The door was pushed open, and Peter rushed in with a schoolbag on his back. Aunt Mei, who was writing something on the table by the window, stood up from the table and watched Peter rush into the kitchen and drink a large glass of water.
"Oh, you're back." Aunt May walked over and took Peter's schoolbag and said, "How is the work in the new laboratory? Is it going well?"
"It's not bad, but I'm too busy. I can't imagine that I just entered the company and did experiments for three days and three nights in a row. They didn't even give me time to get familiar with the laboratory." Peter yawned.
.
"Go and take a nap." Aunt May said, "I am writing the arrangements for the owner activities in our community next month. What dessert do you think is better? How about the waffles I made?"
"Of course it's good. If I could have some more bee syrup..."
"Oh, boy, you still understand me so well." Aunt May smiled, patted Peter on the back, and followed him to the door of the room.
Peter glanced towards his uncle's room and asked, "Where's uncle? Isn't he off work yet?"
"He's been working overtime lately. You know, he's just been promoted to chief engineer, so he has to perform better. Besides, there is indeed more work at the main station than at the main station. A group of new people have recently arrived, so he has to keep a close eye on them."
"I'll wait for him for a while. There's something I want to tell him."
Aunt May didn't say anything. She turned around and continued writing her community activity plan, discussing it with Peter from time to time.
It has been a long time since the last time the Parker family moved, but they are actually living in the third house now because Ben Parker was transferred to work at the main station not long after the last move. The new house at that time was too far from the main station.
So after a while, they sold that house again and replaced it with the current one.
The current house is closer to where Ben Parker works. Of course, no matter which house is, it is far from Peter's laboratory, but Peter does not often commute back to live, and spends most of his time sleeping in the laboratory and company dormitories.
The community where their new house is located is relatively good. Aunt Mei found a job at the community center, mainly organizing various community activities and maintaining the appearance of the community.
Taking advantage of this time, Aunt May made Peter one of her specialty cream soufflés. While Peter was eating, he told his aunt various interesting things about the experiment.
Soon Ben Parker came back. A few years later, he also had gray hair on his temples, but his mental state was much better than before, and he had gained some weight. He greeted Peter and Aunt May with a smile.
"Uncle, have you heard about the recruitment of workers at the nearest near-Earth terminal Star Core Station?"
Hearing Peter mention this topic, Ben Parker gradually put away his smile. He sat opposite Peter, glanced at Peter, then at Aunt May, rubbed his hands, and said slightly nervously: "Of course
, I heard about it, I’m...thinking about it."
"Oh my God." Aunt May exclaimed and said, "Peter, did you just mention the near earth? Is this station not on the earth?"
"Yes, the Star Core Station is the latest comprehensive space station established. It is the master station of various types of near-Earth space stations. It includes a traffic dispatch center, a near-Earth research academy, a solar system energy dispatch headquarters, and a solar system diplomatic reception center."
"So far, it is also the farthest space station from the earth. The distance is about half of the distance from the earth to Mars. It mainly communicates through a large portal. Two days ago, they just issued a recruitment notice for the whole society. Some excellent engineers
Talent received the news in advance.”
Ben Parker nodded and said: "Indeed, I have heard the news a long time ago. My boss also gave me a video to show the internal structure of the space station. To be honest, it looks like the shuttle I am working on now.
There is no difference at the terminus.”
"That won't work either." Aunt Mei raised her voice and said, "It's flying in space. If something happens, there's nowhere to run."
"The stability of the large portal is very strong. It is said that it can withstand the explosion of the sun." Ben Parker said: "At the same time, there will be stationed mages to defend and maintain the space station. There are also sufficient security personnel. Most of the core technologies of the space station.
From several big countries."
Realizing that Ben Parker was serious, Aunt May also sat down. She stared at Ben Parker's face for a while, and then said: "Now is not the time for us to have a meal without a meal. You will want to be here."
It’s great to have some development in this regard, but you must think clearly that this is impossible without risks. If anything happens to you, we will be very sad.”
"This is what makes me hesitate." Ben Parker wrung his hands tightly and said, "I can't imagine the day when I lose you or you lose me. It must be terrible."
"I don't know if you can understand that after I was transferred to the main station, I met a lot of different people than I usually know. Some of them are scientists, some are engineers, some are teachers, doctors and journalists."
"But they all have one thing in common. After meeting the survival needs of themselves and their families, they joined this project and worked hard for all mankind."
"Of course, when the shuttle was first developed, it was also a high risk for them. The public had mixed opinions about this technology at that time, and the construction plan of the terminal was very likely to be cancelled."
"But they tried their best to build this place, convey the real situation here, let people know more, and dispel their doubts. This is why New York has now an extremely developed transportation system."
"Nowadays, many people are confused about how to enter the economic society. There are also many people who are panicked and feel that our steps into the universe will cause disasters. But we cannot blame them harshly, because all of this is risky."
