When the term "flying car" first appeared, it almost instinctively struck people as impossible to be real!
"Flying cars," "star networks," "game pods"... these were things that only existed in movies and novels. So how could anyone believe such terms appearing in a scientific paper?
"Absurd—do young people nowadays treat science as a joke? Throwing around these sci-fi concepts at every turn!"
"Exactly, remember that flying car theory from before? Ended up being nothing but a laughingstock!"
"Don't think watching a few sci-fi movies or reading some sci-fi novels means you can just materialize those fantasies!"
"Right, science progresses step by step—there's no such thing as instant success!"
"Which schools are these students from?"
"Let me see... Hmm? Them?"
"Who?"
"Zhang Han from Peking University, Yang Zhan from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, plus that youngest recipient of the Chern Mathematics Award, and two other students with less familiar names."
"Oh? These students?"
"Take a look at this paper? Seems to discuss recent theoretical developments..."
"I'll have a look too."
...
At this point, the room fell silent as everyone became engrossed in the paper.
This paper was the result of a year's work by several rising stars in the scientific community and a few graduate students. It presented data and models one after another, all logically structured.
Flying cars?
True, they couldn't actually build a flying car yet—but that didn't mean it would never happen!
Based on geomagnetic levitation and existing scientific theories, they couldn't yet create a geomagnetic levitation vehicle capable of carrying people.
But the future was uncertain.
The paper used extensive calculations, derivations, and various models to envision the future of flying car technology, demonstrating remarkable foresight.
"Old Feng is right! If we get criticized by the commune leaders later, we'll be in trouble!"
"That won't do! We absolutely can't let the commune leaders criticize us! Only bad elements get criticized—we in the Third Brigade work hard and follow the nation's call to action. How can we be lumped in with bad elements?"
As they spoke, the villagers grew increasingly agitated and turned their collective gaze toward Old Tao and Old Mrs. Tao: "Uncle Tao, Auntie Tao, your daughters-in-law caused this mess—you have to fix it! Don't drag our Third Brigade into this. Tao Jianjun is our brigade leader—if the Third Brigade suffers, your Tao Jianjun will definitely face consequences too!"
By now, Old Tao and Old Mrs. Tao were seething with hatred toward their second and fourth daughters-in-law. If it hadn't been for the fact that work hours weren't over yet, they would have rushed home to give the two women a piece of their minds.
Only when the sun set and night fell did the villagers finally pack up and head home. After helping others tidy up the grain on the drying field, Old Tao and Old Mrs. Tao hurried back as well.
They didn't even stop by the brigade canteen, instead going straight to Tao Jianjun to get the full story of what had happened during the day. Only after confirming that the Third Brigade wouldn't be criticized because of their daughters-in-law did they finally relax a little.
But once the tension eased, Old Mrs. Tao's anger flared up again, and she turned to go give her daughters-in-law a scolding. However, she ultimately didn't confront Zeng Yufen and Zhao Sanfeng—because her eldest son, Tao Jianjun, stopped her.
"Mom, the Third Brigade isn't heavily affected this time, but if this continues, my days as brigade leader are numbered," Tao Jianjun suddenly said.Granny Tao was taken aback and hurriedly said, "How could that be! Didn't you say the commune leaders wouldn't hold this matter against us anymore?!"
Tao Jianjun looked at Granny Tao with a bitter smile. "The commune leaders might overlook today's incident, but what about in the future, Mother?" He paused briefly. "Let's divide the family property."
Granny Tao stood frozen in place.
When the third son, Tao Jiandang, had suggested dividing the family property, Granny Tao could understand. But she never imagined that the eldest son, Tao Jianjun, would also propose such a thing!
A wave of dizziness washed over her, leaving Granny Tao feeling disoriented.
"Eldest, is this what you truly think?" Old Man Tao finally spoke up.
"Father, it's not just what I think. If I want to remain the production team leader of the Third Brigade for the long term, this family must be divided," Tao Jianjun replied firmly.
