Wasteland Border Inspector-Chapter 228 - 110: Rainy Season, Sharp Drop in Temperature, Fiery Hearts!
Cheng Ye saw it and softened his voice, "Don’t worry, even if a primal infected body does come, Brother Cheng has ways to make it sit down, at least to buy us time to run."
"I believe in Brother Cheng."
Wang Kang nodded stiffly, but his smile was even more strained than before.
Clearly, he didn’t take those words to heart.
"Brother Cheng, you should leave. There shouldn’t be anyone else coming to Zone B tonight. Patrol starts at 7 a.m. tomorrow, and it’s not good if you don’t rest well."
"Alright, call me if anything comes up."
Cheng Ye replied, turned around, and walked out of the inspection area.
He’d been busy since the morning, but luckily he had just taken a nap on the recliner to regain some energy; otherwise, even with trained stamina, he’d be struggling.
As he reached the quarantine area, a chill swept over like a tide, giving off the feeling that winter was really coming.
Cheng Ye instinctively tightened his coat, called a few staff members and guards on duty in the public area to help move the salted fish and beef to the entrance of the inspection station.
"Long, you can come over now, I’m waiting at the entrance of the inspection station."
"Okay, we’re waiting on Master Zhang’s bus."
The cold wind howled, freezing hands and feet.
By the time the dispatcher finished coordinating, Master Zhang’s bus was already on its way to the South Inspection Station.
It didn’t take more than two or three minutes before the two dim yellow headlights pierced through the thick fog, and the bus numbered ’86’ slowly stopped in front of the inspection station.
The bus door hissed open, and Long led seven strong youths out one by one, each carrying an empty snakeskin bag, rolling up their sleeves to get to work without a word.
"Be careful, the mouth parts of these dried salted fish are sharp, don’t get cut."
Long was bending over, lifting a bundle of salted fish. He looked up and grinned, "Don’t worry, sir, we’ve seen these swordfish plenty when we were with the corps, even tasted them fresh."
"Fresh?"
Cheng Ye raised an eyebrow, "You’ve been to Sea Province before?"
"That’s right." Long chatted while working quickly, "It was over ten years ago, back when I was with the Pioneer Corps. We repaired the dock with the team, then took a long trip with the supply ship, the destination being Sea Province."
"How much was a fresh swordfish worth over there?"
"Back then, they weren’t worth much; the coastline was full of them, as much as you wanted, just cast a net to catch them. But they were a pain to prepare, you had to break the mouth parts to cook them. Never thought after coming back to Happiness City, I wouldn’t see them again all these years."
Cheap goods brought to Happiness City, selling a ton for 240 points?
Cheng Ye nodded thoughtfully. It seemed this was another method for Happiness City to attract merchant teams.
By buying cheap coastal city goods at inflated prices, they could stockpile food and give merchant teams a profit, thereby maintaining the inter-zone trade chain in this chaotic world.
Otherwise, if prices adjusted and plummeted, a run wouldn’t turn a profit and might even incur losses, and next time they’d be no trace of them.
This way was much better, bringing one or two carloads of food guaranteed some profit.
Like the Red Mountain Merchant Team’s third car of miscellaneous items, it was an option after securing the basics; whether lost or gained, it wouldn’t significantly affect the team’s overall earnings.
A total of two and a half tons of dried fish.
Because they were well-sunned and densely packed, all 85 snakeskin bags were filled.
Long, with two young men, swiftly climbed to the top of the bus, while the four below stood in a line, aiming and tossing upwards.
These buses were originally modified truck chassis, ready to transform into cargo trucks in case of emergency.
Nearly fifty bags of dried fish were spread flat on the roof, tied crosswise with thick nylon ropes, with non-slip nets pressed on the edges, no matter how bumpy the ride, they wouldn’t shift.
The remaining thirty-some bags were stuffed into the back of the bus with half a Yaksha bull wrapped in waterproof cloth, filling the rear half of the compartment perfectly.
