Chapter 153: Autonomous Operations, Six Major Quotas!

The effects brought by the Void Mist ultimately couldn't persist through this season.Two o'clock in the afternoon.

The snow had completely stopped, and although the temperature hadn't risen yet, sunlight had already penetrated the clouds, casting scattered spots of light on the ground.

Cheng Ye checked over the densely filled answer sheet one more time, then handed it to Jiang Chuan and stood up to stretch comfortably.

No one could have expected that after crossing over to the wasteland, there would still be a day when these test-taking skills would come in handy.

Knowledge truly changes destiny, this answer sheet should earn him some additional points on top of his previous foundation.

Of course, the current situation meant he was temporarily on break.

He didn't need to go on duty at the inspection station, nor did he need to participate in the upcoming examination process.

Because starting from the third round of examinations, the content would change to on-site contracting preparation work, involving a series of tedious basic affairs like refugee recruitment, material requisitions, and allocation coordination.

All of these could only be undertaken after obtaining contracting qualifications.

"Starting from the third round, each phase will have ranking rewards, conducted according to the method Inspector Cheng mentioned that day," Jiang Chuan took the answer sheet, carefully folded it and sealed it in a kraft paper envelope, then cautiously placed it in his backpack. "But the specific implementation rules can only be known after you obtain contracting qualifications."

As he spoke, there was an undisguisable sense of admiration in his eyes.

Although people couldn't be compared, Cheng Ye was so young, not only outstanding in martial arts talent, but also so knowledgeable.

This alone basically meant that as long as no accidents occurred, this trainee inspector would definitely become another pillar of the inspection station in the future.

"Alright, thank you for accompanying me on this trip," Cheng Ye patted his battle armor, the metal plates making slight collision sounds. "Please help me deliver those fish to Tianyuan Community later. I'll head back first to take a bath and get some sleep, my whole body is about to fall apart."

He had worn the battle armor for an entire day. While in the wilderness with his nerves on edge, he hadn't felt tired, but now back in a safe environment, he belatedly felt waves of soreness from the muscles beneath the armor, even his shoulders could barely lift.

While contracting hadn't officially started, he needed to adjust his condition to the best state first.

Moreover, this wilderness trip had given Cheng Ye many new ideas, including some equipment for exploration, survival items, and most importantly, vehicles.

The round trip to Dapo Town was 120 kilometers. He couldn't rely entirely on walking or hitching rides. He needed to get a dedicated vehicle before contracting began, otherwise subsequent surveying and construction would be affected.

"No problem, I'll arrange for guards to deliver it to you."


Jiang Chuan nodded and watched Cheng Ye turn and walk toward the bus stop.

It was clear that Cheng Ye's steps were light, obviously truly relaxed.

It wasn't until the shadow of the bus completely disappeared from view that Jiang Chuan withdrew his gaze with heavy thoughts and walked toward another pickup truck parked inside the inspection station.

Cheng Ye was on break, but he, as the office clerk, still had to keep busy.

Getting in the car, Jiang Chuan smiled bitterly and shook his head, a thought flashing through his mind, when was the last time he had a proper rest? It seemed like seven or eight years ago?

Cheng Ye's suggestion to find a lover wasn't that he didn't want to find one, he truly had no opportunity, no time.

As Ding Yishan's office clerk, as long as Station Chief Ding didn't take a day off, he had to accompany him for that day. How could he possibly be idle?

The pickup drove all the way into the Central Station. Jiang Chuan parked the car, took the kraft paper envelope containing the answer sheet from his backpack, and walked straight toward the station chief building.

"Is the station chief inside? Are there any guests?"

"No guests, the station chief has been in his office the whole time," the guard shook his head and stepped aside to make way.

"Thank you for your hard work!"

Jiang Chuan nodded and went up the stairs to the third floor.

At the office door, he raised his hand to knock. Before he could knock a second time, the door was pulled open from inside, revealing a familiar, young and beautiful face.

The woman was about 1.7 meters tall, her long legs particularly eye-catching. Even wearing loose jeans, they couldn't hide the straight and slender shape of her legs but her upper body wore a black tank top that was obviously inappropriate for this weather, revealing smoothly lined arms. The corner of her mouth held a half-smile, and her eyes were full of mischief.

