Wasteland Development Diary

A day later, Zheng Tao returned to Emerald City with Zheng San in a car, also bringing several pieces of equipment.

He introduced them to Zhou Yi one by one.

Zheng Tao first pointed to a simple machine with two metal funnels, one above the other, and a handle on the side, saying, "This is a hand-cranked thresher, 4 gold each. The beans from Chicken Head Town and Oasis Town are threshed with this, ultimately shelled, leaving only the beans, which are then dried and sold."

"Just put the peanuts in, and turning the handle will crush the shells. Although it's manual operation, not like the electro-mechanical cities that only require energy packs, it's good because you can adjust the speed and the sieve inside, keeping the loss at a relatively low rate."

"The second step is to roast the peanuts, because that's how the oil becomes fragrant. Emerald City can handle the heating, so I didn't buy an extra iron barrel for stirring and heating."

"The third step is crushing."

The crusher was shaped like a large iron pot, with rotating spiral iron blades inside. By turning the handle, the peanut kernels inside could be crushed. It costs 3 gold.

The final step is pressing.

The press was the largest piece of equipment in the whole set.

It looked like a simple mini-locomotive, fully enclosed in iron, with a funnel for pouring in the raw materials. Oil came out of the front, and residue was squeezed out of the back.

Zheng Tao touched the metal machine: "This is also the most expensive piece of equipment in the entire pressing process. I bought it from the Craftsman's Guild for 5 light seeds."

"Only the Craftsman's Guild in human cities can make it. The internal parts are relatively complex and require high craftsmanship. However, it can only be powered by energy packs. One energy pack can last for 16-22 hours. Frequent shutdowns will actually increase energy consumption, so it's best to use it for concentrated periods of time."

"I used to have several bean fields and pressed oil. I've used this set and the advanced goods from the electro-mechanical cities."

He recalled, "The advanced goods are indeed easier to use, but they also have high environmental requirements. You have to build a special house, seal it well, and remove dust. The supporting requirements are too high. The Craftsman's Guild's things are more suitable for most environments, sturdy and durable, but the loss is a little higher, and there's more residue, but that can be solved by filtering with a clean cloth."

"Finally, boil the filtered oil once, let it cool after cooking, and then put it in sealed jars and cans, sealed with oiled cloth. That's the finished oil."

"In addition, I bought three kinds of grinding tools and pressing tools according to your requirements, which cost a total of 5 gold."

Zhou Yi examined the machines.

It seemed like there were fewer steps than he remembered, but it was generally the same.

Zheng Tao asked Zheng San to find a few people and start the three machines.

The loud noise of creaking and clanging rang out outside Emerald City.

The machines also brought out a lot of debris and dust.

Zhou Yi saw that the peanuts in their shells were threshed, roasted, crushed, and then poured into the press, then a kind of brown oil flowed out, and on the other side was the peanut residue that was pressed like tree bark.

The peanut residue had to be pressed twice to extract all the oil.

Zheng Tao picked up a piece of steaming peanut residue from the wooden bucket, his face full of nostalgia: "This peanut cake, when I was poor, I really thought it was delicious, fragrant and filling. It's a pity that this stuff isn't cheap. It's sold in stores on the market, but ordinary people only buy a little occasionally."

Zhou Yi also grabbed a piece and put it in his mouth to taste.

It was a little hot, very fragrant.

Zhou Yi asked, "If we expand production, can we lower the price of these foods?"

"Lower it?"

Zheng Tao was stunned: "Do you want to occupy the market with low prices?"

Zhou Yi ate another small piece of peanut cake: "Actually, I just want everyone to eat something good. If these things are so expensive, everyone simply can't afford them. Humans in this era work very hard."

Zheng Tao frowned: "Chairman, agricultural business has high investment and a long cycle. If you can't get a lot of revenue in the market, then it's not worth it."

"However."

He suddenly smiled: "It's great that you're willing to do this kind of thing."

"First let the people in this area live a good life, and then they will become the company's most loyal supporters. This kind of support will be deeply rooted, unbreakable from the inside out. Following the company's pace, they will have a safe and good living environment, high-paying jobs far exceeding their peers, and cheap and reliable high-quality food."

Zheng Tao said with emotion: "Now I find that my previous understanding seems to be wrong again."

"Whoever controls the food controls the hearts of the people. This is originally a simple and ancient principle. It's just that the people who control the food are unwilling to take the right path because it's too difficult and too slow. Most of them choose shortcuts that are more beneficial to themselves."

Zhou Yi licked the residue on his fingers: "Although our human bodies are not strong enough, our brains are not stupid. We can create and use various tools. If we can solve the basic survival problems and cooperate steadily, everyone can show stronger creativity."

"No matter what others think, I think humans are no worse than the Guangna Race and the Electro-Mechanical Lifeforms. It's just that congenital physiological disadvantages have led to step-by-step decline."

"I want to start with the Mao Valley Town area and invest in the upper limit of humanity."

He had personally seen the heyday of human civilization.

Today's Electro-Mechanical Lifeforms are just latecomers standing on the legacy of the old humans.

Although the new humans are now suppressed to work during the day and rest at night, and become third-class citizens under the Guangna Race and the Electro-Mechanical Lifeforms, they may not be able to reproduce the glory of the past when conditions are ripe.

