Astral Apostle

   Chapter 1 Forced Immigration

"I'm back."

  DiDi... The fingerprint reader sounded a crisp tone, and the anti-theft door with a small advertisement slid open.

   Zhou Jing returned home, Junxiu's face was tired, and he was carrying a small cake box in his hand.

  The full-length mirror next to the door showed his appearance, with simple short hair, a delicate appearance, gentle, white clothes, black pants and leather shoes, and a serious job search attire.

   Today is another day of job interviews. As a fresh graduate of a secondary institution, his GPA has not passed the excellent line, so he can only apply for a place in an institution of higher learning. In the past three months, Zhou Jing has been looking for a job in addition to reviewing.

  The competition for employment in Xihai City is becoming more and more fierce, and it is not easy to find a job with a standard academic degree. Today, I received a bunch of "go back and wait for the news" that my ears are numb. Zhou Jing's mood is not disturbed.

   Skillfully put on slippers, Zhou Jing suddenly realized that the house was a little too quiet.

   At this point in time, the house should be filled with the slapsticks of younger siblings, and the TV sound that my mother used to turn up when she was watching dramas in the afternoon, but at this moment, the usually noisy house was unbelievably quiet.

   "Is nobody home?"

   Zhou Jing whispered and walked around the door cabinet, only to find that his parents and siblings were all sitting quietly at the dining table, turning their heads in unison.

  There is no food on the minimalist dining table, only a bunch of daffodils in a glass vase on the table, swaying gently.

   Zhou Jing was stunned by this scene.

  What's the situation, the Family Court? Could it be that I secretly played cards with my brother yesterday and won all his pocket money, and the incident happened?

  However, the two brothers who moved out came back. It’s only been eight days since the last family gathering. Everyone usually gets together once a month or two.

   At this moment, mother Zhao Jing spoke, her tone seemed to be the same as usual, but her voice trembled faintly.

   "Third, how was your interview today?"

   Hearing this, Zhou Jing suppressed the doubts in his heart and shook his head: "It's still like that, you know, many basic jobs are now occupied by mechanical workers. I am a new graduate with no work experience. It's too hard to find a job."

   "Then you... what are your plans?"

   This kind of thing seems to have been said before, did you forget? Zhou Jing was a little strange, but he mentioned it again:

"It's not easy to find a job with a standard degree. I have already applied for an institution of higher learning and want to get a higher degree. If I can't find a job during this period, I can only borrow tuition from you... But don't worry, I will work in the future. I'll be back later."

   Zhou Jing explained in a low voice, while taking off his tie and pulling off his collar, he sat down to the only vacant seat left at the dining table.

   He put the cake box in his hand on the table and pushed it towards his three underage younger siblings.

   "Here, I bought the cake for you."

   "Wow, thank you Third Brother!" "Third Brother is the best!" "I bought it with my pocket money! Only I can eat it!"

  The three younger brothers and sisters cheered, mixed with a discordant voice, and hurriedly opened the box together and competed for the cake.

   Zhou Jing smiled, then turned to look at his father, mother and two brothers, and found that the four of them looked very serious.

  Well, the atmosphere is weird, why are you staring at me, even if I'm pretty handsome, don't keep staring at me...

   Zhou Jing couldn't help but wonder: "Why are all the people here today, you guys still look like this, what happened?"

Father Zhou Wei'an exhaled a long breath from his nose and said in a low voice: "Have you seen the news, the newly developed livable planet by the Community Government has started a new round of immigration, because the number of active applicants is not enough this time, so it started randomly. Forced immigration by lottery."

   "...I know about this." Zhou Jing nodded, his heart suddenly thumping.

   Zhou Weian said solemnly: "Our family was selected, and we have to pay for a compulsory immigration quota... Your future plan needs to be changed."

After the    voice fell, Zhou Jing's expression froze and his eyes slowly widened.

   He finally understood why the family members were so abnormal today.

  Forced immigration...I didn't expect such a low probability thing to fall on my own head.

  Since the era of interstellar navigation, dozens of countries that have emerged from the parent star have formed the "Interstellar Union Community", which has become the supreme ruling government of human civilization, coordinated the development of the entire human civilization, and began to fanatical interstellar expansion.

