Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 92 The Station Master's Big Bet, Ding Yishan's Methods!
Central checkpoint.

Stationmaster's Building.

Jiang Chuan walked briskly into the first floor, mentally reviewed his words, and then climbed the stairs to the second floor.

Boom, boom, boom.

"Enter!"

The door was gently pushed open. Ding Yishan did not sit behind his desk to handle official business as usual, but stood by the window, holding a cup of hot tea and looking at the "large construction site" outside.

During the seven days of lockdown, the central checkpoint has been working hard to repair its infrastructure, especially the isolation area where He Fei had the accident, where more complete isolation rooms are being built rapidly.

Unfortunately, the repairs were ultimately just superficial, using only the most ordinary steel, and there was no way to replace them with a stronger insulating alloy.

After all, the checkpoints and other agencies in the buffer zone are different, and they cannot directly apply for funding from the inner city.

Going back in time.

The rule was set by Cheng Wu's generation: checkpoints must be responsible for their own profits and losses.

This rule, on the one hand, prevented the inner city from reaching out to the checkpoints, and on the other hand, it also extinguished any thoughts of complacency among the internal personnel.

In previous years, during the Great Reclamation Era, the checkpoint was thriving.

In just a few years, they built two large checkpoints in the north and south, and almost all the visible and tangible areas were covered with insulating alloy.

In recent years, however, the situation in Shijiazhuang Province has gradually stabilized, and the revenue that field inspectors can bring back has become less and less, only enough to maintain the daily operation and basic maintenance of the checkpoints.

At the beginning of the year, Ding Yishan converted almost all of his working capital into supplies, which he then had the key inspectors take away.

Originally, the plan was that as long as they could hold out until autumn, they could greatly alleviate their current predicament and strive to renovate the Central Checkpoint into a two-station system (north and south) within two years.

Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned, and the sudden outbreak of the infection wave exacerbated the financial deficit.

The current renovations can only temporarily maintain the status quo.

"Has the situation been ascertained?"

"Yes, I have already contacted Cheng Ye."

Ding Yishan turned around, smiling, seemingly in a good mood.

The worry that had been lingering for days had dissipated considerably, and a sense of ease emanated from her eyes and brows.

"My lord, is there some good news?"

"Yes, I have!"

Ding Yishan pulled out a chair and sat down, letting out a long sigh. "It's only been a few days, and that idiot Zhou Changhai finally couldn't hold back. He secretly went to see Harlin at noon, and was reported to me by the other three. It seems he has decided to join the Westerners to seek a higher position."

"what?"

Jiang Chuan was stunned. The Eastern prosecutor had sided with the Westerners, and the station chief was still laughing?

Now that Lei Hu, the station chief on duty at the South Station, has teamed up with Harlin, and there are also two Western fifth-term inspectors, and Zhou Changhai has defected, the Easterners are at a complete disadvantage.
"Ah Chuan, your skills are impressive, but..."

Ding Yishan tapped his head. "You still need to practice more here. Otherwise, even if we help you become a prosecutor, you'll only end up as a roughneck doing hard labor."

"My lord, I."

In the past, when Ding Yishan praised his skills, Jiang Chuan always accepted it without hesitation.

But today, he felt uneasy all over, and images of hundreds of guns pointed at him and being bound by chains kept flashing through his mind.

"I can't do anything with the four fifth-term prosecutors. No matter which one I get close to, it will make the other three unhappy and resent me, the station chief. So, I can only let them fight among themselves and come to a conclusion before I can step in to take charge."

Ding Yishan continued speaking to himself, then changed the subject, "Things are different now. That idiot Zhou Changhai sided with Harlin, which gives me a perfect target. Hey, tell me, if I, as the station chief, show any weakness now, who will be the one I'm most worried about?"

"Yes," Jiang Chuan hesitated for a moment, then tentatively answered, "The other three prosecutors?"

“I have to take back what I said before. You've gotten quite sharp these past two years.”

