There Are Chips Everywhere Here!

"Achoo!" "Damn it... Who's talking about me now?" North Fourth Ring Road, the frontline. Sporadic gunfire in the distance kept Ditwei on edge as he stood in the street. He had a habit of sneezing whenever he grew nervous. The situation here was completely different from the western front. The western front was a wasteland of concrete rubble, but here, the jagged clusters of buildings were like a dense forest. Behind every pitch-black display window, a pair of crimson eyes seemed to lurk. It was obvious these bumpkins were facing the Tide for the first time; the buildings and streets clearly hadn't endured prolonged barrages of artillery fire. If they couldn't clear a relatively open kill zone out of the ruins, their only option would be to engage in brutal close-quarters combat against the mutants inside buildings and narrow alleys. An endless stream of mutants would surge forth like floodwaters. Enduring it was nothing short of a miracle. Tightening the gas mask strapped to his face, Ditwei took out his pocket watch and checked the time. It was already noon. As their chosen representative, he was here on behalf of all the businessmen interested in this "emerging market" to the north to meet the local lord—the Administrator of Shelter 404. Accompanying him were two other partners and about a dozen bodyguards who had escorted them here. Truth be told, this wasn't an enviable task. If the others hadn't promised him the lion's share, and if Weijia Trading Firm hadn't monopolized all the spoils from the western front, Ditwei would never have stuck his neck out to pioneer a market in this barbaric land. Outside the massive wall, people who played by the rules were as rare as phoenix feathers. Doing business with strangers meant staking one's head on the line. What if this dictator was in a foul mood and chopped off his head? The risk might be slim, but it certainly wasn't zero. Moreover, the behavior of these blue coats always gave him the distinct impression of cuckoos usurping a crow's nest. Were they truly blue coats? Could they have slaughtered the shelter's original inhabitants and stolen their jackets? Just as he was second-guessing everything, a man in a black military uniform slinging a rifle stepped out of a nearby building. Looking at Ditwei, the man said, "The Administrator has agreed to see you. Please follow me." Ditwei breathed a sigh of relief. Putting on a friendly smile, he said politely, "Much obliged." With that, he gave a look to the two partners behind him and led them toward the building ahead. The blue coats' frontline command post was located on one of the upper floors; the higher vantage point offered good visibility and signal reception, and the spore cloud concentration was also lower. However, the Administrator didn't receive them in the command post. Instead, he chose an office area on the twentieth floor for the meeting. There were ready-made desks and chairs here. Though worn with age and caked with dust, they were still perfectly serviceable. After climbing the stairs and walking down the hallway into the room, the three men immediately caught sight of the azure power armor. Surprised expressions flitted across their faces before they quickly composed themselves. Ditwei took the initiative, stepping forward with his head slightly bowed, and said respectfully, "Respected Lord of the northern suburbs, Administrator of Shelter 404, please allow me to introduce myself. I am Ditwei, an itinerant merchant from Boulder City. Behind me are my partners, Yang He and Teno." "On behalf of all our partners, both present and absent, I offer you our highest respects." Chu Guang looked at the three standing before him. Though he already knew why they had come, he did not bring it up first. Eagerly revealing one's needs was a cardinal taboo; waiting for the other party to name a price or reveal their hand made it much easier to seize the initiative. This was experience carried over from his past life. "Welcome to the northern suburbs." Chu Guang unlocked his helmet's faceplate. With a gentle smile, he continued in a relaxed tone, "You've come at an inconvenient time. We are currently dealing with the Tide and can only host you here. Please excuse our lack of hospitality." "Not at all! We're already deeply grateful that you've taken time out of your busy schedule to meet with us!" Ditwei replied, a radiant smile on his face. This Administrator was even easier to get along with than he had imagined. That put his mind at ease. Perhaps this deal would be much simpler than he had anticipated. Chu Guang looked at him and continued, "So, friends who have traveled from afar, what brings you to the northern suburbs? Surely you didn't make the trip all the way from Boulder City just for pleasantries." Ditwei said respectfully, "Respected Administrator, we have come to relieve you of your troubles." Chu Guang looked at him with intrigue. "Oh? Let's hear it." Seeing that Chu Guang had given him an opening, Ditwei immediately rolled out the pitch he had rehearsed along the way. "As you must have seen, the streets outside are littered with corpses, and they are rotting and stinking! It is spring right now. In less than a week, they will become breeding grounds for disease, attracting rats, cockroaches, and all sorts of other troubles... In