"Risks must be borne by someone. I have the skills, the experience, and the determination to learn from those outstanding talents. So if I don't take it, should you do it? I think this is my responsibility."
Ben Parker lowered his head and said: "Many people in the station are waiting and watching. They want to know what we will do. Someone has to take the first step. In fact, I have less worries than them."
Ben Parker looked at Peter and said: "You have achieved success in your studies and become an excellent scientist. At least you are quite good in terms of income alone. You can afford the pensions of both of us."
"And you." Ben Parker held Aunt May's hand and said, "Dear, when I just drove back, the neighbor's wife praised me for the wonderful housework exchange activity you organized last time. This job is very good.
It suits you and makes you more energetic than ever, and I think you should keep doing it.”
"That's it." Ben Parker spread his hands and said, "I don't have to worry about the newborn baby waiting to be fed. I have no loans to repay, and there is almost no pressure to survive. We have all gained a lot from this society, and naturally we also have responsibilities.
Make it better."
"Please believe that even if it is out of responsibility for you, I will cherish my life very much. I spent a few days confirming the safety of the Star Core Space Station. The results show that this space station jointly established by various countries on the earth,
Maybe even safer than the Earth itself."
"If this is your decision, of course I won't stop it." Aunt Mei said, "What about the accommodation conditions up there? Is the canteen delicious? Can it accept express delivery? What about fresh food express delivery?"
"There's everything there, dear." Ben Parker laughed and said, "As for the canteen, you have to know that usually the canteen for electrical technicians must be the most delicious among all canteens."
"Are you going to do a full cycle on it, uncle?" Peter asked.
"Yes, the job recruitment form says that so far, we will work for two months in one round, and after two months there will be a five-day break. I think this is very good. Then we can go on a trip together."
Peter immediately put on a bitter face and said: "I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to get 5 days off. As soon as I step into the door of the laboratory, I will never finish the experiments. Everyone is like a character in the game."
NPC, as long as you get close, there will be a mission."
"By the way, I heard that Dr. Schiller has returned to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Have you visited him?" Aunt May asked.
"Not yet, not enough time."
"This is not good." Aunt May said, "Just in case you have a day off today, I will bake a batch of cookies and you can bring them to Dr. Schiller and visit him on our behalf. Don't forget, it was him who we
Only then can I go to Presbyterian Hospital for examination.”
"Is it difficult to get into Presbyterian Hospital?" asked Peter, who never knew much about this matter.
"Of course." His uncle and aunt said in unison.
"Even the insurance we buy now is not at a level that allows us to make an appointment for a physical examination at Presbyterian Hospital."
"But our insurance has increased five times than before." Peter said with some surprise.
"Yes, but I'm afraid it won't be even 10 times more." Aunt Mei shook her head and said, "I specifically consulted our insurance manager before, and he said that unless we suffer from certain diseases with medical research value, it will be very difficult.
Go to that hospital for treatment, which mainly treats serious, difficult and rare diseases."
"The wife of a colleague of mine was recently discharged from there." Ben Parker added: "I heard that she had a very weird tumor, and the doctors spent seven or eight months studying it before solving it. When I saw him yesterday,
He was so thin that they paid a lot of money on top of the insurance money."
"Fortunately, the insurance coverage we bought is high." Aunt Mei said, covering her chest, "Otherwise, even if we go to an ordinary hospital, the bill will be terrifyingly high."
They chatted for a while, finished the snacks on the table, and drank two cups of tea. Peter went back to the house to catch up on his sleep. Aunt May was baking cookies. Ben Parker was sitting by the window chatting with Aunt May, but soon the phone call
It rang.
"Hello, hello, this is Ben Parker. Oh, yes, he told me, what? Is the intern also sick? Okay, let me go back."
Ben Parker stood up, Aunt May turned to look at him, Ben Parker showed an apologetic smile and said: "One of my colleagues took leave yesterday, and the intern who was supposed to take his place happened to have diarrhea, but today
The maintenance quota must be completed, otherwise the shift will not be enough. I will go there and I will definitely be back before dinner."
Aunt Mei didn't say anything. She also knew that electricians were like this. They were on call 24 hours a day and had to rush out if anything happened. She had become accustomed to it over the years.
Aunt May wore oven mitts and hurriedly picked out a box of cookies and stuffed it into Ben Parker's arms. Ben Parker hugged her, kissed her cheek, and drove to the terminal.
Ben Parker parked the car and took the elevator. As soon as he got out of the elevator, he saw a familiar figure.
"Oh, Oaks, didn't you ask for leave? The intern who takes over your shift is sick, and someone from the maintenance department just called me to come over and take charge of the shift."
The bearded man known as Oaks showed an embarrassed expression and said: "It was a false alarm. My wife thought something happened to our dog, but in fact it was fine, so I came back."
Ben Parker stared at him for a while, shook the bag in his hand and said, "May made some biscuits. After I finish my work, we can go have a cup of afternoon tea."