196: Greenhouse.

“You all go about your business. The disappearances won't happen again, so let's just let this matter go.”

Director Han and Meng Xian nodded slightly, then left.

Tian Ming stood in the Central Building. He had only been away for half a month.

With full effort put into development and construction, besides the Underground City, many new buildings had appeared on the surface.

In half a month, the main framework of the greenhouse was completed, covered with a thick insulating layer.

When construction began, its design was to completely use artificial light for crop cultivation. Therefore, a large amount of steel frame structure was used during construction.

This greenhouse was quite large, divided into several areas, with different crops planted in each area.

Since crops were grown indoors, they were unaffected by the external environment. Planting could occur year-round and in batches.

“Are you planning to be my shadow?” Tian Ming glanced at Xin Xin beside him, saying with some helplessness.

This consciousness body was like a ghost, floating behind Tian Ming.

“Why not? Anyway, I've used up my methods. No matter how much those zombies evolve, they can't do anything to you. I wonder, as a human, if you'd go crazy if I kept following you?”

Tian Ming shook his head and said, “You're overthinking. I definitely won't go crazy. My tolerance isn't that bad; gradually, I'll feel like you don't exist.”

Xin Xin seemed a bit unconvinced, as if she wanted to be defiant, and said to Tian Ming, “Alright then, from today on, I'm sticking with you. I don't believe you won't get annoyed. I love seeing you look helpless when dealing with me.”

Tian Ming smiled indifferently, “If you like following, then follow.”

With that, Tian Ming went downstairs. The Corpse Kings had already escaped, and the threat from the city direction was basically eliminated, so it was time to check on the Shelter's construction progress.

Walking into the greenhouse, the equipment inside was already being installed and debugged.

As soon as Tian Ming entered the greenhouse, Su Rou, who was busy nearby, quickly came to greet him.

“Boss, what brings you here?”

“How are things? I see the greenhouse is already covered. So I came in to take a look. I wonder when we'll be able to eat fresh vegetables.”

Su Rou smiled slightly and explained, “The main structure of the greenhouse is complete, and we are currently debugging the equipment. It won't be long before it can be put into use. At most, three months, and we'll be able to eat the first batch of vegetables.”

Tian Ming nodded and said, “Very good, this speed is quite impressive. What is the output of this greenhouse?”

Su Rou pondered for a moment, then said, “Based on the current scale, we produce vegetables in batches. One batch would be about one to two tons. Boss, the greenhouse consumes a relatively large amount of electricity. Our power plant might not be able to support it.”

“The waste heat from the power plant can be channeled over. The main thing is artificial light sources; the power consumption shouldn't be that high, right?”

Su Rou smiled and said, “Boss, it's not just about artificial light sources. I asked Shen Yi from the Ministry of Science and Technology. He wants to create a fully automated farm. Currently, our energy is only enough for us to use a semi-automated method for planting. This means some manual labor will be needed in the early stages, and once the energy problem is resolved later, only a small number of people will be needed for management.”

Tian Ming frowned, “Why is it always an energy problem? Do we have to build a nuclear power plant?”

“High-tech agriculture, and it's indoor cultivation. Everything requires a large amount of energy to support it, and there's no way around it. Shen Yi is already calculating the related energy deficit, and I estimate he'll report it soon.”

Tian Ming nodded slightly and said to Su Rou, “Alright, I understand. You go about your work; I'll just look around.”

Tian Ming turned and walked inside the greenhouse, looking at the equipment being installed, feeling somewhat helpless. High-tech agriculture required energy everywhere; without energy, many things simply couldn't be done.

For the Shelter to achieve self-sufficiency, it must diversify its energy sources. Solar energy is not effective in this area, and currently, there is only geothermal energy and gas-fired power generation.

He needed to get a nuclear power plant, Tian Ming secretly calculated in his mind.

“You guys are so troublesome. It's just growing vegetables, and this is lacking, that is lacking.” Xin Xin behind him pouted, saying with great disdain.

“Eating, drinking, shitting, peeing, and sleeping are our basic human needs. You think everyone is like you and doesn't need to eat? Without needs, there's no life, so consciousness bodies like you, who are pure energy, can't appreciate the beauty of life.” Tian Ming retorted without hesitation.

Xin Xin retorted, “Don't give me that. It's not like I haven't eaten before. It's just that I find that lifestyle troublesome. Maintaining the metabolism of a living body is a very troublesome thing for me. How good it is to be a consciousness body, no need to eat or sleep, and no need to worry about being killed by others.”

Tian Ming couldn't agree. He turned to Xin Xin and said, “That's why you can't experience the joy of life. You've lived so long, yet you don't know what your own meaning is.”

“Tsk, I need to correct you. I have experienced countless civilizations. I have also personally experienced the journey of those civilizations. Eating, drinking, shitting, and sleeping are just low-level physiological needs. How long can you humans live? Even the long-lived ones are only about 100 years. Once you've eaten everything edible in the world, you won't have an appetite for anything.”

As a consciousness body, Xin Xin had simulated life countless times. So, Tian Ming's statement sounded somewhat ridiculous to her.

“Forget it, I'm too lazy to argue with you. Don't follow me anymore. When you follow me, be quiet. Don't always interrupt. Others can't see you, and I talk to thin air all day long, like an idiot.” Tian Ming said with some displeasure.

Xin Xin covered her mouth and laughed, “Oh, getting angry because you can't win. In my eyes, you're already an idiot!”

Tian Ming shook his head, no longer paying attention to Xin Xin. But Xin Xin shrank, turning into a faint light, and disappeared.

“Finally gone, this shadow.” Tian Ming sighed with relief, muttering to himself.

“I haven't left. I'm in your ear. You go about your business; I'll make myself at home in your ear.” Xin Xin's voice entered Tian Ming's mind.

“Get out! You're not a Golden Cudgel. Why are you in my ear?” Tian Ming said unhappily.

“Getting out is impossible. Alright, don't talk to me anymore, or others will see you talking to thin air again and think you're an idiot!” Xin Xin was completely unyielding and ignored Tian Ming.