Ding Yishan laughed heartily, "Forget it, let's not talk about this anymore. The infighting among the upper echelons of the station won't cause any big waves. No matter who becomes the duty station chief in the end, it won't affect the overall situation right now. If they really want to fight for the extraordinary opportunity, it will be in the middle of next year."

"You went to check on Cheng Ye, how is he?"

"It's awesome!"

A-Chuan took a deep breath. "My impression is that he's at least as good as Jackie Chan at his age."

"Oh?"

Ding Yishan sat up abruptly, raising an eyebrow involuntarily. Could it be that today is another day of double happiness?

“Let me explain in detail, starting from the beginning.”

"Yes." Jiang Chuan did not hesitate and recounted what he had seen and heard after entering the B-7 area.

He didn't even try to hide the fact that he had been arrested by the Tianyuan Community.

He knew that Station Chief Ding was someone who cared about results but didn't pay attention to details.

Sure enough, when he heard that he had been tied up by the community, Ding Yishan merely raised an eyebrow, his eyes revealing an even stronger interest.

However, as Jiang Chuan spoke, he became more interested in the reactions of everyone after Cheng Ye entered the community and the methods of inspection.

Ding Yishan's smile gradually faded, and he began to frown and ponder.

He pondered the three questions Cheng Ye asked in particular several times, and finally couldn't help but shake his head.

"What is this kid asking? Who told him that's how prosecutors are supposed to act?"

"I don't know, but after he asked, he just let me out."

"Nonsense!"

Ding Yishan gave a reprimand, but when he wanted to say something more, he didn't know where to begin.

He could only sullenly take a sip of tea and say, "Continue."

"After that, he didn't question my identity. He took me back to his place and then we were going to the hospital."

"I tested him in the car, and he didn't hide anything at all."

Jiang Chuan spoke faster, delivering a rapid stream of information.

Ding Yishan's eyebrows twitched from time to time, but he never interrupted him.

After Jiang Chuan finished speaking in one breath, Ding Yishan leaned back slightly in his chair, looking thoughtful: "How skilled is he?"

"It's average, but for a newcomer who has only been training for two or three months, it's already very strong."

"Very strong."

Ding Yishan repeated those two words in a low voice.

He wouldn't care if someone else said that.

Jiang Chuan was a master he had been focusing on cultivating in recent years. Any extraordinary items he occasionally obtained were given to Jiang Chuan first, in the hope of creating another extraordinary person for the checkpoint. Unfortunately, he never succeeded in doing so.

Since Jiang Chuan rated Cheng Ye as very strong, it means that the evaluation of Cheng Ye during the internship period was the same as that in the inner city's report.

The product is not as described; it doesn't match the description at all!
"This is really strange. Do all members of the Cheng family have this ability, and are they good at deceiving everyone?"

Ding Yishan stroked his chin and suddenly instructed, "Achuan, later you go and check the person who recorded Cheng Ye's performance during his internship. See if that person deliberately wrote something false, or if Cheng Ye is just hiding his true feelings."

"Yes."

Jiang Chuan's eyes flickered slightly, and he tentatively asked, "Does Your Excellency intend to use Cheng Ye?"

"It's hard to say," Ding Yishan said thoughtfully. "At his age, Cheng Long might not be as temperamental as him, but his skills are far superior!"

After saying that, he shook his head again, "It's a pity that there is no Production and Construction Corps now, otherwise if we put him in there for a year or two of training, he might be able to stand out."

"My lord, in my opinion, in the current situation, skill is not that important."

"Ok?"

"His ability to deal with advanced fusion beings, whether with a group or alone, demonstrates that he possesses the basic qualities of an inspector in handling infected individuals. As for fighting humans..."

Jiang Chuan paused for a moment, then continued, "As long as we bring Liu Bi back and have him protect Cheng Ye, Cheng Ye will naturally grow up before long."

"No."