fact, when I arrived here, I noticed things are already starting to get worse." Chu Guang said nothing, merely watching him and waiting for him to continue. Ditwei paused for a moment before continuing in a grave tone, "This is by no means rare on the western front. One could even call it a habitual tactic of the Tide... We call it the plague offensive. In the past, even when the Boulder City militia won, they would be run ragged by the epidemic and rat plague that broke out after the war." Chu Guang looked at him and said, "So you've come to help me solve these troubles?" Ditwei said at once, "Of course! The Tide is the common enemy of every survivor in Qingquan City. We couldn't just stand by and watch you fall into hardship." "We can supply you with cheap, effective medicines. On top of that... we can also dispose of the corpses on the battlefield free of charge." The former offered a slight profit margin, but not much. The latter was Ditwei's real objective. *Disposing of corpses for free, huh.* Chu Guang smiled inwardly, but didn't call him out. Instead, he looked at him with amusement. "How do you plan to dispose of them?" Seeing that the Administrator seemed interested in his proposal, Ditwei felt a surge of joy. Keeping his composure, he continued, "We will hire a team of corpse-recovery specialists from Boulder City, haul the bodies to the Fifth Ring Road, load them onto the backs of two-headed oxen, and transport them elsewhere for disposal." Chu Guang: "Such as Boulder City?" "Uh, of course! Boulder City is a good choice... We'll process the bodies simply so they can be turned into something useful... After all, transport teams and corpse-recovery specialists don't come cheap. We have to turn a tiny profit to offset our travel expenses, if only to minimize our losses." Ditwei hadn't actually wanted to disclose where the bodies were heading, particularly because he didn't want this man to realize that gnawer corpses could be sold for money in some places, even if the price was meager. But Chu Guang had already singled out Boulder City, so he clearly knew something. Playing dumb now would be treating the other man like an idiot. Ditwei could only pray silently that the Administrator didn't know the exact market rates. Yet... Was that even possible? Watching Ditwei lie through his teeth, Chu Guang couldn't help chuckling internally. *Minimize losses?* If his people hadn't specifically traveled to the frontlines to find out the market price, he might actually have been swindled. "That won't do, my friend," Chu Guang said, shaking his head. "How could we let our friends take such a huge loss? I'll find a way to deal with these corpses myself, so there's no need for you to trouble yourselves." Hearing this, Ditwei grew anxious and said hastily, "Please, don't say that! For the sake of our friendship, we are willing to show some sincerity. Please give us this opportunity." Chu Guang said earnestly, "But my conscience would trouble me. And when my conscience troubles me, I can't sleep at night." *Can't sleep at night, my foot.* Hearing that, Ditwei nearly choked. *This is way too fake!* By now, Ditwei understood: this guy knew full well that these corpses could be traded for chips. Otherwise, why hadn't the Administrator budged an inch even after he offered to haul them away for free? Taking a deep breath, Ditwei said slowly, "How about five chips per ton?" Chu Guang smiled faintly. "How could that be right? Hauling away these nuisances free of charge would already cost you enough. How could we have the nerve to let you pay us out of pocket?" *Indeed!* *This guy really knows!* Ditwei's brow twitched violently. Now he was certain that this man not only knew mutant corpses could be sold, but was also likely well aware of the going rate. Otherwise, he wouldn't have taken it for granted that the payment would come from Ditwei's side. Beating around the bush had lost all meaning. Ditwei looked up at Chu Guang and said frankly, "Administrator, I admit that hauling these corpses to Boulder City earns us a bit of money, but it's hard-earned cash. These bodies are far from light. Dragging them off the battlefield and hauling them to Boulder City costs a significant sum." "Five chips per ton is the absolute best price we can offer. The shipping costs we pay per ton far exceed that. If our purchase price goes any higher, we won't make any profit at all... I hope you can understand." "Of course I understand. I simply can't bear to watch you lose money," Chu Guang said with an affable smile, looking at him sincerely. "How about this? I have a more sincere proposal." Ditwei sensed something was off, but he forced a smile and pressed on anyway. "Please, go ahead." Chu Guang continued, "You said just now that you have ways to turn mutant corpses into something useful. If that's the case, why not turn them into something useful right here in the northern suburbs?" Ditwei was stunned. "In... the northern suburbs?" "Exactly," Chu Guang nodded, smiling. "We can manufacture bullets and artillery shells, so naturally, we can also produce nutrient paste and fertilizer. Instead of hauling cumbersome raw materials all over the place, why not turn them into lighter, higher-value commodities right at the source before transporting them away?" Ditwei's weathered face flushed red. Good grief. Not only did this man know mutant corpses could fetch money, but he even knew what they could be turned into! And then he had just watched him perform like a clown all this time... *What a crafty blue rat!