Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 129: Checking the Difficulties, Reuniting with Old Friends!

It's raining.

South checkpoint.

The fine rain was swept up by the wind, breaking through the rain shelter from the side and hitting Cheng Ye's raincoat.

Taking advantage of the fact that the previous group of people had been temporarily cleared out, four staff members rushed in with mops and quickly cleaned up the mud that had been brought in.

Today is the third day since the checkpoint reopened, although fog still hangs in the air and rain continues.

However, the fog cave did not erupt on a large scale again, and the overall situation remained relatively stable, with a slight increase in the number of scavengers entering and exiting.

Cheng Ye had been busy for more than two hours from the start of his shift until 10 o'clock, when he finally had time to sit down and catch his breath.

Based on past experience, the next peak in passenger flow will occur around noon, corresponding to the return journey starting at 7 a.m. when it is already light.

"Soldier, have someone bring me a pen, a few more, and a new notebook. I've finished this one."

Cheng Ye held the pen, now devoid of ink, and twirled it halfway between his fingers before leaning back in his chair and shouting.

"Yes, sir!" Saber grabbed the defense communication device hanging on his chest, quickly gave a couple of instructions into the microphone, and continued to lead the staff to clean up the mud and water.

This job is really troublesome.

The mud mixed with gravel and grass roots cannot be poured directly into the sewer. If it gets clogged, they will have to wait until the checkpoint closes and then clear it overnight.

But the checkpoints at night are extremely dangerous; no one dares to go out, and the guards have to stay on duty.

Therefore, the problem can only be solved at its source. The mud needs to be filtered several times, and the large chunks of mud need to be removed and treated before the remaining wastewater can be discharged through the pipes.

Cheng Ye looked at it for a while, and when someone brought him the pen and notebook, he couldn't help but shake his head as he took them.

All things considered, Quarantine Zone B is the area with the least risk, moderate trouble, and the largest workload.

For capable individuals, "cost-effectiveness" ranks last among the four zones, even lower than Zone D.

But for those who just want to survive, like Li Matai, it's a paradise!

Based on his conversations with scavengers over the past few days, he has gleaned a considerable amount of valuable information.

Most people, after leaving the buffer zone, will not move beyond a hundred kilometers around Happiness City.

Those who dare to venture deeper into the wilderness are either highly skilled and daring teams, or desperate outlaws hoping to turn their lives around.

The former has a very low probability of infection, even much lower than the convoy in the neighboring Area A.

Because these teams established rules that were so strict as to be almost harsh in order to secure their wealth in the wilderness, many of which even Cheng Ye found astonishing.

As for the desperados, needless to say, out of ten who go out, maybe only two or three will come back.

What's even more alarming is that the two or three who managed to return have a virtually 100% chance of being infected.

When you encounter someone like this, just put them in quarantine; you won't make a mistake.

Putting aside these two situations, within a 100-kilometer scavenging radius, the most bustling place is undoubtedly the ruins of Chuan City, which are just a stone's throw away.

As a metropolis with a population of nearly ten million in the old era, even after decades of plundering, Happiness City still hides inexhaustible treasures in its concrete jungle.

Putting aside everything else, just carrying back a bag of steel bars is worth much more than a day's work.

Other items like gold bars and gold jewelry are even more common; people bring some back from time to time.

More importantly, the Blood Dragon Legion is keeping an eye on the ruins of Sichuan City, so even if there are any infected individuals who have slipped through the net and are lurking, they won't cause too much of a stir, making the safety level very high.

Beyond the ruins of Chuan City, within a hundred kilometers there are four county towns, thirty-four towns, and hundreds of scattered villages.

While these places may increase the risk, they also hold another kind of "treasure".

It seemed that a young man who had just left had dug up four stalks of white water grass with thick leaves and vigorous growth from Dabo Town, 60 kilometers south of the buffer zone.

This is one of the rare mutant plants in Shih Province that grows underground but is not affected by supernatural curses.

According to the manual, its function is also remarkable. After the leaves are crushed and mixed with a special solvent, a transparent liquid can be extracted by centrifugation.

