05-21-2026, 08:59 PM
The sunlight peaking above the buildings awoke Joseph Zhang, as he opened his eyes and began to gain consciousness, his home AI system, known as Muwei greeted him.
“Good morning, Mr Zhang” Muwei said in a feminine voice
As Joseph rubbed the sleep from his aged eyes, the blinds began to slowly open.
“What time is it?”
“8:47 am, would you like to know the time in Pindai?”
“No, it’s just an hour behind anyway. Disable early-morning time notifications unless asked.”
“Understood, you have a 9:15 meeting with Jenny.”
“I do?” Joseph said as he opened his closet door, looking for a semi-formal outfit. He picked out a yellow long-sleeve polo and light grey pants.
“What is the rest of my schedule, Muwei?”
“You have an 11:00 meeting with Peter Jia on the topic of the Centering Slokais then a 1:30 appearance on Harvest News at the Bayside Towers Office. Would you like me to continue?”
“No, this look will suit me just fine. Set a reminder before I leave to grab my Presidential Jacket.”
“Understood, Mr Zhang.”
Joseph Zhang, the former President, lived in a high-rise overlooking the San Fernando River. 35 stories up, he had an excellent view of the San Fernando skyline, yet also the ocean to his north. It was a mild spring day, and he sat on the balcony drinking herbal tea and a breakfast tomato and egg scramble. His tech friends had encouraged him to purchase a unit with a built-in AI system known as Muwei. It could even order and cook food, yet the former banker appreciated the human effort that came with cooking breakfast. Plus it never quite got the right blend of spicy sesame spread he would dip his eggs into.
Joseph was glad he had become a political outcast, kicked from his own political party after a poor performance in the last election let him to connect with what really matters, family and faith. The proclaimed Minjian faithful had spent much of his adult life separated and also let his wife Michelle walk out the door with his kids. In the last few months, he has made an effort to connect with his 6 kids, from 2 separate marriages, and especially his youngest daughter, Jenny.
In a bedroom, hundreds of miles away in the city of Pindai. Jenny Wiliams-Zhang’s smartphone buzzed on her nightstand. She crawled out of bed before picking up the phone.
“Hello?” she said
“I can’t see you, turn your camera on” her father asked
Jenny quickly scanned her room, she didn’t have any offending materials which would displease her father (alcohol, a friend which he didn’t approve of..etc). She also quickly threw on a plain non-offensive T-shirt over herself before turning her camera on the Talk app, (an app developed originally by her step-mother Michelle Jia). She wondered if her peers at university had such a complex family dynamic. Probably not.
“Hello…?” her father said
“Sorry, just a technical issue with something,” Jenny said as her face became visible to her father.
“You look tired.”
“I guess” Jenny said
“Have you thought about the Prosper offer? It can really get your career started,” her father said, referring to the political action group he was building
“Yes, although it’s not necessarily my kind of politics to be honest”
“It’s not about left vs right, it’s about us as moral Minjian faithful, are you saying you don’t feel connected to your faith?” her father asked questioning her
“...It’s not that” Jenny said, considering her next words carefully.
“Mom has commissioned some designs from me. I don’t mean to play favorite’s, but design is my passion”
“..I see” her father said, as he searched for a response.
“It’s not the political affiliation, it’s doing something I enjoy. I’ve actually been taking this class by Professor Paul Chen. He talks about doing what you love as a form of political engagement”
“It’s sad to see you deceived like this, Jenny” her father said
“I’m not being deceived, your the one trying to deceive me”
“Paul Chen is a dangerous radical, he promotes an ideology of disunification and a federationalism which some could consider treason”
“How? He makes excellent points. The reason this country has failed to succeed isn’t conflict or the economy it’s the rigid neo-colonial structure with New Liverpool at it’s center”
“So be it, I shall pray to Anmin the Celestial Teacher, that your study shall be prosperous and enlightened,” her father said before ending the call.
Joseph sighed. He knew she should have attended Pindai Covenant University instead of Pindai U. It had become a bastion of radical and dangerous ideas and had brought shame in professional spheres. Yet, she was still his favorite daughter. His other children were older; they had drifted away and started families of their own. He was, however, locked in a battle with Anna Williams, the Centrist Party Chair in Pindai and his ex-wife, over his daughter's future. The two hadn’t spoken much since she had been a deciding vote in the external expulsion from the Centrist Party. Just a thumbs down back in 23’ and a handshake at Jenny’s graduation in 24’.
Joseph Zhang hadn’t stopped working, however. The party needed him. It had been shifting away from the base in Pindai and the Minjian Belt towards occupying a middle ground. Yet, the ground was unstable, and the roots were not as deep. The dai yu were no longer interested in supporting the Centrist Party. And that name wasn’t even his choice to begin with. The Center Party held a legacy back to the 1890s, and it was thrown away for a temporary period of identity between the two biggest parties, the Conservative and National Alliance. That party had always given the Ren people space and opportunities. Alexander Lin was the President back in the 1920s, even as armed gangs burned Komuntias Ren. His people needed him, even his party needed him. That’s why Joseph Zhang had formed Centering Slokais, a think tank as well as a political action committee in 2024. He didn’t bother to get his party to take him back. The masses, the voters, the donors, and the instruments of change were being rebuilt.
