The Road Ahead

"What is this 'Spring Festival'?" "No idea... It's the first time I've heard of it, too." "Maybe it's to celebrate defeating the Tide." "Could be." In the village of the Frost Spear Clan. Inside the clan chief's house. The men sat cross-legged before their chief, talking among themselves about the upcoming celebration and debating whether they should follow the example of those blue coats by putting up red stickers and banners of calligraphy around the village. Rumor had it that doing so brought prosperity and good fortune. Though none of them understood the logic behind it, since it came from the experience of the blue coats, there had to be some truth to it. After all, those folks were extraordinarily clever. Chief Shuang Mao kept silent, but he was seriously weighing his clansmen's suggestion. A festival was of paramount importance to the tribe. A lively celebration often marked the beginning of a thriving population. His eldest son, Shuang Lu, had found a good match during the New Year's Day celebration, and his second son, Shuang Shi, had just come of age this year and was at the age to start a family of his own. Half a year ago, when they migrated here to escape the war in the north, they had lost far too many young and able-bodied men. Now was the time to rest, recover, and rebuild their strength. However... Hosting a festival cost a good deal of money. Unlike their neighbors, the Iron Axe tribe, who ran a textile mill, the Frost Spear Clan had arrived later. The Iron Axe tribe had arrived early, just in time to catch the revival of trade routes, and had earned a fortune from their textile business. Every household in their village had already built brick houses. His own village, by contrast, was mostly a patchwork of mixed wood-and-brick shacks. Shuang Mao wanted to lead his people toward prosperity as well, but wishing alone would achieve nothing—he needed to take action. After pondering for a moment, he spoke up. "We'll discuss the festival in a bit. Right now, there's a far more important decision waiting for us." The men gathered before the chief fell silent, waiting for him to speak. Shuang Mao paused, then continued, "A few days ago, the Administrator summoned me for a discussion. He intends to grant us roughly a thousand mu of wasteland north of the brick factory." "I plan to set up a ranch." This had also been Lord Administrator's suggestion. Hunting was no longer enough to meet the residents' growing demand for meat, especially for eggs and milk, both of which were exceedingly difficult to obtain through hunting alone. Those shelter residents possessed an astonishing obsession with food. Perhaps it was precisely because of that obsession that they had managed to tame the vast tract of wasteland along the northern shore of Ling Lake in such a short time, just before the spring plowing. At the chief's words, expressions of disbelief appeared on many faces. A thousand mu of land! That was roughly a kilometer long and six or seven hundred meters wide! Even though it was uncultivated wasteland, it was close to Ling Lake and had an ample water supply. Better yet, it was under the protection of Changjiu Farm and the shelter, so there was no need to worry about attacks from large mutants or marauders. To their ears, such a stroke of good fortune sounded almost like a dream. "Praise the Administrator!" "Does he really plan to grant us that land?" "Are there any other conditions? If it means betraying our own kin, I won't agree to it!" The surprise was so sudden that no one could quite believe it. Shuang Mao understood their astonishment. He had felt the exact same way at first. "There are no conditions. The land is leased to us, with rent waived for the first two years. After two years, as long as our ranch can guarantee an average monthly output of one hundred cattle, that year's land rent will be waived. If our monthly output reaches two hundred head, he has even promised to allocate us an even larger pasture." In the Administrator's words, this was called an 'agricultural subsidy.' In exchange, however, their agricultural produce could not be sold to outside merchants. At most, twenty percent could be kept for collective consumption within the village or sold at retail to nearby local markets; the remaining eighty percent would be purchased exclusively by Changjiu Farm at purchase prices set by the warehouse. As for what breed of cattle to raise, there were no restrictions, since no one could predict what stock they would be able to buy. However, Shuang Mao had heard from his daughter Shuang He that down in Jinchuan Province to the south, many ranchers raised cattle—not only two-headed oxen for hauling cargo, but also fast-maturing beef cattle and high-yield dairy cows. Coincidentally, the outpost seemed