Applying the undiluted solution to protective clothing, shields, or weapons will cause them to immediately emit a pale purple fluorescence upon contact with infection sources or abnormal environments, effectively blocking many infection risks and proving to be a lifesaver in the wilderness.

The purchase point in the buffer zone offered this grass a price that was 5% commission, so one plant would yield 50 contribution points, and four plants would yield 200 points.

Even according to the official exchange rate of 1 to 7 for Happiness Coins, it would still cost a full 1400 coins.

He went to repair pipes and worked himself to the bone for half a year to save up this amount, which is enough to prove how lucrative scavenging can be.

"Zhang Xiaofan; 24; 9.41; Testing process as follows: No risk of infection confirmed; Harvest: Four white water grass plants; Self-reported destination: Surrounding area of ​​Dabo Town."

As Cheng Ye muttered to himself, he took notes of the inspection process he had just completed, the pen tip making a scratching sound on the paper.

This is the most demanding work for the prosecutors in Zone B, accounting for nearly 70% of their workload.

Although the record doesn't need to be complicated, just record the name, age, entry time, a brief description of the inspection process, and most importantly, the results and destination, and keep it on file for future reference.

However, there were simply too many people in quarantine zone B. Based on the daily record of 600 people, there was basically no time to stop and rest.

While he was recording the information, the clerical staff in Quarantine Zone B couldn't be idle either. They had to gather all the information that night and type it into the server in the buffer zone word by word for storage.

Through the resident system, these records are matched with each person's basic information. By clicking on them, you can clearly see the frequency of entry and exit over the past six months, the items they bring back each time, and the places they frequently visit.

Analyzing these miscellaneous data is actually the prototype of modern big data.

By analyzing changes in big data, we can immediately identify changes in threats around Happiness City and analyze the level of risk of an individual from the source.

For example, the examination process is more complicated for people who travel to far-away places every day than for others.

For example, if someone frequently goes to a certain place, we need to analyze whether there are any problems.

We can even discern resource distribution from changes in harvest and analyze the reasons behind this distribution.

Of course, these ideas are currently just a vague framework and cannot even be considered a feasible solution.

why?
After writing the last word, Cheng Ye threw the pen on the table and couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

Because the checkpoint was just so damn cheap!

Even though Ding Yishan learned about big data and information technology from the information, he still sent people to try to move in this direction, analyzing the benefits little by little, hoping to gradually improve the current situation.

However, the training system at the checkpoints already doomed the system to never be fully implemented.

No inspector has ever had the opportunity to seriously learn about data-driven management or truly experience the benefits of big data.

No inspector would be interested in sitting in front of a computer and typing code.

Even Li Changfeng, a level four inspector of the City of Fire Protection, only has a superficial understanding of items that utilize Source Track technology.

This is enough to prove that prosecutors, no matter where they are, don't have time to learn such trivial details.

Naturally, the checkpoint could only delegate these "detailed tasks" to the clerks.

The problem is, even if the clerk understands, they are not qualified to submit a budget application to their superiors.

Cheng Ye went to see the computer the clerk used, and it was indeed the "big butt" he had imagined.

The entire checkpoint has four areas, with only eight vehicles in total.

Two machines are used in each area: one for entering information and the other for backing up data.

When it comes to processing basic records, the speed is passable, but when it comes to learning and researching from scratch, Cheng Ye was dumbfounded after sitting and watching for a while.

Because the computer's operating system was not the Windows system he was familiar with, but a server-specific system purchased from Xinhuo, all data was processed using command lines, with simplicity and practicality as the main priorities.

Even digging out old programming books, hoping to figure something out from them.
Well, let's talk about something more practical.

I'm busy until midnight every day just entering basic information, how can I have the energy to study?

As for more advanced algorithm models and real-time early warning systems, those are simply unthinkable fantasies.

In modern times, even if you train and select from billions of people, you might not be able to find many talented individuals.

Instead of relying on ordinary people in Happiness City to conduct the research, it's better to wait for Xin Huo to develop a finished product and then purchase it.

Of course, this brings us back to the original question.

No money.

The checkpoint is short of money, and even if there is a little surplus occasionally, it should be used wisely.

"This massive migration is a golden opportunity. If the checkpoints can secure some funding, things will be much better." Cheng Ye wiped away the water splashes on the table with a rag, secretly pondering to himself.