  As the spacecraft of human civilization cruises through the star system, more and more habitable planets are incorporated into the territory of civilization.

  People and leeks have many things in common, and they are endlessly growing and cutting, but the premise is that the seeds are planted. And each new colonized planet requires a lot of manpower to develop and multiply, so under the decision of the Interstellar Union Community, leeks were transplanted... the interstellar immigration system was established.

   One of the options is "forced immigration".

  If the interstellar immigrants that are actively applied for are not as expected, countries may randomly select objects that meet the criteria from the nearest "surrounding planets" and implement forced immigration. When the target of the lottery is a family, then the family will discuss and decide which member will take the compulsory immigration quota.

   About half a month ago, the authoritative media of this planet broadcast relevant news, reporting that the number of active immigrants in this new planet has not yet reached the standard, and the planet where I live is just within the scope of this forced immigration.

   Zhou Jing didn't take it to heart at the time, because compared to the population of the entire planet, the number of forced immigrants was limited, and the chance of "winning" was slim. He thought it had nothing to do with him.

   But I didn't expect this kind of thing to be hit by my own.

   "It's not so bad..."

   Zhou Jing's mood sank.

He is very clear that although human civilization has left the home planet, the current glorious civilization is created by interstellar immigrants. The residents of all the colonized planets have been counted for generations, and they were all immigrants at first... But this is the glory of civilization, and it may not necessarily be the case for the individual interstellar immigrants. what a good thing.

  Interstellar immigrants are not allowed to leave the new planet at will within the specified number of years, and the communication and transportation technology of human civilization has not improved by leaps and bounds for many years. Therefore, to ordinary people, colonizing planets is like an isolated island isolated from information.

   At present, only high-end technology can communicate across planets, and it is not easy to open to ordinary people. Civil base stations can only be networked within the planet, which is equivalent to a local area network with planets as a unit. Ordinary people on the two planets can hardly communicate.

   In addition, due to the limitations of spaceship technology and transportation technology, the cost of traveling across planets is extremely high, which is unaffordable for ordinary people. As a result, although human civilization has entered the interstellar era for many years, the interstellar population circulation rate is still extremely low. Generally, only when new planets are developed, there will be large-scale immigrants organized by various countries.

Therefore, in the life of ordinary people, interstellar immigration is like being cut off from the past life - having to leave the familiar planet and come to a strange world, isolated from friends, relatives, and news, and from then on alone and without support .

  The vast majority of people will only live on one planet in their entire lives.

  My family was selected for forced immigration, which means that one of the people here will leave this planet, and it may be difficult to meet other family members for half a lifetime... And listening to Zhou Wei'an's meaning, this candidate is obviously himself.

   Zhou Jing took a deep breath: "So... I was drawn?"

   Zhou Wei'an knocked on the table and said solemnly: "It doesn't matter. The problem now is that our family must send someone to accept forced immigration. We have already discussed it, and only you are the most suitable for this quota."

   "…but didn't discuss it with me."

   Zhou Jing pursed his lips, feeling indescribably complicated.

   He has lived on this planet for 20 years and never thought of leaving. Even his family should not make decisions for him on such a major event in the future.

   "But besides you, who else is suitable?!"

   Zhou Wei'an's voice grew louder.

   Zhou Jing heard the words and turned to look at his elder brother.

   Big brother has an elite temperament in the workplace, he pushed the gold wire glasses, and his tone was calm:

"Young third, you know me. I worked in Yinhao Group for several years, and led a team to develop several new projects in the financial products department. It's not my turn to have a certain degree on this planet. The person in the position is forced to emigrate, I can't give up the career at hand to do it for you... You understand?"

"I see."

   Zhou Jing nodded and turned to look at his second brother.

  Second brother suddenly seemed to be caught by fire, he almost jumped up, and quickly waved his hands, incoherent:

"Young third, you know me! I took the exam for three years before I was admitted to a national-level institution of higher learning. Next year, I will go to the capital for further studies. After graduating, I can find a high-paying job in the local area, and then I can settle down and live in the capital. Ya! The government must have made a mistake, forced immigration should never be my turn, how can I give up my hard-earned bright future!"

