Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 258 Yongxing Community, the Rules of Adventure!

While Da Long was inviting Hou Genbao, the three district elders chatted amongst themselves, recounting the tremendous changes that had taken place in the buffer zone over the past month.

Even though what he said were just random, fragmented everyday moments, looking back from today's perspective, Cheng Ye has clearly discovered that the core concept of the idealists has indeed been perfectly validated in the buffer zone.

After the large population entered the buffer zone, there was no chaotic situation of people running around and disrupting the original order. There was no need for the police department to devote all its energy to 24-hour patrols and suppression to help newcomers learn the rules.

These communities, each with its own philosophy, act as natural filters.

As long as there are enough screening levels, even people with extremely strange ideas can find a compatible organization and spiritual resonance in the buffer zone.

Once people integrate into an organization, they easily develop a sense of belonging. This intangible emotional bond becomes an important cornerstone for maintaining order in the buffer zone.

However, the three idealistic elders probably never expected that the population pouring into Happiness City would surge to hundreds of thousands or even millions in a short period of time.

Such a massive population surge forced the entire Sanctuary City to hastily launch a satellite city model, which almost completely disrupted the original gradual planning, leaving it with no choice but to passively adjust and adapt to the current situation.

However, adopting the satellite city model for development will inevitably involve a rigorous selection and reshuffling process.

Some people laugh, and some people cry.

With community expansion comes the inevitable shrinkage and dissolution of communities; this is an unavoidable growing pain and cost during the rapid development of buffer zones.

Therefore, the original blueprint of "allowing diverse ideas to collide fully and eventually form a unified and inclusive circle" was forced to be hastily adjusted to a rule that combines community integration and community elimination.

The core purpose of these rules is very clear: to force communities with different ideologies to accelerate integration, regardless of how many obstacles they may encounter in the process, to quickly absorb this huge demographic dividend and stabilize the foundation of the Sanctuary City.

As Tianyuan Community continues to expand, its influence has spread to the entire B area, impacting all communities within the area to varying degrees.

In essence, it's just about acquiring land.

Once Tianyuan brings areas B6, B7, B8, and B9 under its jurisdiction, it will inevitably implement its own set of community management concepts and rules.

For those who do not agree with this ideology, there are only two options: either move to another area or stay and be gradually assimilated.

While the former is straightforward, moving is far from easy. Now, similar "land grabbing" scenarios are playing out throughout the buffer zone, and other areas have long been firmly controlled by other communities.

If they can't beat Tianyuan Community, does that mean they can compete with the local powerhouses who have been operating for many years if they go to other areas? The only way is to move to a satellite city outside and start developing again.

The latter, Yongxing Community, is currently experiencing this awkward phase.

They neither wanted to leave their home in Zone B9 nor integrate into Tianyuan's management system; they just wanted to stay in their own little corner and live a peaceful life.

Similar to Tianyuan Community, Yongxing also has its own fixed location, a large logistics warehouse left over from the old era.

The warehouse has three floors and covers an area of ​​nearly 1,800 square meters. Including the usable space in the mezzanine and attic, the usable area is close to 4,000 square meters.

After years of renovation, the warehouse can now accommodate 1,500 people, with an average living space of just over two square meters per person. Although not spacious, it is much more comfortable than the Tianyuan Community a few months ago.

More importantly, Yongxing also occupied nearly 800 square meters of open space around the warehouse, connecting it with the warehouse and transforming it into a huge workshop and second-hand equipment trading market.

Yongxing Electronics is the main source of income for Yongxing Community.

They rely on recycling semi-scrap electrical appliances and tools, repairing them, and then reselling them.

In addition, he also secretly engaged in some underground black market resale business. For example, electronic contraband needed in the surrounding communities would be sent to Yongxing for aging treatment, disguised as compliant items, and then circulated to earn some extra income.

Logically speaking, with a stable livelihood and a fixed territory, Yongxing should have been living a comfortable life.

The reality is that even the police department is too lazy to crack down on these clandestine small businesses. The profits are so limited that they are barely enough to keep everyone in the community from having to go out and compete for odd jobs, and to ensure that they have enough to eat and drink. There is no way to talk about going any further.

Moreover, it is precisely because of Yongxing's existence that some resources that would otherwise be wasted can be reused, which is a kind of "hidden value" that managers are happy to see.

However, recently, Hou Genbao, who is in charge of the district, has been so worried that he can't sleep.