* Ditwei lowered his head, coughing softly in embarrassment. "...Equipment worth tens of thousands of chips is far too expensive. Setting up a factory outside the massive wall means we also have to factor in the risks." Chu Guang nodded slightly. "Understandable. After all, your knowledge of us is still stuck in last winter. It's only natural to have concerns." Ditwei looked up, his eyes filled with hope. "Then you mean you agree to..." "I mean you lack an understanding of our true situation." Chu Guang looked toward Xu Shun, who was waiting nearby. "Take these three friends on a tour of our industrial zone. Tonight, put them up at the inn at Changjiu Farm. The air is a bit better there." Chu Guang had already briefed the guards on which places were suitable for visits and which were off-limits to unauthorized personnel. This young guard had always performed well; Chu Guang trusted he knew what to do. "Understood, my Lord!" Xu Shun snapped to attention and saluted, then turned to Ditwei's group and said politely, "Gentlemen, please follow me." Ditwei looked at Chu Guang in total bewilderment, completely unable to fathom what game he was playing. A tour of... the industrial zone? This was completely off their itinerary. Besides, did the northern suburbs even have an industrial zone? Could a few small workshops actually be called an industrial zone? Chu Guang could guess what Ditwei was thinking, but he didn't bother clearing up his confusion. Some things couldn't be proven with mere words. Facts spoke louder than eloquence. "I dislike wasting time on fruitless arguments, especially at a critical juncture like this." "I'll give you two choices. Either buy this garbage for twenty chips per ton and haul it wherever you want, or consider setting up a factory here. The corpses out there are yours to handle at no charge; you only need to pay your lawful taxes." Looking at the frozen Ditwei, Chu Guang said in a mild tone, "No need to rush your decision." "Giving me your answer tomorrow will do just as well." ... Ditwei could find no reason to refuse Chu Guang's offer. Although he didn't believe these northern bumpkins understood what proper industrial infrastructure entailed—much less that they could build a so-called industrial zone—only a fool would refuse a free tour. Looking around cost nothing. They were already here anyway. Boarding a truck south of Huayuan Street Subway Station, they drove along an abandoned highway toward the intersection of 76th Street and Wetland Park. There, the road ahead suddenly turned smooth and level. A glimmer of surprise surfaced in Ditwei's eyes. Yet an even bigger surprise awaited him further ahead. The truck continued north, coming to a halt near the abandoned tire factory. The moment Ditwei hopped down from the truck behind the guard named Xu Shun and stepped into the Northern Suburbs Industrial Zone, he instantly realized how ridiculously wrong his prior assumptions had been! Clattering metallic sounds rang out incessantly. Tall smokestacks billowed clouds of smoke. Trucks laden with cargo crisscrossed the district, and workers in uniforms clustered near doorways loading and unloading goods. Like a tightly wound clockwork mechanism, everything here was miraculously orderly. Three pairs of eyes widened in unison. Standing beside Ditwei, Teno couldn't help swallowing hard, squeezing words from his throat. "This is..." "The northern suburbs?" The other partner said nothing, but his eyes clearly reflected identical shock. Compared to Boulder City's industrial zone, this place was undeniably miniature. But if asked what it lacked, he genuinely couldn't spot a single deficiency at a glance. "Ahead is Liszt's factory." "Liszt?!" Ditwei looked at Xu Shun in astonishment. "That guy is here too?" Xu Shun looked at him with surprise. "You know him?" Ditwei gave a dry cough and said, "Not personally... but I've heard of him." Boulder City's business circle wasn't particularly large; there were only so many well-known local merchants. A merchant with Liszt's standing was someone he naturally knew of. Even if Liszt might not know him. Xu Shun nodded, offering no further comment. "Aside from the munitions factory and plants involving sensitive technology, I can take you to see any of the other facilities." Yang He, who hadn't spoken until now, suddenly chimed in. "Would it be convenient to show us your power station?" Xu Shun nodded. "No problem." Since they were considering opening a factory, the electricity supply was naturally one of their greatest concerns. What a smoothly running production line feared most was a sudden power outage—especially one lasting an entire day. With bad luck, an entire batch of products on the line could be ruined. However, after seeing the power station these people had laid out, the three men immediately dismissed that concern. These blue coats truly had some tricks up their sleeves. Not only was the power plant's layout beyond reproach, but the transmission and distribution facilities, including substations and power grids, left them in awe. This wasn't cutting-edge technology. Yet planning every single power line and generator unit