   Zhou Jing pursed his lips and looked away from his second brother.

   He turned his head and glanced at the other three underage siblings. The oldest was only ten years old and the youngest was five years old. These three bear children obviously did not meet the standards for forced immigration.

  Yes, everyone has a suitable reason, and the best candidate is me...

   In the families of the interstellar society, the adult children are basically separated. The eldest and second brothers have their own futures, only they are stuck in a position where they can’t get down. Not long after graduation, I can’t find a job... What the Interstellar Immigration Bureau likes the most is him who has no stable career or job in the local area. Tender youth workforce.

   Zhou Jing fell silent for a while.

   He was originally unhappy that his family hadn't discussed it with him, but after looking around, he didn't know who to be angry with.

  Tear apart the parents and convince one of them to go? Turtle, this is too filial...

   Besides, my father also has a business and connections in the local area. If he is willing to go, he will not allow himself to be placed on the compulsory immigration quota.

   Then the whole family immigrated together and lived on another planet? It is also unlikely. Everyone has already expressed their position, and they are not willing to give up the future of this planet, and it is impossible to accompany them to leave.

   So, it seems that he can only take up this position and sacrifice for the family?

  Zhou Jing suddenly remembered something, and immediately gave birth to expectations, and hurriedly asked his father:

   "By the way, you are a public official and have special treatment. Can you submit an application to the Interstellar Immigration Bureau to cancel our family's compulsory immigration quota?"

  Although there are many children in the family, they are not the common "mi worm" family in the interstellar society. Father Zhou Wei'an has a job and is a small grass-roots cadre in the Chidu Republic...with little power, but he is an official staff member.

  According to the regulations on forced immigration, if the family is selected for forced immigration, a person serving in the government of a member state of the Interstellar United Community can submit an exemption application to the Interstellar Immigration Bureau. As long as certain conditions and standards are met, the quota of compulsory immigration can be exempted legally.

  In Zhou Jing's opinion, the best result is to directly waive the quota, so that no one has to leave... And only Zhou Wei'an has such a right in the family.

   However, upon hearing these words, Zhou Wei'an's expression changed, and he scolded:

   "Nonsense, as a public official, I have to take the lead in answering the call, how can I contradict the immigration policy!"

   "But this is your legal right, why not if you can use it, maybe it will be successful if you try it, then I don't have to immigrate to leave..."

   Zhou Jing's tone was a little anxious, it was related to his future life, he couldn't ignore it.

   But before he could finish speaking, Zhou Wei'an interrupted him and frowned:

"It's only 'theoretically' that the immigration quota can be exempted. I won't say that you also understand that whether the application is passed depends not only on the actual family situation, but also on the job level... Those who are eligible to pass the exemption application will not be drawn, but Being able to draw for forced immigration means basically failing to pass the audit. Do you understand the situation here?”

   Zhou Jing understood this truth, but he did not want to give up, so he said:

   "But even if the probability is low, give it a try..."

"enough!"

Zhou Weian slammed the table and shouted in a deep voice, "Young third, you've always been very sensible, so I'll tell you straight... Recently my department is going to change, and I was brushed off the first two times. My resume is finally enough, and I have a good chance to take a step forward. At this time, my family won the lottery, but I did not take the lead in responding to the immigration policy. What do my leaders and colleagues think of me? I have waited for many years and cannot take risks at this time! "

   Zhou Jing's expression suddenly froze, looking at his father, as if he knew each other for the first time.

The   Interstellar Commonwealth government needs interstellar expansion, so responding to immigration policy has long been politically correct.

If there are immigrant members in a family, in addition to the official immigration welfare subsidies, there are many unwritten unwritten rules to support, and some potential care and compensation will be given to those who have interstellar immigrants in the family—especially public officials. It's no longer a secret.

   And try to shirk the responsibility of forced immigration. Although he will not be targeted, some good things will not take him into account. This thing varies from person to person.

   He understood, Zhou Weian was worried about affecting his career, and would rather sit back and watch him be forcibly immigrated than try to exercise his legal rights to protect his family.