to be forming a Merchant Guild recently, and he planned to hire a caravan to head south and try his luck. Besides cattle, similar subsidy policies applied to other livestock such as pigs, sheep, chickens, ducks, and geese. An elderly elder pondered for a moment before speaking up. "But we can't afford cattle..." "The generous Administrator is willing to lend us five hundred thousand silver coins to purchase livestock and feed." "Five hundred thousand?!" The elder was utterly stunned, staring at the clan chief in disbelief. "Lord Administrator... is truly willing to lend us that much?!" Even if they sold everyone in the clan, they couldn't scrape together five hundred thousand coins! Whispers broke out among the crowd, their faces etched with shock. Shuang Mao nodded solemnly. "I believe the Administrator wasn't making fun of me. He is a very thorough man. I inquired with my daughter who works at the trading post; a cow can be bought from traveling merchants for around four thousand silver coins. If we bring some local specialties and buy directly in the south, it's said to be even cheaper—just five rifles can be traded for a head of cattle from the ranchers down there." Five rifles, even at retail price, cost only a thousand silver coins, and buying in bulk directly from the factory was said to come with a ten percent discount. Looking around at everyone, Shuang Mao stated his plan with conviction. "Every household will send hands to help build the ranch first. I'll find a way to contact the farms down south and see if we can trade weapons for one or two hundred head of cattle. If conditions permit, we can also raise some sheep and pigs." "With cattle and sheep, our lives will be far better next year!" Hearing the chief's words, excited and yearning expressions spread across their faces. They had already secured stable homes and could earn food from the local lord through their labor. But if possible, they naturally wanted to become prosperous like the neighboring village and live in houses built entirely of brick. Yet amid the general optimism, some voiced their concerns. "Five hundred thousand silver coins is far too much... If we can't pay it back, I fear the Administrator will direct his anger at us." "Indeed... Even if the Administrator doesn't punish us, he might banish us from here." A strong young man working diligently earned only three to four hundred silver coins a month. Even without spending a single coin on food or drink, that amounted to only around five thousand a year. Tens of thousands of silver coins was already an astronomical sum to them. Surely, even to the Administrator, several hundred thousand silver coins was no trivial amount. Sensing his clansmen's worry, Shuang Mao chuckled softly. "I worried about the same things you do, but the Administrator specifically instructed me not to burden ourselves with undue pressure. We just need to give it our all. If we truly can't repay it, Changjiu Farm will take over the ranch and the debt; he won't blame us." Of course, no one wanted things to come to that. Shuang Mao knew very well that if he truly ended up filing for bankruptcy, even if the merciful Administrator didn't punish him, he would surely be thoroughly disappointed in the incompetence of Shuang Mao and his people. This money was no small sum. If another opportunity like this ever arose, they certainly wouldn't get a share of it. Shuang Mao had already made up his mind: he had to see this through successfully. Hearing that the Administrator had promised not to hold them accountable, the old elder's furrowed brow finally smoothed out. He said no more, offering only a heartfelt sigh of gratitude. "...Praise that lord's benevolence." To an old man with one foot in the grave, money meant little; seeing his children grow up in safety and stability was the greatest blessing. Looking at those vibrant, hope-filled faces, the old man could not bear the thought of them ever returning to a life of wandering. Those days had been far too bitter. *** The young people had little interest in the matters the elders discussed, and village business rarely involved them anyway. By contrast, filled with curiosity, they were far more interested in festivals, jobs, novelties, and gossip between young men and women. In the wooden house next door. Shuang Ye and Shuang Xue were clinging to their eldest sister, who had just returned from Changjiu Farm, listening eagerly to her talk about work. Work at the trading post was busy. Six days a week, from seven in the morning until seven in the evening, with only an hour's lunch break in between. Taking the shuttle back to the outpost cost two silver coins, so to save money, she usually stayed in the trading post's staff dormitory and only rode back on Saturday evenings. Every time she