He could accept the sudden rise of Tianyuan next door. In private, everyone knew that Tianyuan had gotten lucky and made connections with the prosecutor. The higher-ups frequently allocated funds to support them, and even the pedestrian street, which used to be no different from a slum, was transformed and became as grand as the inner city.

As a community adjacent to Zone B7, once the pedestrian street is operational, Yongxing will also be able to attract some visitors.

But who could have imagined that the higher authorities would suddenly implement a community integration policy, giving Tianyuan a legitimate reason to expand outwards.

First, District B6 was placed under Tianyuan's jurisdiction, then District B8. Just as Hou Genbao was anxiously wondering if it would be his turn, five days ago, the announcement from above completely shattered his hopes.

Even the B9 area where Lian Yongxing is located will be assigned to Tianyuan Management!
As expected, on the afternoon of the same day the announcement was released, Du Shoulong led several hundred Tianyuan militiamen to surround the area and presented them with two options: either the entire Yongxing would be moved away, or they would have to give Tianyuan 30% of the community's profits.

Hou Genbao knew very well that after deducting the warehouse rent, the daily operating expenses of the community, and ensuring everyone's basic living, there was hardly anything left of this meager profit. Where could he possibly squeeze out 30% to share with Tianyuan?
The two sides reached a stalemate, neither willing to back down, and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense day by day.

Perhaps in just a few days, a fierce conflict will erupt between Yongxing and Tianyuan.

Everyone in Yongxing Community has a gun, so they aren't afraid of "Poisonous Hand Dragon" acting recklessly. However, Tianyuan has ultimately occupied the nominal high ground of jurisdiction. Putting aside everything else, if Tianyuan were to demand that Yongxing clear out the extra 800 square meters of construction site it occupies, it would be a fatal blow to Yongxing, which relies on this area for its livelihood.

"Good afternoon, Uncle Hou!"

"Uncle Hou, I'm almost done with my order."

"Uncle Hou, the electricity bill for this month has arrived. I've hung it in your workroom."

"Uncle Hou, the water ghost has pulled up another batch of goods, all radios. They look undamaged after being opened. I'll buy them for 20% of the price. Please take a look at their condition."

"Uncle Hou."

The work area, constructed with plastic sheds and simple steel structures, was as bustling as a market.

In Yongxing Community, there were three or four hundred people engrossed in repairing old goods, with stalls laid out in rows, somewhat similar to the layout of a vegetable market.

Recently, many newcomers have entered the buffer zone, creating a surge in demand for secondhand appliances and tools, which has given Yongxing's business a rare boost.

He would occasionally stop to quietly observe the workers' repair progress and offer a few precise instructions.

He would sometimes nod slightly, showing an approving expression to those who did well.

In Yongxing, Hou Genbao is like a god.

The entire staff of 1,500 depended on him for their livelihood, and only he could keep order and control those who wanted to take advantage of others.

As Hou Genbao approached the end of the stall, two middle-aged men hurriedly came forward and stood respectfully in front of him.
"Uncle Hou, Zhuangwa has confessed, and we've also found the stolen circuit boards."

"Oh?" Hou Genbao's eyelids twitched slightly, and he asked calmly, "What did he do with the money from selling the boards?"

"He said he was going to treat his seriously ill father, but he was scammed by people in the shantytown. They sold him fake medicine, and his father died after taking it."

"Oh." Hou Genbao responded dully, took out a dry twig from his pocket and bit it in his mouth. After a moment of silence, he said, "Go see him. This child has a hard life too."

The three walked through the busy stalls and exited the electronics market on the other side.

During this time, most people are at work, and the electronics market won't see customers until after 6 p.m.

Stepping into the warehouse, the condition inside was much better than that of the original Tianyuan Community.

The silver-white bunk beds were arranged very neatly, with no signs of repair. The bedding on each bed was neither new nor old, clean and tidy, and the air was relatively fresh. Three high-powered fans were running tirelessly, exchanging the air inside and outside the warehouse.

The three of them wandered around the warehouse, eventually stopping outside a specially partitioned tin shed.

Two middle-aged men quickly stepped forward and opened the door.

Hou Genbao bent down slightly and crawled inside. In his calm, deep eyes, he clearly saw a thin young man tied to a pillar.

The young man was covered in wounds, especially several bloody gashes on his abdomen, with the skin and flesh turned inside out, clearly from being whipped.

He lowered his head helplessly, but upon hearing familiar footsteps, he managed to lift it and force a weak smile, "Uncle Hou."

