Given a synthetic gemstone and a natural gemstone of equal quality, almost 100% of people would choose the natural gemstone. Even if the natural gemstone is slightly inferior, many people would still choose the natural one. That's human nature.
Therefore, these Oddity Stores contain various strange items that people occasionally discover while working on other planets, mostly various gemstones and crystals. These are then processed into all sorts of ornaments and sold in the Oddity Stores. This is the only personal sales activity within the fleet, as all other items are produced and supplied uniformly by the fleet.
Searching for gems during production and development is something everyone looks forward to. If someone finds a beautiful stone, they will be overjoyed. However, since everyone has plenty of fleet contribution points, few people sell precious gems. Moreover, even if the fleet operates on other planets for a long time, the number of valuable gems, especially particularly beautiful ones, is not large. Because of their rarity, these items are valued at very high contribution points by their owners.
Hu Yu had never been to these strange goods shops before, and when he saw them, he was almost startled. The items inside were indeed very beautiful and exquisite, with ingenious craftsmanship and clever designs. It was just a pity that the prices made Hu Yu feel very uncomfortable.
Although he is the highest leader of the fleet, Hu Yu only receives a symbolic ordinary salary of 10,000 contribution points per year. This salary is not high, just the minimum wage level of the fleet.
Because of his work, Hu Yu doesn't need to spend contribution points on daily necessities like food, clothing, and shelter. Over the years, he has accumulated a considerable number of contribution points in his personal account, more than 30 million. Hu Yu thought he could use these contribution points to buy a decent gemstone artwork, but after looking around, he found that the minimum cost was tens of millions of contribution points, while the highest cost was several billion, which was almost enough to buy a very good medium-sized spaceship.
After looking around, Hu Yu finally chose a pretty nice necklace for 32.88 million contribution points, with no room for negotiation. Gritting his teeth, Hu Yu took it. Looking at his contribution points, he only had a little over 2 million left. Although contribution points were of little use to Hu Yu, thinking about how the fruits of his more than 3,000 years of work could only be exchanged for such a necklace, he still felt a little pained.
Having received the necklace, Hu Yu felt a little more confident. Women, after all, always have a special interest in sparkly things. Thinking about how hard Xiao Xiao had worked all these years, with him and their son busy in the fleet, often leaving Xiao Xiao alone at home, he realized how difficult it had been for her. Moreover, he hadn't bought Xiao Xiao a gift in a very long time.
It seems that she hasn't bought anything since they got married. Because of her status, Xiao Xiao can't earn contribution points through work and just receives a minimum living allowance like Hu Yu. Moreover, Xiao Xiao seems to have never asked him for contribution points, and he has never thought about it. He guesses that Xiao Xiao would need to save up contribution points for a very long time to buy a nice dress. Thinking of this, Hu Yu felt very sorry for Xiao Xiao.
He would definitely spend more time with Xiao Xiao in the future, but how could he get through this hurdle? He hadn't been home for a thousand years. Hu Yu stood at the door, hesitant to open it and go in. The house seemed quiet, and the quieter it was, the more frightening it was. Who could imagine that a general who led a huge fleet across the universe would be afraid of a weak woman?
Hu Yu pondered for a long time and tried to contact his son, Hu Yunhang, but there was no response. However, the location showed that Hu Yunhang was in the house. It was all over. Even his son had been captured. This was definitely the end for him.
Hu Yu gritted his teeth, disregarding the fact that what lay ahead was a perilous and Abyss abyss. He was determined to go in. His earlier call to Yunhang might have already exposed him, so he had no choice but to proceed.
Hu Yu gently pushed open the door and tiptoed in, only to find his son sitting leisurely in the living room, munching on fruit and watching TV, showing no signs of having just experienced a storm.
"Hey, you little rascal, where's your mom?" Hu Yu asked softly.
"Sister~~ Your husband is back." Hu Yunhang completely ignored Hu Yu and shouted loudly. However, hearing the word "sister" made Hu Yu feel a little relieved. His son would only call Xiao Xiao" sister" when the atmosphere was good.
"Keep your voice down!" Hu Yu wanted nothing more than to slap him.
Just as she finished speaking, Xiao Xiao came out of the kitchen. When she saw Hu Yu, her eyes instantly filled with tears. "Oh no, the storm is about to break," Hu Yu thought to himself. He stood there dumbfounded, at a loss, his mind blank, and he even forgot about the necklace in his hand.
Xiao Xiao slowly walked over, tears streaming down her face. When she reached Hu Yu, she hugged Hu Yu tightly, sobbing softly. In that instant, Hu Yu's fear vanished. What more could he ask for in the face of this little woman?
"Hey, hey, you guys need to be careful. There are minors sitting here."
"Get lost," Hu Yu said with a mocking laugh.
" Brother Yu, you haven't eaten yet, have you? I prepared your favorite dishes." Xiao Xiao opened her arms to Hu Yu, her tears turning into a smile, and with her son's teasing, her face flushed.
"Hmm, I ate something at the fleet, but I'm hungry again now. Oh right, look, what's this?" Hu Yu finally remembered that he was holding a box of expensive necklaces.
"Wow, it's so beautiful."
"Here, let me put it on you." Hu Yu looked at the diamond necklace around Xiao Xiao's neck that had been worn for thousands of years. It was a gift he had bought for her when they got married, and now the chain was no longer shiny. He felt really sorry for Xiao Xiao. All these years, she had been living like this. What woman doesn't want more jewelry? What woman doesn't want to dress up beautifully?
" Xiao'er, I'm sorry, I've neglected you so much all these years."
"I understand you're busy with work, for the sake of the fleet. I'm already very satisfied."
"Dad, where's my present? I want a present too!"
"Shut up, go to the kitchen, bring out the food, and shut your mouth up," Xiao Xiao said viciously.
"Fine, fine, fine, I'll go, I'll go. They won't let me sleep in the middle of the night, what am I supposed to eat? Sigh, a child without a mother is like a blade of grass."
" Brother Yu, were you standing outside the door just now, too scared to come in?"
"This..."
"Do you really think I'm such an unreasonable and domineering person? Humph!"
"No way, absolutely not."
"I had a problem with you not going home when you were here. It was only a few minutes' walk, but you insisted on going through the fleet. But this time it's different. You have a mission, and you can't come back even if you wanted to. You're working so hard for all of us. How could I not understand?"
"Madam is indeed wise! Oh, the food is here! I'm starving! Let's eat!"
"Dad, you've been gone for far too long this time. You have no idea how many times Mom has secretly cried."
"Yes, it must have been tough on your mother. She thought she could work hard enough to take down the Xuan Star Civilization, but it was all for nothing."
"It's alright, we can rely on ourselves. I refuse to believe that we can't break through to Small Star Sector Civilization through our own efforts."