178: Chapter 184 Dual Lines Unified

Ten days later.

Washington.

The Senate.

"Heartland Revitalization Act" — accelerated vote.

Trump pushed for it — for ten whole days. Utilizing — his entire — political capital.

One by one — making calls. One by one — meeting in person. One by one — applying pressure.

"I will remember those who vote in favor. I will also remember those who vote against."

Not a threat. It is — a transaction.

Washington's — currency — is never — the US dollar.

It is — a promise.

---

Voting results.

Sixty-five votes in favor. Thirty-five votes against.

Passed.

Three more votes than the "emerging city revitalization act".

Chen Yifei stood in — the chamber.

Listening to — the vote count.

Sixty-two. Sixty-three. Sixty-four. Sixty-five.

Each sound — was like — a heartbeat.

The moment the bill passed —

The system panel — popped up.

[Political Track · Peak]

Heartland Revitalization Act — Passed!

Federal-level core legislation · Achieved

Political influence: Federal level · Core

Political track progress: 100%!

----------------

Commercial track: 100% ✓

Political track: 100% ✓

Dual-track progress: 96.5% → 100%

Dual-track convergence verification —

Initiating.

---

He looked at the panel.

"Dual-track convergence verification — initiating."

Seven characters.

Golden.

Like — the sun — shining on a snow-capped mountain.

Commercial track — one hundred. Political track — one hundred.

The two tracks — starting from E-level — had been running — in parallel — for three and a half years.

Today — they — finally — met.

The system panel — began — to change.

Not popping up data. Not popping up tasks.

It was — the entire panel — beginning — to reorganize.

Like a — giant puzzle — finally — completing — the last piece.

Golden light — from the center of the panel — spread outward.

Getting brighter.

Getting wider.

Until — the entire field of vision — was — golden.

---

Then — the light — dispersed.

The panel — changed.

No longer — two progress bars.

No longer — commercial track — political track — displayed separately.

It was a — complete — mirror.

In the mirror — was Oak City.

Not the current Oak City.

It was — a panoramic view.

Viewed from the sky — overlooking.

1.09 million lights.

Intersecting roads. Buildings of varying heights.

Photovoltaic Glass — shining blue — in the sunlight.

The Quantum Chip factory — like a — silver — palace.

The airport — three runways — like — three — silver lines.

Vertical Farm — ten-story — green — blocks.

Central Plaza — Old Oak Tree — a — dark green — dot.

1.09 million people.

Every street. Every building. Every light.

All there.

All — built by — him.

Or — more accurately —

It was — him — who lit them up.

The last line of the system panel — slowly emerged —

"Dual-track convergence · Verification passed."

"SS-level — final unlock — countdown."

"Population condition: 1,200,000 (Current 1,089,000)"

"Still need — 111,000."

---

He walked out of the Senate.

Washington's — afternoon.

The sun — was nice.

But — he didn't look at the sun.

He looked at — his phone.

Contacts.

Buffett. Elon Musk. Gates. Trump. Shen Mo.

All there.

Three years ago — he came alone — to — a ghost town.

Now — the most powerful people — in the entire United States — were all in his — contact list.

He dialed — David Parker's number.

"Population — what's the situation?"

"Daily increase — 2,300. At this rate — two months — to break through — 1.2 million."

"Too slow."

"Boss — it's already very fast. In the entire US — no city — has a daily increase — of over 2,000 people."

"I know. But — it's not enough."

"How long — do you need?"

"One month."

David Parker was silent.

"One month — requires — a daily increase — of 3,700 people."

"Can it be done?"

"If — the Quantum Chip open-source — brings in — companies settling in — and we push at full speed —"

"Possible."

"Not possible. It is — certain."

He hung up the phone.

Looking at — Washington's — skyline.

White buildings. The obelisk. The Capitol dome.

The center — of power.

But he — didn't want to — stay here.

He missed — Oak City.

Missed — Old Oak Tree. Missed — Bob's whiskey. Missed — Sophia's Tortilla. Missed — the smell of diesel — on Jack Miller's pickup.

