Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 307: Terrifying Investment, Catering Industry!

Zhang Qingyang.An Easterner Fourth-Stage Inspector of the Inspection Station, the newly appointed Chief Inspector of Cloud Water Town, and Garcia's partner.

Relevant information instantly flashed through Cheng Ye's mind. He narrowed his eyes and slowly stood up.

'Interesting.'

He had not expected their first meeting with the Chief Inspector of the downstream satellite city to take place at the Department of Livelihood in the Buffer Zone. What was even more coincidental was that they had both come to lease plots of land on the exact same day.

At this level, Inspectors typically formed their own small circles, much like the tight-knit group Cheng Long used to run with.

'The Inspector faction Zhang Qingyang follows is... Li Ming's?'

As one of the most brilliant and lucrative Inspectors in the Inspection Station, certain things suddenly made perfect sense.

"Inspector Zhang, hello." Cheng Ye reached out his right hand for a brief handshake.

Gasp.

In that single exchange, the expressions of all the staff members in the office drastically changed, especially the two responsible for land leasing.

They had failed to recognize an Inspector and even made him wait in line. A cold sweat immediately broke out on their backs.

"It is fine, carry on with your work. I have important matters to discuss with Inspector Cheng," Zhang Qingyang declared.

Zhang Qingyang raised an eyebrow slightly, then turned to Cheng Ye with a polite tone. "Inspector Cheng, there are private meeting rooms on the Fourth Floor. Would you do me the honor of having a seat?"

"Obedience trumps courtesy," Cheng Ye agreed with a nod, a wave of curiosity rising in his heart.

Aside from Liu Bi, this was his first time dealing directly with a Fourth-Stage Inspector.

In the past, those arrogant Fourth-Stage Inspectors would never have given a Low-Tier Inspector like him the time of day.

'Is it because of my position as the Director of Leap Wilderness Station again? Does Zhang Qingyang also want to be like Venus and voluntarily apply to go to Leaping Wilderness to show off his skills?'

The two men went up to the Fourth Floor together.

Zhang Qingyang seemed extremely familiar with the layout here, casually pushing open the door to an empty room.

It was furnished like a small conference room, arranged with a row of tables and chairs.

"Please, have a seat." Zhang Qingyang gestured with his hand. The two had just sat down when a staff member knocked and entered, placing down cups and pouring them tea.

Noticing Cheng Ye's puzzled expression, Zhang Qingyang took the initiative to explain, "Before joining the Inspection Station, I served as a task force leader here in the Department of Livelihood. Later, after my father sacrificed his life in the line of duty, I resigned from my position here and became an Inspector."

"So that is how it is," Cheng Ye murmured.

He nodded slightly, picking up his cup to take a sip.

The tea had a slight bitterness to it, but upon careful tasting, the rich and mellow flavor of black tea emerged. It was likely a special variety brought back from a unique location.

"I heard earlier that Inspector Zhang was transferred to Cloud Water Town. That makes us neighbors, considering our Satellite Cities are both built along the banks of the Linjiang River," Cheng Ye initiated, breaking the brief silence.

"Indeed, I also did not expect it to be such a coincidence, being assigned to take charge of Cloud Water Town." The smile on Zhang Qingyang's face grew wider. "I originally intended to pick an auspicious day to bring some gifts and visit Inspector Cheng in Dabo Town. I never imagined we would bump into each other here in the Buffer Zone today. What a stroke of luck!"

"A coincidence indeed." Cheng Ye nodded slightly, a hint of praise in his tone. "I also did not expect Inspector Zhang to set his sights on the land plots in the Buffer Zone. Such boldness is truly admirable."

Both of them returning to the Buffer Zone on the same day to lease land might have been a coincidence, but Zhang Qingyang rushing over specifically to meet him was definitely no accident.

Either he had planted spies in the Department of Livelihood who reported his whereabouts immediately, or much like how the Integrity Supervision Department used to monitor him, he had set up informants outside Dabo Town or kept a close watch on his movements within the Inspection Station.

