The mall is located in the heart of the inner city and is bustling with customers.
Everyone who came and went inside, regardless of gender, was dressed appropriately and exquisitely. From the outside, they looked somewhat similar to ancient humans, except that they were taller and had more delicate features.
It does not have the characteristics of the Bis people, but it should not be an ancient human either.
Ruan Shiqing was overwhelmed and full of curiosity: "Are they all evolved humans? But they are different from the ones I have seen." They looked thinner than the evolved humans in the outer city and did not have that bursting sense of power.
Xiong Fangfang's ears moved, and his dark skin hid the blush on his face: "Most of the people here are Bis people."
Ruan Shiqing subconsciously wanted to ask "Why don't they have the animal characteristics of the Bis people?", but when he saw the drooping black bear ears on the brothers' heads, he suddenly understood.
It turns out that not all Bis people display their animal characteristics.
Considering that they had been given surprised looks from time to time since they entered the mall, the two brothers seemed particularly uneasy... He originally thought it was because they were dressed too old-fashioned, but now he thought that those people might have been looking at their furry bear ears.
The Xiong brothers who were unable to recover the bear ears were not unique in the outer city. However, in the eyes of the Bis people in the inner city, they might be some kind of incomplete aliens.
After figuring it out, Ruan Shiqing stopped the topic in time and didn't ask any more questions.
Instead, Xiong Yuanyuan touched his ear and explained with a grunt, "Normal adult Bis can perfectly control their own form. Only immature cubs cannot control their own form, and occasionally appear half-human, half-beast. However, there are also some adult Bis who, due to genetic defects or developmental problems as cubs, still cannot perfectly control their own form after adulthood."
That’s why there are so many adult Bis people who retain animal characteristics in the outer city.
"So that's how it is." Ruan Shiqing responded naturally and said with a smile: "But I think it's okay if we can't control our form perfectly. Humans are imperfect creatures. Your bear ears are very cute."
"Really?" Xiong Yuanyuan's cheeks turned red, her ears stood up, and she trembled nervously.
"Of course." Ruan Shiqing took the opportunity to touch the bear's ears and praised: "The fur is smooth and feels very good."
Xiong Yuanyuan: Woo woo woo qwq
As they were talking, they had already arrived at the counter selling intelligent computers.
The three of them didn't fit in with the atmosphere of the entire shopping mall, and the salesperson at the counter noticed them early on.
Several Bis shopping guides despised the outsiders as barbaric and poor, and were too lazy to receive them. Only one ancient human shopping guide took the initiative to greet them enthusiastically.
This is a young man of similar build to Ruan Shiqing, probably in his early twenties, with a still somewhat immature face and a sincere smile.
"Are you also an ancient human?" Ruan Shiqing was curious and asked another question.
"Yes, sir. My name is Gu Feng." The young man scratched his head and smiled shyly: "I'm a new intern shopping guide. But please rest assured, I know all the functions of the products in the store by heart, and I can definitely recommend the most suitable model for you."
Under his guidance, Ruan Shiqing looked at various types of smart computers and finally chose a bracelet-type smart computer with a porcelain white body that was small and exquisite.
“Can you tell me about this one?”
"Of course." Gu Feng explained to him in great detail the functions of the intelligent brain, as well as its various advantages and disadvantages.
Seeing Gu Feng's enthusiasm in selling the product, the Bisi people watching nearby couldn't help but mutter, "This is a classic smart computer manufactured by Naxi Company. People from other cities can't afford it."
"Maybe he'll run into a nouveau riche. If he can't sell the intelligent computer again, he'll be fired."
"Pfft, don't look down on the nouveau riche. For a useless race like the ancient humans, they may never even become nouveau riche in their lifetime."
Three Bis shopping guides gathered not far away and laughed, but their voices were loud enough for the two to hear.
Gu Feng stopped explaining awkwardly, turned around to stop his colleague, and apologized to Ruan Shiqing: "Sorry, sir."
He didn't know how to ease the awkward situation, so he could only pretend to smile and say, "If your budget is limited, you can also look at other styles."
Ruan Shiqing glanced at the price on the label: "Eighty-eight thousand star coins? I want this one."
Gu Feng was stunned for a moment, then he laughed in relief, turned around to look at his embarrassed colleague, and bowed to Ruan Shiqing: "Please wait a moment, I will put it on for you."
"No need for packaging, just activate it directly." Ruan Shiqing took out the crystal card and handed it to him.
Gu Feng swiped the card for him and taught him how to insert the ID card into the smart computer to activate it.
Ruan Shiqing put the smart computer on his wrist, and the bracelet, which was originally a bit thick, automatically adjusted its size to fit his wrist perfectly.
He looked slightly surprised.
"This intelligent computer is made of memory metal and can adjust its appearance at will. When needed, it can also be transformed into a simplified holographic helmet and connected to the holographic network anytime and anywhere." Gu Feng sent him an electronic manual: "It has a detailed introduction to its functions."
Ruan Shiqing thanked him before leaving the mall.
Gu Feng watched him leave, then turned around and saw his three colleagues' unpredictable expressions, still with a hint of regret. He imitated their tone and said in a sarcastic tone: "Those who like racial discrimination are really idiots."
After leaving the mall, Ruan Shiqing thought of what happened just now and couldn't help but frown: "Is racial discrimination so serious in the inner city?"
He had heard that ancient humans were not welcome before, but he didn't feel it was real. After all, the outer city was full of good and bad people, and everyone was busy struggling to survive, so who had the time and energy to squeeze others.
