Wasteland Border Inspector - Chapter 776

Chapter 776: Chapter 257: Recruiting Talent, Charging Stations! (Part 3)

“Not bad, not bad!”

Cheng Ye nodded repeatedly in admiration, then threw out a sharp question, “Yongxing’s people follow you to make some shady deals and learn skills. Aren’t you worried that after they’ve learned everything, they’ll take over the channels and steal the business?”

“Yongxing is home to everyone. Only by staying will we be able to make good money together.”

Noticing that Cheng Ye seemed completely unconcerned about Yongxing’s shady activities, Hou Genbao decided to drop the pretense, speaking with much more honesty, “Going solo after leaving home takes too long to get acquainted with all phases, no one can support an entire smuggling system alone. Moreover, I have different people in charge of each phase. Even if someone wants to break away, I have ways to block these phases with rules and open up a new channel.”

“What about those learning the legitimate skill of refurbishing old machines?”

“The skill isn’t important, what’s important is the source of the old machines.”

Hou Genbao reached out and touched his wrinkled face, his tone was filled with some certainty, “Inspector Cheng, not afraid you’ll laugh, but this old thing here still has some face in circles of scraping off profits, water ghosts, and meddling. Without seeing my face, no one will sell their goods to be refurbished.”

“Impressive, impressive indeed.” Cheng Ye smiled and lightly shook his head.

A person like Hou Genbao who navigates the boundaries between the light and the dark wouldn’t be approached easily even if he held an inspector’s position two months ago.

No one would want to risk having more trouble than gains.

But things are different now, most of the people in his Celestial Essence Community strive for stability — lacking precisely someone like Hou Genbao who is clever, resourceful, and knows how to handle things like an “old fox.”

Thinking of this, Cheng Ye decided to stop beating around the bush and directly offered his bid:

“I want Yongxing, name your price!”

Buzz!

Hou Genbao’s gaze suddenly sharpened, his body tensed unconsciously, but his heart harbored a tinge of bitterness.

As expected, this seemingly ‘courteous’ invitation was ultimately a feast with hidden agendas.

This Inspector Cheng invited him here to back up Celestial Essence, aiming to annex Yongxing.

Name a price, he didn’t have the privilege to name a price.

A single word from the man in front of him, using that detailed record, could cast him and Yongxing into an abyss.

Suppressing the panic in his heart, Hou Genbao spoke with forced composure, “Inspector Cheng, the little money Yongxing earns every month may…”

“I want people, not money.”

Cheng Ye interrupted him, “Sixty kilometers away from the Buffer Zone towards the Industrial Zone, Dapo Town is now my territory. I want to build a Satellite City there; currently, I don’t lack materials, I lack reliable manpower.”

“Hmm?” Hou Genbao was taken aback, his brain temporarily unable to keep up with this sudden twist.

“Yongxing staying in the Buffer Zone has no development opportunity.”

Cheng Ye continued, his tone taking on a more enticing edge, “You like refurbishing old equipment, don’t you? With a word, I can get you tons of old equipment, enough for your thousand men to refurbish until their arms can’t move.”

“Aren’t you skilled at smuggling? I want to build factories at Dapo Town. Those forbidden goods strictly banned from export in the Buffer Zone, you can openly take them there, sell them freely, and make money. But you ought to think carefully, for what purpose are you desperately making money?”

After saying this, Cheng Ye himself felt a bit like a “crooked-mouthed Dragon King.”

But as of today, facing Hou Genbao and Yongxing, he indeed need not conceal anything further.

The power leaking through his fingers was more than enough to fulfill every need of Yongxing.

Of course, the prerequisite was that Yongxing was willing to jump at the opportunity, willing to dedicate themselves to him.

However, such words falling on Hou Genbao’s ears were like a bolt from the blue, leaving him utterly dazed.

What was happening?

Was Yongxing going to be hit by a windfall from the sky?

Endless equipment, the ability to conduct smuggling openly…

He opened his mouth, yet found himself unable to form complete sentences, merely uttering instinctively, “Inspector Cheng, we…”

“I am merely giving you an opportunity.” Cheng Ye raised his hand, cutting him off, “Whether you grasp it and are willing to grasp it depends entirely on you. You’ve seen Celestial Essence’s transformation, you know what benefits you can get by following me, no need for me to elaborate.”