"I do not possess such boldness. It was all Inspector Li Ming's orders; I am merely following them," Zhang Qingyang admitted.

Keeping the smile on his face, Zhang Qingyang dropped a bombshell. "After Zhou Changhai defected, a Fifth-Stage Inspector slot opened up at the Inspection Station. The Station Master and Deputy Station Master have already signed the Promotion Order in advance. As soon as Inspector Li Ming returns and finishes his debriefing, he will officially become the Inspection Station's new Fifth-Stage Inspector!"

'Li Ming is getting promoted to the Fifth Stage?'

Cheng Ye felt slightly surprised, but it was not entirely shocking.

Although he had never met this Inspector Li Ming, the high praise in his Related Data was well-documented.

With his top-tier business acumen and money-making abilities, his competitiveness at the Inspection Station's current stage of development was truly unmatched. Awarding him this Fifth-Stage position meant fame follows merit.

"That is wonderful news," Cheng Ye remarked.

He spoke polite pleasantries while calmly observing Zhang Qingyang's reaction. "After Zhou Changhai's defection, the vacant spot definitely needed to be filled immediately. Inspector Li Ming's contributions to the Inspection Station are obvious to all. He is entirely deserving of this Fifth-Stage title!"

But these old foxes following Li Ming were clearly not the type to easily show their true emotions.

Zhang Qingyang's expression remained neutral as he smoothly replied, "Coincidentally, Inspector Li Ming said the same thing. For Inspector Cheng to take up the post of Director of Leap Wilderness Station, it is equally true that fame follows merit."

Heh.

Cheng Ye felt a speechless urge to laugh. Deciding to stop beating around the bush, he asked straightforwardly, "I wonder what exactly Inspector Zhang wishes to discuss with me today?"

"Ah, it is like this."

Seeing Cheng Ye put away his casual attitude, Zhang Qingyang also withdrew some of his smile, his tone growing solemn. "Inspector Li Ming specifically called back to instruct us on two matters: First, we are to acquire land in the Buffer Zone as quickly as possible and subsequently establish a batch of factories here to coordinate with Happiness City's Buffer Zone industrial development plan. Second, we are to pull out all the savings we have accumulated over the years and fully invest them into Satellite City construction. We must make more contributions to Happiness City and ensure we do not lose face for the Inspection Station or the Inspectors. This is especially true regarding your Dabo Town, Inspector Cheng, which is currently the benchmark for the Inspection Station."

He paused, holding up three fingers, and enunciated each word, "Three million Contribution Points!"

"As long as you nod in agreement, we can sign the investment agreement for this money right now. The first installment of five hundred thousand can be transferred to Dabo Town's account by tomorrow. The subsequent installments of five hundred thousand will be paid in phases, and everything will be settled in full by next autumn at the latest."

"Furthermore, we will not ask how or where this money is spent. You, Inspector Cheng, will have absolute authority over it. Even if it all ends up as a loss, it does not matter. We will just treat it as our contribution to the development of Happiness City."

'Good heavens!'

'How much?'

'Three million Contribution Points?'

Cheng Ye's heart violently trembled. He could face vicious Infection Sources with utter composure, yet such an absurdly massive sum of money still caused his expression to shift slightly, unable to conceal the astonishment in his eyes.

'What kind of grand gesture is this?'

'No, just how much wealth does Li Ming's little faction hold for them to be so extravagant?'

No wonder they could buy thirty-seven land plots in one go and pay hundreds of thousands in deposits without batting an eye. If they could pull out a three-million investment, those expenses were truly nothing to them.

"Inspector Cheng, there is no need to be surprised." Seeming to see through his doubts, Zhang Qingyang added, "Sixty percent of the Inspection Station's annual operational funds are earned by Inspector Li Ming and his team. Across the four provinces of Sha Province, Hu Province, Hai Province, and Dong Province, we maintain orders for over two hundred Shelter Cities. It is indeed a bit difficult to pull out three million all at once, but we can certainly pay it off completely within a year."

