Chapter Two: Behind One Hundred Young Men in Black

Wherever there are people, there may not necessarily be a world of rivers and lakes, but there will certainly be settlements, and this is what we call a city. The largest city in Donglin District is the capital of Hexi Prefecture. In this city, apart from the frequently seen drunkards, the most numerous are the small merchants engaged in illicit trade, shadowy figures who vigilantly watch the patrolling officers, and also... orphans. In this city, apart from the frequently seen drunkards, the most numerous are the small merchants engaged in illicit trade, shadowy figures who vigilantly watch the patrolling officers, and also... orphans.

... ...

We want to see Jian Shui Er

Although these orphaned youths have a long way to go before successfully evolving into a gang, mere imitation will not grant them significant lethality. However, the sensitive identity of being orphans poses quite a challenge. Especially after the gradual depletion of Donglin's mineral resources, this group of orphans was primarily formed due to the last mining disaster ten years ago, which had a profound impact on the Donglin District.

When the Governor's Office could no longer withstand the lamentations and covert threats from several directors of Hexi Television, Baolong Tao knew that this day would inevitably come. In fact, after the order from the Governor's Office was issued to the police department, using telecommunications security regulations to find an excuse to temporarily halt the signal reception of Federal Channel 23 throughout Hexi Province, the Governor's Office and the relevant departments of the police had already received over 1,000 letters of protest. In fact, after the order from the Governor's Office was issued to the police department, using telecommunications security regulations to find an excuse to temporarily halt the signal reception of Federal Channel 23 throughout Hexi Province, the Governor's Office and the relevant departments of the police had already received over 1,000 letters of protest

The sound of sirens continued to ring out. The Hexi Prefecture Second Police Station, responsible for maintaining order in the Zhonglou Street area, received an angry directive from the deputy director to rush to the scene as quickly as possible, isolating over one hundred orphans in the center of the street

The relationship between the news department and the production center has deteriorated to this extent? Bao Longtao sighed in frustration, as the officials at Hexi Television Station, in order to protect their station's ratings, were willing to pay such a high price and resorted to such absurd reasons to temporarily suspend the broadcast of Federal Channel 23. Who would have thought that within the same television station, the news department, which is directly managed by the regional committee, was constantly plotting to stab them in the back.

... ...

Jian Shui'er... The usually cold Deputy Director Bao suddenly revealed a hint of a warm smile, and even those orphans in the center of the street, whom he despised, seemed not so detestable. Yet, in an instant, his smile froze.

The content of these letters of protest is the same as the demands of the orphans today; they all want to watch Channel 23, to see the television drama that has just aired for two months in the Capital Star Circle, and most importantly, they want to see Jian Shui'er

Deputy Director Bao spoke in a grim tone, referring to these bastards as orphans, indicating a group of individuals who cause immense headaches for the governor's office and the police system.

For those who are not from Donglin and unfamiliar with the library, it is unclear what television signifies for them, or what Channel 23 of the Federation means to them. As Bao Longtao's earlier malicious remark suggested, for the ignorant masses, a life filled with soap operas is sufficient. The increasingly desolate and quiet citizens of Donglin have grown accustomed to the monotony of their lives, yet this does not hinder their pursuit of beauty and the freedom to fantasize about a better life through television. This freedom, for them, is as essential as the basic ingredients of life, indispensable and vital.

However, Bao Longtao did not consider this a farce, nor did he think it was an absurd matter. From the moment he heard the name Channel 23 and Jian Shui'er, he knew that this group of wild children was serious today

However, in the face of the police armed with batons and shields, the black-clad orphans of Bell Tower Street showed no signs of fear. The shouting continued unabated, though the slogans written on the tattered oilcloth were held up askew. Perhaps these children were feeling tired

Suddenly, a shiver ran through Bao Longtao, pulling him out of his reverie. It was only then that he noticed the female reporter beside him, who was incessantly speaking into the camera. The camera's lens was increasingly focused on her shoulder, aimed at the outraged orphans. A hint of schadenfreude flickered in the corners of the reporter's eyes.

