Because there were so many new arrivals, Fang Xun had to stay behind to oversee the process. He immediately explained to the two people's questions, "No, no, it's mainly because our country thinks highly of us and is helping to boost GDP."

The two didn't understand, so Fang Xun continued to tell them the whole story, including the news received by the new residents, etc., without any detail.

Now the two of them understood.

After looking at each other, Si Lan turned around and went to the communications station and the infrastructure team to verify the matter.

Her communication station has been the envy of new residents for a long time.

The communication tower is very large, with a total of four floors. The highest and outermost floor is a large layer with a whole row of filaments arranged into different symbols and metal sheets extending outward.

On the lower left side, there were several large glass lamps on a short floor, and next to it was a small metal bell slightly larger than a man's head. The hammer was supported on the side of the bell, and the other end of the hammer was connected to a trigger mechanism that extended outward using the principle of leverage, extending a long distance.

The layer on the right, which is slightly higher than the left, has a similar installation to the first layer. The fourth layer is parallel to the top layer and extends outward, with metal bottles and jars.

This four-story platform is very conspicuous. When idle, a thatched shed is built on top to protect it from wind and rain. It is also surrounded by fences. When no one is using it and without permission, residents who do not have permission to use the communication station are not allowed to touch it at all.

New residents are extremely curious about this communication station, but because no one uses it, they have not been able to witness it in operation.

Now Si Lan was finally going to start the device, and a group of people immediately surrounded her.

But it is broad daylight now, Si Lan does not need to use any power supply devices, she can just type the code.

Everyone could only see her remove the straw hut, raise a straw "flag" dyed red that was placed under the stage, and wave it in the air.

In a short while, hail fell from the sky and hit metal bottles and cans.

Upon hearing the voice, Si Lan typed another set of codes. Soon, the other party gave her a positive answer and told her that this was a measure taken to enable their camp to develop as much as possible. Of course, it also allowed everyone to carry sufficient and even more precious resources.

This way Si Lan would have no doubts.

He looked back at the new residents and said, "Then stay in this camp."

Everyone knows her. Although she was not there a few days ago, the residents of the camp mentioned her all the time. You can tell that she is one of the core figures just by listening to her.

Someone asked Si Lan if she could show them how to use the communication station. Si Lan shook her head and said, "At night, you can't see it even in the bright sun."

As he said that, he went to place the resources he had brought back.

Fang Xun went to discuss with her the various plans for dividing the camp.

Si Lan had no objection, but when she came out of the resource warehouse, she glanced at the increasingly crowded camp, then at the fields outside the camp and even further away.

"The infrastructure group's announcement is tantamount to encouraging residents from other areas to relocate here on a large scale."

"This decision is sound. The increase in population is indeed a strong boost to our labor force, and the expansion of our camp will indeed drive the progress of the entire game."

"But that doesn't mean this decision is without drawbacks."

"This decision has more benefits than disadvantages in the overall direction, but it is a huge challenge for our original camp."

Fang Xun: "Are you worried about population pressure and the hidden competition between the old and new camps?"

Si Lan: "That's true. No matter how much we develop here, the location and surrounding resources remain unchanged, which means that all existing resources are subject to an expiration date."

"Don't forget that this planet is a barren one. Our early residents were active, mature, and easy to find. Plus, with a small population, just an acre of farmland, a few patches of forest, and the resources the residents have stored themselves, self-sufficiency is completely possible."

"But now a large number of people have suddenly arrived, and wild resources cannot be regenerated as soon as they are taken. As time goes by, our food will become increasingly scarce. Simply relying on gathering food will definitely not be enough."

Fang Xun: "That's the truth."

Si Lan: "Not only that, considering the total area of ​​our camp, if we build three or four more houses at most, the camp will no longer be able to accommodate them."

"Housing is not a problem for a short period of time, but over time, not only will it significantly reduce the amount of daylight available year-round, but overcrowding can also create an oppressive atmosphere. For modern residents accustomed to independence, prolonged exposure to such conditions can lead to numerous conflicts, even incomprehensible contradictions."

Fang Xun: "My original plan was to accept a small number of people, then apply to the Infrastructure Group to stop recruiting and wait for a period of development before making a decision."

Si Lan stared at the forest area to the side and thought for a while, then suddenly said, "Suspending the absorption is inevitable. The Infrastructure Corps cannot be unaware of the disadvantages of a sudden population explosion. This is reassuring."

"But judging by the current development trends, we should also prepare for the future. Looking at it another way, the Infrastructure Corps is deliberately provoking us, forcing us to improve our overall level. So their intention isn't to get us to complete this expansion, but to get us to start preparing for future rapid development."

Fang Xun hadn't thought of this, so he asked her, "What exactly do you mean?"

Si Lan said, "There are wild beasts in the forest area. We should try not to shrink their living space, so they won't attack us easily."

"But over there," she said, pointing to the right, "behind the lake is a large wilderness with lots of weeds and gravel, but it's not dangerous and easy to deal with."

"And over here," she pointed to the other side, "there are just a lot of rocks and stones. It won't be too difficult to clean up."

After she finished speaking, she looked at Fang Xun and said, "So we can definitely expand the territory over there."

"Further away, I remember there's a large expanse of wilderness. If we're sure there aren't any more camps around it, we can develop it and plant farmland. Large tracts of farmland capable of feeding the residents. We can then find further land to plant orchards and raise livestock. In short, we'll develop it comprehensively."