"Hmm." Hou Genbao responded with a nasal sound and sat down on the stool in front of the pillar.

He looked Zhuangwa up and down a few times, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger: "Your father is seriously ill, the community will naturally provide him with medicine and treatment, why did you have to steal the circuit board? You're just being clever."

“The community’s medicine quota is so limited, it’s not enough to cure my dad! Once he’s completely beyond saving and abandoned, it will be too late for me to steal things then.” Zhuangwa forced a smile, his voice hoarse, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth, filled with indescribable despair.

He took a deep breath, his eyes suddenly turning fierce. "My father's gone, I have no reason to live! Tianyuan has been pushing us so hard lately, I'm going to find a way to take down Poison Hand Dragon. Without their leader, they might..."

Snapped!
A crisp, loud slap suddenly landed on Zhuangwa's face, the force so great that it sent his head crashing into the pillar behind him with a dull thud.

"Who do you think you are, daring to call him 'Poison Hand Dragon'?"

Hou Genbao pulled a crumpled rag from his pocket and slowly wiped his hand that had just hit someone. His tone was full of coldness. "If you dare to call me that today, will people call me Black-Hearted Hou tomorrow?"

"Yes! It was my fault!" Zhuangwa was dizzy from the beating, his ears ringing, but he still nodded hurriedly to admit his mistake. "It was Zhuangwa who had a foul mouth. That was Ping Dalong, Uncle Ping!"

Hou Genbao's gaze softened slightly, but it still carried an undeniable air of authority: "Zhuangwa, tell me, what are the rules of Yongxing?"

"Yongxing's Three Rules"

Zhuangwa paused, as if all his strength had been drained away. He spoke blankly, his voice growing softer and softer, yet each word was clear: "First principle: public interest comes first, clan comes first. All matters must prioritize the foundation of the community and the livelihood of the neighbors."

"Secondly, we must form a brotherhood, overcome difficulties together, share glory and shame, and there is absolutely no reason for us to remain aloof."

"Thirdly, profits must be obtained through legitimate means, and development requires integrity. Anyone who embezzles public property or secretly harms the collective will be removed from the district's organization according to district regulations, and the entire community will be expelled without exception!"

As Zhuangwa finished speaking, his voice trembled involuntarily, and he lowered his head even further, no longer daring to look Hou Genbao in the eye.

"Then tell me, what should I do with you now?"

“According to the law, his hands and feet should be cut off, and he should be thrown into the wilderness to find his own way to survive.” Zhuangwa finished speaking through gritted teeth, then suddenly looked up, his eyes full of pleading, “But my father is gone, there’s no point in me living! I only beg Uncle Hou to let me atone for my sins with my life. If there’s anything difficult to handle in the community, I’ll be the first to rush in! I only beg that my sins be redeemed after I die, so that my father won’t be ashamed of me in the afterlife!”

"Sigh," Hou Genbao sighed softly and slowly stood up.

He walked up to Zhuangwa, slowly placed his hand on Zhuangwa's neck, his fingertips were icy cold, and his tone was like a murmur: "Zhuangwa, these are turbulent times, we can't let you, you little rascal, go out and cause trouble for Yongxing again."

"Uncle Hou!" Zhuangwa trembled violently. He could clearly feel the hand on his neck tightening, and his breathing became difficult.

He pleaded incessantly, tears welling in his eyes and sliding down his cheeks, but those tears contained little regret, more of a deep resentment—resentment over his father's death, resentment over his own fate.

Gaba.

A soft yet clear sound of bone cracking echoed in the cramped tin shack.

A tear welled up in Hou Genbao's eye, but he quickly wiped it away.

He turned around, walked back to the stool, sat down, and took out the rag again, carefully wiping the marks on his hands as if nothing had happened.

"Zhuangwa's debts, and the scheme that the group in the shantytown set up to cheat him, are all on Yongxing's account. We'll settle them later," he said without looking up.

"Yes." The middle-aged man standing on the left quickly stepped forward and deftly took Zhuangwa's body off the pillar, wrapping it in a burlap sack that had been prepared beforehand.

The middle-aged man on the right hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "Uncle Hou, it's not necessarily a bad thing to spare Zhuangwa's life. Who knows what the future holds?"

Not a single drop can be left.

