Chapter 99: Extraordinary Wish Grass, Standing Firm at the Foundation!
Enter Area E.
The epoxy floor was mopped to a shine, and the second-generation rich were standing in groups on both sides, discussing the wave of infection. They were either grateful for having survived, or afraid of another wave of infection, or worried about the impending danger.
Until they saw Cheng Ye striding towards them, the lively atmosphere was instantly like being poured with a basin of cold water.
Wow.
The crowd scattered like birds and beasts, each of them wishing they could run faster than ever, as if they had seen the god of plague. The sound of doors closing could be heard one after another.
Poor red-haired young man who had taken over Jamie's job was still standing there in a daze, not realizing that there was no one around him.
When he met Cheng Ye's gaze, his calves went weak, but he still gritted his teeth and staggered into the room, his hands shaking as he closed the door.
"Inspector Cheng Cheng?"
"Am I scary?" Cheng Ye was a little puzzled. Wasn't he just showing off his power?
Why does it feel like I come to the checkpoint every day to bully these second-generation rich people?
But he forgot that people in the wasteland don't have as many information channels as modern people. They can absorb a lot of information in minutes by watching short videos.
The days in the buffer zone were very monotonous. When I got home, I would either lie down and read magazines, or play cards with a few acquaintances. The rest of the time was spent chatting.
And small talk is the easiest thing to ferment.
In a casual conversation, if the first person adds fuel to the fire, the second person will do the same.
You said how terrifying Cheng Ye is, and I want him to be even more terrifying than him.
Not to mention that Ding Yishan specifically pointed out during the meeting that he should be trained as a key person. Although those Western prosecutors did not go to the medical clinic to visit him, they brought their own children to him and warned them to stay away from Prosecutor Cheng.
As a result, when the second-generation rich see him now, they are naturally afraid, just like seeing a stationmaster on duty.
"It's already been done!"
The red-haired young man held the badge in both hands and handed it over, afraid that his hands would shake and drop it on the ground. At the end, he gave a clumsy blessing, "I wish you all the best today and peace!"
Cheng Ye took it, muttered to himself, and turned to walk towards Quarantine Area A.
Just be afraid. Who knows, Wang Kang might come to the North Station for duty next week. When he announces his name, these second-generation rich people will surely be as well-behaved as they are now, and will not dare to be as arrogant as when he came.
The other side.
The checkpoint has just been reopened, and there are currently no vehicles queuing up to leave the city. According to regulations, the channel will not be officially opened until tomorrow.
But today is Cheng Ye’s last day on duty at the North Station. No matter how busy it is tomorrow, he won’t be able to make it.
But there is nothing to regret. Just turn around and go to the South Station. I think the scene at the South Station where the Easterners are stationed may not be more deserted than here.
"Huh, Scorpius isn't here today?"
Cheng Ye glanced at Quarantine Area A from afar. Scorpius, who usually waited for him here, was nowhere to be seen today.
He paused for a moment, then immediately figured out the reason.
The Westerners had asked Scorpius to follow him because they were afraid that he would die at the North Station, which would trigger the four fifth-period members of the Easterners to join forces to fight against the Westerners.
But the situation is different now. According to Lin Bao, Zhou Changhai has most likely already joined the Westerners, and the Easterners are no longer united.
Even if he really had an accident, the Easterners might not unite again.
More importantly, Ding Yishan has made it clear that he wants to focus on training him.
Once these words were spoken, it was equivalent to removing his identity from the "Eastern camp" and turning him into an independent individual. Naturally, the Westerners no longer needed to send someone to keep an eye on him, so as to avoid being suspected of monitoring a key target for training.
After figuring out these key points, Cheng Ye felt lighter all over.
Having Scorpius watching over us certainly provides an extra layer of security, but we have to be on guard against even something as minor as stealing electricity, which really restricts our actions.
Besides, if Scorpius really encounters a danger that he cannot withstand now, he will probably run away at the first moment, so keeping him may not be of any use.
"Sir, you are here!"
Behind the isolation door, the raven and the owl stood on the left and right, their backs straight and full of energy.
There was a surge of infection in the buffer zone, and while everyone else was out there fighting tooth and nail, the guards and observers on duty at the checkpoints hid away in the quarantine area, resting for seven days, so they naturally looked radiant.
The isolation door slid open to the right, revealing a clean passage behind it.