Fang Xun immediately understood what she meant: "You want to continue to open up new land."

"right."

"This is a great suggestion. If we do this, we won't have to worry about food and drink by next season at the earliest."

Si Lan nodded. "That's right. I think this is the long-term solution."

Fang Xun was also a man who would do what he said. Once he had a direction, he said, "Shall I arrange the manpower?"

At this time, Si Lan thought about it again.

I asked him in return: "We have welcomed so many new people, don't we have a few who are particularly talented and have made achievements in special fields?"

At this point, Fang Xun groaned and muttered quietly, "Although I've screened these people and they all seem to be relatively active and enthusiastic, they can easily leave their original camp and join us. I don't think they are particularly talented people in the original camp, otherwise why wouldn't the original camp let them go?"

Si Lan pursed her lips thoughtfully, and after a moment she said, "Then let's set up some thresholds later."

"It's not that I look down on anyone or exclude anyone, but under the current conditions, our camp is really almost saturated, and it's impossible to absorb a large number of outsiders."

"Then let's set the bar. Starting tomorrow, anyone who wants to come here must bring enough resources to sustain ourselves during the expansion period, and preferably have special skills."

"For newcomers with insufficient resources, please decline for now. However, please provide us with our contact information so that we can give them a priority spot for future expansion."

"Talents with outstanding skills who can contribute to our expansion will be given priority, and we may even be given some preferential benefits as an incentive."

"Once this expansion project stabilizes, we will reopen the site, absorb the new residents we promised earlier, and then recruit the next batch of new residents. The next round of recruitment can be similar to this one. In short, we must adhere to one principle: everything serves rapid development."

Fang Xun felt that the method was feasible, but this model...

"Wouldn't that make others think I'm too arrogant?"

Si Lan looked at him with a strange look in her eyes: "Isn't the level of our camp worthy of such airs?"

Fang Xun: "It's a match, but I'm afraid others will think our camp is difficult to get along with and won't want to come."

Si Lan smiled, then suddenly stared at him meaningfully: "Actually, your idea is exactly the opposite."

"Many people have a strong desire for the strong. Chasing the strong is human instinct."

"Our camp has been specifically mentioned by the Infrastructure Corps, and we do possess something that other camps don't. This 'strong' image, whether it's strong enough or not, has established a certain foundation in the minds of others."

"If we seize this opportunity, lower the threshold, and raise the conditions, most people will just think that this camp must have something special to be so arrogant."

"Once this idea takes hold, when the camp's population is small in the early days, a large number of truly talented people will surely flock here, either to explore the area or to seize the opportunity to enter first and enjoy the best initial benefits."

“So this method is the real way to stimulate talents to come.”

"If you still don't understand, compare it to a marketing campaign or a large company recruiting new employees. Think about it: in the real world, don't those big companies that sound famous and have high barriers to entry prioritize talented people?"

Fang Xun finally understood: "What you said makes a lot of sense."

He immediately looked at her in surprise and said, "I didn't expect you to have such a great business mindset."

Si Lan laughed again and said calmly, "Didn't I tell you? My parents are businessmen, and I've been accustomed to some things since I was a child."

Fang Xun recalled for a moment and said with certainty, "You hardly ever mentioned your parents. I even hesitated to ask you about it."

Si Lan: "Why bring it up when there's nothing to do? Businessmen who are ruthless enough to even cheat their own daughters are not good people."

Fang Xun glared: How dare you scold me?

But seeing that Si Lan didn't really mean to curse, and instead seemed to be making a casual joke, he felt relieved. It seemed that this topic was not a taboo.

No need to avoid it deliberately in the future.

Speaking of this, he suddenly thought of Pei Wen again.

I asked casually, "So you have such clear thinking because your relatives are businessmen. Professor Pei is also a big boss, so don't you have more ideas?"

Si Lan chuckled and waved her hand, saying, "Like I said, we're neighbors. When he was the big boss, he often came to my house. How much smarter can he be than me?"

Fang Xun's thoughts instantly diverged. He stared at her and asked, "Well, don't blame me for being nosy. I see you and the professor have a really good relationship. Do you two really... not have any feelings beyond being neighbors?"

Si Lan:?

"What feelings?"

"Um...it's just...maybe it's...the relationship between a man and a woman?"

Si Lan frowned: "Why should there be?"

"I'm not asking for it, I'm just asking if you have any."

Si Lan thought about it seriously again, and then replied seriously: "I haven't thought about it yet."

"There's nothing to think about. Getting married has never been part of my retirement plan."

Fang Xun: ???

"You want to be single forever?"

"Any questions?"

"No... then... wouldn't it be a little lonely?"

"I don't think so."

Fang Xun was stunned and wanted to mourn for Pei Wen in silence.

After hesitating for a while, he gritted his teeth and asked, "Is there really no possibility for you two?... Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to find out anything about you. I'm just curious. Seeing how close you are, I'm just curious!"

Si Lan reluctantly thought about it again, and finally, she shook her head: "Let's not talk about whether this possibility is true or not, just one thing: when I get married in the future, I also want to find a son-in-law. Why don't you ask the professor if he is willing?"

The author has something to say:

A Pei: I didn’t expect that I would not only be called Pei Jiaojiao, but also be called “Mr. Si”.