Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 309: S-tier Chef, The Pioneering Era!

Leading a pioneering team to a satellite town, and without having to start from the bottom? Able to lead people right from the beginning?He realized that Cheng Ye might have valued his understanding of crops, or perhaps it had something to do with his nephew.

Whoosh.

Visibly, Zhou Changhai's face instantly flushed crimson. His body trembled uncontrollably, and his eyes brimmed with unbelievable ecstasy and excitement.

Having struggled at the bottom for most of his life, he had long grown accustomed to passively accepting his circumstances. He never imagined that a day like this would come, presenting him with such an incredible opportunity.

Just earlier, when his nephew Zhou Kuan returned and mentioned that an Inspector had taken an interest in him, his heart had been filled with doubt. He had specifically followed him here to find out the truth.

He never expected it to truly be like a pie falling from the sky. When luck finally arrived, it was absolutely unstoppable!

"Inspector Cheng, I will go back and prepare right away!" Zhou Changhai abruptly stopped in his tracks, his voice trembling slightly.

"Go on," Cheng Ye said, casting a glance at him. He was growing increasingly appreciative of this man's tactful and practical nature.

In the massive Happiness City, with its population of a million, there were definitely many more people like him hidden away.

And what he needed to do was not exhaust himself searching for these talents, but rather to build a platform for them.

Once the platform was truly established, he would naturally be able to screen out capable individuals with ease.

However, just as Zhou Changhai turned to leave, Cheng Ye called out again. "Wait a moment... Would it be a problem for you to change your name?"

"Huh?" Zhou Changhai paused, then hurriedly nodded. "I will change it to whatever you suggest!"

"Drop the 'Chang' character," Cheng Ye instructed. "Your name clashes with an Inspector at the Inspection Station. It sounds a bit strange when called out."

"Oh! I will change it right now. I am now called Zhou Hai!" Upon hearing that his name clashed with an Inspector, Zhou Changhai's heartbeat skipped a beat. He hastily agreed, terrified of inviting unnecessary trouble.

Watching him hurry away, Zhou Kuan remained frozen in place. He quickly asked, "Inspector Cheng, do I... do I need to go to the satellite town as well?"

"You?" Cheng Ye pondered for a moment, a smile touching the corners of his mouth. "Whether you stay or not depends entirely on whether your culinary skills can impress me tonight."

Hearing this, Zhou Kuan tightly gripped the bag of vegetables in his hands, his gaze instantly turning much more resolute.

The two of them traversed through various streets and alleys, soon arriving at the familiar B-7 District.

Over the past few days, the B-7 District hadn't undergone any earth-shattering changes. The previously excavated pipelines had been restored, and the streets remained as familiar as ever, exuding a sense of peace and stability.

Walking toward the Tianyuan Mall, the Pedestrian Street was unlit, appearing somewhat gloomy in the dark.

The construction in the factory area was not yet complete, but two three-story buildings had already been erected, their distinct outlines clearly visible in the night.

Upon reaching this area, quite a few residents had already recognized Cheng Ye. They stopped in their tracks one after another to respectfully greet him.

Walking beside him, Zhou Kuan experienced these gazes with a mixture of nervousness and novelty, his curiosity growing even stronger.

He could tell that the residents' respect for Cheng Ye was entirely different from the deference that he and Zhou Hai showed the Inspector.

Theirs was a genuine trust and reliance originating straight from the heart, completely untainted by any ulterior motives.

However, even as Cheng Ye stepped into the Tianyuan Mall, Big Long and Second Long were nowhere to be seen.

Instead, the three district elders, having received the news, came out to welcome him with faces full of pleasant surprise. They repeatedly exclaimed, "Inspector Cheng, you have finally returned!"

"Elder Song, why haven't I seen Big Long and the others?" he asked.

"Oh, they have been busy with collecting scrap lately," Elder Song explained with a smile. "Quite a few old buildings were demolished over in the North Suburbs, producing a lot of scrap. Most of the materials can still be reused, and the prices are cheap. They figured they would acquire them to reduce the material costs for our community construction."

"Now that our community has a larger population, even though many have found jobs, there is still a group of people who haven't settled down yet. Following Big Long and the others to collect scrap at least guarantees they can earn a basic living."

