When they saw the news broadcast, when they heard the rumors swirling around, the family of three would just give a resigned smile without harboring grand expectations. They would not entertain the fantasy that ship tickets could fall into their laps. These families, hardened by life, received the least attention from the outside world, and they understood the helpless reality of survival better than most.

Even if the pandemic raged, they would only isolate themselves with the meager amount of money in their passbooks. Observing social order was the only thing they could do.

It was another setting sun, watching the fading light in the sky, Father Hong couldn't help but feel a rare surge of emotion... Perhaps these moments are numbered? Shaking his head, he stepped on the gas pedal, and the reasonably priced sedan vanished into the horizon.

As he returned home, he vaguely saw groups of people by the roadside discussing migration. It was a shame that such opportunities would never fall on ordinary folks. Just as he got out of the car, he heard a group of people talking below...

"Hey, did you hear? The neighbor's youngest son, the soldier, his whole family was taken away this morning."

"Cut it out, you really think they'd get that because of their son, huh?" A neighbor sitting downstairs interrupted: "You don't know yet? The youngest's older brother is an official in the Capital, they have connections above. You really think a mere soldier could secure a spot? Don't even dream about it."

Father Hong only listened indifferently to a couple of sentences, he very much agreed with the latter's response. This society was too harsh—news broadcasts made it sound nice, soldiers getting migration privileges, but how many really enjoyed such benefits? As a worker who had toiled at the bottom of society for years, it was a question that plainly didn't need answering.

Silently shaking his head, Father Hong strode back home, weary from the day. As soon as he entered, he called out, "Wife, is dinner ready?"

"What's the rush, the kid isn't even back from school yet."

"Look, isn't it because I'm hungry."

"Hungry, hungry, hungry, that's all you know, who isn't working all day?" Mother Hong complained. It used to be the men who cooked, but with the pandemic halting work in the fields and household income insecure, thankfully they had some savings. It's uncertain when this will end, especially now with the national migration coinciding with the peak of the pandemic. Honestly, Mother Hong didn't even feel like eating now.

After waiting about 20 minutes, their high school daughter finally returned home. Watching their daughter, whom they had raised since childhood, brought joy to the elderly couple, but also an inexplicable melancholy.

Unexpectedly, Father Hong, who usually enjoyed watching basketball while eating, forcibly switched the TV channel to a variety show his daughter liked. He spoke less, his face weighed down by deep thoughts.

The meal was not enjoyable; Father Hong felt both guilt and a myriad of helplessness in his heart. He wanted to compensate his daughter as much as possible—as a man, he felt inadequate for not being able to relocate his entire family. Each time he thought about it, Father Hong's food would stick in his throat.

The 16-year-old daughter, though unaware of what exactly had happened, sensed something was off, "Dad, isn't there a Bike match today? Aren't you watching?"

Little Hong asked curiously; Bike was her father's favorite athlete, sometimes he would stay up late just to watch a game, but he never took a day off, just like that athlete Bike, striving and persevering, continued self-discipline always being his personal label.

"No."

Father Hong shook his head, letting Little Hong watch whatever she liked, claiming he had some work issues to sort out in his room.

Just as Father Hong was about to leave, the phone suddenly rang.

Unlike usual, both Father Hong and Mother Hong's phones rang almost at the same time, displaying some strange numbers, probably some scam calls? Mother Hong didn't even answer, she just hung up.

However, Father Hong didn't have that habit, "Hello, good day."

The other side of the phone transmitted a synthesized voice: "Hello, Mr. Yan, in recognition of your contributions to society, you and your family have been selected for the 72nd Glorious Space City migration list. Please make sure to inform your family and bring your identification to Xinghai Street in the Star Space area within a week to wait for official rescue. We will keep a continuous watch over you."

Father Hong stood frozen in place...

Mother Hong and her daughter looked at each other, not knowing what to do. They have never seen such an incredulous expression on the face of this man who never seemed anxious about anything.

Just then, Mother Hong's phone rang again. Seeing Father Hong's astonished expression, she felt a sudden pang of dread. Could it be Little Hong, or perhaps her husband got into some trouble outside? Normally, scam calls wouldn't ring repeatedly. Combining this with her husband's shocked expression, Ms. Li couldn't help but overthink.

"Hello, Ms. Li, in recognition of your contributions to society, you and your family have been selected for the migration list to Glorious Space City No. 72. Please inform your family to bring their identification and go to Xinghai Avenue in the Starry Sky District within a week to wait for official rescue. We will keep a close eye on you."

Mother Hong was also stunned...

Finally, Little Hong couldn't sit still. Oh my God, first dad, now mom, could this scam call be brewing some conspiracy that even her parents can't handle?

One second, two seconds… five seconds went by just like that. Father Hong, still staring blankly at his phone, seemed as if he suddenly realized something. His somber expression was quickly replaced by surprise, followed by tears welling up in his eyes.

Even with ten thousand reasons, he couldn't have imagined such a surprise falling into his family's lap. Living in this wage-earning household, Father Hong did not think he and his wife had done anything significant for society, even hesitant about helping the elderly, yet such an ordinary family was recognized by the government for making a contribution to society — perhaps, just being a good person with a clean personal credit and abiding by the law is the greatest contribution to Saudi.

Father Hong's whole body trembled with barely concealed excitement, "Thank you, homeland, thank you General Kexiao."

The 16-year-old girl had some understanding of society and wasn't naive. The scene before her scared Little Hong; she had never imagined her father crying. She said worriedly, "Dad, daddy, are you… are you alright?"

Father Hong suddenly realized that he had lost his composure. He quickly wiped the corner of his eyes and laughed it off, insisting it was nothing. Just as the child grabbed the remote control, he snatched it back.

"Dad, didn't you say you'd leave the show for me to watch?"

Father Hong smiled mysteriously, pulled out several hundred RMB bills from his pocket extravagantly, then asked Little Hong to go downstairs to buy some barbecue for him. He wanted to drink a bit today, not stopping until he was completely drunk, and told her to spend the rest of the money. Wouldn't that be better than watching those variety shows?

Little Hong was stunned... Normally her mother strictly controlled the money, and her father was frugal, his pocket money quite limited, only giving her some small change, nowhere near as generous as today.

Looking at her mother, normally she would have nagged a bit, but today Mother Hong just gave a cold glance, not seeming too upset, merely muttering to eat quickly as the table still needed clearing, and went into the kitchen.

Although it felt strange, seeing no harm in strange things discouraged self-defeat, so Little Hong happily ran downstairs with the money to buy liquor.

"Wait."

Before she went downstairs, Father Hong suddenly called out to her, making her promise that no matter what, she couldn't mention this to anyone, whether it was her teachers or her close friends. Adults have their own judgment, but children are different, Father Hong believed she was a child who could keep secrets.

Only after seeing Little Hong nod did he contentedly return to the best spot to watch the soccer game — the sofa.

Similarly, many other families in the building had received the same official invitation from Saudi authorities, instructed to wait at a specific city location within a week for the official action.

Some people started packing their bags and contacting relatives upon receiving the message, while others weren't in a hurry at all, planning to withdraw money from the bank and buy necessities for future preparations.

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