Cheng Ye stepped in, and the familiar smell of disinfectant filled his nose, and he inexplicably felt a sense of home.
Especially when he caught a glimpse of the garage shed not far away, the corners of his mouth suddenly widened.
The charging stations at the Public Works Department are good, but I’m always afraid of being seen and getting into trouble.
But inside the checkpoint, he can use the slow charging pile however he wants. Who dares to check him?
"Wake up all the guards and put them on duty today."
Cheng Ye walked towards the garage while giving orders in a deep voice, "Rotate every hour to ensure everyone is ready for combat at any time!"
"yes!"
Raven and Owl responded in unison.
After charging the collector, Cheng Ye went to inspect the isolation area as usual.
After he and Scorpius opened the warehouse and released everyone, there were only 97 people left on the last day.
However, when he entered, Cheng Ye found that only the first 17 cabins were occupied.
"Sir, over the past seven days, 21 people have been infected. Although we have provided prompt medical assistance, we have not been able to save the infected individuals in the same cabin. We can only conduct humanitarian procedures according to the regulations."
There are 28 fewer people, but there are 21 infected people.
This ratio is already quite good, at least it shows that the isolation system at the checkpoint is effective.
"How long were the remaining people held captive?"
"It's been more than 21 days."
Cheng Ye nodded, "Prepare to open the warehouse and release the people. Empty all the isolation rooms today. Notify the logistics team to prepare for a major cleaning. All cabins must be thoroughly disinfected. Replace everything that needs to be replaced!"
"yes!"
With only one day left on duty, he actually didn't need to worry about the lives of these people. He could just leave it to the next inspector.
However, the maximum quarantine period recorded in the inspector's manual is 21 days, and people must be released if the period is exceeded.
During the internship assessment, Cheng Ye did not want to leave any mistakes that could be criticized.
Moreover, he knew in his heart that many people were bound to be imprisoned today.
If the isolation warehouse is emptied in advance, even if only one or two hundred people are locked up in it, it will not be overcrowded.
It took no more than ten minutes.
With a slight buzzing sound, 17 isolation hatches slid open one after another.
Having been stuck in there for over 21 days, everyone should have been furious, but there wasn't a trace of anger on anyone's face. Instead, they were filled with relief and gratitude.
Obviously, they also knew about the super infection wave that broke out in recent days. Staying in this isolated isolation cabin is actually one of the safest places in the entire buffer zone.
Cheng Ye stood at the entrance of the isolation chamber, watching everyone leave calmly.
Some people walked with unsteady steps, some couldn't help rubbing their numb legs, but they all bowed respectfully when passing by him, and said "thank you for your kindness" with sincere gratitude in their voices.
In a short while, the cabin was empty.
The staff immediately rushed in with high-pressure water guns. The water jets hit the bulkhead, splashing water and washing away the remaining stains.
Immediately afterwards, a high-power drying and disinfecting machine was pushed in. Amidst the roar, white mist filled the entire isolation area.
According to Cheng Ye's request, all damaged beddings were replaced and sent to the logistics department for repair.
Before the checkpoint opened at nine in the morning, the entire quarantine area looked brand new.
The metal panels inside the cabin were polished to a shine, and even the corners and crevices were carefully mopped with a corner mop.
The original foul air mixed with the smell of sweat and mildew was completely sucked away by the exhaust fan. A box of industrial ointment was placed every five meters, and soon the air was filled with the faint fragrance of flowers and plants.
In such an environment, even if someone was really locked up by him, it wouldn't be too depressing.
Walking towards the duty area, Cheng Ye could see a long queue outside from a distance of about ten meters.
More than 30 vehicles of various sizes were parked crookedly. Some people were leaning against the cars and chatting, while others were dozing off in the driver's seats. A rough count showed that there were at least two or three hundred people.
What was even more exaggerated was the ordinary residents' passage that Li Matthew was in charge of. A large crowd of people gathered together, and it was estimated that there were at least three to five thousand people.
"To gather so many people in seven days, that's impossible, right?"
Open the isolation door and wait for Cheng Ye to quickly assemble the two spears and insert them into the weapon slot under the table.
Only then did Li Matai come over leisurely and glanced at the huge crowd outside. His face did not show the surprise that Cheng Ye had expected, but instead showed a bit of laziness as if he was used to it.
