May 4th, Youth Day in the Republic of China. This was not a national holiday; only high school and university students participated in relevant activities. In the afternoon, Zhao Tianlin, the General Convener of the International Human Rights Organization Presidium, picked up his daughter from the Junior High School affiliated with Fudan University in Shanghai and headed straight for the reserved restaurant.

His little daughter chatted while dragging Zhao Tianlin along. Although it was all childish talk, Zhao Tianlin still listened happily. He had been running around all these years and didn't have much time to accompany his family. At this moment, he was invited by his alma mater, Harvard University, to go to the United States to attend Harvard's 140th anniversary celebration. Once gone, it would be at least three or four months. Being with his daughter at this moment made him feel very happy.

The little girl chattered on and suddenly remembered that today was Youth Day, so she asked, "Dad, why is today Youth Day?"

"Because 11 years ago, in 1919, the May Fourth Movement broke out. That was the first time young students collectively threw themselves into the action of saving the country and the people." Zhao Tianlin explained to his daughter, but a feeling of a world away arose in his heart. 11 years ago wasn't too long ago; Zhao Tianlin could even remember going to Northeast University, asking students to demonstrate in an orderly manner and not to affect the normal life of citizens. 11 years later, everything has changed. It wasn't just things changing and people changing, but the world turning upside down.

His daughter didn't feel her father's mood and asked puzzledly, "Dad, don't we have a coming-of-age ceremony in Chinese tradition? Why not use that day as Youth Day?"

Zhao Tianlin couldn't help smiling. "Haha, then tell me, which day is the coming-of-age ceremony?"

The little girl only knew about the coming-of-age ceremony but didn't know the details. Stumped by her father, she simply grabbed her father's arm. "Dad, tell me about it."

This bit of knowledge didn't stump Zhao Tianlin at all, so he explained to his daughter. The pre-Qin coming-of-age ceremony was characterized by a change in clothing, the most special being the cap and hairpin on the head. Therefore, the male coming-of-age ceremony was called "Capping Ceremony" (Guan Li), and the female one was called "Hairpinning Ceremony" (Ji Li).

The age for holding the coming-of-age ceremony was fixed at twenty for men, while for women, it depended on whether they were betrothed. Those betrothed performed the Hairpinning Ceremony at fifteen; otherwise, they also performed it at twenty. The coming-of-age ceremony was held individually, the location chosen in the sacred place of the ancestral temple, and the date determined by divination. On the day of the ceremony, the host had to invite friends and relatives to observe for it to be formal.

Listening to her father's narration, the little girl understood. It turned out that China's coming-of-age ceremony had a fixed age but no fixed day. Afraid her father would criticize her, she quickly said, "Dad, you are so knowledgeable."

Zhao Tianlin knew his daughter's little thoughts and didn't want to say much. But as an educator, Zhao Tianlin couldn't help saying, "To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge."

Perhaps the little girl didn't want to say anything about this matter. Or maybe seeing her mother waiting at the restaurant entrance, she shouted, "Mom," and dragged Zhao Tianlin running quickly toward her mother. The family reunited in front of the restaurant and entered together happily.

The meal was sumptuous. When they were almost done eating, Zhao Tianlin told his wife and daughter about his upcoming departure for the United States. Mrs. Zhao frowned slightly. "I always feel that Harvard University shouldn't be only 140 years old."

"Madam, you are right." Zhao Tianlin nodded in agreement. Harvard University's predecessor was established in 1636, originally created by the Massachusetts Bay Colony legislature, initially named "New College." To commemorate Reverend John Harvard who gave generous support to the college in its early days, the school was renamed "Harvard College" in March 1639. In 1780, Harvard College was officially renamed "Harvard University."

Mrs. Zhao already felt that the US was deliberately promoting Sino-US friendship, and she was even more certain after hearing her husband's introduction. Mrs. Zhao sighed. "If it were to give lectures, that would be fine, but it's just an anniversary celebration. Do you really have to go?"

Zhao Tianlin's daughter looked unhappy at this moment, pulling Zhao Tianlin and pleading, "Dad, don't go. Stay home with me. I want you to pick me up from school every day."

Zhao Tianlin's heart softened, but he knew he couldn't agree to his daughter's request. He forced a smile. "Be good. Going to the US now doesn't require a month at sea. Flying from China to Europe takes at most four or five days. From Western Europe to the US, at most a week. I won't stay long in the US this time; I'll be back in a month."

Mrs. Zhao knew that although her husband had left the government, he couldn't stay idle. As a world-renowned scholar, Zhao Tianlin was an honorary professor at several famous universities in Europe and had to go to Europe for academic exchanges for a few months every year. Now that China's international status was soaring and the US was in an economic crisis, the US naturally hoped to establish closer economic and trade relations with China. This letter was personally delivered to Zhao Tianlin by the Consul of the US Consulate in Shanghai. It was evident that Harvard University held the same position as the US government on this matter.

Mrs. Zhao pulled her daughter to her side and advised, "Your father won't be gone for months this time. You just study hard at home. When your father comes back, show him your exam results."

