it, but you won't get a chance to use it either!"

"You think you're the best in the world just because you made a little money riding the wave? If you're so great, why don't you move out? Why are you staying here waiting for demolition?"

"Let me tell you, if you keep acting like this, don't bother with treatment when you get sick in the future, just bury you!"

"I bother!"

The old man glared angrily at the staff member.

"I have money, why wouldn't you let me get treatment?"

"That's not necessarily true. Take this time for example, our community has reported several cases as well."

"People don't care whether you're rich or poor, they only care whether you're compatible or not."

"The screening process isn't handled by people, but by machines, by physical laws, by biological laws. No matter how much money you have, it's useless."

After saying that, the staff member turned and left.

The old man was left alone, trembling with anger.

Wang Qi could tell that the staff member was deliberately trying to provoke him.

Although "reverse current" also mentioned "selection by physical laws", it is unlikely to be put into practice so quickly.

but
Why does it feel so good to criticize him on this point?
A smile appeared on Wang Qi's face.

He exchanged a few words with Ruoruo's mother, then turned and left happily.

Recalling the content of the video about going against the current, a thought suddenly popped into his mind.

These time fragments are really great.

Although some commenters said this could potentially lead to the end of the world.

But who cares!
Anyway, scientists will figure something out.

Regardless of whether it's the end of the world or not, what's important is that these new technologies can actually be implemented.
Does that mean our working-class grandfathers are really going to stand up?

(End of this chapter)