Ding Yishan shook his head directly, "Do you think that's why I transferred Liu Bi away before? Those people in the inner city have been urging me for days, especially those people that Cheng Long from the Extraordinary Sect offended to death. They will absolutely not allow another Cheng Long to appear, no, they will absolutely not tolerate another member of the Cheng family rising up."

"If I were to bring Liu Bi back now, it would be tantamount to telling these people outright that our checkpoint is going to focus heavily on the Cheng family. Guess what they'll do then?"

"Putting everything else aside, there are many half-step extraordinary people among them, experts at your level. Even Cheng Long has to hide at the checkpoint and rely on the situation to fight them. How can Liu Bi alone withstand them?"

Jiang Chuan remained silent and did not answer.

After a few seconds, she asked in a low voice, "But didn't you say before..."

"I asked Liu Bi to come back before because I knew he couldn't. If he could have come back that day, I wouldn't have made that call!"

Ding Yishan finished speaking in one breath, then suddenly seemed somewhat disheartened.

He got up and walked to the window. The setting sun was slowly sinking, and a dim glow spread across the sky, much like the current situation at the checkpoint.

The sun has set in the west; there's no going back.

Liu Kun's extreme pursuit of power may not be wrong; Happiness City is truly a place where strength speaks volumes.

If the checkpoint had its own superhumans, it wouldn't be in this predicament. No.

The thought had barely crossed his mind when Ding Yishan immediately shook his head, banishing it from his thoughts.

Once the idea arises that everything can be solved by violence, the righteous path that belongs to ordinary people will no longer be accessible.

Even the ten elders, who were high and mighty figures in any sanctuary city, are now still looking for a way out from ordinary people.
Liu Kun's path is wrong!
At least not at the checkpoints!
"grown ups."

The voice came from behind him again, and Ding Yishan hummed indifferently.

However, the next second, a look of astonishment suddenly appeared on his calm face, as if he had heard something unbelievable.

"If you give me a chance, I'm willing to protect him."

"what?"

Ding Yishan turned around abruptly, his body trembling.

Immediately afterwards, he took a few steps to Jiang Chuan and forcefully pried his head up from his lowered position.

"A-Chuan, what did you just say?"

The moment their eyes met, Jiang Chuan felt a jolt in his heart.

The usually mild-mannered Station Chief Ding was now like a lion poised to pounce, his sharp edge fully revealed, and an unspeakable chill flashing in his eyes.

He paused, then his mind flashed back to the scene of Cheng Ye walking into the community and everyone spontaneously showing him respect.

Play it repeatedly, on a loop.

“I said, I’m willing to protect him.”

"why?"

"Because he is just like you were back then."

"And me?"

Ding Yishan was stunned. In that instant, many answers flashed through his mind.

But he never expected Jiang Chuan to say that.

Do you think he's a follower of the original aspirations?

"No."

Jiang Chuan gently shook his head. "In the eyes of the original intention faction, ordinary people are still just tools, but he is completely different, just like when you took office."

"enough!"

Ding Yishan suddenly hissed, "Jiang Chuan, you are not qualified to comment on the Original Aspiration Faction, especially the word 'tool.' I don't want to hear it from your mouth again. Unless one day you can sit in my position, you will never be worthy, understand?"

"Yes!"

Jiang Chuan quickly lowered his head and replied, a fine layer of cold sweat beading on his forehead.

Even though Station Chief Ding had only opened a normal meridian and was carrying a fake fetus, he was on par with Da Long.

But at this moment, the pressure emanating from him was no less than that from Liu Kun.

It was an invisible force born of conviction, and the fundamental reason why he had been willing to follow it wholeheartedly for so many years.

“You can protect him, but you have to become a prosecutor and get into the system to be qualified.”

Ding Yishan, panting heavily, sat back down at his desk, his tone unyielding and firm: "Otherwise, if you, Jiang Chuan, dare to take this step today, you will die right in front of me tomorrow."

"I"

Jiang Chuan was stunned. "My lord, I can't do this."

"No, who do you think you are? You think you're so great just because you're half a step beyond the extraordinary?"