"What does being a team leader have to do with dividing our family?" Granny Tao regained her composure and stared straight at Tao Jianjun, her cloudy eyes filled with accusation.
Tao Jianjun gave his mother a deep look, his expression pained. "Mother, the commune leaders might let today's incident slide. But what about next time? Once or twice might be forgiven. But ten or eight times? What would the commune leaders think then? Can a team leader who can't even manage his own family conflicts truly govern an entire brigade properly?"
"Ten or eight times? Nonsense! I'll discipline Second Sister-in-law and Fourth Sister-in-law right away. They won't dare hold you back again!" Granny Tao declared resolutely, adamantly opposed to the idea of dividing the family.
"Mother, conflicts exist whether we acknowledge them or not! Haven't there been enough incidents in the past month or two? Third Brother may seem to be targeting Second Brother's family, but did you forget that Mumu nearly drowned first? And then what? Third Brother disciplined Shoujie, and soon after, Shoujie led outsiders to ambush Shoucheng in the mountains! These aren't just petty family squabbles anymore—they nearly cost lives!"
Seeing his mother rendered speechless, Tao Jianjun continued, "Even if it weren't for Third Brother's temper, if these things had happened to me, Fourth Brother, or Fifth Brother, we wouldn't be able to coexist peacefully with Second Brother either. Mother, dividing the family isn't a bad thing. Staying together and letting these conflicts erode our bonds until brothers are no longer brothers—that would be the real tragedy."
The room fell into complete silence. Seeing his mother stubbornly refusing to respond, Tao Jianjun sighed quietly and turned to leave the eastern room.
Tao Jiandang had been leaning against the wall outside. When Tao Jianjun opened the door and stepped out, he straightened up.
"What are you doing here?" Tao Jianjun glared at him, his lips moving soundlessly.
The doorway wasn't the best place for a conversation, so Tao Jianjun led Tao Jiandang away from the Tao family home and out into the village.
The last remnants of daylight lingered as villagers carrying meals from the brigade canteen passed by on the road, some greeting the two brothers along the way.
"You heard everything earlier, didn't you?" Tao Jianjun finally asked after a long silence.
"What do you think?" Tao Jiandang shot him a sidelong glance. "Mother probably won't sleep tonight."
"It had to happen eventually." Tao Jianjun gazed ahead before stopping, intending to return for dinner. Noticing Tao Jiandang continuing forward, he frowned. "Let's go home and eat. Where else are you going?""You go on back first. I'm in a good mood today, perfect for getting some things done." Tao Jianguo waved dismissively without turning his head, his voice growing fainter as he walked away.
Left alone, the brigade leader rubbed his temples. For some reason, watching Tao Jianguo stride off, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this third brother of his was about to stir up trouble.
Ah well. It wasn’t like he’d ever been able to control this younger brother, not since they were kids. At least Jianguo had always known his limits—even when causing trouble, he never crossed the line.
Brigade leader Tao Jianjun comforted himself with these thoughts as he headed back.
Meanwhile, Tao Jianguo didn’t return home. Instead, he walked along the village path until he reached a low, dilapidated house. He paused, eyeing the dim light seeping through the cracks, then let out a cold laugh. Turning, he climbed a nearby tree with the agility of a monkey, settling on a branch that gave him a clear view into the courtyard of the shabby home.
Inside, a family of four was eating dinner.
An elderly woman sat hunched in a corner, sipping carefully from a bowl of sugar water. Two middle-aged adults piled food onto the plate of a burly teenager seated between them—the same bald youth who had once led the group, along with Tao Shoujie, to corner Tao Mumu and her friends.
The boy, Liu Dahu, was the only son of the family, spoiled rotten by his parents. Arrogant but cunning, he appeared to be sixteen or seventeen but was actually not yet thirteen.
The stark contrast between the well-fed, robust teenager and the emaciated old woman in the corner was impossible to miss.
Tao Jianguo narrowed his eyes at the skeletal figure, then suddenly chuckled softly. Memories from years ago surfaced, vivid as ever.