Hou Genbao interrupted him directly, his tone resolute, "The situation is so chaotic right now, and the policies from above change every day. It's not just Tianyuan that's watching us; those other communities outside are also eyeing our territory. If his father were still alive, I could give him a chance to redeem himself out of respect for the elders. But now he's unattached, and letting him out is like releasing a ticking time bomb. He might be the first to bite Yongxing."

After saying that, he looked up at the two men and added, "Old Xu, tell the old folks in the community to keep their eyes open and not cause trouble. Anything should wait until we reach a conclusion with Tianyuan."

"Yes, Uncle Hou." Old Xu nodded hurriedly, not daring to raise any further objections.

Hou Genbao was the only one left in the tin shack. He sat on a stool, staring at the sacks on the ground, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the hem of his clothes.

In this chaotic world, the only way to protect one's own territory is through an iron fist, even if that iron fist hides countless unspoken helplessness.

Just then, two hurried footsteps came from outside, but slowed down quickly at the door, clearly afraid of disturbing the people inside.

Immediately afterwards, a soft knock sounded on the door.

"Uncle Hou?"

"what happened?"

“Ping Dalong from Tianyuan has come over. He said that Tianyuan wants to talk to Yongxing again.”

"Okay, tell Dalong to go to the reception area first, I'll be there soon." Hou Genbao replied, but as he stood up, he couldn't help but glance at the sack on the ground again and gently shook his head.

People's hearts are restless.

Zhuangwa's case may seem like an isolated incident, but it is actually a microcosm of Yongxing's decline.

Back in the heyday of Yongxing, each person had a medical allowance of 400 Happiness Coins. But in recent years, it has been reduced one after another, and now there are only 80 coins left. At most, it is enough to buy some common medicines. If you really encounter a serious illness, you can only watch helplessly as the person passes away.

Today, Zhuangwa was forced to take a desperate gamble; who can guarantee that others won't follow suit tomorrow?

He carefully washed his hands at the tap in the corner, then forced a peaceful smile at the blurry mirror on the wall before turning and walking towards the reception area on the other side of the warehouse.

From afar, they could see Da Long sitting on a wooden chair, rubbing two shiny iron balls in his hands, with Huang Yong and four serious-looking militiamen standing behind him. They quickly quickened their pace.

"Dalong, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." Hou Genbao greeted him with a smile.

"Houzi, sit down." Dalong glanced at him, but despite being a guest, he acted like the host, skillfully inviting Hou Genbao to sit on the wooden stool to the side.

Hou Genbao quickly sat down, his bottom barely touching the bottom of the stool. He then got up, picked up the tin kettle on the ground, and poured a glass of water for Dalong, complimenting him as he poured: "Dalong, you look really smart in that blue work uniform! It's obviously not made of ordinary material."

"Really?" Da Long chuckled, raised his hand to touch the red "Tianyuan Construction Team" badge on his chest, then changed the subject, "I'll give you a chance to wear this uniform with your men, how about it?"

Hou Genbao's heart tightened, but he still smiled and shook his head repeatedly: "Dalong, you're joking. How could my men do the heavy work in Tianyuan? They're only good at doing some repairs and odd jobs. If I really asked them to do construction like you, they'd probably cause a huge uproar with this old man."

After saying that, he changed the subject and lowered his tone, saying, "However, if you need help, I can send some people over to do odd jobs, as a way of paying Yongxing the land rent to Tianyuan."

"Land rent?"

Da Long suddenly slammed his water glass down on the table with a loud bang, which made Hou Genbao's heart skip a beat.

He leaned back slightly, a hint of coldness in his eyes: "You pay four thousand Happiness Coins a month in rent to the Civil Affairs Bureau for this warehouse, but when it comes to Tianyuan, you only dare to take the rent for odd jobs?"

"Da Long, you can't say that."

Even though Da Long was arrogant, Hou Genbao could only suppress his temper and smile apologetically. "The land rent set by the Civil Affairs Bureau is a rule set by the higher-ups. If Yongxing doesn't pay, it will be kicked out. But Tianyuan and Yongxing are both communities, so how can it be calculated according to this standard?"

"So, you think Tianyuan isn't capable of driving Yongxing out?" Dalong's tone instantly turned cold, and the corners of his mouth twitched into a wide grin.

"Ping Dalong! Are you here to cause trouble?" Old Xu, who was standing next to Hou Genbao, could no longer hold back and took a step forward, retorting angrily.

"Oh?" Da Long raised his eyelids and looked straight at Lao Xu. The fierce light in his eyes made Lao Xu subconsciously take a step back, and he swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

The atmosphere in the reception area froze instantly, and even the air seemed to be filled with the smell of gunpowder.