Zheng Tao's face also became serious: "I understand. I will promote the company's food strategy around the goal of developing the human group!"

"Don't rush this matter, take your time."

Zhou Yi waved his hand and changed to a lighter topic: "I also learned a few snacks, help me advise."

"Zheng San, you watch here and guide everyone."

Zheng Tao arranged.

"Yes, Master."

Zheng Tao explained to Zhou Yi: "Although Zheng San is slow in interpersonal communication, he works very well. I taught him a lot in the past, including pressing bean oil. He is actually an old hand in this regard."

Zhou Yi said with a smile: "You are really good to him."

"He and I have a bit of fate." The old man looked at the servant behind him, and a trace of gentleness appeared in his eyes.

Then the two took a can of oil and began to tinker in Emerald City.

That day, they came up with four snacks.

Fried peanuts, fried chicken skeletons, fried chicken cutlets, and fried mushrooms.

Thanks to sweet potatoes for the fried food.

After crushing the sweet potatoes and filtering them, sweet potato paste can be obtained, wrapped in cloth and repeatedly squeezing out the water starch in the paste. These water starches are dried by Emerald City to become the simplest sweet potato flour.

Coating the sweet potato flour instead of fried chicken flour, wrapped on bones, thinned chicken, and mushrooms, and frying them slightly in a pot, the fragrance will come up.

Finally, sprinkle a little salt, and it's a good snack.

Zheng Tao closed his eyes and used the enhanced organ "Food Tongue" to taste them one by one. He stroked his beard, and a drunken smile appeared on his face.

"Good, good!"

"This is also good, the taste is wonderful!"

"Not bad, not bad, high-temperature fried mushrooms have a special flavor."

……

Zhou Yi was not surprised.

These are common foods that have been verified and put on the table. As long as humans still like high oil, high sugar, and high carbohydrates, it's about the same.

Including peanut cake, all five snacks were highly praised by Zheng Tao.

Then comes the most critical question of how to use them.

Zhou Yi's idea is: "The company should first open a small store, first selling these snacks gradually from the inside to the outside. The price should not be too high, be more people-friendly, so that they can be sold and bought, and then gradually promoted to the outside."

Zheng Tao thought for a while: "Chairman, I have a bold idea."

"Why not pull Sha Haigong into the partnership, and the towns in the entire Sha Port area will participate in the production of these five kinds of food? We have technology and farmland, and they have population and external sales and transportation channels."

He explained: "In this way, we only need to divide a part of the profit to make the labor force of the entire Sha Port area run. Sha Haigong will also vigorously promote this matter for his own benefit. With you here, Sha Haigong will not dare to play tricks. In the short term, we can integrate the entire region's external food output and form economies of scale."

"The company can not only obtain continuous and stable income, but also make Sha Haigong and us a real alliance of interests. Because the food industry itself has a general profitability, the sales of processed special foods have always been very good, which can improve the industry rating."

The agricultural consultant smiled and said: "Chairman, the improvement of the industry rating can make Sha Port City's credit rating higher in the electro-mechanical city."

"If the credit rating is raised to B, Sha Port City can find an electro-mechanical city to borrow money and enter a period of rapid development."

"High-rated cities are also more attractive to professional talents. Various professionals prefer to settle in advanced cities."

Zhou Yi generally understood.

The level of the credit rating represents the strength of the city's voice.

Similar to the division of first-tier, second-tier, and third-tier cities in the past.

Snack exports are considered the food industry.

He asked Red Falcon: "What is the credit rating of Sha Port City?"

"E grade."

There is still a lot of room for growth.

Zhou Yi took Emerald City all the way to the outside of Sha Port City, attracting the gaze and discussion of many citizens. This time they were finally no longer afraid, but curiously looked up at the towering buildings outside the wall.

Sha Haigong was invited to enter Emerald City again.

After hearing Zhou Yi's idea, it was overjoyed: "This is really what I want!"

"Mr. Zhou, you don't know, I have been troubled by this matter. You said that our fish seedlings, chicken, and cattails have meager profits when sold, and cannot compete with the outside world at all. The neighboring Steel Refining City has reached D grade by relying on the steel industry... Sha Port City lacks a unique output industry."

Sha Haigong rubbed its large paws: "We have plenty of manpower, so there is no need to worry about processing. There are also external sales. Although we are a small place, we also have 12 friendly cities that can sell goods at any time with a little bit of promotion over the years. As long as the sales of these foods can reach a certain standard, it can improve our industry rating!"

The two sides hit it off.

The details were still handed over to Zheng Tao and Chen Jiadong for consultation.

Sha Haigong swore an oath on the spot: "Mr. Zhou, don't worry, I guarantee that Sha Port City will never drop the chain! I will be watching here all the time..."

Zhou Yi suddenly frowned: "I have something to do, I have to go back."

"Oh, okay, do you need help?"

"No, it's a small matter."

Emerald City put down Sha Haigong and turned to head towards the main camp.

Just now, Building No. 5, which had just been completed, suddenly left its original location and came to Maria Hospital, circling there.

Emerald City was also very puzzled by this: "Too far away, I can't accurately get its feedback."

"I just got a vague perception that it doesn't like being quiet and likes sports."

"After I left, it became active."

Zhou Yi listened with some headaches.

This is a high-rise residential building with hyperactivity. Managing it might be a bit difficult.