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Qin Shan took out his phone, took a picture of the internet cafe not far away, and then led Bismarck inside.
At that time, internet cafes were mainly called computer rooms, some without even a sign, and often located in very remote and obscure places. The cost was generally two yuan per hour, then one yuan and fifty cents per hour, and the cheapest was one yuan per hour. The internet fee was still slightly higher at this time, but it was already the kind of network cable that could be used directly by plugging in, without the need for dialing. The latest PCs were also being developed. Qinshan's standard was that the technical level at the beginning of the sale was equivalent to the level of a 10,000 yuan PC in the local world in the 1920s, which was already considered a super luxurious configuration. With the current industrial production capacity of the local world, let alone a 4090 standard, you could even get a 10086 standard, and you could even directly run the new version of Earth Online.
Cigarette butts, noise, and the network administrator's "Restart it" were the hallmarks of the computer room at that moment.
Some internet cafes were quite chaotic and were gathering places for unemployed people. At that time, there were already simplified versions of the "Sanhe Gods".
However, Qin Shan came here not just for nostalgia. In those days, computers were used for work and as super-large game consoles for children. If it weren't for Wu Jiu helping to accelerate the development here, many computers at this time would at most be able to run standard 4399 games. And games are truly the ninth art that can change the times.
So, to what extent has Xinhua's game development and popularization reached?
Section 30: The Beginning of the Sustainability Collapse
(It's the third update again today, (~―▽―)~)
Comrades, do you remember what the first game you ever played was?
In Qin Shan's memory, the first game he played was called "Tank Battle," which was on the Famicom. However, there were very few genuine Famicoms in China at that time; most of the so-called game consoles were actually pirated versions produced domestically.
My family didn't own our first computer until after 2000.
Qin Shan remembers it clearly. He was in fourth grade at the time, and computer monitors were still shaped like "big heads" and called CRT monitors. As long as the picture quality was good enough, that was fine. Anyway, the best real-time strategy games at the time were Red Alert and Starcraft.
The classic operating system is Windows 98.
It was only 1995, so Wind98 hadn't been invented yet (although there was an older version, Wind95). However, thanks to the combined efforts of time travelers and gamers, Galaxy Company's mobile phones and computers became wildly popular across the country. Complete sets of Galaxy brand machines were transported to various schools by gamers through various means, allowing the children of the new era to experience this brand-new technology. Many gamers even played games with the students to help them understand games, which was much better than skipping classes every day for games. In the future, Xinhua would not have ineffective competition, and the students would not have to work so hard.
Fun fact: The root cause of mental exhaustion is ineffective involution, also known as "involution for the boss to see".
Wait a minute, playing video games with students? Is this what a teacher should be doing?! I'm reporting this, I have to report it!
My friend, this includes not only teaching students to play games, but also providing computer-related skills training to students who are interested in games, such as asking them, "Do you want to make your own games so that your classmates can admire you?"
Kids love these kinds of reasons that adults find childish but incredibly cool, and they put in the effort to achieve them. As long as they receive some positive feedback and encouragement, things are unlikely to turn out extremely badly.
It's impossible to completely eliminate them. Extreme groups of people exist in every era. Just as some greenhouse plants die even when the temperature is suitable, for some people, a peaceful and warm environment is poison. This is probably what is meant by "people who are not adapted to the times".
After experiencing the computer room in the parallel world, Qin Shan left with Bismarck. He was just out having fun and also checking out the situation at the grassroots level. So far, the overall progress of the plan seems to be very good.
However, Qin Shan's satisfaction did not equate to the players' satisfaction; on the contrary, the players themselves began to engage in fierce competition.
"I've already said it, now is not the right time to popularize information technology. Even if many computer devices are delivered to children in mountainous areas, they won't be able to use them. They don't even have electricity yet. What's the use of sending computers? You might as well send eggs!"
"What do you know? This is called planning ahead, planning ahead!"
"Alright, alright, you're being too forward. In many places, the level of education is so low that the locals are worlds apart from the outside world. You can't expect an agrarian civilization to leap directly into the industrial age."
