Wasteland Development Diary

Back in Maogu Town, A Jin first sought out Cao Dayuan, the most skilled mushroom grower.

The latter refused outright.

"A Jin, I can grow mushrooms in Maogu Town, why would I go outside to grow them? Anyway, as long as Maogu Town is here, I'm here. My family has been here for three generations, I'm not going anywhere."

Cao Dayuan also reminded him, "This chairman you speak of is just an outsider. How long have you known him? How much do you really know about him? Is his purpose here really what he says it is?"

A Jin told him that the chairman had healed the injury he sustained from the looters, and he pulled up his trouser leg to show the already scarred calf.

But the town's number one mushroom grower believed, "Such wounds might heal even without treatment."

"You're still too young, thinking too simply, excessively trusting an outsider of unknown identity. Be careful not to be tricked into becoming bait for monsters."

"Young man, focus on growing mushrooms and don't let your imagination run wild. Life will get better. Going out there might cost you your life. Understand?"

A Jin really wanted to retort.

The other party had never seen the company's luxurious above-ground cave dwelling, didn't know how strong the chairman's hired samurai crabs were, and had certainly never tasted monster barbecue.

If Uncle Cao could experience these things, he would understand that with the chairman's wealth, there's no need to resort to tricks.

But no matter what A Jin said, Cao Dayuan just shook his head.

"Trusting others is not as good as trusting yourself. I trust the mushrooms I grow."

……

A Jin then found Brother Feng.

Brother Feng lived with insects, next to the Maogu insect pit. He always looked like he hadn't woken up.

"There's actually such a good place, a master-level scavenger... I'm a little tempted to go."

He seemed very interested.

However, Brother Feng ultimately refused.

His reason was: "I promised the farming group in Jitou Town. Brother Bo there let me raise Maogu insects that are two arms long. If I bring the insects to him, I can directly join the group and settle down there. A person must keep their word, I have to keep my promises."

"My insect is already very close to that length."

Brother Feng happily showed him a long and fat Maogu insect, which A Jin admired very much.

Finally, A Jin could only go to Mr. Gong.

Unexpectedly, he nodded in agreement as soon as he heard about it.

This time it was A Jin's turn to be surprised: "You're not going to ask if it's a scam or if there's any danger?"

Mr. Gong smiled and said, "Your description contains a lot of detailed information. If it were a scam, there would be no need to create so many details that are easy to expose, including the method of treating wounds, the medication, and the above-ground cave dwelling."

"That chairman can make stubborn monsters like samurai crabs learn to use weapons and tools, and train them to fight in an orderly manner... A Jin, you don't understand how amazing this is."

"A person with this kind of ability wouldn't care about a small place like Maogu Town at all, and there's no need to painstakingly create a scam. If he wanted to, he could easily destroy this town and dispose of the townspeople at will."

As expected of someone who can read and write, the words he spoke were very convincing to A Jin.

If only I knew as much as he did.

"But give me a little time."

Mr. Gong added, "Since I'm going to visit this important figure, I have to prepare something that can demonstrate my abilities. Give me three days, and I'll go with you after three days."

……

After the Wasteland Development Company's sign was erected, Zhou Yi painted a crab on the container with oil paint.

He had come this far, starting with the samurai crabs.

They were the most suitable as the company's logo.

The first project of the Wasteland Development Company was to cultivate farmland nearby.

To Zhou Yi's surprise, even though he offered very competitive salaries locally, he couldn't successfully recruit two mushroom growers.

A Jin said that he had tried to find a few more people, but when everyone saw Cao Dayuan refuse, they were unwilling to come. Another situation was that Que Menya and another town resident were missing—usually, this situation meant that the person was already dead, which made everyone a little nervous.

Maogu Town itself is very closed off, and the locals have a weak ability to accept new things. They dare to go to places with monsters to pick up branches and feces, carry water, and find carrion because they know what's there, it's a familiar place.

They are wary and shrink back from places they have never heard of, like the Wasteland Development Company, despite the generous treatment.

Zhou Yi was a little helpless.

