"Chenxing sacrificed himself?"
Inside New Phoenix City's largest auto repair shop, the mechanics gathered in front of the television wore expressions of disbelief.
Some of them had watched Ji Chenxing grow up, others had grown up with him. In those years, Ji Xinghe would often bring Ji Chenxing to the repair shop with him, teaching Chenxing while at work or instructing his apprentices, but Chenxing never seemed particularly interested in learning to repair vehicles.
It wasn't that Ji Chenxing was disinterested in learning. The old-timers at the repair shop all knew that Chenxing only wanted to learn how to operate and repair Mechas. Unfortunately, no one in the repair shop possessed that knowledge; they were simply versed in repairing vehicles.
Because of this, Ji Xinghe began to self-study how to drive and repair Mechas. However, having only theoretical knowledge was not enough to convince Chenxing, or the others at the repair shop. Hence, Chenxing never learned anything about Mecha repairs or driving from Ji Xinghe.
"So, this morning, Mr. Ji made two knives..."
An old mechanic, about to retire, suddenly spoke up, causing everyone else at the shop to recall the sight they had witnessed when they came to work that morning.
Outside the warehouse, Ji Xinghe had moved a piece of special alloy plate, used for enhancing spacecrafts with bullet-proof features in their repair shop, and proceeded to cut, shape, and polish it using their tools.
He had fashioned two short knives, both with handguards. Although the knives were complete, they remained unsharpened. Ji Xinghe had insisted on paying the repair shop boss and mechanics whilst debating with them, yet he never revealed why he needed to make two knives.
The shop workers had planned to visit Ji Xinghe at his home after work that day. Even though Ji Xinghe had always been a stable and honest man, they were worried that he might do something drastic. He had personally constructed knives, certainly a worrying development.
However, before they could visit him after work, they had already discovered the reason.
Everyone in the repair shop was silent. They had heard the question Ji Xinghe asked on the TV, instinctively wanting to answer, 'no problem,' but reason told them there was indeed a significant problem.
Old Ji, you're too old.
This thought crossed not only their minds but those of the people who knew him in his neighborhood, the people at the New Phoenix City Police Station, the people in the detention center, and countless audience members.
They all thought Ji Xinghe's plan of avenging his son who died on the battlefield was unproblematic, yet, they also sensed that it posed substantial problems.
...
Pei Jing, who was currently interviewing Ji Xinghe outside the New Phoenix City Stadium, couldn't bring herself to utter the phrase 'no problem.' Even though those words had almost slipped out, she couldn't say them after the initial moment had passed.
"Sir, you…" In her mind, Pei Jing attempted to construct her sentence, but unable to think of anything more suitable, she reluctantly said: "You're quite old, aren't you? You must be almost sixty, right?"
Ji Xinghe, who was actually sixty-five, appeared closer to being sixty, but whether he was nearing sixty or sixty-five, he was, in fact, an elderly man.
"I'm sixty-five years old," Ji Xinghe answered, looking into the camera, not out of arrogance but to manipulate public opinion: "But does being sixty-five mean I cannot avenge my son? Does it mean I can't join the army to serve the Federation? Does being sixty-five mean I'm useless, that I'm just wasting resources, that I cannot contribute anything to our society?"
Is this the same modest and steady Ji Xinghe we know?
Those who knew Ji Xinghe felt that he had changed. Those who didn't thought he was playing the age card, escalating his rhetoric, playing his hand too strongly.
For instance, Pei Jing was feeling cornered, like she was in an impossible situation. Citizens aged sixty-five and above accounted for 17.2% of the entire Federation population, which was a significant portion. Because of its aging population, the Federation faced a serious issue. If her response was not well-received, she would offend this 17.2% of the elder population and losing her job would be the least of her concerns.
Why hadn't the director's voice come through her headset? Why was her interview still being broadcast live at such a crucial moment? Were they trying to create controversy?
The director of the New Phoenix City TV station was also innocent in this whole situation. Cutting off the live broadcast at this moment meant risking his job too. The climbing viewer ratings indicated that many people were watching, wanted to watch, and would watch later on. If he stopped them from watching, he would offend those people.
This Pei Jing, with so many people around, why interview him? Are you trying to cause trouble?
"That's not my intention, sir."
Pei Jing looked at Ji Xinghe with a wronged expression. She was a beautiful woman and her eyes had always been irresistible in the past. But today, she was facing Ji Xinghe, who had been as solid as iron all his life, 65-year-old Ji Xinghe, Ji Xinghe who Major General Tu Yuan called a man who aged according to his years.
"Then what do you mean?" Ji Xinghe was expressionless, his tone cold: "What do you all mean? You said anyone over the age of eighteen can enlist, so why can't I enlist when I arrived?"
Pei Jing finally recognized the blind spot: "Sir, no one is stopping you from enlisting. But after enlisting, there are physical fitness tests and professional skills tests, which you may not pass given your age."
Ji Xinghe continued to stare into the camera: "What if I can pass these tests?"
Pei Jing didn't want to respond, but as everyone around her remained silent and the live broadcast was not paused yet, she had no choice but to reply.
"If you can pass those, of course, you can enlist."
"I thought so too." Ji Xinghe finally turned his gaze away from the camera and looked around him, asking loudly: "What about you all? What do you think?"
Some supporters voiced their agreement, some people were advising him gently, others were keeping their mobile phones recording non-stop. The crowd became noisy again, bringing Pei Jing some relief, but her worries came back swiftly.
"Miss." Ji Xinghe looked at Pei Jing: "You're a reporter. You said you wanted to interview. Would you like to live broadcast my enlistment test?"
"Huh?"
Pei Jing wanted to refuse, but the voice coming from her earpiece did not allow her to do so.
"Of course, sir, we can live stream as long as the federation does not stop us."
Ji Xinghe did not know whether the federation would stop them or not. He simply set off towards the area for checking identity, followed closely by Pei Jing and the cameraman, with the crowded people naturally parting for them.
"Hello, I want to enlist, here are my identification documents."
You're supposed to register online first, sir. We're just here to verify your identity.
These were words the staff at the registration office couldn't say. After all, Ji Xinghe had hundreds of people watching them behind him. More people were unable to watch them directly but were keeping an eye on them and Ji Xinghe's back through various means.
All they mandated for this conscription was a minimum age limit. It wasn't an oversight due to the physical tests. Elderly men and women might be impressive with their square dancing, rush hour commuting and egg distribution, but they wouldn't embarrass themselves by taking the test.
No one could have predicted that a 65-year-old man would sign up with a hard-to-reject reason: He wanted to avenge his son, who had sacrificed his life on the front line for the federation.
"Fine."
The staff started to register Ji Xinghe's identification information and arrange the physical fitness test. Pei Jing began to communicate with the staff, asking if they could enter to film and live stream the process. The staff applied to their superiors, then granted Pei Jing the authorization without any surprise.
After all, this was a public recruitment event, and the higher-ups of the federal army also hoped to get more attention and attract more people to join the army.
Because the higher-ups of the federal army knew that they were struggling to hold on.