returned, she and her two younger sisters had endless things to talk about. Especially under the gaze of those two pairs of sparkling eyes, she felt all the exhaustion in her body melt away in an instant. Listening to her sister recount the amusing incidents and interesting people she met at the trading post, Shuang Ye rested her chin in her hands and suddenly spoke up. "Sister, when are you going to bring home a brother-in-law?" Shuang He smiled and patted her little head. "I'd have to find one first." Sitting upright beside them, Shuang Xue asked curiously, "Don't you meet lots of people there?" Shuang He made a helpless face. "They're all traveling merchants and mercenaries... It's not like I could pick one of them." Shuang Xue nodded, half-understanding. "Ah, best not then." Traveling merchants. That was hardly a respectable sort. Though the sisters hadn't interacted with many merchants, they had an impression of the profession—none of it particularly good. Out on the desolate wasteland, few who wandered were kind and gentle souls. Fearing robbery by starving refugees, merchants rarely traded with them, and refugees were equally wary of the merchants and their armed guards, rarely daring to approach. Such men might have a bit of coin in their pockets, but few people envied them. Not only were they coarse and rarely bathed, but they never stayed in one place for long. As for mercenaries, there was even less to be said. Perhaps there were good ones, but good ones were rare. In Shuang He's view, any man fit to be her husband needed to at least have a steady job nearby. Of course, if he was a handsome shelter resident, that would be even better. Unfortunately, those people spoke in ways that were far too difficult to understand. Shuang Ye sighed softly and mumbled under her breath, "Must be nice... I want to go to work too." Their eldest brother Shuang Lu and second brother Shuang Shi worked at the Hunter Guild, earning over three hundred silver coins a month, and occasionally brought home game distributed by the guild. Their brave eldest sister Shuang He worked at the trading post. Although her base wage wasn't high, two meals a day were provided, and it was said she earned commissions on whatever she sold. Shuang Ye wanted to go out and work too, but she wasn't old enough yet. Although fourteen was considered adulthood by tribal tradition, the shelter had forcibly raised the age of majority by two years, requiring all boys and girls under sixteen to receive at least six hours of literacy and arithmetic education every day. Shuang Ye didn't quite understand why there was such an odd rule. In their father's words, she had been an adult last year, but had turned back into a child this year. "Speaking of which, the outpost recently established a Merchant Guild, and they're recruiting right now," Shuang He recalled, noting the envious expressions on her sisters' faces. Shuang Xue immediately asked with curiosity, "What are the requirements?" Shuang He pursed her lips, thinking carefully. "Field personnel are deployed for six months a year and need extensive wilderness survival experience, with priority given to those who are already married. The office staff are mainly clerks and tellers, about twenty people in all. The basic requirements are literacy and arithmetic, and bonuses are given for being young, having presentable features, a good appearance, and being patient, gentle, and generous..." "Young, presentable features, good appearance, patient... and gentle and generous," the youngest, Shuang Ye, muttered under her breath. Suddenly her eyes lit up, and she whipped her head toward her second sister sitting quietly beside her, sizing her up from head to toe. Shuang Xue's cheeks flushed slightly under her gaze. "What are you looking at me for?" "I think Xue is the perfect fit too!" Instantly catching their youngest sister's drift, Shuang He threw an arm around Shuang Xue's shoulder, smiling encouragingly. "Give it a try! How will you know if you don't try? Besides, I heard the Merchant Guild is an organization the Administrator is directly responsible for, on equal footing with the Hunter Guild!" "Perform well, and you're bound to be placed in an important role!" If she hadn't already worked at the trading post for some time and didn't want to hop between jobs, she would have wanted to try out herself! Shuang Xue's cheeks felt hot. Her mind flashed back to that embarrassing moment during the New Year's party. Egged on by the crowd back then, a sudden impulse had seized her, and she had summoned the courage to step forward and invite the Administrator for a dance. The respected Lord Administrator was truly a kind man, approachable and gentle even when turning someone down. Even so, she had moped about it for quite a while afterward... "Ooh! Lord