To thoroughly reassure Cheng Ye, Zhang Qingyang rapidly rattled off the names of several heavyweight orders, using them as evidence of their group's Strength.

Each of these orders had brought Happiness City a direct revenue of over ten million Contribution Points, and a few of those transactions had directly influenced the balance of power in those local regions.

However, these orders were mostly concentrated during the Great Expansion Era, which was the stage when Happiness City's industrial capacity had just begun to shine.

As the saying went, when the winds of opportunity blow, even pigs can fly.

At that time, Chips were still a scarce, pioneering product manufactured by Happiness City using Crystal Algae. Making money had been as easy as flipping a hand.

It was precisely during that golden era that Li Ming's group accumulated their massive initial capital.

Over the years, they had relied on repeated investments and establishing merchant caravans to snowball their wealth. It was no wonder they could now casually bring out such a massive fortune.

"Three million Contribution Points... forgive me for speaking bluntly, but I have never heard of such a massive sum in my entire life," Cheng Ye confessed.

He stowed away the shock on his face and put a smile back on, calmly asking, "To receive such an investment, what does Dabo Town need to offer in return?"

Zhang Qingyang did not answer immediately. Instead, he pinched his thumb, index finger, and middle finger together, making a 'seven' hand gesture. "No matter how Dabo Town develops in the future, seventy percent of the revenue belongs to us, and the remaining thirty percent belongs to you, Inspector Cheng. If the town incurs public expenses, they will be shared and deducted according to this same ratio."

'Heh, they truly are a pack of cunning old foxes.'

Three million Contribution Points to take away seventy percent of Dabo Town's revenue. This group had clearly figured out the unique nature of Dabo Town, knowing that it was a Personal Satellite City personally ordained by the Elders, meaning its revenue distribution could be directly divided by him.

Without a moment's hesitation, Cheng Ye opened his System Panel, casually clicked into a stored piece of intelligence, and utilized the Time-Stop Space to rapidly process his thoughts:

'Three million Contribution Points in exchange for seventy percent of the revenue... It is not entirely unreasonable.'

'After all, even if the fish processing factory successfully begins production and operations, excluding all sorts of miscellaneous expenses and labor costs, the estimated annual revenue is only around five hundred thousand Contribution Points, which totals three and a half million Happiness Coins.'

'Furthermore, seventy percent is just Zhang Qingyang's initial offer. There is room for negotiation, and we could very likely haggle it down to fifty percent, splitting the dividends equally.'

'But even calculated at a maximum cut of two hundred and fifty thousand Contribution Points annually from the fish processing factory, they would still have to wait twelve years just to break even.'

'In the perilous Wasteland, an investment cycle spanning over a decade is absolutely a losing bet.'

'Did Li Ming guess that I would lay out more economic developments in Dabo Town, or is it that...'

'No, he and I have never met. The fish processing factory has not even broken ground yet; it is merely in its infancy. These revenues are nothing more than my own projections.'

'If he were to drop such massive wealth on mere baseless speculation, or simply because he valued my status as Director of Leap Wilderness Station, it would have been impossible for him to secure so many massive orders over the years. Commercial investments prioritize information above all else. He must have acquired my business plan through other channels. In that case, the possible point of exposure is...'

Cheng Ye's thoughts spun rapidly, instantly locking onto the crux of the issue.

Just like investing in Buffer Zone plots and opening factories, he relied on various pieces of information grasped ahead of time to predict future developmental trends.

For Li Ming to be willing to pour in such heavy capital now, he must have also seen through the potential value of Dabo Town.

And he had only shown the complete economic development plan for Dabo Town to two people.

Wang Rui and Lu Zheng from the Heavy Machinery Faction of the Legion.

