Wasteland Development Diary.

Chapter 12 Choice
After returning to Changu Town, Ajin first found Cao Dayuan, who was the best at growing mushrooms.

The other party refused outright.

"Ah Jin, I can grow mushrooms in Shangu Town, why should I go outside to grow them? Shangu Town is here, so I'm here. My family has been here for three generations, so I'm not going anywhere."

Cao Dayuan also reminded him: "The chairman you mentioned is just a foreigner. How long have you known him? How much do you know about him? Is his purpose of coming here really as he said?"

Ajin told the other party that the wounds he suffered from the robbers were healed by the chairman. He lifted up his trouser legs to show his scarred calves.

The town's leading mushroom grower, however, believes that "wounds like this may heal even without treatment."

"You are still too young and too naive. You trust an unknown outsider too much. Be careful not to be deceived and used as bait by monsters."

"Young man, grow mushrooms well and don't let your imagination run wild. Life will get better. If you go out, you might lose your life. Do you understand?"

Ajin wanted to retort.

The other party had never seen the company's luxurious underground cave, nor did he know how powerful the warrior crabs hired by the chairman were, and had never eaten monster barbecue.

If Uncle Cao realized this, he would understand that with the chairman's financial resources, there is no need to use those tricks.

But no matter what Ajin said, Cao Dayuan just shook his head.

“It’s better to trust yourself than to trust others. I trust the mushrooms I grow myself.”

……

Ajin found Brother Feng again.

Brother Feng lives with bugs, next to the bug pit of the longleaf bug. He always looks like he hasn't woken up yet.

"There's actually such a good place, a master scavenger... I kind of want to go there."

He looked interested.

But Brother Feng finally refused.

His reason was: "I promised the farming group in Jitou Town. Brother Bo over there asked me to raise two arm-length millet worms. If I bring the worms to him, I can directly join the group and settle down there. People should keep their word, and I have to keep my word."

“My worm is pretty close to that length now.”

Brother Feng happily showed him a long and fat millet bug, which made Ajin very impressed.

In the end, Ajin had no choice but to go to Mr. Gong.

Unexpectedly, he nodded in agreement as soon as he heard it.

This time it was Ajin who was surprised: "Don't you ask if it's a liar or if it's dangerous?"

Mr. Gong smiled and said, "Your description contains a lot of detailed information. If it was a scam, there would be no need to create so many details that could easily give it away, including the way the wound was treated, the medication taken, and the hole in the ground."

"That chairman was able to teach a stubborn monster like a warrior crab how to use weapons and tools and to fight well-trained... Jin, you don't understand how amazing this is."

"A person with this ability would not care about a small place like Changu Town, and there is no need for him to go to such great lengths to create a scam. If he wanted, he could easily destroy this market town and dispose of the people in it at will."

As expected of someone who can read and write, what he said made Ajin feel very convincing.

If only I knew that much.

"But give me a little time."

Mr. Gong added, "Since I am going to visit this great man, I must prepare something that can show my ability. Give me three days, and I will go with you in three days."

……

After the sign of the Wasteland Development Company was put up, Zhou Yi painted a crab on the container with a paintbrush.

I have come a long way and my success was based on the warrior crab.

They are perfect as company logos.

The first project of the wasteland development company was to open up wasteland and cultivate farmland nearby.

What Zhou Yi didn't expect was that even though he offered a very competitive salary in the local area, he still failed to recruit two people to grow mushrooms.

A Jin said that he tried to find a few more people, but when they saw Cao Dayuan refused, they were unwilling to come. There was also a missing front tooth and another town resident missing - usually this situation means that the person is dead, which makes everyone a little nervous.

The town of Shangu itself is very closed, and the locals have a weak ability to accept new things. They dare to go to places where monsters appear to pick up branches and feces, carry water and look for carrion because they know what is there and it is a familiar place.

For a place like the Wasteland Development Company, a place they had never heard of, the generous treatment made them wary and fearful.

