"From now on, newcomers to Happiness City will no longer be able to enter the Buffer Zone directly. This area will gradually be upgraded, the ruins rebuilt, and eventually become like the advanced area of Firewood Shelter City, with stricter rules and higher thresholds."

Cheng Ye shifted his tone, becoming more direct: "And people like you, Master Tian, will be the first to be filtered out."

"Why?" Master Tian’s face darkened.

"Because the upgraded Buffer Zone will not tolerate a master of Unity of Heaven and Man driving a bus inside."

Cheng Ye paused, looking at the calm but now serious big bald head with a hint of a smile.

"The core purpose of the Satellite City is multi-level linkage defense. Any factor inside that could cause instability will be cleared out to the Satellite City. Whether it’s the Inner City or the Outer City, Happiness City will ultimately be left to those with real potential, the ordinary people who need a stable environment, like those young people I just saw at the Mechanical Bureau. They need a peaceful environment for learning and research, where they are best secluded within this Shelter City, free from the distractions of the wilderness danger and survival pressure."

"Moreover, what Happiness City will need in the future are newcomers who can make contributions, not veterans resting on their laurels. The diligent old-timers, if they can’t keep up with the pace of development and lose their irreplaceable value, will be the first to be sent away as an example."

"Of course, when this day comes, no one can say for sure."

Cheng Ye said frankly, without deliberately instilling anxiety, "It might come in a year, or it might take five or ten years. And if the construction of the Satellite City fails, we might never see this day. But I’m the kind of person who likes to prepare ahead, thinking of plans early, and keeping more options."

With the conversation at this point, the atmosphere had completely changed.

After uncovering Master Tian’s ability disguise, whether pulling him in succeeds or not, their relationship will never return to that simple state.

But this is the reality that will inevitably come with the expansion of the Satellite City.

Even Inspector Li Changfeng has to climb step by step from the lower regions.

And ordinary people?

They will only fare worse!

As the threshold for entering the Inner City gets higher, Happiness City will set thresholds for the Outer City, and for the Buffer Zone, pushing down level by level.

It sets goals for newcomers to climb upward, and shackles everyone not to stop.

Only in this way will some be willing to stay at the very outer Satellite City, taking risks to continue contributing to Happiness City.

And this great ship of the era’s development will certainly not carry all the old-era crew far.

Under a great change of blood, it will inevitably need to sacrifice the interests of some people.

Smart people are already thinking about how to navigate the waters of the new era to accumulate their first pot of gold and live a life they couldn’t previously dream of.

Those trapped in stability can only passively wait for the moment of judgment to come, being swept into the dust in a great tide, with all their accumulation and stability disappearing overnight.

If Master Tian were an ordinary person, it would be fine; he would just have to passively accept the judgment when the moment comes.

But now, knowing this, as a survivor out of Firewood Shelter City and a Unity of Heaven and Man capable of making a move, can he still firmly believe that this day will never come?

Or think that even if the time for change arrives, it shouldn’t be the Tian Family that becomes this sacrifice?

Even including when Cheng Ye clearly intended to recruit him at noon, he vaguely sensed it in his heart.

He just never thought he would truly have to take this step.

He pondered for a full two or three minutes.

Master Tian still slowly shook his head, not knowing what he was thinking or weighing.

"No rush, think it over first. I’ll take a stroll and see if there’s anything outside that can be used."

Cheng Ye smiled, turning to walk towards the depths of the junkyard.

Having been to Firewood and seen the destruction of C35, he never believes there’s a truly safe place.

Rooting in this wasteland takes more than just one’s strength; a large force backing is required.

And whether it’s for a better life or achieving certain ideals.

Rather than saying he’s winning hearts, it’s better to say he’s recruiting like-minded partners.

Like Master Tian, someone who still harbors expectations for a better life and wants to continue living in stability.

Why not directly seize the opportunity?

If successful, he’ll immediately gain a powerful ally in Unity of Heaven and Man.

If not, he can still retain some decorum, without relations breaking down from constant probing.

"Oh, these cars aren’t too bad after all."

After walking a short distance, Cheng Ye suddenly halted, his gaze falling on a grey, small cargo truck.

The right side of the cargo truck was severely smashed, with the A and B pillars bent inward, and the vehicle tilted against the ground. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Through the broken front windshield, the leather seats on the left side of the co-driver and rear seats were covered in thick dust, but with no obvious damage.

Going around to open the side door, his fingertips encountered genuinely plush leather seats, the feel still solid.

"Good stuff!"

Cheng Ye pressed on the seat, a hint of delight in his eyes, but looking towards other parts of the vehicle, he couldn’t help but shake his head again.