"Oh, you're back?" She looked Jiang Chuan up and down, her tone teasing. "Spending the first night pulling the station's trainee inspector to stay out overnight, Jiang Chuan, you're really something. Now you know how to 'mentor newcomers'?"

Faced with this teasing, Jiang Chuan remained expressionless, acting as if he hadn't heard, and lifted his foot to walk through the opened door gap but as soon as his foot stepped forward, the woman suddenly extended her leg toward his shin, the movement quick and urgent, carrying an ill-intentioned force.

Thud.

Jiang Chuan reacted extremely quickly. The moment his expression changed slightly, his body instinctively shifted half an inch to the side but he was still a bit late. Their shin bones collided solidly, producing a dull thump.

Almost at the moment of collision, a barely perceptible blue arc flashed across Jiang Chuan's body, while a pale red arc lit up on the woman's body, like thin gauze wrapped around her skin, disappearing in an instant.

"Mu Shuang, this is the Central Station, not your Hundred Ghosts Gang territory. I have no interest in joking around with you here," Jiang Chuan frowned, his tone becoming heavy.

"Hey, how come you're still so lacking in manners despite being all grown up?" Mu Shuang withdrew her leg with a light laugh, not feeling she had gone too far at all. "Now I'm Station Chief Ding's office clerk. According to regulations, before you can enter the station chief's office, I need to search you first to ensure you're not carrying weapons or threatening items."

"You..."

Jiang Chuan was left speechless.

"Hmm? Forgot?" Mu Shuang smiled even more smugly. "Back when you first became office clerk, didn't you do the same to me? Your face was more sour than anyone's, and when searching me, you even had to remove my earrings."

As she spoke, her fingers somehow produced a small, delicate throwing knife, its blade gleaming coldly.

Jiang Chuan's expression changed dramatically. He instinctively reached for his waist and indeed found the throwing knife had been stolen.

This woman's hand speed was actually several points faster than years ago, and even more concealed!

"Little Shuang, Achuan just finished executing a mission, don't give him trouble," Station Chief Ding finally looked up from behind his desk, removing his reading glasses and wiping them while speaking with some helplessness in his tone.

"I understand, Station Chief!"

Mu Shuang immediately put away her smile, gave Ding Yishan a somewhat improper salute, then reluctantly stepped aside, still not forgetting to make a face at Jiang Chuan.

"Hmph, I won't stoop to your level."

Jiang Chuan took a deep breath, suppressing the helplessness in his heart.

As Liu Kun's office clerk and as one of the ghost kings of the Hundred Ghosts Gang.

Having spent these years mixing outside, Mu Shuang inevitably carried some of the bandit-like atmosphere of scavengers, always acting as she pleased.

"Tch, who wants to stoop to your level," Mu Shuang pouted, walked to the nearby sofa and sat down on her own, the throwing knife in her hand spinning rapidly at her fingertips like a butterfly fluttering up and down.

She and Jiang Chuan had quarreled plenty in previous years, but unfortunately, Jiang Chuan's temperament had become increasingly steady and harder to "tease" these years, reducing much of the fun.

She had originally wanted to mock him properly about how Jiang Chuan was captured by a group of ordinary community people.

A half-step transcendent actually being tied up and interrogated by a group of ordinary people.

How embarrassing!

But seeing his current steady appearance that was impervious to salt and oil, even if she said it, it probably wouldn't get half a reaction.

Sigh, boring.

Jiang Chuan ignored Mu Shuang's antics and walked straight to Ding Yishan's desk, handing over the kraft paper envelope. "Station Chief, this is Inspector Cheng's examination answer sheet. Also, during our trip to Dapo Town, we discovered quite a few situations..."

"Oh, tell me in detail," Ding Yishan took the envelope, pinched open the cotton string at the back, and pulled out a thick stack of materials.

He first browsed casually, his fingers pausing. This stack of answer sheets was more than double the thickness of what Cheng Ye had submitted last time, a full thirty-plus pages.

Compared to the answer sheets from other inspectors received yesterday, this one was obviously much weightier.

"After we departed..." Jiang Chuan began to recall, from the sights on the road out of the city, to the mutant malaria mosquitoes and spirit guardian spiders encountered in the Dapo Town ruins, to the details of Cheng Ye stopping in front of the hydroelectric station, he recounted everything in detail.