"Old Xu, I'm talking to Da Long about serious business, don't interrupt." Hou Genbao quickly stood up, first bowing to Da Long to apologize, then turning to Old Xu in a low voice.

Old Xu's face flushed red, but he could only take a step back dejectedly and remain silent.

Hou Genbao turned back to Da Long, adopting an even more humble attitude: "Da Long, Yongxing sincerely wants to discuss cooperation with Tianyuan, but 30% of the revenue is simply beyond our means. As you know, we make a living by repairing old appliances and dealing in secondhand goods. After deducting rent and community expenses, there's hardly anything left. Moreover, Tianyuan has Inspector Cheng's support and receives continuous funding from above, so they don't need our meager profits."

He gritted his teeth, as if making a huge concession, and his face showed a desperate expression: "How about this, 10%! We're willing to give 10% of our income to Tianyuan for local rent, is that acceptable?"

One-tenth of the damage was substantial, but Yongxing was still able to maintain a semblance of peace on the surface.

Hou Genbao thought Da Long would try to bargain or even refuse outright, but to his surprise, Da Long's expression suddenly changed. His previous coldness disappeared, and instead, he showed a hint of interest.

Is there anything to discuss?
Hou Genbao's heart skipped a beat, and he felt inexplicably regretful. If he had known that Da Long was so easy to break, he should have called for half a percent earlier. Calling for a full percent now would have been a huge loss.

Before he could think it through, Da Long suddenly sat up straight, leaned forward, and asked, "What did you just say? Repeat it again."

“I…I’m willing to give 10% of my income to Tianyuan for local rent.” Hou Genbao paused for a moment, then subconsciously repeated.

"Not this sentence, the one before it!"

"Up ahead?" Hou Genbao's mind raced as he recalled their earlier conversation. "I said, do you Tianyuan really need our measly little profits?"

"Further ahead?"

"Does Tianyuan have Inspector Cheng supporting them?" Hou Genbao finally realized what was happening and asked hesitantly.

"That's it! That's the line!" Da Long slapped his thigh, his face beaming with excitement. "Prosecutor Cheng wants to see you, are you going or not?"

"what?"

Hou Genbao's heart skipped a beat, and a flash of intense surprise crossed his eyes, quickly replaced by wariness. "Prosecutor Cheng, is that what you want?"

"It's good that I'm asking you to go; otherwise, replacing you, Yongxing, would be as simple as saying a few words."

Da Long stood up and shook his neck. "Hou Zi, I'm here today. You have to go whether you like it or not. Do you think I, Poison Hand Dragon, can't even get District Chief Hou to make a trip?"

"Da Long, how can I not go when you say that?"

Hou Genbao quickly stood up, a smile plastered on his face, but his heart was filled with a mixture of shock and disbelief.

Has Prosecutor Cheng finally returned?
And it's a good thing. For Yongxing, what does "a good thing" mean?
Could it be that, like Tianyuan, it can get the support of that Prosecutor Cheng and grow bigger and stronger?

He suppressed his turmoil and made an excuse, "Da Long, wait for me a moment. I'll go change into some clean clothes. I can't be dressed too casually when I meet the prosecutor."

After saying that, he hurriedly left with the two of them, and then continued to give instructions.

"If Prosecutor Cheng comes, you must show me your best, understand?"

"Yes, Uncle Hou, we will definitely keep a close eye on things."

After the two left, he went into a separate room of about ten square meters deep inside the warehouse, took out a set of jeans and a short-sleeved shirt from the wardrobe and changed into them.

Standing in front of the blurry mirror, Hou Genbao looked at his own face.

The middle-aged man's face was full of fatigue, with his eyes and mouth drooping, and even a forced smile looked stiff.

Over the past month, he has barely had a proper rest due to pressure from all sides and dealing with the mess in the community; his exhaustion is impossible to hide.

After thinking for a moment, Hou Genbao bent down and pulled out a dusty junk box from under the bed. He opened it and took out a small box of hairspray.

Looking in the mirror, I clumsily sprayed some hairspray onto my messy hair, trying to make myself look more presentable.

"I never imagined that I, Houzi, would one day be able to face the prosecutor from Happiness City."

He looked at himself in the mirror and couldn't help but laugh at himself.

But there was an inexplicable sense of ease and anticipation in that laughter, one that he himself was unaware of.

(End of this chapter)