"I'm afraid you have a bit too much work today."
Cheng Ye walked to the isolation fence between the two areas and said, but unexpectedly Li Matthew waved his hand nonchalantly.
"I don't actually have much work to do here, but you're the one that's really going to be busy."
"Um?"
"You don't think these people have been quarantined outside for seven days and now want to go back to the buffer zone, do you?"
"Isn't it?"
Li Matthew scoffed and pulled out a loud speaker wrapped in tape from his backpack, clearly prepared. "Of course not. At least 80% of them have been clamoring to leave these days, only to change their minds and want to come back halfway. And yet they don't consider themselves newcomers. They insist on blocking the way here and trying to get into the city the same way the old residents did. They're just dreaming."
As he spoke, he walked to the front of the inspection area with a loudspeaker in hand and flipped a switch. There was a crackling sound of electricity, followed by his resonant voice:
"Those without residency documents should immediately go to the central checkpoint and queue up. Do not linger here!"
"I repeat, anyone staying here without a resident ID will be treated as an infected individual!"
As soon as the words fell, the dark crowd exploded.
"I'm a resident! I forgot my ID and you won't let me in?"
"Why am I not considered a resident? I've lived in Happy City for over ten years! Just because I've been here, I'm no longer a resident?"
"Inspector, please be kind! I was forced out by the tide of infection, not by choice! Give me a chance!"
"The central checkpoint only lets in a thousand people a day. How long will it take for so many of us to wait in line?"
“.”
Chaotic shouts came one after another, like a group of hornets whose nest had been poked. Many people squeezed forward and were about to break through the temporary cordon.
But at this moment, the machine gun post, which was always ignored on weekdays, finally showed its deterrent power.
Ta-da-da, ta-da-da!
The bullets from the heavy machine gun made a sharp sound as they swept across the open space in front of the crowd, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Those who were nearby were staggered by the air wave and dodged backward in shock, and a gap was instantly created in the originally crowded crowd.
Amid the chaos, the stampede began.
Some people tripped and fell, some screamed and pushed forward, the red light in Quarantine Area B suddenly flashed, and a sharp alarm pierced the sky.
When the crowd finally dispersed, there were already fifty or sixty people lying on the ground, covering their arms or legs and groaning. There were also seven or eight people motionless, and it was unclear whether they were fainted or dead.
But Li Matthew stood behind the isolation fence with an unusually cold expression. He slowly walked back to the table, took out a packet of nutrient solution, and drank it while saying, "To be soft on these people is to be irresponsible to those who stayed in the buffer zone. Since you were determined to leave in the first place, there are only two reasons for turning back halfway: either you felt the road outside was too difficult, or you were scared by the dangers of the wasteland."
He glanced at the injured on the ground, a hint of sarcasm on his lips. "Instead of going to the central checkpoint and queuing up, they chose to stay here. To put it bluntly, they're just trying to cut corners. These parasites will be useless even if they return to Happy City. It's better for them to die outside so they don't have to come back and cause trouble in the buffer zone."
Cheng Ye was silent for a while, his eyes slowly sweeping through the crowd.
Most of the young men in the front row who looked like gangsters had anxious faces and were shouting and cursing in frustration. They did not deserve sympathy.
The middle-aged man hunched his shoulders and avoided looking, just as Li Matthew had said, he was taking advantage of the situation and didn't dare to look him in the eye.
The few elderly people who were around kept wiping their tears, looking somewhat miserable.
But in the end, his eyes rested on several women holding children. He saw the panic in the women's eyes and the fear in the children's eyes.
"Maybe some of them are really desperate."
Cheng Ye lowered his voice, as if talking to himself, "If he was forced out by danger, it's not surprising that he wants to come back now."
But who would have thought that Li Matthew, who usually looked like a scoundrel and smiled at him, still had a cold face. "Desperate? Who in the buffer zone isn't desperate? Who among those who stayed hasn't survived a few life-or-death situations? Why didn't they consider the benefits of the buffer zone when they decided to pack up and leave?"
That's a harsh statement.
This was the most serious sentence Li Matthew had said since the two of them met.
But since he guessed that he was half a beginner, Cheng Ye didn't find it strange and could understand Li Matthew's thoughts at the moment.
To be fair, it's hard.
But Matthew Lee is indeed keeping it fair.
