Wasteland Development Diary

Zheng Tao opened his eyes and looked out the window.

Some fallen snowflakes were stuck to the glass, quickly melting into droplets and running down.

This winter was very quiet, the room as warm as spring. Touching the raised stones on the wall filled the room with light, even with yellow and white options.

The servant, Zheng San, kept rambling about how he had never seen such a magical house, incomparable even to the high-end mansions in Jin City.

Zheng Tao walked out of the bedroom and found Zheng San curled up on the thick carpet in the outer room.

The young man was snoring softly, fast asleep.

The old man tiptoed to the toilet next door. He washed his hands and face with hot water from the faucet, then sat on the toilet, which, despite being stone, was not cold at all.

When Zheng Tao got up, he started sweating again and had difficulty breathing. The discomfort lasted for a while, and he almost fell.

He steadied himself against the wall as he came out, and Zheng San was already awake.

"Master, are you feeling unwell again?"

Zheng San hurriedly poured water for the pale-faced old man, found his medicine, and prepared some dry biscuits for him to eat.

"It's alright, not as bad as last time."

Zheng Tao took his medicine and rested in a chair in front of the floor-to-ceiling window in the living room.

He now enjoyed looking out the window.

It was unlike any place he had ever been. The perilous and wild Dead Sea was close at hand, yet because of the existence of the aliens, a thin pane of glass had become an impenetrable barrier for the monsters.

This experience was wonderful, stimulating yet reassuring.

Huh?

Something outside caught Zheng Tao's attention.

His eyesight wasn't very good, and he pointed to the edge of the Dead Sea outside the window: "What is that?"

Zheng San peered carefully and said, "Master, it looks like a dam, and there are boats."

"Was it there yesterday?"

"It was there yesterday."

Zheng Tao frowned: "What about the day before yesterday?"

"It wasn't there the day before yesterday," Zheng San shook his head.

Which meant that in one day, that huge dam had been built outside?

Zheng Tao glared at the young man: "Why didn't you tell me about this?"

Zheng San scratched his head: "Master, you said that we should mind our own business and not interfere, just let you rest and get through the winter… and you're always reading, you never let me disturb you."

"…"

The old man was so angry that he gave him a resounding flick on the forehead: "When will you ever be quick-witted!"

"I'm sorry, Master," Zheng San hugged his head and shrank his neck, trembling.

Zheng Tao felt much better after getting angry, so he put on his coat and said, "Let's go out."

He had Zheng San knock on the neighbor's door.

The door next door opened, and Qian Su was tightening her right arm with a wrench: "Uncle Zheng, so early, what's the matter?"

"The dam outside…"

"Oh, that, they said it's for collecting light-containing sand from the Dead Sea," Qian Su said, "But I don't know the specifics, it was just built."

Zheng Tao immediately understood.

Emerald City had absolute dominance in this area, and with the warrior crabs, it was enough to keep the light-absorbing species in the sea from approaching.

In this way, the offshore area had become a safe and exploitable zone.

Building an artificial cape to collect light-containing sand was a very wise choice in the long run.

"Why didn't I feel anything living in the house?" the old man expressed his doubts.

The girl moved the arm she had just installed: "That's because the soundproofing here is too good. Even if there's an explosion outside, you won't feel it unless you go outside."

"Mr. Zhou said that this was also for everyone's sleep. Many people are light sleepers and wake up easily. He specifically requested this, and Emerald City did some basic soundproofing."

Zheng Tao nodded.

That was true.

People slept poorly when they got old.

Zheng Tao always woke up easily in Sandport City. The houses there weren't bad, enough to block the wind and rain, but there was no way to block the various noises and screams made by the monsters. It was difficult for him to fall back asleep after being woken up, and his mental state was very poor.

After officially moving into Emerald City, Zheng Tao slept until he woke up naturally. He was like this in his thirties, but after forty, it was difficult without the help of alcohol.

"Uncle Zheng, how about we go down and take a look at the dam?"

At Qian Su's suggestion, the three of them went downstairs together.

After getting closer, Zheng Tao realized that Emerald City and the artificial cape were now connected, especially Building 2 and Building 3. You could go out and climb up the raised slope all the way, directly to the Dead Sea.

A large number of residents had gathered here.

The dam was full of people carrying buckets, chatting as they walked.

These people were dressed in rags, but their faces showed a visible enthusiasm and excitement. Everyone seemed full of energy.

