Chapter 668: Chapter 227: The Power of the Era, Even If the World Ends Tomorrow! (Part 2) That is... the bulk transaction goods that can truly support the foundation of a trade route.
"Can these crops be transported to other regions? Do they not require cold chain storage?" Cheng Ye seized the key issue and continued to ask.
Upon hearing this, Luokuke was taken aback for a moment, and his gaze carried a few hints of surprise: "You actually know about cold chain?"
"Is it strange?"
"For someone who hasn’t left Happiness City, it really is a bit strange." Luokuke clicked his tongue and explained, "Cold chain transportation is indeed necessary to preserve their utility, but the cost of cold chain logistics is too high, driving the product prices to a level that ordinary people can’t afford. Therefore, currently, these crops can only circulate within Guang Province and cannot be transported out."
He paused before adding, "But come to think of it, compared to solving transportation issues, developing bulk transaction goods itself is the hardest part. After all, transportation issues can be gradually resolved through technology, and once potential future profits are seen, even burning money doesn’t matter. But if there are no goods that can be distributed on a large scale, who would want to laboriously and unprofitably open up transportation routes?"
"Is Inspector Luo criticizing me for being laborious and unprofitable?" Cheng Ye couldn’t help but laugh.
That comment was truly sharp.
It’s likely that when his report was submitted, Ding Yishan had similar thoughts.
Anyone with keen eyes could see that building Dapo Town and opening up water routes was indeed a plan where the benefits currently fall far short of the effort put in.
"That’s not the case."
Luokuke also laughed, his tone carrying a hint of reminiscence, "Times are always changing. At first, when your grandfather Cheng Wu was the station chief, there was only one strict requirement for inspectors: Their operational capacity had to be strong. Tasks like inspecting infected bodies and containing infection sources each had clear mandatory standards; if they failed to complete them once or twice, they faced fines, and failing repeatedly meant their status would be revoked, forcing them to start over from being trainees."
"It was precisely due to Station Chief Cheng Wu’s stringent requirements that the inspection station managed to cultivate a group of daring and tenacious individuals. Unlike us now, during containment, they couldn’t wear protective gear rated for destruction level, nor did they have friendly infection sources available, and lacked extensive intelligence and support teams outside. The previous generation of inspectors relied solely on courage and wisdom to gamble against infection sources."
"Later, when the Expansion Era began, it was this group that fought at the forefront, earning great merits for Happiness City, directly intercepting over eighty percent of infection sources and keeping casualties under control. At that time, nearly every Shelter City imitated our model to train inspectors, but they started too late, unable to match Happiness City’s scale, allowing us to gradually surpass them, step by step becoming the Super Shelter City of Stone Province and the entire Wasteland."
"However, after the abrupt end of the Expansion Era, each Shelter City began to retract and develop, changing the requirements for inspectors accordingly. Some retreated, focusing only on enforcement inspection abilities, while others began preparing for the next expansion, emphasizing pioneering capabilities. As the originators of the inspection station model, we at Happiness City are destined to always be at the forefront of the Wasteland, even if we take a winding path rather than reverting to the old ways."
"The external duty for inspectors was initially a trial by Station Chief Cheng Wu years ago, and it wasn’t until it reached the hands of Station Chief Ding that it gradually got refined into the model you see now."
Just as he was speaking, it was time for the next patrol.
The two stood up, walking side by side along the riverbank, Luokuke’s voice continued in the night: "If you were in your grandfather’s era, with your current abilities, becoming a Third-stage Inspector wouldn’t be an issue. But you know, the Third-stage back then wasn’t much different from a trainee now; the only difference was the qualifications to go to more dangerous places, bear more responsibilities, and receive the adoration and respect of ordinary residents."
"Even if one day you die in an obscure corner, residents might only grieve for a couple of days. Before long, when a newcomer arrives, no one will remember that you were ever there."
So... what were the inspectors of that era fighting for?" Cheng Ye’s voice paused, asking softly.
"Revenge."
Luokuke’s voice carried a complex tone, "The first and second-generation inspectors chosen by Station Chief Cheng Wu both shared his hatred, a hatred toward the Extraordinary and toward infection sources. They didn’t need any other reason, as they were willing to die in the struggle against infection sources."
"It was precisely because of this hatred that when he later left, a small half of the High-level Inspectors were willing to follow him."
"But how can hatred be passed down generation after generation? When the third generation of inspectors took office, it was when the Idealist Faction was in control of the inspection station, and from that point onwards, as inspectors couldn’t find a reason to wrestle with infection sources, a qualitative transformation in power took place, giving everyone more significance in their efforts."
"During the Expansion Era, this significance was simple: having hundreds or thousands of people under your command was no issue, resources were plentiful, and spacious houses were given readily. But when the Expansion Era ended, the upper echelon retracted their power, and the inspector’s authority was severely restricted."
"How can the central, southern, and northern inspection stations accommodate 150 inspectors? For High-level Inspectors, enforcement inspection is as simple as eating and drinking, but how would Low-level Inspectors learn and develop?"
"So, the power shift post-Expansion Era moved from pioneering to external duty?" Cheng Ye slightly nodded.
This point had been mentioned to him by Matthew Lee a long time ago, and now Luokuke expressed it from a more realistic perspective, stripping away the idealistic veneer, it felt more aligned with reality.