"Power grid, power grid, power grid! I've said it many times, the power grid is extremely important. Has the ultra-high voltage transmission line been completed yet?"
"Stop rushing us. Even if all the constructs we operate are superhuman, it's impossible for them to work on infrastructure 24/7. Some things can only be done according to plan. There's no use in being anxious."
"The problem is that if you don't complete the tasks, you won't get points, and you can't exchange them for resources used for extraordinary cultivation."
"Yes, yes, I understand. Aren't all the people who come here to take a step further on the path to transcendence? Let's all work together. At worst, we can motivate the local NPCs (a way of jokingly referring to the locals) to be more enthusiastic about their work."
"That's right, we lack cultivation resources, not the resources the locals need. We can incentivize the locals through labor competitions, getting everyone involved!"
"Labor competition..."
What kind of expression is that?
"Sorry, sorry, I just remembered some old grudges, like working overtime under the guise of a labor competition without getting paid."
"We're players, and as players with a conscience, we would never do such a despicable thing!"
"That's right, we will give you every penny of the compensation you are entitled to. Comrades, let's unite and work together to build this unfamiliar new world into the dream home we all cherish!"
"For cultivation resources!"
"For the Emperor!"
"For the Second Reich!"
"You're so disloyal!"
"Get out of here! I'm a Roman from outer space! Die, you false emperor!"
As expected, the players' internal discussion veered off course after the main issues were discussed, which is normal and everyone is used to it. As long as it doesn't affect the normal tasks, the way the players get along is still quite casual.
After the general direction of the plan (formulated by the Qinshan team) was determined, the players' next task was to use their imagination in the specific execution. Since their own strength was not enough, they would include the locals. Where technology could not solve the problem, they would use manpower to get through it. When it comes to leveraging the collective power of manpower, if Xinhua claims to be second, then there is no first in the world!
Thus, under the players' command, a labor competition that swept across the country began.
A steel plant
"Old Wang, have you heard about the labor competition?"
"I heard that during the labor competition, there is no limit to the length of overtime. As long as the production task for the month is completed, overtime within 30 hours will be paid at three times the hourly wage, and overtime exceeding 30 hours will be paid at five times the hourly wage."
"Is this... really true? If that's the case, then we could earn ten thousand yuan a month just by working!"
"What you're saying is ridiculous. After those old good-for-nothings were taken away, the new cadres are all men of their word. If they say they'll do something, they definitely will. I think this matter is 100% sure!"
"That's great! When do we start?"
"Aren't you going to say it? It will start next month."
Why not this month?
"The higher-ups also need to make preparations. The labor competition is a nationwide effort, and it's not something you can start whenever you want."
"Great, great, wonderful! Life is getting better and better!"
"Yes, the Party's policies are good, and we ordinary people are happy."
It turns out that the people of Xinhua don't enjoy slacking off; rather, when their earnings don't meet expectations, they resort to slacking off as a way to comfort themselves. In the past, those bosses, relying on the large number of laid-off workers, could take over with the phrase "If you don't want to do it, there are plenty of others who will," and unscrupulously displayed the exploitation and brutality of the bourgeoisie. But now, state-owned enterprises and state-owned enterprises, along with many public-private partnerships, absorb a large amount of labor from society. As long as you have hands and feet, there is no need to worry about labor shortages. Moreover, factory wages are very socialist, ensuring that workers are not taken advantage of, and welfare benefits are plentiful.
In this situation, the most distressed are naturally the factory owners who don't behave like decent people; bankruptcy is just a matter of minutes for them.
In fact, Xinhua had already experienced a wave of bankruptcies before.
Thanks to Qin Shan's efforts and the players' hard work, the National People's Congress representatives, who truly care about the people, passed the unlimited liability law, requiring all companies to ensure that their bank accounts have sufficient funds to pay workers' wages and bonuses under any circumstances.