Although Ding Yishan's gaze remained on the answer sheet, he asked questions from time to time, clearly listening attentively.

However, he showed no reaction to the dangers encountered in the wilderness earlier but when he heard that Cheng Ye sat in front of the hydroelectric station for two hours, carefully drawing diagrams, he couldn't help but laugh. "This kid really thinks he's an engineer. Could it be he wants to change careers and work for the Works Department?"

Though he said this, when he flipped to the hydroelectric station section and his gaze fell on the page titled "Hydroelectric Station Restoration Plan," the smile on his face gradually faded.

Although Station Chief Ding didn't understand professional engineering knowledge, having sat in this position for so many years, his judgment had been honed. Whether something was feasible or not, he had a sense of it the moment he saw it.

Compared to the first answer sheet that leaned toward "conception," this one actually involved specific plan designs, estimated the quantities of various materials needed and manpower, and even roughly calculated the power generation after restoration. It was obviously much more solid and practical.

"After waking up in the morning, we went to the Baishui River to catch fish. We originally wanted to catch more fish to bring back to the community, but we encountered an accident..." Jiang Chuan's tone became heavy as he reached this point, bowing slightly. "Station Chief, I need to make a self-criticism to you. Having stayed at the inspection station all these years, I've neglected understanding the wilderness environment. This time I nearly caused problems due to my recklessness, failing to live up to your trust."

"Oh? What happened?" Ding Yishan looked up, but his expression remained calm.

"We encountered a mutated black stripe fish king..." Jiang Chuan didn't hide anything, completely describing his impatient behavior after encountering the black stripe fish king.

Actually, even if he didn't say it, Cheng Ye wouldn't gossip about him but since he had already recognized where the problem lay, he wouldn't conceal it, especially not from Ding Yishan.

After listening, Ding Yishan remained silent for several seconds before slowly speaking. "Let me calculate, it should be several years since you've gone into the wilderness alone to execute missions, right?"

"Yes, a full seven years," Jiang Chuan nodded.

During these seven years, he either handled daily affairs at the inspection station or accompanied Ding Yishan in coordinating within the city district, almost never venturing deep into the wilderness again.

Occasional outings were also coordinated team actions, never being hands-on to this degree.

"Seven years, that's not short. How many periods of seven years are there in a life?" Ding Yishan lightly tapped the desk with his finger, his tone carrying some sentiment. "No matter how cautious a person is, after staying in a stable environment for a long time, they will gradually lose their keen sense of danger. Especially in recent years, you've put more energy into coordinating between people, gotten used to dealing with opponents who have brains, so it's normal to subconsciously overlook those chaotic threats in the wilderness."

"But Cheng Ye is different. Since he began duty, his greatest threats have been these infection sources, so naturally he'll be more careful and vigilant than you."

Saying this, he closed the answer sheet on the desk and put it in the envelope. "But it's also good. This incident serves as a wake-up call for you. If you want to serve as an inspector in the future, reverence, that's an indispensable thing."

"Station Chief, why don't I replace Jiang Chuan and go protect Inspector Cheng?" At this moment, Mu Shuang suddenly stood up from the sofa, quickly walked to the desk, her tone full of eagerness to try. "Jiang Chuan hasn't been in the wilderness for seven years, he's long out of touch with the outside situation. I'm different, I run around the wilderness and several neighboring provinces every day, I'm very familiar with dealing with infection sources and mutant creatures. Especially in the upper and lower reaches of Linjiang, following Inspector Cheng, I could help."

Jiang Chuan's expression changed slightly, his lips moved, but he didn't refute.

"Are you genuinely wanting to protect Cheng Ye, or do you feel uncomfortable staying beside this old man?" Ding Yishan looked up at Mu Shuang, his eyes carrying some teasing.

"Eh, how could that be!" Mu Shuang was caught in her thoughts, her cheeks slightly flushed, stammering with a laugh. "I'm used to being wild outside. If I don't get some fighting and killing, don't encounter some danger for a day, I feel uncomfortable all over. The coming and going in this office, the paperwork and reports, I really can't handle it. I'm afraid my clumsy hands and feet would delay your work."

"These words, don't sound like someone who can't handle coming and going."

Ding Yishan lightly tapped the desk with his finger, his tone carrying some gratification.

