293: Chapter 296 Gifts Filled the Entire Galaxy

On the main bridge of the luan bird, Jiang Chen was frowning at a holographic star map.

The star map was not particularly large, covering a radius of only two light-years, but at this moment, it was densely packed with tiny glowing dots representing "gifts."

Every single glowing dot represented the sincerity of a civilization.

Or rather, it represented a "top-tier offering" capable of giving any Earthling instant decision paralysis.

"Old Zhao, stop staring at those gold bars."

Jiang Chen rubbed his temples, looking at the rows of logistics access terminals in the command room that were still constantly reporting errors. His voice was somewhat helpless, "Hurry up and take some people to check if these aliens have brought their own pots and pans over here?"

Zhao Gang wiped the sweat from his forehead, holding a freshly printed gift list in his hand, his hands trembling.

He felt as if his soul was being frantically cleansed.

"Boss, this is just too damn ridiculous."

Zhao Gang's voice was airy, and his eyes were as red as a rabbit's, "That 'Abyssal Civilization' that looks like a tentacle sent over a full ten thousand living stellar crystals. Do you know what this means? Just one could power Earth for a million years!"

"And there's that 'Mechanical Holy Sect'."

Zhao Gang pointed to the monitoring screen, "They dug through their entire home planet's crust, and a full five hundred million tons of superconducting ore are currently blocking our interstellar port. They call this a 'meager little gift' and even asked if they could trade it for a bag of our beef jerky."

Jiang Chen slammed the glass in his hand onto the table, making a dull "clang" sound.

He stood up, feeling somewhat irritable.

These things were indeed hard currency in the universe, the ultimate treasures for which countless civilizations would break their heads fighting over survival resources.

But for Jiang Chen now...

This stuff really took up too much space.

"Just throw them into the warehouse."

Jiang Chen waved his hand, as if dealing with expired trash, "Is the warehouse not big enough? If it's not big enough, go shift Jupiter's orbit a little and clear out a star-sized space for us to store the gifts."

"Also, don't list those resource planets under our name. It's too much trouble; we'd have to hire people to look after them later. Just give them to the National Space Agency."

"Let them have the headache. Anyway, with Academician Chen Shuyin overseeing it, nothing will go wrong."

Zhao Gang was so stunned by his boss's magnanimity in "giving away planets as easily as anything" that he couldn't even speak.

He glanced at the gift list.

It read: [Gift No. 10086: Full space mining rights for Sector C of the Centaurus galaxy.]

This "small congratulatory gift," if placed in any country on Earth, would be a trigger capable of inciting a nuclear war.

But to Jiang Chen, it only deserved to be thrown into the warehouse, and he didn't even have the desire to unwrap it.

Because in his eyes, these so-called interstellar treasures were really not as important as his daughter who was still in the base sleeping while hugging a Pikachu.

"Speaking of which..."

Jiang Chen walked to the window, watching the group of alien ships outside that were queuing to unload cargo, and even pointing laser guns at each other to fight for a parking space.

He sighed softly.

"These aliens, all they know how to do all day is engage in these superficial things."

"They say they're wishing me a happy birthday, but in reality, which one of them isn't trying to suck up to me?"

"They want me to give them new technology, want me to show them a way to survive, and there are even a few who want me to sell them that 'Dimensional Iron'."

Jiang Chen sneered, a flicker of mockery flashing in his eyes.

Who is Jiang Chen?

He is an unscrupulous businessman.

He is an "old pro" who would trick the Eagle Intelligence Agency into doubting their own existence for the sake of a nine-dollar-and-ninety-cent free-shipping invisibility cloak.

These alien civilizations want his goods?

Sure.

But they also have to see if they have the life to accept them.

"Send out a notice."

Jiang Chen turned around and gave Zhao Gang a final order, "Raise the specifications for tonight's birthday banquet even further."

"All alien civilization representatives, once the gifts are delivered, get out and wait on the periphery. Don't be an eyesore here."

"I want to leave a quiet space for my family."

Zhao Gang was stunned for a moment, then hurried to carry it out.

Soon, the interstellar port, which had been as noisy as a wet market, suddenly went quiet.

Those alien envoys who were usually arrogant and aloof retreated obediently to the meteorite belt at the edge of the galaxy like a group of refugees queuing for relief food, not daring to make a peep.