This money must be deposited into the account on time every month, with a three-month advance notice. The flow of funds is entirely under the supervision of the state, with the Discipline Inspection Commission in charge. Anyone who dares to touch it will be arrested in the name of betraying the Constitution (you have betrayed the people), which is second only to treason. The lightest punishment is at least twenty years of planting trees in the Northwest, and no probation can be granted for any reason, nor can they enjoy medical parole.
Moreover, this crime can be upgraded and traced back to the perpetrator. If the criminal absconds with the money, a red kill order will be issued, and all related parties will be included in the kill list. The red team will be responsible for killing them by any means necessary, ensuring that you have the money but not the life to enjoy it.
It sounds like it's very disregarding capital, but capital is meant to operate for the development of civilization and the well-being of the people. Capital that only seeks to increase its value is a meaningless money game. Socialism is people-oriented and doesn't need such pointless tricks. Besides, these things will be completely useless in the face of the super-planned economy that is about to be implemented.
Xinhua doesn't need disobedient finance and commerce professionals, and not everyone is good at doing business. The high-threshold responsibility system also makes it easy for others to see your true colors. If you're not convinced, you can go do business abroad and see if you can fight your way out without the protection of your motherland.
But while Xinhua remained silent, foreign media jumped out and pointed to the wave of bankruptcies at Xinhua, proclaiming that "Xinhua is about to collapse," "Xinhua is about to crumble," and "Where will the collapsing Xinhua go?"
Well, as long as they're happy.
Section 31: The Barriers of Conservatism
A famous joke circulating on the Chinese internet back then was that Gordon Chang cleverly presented "Collapse Theory".
The first impression this joke gives is that the US was fooled by us, but if you think that way, then we are the ones who have been fooled by the US. Individuals may be fooled, but there are bound to be smart people in any national organization.
The reason why the US was fooled was that the US genuinely believed that Xinhua would collapse. So it wasn't the US that trusted the "collapse theory," but rather the US's arrogance that made them believe the "collapse theory" was true.
After all, I managed to bring down the Soviet Union, so why can't you, Xinhua, which is already in decline, collapse as well?
Then we move on to the "sustainability collapse" segment that we're joking about today, and the classic "but what's the cost?"
However, please note that all of this was based on the premise that China was weak and its economy was still very small. Back then, our navy's amphibious landing force consisted of ships carrying cannons, not to mention aircraft carriers. The struggles surrounding the Varyag were also extremely difficult. To develop China's national strength to the point of producing billions of tons of steel annually in just over half a century is already an unprecedented achievement. It is foreseeable that only future generations of Chinese people will surpass this achievement.
Without Zhang Jiadun in World 8, the corruption and malpractices at all levels of Xinhua have just been purged, and in the days to come, Xinhua will continue to maintain high pressure to clean up corruption. At least in this world, the players who cannot be bribed by the locals will keep a close eye on every use of power, leaving corrupt elements nowhere to hide.
When a country's government becomes virtually impenetrable, it becomes too cruel for other countries.
Because the public has a very high level of trust in the government, foreign espionage forces are completely unable to infiltrate the top echelons of a country. No amount of interest can shake its core. They can only probe from the sidelines. Meanwhile, ordinary people are easily carried away by ill-gotten gains, and foreign spies are exposed even faster.
Moreover, the players also have their own non-profit organizations. These NGOs have taken root in Western countries and seem no different from other NGOs. However, their style of operation is very simple: whatever Western NGOs agree with, we oppose; whatever Western NGOs oppose, we agree with, but we want to ensure that nothing is accomplished.
They followed a path of "more trouble than they're worth," thoroughly muddying the waters of the Western world.
In such an environment, the influence and combat effectiveness of Western NGOs are naturally greatly reduced, and many things can only be partially implemented. If they want to play hardball, then the players will be very happy. The players don't care the least about drawing their knives and fighting. If it's a matter of life and death, calculating kill records is much simpler than calculating merit points.
As a result, a scenario emerged abroad where Western news media claimed that Xinhua was about to collapse, and the news media controlled by the players conducted internal national investigations within the Western world, revealing damaging information, especially since this information was based on verifiable evidence, which directly caused a huge uproar in the Western world.
For example, the most classic example is the handling of the nuclear crisis in the Western world.
