Chapter 2571: Asking for a Beating
This time the Girl in the painting hadn’t reacted yet, but a gourmet who was lining up grabbed the thief’s hand. The man slapped the teenage boy, forced his head down to apologize to the Girl in the painting, and scolded, "A grown person with hands and feet stealing things, if you really can’t afford a meal, register at the Welfare Office! You’re embarrassing us!"
The teenage boy received the slap, muttered an apology to the Girl in the painting, and was then taken away by the Law Enforcement Team that had arrived.
"Sorry about that, Miss. Whatever you want to eat later, I’ll pay for it," the man who caught the thief said apologetically to the Girl in the painting.
The Girl in the painting pressed a button on her communicator, "Why did he steal? Was he really starving?"
The man looked a bit embarrassed; actually, the welfare in District 001 isn’t bad. Although most people in the district are straightforward and keen on reciprocating grudges, which leads to more orphans than other districts, it’s definitely not to the point where children can’t eat. In fact, by the time these children reach their teens, they can do a bit of work within their capacity. If they grow up in the welfare institutions, those in charge often help them to find some work to acclimate them to the environment. However, just like rice comes in hundreds of varieties, people vary too. Some children prefer leisure and laziness, feeling that taking shortcuts is better than honest work.
When such a child is caught, the Enforcement Department rarely punishes them harshly. They might educate them a bit and then return them to the welfare institution. Of course, it’s not just kids from welfare institutions; many children during their growth phase might do things considered unacceptable by adults due to undeveloped worldviews. But as long as it’s not crossing a hard line, the district is quite lenient with children. If they continue to ignore the lessons, society will teach them how to behave once they grow older.
This brings us to the education philosophy of District 001. Despite many people having a single-track mind when it comes to time and interactions, beyond this, there’s a degree of letting children grow on their own. Many children instinctively become like people in District 001 due to the cultural influence during their growth and genetic inheritance. If they can’t adapt, it proves they can’t be taught well. And those without moral bottom lines will eventually be dealt with by someone with those lines.
In District 001, many believe that standing with reason makes them fearless; if someone is unreasonable, others will come to "reason" with them properly.
Goodness is cyclical.
When everyone can "reason" indiscriminately, they all adhere more closely to reason.
"They’re not grown but picking up bad habits," the man said quietly. "Someone will teach him later."
The Girl in the painting added, "Can’t we chop off the hands of thieves? If his hands are gone, he can no longer steal. If he wants to steal, he’d only be able to use his feet."
The man couldn’t tell if she was joking or serious, so he didn’t answer.
Fortunately, their turn in the line came quickly. The Girl in the painting purchased a lot, the man paid without complaint, even gifting her a bottle of drink before leaving.
The Girl in the painting carried out the food, and as she was placing it on the table where Xu Huo was, she was busy typing. Once the food was set, she pressed the communicator, "They weren’t really hungry, so why steal my things?"
"Maybe everyone wants good stuff," Xu Huo said. "We’re all the same."
The Girl in the painting thought seriously for a moment, and agreed, grinning, "Turns out it’s desire, not need. Next time someone tries to steal my things, I want to cut off his hand. His hands are deft; I want them too."
"Once it’s cut off, it won’t be deft anymore." Xu Huo placed chopsticks in front of her, "Eat."
The Girl in the painting quickly put the small incident behind her, happily starting her meal.
The midday sun was perfect, and after their meal, they found a park to bask in the sun.
The park has a strict opening schedule, with the staff opening at precisely three in the afternoon. Within a minute of opening, visitors start arriving, cleverly avoiding peak times, allowing everyone to enter within ten minutes without forming queues.
Xu Huo and the Girl in the painting entered just in time, and once they were inside, there were few locals coming — everyone managed their time really well.
The Girl in the painting soon joined the children playing in the park, while Xu Huo sat beside old men watching as they repaired an old clock.
The sound of meshing gears was very pleasant, and after a while, young students learning music began practicing their instruments, distant laughter from parents lifting children, and cries of children jumping into water echoed around.
A shadow cast above, Xu Huo opened his eyes to see the Girl in the painting’s face upside down.
Both held their silence, neither saying a word.
After a moment, the Girl in the painting’s eyes went blank. She was accustomed to hanging on walls, her gaze was unmatched.
"Something up?" Xu Huo reached out to push her head to the side.
"Someone’s hung themselves dead over there," the Girl in the painting pointed towards the woods nearby.
By this time, the body had already been discovered by others in the park. It appeared not to be the first time a corpse was found here, and once it was noted, people quickly gathered their things and left.
Listening to the whispers revealed that this park was a random instance entrance, but it’s unique in that only when bodies from the previous entrants start appearing does the next instance open.
Park staff moved around with devices, "The random instance for Z11 hanging suicide is about to open, citizens enjoying the park should leave promptly. If accidentally entering, it would be difficult for the Law Enforcement Team to rescue in time."
The resilient people in District 001 left complaining and swearing, since this time the instance opening was estimated to have been twenty minutes ahead of schedule.
It’s hard to describe their state, but that light-hearted indifference to life or death seemed ingrained in their bones.
Xu Huo also followed the crowd out, and not long after they exited, the park gates closed, followed by power fluctuations. Then, the Law Enforcement Team arrived to maintain order and record data, sealing off the park.
"No respect for law, no respect for others, disregard for others’ lives, and indifference to their own lives. This district doesn’t align with humanity’s usual developmental path."
Upon turning to leave, a long-haired man who had been standing contrary to the flow frowned briefly at the park. His words sounded, but his gaze didn’t fall on anyone in particular.
Xu Huo glanced at him, and as if by coincidence, the man turned, their eyes met. The man nodded slightly in acknowledgment, and then quickly turned away.
"What did he mean by that?" The Girl in the painting mimicked that long-haired man’s stance and commented, "Sounds cool."
"Means he’s not fully awake," Xu Huo advised her not to imitate, "You’ll risk getting hit."