Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 345: Cruel Rules, the Reviving Entertainment Industry!

If what Captain Zhang said was true, the Winter Moon Ore really possessed such peculiar effects.Even if Happiness City was currently overwhelmed by the influx of drifters and the bustling construction of satellite cities, deploying a legion to seize such lucrative benefits would not be a problem at all.

But if that happened, the Winter Moon Ore would follow in the footsteps of the Red Stone Mine. It would be reduced to a piece of fat meat divided between Happiness City and Radiant Rainbow Shelter City, devoured completely by the two major powers without leaving a single scrap behind.

For Twin Moon Lake, a gathering place that had rooted itself in this land for over a decade, such an outcome would undoubtedly be a devastating blow.

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself."

Liu Bi leaned back, the chair groaning slightly under his weight. He casually picked up an apple from the coffee table and took a couple of bites, the sweet scent of the fruit spreading through the room. "This is the path Lord Zheng of Twin Moon Lake chose for himself. In today's world, an ordinary man is innocent, but his possession of a treasure makes him guilty. When you hide something good, you have to consider the consequences of being discovered."

After saying that, he sat up straight and spoke with a serious expression. "This applies to you as well. Once those peculiar stone slabs you're researching are exposed to the public, even if our Happiness City guards them strictly and has zero internal conflicts, the external factions will never let it go. When that time comes, they will use every method possible to infiltrate Dabo Town and get close to you. The trouble you'll face will definitely be ten or a hundred times greater than what Zheng Dayou is dealing with right now."

"I know, I just can't help but feel a bit sympathetic,"

Cheng Ye muttered in a low voice. His gaze fell on the television. He paused before he could not help but continue, "It really is too easy for those in power to make decisions. The first time I learned about Twin Moon Lake was in Station Master Tang Si's office. He asked me how to handle their request to terminate our cooperation. Without even thinking, I provided several plans, and the goal of every single one was to push Twin Moon Lake into a dead end."

"But now that I've actually come here and taken a look around, I realize that the old residents who have lived here for years or decades might no longer be suited for the outside world. By staying here, they could have guarded their little courtyards, living simple lives of working at sunrise and resting at sunset. Who could have imagined they would be dragged into such a storm for no reason at all?"

When every individual was quantified into cold numbers, it didn't matter if it was two thousand or six thousand people.

In the moment a decision was made, it was all about weighing the benefits. It was difficult to think about how many people would be left homeless, or how many families would be shattered by that single choice.

However, when one actually walked the grounds, those abstract numbers materialized into vivid, living faces.

A man squatting on a threshold sharpening farm tools, women gathered in a courtyard chatting while weaving straw ropes, a child peeking timidly from behind a window...

Once those traces of human warmth and that peaceful daily routine were linked to the word "destruction," it inevitably left a heavy weight in one's heart.

"That is exactly why you need to understand just how cruel the rules of the outside world truly are."

Liu Bi leaned back into his chair again, his voice deepening. "Right now, you are only dealing with outsiders, but back then, every decision your grandfather made concerned the lives of tens or hundreds of thousands of people in Happiness City. A single sentence from him could shatter many families; a single decision could mean the sacrifice of innocent people."

"But it was precisely because of his decisiveness that Happiness City is what it is today. This is the biggest difference between us and Twin Moon Lake. We have the right to choose, and we have the power to resist, rather than lingering on our last breaths in the cracks between two major factions like they do."

After saying this, Liu Bi felt his tone was too heavy and wanted to offer a few lighthearted words of comfort.

But when he turned his head, he saw Cheng Ye staring intently at the television screen, utterly focused. Swallowing the words on the tip of his tongue, Liu Bi sighed softly and directed his gaze to the screen as well.

The attention of both men was gradually drawn into the plot playing out on the television.

In the film, the drifters captured by the hunters appeared completely powerless, yet they refused to sit back and await their deaths.

Using the opportunities provided by delivering food and doing manual labor, they quietly observed the internal relationships of the hunter organization. By cleverly employing manipulative tactics, they successfully drove a wedge between the hunter chief and the core members, sowing discord within the group.

Subsequently, they intentionally leaked news that the hunter organization was hoarding treasure, drawing the covetous eyes of other nearby hunter groups and directly sparking a massive, chaotic firefight right outside the hunter camp.

Amidst the chaos, the drifters pried open their cages. Not only did they manage to escape, but they also conveniently made off with more than half of the treasure hoarded by the hunter organization.

At the end of the film, they used the wealth to establish a small gathering place in a remote area. Not only had they avenged their captivity, but they also lived peaceful, prosperous lives, achieving a universally happy ending.