Fortunately, there was finally one person who came to apply.

Mr. Gong was wearing clothes with holes, a pair of long socks on his feet, and leaning on a wooden-handled cane. He looked about twenty-four or five years old, with heavy bags under his eyes and a somewhat haggard expression.

Zhou Yi waved his hand to indicate: "Sit down."

After receiving permission, Mr. Gong limped to the table and carefully sat on the edge of the chair.

Zhou Yi said with a smile, "Is there anything you would like to know about our Wasteland Development Company?"

Mr. Gong paused for a moment before speaking somewhat cautiously, "I just hope to have a place to settle down. A Jin said that you will guarantee the safety of your employees, right?"

Zhou Yi nodded: "As long as you are in the company's office—that is, here—your safety is guaranteed."

"That's enough. Whatever you want me to do, I will do."

The other party seemed relieved.

Zhou Yi asked: "What happened to you?"

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"I dare not hide it from you."

Mr. Gong said, "My name is Gong Zheng, and I originally lived in 'Xiaoyanling' in the far west, which is a city that produces and makes tobacco. When I was 10 years old, I became a disciple of the Arcanists and was assigned to work for the Arcanist Wu Chen in the Arcanist Association. Because I have mediocre talent, I do chores and other tasks."

"When I was 15 years old, the Arcanist Association conducted an inspection and found that Wu Chen was researching prohibited drugs. Afterwards, I became a scapegoat. Wu Chen broke one of my legs, and the Arcanist Association also posted a notice prohibiting me from participating in any work related to the Arcanists and forbidding me from entering Xiaoyanling for life."

"After that, I could only move with the caravan all the way, but the surrounding cities and towns all knew about this. I couldn't find a job, and my settlement application was always rejected. Finally, I settled in Maogu Town, far away from there."

"I have been here for 10 years and am very grateful to the townspeople for not disliking me. Although my right leg is not good, the rest of my body is still healthy. I will try my best to help everyone where I can."

"Unfortunately, my ability is weak, and I only have a superficial understanding of many things. My judgment on A Jin's injury was also a big problem, and I almost killed him. Fortunately, you corrected me. Thinking about it now, I am really ashamed..."

His speaking rhythm was neither fast nor slow, and very organized.

Zhou Yi asked again: "You used to be an Arcanist apprentice, what direction did you study?"

Mr. Gong paused for a moment before responding, "Wu Chen specializes in making smoke pills, which are potent medicines made by mixing tobacco with other special drugs, and are also one of Xiaoyanling's specialties."

"Smoke pills are usually used for pain relief and to treat seriously injured people. It is also a drug that is easily abused. Taking it will produce a clear sense of comfort and relaxation. The prohibited smoke pills that Wu Chen researched can make people and monsters addicted and even controlled... Many people came to him to get that kind of smoke pill, and many of them were influential figures."

"I worked under him, and in addition to doing chores, I also participated in drug testing on various animals and even monsters. My memory is not bad, and I know some of the drugs and understand the physiology of some monsters."

Zhou Yi understood.

Prohibited smoke pills are a highly addictive psychoactive drug, which involves many stakeholders behind it.

The Arcanist Association found Gong Zheng, an apprentice, to take the blame and minimize the matter.

"These few days, I have recalled and marked and drawn all the monsters near Maogu Town."

Mr. Gong handed over a stack of somewhat yellowed paper.

The first page depicted a claw pig with hard hair all over its body, short noses and sharp teeth, and four-legged curved hooks.

Under the picture are written incomprehensible words.

The Red Falcon translated it.

……

[Claw Pig]

Strength: E

Skill: F

Vitality: E

Rating: E

Habits: Lives in groups, has certain intelligence, strong endurance and resistance to blows, good at hunting and charging, and has strong claw lethality at close range.

Value: Claws, fur, meat.

……

Zhou Yi's eyes narrowed.

He knew a lot about underwater photon species, but he didn't have much contact with land monsters.

Gong Zheng actually made a profile picture for the monsters.

This is very valuable to me.