Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, the first batch of humans born in artificial wombs and raised under a social foster care system have reached adulthood.

Today, July 3, 2420 in the Earth calendar, is the day when the first batch of "publicly supported people" hold their "coming-of-age ceremony".

...

For their daughter's coming-of-age ceremony, Qi Yang and Xu Ting took leave and traveled to Space Nursing Center No. 2 aboard a public starship.

Over the past 25 years, they have had happy times with their daughter, as well as heart-wrenching arguments.

In fact, as their daughter grew older, at her request, the number of times they visited the foster care center decreased year by year.

But no matter what, looking at their daughter who had grown up and was full of youthful energy, the two of them were filled with emotion.

“Mengshu, after the [Coming of Age Ceremony], you will be an individual.” Qi Yang’s lips trembled slightly as he said with some reluctance, “At that time…”

Facing her parents, Qi Mengshu smiled politely and said, "Don't worry, nothing will happen."

"I've already made a promise with them that we'll go to Dawn Star together after the Coming-of-Age Ceremony."

"The instructor in the socialization training course explained all the important points, so don't worry about me."

Upon hearing this, Qi Yang and Xu Ting once again showed a few wry smiles on their faces.

The "them" that the daughter was referring to were her childhood friends.

They know that children raised under the social foster care system don't have a strong sense of family affection, and may even have a somewhat weak one.

In her daughter's heart, her companions are far more important than her parents.

The reason is quite simple.

Inside the nursery, children born in the same batch have long since become one big family.

For them, when faced with difficulties, seeking help from their companions is often the easiest and most reliable method.

Of course, besides companions, there is also Zero, and a group of caregivers.

Parents, on the other hand, are at the very bottom of the priority list for "helping others," occupying an awkward position where they are dispensable.

Qi Yang sighed softly.

From the time she can remember, the word "they" has appeared more and more frequently in her daughter's mouth.

At first, Qi Yang and Xu Ting found it hard to accept this change.

After all, in traditional thinking, children are always expected to be close to their parents.

But under the social foster care system, their daughters are clearly closer to their peers.

As a result, the couple, and even their daughter, had several arguments.

As time went by, the two gradually accepted this reality.

On the one hand, they are also aware that they did not devote much time and energy to their daughter's upbringing.

On the other hand, the parliament and the Academy of Sciences have been increasing their efforts in propaganda, and they have gradually become aware of the potential population crisis of the People's Federation. At the same time, they have also gained some understanding of the social welfare system.

At this moment, the people who awaken in the surface cities are all elites who have made great or small contributions to the Human Alliance.

Although they were somewhat unwilling to accept this sacrifice, they ultimately chose to accept it.

For civilization to progress, there will always be those who have to shoulder the burden.

If it can help future generations gain a foothold in the dark universe, what harm is there in making a little sacrifice?

Especially when the Academy of Sciences and Parliament set an example.

"Go."

Xu Ting opened her arms and gently hugged her somewhat unfamiliar daughter: "Go and have your coming-of-age ceremony."

...

Academy of Sciences, Sociology Division.

Lu Yongchang, who was originally working on the Guangwei-1 transformation project, also put down his work and made a special trip to the Sociology Department.

If the implementation of artificial wombs and social foster care systems 25 years ago was a crucial attempt, then today's "Coming-of-Age Ceremony," and the developments that followed, are a test of all the efforts made over the past 25 years.

Thanks to everyone's joint efforts, every year for the past 25 years, couples have stepped forward to "claim" the available spots.

As of now, the three space incubation centers located in the geosynchronous orbit of Dawn Star are already overcrowded.

Fortunately.

The first batch of "students" have successfully graduated. After completing their coming-of-age ceremony, they will set foot on the ground of Dawn Star and do their best to integrate into the Human Alliance family and inject fresh blood into the Human Alliance.

Lu Yongchang looked at the data on the holographic projection in front of him and let out a long sigh of relief.

The overall fertility rate curve began to turn upward 25 years ago, moving out of the danger zone.

After the implementation of artificial wombs and social foster care systems, the deadly kiss between the birth curve and the death curve has been postponed indefinitely.

Has the coming-of-age ceremony begun?

"I asked in a low voice."

The head of the sociology division quickly responded, "It has already begun."

"According to the procedure, lifespan extension modifications will be carried out first, followed by human body enhancement modifications."

"Including the adaptation period, it is estimated that it will take a total of ten days."

...

The space elevator, which had been silent for ten days, started operating again.

One trip... two trips...

One after another, 10,000 young people, all only 25 years old, set foot on the ground of Dawn Star.

Qi Mengshu was naturally one of them.

Following her companions and under Zero's command, she boarded the public starship bound for City One in an orderly fashion.

As the first of the six surface-enclosed cities, City No. 1 naturally became the pilot city.

The first batch of "publicly funded employees" will look for jobs in City One and begin their new lives.

After a brief wait, the port gates of the space elevator ground base slowly opened.

With a slight recoil, the public starship started up.

Qi Mengshu subconsciously turned her head to look at the porthole.

Outside the porthole, starships of the same design tilted their heads slightly and flew toward the blue-purple sky.

It was early morning.

On one side of the sky, the enormous Antares, illuminated by the star Gliese 555, reflects a cool, clear light.

You can vaguely see that there are several extremely large buildings on the surface of the moon.

That was a renovation project for the planetary fortress of the planet Apollo.

Under the cool light, Qi Mengshu could even see several engineering ships, each about the size of a soybean, docked near Guangwei.

On the other side, the main star of Gliese 555 has just risen.

The rising sun is always full of vitality.

It showered light and heat upon Dawn Star without reservation, relentlessly dispelling the remaining darkness on the star.

Qi Mengshu's gaze shifted downwards.

Decades of environmental transformation have brought some life back to the surface of Dawn Star.

On the originally vast, yellowish-brown earth, some light green has appeared.

With the help of the Academy of Sciences, some resilient plants became the first inhabitants of Dawn Star.