Only then did Jiang Chen feel a little more comfortable.

He turned off all communications.

He walked to a rest area in the base.

It had been carefully decorated into a warm birthday scene, even with a touch of "Earth-style kitsch."

There were no cold metallic reflections.

Nor were there those heart-palpitating quantum mechanics projections.

Here, there was only warm lighting, a bouquet of roses from Earth preserved with special technology, and a table full of braised pork, spicy hot pot, and even that kind of all-natural cream birthday cake that had already vanished into the long river of history.

Academician Chen Shuyin had already changed into a simple, homey knit sweater.

She was crouching on the floor, holding a small shovel, carefully helping Jiang Chen repot the "succulent plant" brought from Earth into a larger pot.

Seeing Jiang Chen enter, she stopped what she was doing.

Her face, which was usually cold and always filled with the radiance of rationality, now rarely revealed a gentle smile.

"You're here?"

She patted the dirt off her hands, her voice as soft as water.

"The protagonist of the day has finally deigned to come out of his warship?"

"Don't mention it."

Jiang Chen took off his heavy tactical trench coat, changed into the most comfortable loungewear, and plopped down beside her, "Those aliens were too noisy; they gave me a headache."

He glanced at the room full of "interstellar gifts," finally letting his gaze rest on the bouquet of fresh flowers placed on the corner of the table.

Those flowers were not expensive.

But between the Wasteland and the starry sky, in that journey filled with slaughter and conquest, this bouquet of flowers surprisingly revealed a... uniquely moving color.

"Actually."

Jiang Chen took the glass of warm water handed over by Academician Chen Shuyin and took a gentle sip; that feeling of agitation finally faded away completely.

He looked at Academician Chen Shuyin beside him, and thought of Jiang Wanqiu, who was far away in the Wasteland, wielding a sword and hacking at people. A surge of indescribable softness suddenly welled up in his heart.

"I used to think that the greatest pursuit of my life was to get this world, or even this universe, completely figured out and under control."

"To make those who bullied us and looked down on us all kneel at our feet and sing."

"But today..."

Jiang Chen looked at the twins in the cradle blowing bubbles, completely unaware that their parents had just nearly turned the Milky Way Galaxy upside down. The smile at the corner of his mouth carried a kind of tranquility that comes after settling down.

"I suddenly realized."

"These stars in the sky, these tens of billions of tons of gold, these so-called riches of the entire universe."

"Really aren't as good as this hot pot meal, this smiling face, and this moment of our family sitting together, drinking a cup of warm water."

Academician Chen Shuyin was taken aback for a moment, then helplessly chuckled and rested her head on his shoulder.

She felt that this man, who had always been like a raging fire, ready at any moment to burn the universe to ash, had finally... found a little bit of real, human warmth.

"Don't say such sappy things."

She whispered, feigning annoyance, "Your 'Empress' is on her way across dimensions, preparing to come back and settle scores with you."

"At that time, if you can't coax her, I won't help you."

"Let her hack away."

Jiang Chen closed his eyes, enjoying this rare tranquility. The nervous exhaustion caused by long-term high-pressure combat was finally washed away completely.

"As long as our family is together."

"Never mind hacking people."

"Even if it means turning this entire starry sky upside down..."

"That would be nothing more than—"

Jiang Chen opened his eyes, his gaze devoid of killing intent, holding only that... purity of returning to simplicity after experiencing the peak.

"Just a casual act."

"Alright, stop thinking about those annoying things."

He pulled Academician Chen Shuyin up and walked with long strides toward the dining table that had long been prepared, his voice carrying a long-lost expectation that belonged to a "mortal":

"Today is my birthday."

"No one is allowed to mention warships or resource planets."

"We'll just..."

"Peacefully finish this meal of dumplings."

"After all, this small space where only our own people are together is the only... true home in my long journey."

As Jiang Chen's voice fell, outside the window, that artificial Jupiter, which he had forcefully ignited to serve as a guide, continued to flicker in the boundless darkness with that warm light unique to the "people of the Long Country."

Who would have thought?

That Jiang Chen, who had turned the universe upside down.

In the end, all he wanted was such a simple bowl of dumplings.

But.

This was his life.

And it was also his... gentlest rebellion against this cold world.