Zhou Yi was at a loss. Fortunately, someone finally came to apply for the job.

Mr. Gong was wearing a torn shirt, a pair of long socks on his feet, and leaning on a wooden-handled cane. He looked about 24 or 25 years old, with heavy bags under his eyes and a haggard look.

Zhou Yi waved his hand and said, "Sit down."

After obtaining permission, Mr. Gong hobbled to the table and carefully sat down on the edge of the chair.

Zhou Yi smiled and said, "Is there anything you want to know about our Wasteland Development Company?"

Mr. Gong paused for a moment, then spoke a little stiffly: "I just hope to have a place to stay. Ah Jin said that you will ensure the safety of your employees, right?"

Zhou Yi nodded: "As long as we are in the company's office, which is here, our safety is guaranteed."

"That's enough. I'll do whatever you ask me to do."

The other party looked relieved.

Zhou Yi asked: "What happened to you?"

"I dare not hide it from you."

Mr. Gong said: "My name is Gong Zheng. I originally lived in the far west of "Xiaoyanling", a city that produces tobacco. When I was 10 years old, I became an apprentice of a Taoist priest and was assigned to work for Taoist priest Wu Chen of the Taoist Association. Because I had average talent, I was only doing odd jobs."

"When I was 15, the Alchemist Association conducted an inspection and found that Wu Chen was researching banned drugs. Afterwards, I became a scapegoat. Wu Chen broke one of my legs. The Alchemist Association also posted a notice prohibiting me from participating in any work related to alchemy and was banned from entering Xiaoyanling for life."

"Afterwards, I could only move with the caravan, but all the surrounding cities and towns knew about it. I couldn't find a job, and my application for settlement was always rejected. I finally settled in the far-away town of Changu."

"I have been here for 10 years, and I am grateful that the people in the town do not look down on me. Although my right leg is not good, the rest of my body is healthy. I will try my best to help everyone within my ability."

"Unfortunately, I am not very capable and only have a superficial understanding of many things. I made a big mistake in judging Ajin's injury and almost killed him. Fortunately, you corrected me. Now I feel really ashamed..."

He spoke at a moderate pace, and in a very organized manner.

Zhou Yi asked again: "You were once an apprentice of an alchemist. What did you study?"

Gong Zheng paused for a moment before responding, "Wu Chen specializes in making tobacco pills, which are a powerful medicine made by mixing tobacco with other special medicines. It is also one of the specialties of Xiaoyanling."

"Cigarette pills are usually used to relieve pain and treat serious injuries. They are also a drug that can be easily abused. After taking them, you will feel a clear sense of comfort and relaxation. The illegal cigarette pills that Wu Chen studied can make people and monsters addicted and even control them... Many people come to him to get those cigarette pills, and many of them are well-known figures."

"I work for him. In addition to doing odd jobs, I also participate in drug testing on various animals and even monsters. I have a good memory, and I know some drugs and understand the physiological conditions of some monsters."

Zhou Yi understood.

The banned tobacco pills are a highly addictive psychotropic drug that involves many stakeholders.

The alchemist will ask his apprentice Gong Zheng to take the blame and make the matter smaller.

"I recalled these few days and marked and drew all the monsters near Changu Town."

Gong Zheng handed over a stack of slightly yellowed papers.

The first page depicts a pig with stiff hair all over its body, a short nose, pointed teeth, and four hooked claws.

There are incomprehensible words written under the picture.

The Kestrel translated.

……

【Zhao】

Strength: E
Skill: F
Vitality: E
Rating: E
Habits: Living in groups, with a certain intelligence, strong endurance and resistance to blows, good at hunting and attacking, and its hook claws are more lethal at close range.

Value: claws, fur, meat.

……

Zhou Yi's eyes narrowed.

He knew a lot of underwater light species, but he had little contact with land monsters.

Gong Zheng actually made a profile portrait of the monsters.

This is valuable to yourself.

(End of this chapter)