He stroked his chin, providing the final deadline, “I’ll give you three days to think about whether to venture to the Satellite City with me, gaining a chance for glory and riches, or stay in the Buffer Zone, relying on this smuggling business to barely keep Yongxing running, make your own choice.”

Saying this, Cheng Ye turned to look at Long beside him.

Long immediately understood, stepped forward, and gestured “please” to Hou Genbao, smiling, “Elder Hou, please?”

Hastily came, hastily left.

The conversation merely lasted ten minutes, yet Hou Genbao was still in a daze when he walked out of Celestial Essence Mall.

The resoluteness of Inspector Cheng far exceeded his expectations.

Nonetheless, he truly couldn’t comprehend why Cheng Ye had singled out Yongxing?

“Speaking of which, Elder Qu gave you the opportunity, Inspector Cheng needs a group to handle dirty work under his command. I can indeed do it, better than you Houzi, but… Celestial Essence can’t do it.”

Long led him to the pedestrian street entrance, pulled out a crumpled bag from his pocket.

Opening the bag, inside was a packet of candy.

He took a handful and stuffed it into Hou Genbao’s hand, his tone uncharacteristically gentle, “Houzi, you understand how to seize opportunities better than the rest of us. You rose from an ordinary soldier to a Captain in Pioneer Corps, higher than Elder Qu, relying on this keen insight, I don’t wish for you to miss this chance.”

“Long, I…” Hou Genbao apprehensively took it, still somewhat bewildered.

“Think about it carefully when you return. If you’re confused, eat a piece of candy.”

Long reached out and patted his shoulder, leaving a final heartfelt remark, “You must figure out whether to continue opposing the rules or follow the rule-makers. Once you understand, you’ll know what to choose.”

…

Six in the evening.

The afterglow of the sunset was gradually swallowed by the twilight.

Cheng Ye went again to inspect the construction details of the site and pedestrian street, reaching the street entrance.

The sky had already dimmed.

The streetlights in the Buffer Zone began to light up one by one, casting long shadows on the ground.

Comparing to the leisure of laying in Rebirth Medical for more than ten days, the days back in the Buffer Zone were manifestly busier, yet also more fulfilling.

To his delight, aside from the construction speed of the pedestrian street exceeding expectations, the power facilities he had been longing for had also been arranged in advance by the Public Works Bureau, with two silver charging stations installed in the open space behind the shops, their new casing glimmering in the light.

Considering the load within the city, the charging stations on the pedestrian street could only run at 60kw, charging at the industrial electricity rate, current charging fee: every 100 kw / 25 contribution points, 10 points more expensive than the Public Works Bureau’s charging stations.

But this was just the price on the surface, there were still a slew of discounts yet to be calculated.

Firstly, there’s the 10% discount for the inspector’s identity, the industrial circuit of the pedestrian street is billed under his name, automatically enjoying this discount.

Next comes the Buffer Zone industrial development support, which also offers a 10% discount on top of that, immediately lowering the price to 20 points.

Additionally, there’s the summer industrial electricity discount, the electricity fee halved, similarly discounted on top.

“25 Multiplied by 0.9, then by 0.9 again, finally by 0.5… electricity costs just 10 contribution points per kWh!”

Upon calculating the result, Cheng Ye almost jumped up in excitement, unable to resist swallowing as his saliva gathered in his throat.

How many days has it been?

Inspector Cheng finally rose up like the liberated serfs, singing with joy, owning his own charging station!

Not only that, but it’s 5 points cheaper than the Industrial Bureau’s price, identical to the welfare price at the checkpoint.

But the difference is, with his own industrial electricity, he can charge freely at his discretion, limitless freedom.

“Sixty kWh an hour, six hundred at a night’s charge…”

Cheng Ye calculated, just half a day’s time to refill the current 800 kWh, efficiency is gratifying.

Moreover, occasionally he could sneak into the Public Works Bureau’s high power charging station for more, a delight to behold.

At least before the search materials around him are exhausted, he didn’t need to worry about stagnation in his strength growth.

Moreover, after the water and power stations at Dapo Town are restored, even when winter power controls hit, he has a way to keep charging!

…