Chapter 429: The End of the World

Ji Aojian drank coffee and flipped through the newspaper that the secretary had just delivered.

The New York Sun, the first popular newspaper in the United States, caters to the tastes of the lower classes, mainly publishing social news such as murder, robbery, trial, theft, etc., as well as all kinds of sensational shady news. Therefore, Ji Aojian was very suspicious, and the secretary chose this newspaper for himself, so that after he had read it, he could take it back and continue reading, so as to save a newspaper subscription fee.

Today's front-page headline once again lived up to expectations, with an earth-shattering super-heavy news: "The end of the world is approaching us!"

The article points out that since the arrival of Westerners in the Americas, a large number of Indians have been robbed and slaughtered, so the ancient Indian civilization, in despair and suffering, has issued a terrible curse with the most mysterious and terrible witchcraft to destroy the whole world together, and now it is less than 20 years away.

In order to prove the authenticity of this curse, the newspapers published many pictures of Indian worship rituals, as well as experts' interpretations of ancient ruins and historical rumors, as well as various anecdotes of unknown disappearances after entering Indian tribes.

"Sarah, what do you think about the end of the world?"

"I think these experts have a good point, and the end of the world may be true. ”

"What if, in 1861, the end of the world had not come?"

"That's not a bad thing, we can relax and move on with our lives. ”

"I'm afraid I can't relax. Ji Aojian said casually. "At that time, there will be a prophecy of the next end of the world. ”

Sarah wondered, "Why does the end of the world keep updating the date?" If this prophecy is not fulfilled, will everyone believe in the curse of the Indians again?"

"When the curse of the Indians runs out, you can also use the legends of the Azcons and the Mayans. When the ancient civilizations of the Americas run out, you can also develop the prophecies of the ancient Egyptians, ancient Babylonians, ancient Greeks, ancient Persians, and ancient Chinese. Ji Aojian said leisurely, "These ancient civilizations have left many great traces, and there are some phenomena that cannot be explained by modern science. Hence the mystery of enough. If there is enough suspense, then if some prophecies are found from these civilizations, pushing back pictures or something, you can reveal the arrival of the end of the world. ”

"What phenomena are there that science can't explain?"

"For example, the pyramids of ancient Egypt. Not only is the technology so high that modern civilization cannot replicate it, but all archaeologists who enter it are said to have been cursed by the pharaoh and died one by one over a period of years to more than ten years. ”

"So amazing?"

"In China. There is also a place called the Mausoleum of the Qin Emperor. The magnificent and ornate construction pattern is unimaginable, and although it has not been discovered until now, there are constant rumors of tomb robbers breaking in and sending them to their deaths. And it is believed that there is an immortal army inside, ready to rush out and conquer the world at any time. ”

In short, ancient civilizations are mysterious, casual contact will kill people, and the level of technology is beyond imagination, so they leave behind curses or prophecies. It must be real, and the end of the world is definitely coming.

Sarah asked. "If these ancient civilizations can bring about the end of the world casually, how come they no longer exist by themselves?"

"You don't have to care if these ancient civilizations exist or not. Ji Aojian looked at her and said, "Let's just say that you read the news of the end of the world from the newspaper today, what do you feel in your heart?"

"What does it feel like?" the secretary pondered, "I feel like life has no meaning anymore, and I'm going to have a good meal after work." ”

"That's right. Ji Aojian clapped his hands, "You found that the end of the world was coming in more than ten years, so you naturally had the idea that life is too short and you should be happy in time." If everyone thinks the same way as you, the consumption behavior of the whole society will be greatly improved. ”

Sarah thought for a moment, then suddenly became surprised. "Mr. Gilreve, do you mean that the so-called end of the world is actually to coax the masses into promoting consumption?"

"Otherwise, what do you think?" Ji Aojian said earnestly, "Miss Sarah, when you are seventy years old, you will find that you have already had several experiences in your life to welcome the 'end of the world', and the next 'end of the world' is also coming to you. ”

"Is that really the case?"

"You can notice that every 'end of the world' will be more than ten years or twenty or thirty years from now. Ji Ao Kendo, "It is precisely because the end of the world will happen in the foreseeable future that people's psychology will be affected and there will be an impulse to consume." If the end of the world is two hundred years away, then who cares?"

"But if you experience the 'end of the world' once, and many members of the public will know that the concept is false, will there still be enthusiasm for consumption?"

"It doesn't matter, every 'apocalyptic' cycle is exactly about a generation. Ji Aojian sighed, "In this way, the young people in the society have never experienced the baptism of the previous 'end of the world', they are the most convinced and have doomsday feelings, and young people are the main consumers, so the design purpose of 'the end of the world' has been achieved." ”

"Mr. Gilref, your words are very reasonable. Sarah said with emotion, "The level of this scam is so high that it can deceive people all over the world from generation to generation, and the public will not notice it at all." The financial speculation scams on Wall Street are nothing compared to this. ”

The reason why developed countries have finally become over-consuming societies is that these apocalyptic legends have slowly laid the foundation of consumer culture.

People who are able to eat and drink enough will be interested in some mystical theories about the ultimate fate of human beings, and they can also feel an atmosphere of humanistic care. And the people of the third world countries, when they have eaten the last meal and the next meal, who is interested in paying attention to the end of the world.

Ji Aojian smiled, "Then Miss Sarah, do you still want to go for a big meal after work?"

Sarah said without thinking, "I want to go even more." ”

"Why?" Ji Aojian was surprised, "Haven't you understood the nature of 'The End of the World'?"

"Because I knew the news that the end of the world was coming, I was nervous all the time, and then I was told by you, and now I'm relaxed again. "And so I felt even hungrier." ”

“......”

Ji Aojian wordlessly flipped the newspaper to the next page, and saw another shocking headline jump into his eyes:

"The Famous Stockbroker Miss Dixia Encounters Her Third Assassination in Five Days!"

Sarah sighed, "Mr. Gilref, how hated your agent is, and the frequency of assassinations is too high." ”

"She has always liked to do things that are angry and resentful, and it has long been commonplace to be hunted and killed. ”

"I was envious that this lady was able to enter the exchange floor in a short period of time and get into the middle of Wall Street. Sarah said with trepidation, "But now I realize that even if I could do what she did, I don't know how many times I would have to die." ”

"She's not called the wind and water, but the bloody rain. Ji Aojian said casually, "However, anyway, good people don't live long, and disasters live for thousands of years, so don't worry about her." ”

"But it's not always the way to go. Sarah thought for a moment and made a suggestion, "Mr. Gilref, you should buy her an insurance, it is very likely that she will need it." I know a friend who is in the insurance business, would I like to introduce you to him?"

"This is really a good idea!" Ji Aojian was overjoyed, "You can buy a large amount of insurance on my behalf, the higher the premium, the better, and the beneficiary remember to fill in my name." ”

"Huh?" said Sarah, stunned, "what do you mean by that?"

"I don't understand what I mean, you just buy death insurance, injury insurance or anything else without thinking about it. ”

With a bang, the office door was slammed open, and "Miss Dixia" appeared in front of the two of them with anger on her face.

"Sarah, you can leave work early now. ”

Ji Aojian said calmly, "The end of the world is coming, you should hurry up and have a good meal." ”

"Okay. Sarah nodded repeatedly, packed up her papers and walked to the door, turning around and shouting, "Mr. Gillieve, don't worry, I'll go to a friend to buy insurance after dinner, and the beneficiary will fill in your name." (To be continued......)