Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 263: Complete Framework, Inspecting the Satellite Cities!

The workers, supported by the Tianyuan Community, were all grounded and hardworking people. They formed a crucial part of ensuring the steady progress of the infrastructure construction.For pioneering, it would be best to bring in the Yongxing Community to take charge. Letting them lead the drifters to clear and develop the areas surrounding Great Wave Town would not only utilize resources rationally but also rapidly expand the satellite city's territory.

For sales, they would poach personnel directly from the Industrial Department, letting Old Sun lead the effort to establish a professional sales team.

As for the caravan, Da Long would take over the responsibilities. The Green Duckweed Caravan could be put into operation at any time to guarantee the transportation of supplies.

Regarding security, Wu Zhihong would quickly get the hang of it, integrating the militiamen from the former Red and Blue Zones to maintain daily order.

In terms of medical care, Zhu Xiang was a veteran of the Medical Department and had great ambitions. Setting up basic medical facilities wouldn't be difficult, and they could even support and complement Tianyuan Medical to cover each other's shortcomings.

For architecture, Huang Sheng had practical experience leading construction teams, while Lin Xu possessed a comprehensive architectural vision and design capabilities. The two of them paired together would perfectly drive various infrastructure projects forward.

At the Inspection Station, Luo Kuke, a Third-stage Inspector, would hold down the fort. He could also take Wang Kang to the frontlines to familiarize him with the operations and secure the safety defense line.

Lying on his bed and staring at the beige ceiling, Cheng Ye could not help but sketch out the entire layout of Great Wave Town in his mind.

Once upon a time, he had been somewhat lost regarding the path ahead.

But now, the complete framework of an entire satellite city had been established!

Given this progress and efficiency, even he couldn't help but inwardly praise himself.

'Now, there are only two aspects left that need strengthening.'

He pondered inwardly, 'First is the establishment of an educational system. Short-term illiteracy won't hinder development, but in the long run, education must serve as the foundation to screen and produce a steady stream of talent. This is the bedrock. Second is the industrial system. Although Happiness City has been cultivating its industry for nearly thirty years, its industrial talent is still far inferior to that of Light Rainbow Shelter City. Moreover, what I need aren't ordinary workers, but research and development personnel who can translate my ideas into finished products and optimize them through iteration.'

This caliber of talent could not be poached from Happiness City. He would have to figure out a way to try his luck in Guang Province. Even if he only brought back a small team, it would help open up new avenues of thought for Great Wave Town.

Of course, he also knew that trying to poach the core researchers of Light Rainbow was completely unrealistic; the other party would absolutely never let him leave Guang Province alive.

However, recruiting some basic industrial talent should be negotiable. He might even be able to discuss it openly and aboveboard.

It was just that this process would undoubtedly be complicated. Just as Cheng Ye wanted to delve deeper into the matter, drowsiness surged over him. His thoughts unconsciously scattered, and as soon as he closed his eyes, he fell into a deep sleep.

The night passed silently.

The moon set, and the sun rose.

The unique tranquility of the buffer zone was unexpectedly even more relaxing than the rooms at Revival Medical. Coupled with the long-lost sensation of lying on a coir mattress, the grounded feeling was like returning to his university dormitory, allowing him to sleep exceptionally soundly.

By the time he woke up again, the sky outside was already bright. He reached for his Defense Terminal and saw that it was just past eight in the morning.

The date had quietly ticked over from the last day of the month to a brand-new month.

September 1st.

Cheng Ye pushed himself up from the edge of the bed and calculated silently in his heart. In another half a month, it would be exactly six months since he transmigrated to this wasteland.

He tried to recall his life in the modern world, only to find that the trivial, everyday memories were becoming increasingly blurred, while the profound, unforgettable moments grew even sharper.

Two completely different lives were rapidly overlapping and influencing each other, slowly forging a brand-new personality.

"A new month, a new day. Truly a good omen!"

Cheng Ye took a few deep breaths of the crisp morning air and rolled out of bed.