He turned.

Walked — toward — the airport.

Going home.

---

Oak City.

When the plane landed — it was dusk.

The sunset — plated the entire city — in — gold.

He walked out of the airport.

Didn't call a car.

Walking.

Walking along — Main Street.

Three and a half years ago — he walked on this street for the first time.

At that time — a quarter of the shops — were closed.

On the street — there was only the sound of the wind.

Now —

Sophias Restaurant — the third branch — had a long line. The sign at the entrance — "Moms Recipe" — shone with warm light — in the sunset.

Bob's gas station — had new equipment. But he — was still sitting — on that old chair.

"It wouldn't be interesting — if it were fixed."

He said this — to everyone — who asked him.

Linda — the postmaster — had the population table — from three years ago — on her desk.

"Reminding myself — where I came from."

Little Tommy — became — a patrol officer. Wearing a uniform — walking around — on the street. Looking — serious. But — the corners of his mouth — were always — curled up.

Old John — was ninety-one years old.

Sitting — at the entrance of the nursing home — soaking up the sun.

"Before — on the street — only I — walked alone."

"Now — I can't walk anymore."

"But — the street — is full of people."

He laughed.

A laugh — missing three teeth.

---

Chen Yifei walked to — Central Plaza.

Old Oak Tree — was still there.

The leaves — rustled.

On the bench — it was carved — "This is home".

He sat down.

Looking at — the people — in the plaza.

Coming and going. Old and young. White, black, yellow, brown.

Speaking English. Speaking Spanish. Speaking Chinese. Speaking Korean.

1.09 million people.

1.09 million kinds of — lives.

But — they were all — in — the same place.

Oak City.

He leaned against — the back of the chair.

Closed his eyes.

The system panel — floated quietly — in the corner of his vision.

Dual-track convergence — verification passed.

SS-level — final unlock — countdown.

Population — still needs — 111,000.

He didn't care about — the numbers anymore.

He only knew —

This city — had come alive.

Three and a half years ago — it — was — a ghost town.

Now — it — was — the home — of 1.09 million people.

He opened his eyes.

On the horizon — the last trace of — sunset — was disappearing.

But — the lights of Oak City — turned on.

One light. Two lights. Ten thousand lights. One hundred thousand lights. One million lights.

Not the light — given by — the sun.

It was — the people — themselves — who lit them.

He smiled.

Sitting — on the bench — under the Old Oak Tree.

Listening to — the footsteps — of 1.09 million people.

Like — a heartbeat.

The heartbeat — of the whole city.

---

The phone rang.

Shen Mo.

"Where are you?"

"Under the Old Oak Tree."

"The commercial track — and the political track — are both full."

"I know."

"Dual-track convergence — verification passed."

"I know."

"You — look — not at all — excited."

He smiled.

"I — am more excited — than you think."

"But — some things — don't need — to be shouted out."

"Sitting here — is enough."

The other end of the phone — was silent for three seconds.

Then — Shen Mo's voice — was very soft.

"You — are really — very — special."

"Where is it special?"

"Others — when the dual-track is full — would pop champagne."

"You — are sitting — under a tree."

"That tree — is more important — than champagne."

He hung up the phone.

Looked up — at the sky.

Nebraska's — starry sky.

Dense. Like — crushed diamonds — scattered on — black velvet.

He remembered — three and a half years ago — the first time — he saw — this starry sky.

At that time — he — only had — $10,047 — in daily income.

And — a ghost town.

Now —

He — had — 2.8 million — in daily income.

1.09 million people.

Leading globally in four fields.

Federal Senator.

Dual-track convergence.

But — he — was still — the same person.

Sitting — under the same tree.

Looking at — the same starry sky.

The difference is —

Three and a half years ago — he — was alone.

Now —

Behind him — there were 1.09 million — lights.

Each one — was — a person — choosing — to stay — and light it up.

He closed his eyes.

The wind — blew through — the leaves.

Rustling.

As if saying —

Almost there.

Just almost there.