Back then, Tao Jianguo had been just seventeen or eighteen. Liu Dahu’s parents—the son and daughter-in-law of the widow Liu—had been married less than a year. The spineless son, easily swayed by his wife, had tried to drive his own mother out of the house.
Young and hot-headed, Tao Jianguo couldn’t stand the ingratitude. He’d stormed in, beaten the son senseless, and forced the daughter-in-law to watch the entire ordeal.
No one had known at the time that the daughter-in-law was pregnant. The shock nearly caused her to miscarry. Widow Liu, who had raised her son alone, cherished her unborn grandchild deeply. Even though her son and daughter-in-law wanted nothing to do with her, she remained fiercely loyal to them.
So instead of gratitude, Tao Jianguo earned Widow Liu’s resentment. From then on, she badmouthed him to anyone who would listen, blaming him for his "reckless temper." Half of Tao Jianguo’s reputation as a troublemaker could be traced back to her.
After that, Tao Jianguo never interfered in the Liu family’s affairs again.
For the first few years, the son and daughter-in-law, wary of Tao Jianguo’s temper, treated Widow Liu slightly better. But once they realized he no longer paid them any attention, her living conditions deteriorated rapidly.
Over time, the once strong woman who had single-handedly raised her son withered into a gaunt, frail old woman.
Living in the same village, Tao Jianguo had heard all about Widow Liu’s suffering. But when someone repaid your help with blame, why would you be foolish enough to step in a second time?Moreover, as the Liu family's boy, Liu Dahu, who had nearly miscarried but was eventually born, grew up, Tao Jiandang vaguely sensed that this child was not simple and harbored a great deal of hostility toward him.
However, this Liu boy was extremely good at hiding it. Apart from the perceptive Tao Jiandang, none of the other villagers could detect anything unusual.
In earlier years, if Tao Jiandang had encountered such a hostile and seemingly dangerous kid, he might have found an opportunity to teach him a lesson.
But ever since marrying Shen Qingdi and having Tao Shousheng and Tao Mumu, Tao Jiandang had developed vulnerabilities and tempered his aggressive nature. Though he remained wary of the Liu boy’s hostility, he never took action to eliminate the threat.
And then, in a moment of carelessness, the Liu boy seized his chance. But the target wasn’t Tao Jiandang—it was his children!
The moment Tao Jiandang learned that Tao Shousheng and Tao Mumu had nearly been harmed in the mountains, everything clicked into place.
Tao Shoujie was reckless, impulsive, and prone to jealousy, making him the perfect pawn to turn against Tao Shousheng and Tao Mumu. The short, sleazy boy with his unspeakable perversions was another tool to exploit.
But both schemes were utterly vile—one pitting brother against brother, the other seeking to ruin Tao Mumu’s life!
A boy not even thirteen years old, yet so calculating and cruel—even Tao Jiandang felt a chill recalling it.
If not for that wild boar disrupting the Liu boy’s plans… Tao Jiandang didn’t dare imagine what might have happened.
His thoughts slowly refocused as he watched the Liu family finish dinner and retreat to their rooms, his gaze turning icy.
That night, Tao Mumu noticed her father came home late again. Luckily, her mother remembered to save him dinner, or else her frequently late-returning father might have gone hungry.
She didn’t dwell on it, quickly falling asleep under her mother’s gentle coaxing. So she had no idea that after she drifted off, her parents had another serious conversation.
The next morning, Tao Mumu woke up late, roused by Tao Shoujie’s endless stream of curses. Even with a broken leg, her restless third brother refused to stay quiet.
Pouting, she tugged at Tao Shoucheng, asking him to take her out to find their father.
But the moment the two children stepped outside, they overheard another juicy piece of gossip!
Li Xiaoling was too busy with household chores to keep an eye on all the children, so she gathered them in the courtyard and had the eldest, Tao Shouhao, teach them basic literacy.
Though Tao Shouhao hadn’t started school yet, years of forced lessons from Li Xiaoling had at least left him with a hundred or so characters in his head.
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