with such immaculate order was not something just anyone could pull off. Glancing at the VM on his arm, Xu Shun cleared his throat and explained to the three astonished men, "Currently, our power supply is primarily thermal. The vast timberlands in Yumu District to the north and the vegetation in the nearby urban areas are enough to fuel the power plant for over a decade." "In addition, we have biogas digesters and gas-fired power plants under construction, as well as fuel-oil generator sets prepared for the Cam trees." "Going forward, we plan to diversify our power generation methods to improve the current energy structure." Ditwei looked at Xu Shun in slight astonishment. "You've even planted Cam trees?" There had to be at least three to four hundred people working in this industrial zone alone. Where on earth did the northern suburbs get such a population?! Could they be refugees from the north? Even if they took in all the refugees without exception... how did they solve the food problem? All these people had to eat! "The planned area is five thousand mu," Xu Shun replied truthfully after checking his VM. "Not just Cam trees—we've also planted corn, potatoes... and other high-yield crops." "I'll take you to the inn at Changjiu Farm in a bit." "Once we get there, you'll see for yourselves." ... If the northern suburbs' industrial zone had claimed Ditwei's astonishment for the next month, then the scene at Changjiu Farm was enough to keep him stunned from the beginning of the year to the end. Boundless field ridges, sprawling swathes of seedlings, tractors and two-headed oxen tilling the fields alongside refugees. The level of mechanization here wasn't high, but Ditwei could see with his own eyes the people's pursuit of advanced productivity and a better life. This was something he had never witnessed in any other survivor settlement. Of course, what fascinated Ditwei most was the food here. That dish spicy enough to make his tongue stick out seemed to be called Mapo tofu, and there were also braised pig's trotters with soybeans, braised two-headed beef with potatoes... The taste was absolutely divine! He was in the grain trade. He had long salivated over Weijia Trading Firm's food-processing business. Yet envy was just envy; he neither owned tens of thousands of mu of farmland and thousands of slaves sweating and bleeding for him, nor could he afford exorbitant land rents, much less possess the capital to open a sprawling factory covering dozens of mu in Boulder City. Everything he needed could happen to be found right here. That night. Lying in a warm bed at the inn on Changjiu Farm, Ditwei tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He stared blankly at the beer on the nightstand as if in a daze. Finally, having made up his mind, he pulled a palm-sized communicator from his bag, dictated a message over a thousand words long, and sent it to his partners in Boulder City. It wasn't that he hadn't considered keeping the pie all to himself. Bribing the two minor partners who had accompanied him wouldn't cost many chips. Gritting his teeth and taking out a loan from the bank to procure the equipment and personnel on his own wouldn't be too difficult either. But he wanted to pull off something big. The opportunity here extended far beyond some corpses and nutrient paste; a mere tens or hundreds of thousands of chips could no longer satisfy his appetite. If he was going to do it, he would become the largest food supplier in Boulder City—and even in all of Qingquan City! If he could leverage these people's strength, he believed he stood a real chance. He had even thought of the name for this trading firm. It would be called Didiwei Trading Firm! And the factory would be named Didiwei Grain Processing Plant! The name rolled right off the tongue, and hearing it would instantly remind people of him. The money would be made, and the fame would follow. At this thought, the corners of Ditwei's mouth curled into a smile. "Isn't that way better than stupid names like 'Tasty' and 'Extra Tasty'?!" Tap. Send! Two soft beeps sounded. A pop-up reading "Delivered" appeared on the communicator's screen. While waiting for his partners to reply, Ditwei flicked his index finger across the palm-sized screen, softly reading the message he had composed. ["...The situation in the northern suburbs is astonishing. With aid from the shelter residents, the local survivors have built power stations, water towers, and a relatively complete logistics system. They use trucks to transport supplies, cement to repair abandoned highways, and cast excess steel into rails laid upon the ground. Furthermore, they have undertaken massive construction projects, establishing new settlements in the wasteland and reclaiming vast tracts of barren wilderness into farmland..."] ["We must acknowledge that the towering massive wall and ruins have blocked our vision; our perception of this place was still stuck on a year ago. Yet in less than half a year, they have achieved feats that ordinary survivor settlements might not accomplish in a decade."] ["My view is that while hauling the good stuff back to Boulder City can certainly turn a profit, processing it right here into nutrient paste and organic fertilizer will let us earn far more."] ["There are opportunities everywhere here! There are chips everywhere here!"]