The UK's nuclear power plants have set a precedent, and France's will naturally follow suit, with the US's not much better.
You say you handled the nuclear power plant crisis very well, then why are you afraid to let third-party organizations go and why do you refuse to acknowledge the measurement results of so-called non-governmental organizations? We haven't seen your innocence, but we have certainly seen your deception.
This series of actions has directly thrown the Western world into turmoil, especially the premature exposure of the poisoned blood incident in Britain, which has almost brought British Prime Minister Major's wife to resign, because this matter is indeed out of control.
At this time, Western politicians still had some sense of shame and wanted to see votes, so they weren't completely inactive, unlike when Johnson came to power, when politicians not telling the truth was protected by law, and there was no one to reason with.
Try it yourself at Xinhua News Agency: if officials don't tell the truth and deceive the people, the worst that can happen is they beat you to death in the street.
Do you really think ordinary people are afraid to take action? When faced with immense injustice, Xinhua News Agency certainly doesn't lack heroes.
As for the "collapse theory" hyped up abroad, Qin Shan's attitude is: say whatever you want, let our own people have a say too, the truth becomes clearer through debate.
Another point is to give the petty bourgeoisie in China the illusion that these people, whose interests are not aligned with the working class and peasantry, should hurry up and go abroad. Runren Company will help you, and the wealth you leave behind will be handed over to the people to manage. It will definitely play its due role.
"Admiral, many parents have filed complaints against game console manufacturers."
Looking at the documents sent by Lexington, Qin Shan smiled helplessly. Some old fogies are truly hopeless.
That's normal. On the surface, the core force currently in power at Xinhua is still those born in the 2000s (1900s), while the backbone around them is still those born in the 1960s (1960s) to 1970s (1970s). Those born in the 1980s and 1990s don't have much of a say yet.
This would lead to a general trend toward conservatism in society.
However, there is a big problem here. Qin Shan has arranged for many players to manage the country. These "veteran cadres" who look at least fifty or sixty years old are actually standard post-00s (born in 2000). Their thinking is more advanced than that of the normal post-50s, 60s and 70s. After all, in the era of the post-50s, 60s and 70s, Xinhua was still a standard agricultural country. The biggest characteristic of the agricultural era is slow change. The life experience of 1950 can still be used in 1970. If it is a city, unless you live in Beijing or Shanghai, the change is also quite slow.
The full-scale rollout and popularization of industrialization occurred after the turn of the millennium. By then, those born in the 1980s had grown up and begun to enter society, while those born in the 1990s had begun to experience the ever-changing world in their childhood.
From the perspective of technological development alone, the post-80s and post-90s generations are at the most suitable age to usher in Xinhua's comprehensive transformation. Every bit of the new era is part of their growth, and naturally, it has also instilled the gene of accepting change and transformation into this generation, and the post-00s generation that follows.
Normally, the succession of state power is passed down from generation to generation. However, after Qin Shan appeared out of turn, he directly eliminated a large number of cadres born in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. This was because they were corrupt, and many of their families were also sent to the Northwest to plant trees, mine, and build roads after enjoying the benefits. As a result, the entire power system of the country was actually controlled by a group of young people from another world.
To be fair, these "young people" are not considered young in their native world, many of them have families. However, they are, after all, the new Chinese people after industrialization, and their thoughts and perspectives are naturally much broader than those of the agricultural era. Therefore, when the vast majority of parents born in the 1960s and 1970s began to protest against the "poisoning" of video game consoles, the way these "old cadres" handled the situation was completely contrary to their views.
"What do you mean by 'children's problem'? It's the adults' problem! Think about it, have you taken good care of your own children? Have you helped them with their homework? Have you played with them, accompanied them as they grow, and helped them become healthy, positive, and motivated? You blame everything on games! Didn't you play marbles, play hide-and-seek until you forgot to come home for dinner, or play by the stream all day long when you were kids? And you say 'playing games ruin your studies'? You parents, think about how much time you spend at the mahjong table every day, and now you blame your kids for being playful and not studying? Where's your shame?!"