"Not bad at all. That kid Big Long is getting more and more resourceful," Cheng Ye praised with a smile.

"And who might this be?" Elder Song's gaze landed on Zhou Kuan.

"He is my newly hired chef. I plan to open a restaurant in the buffer zone next year. I figured today would be a perfect time to have him show off a skill so we can taste his cooking. In addition, I also have some matters to brief the community on," Cheng Ye explained.

Elder Song immediately understood and called two people over to lead Zhou Kuan to prepare the ingredients.

"There are still rice, noodles, and seasonings in the basement of the convenience store. Take him there to get them," he ordered.

"Yes, sir."

Once Zhou Kuan left, Cheng Ye sat down in the familiar reception area and chatted with the three district elders about the recent changes in the community.

This time around, the district elders didn't have too many novel updates to share.

After overhauling the underground pipelines, the city area had temporarily entered a peaceful phase of rest and reorganization. All the energy of the buffer zone was now focused on the massive demolitions in the North Suburbs and the preparations for outward expansion in the South Suburbs.

However, the population of the Tianyuan Community had swelled significantly once again. It currently boasted over fourteen thousand people, including seven thousand official members, with the rest being reserve members.

The official members were stationed across the three districts from B-7 to B-9. The reserve members were drifters and scattered individuals from other areas who agreed with the principles of the Tianyuan Community and wished to join, but temporarily lacked a place to settle.

Because the three districts were already fully occupied, the community had no choice but to temporarily slow its expansion under the guise of "reserve assessments" to avoid creating chaotic disorder.

"Having more people brings its own kind of trouble," Elder Song smiled wryly, a rare sight. "We used to always hope for more people to arrive to liven up the desolate state of our community. Now, every single day is filled with endless matters to coordinate. Fortunately, we have recently recruited quite a few talented individuals. After promoting them, we can barely maintain the order and keep things running."

"Talents?" Cheng Ye's eyes lit up, and he hastily inquired, "Are there any who excel in economic management?"

"About that..." Elder He, who managed the community's internal affairs, shook his head with an apologetic tone. "We do have some, but their abilities certainly wouldn't catch your eye. They simply know how to calculate, operating at about the same level as those dispatched to Dabo Town last time. They are only fit for basic bookkeeping."

"Is that so..." Cheng Ye felt slightly regretful. It seemed that uncovering professional economic management talents among the drifters was indeed no easy feat.

After all, individuals requiring such specialized intellectual skills were highly unlikely to fall to the very bottom and become drifters in the first place.

Seeing Cheng Ye's look of disappointment, Elder He hurriedly added, "However, we have already found the teachers you requested last time. There are four in total, and all are willing to brave the satellite town. In addition, we have successively recruited over eighty veteran fishermen who came from Hai Province. These men aren't afraid of risks and are willing to work in Dabo Town. We haven't found many skilled technical workers, but we have gathered around five hundred honest, hardworking people who can read, write, and do basic math."

Teachers, fishermen, workers...

As Cheng Ye listened quietly, the satisfaction in his eyes practically overflowed.

The benefits of strategically investing in the Tianyuan Community early on were becoming increasingly evident.

For many of his needs, he simply had to make a phone call to issue an order, and thousands of people would scurry about to implement it.

Take finding veteran fishermen who could navigate the White Water River and knew how to protect themselves as an example. If he had to handle it personally, who knows how much effort it would have taken. But after undergoing the Tianyuan Community's screening, the people presented to him were both loyal and capable, saving him ninety-nine percent of the hassle.

It was just that, exactly as Elder Song had mentioned, the larger the population, the more glaring the internal conflicts within the community became.

The Tianyuan Community's core principles to treat everyone fairly and achieve universal prosperity fundamentally demanded the balancing of all parties' interests.

With more people, conflicts of interest naturally multiplied, and the difficulty of management rose accordingly. For the entire community, this was undoubtedly a significant challenge.

"I will gradually advance the matter regarding employment positions. My main reason for returning this time is that the paperwork for the fish processing plant has been completely finalized," he declared.