With this said, Zhao Tianlin's daughter didn't dare to fuss anymore. Zhao Tianlin had always been serious about his children's studies. Although Mrs. Zhao had been taking care of the children at home these years, every time Zhao Tianlin inspected the children's learning progress, the little girl found it a bit overwhelming.

On May 6, Zhao Tianlin took his luggage, bid farewell to his family, and headed straight for the airport. Zhao Tianlin was actually a bit excited on this trip because the plane to Europe was China's latest model, flying on an international route for the first time.

Boarding the plane, Zhao Tianlin saw many foreigners on board. Hearing the rolling r's when they spoke, they should be Soviet personnel visiting China. Zhao Tianlin didn't converse with them either; he took out documents and started reading. As a non-governmental person, Zhao Tianlin was now famous worldwide as the General Convener of the International Human Rights Organization Presidium. European and American governments were very dissatisfied with Zhao Tianlin's work. The International Human Rights Organization had branches in various countries, and the branch in each country had to submit at least one human rights report every year. These reports naturally couldn't be praises, and various national governments disliked the content of reports on their own human rights situations quite a bit. Many pro-government media in various countries called members of the International Human Rights Organization "muckrakers," accusing the organization of only knowing how to describe the worst side of each country.

Zhao Tianlin believed such reports were very valuable. In this world already full of sin, if those crimes weren't exposed and noticed by the public, the world couldn't progress. Moreover, among all countries, only China and the Soviet Union would truly improve their own problems. Other countries basically wouldn't make any improvements. For example, the United States; two years ago there was the issue of American slave labor, and up to now, it was still "a nephew looking for his uncle with a lantern"—the same as before (a Chinese pun implying things remain unchanged).

According to the report of the US branch of the International Human Rights Organization, the number of child laborers in the US far exceeded slave laborers. Since US law supported the use of child labor in industrial and agricultural fields, there was not even a chance for legal prosecution. Child laborers in the US were not the kind of children who helped out at home after school, but dolls used as labor force. Since the US didn't adopt an 8-hour workday, child laborers not only received one-quarter of an adult's wages but also worked 8-12 hours a day.

Currently, the US was plunged into a Great Economic Crisis, and the environment for millions of child laborers in the US was even worse. Black-hearted American enterprises didn't even pay child laborers wages, just providing a meal.

Zhao Tianlin finished reading the report and looked at his watch; two hours had passed. Closing the document, Zhao Tianlin felt very bad. According to the US political system, solving the child labor problem would be impossible without decades. Zhao Tianlin at this time didn't expect that he was still too optimistic. In He Rui's timeline, after 2030, that is, 100 years from now, US law still allowed the use of child labor. US states hadn't made much progress in protecting child laborers; although child labor situations decreased, the exploitation they suffered hadn't lightened.

The noise in the cabin was quite loud, and Zhao Tianlin soon became drowsy. He simply put on earplugs and closed his eyes to rest. Until a burst of cheers woke Zhao Tianlin up, only then did he realize he had actually fallen asleep. Those cheering were the Soviets. Zhao Tianlin couldn't figure out why this group of Russians was so excited. His secretary said to him with an excited face, "Professor Zhao, we will enter Soviet territory in less than two hours."

Zhao Tianlin felt the time was wrong; if the plane stopped casually in the middle, it would be more than two hours. Before he could ask, the secretary immediately explained, "Professor Zhao, this new plane can fly continuously for 7-8 hours. If we don't encounter particularly bad weather, it can fly 4,000 kilometers continuously. At this speed, we'll arrive in Amsterdam tomorrow."

Pushing his glasses, Zhao Tianlin saw those Soviet personnel chatting happily, looking jubilant. Zhao Tianlin felt that if these people were happy about being able to go home sooner, it completely matched the convenience brought by the ultra-long range of China's new aircraft. They might not necessarily reach Amsterdam tomorrow, but they could reach Moscow tomorrow no matter what. Most Soviet personnel on business trips to China departed from Moscow.

Zhao Tianlin wanted to ask something else but stopped. Because a thought popped up: if the range of this new airliner exceeded 4,000 kilometers, it could take off from Amsterdam, fly over the Atlantic, and land directly in New York. After all, American pilots had already flown over the Atlantic two years ago, proving that airplanes could completely complete such a task. If so, it was entirely possible for Zhao Tianlin to travel round trip between Shanghai and the US East Coast within half a month.

Thinking of being able to go home early, Zhao Tianlin couldn't help getting excited. But after asking the flight attendant, Zhao Tianlin learned that there were no air routes opened between China and the US yet. Even if Chinese planes could really fly over the Atlantic, entering US airspace would be considered illegal entry. Learning this news, Zhao Tianlin sighed. Amidst the regret, another thought arose: *Could I push for something in this regard?* Personnel exchanges between China and the US would only increase in the future, and fast commercial flight routes would be good for both countries. If it could really be opened, Zhao Tianlin would never have to struggle mentally about whether to go to Europe for business trips again.