His adventurous encounters and probing with Ding Yishan had made him basically certain of one thing.

This checkpoint is a place to stay.

This Station Chief Ding is capable!
If you really intend to make something of yourself here, instead of just coasting along, grabbing some benefits, and then running away.

The key point is whether the checkpoint has the potential to move upmarket, and whether Ding Yishan has the courage to break through the status quo.

If the upper levels are stagnant, and the people below are only concerned with forming cliques, then no matter how many ideas he has, he won't find a place to exert his influence.

If Ding Yishan could take advantage of this great migration to secure some real authority for the prosecutors from above.

Even a little bit is enough to upgrade the checkpoint's equipment and repair the dilapidated central station.

As for the future
“I’m not even the station manager yet, but I’m already worrying about what a station manager should do and thinking about the checkpoint.”

"Once everyone finds out, they'll all have to say that Prosecutor Cheng is great!"

Cheng Ye deliberately dragged out his words, mimicking the tone of many scavengers as they left, and boasted.

As soon as he finished speaking, he couldn't help but grin, and only after he finished laughing did he realize that he was a little cold.

Perhaps because I had been sitting for too long, my blood and qi began to stagnate, and the cold air from the rain seeped in through the gaps in my raincoat.

He stood up, intending to stretch his legs a bit.

The mud on the ground had been mostly cleaned up by Saber and his men, leaving only a few shallow watermarks. A quick mop and it was clean again.

Looking into the distance through the rain, it seemed that several scavengers carrying sacks were walking this way, their figures swaying in the rain.

However, when these people got close, they were diverted to the surrounding areas and did not come towards Exit B.

Is it a good thing?
Cheng Ye raised an eyebrow. If fewer people came, he could rest a little longer.

Just a few minutes after the thought popped into his head, a burst of gunfire suddenly rang out from Sector C, like popping beans, crackling and popping in the rain.

Cheng Ye's smile vanished instantly; it seemed he wouldn't be hearing the six chimes today.

He walked quickly to the isolation fence at the junction of Zone B and Zone C and looked around.

Dong Xing had already put away his pistol and stood in the pool of blood that had not yet been washed away by the rain, looking at the four corpses at his feet with a complicated expression.

The four people's exposed skin was covered with a thin, bright yellow membrane, like the membrane of an insect's flesh, which confirmed that they had been infected.

Was he a "genius" from the surrounding small communities in the past?
Or are they “migrants” influenced by the travelers? Some have already arrived one after another.

Two thoughts flashed through Cheng Ye's mind.

Dong Xing noticed his gaze, looked up at him, shook his head at him through the rain, and moved his lips.

Judging from the mouth shape, it is a foot bug.

A special source of infection that can make people forget their fatigue and keep moving forward.

It wouldn't be accurate to call it malignant.

Because the method to get rid of the foot parasite is very simple: as long as the infected person keeps the idea that they must keep moving forward for more than half a month, the source of infection will die from exhaustion due to the continuous energy supply.

Because of this characteristic, many audacious migrants often actively seek out the worms to infect themselves while traversing thousands of miles of wilderness, as the risk of collapsing from exhaustion on the road is significantly greater than the risk of losing control after infection.

But its fatal flaw lies in its "laxity".

If you are delayed or stopped along the way, or if the thought suddenly pops into your mind that you are almost there and can finally relax, then the hidden source of insects will erupt instantly.

Just like these four corpses now, if they are not killed, they will indiscriminately attack living beings until they die from exhaustion.

After the cleanup team began to take them in, Dong Xing walked over and whispered through the fence, "What a pity. They were probably migrants who wanted to settle in our Happiness City, but they were unlucky and got infected by the foot worms."

"They were queuing in section C just now..."

Dong Xing's voice was tinged with weariness as she said self-reproachfully, "Sigh, it's my fault. I saw they were all exhausted and almost collapsed, so I said something along the lines of 'Once we get to Happiness City, we'll feel at ease. Don't worry about anything. Go to the resettlement point and rest for a few days. Don't think about anything.'"

Before he could finish speaking, he angrily punched the isolation net.

"It's not your problem, don't overthink it."