What surprised Mu Shuang was that he didn't directly refuse. Instead, he changed the topic and looked at Jiang Chuan, "After all these years, Achuan is indeed no longer suitable for wilderness escort duties. I've kept him confined to this small buffer zone, having him manage station coordination and maintain the development of the grassroots work system. He's done extremely well, saving me, the station chief, a lot of worry. These years the inspection station has fought fiercely internally, yet the guards, clerks, and observers below haven't been affected at all, all thanks to Achuan leading people to support it."

His voice slowed somewhat, carrying barely detectable sentiment, "Making him return to those previous days of living on the edge, going into the wilderness to take risks, sometimes I also wonder, is this too unfair to Achuan?"

"Sir..." Jiang Chuan suddenly looked up, his eyes full of shock, involuntarily calling out.

"Alright, these are all words from the heart."

Ding Yishan waved his hand, interrupting him, then looked at Mu Shuang. "Little Shuang has also grown considerably. I originally thought you were still that reckless, explosive little girl from back then. I didn't expect that after training with the Hundred Ghosts Gang these years, your temperament has steadied quite a bit, and you've become more systematic in your actions."

"Station Chief, you flatter me!" Mu Shuang became even more embarrassed, her voice softening. "I just followed Director Liu's and your arrangements, doing what needed to be done."

She and Jiang Chuan differed by almost a full generation. When Jiang Chuan became office clerk at 25, she was only 17, following Liu Kun through the wilderness, wild as a little leopard.

Now Jiang Chuan was 36, and she was 28, no longer the impulsive little girl she once was.

"Mm, then from now on, you'll follow Cheng Ye," Ding Yishan pondered for a moment and made his decision. "After contracting begins, when it's inconvenient for me to go out for inspections, Achuan will still need to represent me in visiting various satellite cities. All the inspectors know him, so communication will be convenient."

"However... you probably won't be needed temporarily."

"Oh?" Mu Shuang was stunned, the throwing knife she was spinning unconsciously tossed to Jiang Chuan, her tone carrying some confusion. "Station Chief, don't you trust me? Or do you think my abilities are insufficient to protect Inspector Cheng?"

"You girl, how did you pick up these outside bandit habits, speaking so much like the underworld?" Ding Yishan laughed and scolded, pointing at her. "What are you thinking? The first round of contracting only opens 12 satellite cities. Even if Cheng Ye's answer sheet ranks high, I don't plan to send him out. Let him go to Dapo Town in the second or third round of satellite city activations."

"Ah, why is that?" Mu Shuang was dumbfounded.

When she looked through materials yesterday, she could tell that Ding Yishan particularly valued Cheng Ye, not only having Jiang Chuan accompany him for surveying, but also specifically instructing to pay more attention to Cheng Ye's ideas, clearly intending to cultivate him as a key person but now, he was putting Cheng Ye after the first round, which really didn't make sense.

Ding Yishan didn't answer directly, but looked at Jiang Chuan. "Achuan, you've been to Dapo Town and talked with Cheng Ye. You explain."

Jiang Chuan caught the throwing knife Mu Shuang tossed over, inserted it back into the sheath at his waist, organized his thoughts, and pondered. "What the station chief is primarily concerned about should be conflicts in material allocation."

"Materials for the first batch of satellite cities must prioritize core hubs like Wenlu County. Only after those are built can they radiate to surrounding areas. Dapo Town can't compete in transportation priority at all. Forcing it to start would only put Inspector Cheng in a predicament of having plans but no materials, actually delaying construction."

"That's one point correct, what else?" Ding Yishan's eyes flashed with gratification.

"Hmm..." Jiang Chuan pondered, recalling yesterday's scenes with Cheng Ye and their conversations. "There are also problems with refugee recruitment. Most inspectors in the first round of contracting are veterans from the fifth and fourth terms, or at least third term. Inspector Cheng is just a trainee. Even if he produces the best plan, refugees might not be willing to follow a newcomer when comparing options."

"Who would abandon experienced veteran inspectors to gamble on a young person who's never done construction? If the Western inspectors do some mischief, it would instead make him a laughingstock and damage morale."

"Another point," Ding Yishan's face showed obvious satisfaction. "I didn't expect going out once would make your mind much sharper."

Jiang Chuan didn't respond, continuing to think: "There's also the recent weather, July snow, sudden temperature drops. Inspector Cheng has no experience in construction under harsh weather conditions, would he..."

