The Capital Earthquake Base Station, located in the western suburbs of Baiji, had been recording seismic and geomagnetic activity since the International Geophysical Year, sixty years ago. Equipped with a variety of observation methods, it was a key center for domestic earthquake monitoring and geophysical research—and a hub for international data collection and exchange.
Today, this was the site of the official launch ceremony for the Earthquake Early Warning Network.
After several days of snow in the capital, the weather finally cleared. Under the rare winter sunshine, a bit of warmth softened the cold, and a crowd had gathered at the venue, with many media outlets broadcasting live.
The launch of the earthquake warning network, powered by Marching Ant Company's seismographs, marked a turning point: real-time earthquake prediction was no longer a dream.
As anticipation built among the crowd, a convoy arrived and stopped in a specially reserved section of the venue.
"Chen Mo, you designed the seismograph, right? Tell me—any interesting stories behind its development?" the Head of State asked, calling Chen Mo over with a friendly smile.
Chen Mo nodded calmly, his mind working fast. Of course, he couldn't reveal the truth—that the design had come from the Science and Technology Library. That secret remained his greatest card.
"When I read the earthquake disaster reports, I began to wonder—what if early warning systems existed? Back then, I studied all kinds of physics: vibration theory, electromagnetics, thermodynamics, mechanics... Later, I dove into seismology and began forming my own theoretical framework. Once the company had enough resources, I turned my ideas into practice…"
He was confidently spinning a tale. Since no one else knew the truth, whatever he said became the truth.
"There was one particularly interesting experience—when I published my research on earthquake prediction. I submitted the paper to several journals, including Nature, but was rejected both domestically and internationally. So I posted it on our company's site hoping for traction, but it completely flopped."
Chen Mo went on with ease, while the Head listened attentively.
"Eventually, I completed the first seismograph prototype. Through an introduction from Li Chengzhi, I met Mr. Wu Zhen from the Academy of Sciences, and we began field testing the device."
Though Chen Mo's account was simple, everyone around understood the underlying hardship. Any scientific breakthrough came at the cost of countless trials and setbacks.
"Many great discoveries go unrecognized at first," the Head said thoughtfully.
Soon, the group arrived at the central stage of the ceremony. They began greeting the staff involved in testing and installing the seismographs.
Wu Zhen's face was lit with joy. His whole demeanor radiated energy, as if he had become young again. His lifelong wish had been to develop a reliable earthquake warning system—so others wouldn't have to suffer the same loss he had experienced.
He'd even changed his name to Wu Zhen to reflect that mission. And now, near the end of his career, that wish had come true.
Although today was just a ceremonial launch—the network had already been deployed and operational—Wu Zhen still felt immense pride. This marked a new era for seismology.
As he stood smiling, Chen Mo, the Head, and several others approached.
"Mr. Wu, you've worked hard," the Head said, shaking Wu Zhen's hand.
Feeling the warmth of the handshake, Wu Zhen's eyes misted over. The memory of his loved ones buried beneath rubble still haunted him.
When he found his voice again, it trembled with emotion. "It wasn't hard. The worry of the people… is the burden of those who feed the people."
Chen Mo silently admired those words. Countless unsung scientists had carried this country forward over the decades—not for fame, but out of conviction and service. Just like Wu Zhen had said: The worry of the people is the duty of the people.
"Mr. Wu, congratulations on seeing your wish fulfilled," Chen Mo said sincerely.
"I should be thanking you," Wu Zhen replied, casting him a look filled with gratitude.
As the ceremony continued, the Head shook hands with every representative and staff member who had contributed to the testing and installation of the seismograph system. Some were thrilled, others overwhelmed, but each person had a story behind their excitement.
In the Marching Ant Company's section stood the technical team and assembly workers who had built the seismograph.
"These are members of our core team—technicians and assembly workers from Marching Ant who handled the manufacturing and integration of the seismographs," Chen Mo introduced them proudly.
Each employee stood tall, pride shining on their faces. After shaking hands with the Head, many could barely contain their excitement.
"There's also a special employee here—Marching Ant's intelligent robot, the 'Enchantress,'" Chen Mo said, leading the group over to a humanoid robot.
"Its chip is loaded with all data related to seismograph assembly. During early production, it trained our staff, helped explain procedures, and even participated in hands-on assembly. We deployed five robots, each one assigned to assist a different team."
Getting the robot approved for the ceremony had been no small feat. Zhao Min had gone through a mountain of procedures and inspections. But the symbolic meaning made it worth the effort.
By now, Marching Ant's robots were no longer a secret. Their commercial use was still under evaluation, but a public release was definitely on the horizon.
"The Head of State is here," Chen Mo said with a grin.
As if on cue, the Enchantress robot turned its head and greeted, "Hello, sir."
The Head chuckled and nodded. "Hello."
He studied the robot closely. The fluid motion and humanlike voice were uncanny. If you didn't know it was a machine, you might mistake it for a person in costume.
"Thank you for your hard work," he said.
"It is an honor to participate in the seismograph assembly," the Enchantress replied.
The crowd laughed and marveled at Marching Ant's cutting-edge technology.
The Head nodded in appreciation but was deep in thought. He'd seen this robot at the Internet Conference exhibition. While most people admired its technical prowess, he considered the broader implications: the social shifts, ethical questions, and security challenges robots could bring.
This was the reality of a rapidly advancing, open society. Technology was changing faster than ever. The future was arriving—ready or not.
"You've done well, little demon. I hope you continue to innovate and serve the people," the Head said, nodding.
Then he turned to look at the young woman standing beside the robot.
The moment Xiao Yu realized the Head was looking at her, she tensed up.
This was someone she'd only ever seen on TV or in the news—now standing a few steps away. Nervous? Excited? Of course.
"She's my girlfriend, He Xiaoyu," Chen Mo introduced with a smile. "Also Zhao Min's assistant. When I was first working on the earthquake warning paper, she believed in me, stuck by my side, and supported me through the entire process. Without her, these seismographs wouldn't be here today."
"H-Hello, sir," Xiao Yu said, cheeks flushing from Chen Mo's praise.
She stepped forward and shook the Head's hand—nervous but composed.
"Hello," the Head replied kindly. "To share hardship and joy is a precious thing."
"Thank you, sir." Xiao Yu nodded heavily, eyes shining.
After greeting the final representatives and staff members, everyone returned to their seats.
The ceremony officially began.