As the melodious ending theme played, the screen cut to an interview.

Several figures wearing black hoods sat on stools, their voices trembling with excitement and lingering fear as they recounted their true experiences from back then.

The subtitles clearly stated that the film was adapted from true events, and the interviewees were the very drifters who had escaped alive.

It had to be said that, from a viewing perspective, the interview was even more thrilling than the main feature.

The individuals spoke with genuine emotion, describing the details vividly. The tension of surviving a desperate situation and the sheer satisfaction of a successful revenge were conveyed with such infectious energy that it instantly immersed the viewer.

So much so that as Cheng Ye watched the interview on the screen, his thoughts drifted back to Twin Moon Lake's predicament.

They were also struggling to survive in the cracks, similarly lacking hard strength and relying purely on intellect to maneuver. Could Zheng Dayou and his Twin Moon Lake find a lifeline in the gamble between Happiness City and the Guanghong Alliance, and perhaps even "make off with the treasure" to forge a way out for themselves, just like the drifters in the film?

"This movie was surprisingly good. I didn't expect Guanghong to actually produce something this entertaining over the years," Liu Bi remarked as he pulled another optical disc from the rack and slid it into the DVD player.

This time, the movie's theme shifted. It was about a shelter city sending someone to infiltrate an infamous local hunter organization, carrying a strong flavor of Outsmarting Tiger Mountain.

Relying on extraordinary courage and intellect, the protagonist gradually earned the trust of the hunter chief, secretly passed on information, and ultimately pinpointed the organization's core hideout. A massive army from the shelter city launched a surprise attack, destroying the entire organization in one fell swoop.

The sets were still rough, but the real, visceral hand-to-hand combat and the thrilling undercover plot were far more captivating than modern films piled high with special effects.

The end of the film featured another interview with real figures. Several soldiers who had participated in the undercover mission back then wore masks as they recounted their soul-stirring journey, making the viewers' blood boil with excitement.

They watched one optical disc after another. Each movie was about forty-five minutes long, which, combined with the interviews at the end, rounded out to exactly an hour.

Without realizing it, the two watched until past midnight. Liu Bi let out a long yawn, his eyes bloodshot, yet he stood up with some reluctance. "Alright, if I don't sleep now, I won't be able to get up tomorrow. I'm heading back first."

"Guanghong's entertainment industry is much more developed than Happiness City's," Cheng Ye clicked his tongue in amazement as he stared at the darkened screen.

It had only been a little over half a year since he transmigrated to this world. Watching these films felt mostly like a novelty, allowing him to intuitively understand the landscape of the Great Reclamation Era through visual media.

However, Liu Bi was clearly completely captivated by this vivid form of entertainment. Compared to listening to dry radio broadcasts or watching "unrealistic" films leftover from the old era, these movies adapted from true events were evidently much more interesting.

If even a well-traveled Inspector was like this, it wasn't hard to imagine how massive an appeal this would hold for ordinary residents.

Cheng Ye thought to himself that it would absolutely be a good thing if such films and entertainment devices could be widely popularized.

At the very least, it would allow the residents who were trapped in one place year-round, relying on manual labor to survive, to see a broader, more colorful world through a screen, adding a bit of flavor to their dull lives.

However, after rushing about for many consecutive days, now that he was finally staying securely in a human gathering place, the relaxation of his taut nerves brought forth a surging tide of drowsiness.

Cheng Ye stood up and stretched, rubbing his sore eyes before walking into the bedroom and lying down.

The bedding wasn't particularly soft, but it was washed spotlessly clean and carried a faint scent of sunlight.

He leaned back against the bed and quickly fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

By the time he opened his eyes again, it was already bright outside. Sunlight spilled in through the gaps in the curtains, casting mottled shadows on the floor.

The hands of the old-fashioned clock hanging on the wall steadily pointed to eight-forty. He had actually slept for almost nine hours.

He had slept truly deeply!

The sanity points that had been worn away in the wilderness felt as though they had been completely restored by a fountain of health. His entire body exuded an unprecedented sense of relaxation, completely free from the tension of danger following him like a shadow.

It was as if his brain had automatically activated a defense mechanism, blurring out the hideous, dangerous fragments of his memories to allow his mind to rest thoroughly.

So much so that when he tried to recall them, events that had just happened yesterday now felt a bit fuzzy, as if they had occurred a long time ago.

Cheng Ye stretched as he got up, walked straight into the bathroom, and twisted open the cold water faucet to take a shower.

The freezing water splashed over his face, instantly dispelling the lingering sleepiness and clearing his head significantly.

