In Luosan City, every choice you make is vigorously tracked by your Cultivation Score. Donating to charity, helping the elderly, gambling, attending unauthorized political rallies, taking public transit, even recycling has a point score attached to it. Pro-social behavior is typically self-reported. Socially aberrant behavior can be identified via the city’s extensive facial tracking system or by denouncements from other citizens.

As central as the Score is to civic life, it is not in fact, a form of currency, but a measurement of reputation. You cannot pay for a meal with Cultivation Points, but you can be legally denied access to the restaurant for having a low Score. The same goes for apartment leases and bank loans.

The Cultivation System was designed to be fool-proof, an evidence-based morality system relying on quantified algorithms rather than vague philosophical or religious justifications. And it worked, at least, until the Errancy occurred.