Chapter 60 Are Those Born in the Nineties a Lost Generation?

August 1st, 9:00 AM.

"Actually, I have a lot to say!"

"Over the past twenty-something years, I have seen far too many children stray from the right path and ruin their lives!"

"Especially the post-90s generation nowadays..."

"They don't even compare to the post-80s generation. The post-80s were diligent, hardworking, admired Western culture, and knew how to learn..."

"And what about the kids today? Lazy, lacking a sense of personal responsibility, selfish, addicted to virtual worlds. Today they chase this celebrity, tomorrow that celebrity. The moment a cassette tape comes out, they swarm to buy it..."

"I have many such children around me. They sleep in until the sun is high every day, idling away their time. They never read books on weekends, always leave their summer homework until the very last day, and throw something together just to get it over with..."

"I truly cannot imagine what kind of adults the children of this era will turn into..."

"..."

"..."

*Today* is a documentary-style program.

Produced by the Zhejiang Television Station, it is a thought-provoking show specifically dedicated to reflecting on various social and generational phenomena.

Many of its topics are highly controversial.

The show once featured an episode comparing a young, overnight-famous school dropout writer with a straight-A, piano-playing girl who was sent abroad to study at a young age...

The rebellious teenage writer, raw and green, refused to stay cornered as experts surrounded him from all sides. Meanwhile, the talented piano girl wore a radiant smile, naturally exuding an intangible sense of superiority as she spoke about going abroad for advanced studies and returning later to serve her motherland.

Such words won applause and cheers from parents and experts alike...

In this era, the American dream was still fresh, the American air was still sweet, and even the mainstream media genuinely believed that the United States was a sacred country.

The viewership ratings for that episode were terrifyingly high, at times surpassing many prime-time dramas on the network. Online discussions remained white-hot, with countless people criticizing the boy's rebellion and viewing him as a representative of the ruined post-90s generation.

After that episode concluded, the planning team found the formula for high ratings and began hunting for their next, even more controversial target.

That target was video games!

For parents, video games had always been a terrifying presence, something whose very name made them turn pale.

Even many schoolteachers felt that gaming was an electronic opium that wasted people's minds—a ferocious flood or wild beast that had to be fiercely resisted and ruthlessly crushed!

However...

The harder you resisted, the more students would sneak out to play games and pull all-nighters at internet cafes...

Such phenomena were commonplace in newspapers and media. Moreover, as internet cafes began to multiply and computers stopped being rare novelties, these phenomena became even more prevalent!

The emergence of new things always impacts a multitude of things.

And the post-90s generation found themselves caught right in the middle of this awkward transitional period.

Subaoh game consoles, TV games, arcade games, PC games, MP3 players, MP4 players, pop music, idol groups...

They were constantly confronting all kinds of temptations!

How could they possibly find the heart to study?

"Take a look at today's internet cafes and video game parlors—how many of them are minors, how many are post-90s?"

"The post-90s are pretty much the epitome of a ruined generation..."

Su Bin, a teacher at Hangzhou No. 1 High School, was one of the guest speakers invited by the production crew.

As a veteran educator who had devoted twenty years of his life to the school system with unwavering dedication, Su Bin simply had too much to say about the current social phenomena.

In front of the camera, his face was etched with deep concern as he faced the reporter.

He led the production crew on an undercover investigation, passing by arcade halls and internet cafes one after another.

Aside from a few places that had caught wind of them in advance and shut their doors, the reporters always managed to catch a few minors red-handed...

When internet cafe owners spotted the camera, their faces instantly turned white with fear!

"This era... truly, if you ask me, these kids are completely hopeless!"

Emerging from an internet cafe, Su Bin dragged out a few students whose faces were blurred out in post-production. Frustrated by their lack of ambition, he gritted his teeth in anger.

"If you ask me, video games are even more detestable than drugs. They not only ravage a person's physical body but also ruin their spirit..."

"Many unscrupulous gaming companies came up with prepaid cards and microtransactions. When underage students don't have money, what do they do? They steal, they rob..."

"How many lives have been ruined by games?"

"Speaking of this, I'm reminded of a heavily discussed online post from earlier. I remember the post claimed that gaming is a sport, that it will eventually enter the Asian Games, and that it will even adopt a club system just like football, ultimately bringing honor to the country?"

"I find that utterly laughable. A game is just a game; what can it possibly use to bring honor to the country? Winning at video games counts as bringing honor?"

"And what about those so-called Subaoh consoles? They operate under the guise of learning machines, but what they actually make are addictive games that deceive parents' feelings, cheat them out of money, and ruin their children's studies..."

"Here, I must once again mention that individual, Zhang Yang..."

He was the epitome of an opportunist!

"Look at that—what did he call it? *Crazy Beating Alpaca*! Isn't that encouraging people to curse?"

"I've seen that game; it's filled with bloodshed and violence, severely warping the values of minors and even adults, and leading them into crime!"

"Games like that should indeed be banned!"

"And now, I've seen the news that he seems to be making games once again under the guise of so-called education?"

The sunlight was brilliant.

Before the camera, Su Bin poured out endless criticisms.

He walked past a "Bluebird" computer retail store.

On the shop window hung a sign: *"A new shipment of Bluebird computers has arrived. The student-version study game 'God of Strategy' comes pre-installed for free to boost your studies and help you ace the high school entrance exams!"*

Upon seeing these words, he pointed directly at the computer store.

To his surprise, he noticed a long queue of parents waiting outside the entrance.

A sudden sense of sorrow welled up inside him.

"Not only do they refuse to repent, but now they're hiding behind the banner of education while doing things that mislead the youth!"

"If this isn't defrauding people of their money, what is it?"