Administrator will take responsibility!" Catching only half the sentence, Shuang Ye gazed with sparkling eyes at her second sister in Shuang He's embrace and cheered, "Go on, Sister, you can do it!" Abandoning all composure, a blushing Shuang Xue pounced to tickle her little sister's ribs. "You little brat... What nonsense are you spouting?!" Shuang Ye dissolved into giggles. The commotion lasted until dusk, when their eldest and second brothers returned carrying a wild boar. Only then did the three sisters join their sister-in-law to help butcher the game. That night, after mulling it over for a long time, Shuang Xue finally plucked up her courage and rushed to the recruitment station on North Street to fill out an application form before eight o'clock. Perhaps because her handwriting was neat and her demeanor lacked the uncouth roughness typical of nomads and refugees, her name appeared on the hiring list the very next day. The first posted list contained ten names, all for internal office staff, and she was assigned to the front desk. The daily pay was thirteen silver coins, slightly higher than at the Hunter Guild, and the working hours matched the bank's: eight in the morning to six in the evening. The Merchant Guild was located in the outpost near the north gate—a previously constructed three-story building that had yet to put up its sign. Carrying a mixture of excitement and trepidation, Shuang Xue followed the recruitment staff's instructions and arrived at the Merchant Guild for onboarding training. However... When she arrived, she saw no sign of the Administrator. Aside from nine other colleagues from Bet Street, Changjiu Farm, or neighboring villages, there was only an old man who seemed to walk with a slight limp. Looking across the eager, excited faces, Old Charlie stood with his hands behind his back, pondering for a moment before giving a light cough. Once the group settled down, he spoke in a calm voice. "Starting today, you are employees of the Merchant Guild." "Your task is simple: to open up markets for our factories, and to expand an unseen territory as far as our eyes can reach." "I know this might sound abstract to you now, but don't worry. I will explain the specifics soon enough." "For now, I need you to remember: always keep a smile at work, always stay optimistic in the face of difficulties, do every task conscientiously, and ensure that every stamp you press aligns with your conscience." "Your performance will be logged into your records via the VM on your arm. Those who work diligently and prove capable and reliable will quickly earn promotions. But if anyone accepts bribes, plays favorites, or resorts to petty tricks, we will see them in the labor camp before long." "This mission was assigned personally by the Administrator. I hope you understand the weight of these words." *** The Merchant Guild played a vital role in Chu Guang's blueprint for the closed beta Phase B, perhaps even more crucial than the Hunter Guild. Otherwise, he wouldn't have entrusted it to Old Charlie. The new mayor of Bet Street had been elected by the townspeople themselves, chosen from candidates nominated by the neighborhood office. Those nominated were experienced administrators, and a mature operating model was already established there, meaning whoever took office wouldn't cause any major issues. During his tenure, Old Charlie had trained many managerial talents. Perhaps anticipating that he would one day be transferred, he had even arranged replacement teachers for the literacy classes. Currently, thanks to the continuous efforts of both players and natives, the industrial zone at the outpost had evolved from a single-chain model—centered on No. 81 Steel Mill driving a handful of small weapons workshops—into a new pattern where multiple pillar industries supported the comprehensive growth of small and medium-sized factories. The industrial zone continued expanding northward. With resources flowing in steadily from outside and the players' production enthusiasm running high, the meager population of the northern suburbs was no longer enough to consume all the output of the industrial zone. While visiting merchants could carry away a portion of the goods, they couldn't just sit and wait for customers to come knocking. The shelter's own caravans needed to unfurl their banner and step out into the world. There were countless survivor settlements scattered across the wasteland. Many small settlements, like Bet Street in the past, couldn't even manufacture bullets; they still relied on bows, rebar spears, pipe rifles—and even muzzle-loading flintlocks. Meanwhile, certain larger settlements, due to uneven inheritance of pre-war legacies, might be terrifyingly advanced in some areas while regressing to pre-industrial or even