Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
That one statement startled everyone who had been sunk in their own thoughts! All the officials in attendance reacted to this news as they realized this serious problem. A robot that did better than humans. What would be the outcome? A top swordsman who had trained in the art of swordplay for decades had now suddenly come face to face with a gun. What would happen next?
The same product. The factories had a manufacturing efficiency rate of 100. The human hand had a manufacturing efficiency rate of one. What would people choose?
The junior high schoolers had studied hard, even burning the midnight oil, going for countless supplementary lessons, signing up for various training classes and buying countless study materials. They had invested huge portions of their time and money just to be admitted into a top senior high school. But, now, there was a learning machine that could easily replicate the results that they could only achieve by sacrificing so much over the past few years.
Then, what was the purpose of studying so diligently? Of course, learning was still extremely important. Nobody could bear the consequences of not learning! However, faced with the existence of the Little Star learning machine, the spoon-feeding style of the present educational system that pushed students to only focus on achieving good grades would naturally suffer a great setback!
When a man-made machine could surpass humans in taking exams; when it could also be admitted into a top school, should its application be restricted? Should it be sealed off from society and eliminated in order to prevent it from causing social unrest?
Or should it be allowed to naturally progress according to market trends? Should they harness the full capabilities of the man-made machine and apply it on a large-scale basis? Should they use it as a support for the rapid ascension of the human race, where ultimately, everyone would be a top scholar, a genius? And allow it to complete the disruptive reformation of the education system at the same time?
With the birth of the Little Star learning machine, two choices and their paths were presented to Z country’s educational decision-makers.
…
Department Chief Yuan said, “Chief Inspector Song, the Department of Education has no authority to reject or approve the Little Star learning machine participating in the Senior High School Entrance Exam. This is a very serious matter. We have to report this to the higher-ups. We can only give you an answer after we receive a memorandum. Please be patient.”
“Ok!” Song Bojun nodded. “We are willing to wait!”
…
On the afternoon of that very same day, Song Bojun did not have to wait long. The feedback provided by Department Chief Yuan reflected the memorandum from the higher-ups: “Excluding three provinces in the West, the Little Star learning machine is allowed to participate in the senior high school entrance exam across twenty-eight provinces in an environment where comprehensive measures are taken to prevent leakage of confidentiality.”
“This is great!”
“It means that the top government officials view this matter in a very important light.”
“I believe that this test will cause a huge sensation within the country!”
The team members from Xing Hai Technologies were unbearably excited. They quickly reported this good news to headquarters.
…
However, Xing Hai Technologies was currently mired in a sorry situation. The situation had exploded! Seeing how Xing Hai Technologies was still delaying the release of the second batch of Little Star learning machines at this late stage, the parents were in a frenzy! They were panicking. Various enquiries came through the phone and complaint letters flooded the company.
“Where’s the Little Star learning machine? Why are you still not producing the Little Star? My child needs to use it immediately!”
“My child had always been the top in his class. He had never been in the second place. But now his class ranking has dropped to number five! He has lost nearly all of his confidence! If you don’t provide a Little Star learning machine for my child, you’ll be his ruin!”
“This is the last warning! I give you three days. My son has to have the Little Star learning machine! Or else, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”
“Xing Hai Technologies, just what are you doing? You clearly have such a good product, but you’re hoarding it from the market. Are you trying to make more money? Ok, I’ll give you $100,000. Send a Little Star learning machine to my child immediately!”
Faced with the parents’ warnings and angry rebukes, the customer service officers of Xing Hai Technologies tried to appease them with sincere words. They patiently explained that the Little Star learning machine was awaiting government approval. Once it had been approved, they would immediately mass-produce the Little Star learning machine in massive lots. Parents, please wait for a bit longer!
But the explanations from the customer service officers were futile. The parents wanted only one thing — to immediately purchase a Little Star learning machine! Moreover, there were only ten days left in the month of May, and about a month left till the junior high school entrance examination. In order to get their children, who were in primary school sixth grade, to be admitted into a better junior high school, many of the parents banded together in private and organized a big activity.
More than 3,000 parents had come from all over the country to converge outside Xing Hai Technologies’ headquarters. Holding up their long banners, they loudly protested:
“Xing Hai Technologies, start producing the Little Star learning machine right now!”
“Xing Hai Technologies, return my son’s number one class ranking!”
“If I can’t get a Little Star learning machine today, I’ll stay here; I won’t leave!”
“Xing Hai Technologies, for my child’s grades, I’ll fight you to the death!”
“You clearly have a product, but you’re hiding it from the market. Down with this cheating company!”
“Xing Hai Technologies is a scammer. Release all the Little Star learning machines that you’ve been hiding!”
Zhao Tiezhu was disguised as an ordinary parent amongst the procession of demonstrators. He gathered the full power of his vocal cords and shouted with all his might. That was right. Zhao Tiezhu could not hold off his impatience any longer. Besides him, there were about 500-plus people in the procession who were his “colleagues.” As for this activity, there was evidence of their private collusion and scheming. This entire activity was organized by a team. However, Zhao Tiezhu and his team were not afraid. They were simply representing the parents in their protestations by holding up some long banners and shouting a few times at Xing Hai Technologies. Things would not go out of control.
However, they had never imagined that the parents would be so enthusiastic. In less than half a day, almost 3,000 parents had signed up for the event. The group consolidation on WeChat was still ongoing, and tens of thousands more parents had responded. Many more parents were hurrying on their way to the entrance of Xing Hai Technologies. Zhao Tiezhu and his colleagues started to become fearful. However, the event had progressed to a point that was way past their control.
“Hurry and give over the Little Star learning machine!”
“Xing Hai Technologies, please do not dismiss the cries of the parents!”
“Aren’t you a company with a conscience? Why don’t you check in with your conscience now?”
Zhao Tiezhu shouted a few more times into the air and turned round. Oh my god. It was a dense crowd. The number of parents who had congregated on the scene had reached 5,000.
“Oh no! This is out of control. Scatter, my brothers, quickly scatter!” As Zhao Tiezhu saw that the situation was going downhill, he blended into the crowds with his team and they quickly made their escape! However, their abnormal behavior had been captured on the cameras. They were all arrested the next day, handcuffed, and brought into the police station.
Their crimes were instigating an illegal gathering, causing many police officers and security guards to be injured in the jostle. Some of the injured had narrowly missed becoming involved in a stampeding accident. The nature of the crimes was especially wicked!
Zhao Tiezhu and many others would be facing a fixed term of imprisonment ranging from three to five years. After this incident, Xing Hai Technologies had no choice but to organize a news conference explaining the reasons for not producing more Little Star learning machines. The video of the news conference was distributed via WeChat groups. In an extremely exaggerated tone, the company elaborated on the huge significance of the Little Star learning machine. It would be relevant to the overarching national plan for the next thousand years! It would meet with many unimaginable obstacles as it could damage the profits of countless people and organizations. Hence, they needed more time before officially mass-producing it.
The parents believed this explanation and their emotions settled down for the time being.
…
On the 20th of May, a Weibo post from Xing Hai Technologies’s official account attracted the attention of all netizens. “After the approval granted by the Department of Education, the Little Star learning machine will be participating in the Senior High School Entrance Examination held on the 6th of June across twenty-eight provinces. Please look forward to its performance!”