Cheng Ye picked up the documents beside him and gestured for the three district elders to look through them.

Upon seeing the approved land plot documents, the three men's faces first showed realization, followed quickly by a surge of unbelievable excitement!

How much time had actually passed, and Tianyuan was already going to have its very own industry?

No, to be accurate, this was Inspector Cheng's industry.

But as far as Tianyuan was concerned, allowing the community's workers to have jobs to do and an income to earn was equivalent to indirectly solving a massive employment problem. There was hardly any difference from it being the community's own industry.

Just as they were speaking, two figures rushed hurriedly into the Shopping Mall.

It was none other than Big Long and Second Long!

"Sir, you have returned," Big Long said, the corners of his mouth stretched almost to his ears, grinning like an absolute fool.

"You arrived at the perfect time. I have a few tasks to assign you."

"Just give the order," Big Long and Second Long patted their chests simultaneously, their tones resolute.

"The land plot for the fish processing plant has been approved. It is located in the South Suburbs."

Cheng Ye took out the prepared planning blueprints. "Tomorrow, take your men to the Public Works Department to handle the follow-up procedures. Purchase the construction materials and just build according to the blueprints. I will deposit thirty thousand Contribution Points into the community's account, and all construction expenses will be deducted from there."

"Ah?" Big Long froze, his gaze subconsciously landing on the documents in Elder Song's hands.

Cheng Ye had indeed mentioned the plans for the fish processing plant previously, but he had assumed they would have to wait until winter to begin. He never expected that they would already be able to start construction right at the onset of autumn.

"Come, have a seat," Cheng Ye gestured for the two to sit down before continuing. "The day after tomorrow, I will be setting off for Field Duty in Guang Province. It will take roughly two months. If nothing unexpected happens, I won't be back until mid-December."

After bringing up the Field Duty.

Next, Cheng Ye clearly and methodically laid out the various arrangements for the buffer zone one by one.

There were three core priorities:

Continue screening and recruiting various types of talent, advance the construction of the fish processing plant, and prepare for the grand opening of the Pedestrian Street.

"Has anyone come by recently to discuss leasing the storefronts on the Pedestrian Street?"

"There have been quite a few, but they all ask to sign a lease for five years or more right off the bat. We didn't dare to agree to it so easily," Elder Song replied.

Unlike the industrial plots in the South Suburbs, the Pedestrian Street had long since been placed under the jurisdiction of the Tianyuan Community, and all rental income belonged entirely to the community.

As the future's most stable source of revenue for the community, the three district elders took this matter more seriously than anyone else.

It was once again Elder He, who managed the finances, who spoke up. "Currently, the highest offer is eight hundred Happiness Coins a month, with a willingness to pay a full year's rent upfront. The lowest offer is only four hundred and fifty coins, with rent payable every three months."

Eight hundred coins, meaning... one hundred and fourteen Contribution Points?

An annual income of 1,371 points. The Pedestrian Street had a total of forty-two storefronts. If they could all be rented out at this price, the net profit would reach 57,600 points.

As for the construction costs of the Pedestrian Street, Cheng Ye had already submitted his subsidy application long ago and received twenty thousand points in support from the Inspection Station. Currently, the total investment amounted to roughly 45,000 points.

At this rate, they would fully recover their costs in just one year and still pocket a net profit of over ten thousand Contribution Points. This yield was truly considerable.

However, looking at the reality of the situation, although all the storefronts faced the street, their locations inherently varied in quality. Moreover, it was impossible to rent them all out. Successfully leasing twenty storefronts would already be pushing the limits.

If they sealed the deals at a median monthly rent of six hundred Happiness Coins, the annual income would hover around twenty thousand Contribution Points, perfectly breaking even in exactly two years.

"Did they mention what they intend to do by renting the storefronts?"

"No, they didn't even reveal their identities. They just came over to discuss the prices." Elder He hesitated before adding, "The storefronts over in the A-1 District have basically all been rented out, but they exclusively sell useless trinkets that no one buys. I heard the most expensive shop there rents for five hundred Contribution Points a month. I really have no idea how they plan to recoup their costs."

Given the current industrial structure of Happiness City, there truly weren't any scarce goods left to sell.