After washing up, he instinctively reached for the box of nutrient paste at the foot of his bed, only to grasp empty air. He then realized that his stash had long been consumed, and the leftovers from before had likely been cleared out by Mu Shuang because they were expired.

However, when he went downstairs, he saw Mu Shuang sitting at the entrance of the convenience store, her head lowered as she fiddled with her Defense Terminal.

Cheng Ye deliberately lightened his footsteps, but unexpectedly, as soon as he entered within ten meters of her, Mu Shuang immediately looked up with vigilance.

Seeing his stealthy demeanor, a look of amusement appeared on Mu Shuang's face. "Inspector Cheng, it's only been a month since we last met. How did you turn into such a hulking giant?"

"How about it? Intimidating enough, right?" Cheng Ye grinned.

Mu Shuang rolled her eyes and teased, "Haven't you heard the saying? Moderate exercise attracts the opposite sex, but excessive exercise only attracts the same sex. In Captain Wu's eyes, you must be quite the handsome man!"

"Uh... haha."

Cheng Ye chuckled dryly and quickly changed the subject. "Waiting for me here so early, is Station Master Ding in a rush for me to report in for my debriefing?"

Mu Shuang raised an eyebrow, deliberately drawing out her words as she repeated, "Hmm, Station Master Ding said that if Inspector Cheng isn't in a hurry to debrief, then there's no rush to issue the reward for completing the containment mission either. It would be best to delay it for three to five months, so the Inspection Station's budget might be a bit more flexible."

"Then we'd better hurry up."

As soon as he heard the word reward, Cheng Ye's eyes lit up, completely forgetting about going to buy nutrient paste.

Seeing his eager look, the smile on Mu Shuang's face deepened, and she added, "Station Master Ding also said that if Inspector Cheng rushed over, I should first take you on a tour of the satellite cities outside. He doesn't want to hear a simple debriefing report; he wants to hear your on-site observations."

'Damn it,' Cheng Ye cursed inwardly. 'Well played, Old Ding. What a cunning old fox!'

He had been waiting to spring this on him from the very beginning, hadn't he? It was blatantly obvious that he wanted to freeload off his ideas again.

Touring all the surrounding satellite cities back and forth would easily burn through more than half a day. Inspector Cheng was a busy man with a million things to handle; how could he have so much time to waste?

However, on second thought, Cheng Ye suppressed the impatience in his heart.

It was true that he needed to carve out some time to visit the other satellite cities. For one, he could learn from their strengths to offset his weaknesses, seeing if others had fallen into any pitfalls during construction or if there was anything worth adopting. Secondly, he could figure out the planning tendencies of each satellite city to avoid any developmental overlaps later on.

As the saying goes, pooling wisdom yields better results. He couldn't just keep working behind closed doors, only staring at Great Wave Town's tiny plot of land.

"Alright then. Let me go buy some nutrient paste first. I haven't eaten yet."

"Inspector Cheng!" A familiar, gruff voice suddenly rang out from behind him.

He instinctively turned his head, only to see Wu Rui—who was even bulkier than him—standing behind him at some unknown point. Strung across his waist were three unopened boxes of nutrient paste.

Wu Rui wore a broad smile, yet his eyes were filled with undisguised admiration. His gaze swept back and forth along the contours of Cheng Ye's muscles as he could not help but marvel,

"Your muscles are absolutely beautiful! The form is just too perfect. And this firmness—one look and I can tell it was built through solid, hard training. It's way better than those chemically induced bodies!"

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Cheng Ye hurriedly waved his hand to interrupt. Catching a glimpse of Mu Shuang holding back her laughter from the corner of his eye, he only felt a headache coming on. "Let's not talk about this anymore. Let's just head straight out to inspect the satellite cities!"

"Should we bring Inspector Wang along?" Wu Rui asked in a muffled voice, glancing back toward the apartment building.

"No, let him get a good rest. I'll go to the debriefing alone." Cheng Ye shook his head, taking the lead toward the parking lot.

On the way, he simply ripped open a box of nutrient paste, tilted his head back, and downed fifty pouches in one breath.