I experienced it myself today and found it ridiculous.
He did not think that the physically weak ancient humans were useless. If they could not win on the physical level, they could still rely on other aspects.
The Creator is always fair, and no race is a perfect creation.
What you lack here, you will surely make up for elsewhere.
vice versa.
He didn't feel inferior, he just felt it was ridiculous.
"Don't pay attention to what they say." Xiong Yuanyuan comforted him awkwardly: "In my opinion, you are already better than many Bis people."
Ancient humans were all discarded waste; the Bis people who could not possess a perfect human form were incomplete and inferior...
Before this, they were all easily defined by the words of others, and gradually, even they themselves came to agree with it imperceptibly.
Until Ruan Shiqing appeared, he broke the law that ancient humans were all discarded waste. He also told them: humans are imperfect creatures, and your bear ears are also cute.
"Those insulting words are easier for people to believe," said Ruan Shiqing. "But we should know that this is not right. No one can define us except ourselves."
He smiled softly: "I will prove that those who discriminate against race are all idiots. The ancient human race has survived to this day not to be discriminated against."
The continuation of every race must have its own outstanding features.
When he said this, his eyes were bright, and there seemed to be stars shining in the depths. Although he was still so thin, he did not make people feel weak.
Instead, it is like a sapling rooted in the soil, thriving in the sunshine and rain.
One day, it will block out the sun and the sky.
Xiong Fangfang and Xiong Yuanyuan were stunned when they heard this, and then a strange power seemed to be injected into their hearts. Their spines stretched, and the ears on their heads were more energetic than ever, standing straight and proud.
Rong Heng, who was resting with his eyes closed, suddenly looked up inside his coat and looked at the young man with a new perspective.
He had heard similar words before.
The continuation of every race must have its own outstanding features.
Every life should be respected, instead of being artificially divided into different classes and trampled upon by others.
Otherwise it will be a regression of civilization and a tragedy for the empire.
His mother, Queen Farah, spent her entire life promoting the Racial Equality Act in the hope of promoting reforms in the empire, but she eventually died on the front line.
But the empire is still on the road to decline, without stopping.
Rong Heng suddenly felt annoyed. If there were more smart people like this young man in the empire, perhaps it wouldn't be so corrupt.
Ruan Shiqing noticed his restlessness and gently stroked his back: "What's wrong? Are you feeling uncomfortable somewhere?"
Rong Heng looked at him, then looked away after a while. His tense body relaxed and he accepted his comfort.
Ruan Shiqing thought that the child was feeling uncomfortable due to his wound, and thought that the medical level in the inner city should be better than that in the outer city, so he took the child to the hospital again.
The doctor who received the patient was an elderly Bis man with a mild temper, and treated the cub very gently. Ruan Shiqing was somewhat relieved—not all people in the inner city were arrogant and rude.
"It's been a while since this injury occurred, has it?" The doctor said as he wrote the medical record. "The injury is very serious. If it were an ordinary cub, it wouldn't survive. Your cub is really strong and managed to survive such a serious injury. But just in case, I suggest you get a comprehensive checkup and stay in the hospital for three days for observation."
"If there is no problem after a comprehensive examination, we just need to wait for the wound to heal slowly."
Ruan Shiqing became worried when he heard this, and immediately paid the fee and arranged for the kid to be admitted to the hospital.
Rong Heng looked at his nervous expression and snorted.
But he couldn't help but wag his tail.
It's just a minor injury, I don't know why you're so anxious.
It was not convenient for Xiong Fangfang and his brother to stay in the hospital, so they returned to the outer city first. In addition to the 20,000 star coins he was going to give them, Ruan Shiqing also transferred another 50,000 star coins and asked them to help find a house at a suitable price - he planned to return to the outer city after being discharged from the hospital, find a suitable location, and open a repair shop first.
He had read part of the book that the mysterious man had given him before, and found that although the technology in this world was very different from that in his original world, there were some similarities. He already had some vague ideas, but reading books alone could not verify them, so he could only explore through practice and accumulate experience.
The three of them split into two groups. Ruan Shiqing took care of the cubs in the hospital. In his free time, he would explore and familiarize himself with the intelligent brain, or read the books borrowed from the doctor. The Xiong brothers returned to the outer city and began to look for a suitable store.
Three days later, Ruan Shiqing left the inner city with the baby and a bag of medicine for the baby.
The brothers were waiting for him outside the inner city gate.
When Xiong Yuanyuan saw him, she came over happily and whispered mysteriously in his ear, "I found something good. I'm sure you'll like it."
Ruan Shiqing was puzzled: "Have you found a suitable house? Or rare materials and parts?"
"Neither." Xiong Yuanyuan chuckled and pulled him along, walking briskly, going further and further away.
He estimated that they were almost at the west side of the garbage dump, so he finally stopped, opened the shell of an old aircraft, rubbed his hands, and waved to him: "Look."
There was a small space hidden under the outer shell of the aircraft. When Ruan Shiqing approached, he saw a child lying in the innermost corner, unable to move, looking at them with fear in his eyes.
It is not appropriate to call it a child, because the child has a fish tail below the waist, but without scales, and looks bloody.
"Is this... a mermaid?"
"That's right!" Xiong Yuanyuan said with a happy face: "I found it yesterday. Don't you like nine-tailed fox cubs? But they are too expensive and we can't afford them. It's the same to raise a mermaid cub. Although it's a little ugly when it's injured, if it's raised well, it will be more beautiful and precious than the nine-tailed fox cubs."
Ruan Shiqing: …
Thank you so much.