More than an hour later, Chen Shouyi got off the train and got into a taxi.
Chen Shouyi discovered that the curfew in Dongning City had already ended. Apart from the larger number of police patrolling the streets, there were no longer any soldiers to be seen.
However, the city remained just as bleak as before.
The prolonged power outage had caused commerce to wither, factories to shut down, and large numbers of citizens to lose their jobs, severely damaging Dongning City's economic vitality.
Every passerby seemed to wear a gloomy expression. Beggars were everywhere, and several plastic bags kept dancing through the air in the wind, giving the place a desolate air.
Chen Shouyi withdrew his gaze and closed his eyes to rest.
He could not help feeling somewhat heavy-hearted.
Dongning City was merely a microcosm of the nation. Apart from the handful of first- and second-tier cities that maintained a deformed prosperity under the siphoning effect of resource allocation, most other regions would probably remain like this for a year or two.
He got out in front of the hotel where he had stayed before. After paying, he retrieved his luggage from the taxi's trunk, glanced at the words "Power Available" deliberately posted beside the hotel entrance, and walked inside.
The pretty receptionist's eyes lit up when she saw Chen Shouyi.
"Handsome boy, you finally came back. Your package arrived ages ago."
"Oh, you still remember me?" Chen Shouyi asked, somewhat surprised.
In fact, more than a month had already passed, and he had long since stopped holding out hope for the package. He had chosen this hotel only because it was close to the Space Channel.
"Of course I remember you, handsome boy. I've always had a great memory!" the receptionist said with a smile. "I've been