This terrifying appetite made Wu Rui's eyes sparkle, while Mu Shuang couldn't stop clicking her tongue. "Inspector Cheng, you just ate a hundred Happiness Coins for breakfast! That's almost half your monthly salary spent in one go!"

"So when we see Station Master Ding later, remember to help me complain a bit and try to get him to approve more subsidies." Cheng Ye patted his still-flat stomach, though his mind was busy calculating.

After the Earth-Shrinking Giant Louse was bound by Tan Ming, as long as he did not actively use its abilities, it wouldn't consume his vitality. But correspondingly, the Giant Louse's growth had also stagnated.

With those fifty pouches of nutrient paste in his belly just now, he had deliberately transferred the nutrients of thirty pouches to the Earth-Shrinking Giant Louse. However, its growth progress didn't even increase by 0.1%, and it even transmitted an intent of disgust.

It was obvious that this ordinary transparent nutrient paste could no longer satisfy the growth demands of his physique and the Earth-Shrinking Giant Louse. He needed at least the higher-grade yellow-pouch nutrient paste to provide sufficient energy.

'If I could turn that guy into nutrient paste, I wonder if the effects would be super intense...'

Cheng Ye thought about it and suddenly felt a bit greedy.

However, interrogating Yu Yong couldn't be rushed. In all likelihood, he would have to visit two or three times before getting any results.

The group got into the off-road vehicle and armed pickup trucks. They first headed to the Public Works Department to fully recharge their batteries, and then departed the city through the South Inspection Station.

Cheng Ye sat in the passenger seat with Mu Shuang driving, while Wu Rui led his team members in the two armed pickup trucks trailing behind.

This travel entourage was quite substantial. If uninformed people saw it, they would probably think Cheng Ye had already been promoted to Station Master ahead of time.

"Inspector Cheng, you seem a bit sentimental," Mu Shuang couldn't help but ask curiously, catching a glimpse of Cheng Ye sighing as he gazed out the window.

"A little," Cheng Ye replied softly. "I just feel that when I leave the city now, that cautious sense of awe and reverence seems to have completely disappeared."

"Isn't that a good thing? It shows that your strength has grown, and you no longer need to fear the risks outside," Mu Shuang chimed in.

"Perhaps," Cheng Ye opened the car window and breathed in a gulp of fresh air against the wind, his voice scattering in the breeze. "But I can never return to that extremely cautious and prudent state of mind I used to have."

Mu Shuang's eyes flickered, but she didn't press the issue, focusing instead on gripping the steering wheel and steadily driving the vehicle onto the national highway.

Twelve in the first batch, twelve in the second. With the exception of Great Wave Town, which had been delayed due to the Immortal Object, the construction of the other twenty-three satellite cities was in full swing, progressing at a rapid pace.

The first stop was the easternmost of all the satellite cities—East Ditch Town, overseen by Gu Xinjing and Zhang Wen.

"Two Disaster-level Infection Source incidents previously broke out in East Ditch Town, namely the Tornado Ants and the Dead Leaf Locusts. Both were known Malignant Infection Sources, but they have already been successfully contained by the two Inspectors."

As they neared East Ditch Town, Mu Shuang took the initiative to brief him on the situation. "Thanks to the rewards from containing the Infection Sources, East Ditch Town's development progress is faster than expected. They've already caught up to the level of the first batch of satellite cities."

Hearing this, Cheng Ye instinctively unfurled a map in his mind, correlating all the relevant information about East Ditch Town.

The terrain of East Ditch Town was considered a rare, complex mountainous forest terrain in the vicinity of Happiness City.

Back in the old era, the townspeople and surrounding villagers relied on natural resources to survive. Several small-to-medium-sized logging camps were hidden deep in the mountain hollows. Before environmental protection policies were enacted, they could earn a decent income just by selling lumber.

There were also natural mineral springs in a few deep ravines to the west of the town. Someone had specifically built an aqueduct to channel the spring water to the town's workshops, using it to brew mountain spring wine and pickle vegetables. Relying on the produce of the mountain forests, the small town lived a fairly stable and peaceful life.