“Good morning, Mr Zhang” Muwei said in a feminine voice
As Joseph rubbed the sleep from his aged eyes, the blinds began to slowly open.
“What time is it?”
“8:47 am, would you like to know the time in Pindai?”
“No, it’s just an hour behind anyway. Disable early-morning time notifications unless asked.”
“Understood, you have a 9:15 meeting with Jenny.”
“I do?” Joseph said as he opened his closet door, looking for a semi-formal outfit. He picked out a yellow long-sleeve polo and light grey pants.
“What is the rest of my schedule, Muwei?”
“You have an 11:00 meeting with Peter Jia on the topic of the Centering Slokais then a 1:30 appearance on Harvest News at the Bayside Towers Office. Would you like me to continue?”
“No, this look will suit me just fine. Set a reminder before I leave to grab my Presidential Jacket.”
“Understood, Mr Zhang.”
Joseph Zhang, the former President, lived in a high-rise overlooking the San Fernando River. 35 stories up, he had an excellent view of the San Fernando skyline, yet also the ocean to his north. It was a mild spring day, and he sat on the balcony drinking herbal tea and a breakfast tomato and egg scramble. His tech friends had encouraged him to purchase a unit with a built-in AI system known as Muwei. It could even order and cook food, yet the former banker appreciated the human effort that came with cooking breakfast. Plus it never quite got the right blend of spicy sesame spread he would dip his eggs into.
Joseph was glad he had become a political outcast, kicked from his own political party after a poor performance in the last election let him to connect with what really matters, family and faith. The proclaimed Minjian faithful had spent much of his adult life separated and also let his wife Michelle walk out the door with his kids. In the last few months, he has made an effort to connect with his 6 kids, from 2 separate marriages, and especially his youngest daughter, Jenny.
In a bedroom, hundreds of miles away in the city of Pindai. Jenny Wiliams-Zhang’s smartphone buzzed on her nightstand. She crawled out of bed before picking up the phone.
“Hello?” she said
“I can’t see you, turn your camera on” her father asked
Jenny quickly scanned her room, she didn’t have any offending materials which would displease her father (alcohol, a friend which he didn’t approve of..etc). She also quickly threw on a plain non-offensive T-shirt over herself before turning her camera on the Talk app, (an app developed originally by her step-mother Michelle Jia). She wondered if her peers at university had such a complex family dynamic. Probably not.
“Hello…?” her father said
“Sorry, just a technical issue with something,” Jenny said as her face became visible to her father.
“You look tired.”
“I guess” Jenny said
“Have you thought about the Prosper offer? It can really get your career started,” her father said, referring to the political action group he was building
“Yes, although it’s not necessarily my kind of politics to be honest”
“It’s not about left vs right, it’s about us as moral Minjian faithful, are you saying you don’t feel connected to your faith?” her father asked questioning her
“...It’s not that” Jenny said, considering her next words carefully.
“Mom has commissioned some designs from me. I don’t mean to play favorite’s, but design is my passion”
“..I see” her father said, as he searched for a response.
“It’s not the political affiliation, it’s doing something I enjoy. I’ve actually been taking this class by Professor Paul Chen. He talks about doing what you love as a form of political engagement”
“It’s sad to see you deceived like this, Jenny” her father said
“I’m not being deceived, your the one trying to deceive me”
“Paul Chen is a dangerous radical, he promotes an ideology of disunification and a federationalism which some could consider treason”
“How? He makes excellent points. The reason this country has failed to succeed isn’t conflict or the economy it’s the rigid neo-colonial structure with New Liverpool at it’s center”
“So be it, I shall pray to Anmin the Celestial Teacher, that your study shall be prosperous and enlightened,” her father said before ending the call.
Joseph sighed. He knew she should have attended Pindai Covenant University instead of Pindai U. It had become a bastion of radical and dangerous ideas and had brought shame in professional spheres. Yet, she was still his favorite daughter. His other children were older; they had drifted away and started families of their own. He was, however, locked in a battle with Anna Williams, the Centrist Party Chair in Pindai and his ex-wife, over his daughter's future. The two hadn’t spoken much since she had been a deciding vote in the external expulsion from the Centrist Party. Just a thumbs down back in 23’ and a handshake at Jenny’s graduation in 24’.
Joseph Zhang hadn’t stopped working, however. The party needed him. It had been shifting away from the base in Pindai and the Minjian Belt towards occupying a middle ground. Yet, the ground was unstable, and the roots were not as deep. The dai yu were no longer interested in supporting the Centrist Party. And that name wasn’t even his choice to begin with. The Center Party held a legacy back to the 1890s, and it was thrown away for a temporary period of identity between the two biggest parties, the Conservative and National Alliance. That party had always given the Ren people space and opportunities. Alexander Lin was the President back in the 1920s, even as armed gangs burned Komuntias Ren. His people needed him, even his party needed him. That’s why Joseph Zhang had formed Centering Slokais, a think tank as well as a political action committee in 2024. He didn’t bother to get his party to take him back. The masses, the voters, the donors, and the instruments of change were being rebuilt.
<t>The Federation of Slokais Islands- fighting for freedom and democracy</t>