Everyday sundries and daily necessities could easily be purchased at the convenience stores. There was absolutely no need to make a special trip to the ancient street in the A-1 District.

The residents' living requirements were exceptionally minimalist; simply owning a radio was considered a luxury.

But the most core issue remained that the original economy had failed to circulate. The vast majority of people had no spare cash on hand, with funds heavily concentrated in the hands of the Department System personnel and the Inspectors.

Happiness City collected funds through inner-city entry fees, yet failed to establish a reasonable channel for their redistribution.

Fortunately, the massive infrastructure projects utilizing work relief had initiated a solid start. This winter, many people should be able to save up a bit of a surplus, laying a solid foundation for the consumption cycle next year.

Furthermore, the merchant caravans arriving this autumn were pitifully few.

During the most critical window for the caravans to choose their routes, Shi Province had been blanketed by the Void Mist for an extended period. The majority of merchant caravans had outright abandoned their itineraries to Shi Province. Even after the Void Mist dissipated, they never readjusted their plans.

Foreign scarce goods were originally a vital means of stimulating consumption. With the caravans coming to a halt this year, the consumer market appeared even more desolate.

"As long as everyone aspires to live a good life, everything will turn out fine!"

Cheng Ye offered a few words of comfort, and Big Long seized the opportunity to call over the dozen or so core talents who had recently joined the community to show their faces before Cheng Ye.

Upon seeing the legendary Inspector Cheng, everyone was simultaneously shocked and delighted. They couldn't conceal the excitement etched on their faces, their reactions cut from the same cloth as the residents of Dabo Town.

With a central pillar to rely on, whatever tasks they undertook now had a clear, driving purpose!

Seeing that everyone was gathered, Cheng Ye decided to discuss the prospects of the fish processing plant, bringing up product pricing, sales strategies, and the like.

How much a single fish should sell for, what price point a canned good should sit at, whether to run promotional events, and whether advance marketing was necessary...

Once the topic was broached, the crowd immediately chimed in all at once, each expressing their own views in a blazing, passionate discussion.

Cheng Ye smiled and listened. Before they knew it, over an hour had slipped away.

At that moment, the mouth-watering aroma of food drifted from the back door of the Shopping Mall. Second Long's wife, Jiang Lanlan, walked in carrying a large tray bearing over a dozen small plates.

Zhou Kuan was determined to put on a stellar performance, yet he took an entirely unconventional approach when it came to his dish selection.

The plates delivered were entirely composed of cold, tossed dishes. He hadn't served heavily seasoned stir-fries right off the bat, but instead chose to maximize the natural, fresh flavors of the ingredients themselves.

And for a crowd thoroughly accustomed to drinking flavorless nutrient paste, this taste was simply perfect.

"Eat up, let's all have a taste." Cheng Ye picked up his chopsticks, plucked a slice of cold cucumber, and popped it into his mouth. "This is also an evaluation for him. We might end up allocating him a storefront on the Pedestrian Street in the future."

A sweet and sour flavor blossomed on the tip of his tongue. The spiciness was extremely mild, which actually served to highlight the pure, refreshing fragrance of the cucumber even more.

Big Long enthusiastically mimicked him and grabbed a pair of chopsticks. With somewhat clumsy movements, he picked up a few shreds of potato. As soon as it entered his mouth, the crisp sweetness that rushed straight to his nasal cavity caused his eyes to widen, and he couldn't help but exclaim loudly, "Delicious! This is way better than anything I ate back during the Grand Pioneering!"

The others quickly dug in as well. Including the three district elders, everyone gave it incredibly high praise.

Cheng Ye couldn't help but smile faintly. 'Did I just strike gold with an explosive stroke of luck, blindly stumbling upon an S-tier talent chef?'

Just as the crowd was about to finish the cold dishes, another wave of aroma wafted over from the back. This time it wasn't a cold dish, but the rich scent of noodles.

Two people carried in a massive wok of fried noodles together. Following close behind, Zhou Kuan caught a glimpse of the nearly empty plates on the table, and his heart finally settled with total confidence.