  If he immigrated by himself, then his father's promotion would not only be a chance, it might become a certainty.

   Zhou Jing understood his father's subtext, and an indescribable loss welled up in his heart.

   Maybe, Zhou Weian didn't think it was bad luck, but thought it was a blessing from heaven.

  —There are six children in the family, and one of the children’s long-distance travel has been exchanged for years of career advancement, and in the name of official policies, he can convince himself that he can accept the “gift”…

   So obviously he could submit an application and try not to separate his family, but Zhou Weian was reluctant to do so. This is the real reason.

   The two looked at each other, the air seemed to freeze, and they fell into a tense silence.

The mother next to    opened her mouth several times, but she didn't know how to interrupt.

   seemed to sense the rigidity of the atmosphere, and the three brothers and sisters' tumultuous energy gradually stopped, and their curious eyes turned back and forth on Zhou Jing and his father Zhou Wei'an.

  The five-year-old brother had cake cream on his lips, widened his eyes, looked at Zhou Jing ignorantly, and asked:

   "Third brother, did Dad make you unhappy?"

   "...Eat your cake. I bought it with your pocket money. If you don't eat it, I'll eat it."

   "Wow dreaming! I won't give you a piece!" The younger brother hurriedly buried his face in the cake.

   Zhou Jing twisted the back of little brother Pan's head and forced a smile.

   The younger brothers and sisters were still at an ignorant age and did not understand what happened. Zhou Jing did not intend to explain it. It was enough for adults like them to worry about this kind of thing.

   Zhou Weian coughed and broke the silence:

"This is a compulsory policy. Even if you don't want to go, the official people will take coercive measures. Besides, it's not a bad thing for young people to go out and try, so don't resist. Think about it, you haven't found a job now, as long as you go Immigrants, the government's welfare will directly assign you a job, and save you the trouble of applying for higher education institutions, isn't it good, you don't have to worry about your livelihood in this life."

   Zhou Jing was silent for a while, then whispered, "I know that immigration benefits are good...but I still want to stay."

   "But it's not up to you to decide. You have to immigrate, and you can only immigrate. I'm not discussing it with you!" Zhou Weian banged on the table, his tone a little irritable.

   "...Aren't you a little guilty?" Zhou Jing couldn't help asking.

Zhou Wei'an's voice became louder: "Joke, what am I sorry for? I raised you so much, yet I owe you? Who will go if you don't go? The boss and the second have a stable future. Go, or let me go? Oh, you mean to force me to submit a waiver application to the immigration office, asking me not to care about my career, to give up the promotion that I have been waiting for for so many years? Don't be too selfish!"

   Zhou Jing silently looked at his father.

   I don’t know whether to feel sorry for myself or for the other person.

  's mother Zhao Jing hurriedly rounded up the situation: "It's alright, alright, all your dad's words are angry words."

   Zhou Jing turned his head and looked over: "Then what do you think?"

"I... ugh." Zhao Jing twisted her fingers together and tangled: "Third, if you want to open up, at least one of your dad's words is right, it's not that we want you to immigrate, it's the official policy... and mother I know that you are the most caring family, and now is the time when the family needs you, so..."

"Yeah, the family needs your contribution, brother, you should do him a favor." The second brother couldn't wait to interrupt, his expression was a little awkward, and his tone was awkward: "Also, you promised to immigrate, maybe the list of scholarships for higher education institutions. , has my name..."

   "I'm back in my room!"

   Zhou Jing suddenly stood up, strode back to his room, and slammed the door.

   The family members at the dining table looked at each other, not knowing what to say for a while.

   After a while of silence, they communicated in a low voice.

   "The third child will agree, right? I don't want to be dragged to immigrate, and my bursary has not been settled yet..."

   "Can you speak? So straightforward, it's easy for the third child to misunderstand."

   "But he is the most suitable, help me what's wrong..."

   "The third child has always been very family-friendly, he just can't accept this shock temporarily, give him a little time and he will agree..."

   In the deliberately low voice of conversation, the narcissus on the table shook gently, and a piece of withered yellow petals fell.

   (end of this chapter)