Ch. 721Work That Felt Rewarding
Key plot points and events
- Chen Yu learns from the district chief that Lower District doctors are controlled by a Labor Union. To practice, he must join, surrender most of his income, pass an assessment, and meet drug-prescribing quotas. The district chief describes other grim survival tactics—taking on debt, gambling, or relying on gangs.
- She warns that Dreamscape promotion also requires guild membership, registration, approval, and possibly hiring union-appointed staff. She offers to help Chen Yu navigate the system and promises to get his group out safely if needed.
- Chen Yu decides to leave in a few days, but plans to establish contact with the Lower District after returning to Heaven Origin. Inspired by the corruption and exploitation he has witnessed, he immediately begins writing chapter five of Mysterious Cavern.
- In the new chapter, players will help Iron Men fight back against a corrupt sect, rally residents, expose saboteurs, and defeat troublesome Labor Unions.
- Meanwhile, Walnut promotes the Dreamscape by showing Iron Men a short video. The novelty of Iron Men appearing in a Dreamscape excites them, and the secondhand phones she brought—and copies of the game—sell out quickly.
Character developments
- Chen Yu is shocked to discover how little he understands the Lower District’s exploitative systems. His frustration turns into creative inspiration, and he channels his anger into a story that attacks the institutions he has encountered.
- The district chief emerges as a practical, compassionate ally. Though she cannot undo the entrenched power structures, she gives Chen Yu candid advice and offers protection.
- Walnut finds the Dreamscape promotion unexpectedly easy and rewarding, successfully turning Iron Men’s curiosity into enthusiastic interest and sales.
Significant themes
- Institutional exploitation: Medical unions and other organizations use regulations, debt, and coercion to protect their own profits rather than help people.
- Corruption and resistance: Chen Yu transforms real-world injustice into a fictional campaign in which ordinary people can fight oppressive powers.
- Technology and shared opportunity: The Dreamscape’s inclusion of Iron Men gives them a new experience and a way to participate alongside others.
- The contrast between districts: The Lower District is portrayed as having abandoned even the appearance of fair, capitalist systems.
Character interactions
- The district chief patiently briefs Chen Yu, who reacts with disbelief, while she balances blunt warnings with genuine concern and support.
- Chen Yu’s encounters with the Lower District’s institutions directly shape how he portrays the Labor Unions and other authorities in his Dreamscape.
- Walnut connects with Iron Men through the promotional video; their astonishment quickly becomes eagerness to buy phones and play the game.