Without parents, with only a mother, these orphans experience vastly different lives. The federal government fully covers their living and educational expenses, yet it cannot prevent these children from skipping school daily. Before reaching the legal drinking age, under the surveillance of implanted chips, they cannot live like the miners, indulging in alcohol, nor can they engage in black market trade. Although the government provides rationed food, this bleak existence, akin to that of a little pig, does not fully dissipate their abundant hormones. Consequently, violence, the imitation of cruelty, and territorial disputes ensue. Before reaching the legal drinking age, under the surveillance of implanted chips, they cannot live like the miners, indulging in alcohol, nor can they engage in black market trade. Although the government provides rationed food, this bleak existence, akin to that of a little pig, does not fully dissipate their abundant hormones. Consequently, violence, the imitation of cruelty, and territorial disputes ensue.

Bao Longtao had watched the television series titled "Full Metal Panic" and was aware of how the character Jian Shui'er, who portrayed the commander of the battleship, was such a captivating figure. Her delicate, almost painting-like adorable face, her hair that was sometimes slightly disheveled and at other times smooth in a light purple hue, her petite frame clad in a standard military uniform, and the youthful expressions she displayed when squinting and tilting her head, all reminded him so much of his own daughter... yet she was even more charming than his daughter... her hair that was sometimes slightly disheveled and at other times smooth in a light purple hue, her petite frame clad in a standard military uniform, and the youthful expressions she displayed when squinting and tilting her head, all reminded him so much of his own daughter... yet she was even more charming than his daughter...

Donglin was once the most prosperous and developed mining planet in the Federation. Regardless of the civilization, those engaged in mining work always bear greater risks. Although the invention of crystal ore automatic excavation machines and computer-controlled systems with no margin for error have largely ensured the safety of the mining industry, the complex fluctuations of the mineral veins within the planet, as well as geological changes that cannot be predicted by any calculations, have still claimed the lives of many miners over the course of thousands of years. The children of these miners have become outcasts wandering the streets of the Donglin District.

... ...

Jian Shui Er

One hundred petitioning youths, simultaneously filled with indignation, confront the federal government in the streets, yet it is merely to watch television, what an absurd scene this is

... ...

The most amusing thing is that the youngest orphan seems to have grown tired of shouting slogans, merely repeating the words "Jian Shui Er, Jian Shui Er" as if these three words possess some kind of magic, yet they are uttered with a sense of feebleness...

However, there is nothing there

Bao Longtao became alert, his gaze fixed on the face of the orphan leader, who was flushed with anger. He knew that this sixteen-year-old wild child was a tough character named Vigor. However, Vigor certainly would not dare to be so arrogant in front of him

These detestable orphans have greatly tarnished their own reputation today. If this scene were to make it to the news, the conflict between the news department and the production department would surely escalate to the governor's office or even the committee. Would I then be made a scapegoat?

Things seem to be quite interesting, as if someone is manipulating everything behind the scenes. If there really is that individual from the library behind the orphans, could that person accurately know about the struggle between the news department and the production department, ensuring that the chaos on Bell Tower Street today makes it to the news

Suddenly, he felt a stir in his heart and turned his head, following the flickering gaze of Weige, directing it towards a certain shadowy area beneath the bell tower street

"Be more serious!" The leader of the orphans grew anxious, glaring with those bright eyes, tugging at the little one's ear. ... It was only when the police surrounded Bell Tower Street that he felt a twinge of fear, but ...? ... Since Xu Le had already said that there were reporters present today, that person with the surname Bao would definitely not dare to do anything, so he certainly wouldn't dare to do anything, right? When has Xu Le ever misjudged? ? Just thinking of that name made the leader of the orphans straighten his back even more, bolster his courage even further, and his expression of indignation grew even more intense as he shouted loudly at the camera behind the police cordon: "We want to see Channel 23!"

Bao Longtao's eyes narrowed slightly as they slowly scanned the faces of the excited orphans shouting slogans, seemingly in search of something. How could these orphans possibly know about the itinerary he had planned for the journalists today? What was the reason behind their commotion? Could it really be just for the name Jian Shui'er? To these orphans, Jian Shui'er was like a little fairy from a distant star realm, yet that alone was not enough to embolden them to such an extent.