However, ever since Tan Ming cursed Shi Province, this once vibrant land of vitality had been completely abandoned.

The reason East Ditch Town was selected for satellite city development this time was initially due to its geographical advantage. Its complex terrain made it easy to establish natural defensive barriers. Even if an Infection Tide passed through during the winter, it could still provide effective protection.

Unexpectedly, by a stroke of luck, after Tan Ming lifted the curse, this place directly transformed into a 'treasure land'.

If the massive logging camps were replaced with fruit trees and vigorous planting was developed, they would instantly have a pillar industry.

A few depressions in the mountains were suitable for large-scale sowing. With water sources nearby, turning it into a small granary wouldn't be an issue either.

Of course, the limitations of East Ditch Town were also very obvious. The surrounding terrain served as both protection and restriction. If they wanted to expand the scale of construction later on, they would likely face numerous obstacles.

The vehicle drove onto a dirt road carved through the mountains. Although the surface still appeared rugged, it clearly showed traces of careful grooming.

The roadbed, previously washed out by flash floods, had been refilled with crushed stone. Potholes were leveled with rammed earth, and a newly built stone wall, half the height of a person, lined the road—evidently to prevent mudslides during the rainy season.

When he spotted the entrance to East Ditch Town from a distance, Cheng Ye's eyes couldn't help but light up. The entire town was encircled by a tall perimeter wall. The walls were a freshly laid brick-and-stone structure, with scaffolding still erected at the top.

He hadn't expected that Gu Xinjing and Zhang Wen would actually want to build this place into a modern Mountain Stronghold, firmly enclosing this mountainous area within a barrier.

As they neared the stronghold entrance, it was obvious Gu Xinjing had received word in advance, as he was waiting at the gate with a few people.

The vehicle stopped in front of a temporarily erected iron gate, and Cheng Ye leaned forward to peer into the town.

The original, dilapidated buildings of East Ditch Town had seemingly all been demolished, and the waste materials had been cleared away. At this moment, the spacious grounds were filled with signs of construction.

Bundles of steel rebar, neatly stacked bricks, and prefabricated components covered in waterproof tarps were piled high all over the ground.

The long arms of several cranes crisscrossed in mid-air, occasionally lifting heavy steel frames and at times lowering batches of building materials. Beneath the machines, workers bustled back and forth. Some directed the lifting, while others erected formwork. Everyone was rushing about, busy without pause.

Around the site, several buildings had already begun to take shape. Some were factories with freshly erected frameworks, where thick steel columns supported crossbeams, revealing vast interior spaces. Others were multi-story residential buildings with walls currently being laid, already built up to nearly four floors at a blistering pace.

There were also low-slung structures hugging the ground, seemingly having their foundations laid, surrounded by temporary hoarding.

The interior of the entire town was essentially a sprawling, fully operational construction site. The roar of machinery and the clashing of metal mingled together. Everywhere was a scene of bustling activity, so lively that one couldn't tear their eyes away.

"Inspector Cheng!"

As soon as Cheng Ye stepped out of the car, Gu Xinjing smiled and stepped forward to extend his hand, his tone carrying a hint of pride. "My place doesn't look too shabby, does it?"

"Impressive." Cheng Ye reached out to return the handshake, feeling genuinely somewhat surprised.

He hadn't expected Gu Xinjing to possess such execution capabilities. In just one month, he had already put together the prototype of the town. The progress was literally more than ten times faster than that of Great Wave Town.

Furthermore, the buildings here were all based on reinforced concrete foundations. Once completed, they would absolutely have no problem lasting for decades.

"I heard you contained a Ruin-level Infection Source in Great Wave Town. Truly, a tiger father will not have a dog son."

Gu Xinjing did not stint on his praise, though his words held hidden implications. "Station Master Ding specifically asked you to come and inspect. It seems he wants to focus on cultivating you."