It is fair to all those who have not left the buffer zone, and it is also fair to those who rush to the central checkpoint and queue up honestly.
Seeing his silence, Li Matthew paused, and his tone softened a bit, but still carried an unquestionable firmness: "Cheng Ye, you just came here and encountered this kind of thing, it's not surprising that you are soft-hearted. I was in my third year on duty back then, and I was no better. I always felt pity for these people, and I always felt that everyone had something difficult to say, so I wanted to help as much as possible."
"But remember, the reason Happy City has been able to survive in the wasteland until now is not because of anyone's kindness, but because of the rules."
"The original rule that re-entering after renouncing citizenship must follow the new entrant process was established so that everyone would think carefully before making a decision. Once you step out of the buffer zone, don't expect to be able to retrace your steps when you return."
"And being soft on rule-breakers is being cruel to rule-abiding people."
"If we let one opportunist in today, there will be ten, a hundred more tomorrow. The checkpoint will become a sieve, with infected people, refugees, and all sorts of other things pouring in. You, me, and those who abide by the rules and don't leave will all die."
rule.
Two heavy words indeed.
Cheng Ye didn't say anything else, turned around and sat back down at the alloy table.
"Cheng Ye, I didn't mean anything else by what I just said. Please don't affect our relationship."
Li Matthew came closer again, a familiar smile on his face, "You are a newcomer, it is normal for you to behave like this. It would be strange if you could be as cold and ruthless as me."
"If you want to change all this, then work hard to become a stationmaster and build a bigger central checkpoint. Expand it to accommodate 3,000 or 5,000 people a day, and you won't have these problems."
"Don't comfort me, I can figure it out."
Cheng Ye waved his hands. He still had no difficulty understanding this logic.
It’s just that I’ve been in more contact with people in the Tianyuan community these days, and I’ve seen the difficulties ordinary people face, so I always want to help as much as possible.
Moreover, if you take an idealistic approach, it is indeed easy to ignore these rigid rules and always put people first.
But sitting inside the checkpoint, one must be hard-hearted and prioritize the inspector's responsibilities according to the rules of the checkpoint.
"Okay, then get ready for duty. Many of my people are refugees, and yours are probably all residents. We need to check them carefully."
There were only five minutes left until nine o'clock, and the car in the front row had already started.
Cheng Ye paused, and after the emotion in his heart completely disappeared, he picked up the defense communication and made a phone call.
"Brother Cheng?"
"Which district were you assigned to?"
"Quarantine Area B, seems to be checking the residents!"
Wang Kang's voice was filled with joy. "But I'm still here processing the paperwork, so I haven't gone in yet."
Newcomers go directly to Area B?
Under normal circumstances, the risk factor is extremely high.
But today's situation is actually not bad, but you have to know the rules in advance.
Cheng Ye quickly repeated what Li Matai had just said. Surprisingly, the staff at the South Station had already informed Wang Kang in advance.
"I know. Only by following the rules can you survive!"
"good!"
After hanging up the phone, Cheng Ye breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that the South Station was really taking good care of the Dong people.
And from what Wang Kang said, Area E of the South Station is not manned by second-generation rich people, but is guarded by real staff.
This is not bad, it fits the checkpoint in his mind.
While I was thinking, the bell rang in the checkpoint, it was nine o'clock!
Cheng Ye took a deep breath and looked at the big golden cup that was slowly moving towards the passage. His eyes became sharp again.
The last shift at North Station has begun.
"Stop if you come."
Cheng Ye stood up and shouted with full energy.
The big golden cup stopped steadily in front of the door, and a short man pushed the door open and came down.
Cheng Ye couldn't help but raise his eyebrows at the first glance of the other person's face. He had never seen anyone's eyebrows grow into two tufts of green grass.
The first words the man said startled him, and he could only barely keep his expression unchanged.
"My Lord, I have been infected by the parasite."
Perhaps it was because he had seen Zhang Can become like that, yet he was still able to speak like a normal person.
Cheng Ye was not surprised when the man said this.
"But I infected myself by looking for the wishing herb. It's harmless, so you don't have to worry!"
Wish grass?
Cheng Ye was startled, then he opened the isolation door and signaled the man to drive the car in.
This is an extremely special source of infection, not uncommon in the wasteland, and hundreds of plants may be found in the wild.
Crush it and soak it in hot water. When the water turns black, drink it in one gulp and you will be able to obtain the parasitism of the wish grass.