That proposal had long since been taken away by the two of them. Looking at it now, Li Ming had clearly seen that comprehensive plan.

'So, does he truly believe the future blueprint of Dabo Town is worth a heavy investment of three million Contribution Points?'

Emotions surged through Cheng Ye for a moment, though he did not think there was any problem with Wang Rui and Lu Zheng leaking the plan.

When he dared to bring out the proposal in the first place, he had already considered the consequences of it leaking.

Moreover, the true Core of the plan—the projects that would allow Dabo Town to form a competitive moat against other Shelter Cities—relied entirely on breakthrough results in new technological research.

And this portion was something only he could accomplish. After all, no one else possessed the Collector, making it impossible for them to extract the core Traits of Infected Bodies or special materials.

Even if someone took the proposal and copied it word for word, they would only end up losing everything.

'No, dropping three million based solely on a drafted proposal is still too reckless.'

Even though he had never met Li Ming, Cheng Ye did not dare underestimate this 'money-making genius.'

Taking a gamble was entirely possible, but logically speaking, the maximum would be around one million Contribution Points like Davidson, definitely not at the scale of three million.

'Earlier, Zhang Qingyang said that taking out Contribution Points to invest in Satellite Cities was to make contributions to Happiness City...'

'Let me think... could it be that this group has some sort of mandatory quota? Or are they trying to use Dabo Town for money laundering?'

Without more concrete information, Cheng Ye could only make these tentative guesses.

But there was one thing he was absolutely certain of: this three-million investment, let alone a seventy percent dividend, he would absolutely never accept it even for a mere thirty percent cut.

As the saying went, one became Indebted by Favors when accepting money from others.

Zhang Qingyang claimed they would not participate in any management, but once the funds were truly invested, what if they later decided to interfere in affairs or even stir up trouble? Not to mention, once they became acquainted, would they use the opportunity to meddle with the quota allocations of Leap Wilderness Inspection Station?

Furthermore, Dabo Town had already passed its initial start-up phase. Once the cannery went into production, it would bring in waves of returning capital. In truth, they would not lack the funds for subsequent development of other industries.

Even if he truly needed to raise funds, he could approach the Research Institute, the official Inspection Station, or even ask Old Ding, rather than relying on a private Inspector faction.

With that thought in mind, the Time-Stop Space shattered with a resounding crash.

Cheng Ye raised his head, still wearing a gentle smile. "My apologies, but Dabo Town is currently not lacking in funds."

"Is seventy percent too high?" Zhang Qingyang seemed to have anticipated this, his tone remaining calm. "We can still negotiate the ratio."

"No, no, no." Cheng Ye gently shook his head, politely declining. "What I mean is that Dabo Town's current infrastructure already has sufficient financial backing. Even if I were to take this three million, I do not have a suitable place to utilize it at the moment. However, I do have a few new industrial concepts in mind, but they have not been implemented yet. Perhaps when things progress and I am truly short on money, I might come seeking investment from Inspector Zhang."

"Oh? Inspector Cheng already has plans?"

Zhang Qingyang immediately revealed a look of surprise, continuously praising him. "Inspector Li Ming's judgment was spot-on as expected! He said that for Inspector Cheng to choose Dabo Town as his Satellite City, you must be confident and well-prepared, which is why he told us to come invest early to help you realize your ideas. Seeing it now, it truly is the case."

"Haha, with you saying that, I really must have a good chat with Inspector Li Ming once he returns." Cheng Ye played along smoothly, then deliberately steered the topic away from the investment matters.

The two spent nearly half an hour Chatting About Everything Under the Sun. When Zhang Qingyang learned that Cheng Ye would be heading out on Field Duty the day after next, and that his destination was Guang Province, he enthusiastically began sharing all sorts of information regarding the region.

From its geographical environment to its power distribution, he effortlessly recounted even obscure and niche intelligence, clearly extremely familiar with the situation over there.