"Inspector Cheng, ramen broth needs to simmer for at least five hours to truly develop its flavor. Because time was rushed today, I made stir-fried ramen instead. Would you care to taste it and see how you find the flavor?"

The glossy, golden fried noodles were coated in a rich sauce and garnished with vibrant, emerald-green leafy vegetables. Just looking at it was enough to vastly whet one's appetite.

Cheng Ye ladled out a bowl for himself and took a slow, careful bite. In that instant, he felt an overwhelming urge to slap his thigh in amazement.

'Holy crap, is it really this good?'

Even back in the modern world, he had never tasted stir-fried ramen with such incredible flavor.

A hint of spiciness was mixed into the noodles, yet as he chewed, it dissolved into a purely savory deliciousness that made a person take bite after bite, completely unable to stop.

"How on earth did you produce this flavor?" Cheng Ye devoured nearly half the bowl before finally putting down his chopsticks to ask.

"The seasonings in the basement were exceptionally complete. I used spices like star anise and cinnamon to enhance the aroma," Zhou Kuan said, looking increasingly humble. "Only by mastering the exact heat for stir-frying the ingredients can the broth be fully absorbed into the noodles. However, I can absolutely guarantee that my regular ramen is far more delicious than this!"

"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!"

Cheng Ye bobbed his head in sheer delight as he took another mouthful, shouting his approval three times over. He gestured to the others. "Everyone, have a taste and give him some feedback."

Big Long, never one to pass up an opportunity, served himself a heaping bowl and swallowed it whole, wolfing it down in two or three massive bites.

Offering his familiar, straightforward appraisal, he stared directly at Zhou Kuan and nodded heavily. "Delicious!"

Recognizing that the man standing before him was the ferocious "Poison Hand Long" that outsiders constantly spoke of, Zhou Kuan paused for a moment before hastily forcing a smile. "As long as you like it, Brother Long!"

'Brother Long?'

Pfft.

Cheng Ye nearly spat out the unswallowed noodles in his mouth.

Big Long quickly scratched his head and said, a bit embarrassed, "You can just call me Brother Big Long, but please don't leave out the 'Big' part."

However, compared to Zhou Changhai's name, being called Brother Long didn't exactly violate Cheng Long's taboos.

After all, in the Wasteland, names containing 'Dragon' or 'Tiger'—implying bravery and ferocity—were already everywhere you looked.

This lively meal ultimately served as a farewell dinner for Cheng Ye.

During the feast, Cheng Ye made the final decision right then and there. He ordered Big Long to tear down the Big Meat shop at the entrance of the Electronics Factory Community, relocate it to a prime spot in either B-8 or B-9, and then acquire the neighboring recycling station. Once renovated, it would be handed over to Zhou Kuan to run his restaurant.

After the meal, Cheng Ye repeatedly declined their offer to see him off, but the three district elders and the core members of the community stubbornly insisted on escorting him all the way to the North Inspection Station.

"Inspector Cheng, have a safe journey!"

The three district elders reached out with their wrinkled hands, shaking Cheng Ye's hand one after another, their voices brimming with genuine concern.

Having never been seen off so solemnly by his elders before, Cheng Ye felt a rush of warmth in his heart. He paused and took two deep breaths before finally calming his surging emotions.

Big Long and Second Long also stepped forward, stating solemnly, "Sir, the Wilderness outside is fraught with danger. You absolutely must take care of yourself!"

"Rest assured," Cheng Ye gave a slight nod. His gaze swept over the massive crowd of over forty people gathered in front of the North Station, his tone tranquil yet resolute. "My kindness and mercy are exclusively reserved for those who deserve it."

With that said, he turned around and stepped into the inspection station.

The group from the community quickly rushed to the adjacent defensive line, standing just outside the warning cordon to gaze into the distance.

Even as the off-road vehicle drove out of the inspection station and surged into the boundless Wilderness, dozens of waving hands could still be seen swaying in the wind through the rearview mirror.

"Inspector Cheng, although I have never met your grandfather, I feel like I've effectively met him now," Mu Shuang said, glancing at the shrinking figures in the rearview mirror. With a jolt in his heart, he sighed in heartfelt admiration.

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Only a person like you has the potential to pioneer a brand-new era!"