Cheng Ye paused for a moment, then tried to keep his voice steady, "Even if they weren't exposed to infection, we could still deduce the abnormality by finding out their route and the time they took, and they would still be sent to quarantine for observation. The outcome might not be much better."

"Prosecutor Cheng, there's no need to comfort me. I was just a little confused."

Dong Xing forced a smile that looked more like a grimace. "People infected with the footworm can actually be saved even if they're locked up in an isolation room. As long as we keep reminding them that they haven't reached the end yet, and keep them moving forward, even if it's just walking around in the room, they can get through the next two weeks."

He paused, his voice tinged with a hint of unease, "Even after identifying the worms, the prosecutor should have helped these people. But just now, seeing them on the verge of collapse, I was only thinking about comforting them and forgot the most crucial step."

Cheng Ye fell silent.

This is the most grueling part of the inspection work; it is both the most difficult and the most fundamental aspect.

It's not just about identifying each source of infection like a sieve, keeping risks out of checkpoints, and ensuring the safety of hundreds of thousands of people in the buffer zone.

We must also help those who are afflicted by special sources of infection but still have a glimmer of hope to find a way to survive.

But this is too difficult.

The bizarre and unpredictable rules governing special sources of infection rely entirely on the prosecutor's experience to judge and guide the process.

Few people can be so thorough in every aspect. Even Cheng Ye wouldn't dare say he could have done better than Dong Xing in that situation.

Because he knows about the traveler's whereabouts, he would be more vigilant in this situation and might even open fire directly.

"We still need a set of modern analytical tools and testing tools, as well as scientific processes, like the 'Spark' model."

Cheng Ye watched quietly as the rescue team carried the four people into body bags, placed them on stretchers, and carried them away, his heart heavy with worry.

"Otherwise, relying solely on the prosecutor's experience might not only screen out infected individuals, but also those who could have survived."

Like those four migrants just now, if we had a recording machine, we could let them upload their whereabouts.

The background data automatically analyzes the whereabouts and provides judgment opinions, making it much easier for prosecutors to handle the case.

Suddenly, Dong Xing's voice came from the other side of the isolation fence: "Prosecutor Cheng, someone from your side has arrived."

"okay."

Cheng Ye turned his head and saw a figure in the rain at checkpoint B, wearing a knee-length black raincoat and carrying two bulging waterproof bags on his shoulders, walking towards him with uneven steps.

The rain hat was pulled down low, almost completely covering his face; only the hem of his raincoat could be seen swaying with each step, splashing up a trail of muddy water.

After sitting down at the inspection table, Cheng Ye squinted slightly, his gaze instantly piercing through the rain.

Generally speaking, the probability of infection detected in lone scavengers is basically over 80%.

Moreover, the sources of infection they carry are often not the common mainland products, and they often bring unexpected "surprises".

If it weren't for Dong Xing's regret just now, Cheng Ye would have already put his hand on the gun against this kind of person.

But now, his gaze was slightly lowered, and he did not rush to act, but continued to observe and analyze.

Ok?
Cheng Ye's brows suddenly furrowed.

Why does it look so familiar?
His memory was exceptional; he could often memorize a lot of documents after reading them only once.

After arriving in this wasteland, perhaps because I have a different body, my memory has somehow become stronger, which is why I recognized the backpack at a glance yesterday.

The way this figure was walking looked very familiar, as if...
"Damn, why does this look so much like me walking?"

The moment the thought popped into Cheng Ye's head, he was stunned for a moment.

He stood up abruptly, walked a few steps to the edge of the rain shelter, and carefully examined it through the fine rain curtain.

Just then, the scavenger reached the entrance of the passage. Seemingly noticing his gaze, he paused slightly, then slowly raised his head, lifted his low-brimmed rain hat, and revealed his face hidden beneath.

Almost instantly, the two of them were stunned.

what?
Is it Chu Yunfeng?

　P.S.: Thank you so much, YoungTree, for the generous donation! Thank you so much!!!

　　P.S. 2: Many readers have said I forgot about Lao Chu. Don't worry, he's the key figure for the next stage~~hehe.

　　P.S. 3: Second update delivered. Although it's only the second update, each chapter is over 5k words. Please vote!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)