This is a dialogue between Xinhua's "veteran cadres" and parents born in the 1960s and 70s. It was incredibly heated, and what they said was indeed reasonable. They often left the parents speechless because they themselves were also addicted to certain games, but they didn't care about it. However, they were very concerned about their children's disobedience.
Similar confrontations occurred in almost all relevant areas. Those born in the 1980s and 1990s, having found their opportunity, are now going all out, especially some children who suffered family trauma in their childhood. They are unleashing their full firepower on their parents in this parallel world, and they will not stop until they have scolded the other party until they are crying and begging to kneel down and admit their mistakes.
Their status has changed; the words of "veteran cadres" carry more weight.
However, not all parents are reasonable and can recognize that they are wrong. In fact, recognizing that they are wrong is one of the characteristics of the disintegration of the feudal patriarchal system in the old era. For Xinhua, where 90 percent of the population was still in the countryside at that time, this was extremely difficult.
The harsh living conditions in rural areas have led farmers to tend to be conservative in their thinking. This is not a problem in itself, since when survival is threatened, the priority is to survive before considering other things.
However, conservatism also brings other problems, namely, it is easy to go to extremes. This can be seen from the reasons why many villages with 10,000 yuan households went bankrupt at the beginning of reform and opening up. Some villages even collapsed because they played mahjong too much. Everyone had money and felt that they didn't have enough money to play without a hundred or so yuan. So it turned into gambling, and in the end, they lost everything, their families were torn apart, and the whole village collapsed and regressed, even worse than before.
"The essence of the game console ban is actually the contradiction between conservative thinking and rapid changes. Oh, and there's also the extreme implementation of the one-child policy. Most families only have one child, so naturally all resources and expectations are poured onto that one child. But a person's growth and development are often the most uncertain things. What do you think, old comrade?"
The old man sighed and said frankly, "At that time, Xinhua really couldn't afford to support any more people."
But Qin Shan shook his head and said, "No, no, no, back then, the teacher had already given the most humane solution to the problem of population control, which was guidance and education, development and construction, as well as the human tendency to seek advantage and avoid harm. Urbanization and prosperity are the best contraceptives. A healthy population structure can alleviate many problems, but a sudden ligation that is like drinking poison to quench thirst will inevitably lead to a collapse of the population structure at some point in the future. However, people who turn to the right like to believe in the wisdom of future generations. But I understand that, given the current situation, your decision was indeed effective. As for the cost, the people paid for it, and those officials didn't care."
The old man certainly knew what Qin Shan was referring to, and he was already used to the veiled sarcasm in his words.
But no matter what Qin Shan said, the final evaluation was relatively objective. After all, there was only one instructor, and those who came after him were already considered meritorious for keeping the red flag flying. What more could they ask for?
Even Qin Shan himself relied on his cheat-like abilities and mastery of advanced productivity to launch a devastating attack. If he were an ordinary person sitting in that old man's seat, he couldn't guarantee that he could do better.
First ensure their existence, then discuss other matters. The achievements of historical figures should be viewed within the context of later historical periods.
However, what people thought, how they cursed, and how angry they were at the time were all perfectly understandable. How could someone who couldn't even shoulder these responsibilities possibly raise the banner of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation?
Truly, only history can judge whether someone truly knows me or condemns me.
After discussing these theoretical matters, theory must ultimately be applied to the implementation level.
A game console ban is definitely not going to happen, and it's unlikely that the government will cause a huge uproar over this. After all, at this point in time, the basic concept of raising children well is still prevalent in society. If you have children but don't raise them, you are an unqualified parent and will be condemned by public opinion!
Even from a downstream perspective, the stable kinship unit of the family cannot disintegrate and disappear quickly in a short period of time. Of course, a public ownership system of socialized parenting should be established, but at the same time, the role of the nuclear family cannot be ignored. After all, socialized parenting is to reduce the cost of raising children for families, not to take children away from their parents.
Given that the overall environment is favorable for the cultural industry, can the ninth art form flourish?
Haha, just kidding.
Section 32: Black Myth, Charge!