"A study game? That's completely confusing concepts!"

"Pity the hearts of parents everywhere—how many more people are going to be conned?"

"Sigh..."

"..."

Along the way, Su Bin voiced a multitude of criticisms in front of the camera.

By the time he returned home, it was nearly twelve o'clock!

He intended to invite the production crew and reporters out for lunch so they could continue discussing the current state of the post-90s generation.

However...

The moment he stepped through his front door...

He was suddenly greeted by a sight that nearly gave him a cerebral hemorrhage!

"Cut this part out! Don't film this!"

"Stop filming, cut it!"

"..."

In front of the camera...

Su Bin's wife was cheerfully carrying a computer, pulling along a fourteen-year-old child who was grinning brightly. They had just finished setting up the PC and were in the midst of launching the computer game inside.

And the content of that game...

Was precisely *God of Strategy*.

Su Bin's face drained of color...

He rushed forward in a panic.

"Why did you buy a computer?"

"Our son's English is bad, and I happened to see this ad online, so I bought it to let him try it out..."

"Zhang Yang is a fraud, a con artist! How could you—"

"A computer had to be bought sooner or later anyway, so we might as well get it while there's a promotional event. Besides, Bluebird computers are endorsed by Zhou Yang; you know very well that our child's favorite is Zhou Yang..."

"Sigh, an indulgent mother ruins her child! Do you know how crucial this period is for a child? How could you... you're leading him astray, hurry up and return the computer..."

"Return it? Do you know what the future trend is? Not understanding computers makes you illiterate. Who are you to be like an old fossil who doesn't even know how to type or use the Wubi input method? Do you want our child to lose at the starting line? You keep running your mouth about the post-90s being a ruined generation, but weren't there ruined individuals in your own generation too?"

"You—"

Inside the frame.

Su Bin's family began to bicker.

Su Bin hurriedly gestured for them to stop recording, but how could the production crew possibly let go of such an opportunity?

Zhang Liang, the head of the planning team, immediately signaled the crew to position their cameras and furiously film the family of three!

This was prime material for viewership ratings; how could they possibly miss it!

"Teacher Su, how about this: let's let the child play the game first. Our show has a massive exposure impact; if it truly involves consumer fraud, we can serve as a warning to all parents while reporting it to the relevant authorities, fulfilling our media's absolute right and duty of public oversight!..."

"Or, if you're afraid of your child coming into contact with this game, we can test play it ourselves instead? What do you think?"

"..."

Zhang Liang pulled Su Bin aside and spoke earnestly.

Hearing this, Su Bin paused to think carefully. He realized it actually made sense, so he subconsciously nodded.

Then, hesitating for a moment, he ultimately allowed his wife to let their child try the game.

Just in case...

It could serve as a countermeasure!

"Camera angles adjusted!"

"We can begin!"

"OK!"

With a hand gesture from Zhang Liang to the staff, a new round of recording officially commenced.

Meanwhile, Su Bin's son, Su Xiao, sat in the computer chair and launched *God of Strategy*.

"Welcome to *God of Strategy*!"

"Before the game begins, we will conduct a brief assessment to pair you with your guardian Goddess of Fortune, who will assist you in clearing the levels..."

"Please enter your exam scores..."

"..."

A series of subjects popped up on the screen.

Math, English, Science, Politics...

When the child finished inputting his scores and the English grade of 60 appeared, Su Bin instantly felt as though he had lost all face, deeply embarrassed.

This kid...

His English had indeed been receiving constant tutoring, but no matter how much he studied, his grades simply refused to go up, as if he had a congenital immunity to English...

"Thank you for your cooperation. Based on your initial data, we have assigned you the Goddess Athena. Goddess Athena excels in all forms of foreign language communication... and will better guide you forward!"

"However, Goddess Athena must also test you. She needs to test whether you are qualified to face the challenges ahead..."

"For the next ten minutes, you will enter the simulated battlefield..."

"Inside the simulated battlefield, you will rely on your own strength to forge and strengthen your natal weapon..."

"A/B/C/D..."

"..."

Su Bin stared blankly at the game...

The game screen transitioned into a scene.

The character controlled by Su Xiao entered the environment, using the directional arrow keys along with the 'S' and 'D' keys to attack monsters.

As for these monsters, 26 letters would randomly appear on their bodies—some uppercase, some lowercase!

They wandered around in a random, chaotic pattern. To attack these monsters, you had to defeat them and arrange all the letters—formed from the monsters' souls—in alphabetical order (case-sensitive) onto the sword held by the protagonist within a limited timeframe...

The combat impact of this game was exceptionally strong. Every attack triggered monster screeches, alongside responsive dodge mechanics, resulting in remarkably smooth controls.

Su Xiao had a blast playing it!

"Isn't this just the basic 26-letter alphabet sequence?"

"..."

"No wait, this game actually serves to reinforce memory. The design of these monsters seems to be... modeled after the shapes of the 26 letters..."

"Does this mean learning English starting from the very basics?"

"No, it seems to be more than just that!"

"..."

Standing nearby, Zhang Liang watched as Su Xiao skillfully maneuvered the protagonist with a sword to slaughter enemies with exhilarating flair. He blinked slightly, suddenly realizing that the imagery of the 26 letter-monsters was exceptionally striking!

"Haha, this game is too easy. Who doesn't know the order of the 26 letters!"

When all 26 monster souls were successfully lined up along the sword blade, the sword emitted a blinding, intense radiance.

It was dazzling and overwhelmingly cool, fixing Su Xiao's eyes in a wide stare.

Children naturally harbored a sense of worship for glowing weapons of this kind.

"..."

This game genuinely seemed to have an element of gamified learning after all?