As for hot water... having a constant supply of hot water was obviously a very luxurious thing for a small gathering place like Twin Moon Lake.

After drying his hair and changing into clean clothes, Cheng Ye pushed open the door and stepped out of the bedroom.

He had arrived late last night and was escorted upstairs by Zheng Dayou, so he hadn't had the chance to properly examine this guest house.

Looking around now, he realized the space was quite large. There were six rooms on each floor, making eighteen rooms across the three stories.

When he went down to the first floor, Liu Bi and Niu Fu were already sitting on lounge chairs by the door, each peeling a tangerine in their hands. The moisture from the tangerine segments diffused outward under the sunlight.

Lord Zheng Dayou accompanied them on the side, wearing a gentle smile. The three of them chatted casually, the atmosphere rather harmonious.

In the empty space nearby stood four staff members wearing identical work uniforms. With two large baskets of thick account books piled at their feet, they were gathered around a small table, their heads bowed as they calculated something.

Such trivial matters of terminating cooperation and recovering initial investments didn't normally require an Inspector to take over.

It was only because this trade route had been abandoned for years that the task was posted at the station, waiting for whichever Inspector passed by to handle it conveniently.

Liu Bi clearly had zero interest in such petty bean-counting. He leaned back in his lounge chair, basking in the sun with a lazy demeanor that practically screamed that he didn't care how much it added up to, as long as he could report back.

After all, in his eyes, it was hard to say whether Twin Moon Lake would even survive past this winter. Calculating these supplies right now truly didn't have much meaning.

Instead, it was Yin Ruofeng who had taken the initiative to take on the verification work. He stood next to the staff, holding a pen and paper, meticulously calculating the material funds Twin Moon Lake had owed over the years. Occasionally, he would point at an entry in the ledger and quietly ask for a few details.

Cheng Ye walked over and greeted them. Liu Bi glanced up at him, waving the tangerine in his hand. "Awake? Come try this, these tangerines are quite sweet. It's harvest season right now, after all."

Zheng Dayou immediately stood up as well, smiling as he took a couple of steps forward to welcome him. "Are you satisfied with your rest, Inspector Cheng? Knowing you've had a tiring journey, I specifically had the kitchen prepare a hot breakfast. It's right in the side hall next door. Shall I have someone guide you over?"

"Thank you for the trouble, Lord Zheng," Cheng Ye nodded in thanks. His gaze swept over the two heavy baskets of ledgers as he asked casually, "How are the calculations going? Is there anything you need us to assist with?"

"It's all just old accounts, nothing too complicated,"

Zheng Dayou waved his hand with a smile, his tone carrying a sense of candor. "We recorded every single batch of supplies Happiness City supported us with back then, and we wouldn't dare shortchange you the slightest bit. It's just that the trade routes have been blocked these past few years, and supplies have been scarce, which is why we've delayed it until now. Mr. Yin is reviewing them carefully, and it will be sorted out very soon. When the time comes, whatever needs to be compensated will be compensated, and whatever needs to be returned will be returned. We absolutely won't put you two Inspectors in a difficult position."

The feeling of doing field duty that Li Matai used to talk about was now finally being experienced to the fullest.

Zheng Dayou was already the lord of a gathering place of six thousand people, yet at this moment, he had to conceal his exhaustion, bowing and scraping with an accompanying smile, his posture so respectful it bordered on humility.

The survival rules of the wasteland were validated once again: strength and the backing of a powerful faction were the true foundations of one's voice.

Cheng Ye didn't say much more. He nodded and turned to walk toward the adjacent side hall.

Just as he sat down at a table, a waiter dressed in clean cloth garments approached holding a menu, their attitude extremely respectful.

'I can even order a la carte?'

Cheng Ye paused for a moment, looking a bit surprised as he took the menu and flipped through it.

He hadn't expected the side hall's menu in this small Twin Moon Lake gathering place to feature over a hundred dishes.

There were Northern favorites like fried dough sticks, soy milk, and jellied tofu, as well as Southern-style vegetarian and meat buns. The variety was quite comprehensive.

A place capable of stable farming naturally wouldn't slack in animal husbandry either.

Aside from various ways to prepare eggs, the menu also included pork and chicken dishes. In a wasteland where resources were scarce, this could be considered extremely luxurious.

"Do you have anything ready-made? No need to cook something from scratch, it's too much trouble," Cheng Ye said casually as he closed the menu.

"Yes, yes, we do." The waiter nodded hastily. "Inspector Liu ordered rice porridge with pickled vegetables earlier. The kitchen has been keeping it warm, so it can be served right away."