primitive tribal states in others. Tilling fields with androids, using cloned humans as slaves, launching tactical micro-nukes with trebuchets, worshipping black boxes as divine miracles... such bizarre sights were commonplace. The goods produced by Shelter 404 might not be the most cutting-edge, but they were unquestionably the most cost-effective. While moving cargo outward, they could also export a touch of northern suburban goodwill, tapping into humanity's universal desire for a better life. *** At dusk. Chu Guang, who had returned from Changjiu Farm and finished inspecting the outpost, ran into Old Charlie just outside the Merchant Guild right after the old man finished training the new recruits. "How are things going?" "Between sixteen and twenty-five, literate—I picked everyone who was usable. We should be able to recruit about thirty or forty in total." Saying this, Old Charlie sighed softly and grumbled under his breath, "We started too late. All the best talent has already been snapped up elsewhere." Chu Guang said, "Thanks for your hard work!" Old Charlie shook his head. "It's hardly hard work. To be able to do something meaningful in the final years of my life is an unexpected blessing for a fallen wastelander like me. Though I don't harbor grand illusions... perhaps you truly are different from us, and from everyone else." Pausing for a moment, the old man added in a teasing tone, "Everyone was quite disappointed not to see you. I get the feeling quite a few came just for a glimpse of you. Are you really not going to show your face?" Chu Guang smiled wryly. "I might look idle, but I've been busy from dawn till dusk. I only managed to catch a breather now that it's dark." Most people only had to worry about the job in front of them. As the Administrator of Shelter 404, however, he had to juggle two worlds at once, constantly switching between the roles of game planner and NPC, striving to balance the divergent demands of two completely different groups. It was the equivalent of playing father and mother at the same time. Thanks to his twenty points of Intelligence, the players he personally vetted gave him relatively little grief; otherwise, Chu Guang doubted he could have handled the job at all. He had been so swamped he hadn't even had time to gather creative material. "I understand," Old Charlie nodded gently, then continued. "Pardon my boldness, but rather than obsessing over the details of every single step ahead, you might need to think about the road ahead for our future." The statement was veiled enough that Chu Guang wasn't certain whether he understood the old man's intended meaning. "Such as?" "You led your people to defeat barbarism, and then you defeated the supposedly invincible Tide. To you, that might seem like a trivial feat, or merely a natural outcome. But I see the raging waves surging within people's hearts. You led them to create a miracle." Old Charlie spoke softly. "From the market at Changjiu Farm to the alleys of Bet Street, people speak of your deeds. Whenever people meet, they praise Lord Administrator this and Lord Administrator that, feeling immensely fortunate, proud, and honored to live under your protection." The sudden flattery caught Chu Guang off guard. Thick-skinned though he was—his face rivaling the vault door in resilience—he couldn't help clearing his throat. "Thank you for the compliment." "You might think I'm flattering you, but I speak in all seriousness." Old Charlie paused, his expression turning solemn as he continued. "Your residents are proud, but they are also troubled. They don't know what to call themselves... The people of Boulder City sneer at them as northern suburban bumpkins, rats scurrying through the ruins. They know they aren't, yet they can't define what they actually are." "Some live on Bet Street, some live at the outpost, others in the industrial zone, or in the village outside the west gate of Changjiu Farm... They have never set foot in the shelter, so naturally they cannot be considered residents of Shelter 404." "Faced with a shared crisis, people unite naturally. But they need an identity under which they can continue to stay united." Chu Guang murmured thoughtfully, "I think I see what you mean." In truth, he had been considering this matter for a long time. The new version was not only a new phase for the players; for the survivors of the northern suburbs, it would also turn a brand-new page. Old Charlie nodded. "Whether you intend to become the Emperor of an empire or the Chief of an alliance, you had best think of a title or designation for yourself." "The people need a banner under which to unite, and a legitimate identity of their own. Whatever it may be, having one is better than having none." "This festival provides an excellent opportunity!"