After speaking, he finally stood up and said, "It is getting late, and you still have to go downstairs to handle the land lease procedures. The document verification will probably take some time. I have to formally take up my post in Cloud Water Town the day after tomorrow, so I definitely will not be able to make it to Dabo Town to see you off. Allow me to wish you a safe journey right here!"

"I will borrow Inspector Zhang's auspicious words!" Cheng Ye replied.

The two men nodded at each other, their conversation so natural and familiar it was as if they had been old friends for years.

After escorting Cheng Ye back to the third-floor office, Zhang Qingyang gave a few instructions to the staff before strutting away with a swagger.

It was not until he had walked down the stairs and completely left the premises of the Department of Livelihood that the smile on his face gradually darkened. His brows furrowed slightly as a thoughtful expression crept onto his features.

Right at that moment, a burly figure emerged from the side door of the notary office and stepped forward, asking, "Old Zhang, how did the talks go?"

"He is a little fox; we didn't reach an agreement." Zhang Qingyang shook his head, a hint of amusement in his tone. "He likely guessed that we obtained that plan from the Heavy Machinery Faction and is keeping his guard up against us."

"You've got to be kidding? He reacted that fast?" The burly figure's face was filled with astonishment.

"Who knows, that document might have been the very bait he used to lure people like us out into the open."

Zhang Qingyang suddenly burst into laughter. "It seems this winter won't be boring. Cheng Long was a straightforward man who never cared much about managing his Contribution Points, relying entirely on Wang Cheng to hold things together. I never imagined his son would be such a shrewd operator, and a shockingly brilliant one at that."

"Is he really that formidable?" The burly figure grew even more surprised, then changed the subject. "Then for your Cloud Water Town, are you planning to copy his economic strategy and put on a rival show?"

"I am not sure." Zhang Qingyang shook his head. "I will pass the news to Brother Li Ming and let him make the final decision."

Back at the third-floor office.

The staff member respectfully handed over the paperwork. "Inspector Cheng, your documents have been verified and approved! The safety deposit you need to pay will be deducted from..."

"Just deduct it directly from my account." Cheng Ye took the paperwork and quickly skimmed through it.

With this document in hand, he could head to the Public Works Department to apply for subsequent authorizations, including purchasing construction materials, connecting the water and drainage Water Pipes, and requesting power supplies.

However, these trivial matters could all be handed over to Big Long to handle. Lin Xu had already drafted the factory's construction plans, so they just needed to build it according to the blueprints.

Moreover, the Phase One fish processing factory would only take up about eight hundred square meters. He would hoard the remaining two thousand-plus square meters and gradually build upon them once new industrial needs arose.

Two to three minutes later, a notification popped up on the Defense Terminal screen:

[Happiness Bank Buffer Zone Branch]

[New Era Year 35, October 13th, 16:42]

[Deposit Deduction from the Department of Livelihood: Total deduction of 30,000 Contribution Points]

[Current Balance: 32,770 points]

Cheng Ye let out a deep breath.

Looking at the drastically reduced balance in his account, Cheng Ye couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.

Li Ming could casually throw around three million Contribution Points, while he was already feeling the pinch from a mere thirty-thousand-point deduction.

Trying to make money by completing Field Duty missions and earning contributions was simply too grueling.

True wealth eventually had to come from establishing industries and controlling the source trade, just like Happiness City's previous Chip industry, allowing one to Devour Like a Whale and Absorb Like the Sea to build a massive fortune.

"The procedures have all been finalized. My deepest apologies for making you..." The staff member handed over the receipt, a face full of guilt as he tried to explain his earlier negligence.

Cheng Ye raised a hand to interrupt him. "It is fine. You were following the rules and regulations. First come, first served is exactly how it should be."

After speaking, he took the receipt, placed it in his folder, and stood up to head outside.

Unexpectedly, just as he reached the staircase, he saw the young man from earlier standing near the doorway with an anxious and constrained expression.

