There Is Still a Path to Cross

That evening, Chen Chuan had his first meal in Central City with Aunt's family at the villa.

Aunt and Nian Fuli watched the field screen rise along one side of the dining room, displaying all kinds of programs and news. They found it very novel; they had never seen anything like this in Shannan Province's Central City.

With these, they could receive all kinds of information from Central City and the outside world without even leaving home.

Yu Wan touched the World Token by her ear that Chen Chuan had given her and asked, "Chan'er, can I contact your Aunt here?"

"Not yet," Chen Chuan said. "The Central Cities can't communicate with one another at present." Nian Qian added, "Mom, the Central Cities are information islands. There's no way to communicate."

Nian Fuli said, "They build walls around themselves and live only their own lives."

"Uncle is right," Chen Chuan said. "That's how all the Central Cities are at present, but those above are trying to change the situation. It's difficult for now, but progress is being made. Aunt, perhaps one day Shannan and Jibei Provinces will be able to contact each other directly."

"I was only asking," Yu Wan said. "If we can't use the World Token, a phone call would do."

Back in Yangzhi City, there had been no direct phone line to Shannan Province. They could only send telegrams during holidays and festivals. But in Central City, they could make contact by telephone. Only Central City residents had that privilege, however, and the fees were extremely high—far beyond what ordinary people could afford.

Domestic and foreign companies would rather use telegrams than transmit information through that line, because it was practically an open invitation for government agencies and certain Covert Departments to listen in. Of course, no