After learning that Lin Xiaohe would eventually go to the Central Military Academy, everyone expressed their regrets. They exchanged contact information with Lin Xiaohe and then left the hospital room.
“You’re not leaving?” Lin Xiaohe asked Wan Tianming curiously.
Wan Tianming smiled, his eyes curving into happy crescents. “Captain Lin, to help students develop in all aspects and dig out their hidden talents as much as possible, there’s a Military Academy Alliance in the First Star Ring. Sophomore military students can choose to study at two academies at the same time. Would you consider our Command Academy?”
Even Melina’s look towards Wan Tianming changed. Such a persistent, relentless pitch was truly an eye-opener.
Lin Xiaohe didn’t refuse him outright. She just said she’d think about it when she became a sophomore.
Wan Tianming very gracefully offered to take her and her whole family to the First Star Ring.
Wan Tianming was traveling on a military orbital ship – it was fast, spacious, and best of all, free.
He winked at Lin Xiaohe. “You can directly ask Marshal Chu for an advance on your travel expenses. If you need one, I can provide an invoice.”
Lin Xiaohe’s mouth fell open slightly as she looked at Wan Tianming, who was grinning like a fox.
Okay, this guy is all right!
He’d totally shattered her stereotype of federal soldiers!
“Then I’ll trouble you, Teacher Wan.”
Wan Tianming was over the moon with joy. See? Just cater to what she likes, and the title changes to “Teacher Wan”!
“No trouble at all. Whenever you’re ready, we’ll set off.”
After Wan Tianming left, You An, Lin Ye, and the others squeezed into the room, chattering noisily.
“Big shot, are you feeling any better?”
“Big shot, all the classmates wanted to come see you, but there were too many people, so they sent us as representatives.”
Victor: “Big shot, thank you so much for saving my sorry hide! We gave you such a hard time back then, but you put that all aside and saved us twice. My ancestors for eighteen generations thank you.”
Lin Xiaohe’s forehead was covered in dark lines. After making sure Victor wasn’t being sarcastic but was genuinely grateful, she said, “We’re classmates, no need to be so polite.”
If you really want to express your thanks, just do something practical.
Prompted by everyone’s glances, You An walked towards Lin Xiaohe with a small, palm-sized box held respectfully in both hands. He then knelt down on one knee.
What the?!
Lin Xiaohe’s pupils dilated dramatically. What was You An trying to do?!
Just giving some star coins as a thank-you would be fine, no need to pledge his life to her.
You An’s eyes reflected Lin Xiaohe’s figure. As if swearing an oath to a deity, he said reverently, “Big shot, our gratitude towards you is like an endless river, flowing on and on without cease. You are the lighthouse guiding the way in the vast blue sea, the most shining star in the boundless galaxy.”
“Our respect and admiration for you can cross the long river of history, everlasting and immortal!”
Click, You An opened the box.
Inside the box lay a round badge.
The overall color of the badge was silver. Right in the center was a comic-style portrait of Lin Xiaohe. She was holding a blue planet in her hands, and within that blue planet, the silhouette of a Giant Sound Whale was vivid and alive.
On the outer ring of the badge, close to the edge, was a starry, glittering space. A green vine, using the stars as anchor points for its roots, grew wildly, blooming with green and red flowers.
The entire badge looked exquisitely made and expensive, yet also filled with a sense of mystery and power.
Lin Xiaohe turned the badge over. On the back were written three big characters: [Star Harmony Party]!
This is…?
Lin Xiaohe looked up at You An, Lin Ye, and the others.
Lin Ye had been bursting to speak for a while. Meeting Lin Xiaohe’s puzzled gaze, he grinned almost from ear to ear.
Taking credit, he said, “After a unanimous vote by us 754 examinees, we decided to apply to the Federation for the [Star Harmony Party]. Big shot, you are our Star Harmony Party’s Party Leader!”
Huh?