After being parasitized, no matter how serious the injury is, the wish grass will maintain normal human physical signs.
Until forty-eight hours later, or when the wish is fulfilled, the host will die immediately and there will be no possibility of rescue.
What's even more bizarre is that according to the inspector's manual, the wishes of the parasitized human must be positive.
If you have negative thoughts, such as wanting to kill an enemy, the wish grass will not be effective and will instead turn into a deadly poison.
All in all, this is one of the few unique plants that still retains special abilities after the outbreak of the S-4 virus.
Rather than being a source of infection, it is more like an extraordinary plant whose effectiveness has been reduced countless times.
The man's eyebrows also matched the characteristics of the wish grass, but Cheng Ye had never seen it before and had never thought about it in this way.
“Thank you for your understanding.”
The short man drove the car in, bowed respectfully to Cheng Ye, and then took out a black-green stone from the leather bag around his waist.
It is about the size of a baby's fist and has a dull luster on the surface.
"Sir, this is a piece of extraordinary mineral material, which our team risked their lives to obtain!"
What?
Extraordinary mine?
Cheng Ye's gaze instantly fell on the stone, and his pupils shrank slightly.
"They're all dead, and I'm dead too." The short man's voice trembled, yet with a calm demeanor. "But I've always been cautious. Every time I go on an adventure, I always look for a wishing herb and hide one in my bag. Just for this moment!"
"My lord, my lord!"
As he spoke, tears suddenly streamed down his face, and he dropped to one knee with a plop. "I can feel it. My wish is almost fulfilled. This is the wish of everyone in our 'Merry Boots' team. Our families are still in the buffer zone, and they're still waiting for us to return."
The man pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket, on which half a page of names were written crookedly with a pen.
"We're willing to donate 70% of the proceeds to the checkpoint as compensation." He held the paper high, his voice pleading. "Please, considering our determination to bring the brick truck back, even at the cost of our lives, distribute the remaining 30% to the living people on this list."
Wow.
Everything happened too suddenly. Cheng Ye had never encountered such a situation before.
As the man spoke, tiny green sprouts began to sprout from his body.
Almost with every word he spoke, the green sprouts grew wildly. In a flash, fresh and tender leaves sprouted from his body, cheeks, and arms, as if his entire body was being devoured by the plants from the inside.
"I, Cheng Ye, agree to your request."
Almost subconsciously, Cheng Ye stood up, and their eyes suddenly met.
The man's left eyeball had been broken by a green bud, but his remaining right eye was shining with deep gratitude.
Plop.
He fell heavily to the ground, with only his mouth still opening and closing, squeezing out the last breath of life.
"Inspector Cheng Cheng, please help... Thank you, Director Willy of the Engineering Department!"
"We let him down."
Before he finished speaking, the last bud sprouted from between his eyebrows.
Under Cheng Ye's gaze, the color of the tender buds faded at a speed visible to the naked eye, turning from bright green to withered yellow in just a moment.
Then, the withered yellow faded into gray and black. A gentle breeze blew, and it scattered like ashes, floating towards the sky and being swept by the air currents to an unknown distance.
Faintly, sighs were heard.
The drivers and passengers of all the vehicles lined up outside Quarantine Area A got out of the cars at the same time.
Everyone pressed their right fists hard on their chests, raised their heads, and used their eyes to bid farewell to the ashes that the man had turned into, until the gray and black completely dissipated in the wind.
This world.
Some people break the rules and take shortcuts at all costs just to squeeze out the maximum benefit.
But there are also people who use up the last bit of their lives, and even at the end, they are still fulfilling their promises.
Cheng Ye stared at the stones left on the ground and the intact golden cup, and his heart was filled with waves.
He suddenly understood why the big gold cup he saw at the supplies sales office was so expensive, so expensive that it couldn't even be exchanged for a third-class merit. The cheapest version cost nearly ten thousand points to buy before one could get out of the buffer zone.
Yet, there are so many financially strapped caravans that can afford such a vehicle and dare to drive it into the wilderness.
Why?
Because they will definitely drive this car back even if it costs their lives!
That belief, which is more precious than gold and that commitment, which is firmer than rock, has far surpassed the contribution points and third-class merit as a measure of value.
And these are the real foundations that support Happy City to stand tall in the wasteland!
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