"Master Zhang, I’m really sorry."
Cheng Ye smiled apologetically, the smell of sea lingering at his nose, "The smell of dried fish is strong, you’ll probably have to clean the bus thoroughly when you return."
"Inspector Cheng, please don’t say that. It’s my privilege to lend you a hand, Old Zhang. Besides, the Public Works Bureau has long instructed that for the next half month, I’m your exclusive driver. Wherever you need to go, just say the word. My Defense Communication number is 317550, jot it down and call me anytime."
Zhang Yong quickly waved his hand, his crow’s feet crinkling.
From a regular bus driver to tagging along with the Inspector, connecting with the Celestial Essence Community, the other drivers running with us these days are dying of envy.
Not to mention Cheng Ye, having not a hint of arrogance, friendlier than some Public Works Bureau small leaders.
"Alright then, I won’t be polite."
Cheng Ye pulled out his contact list and saved the number, everyone got on the bus one by one, squeezing in at the front.
Everyone huddled together, generating warmth, dispelling much of the chill in the compartment.
"Master Zhang, first let’s head to the Public Works Bureau. I need to discuss the pedestrian street construction with Engineer Liu."
"Got it!"
Master Zhang shifted gears and stepped on the gas, and the bus slowly pulled away from the inspection station.
The guards on duty at the entrance couldn’t help but peek over, eyes full of astonishment.
They’ve been stationed here for years, everyone knows inspectors hold high status, if there’s a task, there are plenty who’ll rush to lend a hand.
But they’d never seen an inspector actually do it, most were aloof and independent.
It’s the first time they’ve seen someone like Cheng Ye; from the respectful look in Long and the others’ eyes, he carries the same impression as a station chief!
The vehicle drove onward for a while.
Cheng Ye sat by the window, a layer of white mist on the glass; he used a finger to wipe it open, gazing at the retreating foggy scene.
The tent camp, still lively during the day, now huddled into gray shadows in the cold fog, like grave mounds rooted in the Wilderness, devoid of shouting and cooking smoke, even the wind brushing against the canvas sounded deathly silent.
As they drove further, the outlines of the shantytown emerged in the fog.
The squat adobe houses crowded together, with sporadically lit lamps in the windows, the whole area eerily quiet.
No more noise or constant chaos!
The vast Buffer Zone, in just one day’s time, turned desolate again, even the air carried an indescribable oppression, more desolate than after the last infection wave.
"Was it always like this in winter?"
"Winters used to be much quieter than this." Long immediately responded, "Everyone fears running into the Fog Cave and danger when going out, not just because it’s cold. Actually, this temperature is perfectly comfortable for working during the day, neither too cold nor too hot, much better than sweating through summer!"
"Hmm..."
Cheng Ye didn’t respond, just continued looking out the window.
Until they left the shantytown and reached the city’s edge, did he finally speak:
"Long, later find a few pots and stew the salted fish and beef for us. Tonight, I’m treating everyone to some meat, won’t let you run in vain."
"Sir, we couldn’t possibly!"
Long quickly waved his hand, a flush creeping over his weathered face, "If you have orders, we’d gladly run ourselves ragged, can’t let..."
Before he could finish, Cheng Ye glanced at him, lacking authority but with a gentle firmness that brooked no refusal.
Long sheepishly closed his mouth, but couldn’t help the upward curve of his lips, sweetness in his heart.
Working with Cheng Ye felt entirely different from taking orders in the corps.
Everyone could clearly feel that although Cheng Ye directed them, they were equal in dignity, not treated as mere tools.
The compartment quieted down, no one spoke, but the young men glanced at each other, eyes shining a bit brighter.
This respect, in the Wasteland where lives were as worthless as grass.
Though perhaps worthless to some, exchanging neither for bullets nor filling the belly.
Yet perhaps... it was the most precious of all!
...