The Federation has a multi-party system. In total, there are over 10,000 different parties big and small within the Federation.
But ever since the war broke out between the Federation and the Empire, the multi-party system turned into a two-party system, namely the Republican Party and the Democratic Party.
During the Democratic Party’s term in office, they passed the “Detailed Rules for the Establishment of Political Parties” through the parliament. On the surface, it was about improving the relevant political systems, but in reality, it was about using laws and regulations to set barriers for political parties.
Under the new detailed rules, to establish an F-class party, the paid-in capital must reach 8 billion star coins, all party members must be federal citizens with no blemishes on their records, and they need over one hundred high-ranking citizens as guarantors.
Since these rules were implemented, the number of parties dropped from over 10,000 to fewer than 5,000.
Moreover, since the parliament and most of the power are held by the two main parties, newly established parties find it very hard to get a piece of the pie.
No new parties have been established for many years.
The founding of the [Star Harmony Party] caused a tiny little ripple within certain circles.
Lin Xiaohe looked steadily at Lin Ye. “Where did you guys get 8 billion?”
Lin Ye puffed out his chest and said proudly, “We took the 10 million star coins compensation from the Supermeta Group, that gives us over 7 billion. For the rest, whoever had more money chipped in more.”
Why was he chosen as a representative? Because he personally invested 200 million!
You An: “Wesley helped too, he put in 100 million. He also contacted those examinees from the Fifth Star Ring and the federal soldiers. They strongly demanded to join our [Star Harmony Party].”
Lin Xiaohe’s heart ached, throbbing painfully. That’s 8 billion, not 80,000! And all just to establish a political party!
She was just about to tell You An to dissolve the party and get the money back when she heard You An continue.
“Our party’s full name is the Interstellar Ecological Symbiosis Front Alliance, commonly known as the Star Harmony Party. Our badge includes humans, the Giant Sound Whale, and plants. We hope the universe is a place where all kinds of life coexist.”
The incident with the Giant Sound Whales had a huge impact on these examinees.
Even though they nearly died at the hands of those whales, they couldn’t bring themselves to feel any resentment.
These past few days, the examinees had been constantly thinking about what they could do for the Giant Sound Whales, and what they could do for Lin Xiaohe.
Pooling their ideas and efforts, they finally decided to establish a new party to do things in an organized way!
Lin Xiaohe was stunned for a moment. Then she pinned the badge on her chest and transferred 15 million star coins to You An. “Our party doesn’t have much operating funds left, does it? Use this money for now, and I’ll find a way to earn some more.”
The Democratic Party is really despicable. They stipulated in the rules that the 8 billion paid-in capital must sit in a designated account and cannot be freely used.
In other words, that 8 billion is basically a deposit. If the party causes any trouble, the fines get deducted from that deposit.
Operating funds for the party need to be raised separately.
When You An and the others saw that Lin Xiaohe had acknowledged the Star Harmony Party, they were as energized as if they’d been given a shot of adrenaline. They immediately declared they wanted to be discharged from the hospital and get started on work!
Lin Xiaohe turned into a penniless wretch again. She not only had to support the Lin family and Xinbao & the others, but also a whole political party. The pressure was immense.
There was no way she could just lie around in the hospital room anymore. She had to get to school, to farming!
Aboard the military orbital ship, Wan Tianming teased with a smile, “Welcome, the Party Leader of the Star Harmony Party, to our ‘Patriot.’ Your arrival graces the ‘Patriot’ with brilliance.”
Lin Xiaohe turned over, facing the porthole window, not wanting to deal with him.
Outside the window, the star river was dazzlingly bright, stretching and twisting like unfurled scrolls.
Wan Tianming: “We’re about to enter the Black Domain. You can close your eyes and rest for a bit.”
Lin Xiaohe closed her eyes, then suddenly opened them wide again.
She pressed her face against the window, her features squished and distorted, her eyes filled with shock.
What is that?!
