Worrying

Christmas of 1879 was especially lively. Aside from Prussia and Russia, which were at war, the people of Europe all enjoyed a bountiful holiday.

Following convention, after the New Year, the Vienna Government assigned annual tasks to every department.

The Immigration Office was the sole exception. Everyone knew that with the domestic economy booming across the board, completing the grand immigration strategy was nothing more than a fantasy.

Thus, the Immigration Office's task for 1880 remained to continue the unfinished work from the previous year, with no penalties attached.

In this regard, the Austrian Government remained highly pragmatic. Every department's assignments were formulated through investigation and tailored to actual circumstances; they would not act blindly simply to pad their "political achievements."

As the new year began, Franz felt most keenly that he had "grown another year older." Having reached the age of knowing Heaven's decree, he could not refuse to admit he was aging.

By the standards of life expectancy in this era, this age already counted as a ripe old age. Among commoners, one could retire at this age.

The countryside was somewhat better, but in the cities, people of this age were basically unemployed. No factory would hire someone so old.

Declining strength and clumsy hands and feet were not things that personal will could change. Those engaged in mental labor fared better, but for purely manual laborers, aside from a handful of positions, most jobs had nothing to do with them.

There was no need to worry about old-age care. Grueling manual labor plus an expensive medical system helped everyone get through the "crisis of old age."

"Franz, when do you think we should hold Friedrich's wedding?"

Empress Helen's voice pulled Franz back from his thoughts.

"So soon? Isn't that a little too hasty?" Franz replied without