Scavengers had lived in poverty for many years and had seen all kinds of worldly coldness, so many were very negative, living one day at a time. It was rare to see them moving.

Zheng Tao asked Qian Su: "Did Mr. Zhou make any promises to them?"

"There were no promises."

Qian Su also looked at the light-containing workers passing by: "As far as I know, the salary is good enough. The reward Mr. Zhou gives them is 6,000 gu a month."

"How much?"

"6,000, this price is very attractive, close to home, and there is free housing, everyone is working hard."

Zheng Tao suspected he had misheard.

As someone who had climbed up from the bottom, he was very sensitive to prices.

In places like Mao Valley Town, the average monthly income was probably less than 2,000 gu.

The farming group in Jitou Town could be seen as a benchmark, with a monthly salary of about 3,000 gu. Considering room and board, it was already a dream for most people.

Under normal circumstances, the income of workers in the light-containing port was lower than that of the farming group.

Experienced craftsmen were a standard high-income group in Sandport City, with a monthly salary of about 5,000 gu. Adding the commission income from piecework manufacturing and repairs, it was about 6,000 gu a month. Only a very few people could break this ceiling.

The wasteland development company recruited these scavengers to work as light-containing workers, directly giving them almost the highest salary.

Zheng Tao didn't understand: "Can Mr. Zhou really make money doing this? Doesn't he consider the issue of profitability?"

Qian Su showed a mysterious smile: "Who knows, maybe some people don't care about making money, it's just out of interest, and some people are destined to not be viewed in the same way as ordinary people."

From her words, Zheng Tao vaguely heard something.

But Qian Su stopped there and said, "The real work area is under the dam."

The inside of the dam was a hollow structure.

Walking down, Zheng Tao realized that the dam was made of stacked and connected stone houses. The window openings of each stone house were natural collection points. The workers wore grass ropes around their waists, the other end fixed to the dam, and used nets to collect light-containing sand through this opening.

People worked indoors, not afraid of wind and sun, and very safe.

Zheng Tao looked at the smiling workers, thinking that with this kind of income, even the younger him would be happy, probably wishing to work for the rest of his life.

He didn't doubt the wealth of that Mr. Zhou.

He even let people live with baby aliens for free, let alone this little money.

Zheng Tao couldn't help but ask: "What is Mr. Zhou's background?"

The girl, who was usually very talkative, only put her finger on her lips at this time.

Zheng Tao immediately understood.

Qian Su did know the other party's background, but this was some kind of taboo.

Zhou Yi's background was probably a bit scary.

Various thoughts flashed through the old man's mind.

Suddenly, someone next to him brought a bucket over and shouted loudly: "Brothers, the company's farm has had a bumper harvest! The chairman is treating everyone to newly harvested roasted sweet potatoes! Come, come, everyone has one, hot!"

The workers immediately gathered around.

They all cherished the current environment and work, and each took only one that belonged to them, tasting this rare delicacy in winter.

The three of Zheng Tao also had one.

The old man tore open the sweet potato skin, slowly chewing on the sweet-tasting tuber, feeling a little melancholy: "In the Sandport area, which doesn't produce sweet potatoes, this thing should cost 300 gu each. Mr. Zhou is really as generous as ever."

Qian Su, gnawing on the sweet potato, said: "Uncle Zheng, about the Elder Council thing we talked about before… can you help write a letter of recommendation?"

"Those enhanced people after retirement don't easily trust people. You are a mediator in the Elder Council, and with your recommendation, they will definitely be willing to come here to retire. I asked Mr. Zhou about this, and he also supports it."

Zheng Tao nodded: "Okay, I'll write it."

"But you also help me do one thing."

"Please speak."

Zheng Tao looked at the girl in front of him: "I probably won't live for another month. After I die, if you can, help Zheng San find a worker's job."

He pointed to the somewhat dull servant next to him and said: "He is not the kind of flexible-minded person, but he is diligent, obedient, and can do things. He has taken care of me for several years, and I'll find a way for him. I think this place has prospects."

Qian Su nodded: "It shouldn't be a problem, because the light-containing dam still needs a lot of workers."

"Then I can rest assured."

Zheng Tao looked at the servant beside him.

Zheng San suddenly said seriously: "Master, you won't die."

"Everyone will die, you fool," the old man scolded with a smile.

"You won't die, you will live a long time."

"Why?"

Zheng San said: "My mother said that good people should live to be a hundred years old. Master, you are a good person."

Zheng Tao was stunned, and finally he nodded: "Okay."