We Came Here to Retire, Not to Rule

[Retirement-age power ceiling, unconventional world-saving, a middle-aged and elderly protagonist ensemble, laid-back anti-tropes] “Congratulations, you’ve been selected to represent human civilization. Would you like to join the Elite Group or the Retirement Group?” When the cosmic civilization selection began, retired teacher Lin Wanzhao had just finished her square dancing session. She casually chose the Retirement Group, grabbed her knitting needles, and headed into the interstellar arena with her square-dancing buddies... While elite contestants showed off high-powered weapons, these grannies and grandpas used tai chi to deflect planet-destroying cannons, knitted mysterious halos with the tips of their needles, used “Jasmine Flower” to get alien plants putting on concerts and growing like crazy, and stir-fried food to molecular resonance with “The Most Dazzling Ethnic Style,” creating an incredible flavor... The interstellar bigwigs looked on in bafflement, while the grannies and grandpas remained perfectly calm: First, finish knitting the socks, then take a soak in a starry hot spring. Who says retirement can’t save the world? Watch these Earth seniors take the most everyday skills and master the universe’s hardest rules!