"That point is wrong," Ding Yishan directly shook his head and interrupted. "Harsh weather isn't entirely bad. Going out to recruit refugees now, just promising to feed and clothe them and provide shelter from wind and rain in the future can move them to follow you. When the weather warms up, these promises will be much less tempting."

"Then..."

This time Jiang Chuan didn't speak rashly, frowning and thinking for two or three minutes. Suddenly his eyes lit up. "Station Chief, could it be that the higher-ups have decided to first manage the waters around Dapo Town and clear the flood problems?"

"Hmm?" Ding Yishan raised his eyebrows, his tone carrying some surprise. "Do you have evidence, or are you just guessing?"

"Half guessing, half observed," Jiang Chuan smiled honestly. "The Baishui River is fine, but the Huangshui River's embankment is about to burst. If not managed, the surrounding areas to be developed will all be flooded. Dapo Town is not far from the Huangshui River. If construction starts first, the subsequent water management costs might even be deducted from the town's resources, which wouldn't be cost-effective."

"You're quite observant," Ding Yishan nodded lightly, confirming his guess. "The Industrial Department is already allocating excavation machinery. After the flood problems are handled, Dapo Town can start construction and avoid detours."

Jiang Chuan looked at Ding Yishan's expression and suddenly had a thought, tentatively asking, "Station Chief, your expectations for Inspector Cheng probably aren't just as simple as 'building Dapo Town well', are they?"

Unexpectedly, Ding Yishan answered straightforwardly without any concealment, "Of course not. If I'm willing to let a trainee inspector handle contracting, how could I measure him by the same standards as other inspectors?"

He leaned forward slightly, his tone becoming more serious, "For hub construction, the final power and benefit distribution, the inspection station can only get a small share. Everything will ultimately be handed back to Happiness City for jurisdiction. Only places like Dapo Town are key to determining whether our inspection station can expand going forward."

"The planned 12 hub satellite cities, calculated at 30,000 refugees per satellite city, plus the No. 1 satellite city outside the buffer zone, can already accommodate nearly 600,000 people. The subsequent 12 auxiliary satellite cities are planned for 20,000 people each. All together, they can basically absorb this wave of one million migrants."

"But the quotas actually approved at the meeting were 30. The remaining 6 quotas are tacitly allowed for the inspection station's autonomous operations. We pay 50% of the construction costs for these places ourselves, Happiness City supplements the remaining 50%, but future profits and management rights are entirely the inspection station's responsibility. Well, I'll give Dapo Town one quota."

At this point, Ding Yishan suddenly stopped.

Not because these expectations were too high for a trainee inspector but because he glimpsed that Mu Shuang had already frowned, her eyes full of bewildered incomprehension, obviously not keeping up with their conversation rhythm and not very clear about the power distribution behind this wave of satellite city construction.

"Achuan, explain the details to Little Shuang later, let her understand the connections here too," Ding Yishan smiled helplessly, pushing the explanation task to Jiang Chuan.

"Good!" Jiang Chuan nodded, and when he turned to look at Mu Shuang, his gaze revealed some ill intent.

"Ghost King Mu, now I'm Station Chief Ding's office clerk again. According to regulations, should I ask you to leave first?"

"Good grief, you're here to disgust me again, aren't you?" Mu Shuang was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

However, this laugh did dilute much of the awkwardness that had grown between them from not seeing each other for years, as if returning to the days of bickering and quarreling at the inspection station.

"Then Station Chief, I'll withdraw first? Call me if you need anything?"

"Mm, go ahead."

Watching the two reach the door, Mu Shuang's steps stopped again.

"What is it?"

"Station Chief, can I contact this Inspector Cheng in advance? Since both you and Director Liu value him highly, Little Shuang is also somewhat curious."

Ding Yishan leaned back in his chair, waving his hand with a smile. "Of course you can, but you need to watch your limits. Don't play too excessively, or if Inspector Cheng comes to complain to me, I won't spare you."

"Rest assured!" Mu Shuang immediately stood straight, patting her chest in guarantee. "Little Shuang understands this much propriety. At most I'll just look from afar, I won't disturb his work."

"Besides, I won't be like 'Brother Jiang Chuan' and get tied up in a community for interrogation~"