Liu Bi wasn't the extravagant type either, opting for a particularly light breakfast.

"Get me a portion of that. Hmm... actually, make it ten portions," Cheng Ye stated, correcting himself midway.

Asking for a ten-person breakfast right off the bat would probably leave a waiter dumbfounded anywhere else.

But the waiter here only froze for a split second before respectfully agreeing. Taking the menu, they turned and quickly headed to the kitchen without showing a single trace of unnecessary emotion.

They probably figured that an Inspector from Happiness City eating a lot matched their powerful status.

In just over ten minutes, the kitchen staff arrived in an endless stream carrying trays of food.

A bucket of thick, glutinous rice porridge was placed securely in the center of the table, flanked neatly by eight small dishes of finely chopped pickled vegetables that looked crisp and appetizing.

In addition, there were ten perfectly boiled eggs, with lustrous white egg whites and yolks that were solid but not dry.

There were also ten fried eggs cooked to a golden brown on both sides, their slightly crispy edges giving off a tantalizing aroma.

The bountiful spread of food instantly filled the entire table.

"Thank you for the trouble," Cheng Ye said, before devouring the food greedily.

Having survived on nutrient paste for the entire journey, his mouth had grown quite bland. This simple meal of pickled vegetables and rice porridge truly felt like an unparalleled luxury right now.

By the time he swept through the ten-person breakfast like a whirlwind scattering clouds, the calculations next door were barely a tenth of the way done.

Looking at the way the staff were buried in their verification work, it was honestly hard to say whether they could completely balance the books today.

Cheng Ye rubbed his bulging stomach, pulled over a stool, and sat down next to Zheng Dayou. His tone was as casual as if they were chatting about family matters. "Lord Zheng, you mentioned earlier that the foundation for the mine has already been laid. I wonder if outsiders like us have the good fortune to go over and take a look at the mine?"

"Huh?" Zheng Dayou clearly froze, nearly dropping the tangerine in his hand, a flash of astonishment darting across his eyes.

He thought Liu Bi's earlier "non-interference" comment had set the tone. He hadn't expected Cheng Ye to suddenly bring this up. This unexpected turn of events genuinely caught him off guard.

But as someone who had been a lord for many years, Zheng Dayou's reaction time was astoundingly fast. He nodded repeatedly almost on instinct, a perfectly measured smile piling onto his face. "Of course! Of course! It would be our honor if Inspector Cheng graces us with a visit to take a look!"

"It's the perfect opportunity for you to evaluate it for us and see what kind of rare item this Winter Moon Ore really is. Us country bumpkins still haven't figured out what the thing is used for."

'With acting skills like that, if he were in the movies we watched last night, he could hundred percent win a Best Actor award.'

Cheng Ye found it amusing in his heart, but his face didn't show the slightest ripple of emotion. Changing the subject, he tossed out another question. "Speaking of which, I've been here for quite a while now, so how come I haven't seen Vice Lord Zhuang at all?"

"Uh..." Zheng Dayou's hand tightened sharply around the tangerine. He obviously hadn't anticipated Cheng Ye suddenly bringing up Zhuang Jing, so he could only bite the bullet and lie. "Zhuang... Zhuang Jing went to the Great Banyan Shelter City's station to help us coordinate the allocation of supplies. He won't be back for a while."

"Oh?" Cheng Ye picked up a tangerine and slowly peeled it, his tone remaining light and airy. "So does that mean Vice Lord Zhuang knows about the Winter Moon Ore?"

Once a lie is told, countless more lies are needed to cover it up.

He had no real intention of directly exposing Zheng Dayou's petty schemes. He just wanted to use this seemingly casual line of questioning to see the true level of competence these gathering place lords possessed while struggling to survive in the cracks of the wasteland.

The smile on Zheng Dayou's face stiffened for a second, and his eyes flickered a few times before he forced out an answer, "Yes... he's the second-in-command. Naturally, he knows about matters concerning the survival of the gathering place."

'Whoa, his brain works fast.'

'Realizing that pure concealment wouldn't explain things, he immediately thought of laying some of his cards on the table.'

Cheng Ye raised his eyebrows and looked over at Liu Bi, who instantly caught on and asked, "Lord Zheng, our visit to the mine won't affect your cooperation with Great Banyan Shelter City, right?"

"No, it won't... how could it?" Cold sweat broke out on Zheng Dayou's forehead. "Our Twin Moon Lake still hasn't terminated our cooperation agreement with Happiness City yet, has it? This is our mine... Happiness City certainly has the right to inspect it."

Receiving a satisfactory answer, Liu Bi stood up and smiled.

"That's great then. Let's go!"