"Inspector... Inspector Cheng, I... I am guilty..."

"Oh?" Cheng Ye paused his steps, a faint smile appearing on his face. "What are you guilty of?"

"I... I did indeed conceal my true identity to enter the city. I am from Hai Province, and I came here early this year with my uncle's family. In order to pass through the Inspection Station, I lied and claimed that I was also a Resident of Leaping Wilderness..."

The young man's expression was bleak as he confessed his 'crimes' in complete detail.

In reality, he had a sneaking suspicion that even if he just quietly left, Cheng Ye likely would not go out of his way to pursue the matter. But the moment he thought of the severe consequences of falsifying his identity, he lost all desire to handle his paperwork. He only wanted to wait right there until Cheng Ye came out so he could explain himself properly.

"What is your name?"

"Zhou Kuan."

"Is that your real name?" Cheng Ye raised an eyebrow as he pulled out his Defense Terminal to send a message to the Inspection Station for verification.

A visible sheen of cold sweat broke out on Zhou Kuan's forehead. He nodded frantically, "It is my real name, absolutely my real name!

Just as his voice faded, the reply from the Inspection Station's official desk arrived.

The Information Query speed for regular residents was very fast.

The data showed that he had entered the city on April 6th and was registered as a Resident of Leaping Wilderness. Even the supplies he brought with him when he entered were briefly recorded.

Cheng Ye quickly scanned through the information. Confirming that there were no anomalies, he waved his hand dismissively. "Alright, just don't resort to fraud or deception again in the future."

"Alright?"

Zhou Kuan felt as though he had been granted amnesty. His legs went weak as he hastily bowed and thanked him, "Thank you, thank you for your mercy!"

He subconsciously shuffled his feet, intending to hurry down the stairs. However, he had barely taken two steps when he heard Cheng Ye's voice ring out from behind him again. "Wait."

"Uh..." Zhou Kuan's body stiffened, and he quickly spun around.

"Haven't you yet to handle your shop procedures? Are you just leaving like this?"

"Oh! Right!" Reminded by Cheng Ye, Zhou Kuan finally snapped back to his senses, awkwardly walking back in a daze.

Looking at his flustered appearance, Cheng Ye couldn't help but shake his head. He decided to ask directly, "The shop you are trying to register... you're not planning to open a restaurant, are you?"

"Y-Yes, that is correct! When I was back in Hai Province, that was my trade." Zhou Kuan immediately stood up straight and answered honestly, a trace of nervousness leaking from his eyes.

"Then you must know that agricultural crops can now be planted around Happiness City?" Cheng Ye asked casually.

Zhou Kuan paused for a second before nodding furiously, his eyes instantly lighting up. "I brought quite a few seeds with me back then. I had nowhere to store them before entering the city, and it felt like a waste to just throw them away, so I planted them all in the wastelands around Chuanshi. A few days ago, I went out of the city to specifically check on them, and to my surprise, those seeds had actually sprouted and grown! What's more, the crops that grew hadn't lost their original flavor!"

In private, rumors about "being able to plant crops" had been circulating non-stop recently.

However, given that Shi Province had been unable to successfully grow anything for so many years, and nutrient paste was in steady supply, not many people took it to heart.

Add to that the fact that Satellite City construction around Happiness City was in full swing, and everyone was busy working to earn money. Only someone like Zhou Kuan, an outsider with a sharp sensitivity to his trade, would pay special attention to this news and sniff out the business opportunity within.

Cheng Ye pondered for a moment. Zhou Kuan was the first proper chef he had encountered in the Wasteland, and the man seemed quite sharp and tactful.

Since Happiness City was about to launch large-scale agriculture, establishing a foothold in the catering industry ahead of time might be a solid choice.

He thought of the empty row of shops in front of the Electronics Factory Community, as well as the convenience store that had been left vacant.

"Come on, there is no need to rush into leasing a shop here. I know a good spot that might just be perfect for you."