"Inspector Gu is joking. I'm just here to take a look and learn more experience from you all," Cheng Ye responded with a smile, maintaining a humble attitude.

The two walked side-by-side into the town. Gu Xinjing enthusiastically introduced the planning and construction details of every area. Cheng Ye nodded in affirmation from time to time, while also slowly figuring out the ideological differences between himself and these veteran Inspectors.

The first thing Gu Xinjing considered wasn't development, but safety.

In his eyes, all economic planning could be pushed back. The primary goal was to erect a secure shelter barrier capable of accommodating a sufficient population.

As for subsequent development, that could wait until safety was absolutely guaranteed.

It was precisely because of this that he and Zhang Wen started by enclosing East Ditch Town right off the bat. Just like how Happiness City's defenses wrapped around the buffer zone, they first built a solid turtle shell.

Cheng Ye feigned nonchalance as he asked about East Ditch Town's future revenue plans, and he received a definitive answer.

"That's not important. Only by ensuring absolute safety first can we let the drifters settle down with peace of mind, and only then will there be a foundation for future development. Yes, we must protect the people first before we can talk about development!" Gu Xinjing stated.

Cheng Ye gave a slight nod. After bidding farewell to Gu Xinjing at the town entrance, he got back into the car and rushed to the next satellite city.

"Inspector Cheng, you don't seem very satisfied with East Ditch Town?" Mu Shuang asked softly, keeping her eyes on the road as the vehicle drove along the rugged dirt path.

"Even you could tell?" Cheng Ye was somewhat surprised.

"Of course, I am a Hun... . I mean, I still have at least this bit of observation skill." Mu Shuang almost let something slip and hurriedly changed the subject.

"It's not that I'm unsatisfied; I just discovered some issues I hadn't noticed before." Cheng Ye shook his head, his tone growing a bit heavier. "Happiness City hasn't expanded outward for so many years, and I'm afraid it's not just because of an insufficient number of residents. It's understandable to have deviations in construction concepts, but a fundamental divergence in development philosophies speaks volumes."

Gu Xinjing didn't care at all about the long-term development of East Ditch Town. Holding onto the belief that as long as people survived, there would be a future, he merely focused on pushing forward with the assessment quotas, pushing all subsequent matters to the wisdom of future generations.

Was this an isolated case, or were all the Inspectors like this?

Cheng Ye was somewhat unsure and didn't dare to jump to conclusions too easily.

But by a little past one in the afternoon, after inspecting the sixth satellite city, his expression inevitably underwent a change.

It absolutely was not an isolated case! Across these six towns and twelve Inspectors, they surprisingly all shared the exact same mindset!

Regardless of whether a town had geographical advantages or locational benefits, not a single person had practically considered: Once the satellite city was built, how would they guarantee the residents' jobs and incomes? How would they allow the town's economy to develop independently?

Some even bluntly stated that once the satellite city was built, they could just directly siphon a few factories from the industrial zone to solve the employment issue.

'Initially, having Inspectors contract the satellite cities was to ensure smooth progress when gathering the drifters,'

Cheng Ye rapidly sorted through his thoughts, 'The higher-ups indeed didn't explicitly demand consideration for subsequent development. Looking at it this way, my planning for Great Wave Town is indeed too far ahead of the curve. I've been building it as a truly independent satellite city. Once it's up and running, it will be even more massive than the buffer zone, possess an independent economic system, and could even maintain its internal operations if it broke away from Happiness City.'

'As for the others, at best, they're just building triage outposts for the drifters.'

Cheng Ye's thoughts churned, and he suddenly understood.

Station Master Ding having him inspect before his debriefing was fundamentally a case of 'bringing the problem and waiting for the answer.'

The glaring issues exposed during this satellite city development process, as well as the potential hidden dangers they could cause in the future...

It was impossible for the higher-ups not to have noticed. Right now, they were probably already searching for a solution.

But the problem was, if it could be easily resolved, the major shelter cities would have begun expanding outward long ago.

Now, what should be done to turn this entire situation around and enter a virtuous cycle?