Ding Yishan sneered, "This Happiness City is no longer what it used to be. Without the checkpoint as a shield, Jiang Chuan, in the eyes of those superhumans, you are not even an ant!"

"They could crush you with a single step."

"Only when you're inside the system will your half-step extraordinary ability be something to show for yourself. Only then will people be willing to stand behind you, and only then will people stand up for you and shield you from the pressure. Do you understand?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Chuan was still in a daze, unable to come to his senses for a long time.

Seeing this, Ding Yishan expressionlessly opened the drawer and pulled out three sheets of paper. "But that's fine too. Since Cheng Ye has some potential, and you're willing to protect him, let's change our target."

"These three are all trainee inspectors who have passed the cultural assessment. Only the infectious disease response assessment remains. I can approve their passing at any time."

He tapped his fingertips on the documents, his tone cold and resolute, "You pick one, and I'll make sure he 'dies' in a reasonable way, and then I'll put you in the position."

"No, sir, I cannot."

Jiang Chuan subconsciously shook his head, but before he could finish speaking, Ding Yishan rudely interrupted him.

"Jiang Chuan, do you think you have a choice, or do you think I have a choice?"

"Third idiots who insisted on going out to their deaths with Cheng Long, causing immense damage to the checkpoint! Do you think they didn't consider the fate of their descendants if they failed before they set off?"

"They don't care at all. Not everyone in this world cares about their offspring!"

Ding Yishan's voice was filled with suppressed anger, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth, "Don't play dumb with me. How many prosecutors' descendants has Harlin dealt with overtly and covertly over the years? Replace them with his own people?"

"Nine, a full nine. How many of me, Ding Yishan, the checkpoint chief, have I replaced?"

He suddenly raised his voice, "Even if it's Cheng Long's good-for-nothing son, I'll still give him a chance to fight for his life!"

"But now, you've completely made me lose my patience."

Ding Yishan's eyes suddenly turned cold, and his tone was firm and unyielding.

“I’m not asking you, I’m informing you. If you don’t agree, I’ll randomly select someone and send him to duty when the checkpoint reopens. If he dies, you must take his place.”

“I don’t care what happened in the process, I only care about the final result. Since you value Cheng Ye, then go and protect him. I’m giving you this chance.”

"I"

Jiang Chuan murmured, as if he wanted to say something more.

But Ding Yishan had already crumpled up a piece of paper and thrown it at his eyebrow.

"Get out!"

A roar erupted from behind the desk, so unfamiliar that it sent a shiver down Jiang Chuan's spine.

He had never seen Station Chief Ding so angry before, not even when He Fei died.

I have let Station Chief Ding down.

Jiang Chuan turned around blankly, not picking up the crumpled paper on the ground, but just mechanically backing away.

The door was gently pulled open, and he couldn't help but turn his head, glancing at the area behind the table out of the corner of his eye.

Ding Yishan still maintained a disappointed expression, the coldness piercing his heart like an icicle, making him forget to even catch his breath.

However, just as he was halfway out of the room, a voice finally came from behind the table:
"Achuan."

"My lord?" Jiang Chuan turned around subconsciously.

"I'll give you a chance."

Ding Yishan's voice deepened, "Pick it up. If you're willing to pick it up, I'll give him a chance to fight to the death and arrange for him to work with Cheng Ye. They're both 'good-for-nothings' from the inner city. If he can be like Cheng Ye, no, even if he only shows half of Cheng Ye's abilities, today's events will be considered as if they never happened. I will protect him and let him live."

"But if you're not willing, then just watch him die at Central Station."

"My lord, I do! I do!"

A look of surprise flashed across Jiang Chuan's face, then he suddenly turned around and unleashed his full speed at the half-step extraordinary level.

In the blink of an eye, he grabbed the crumpled paper from the ground, looking as if he was afraid Ding Yishan would change his mind.

"Open."

"Yes!"

Jiang Chuan quickly unfolded the paper ball, and the words "Wang Kang" were written on the top.

Detailed resume attached below: All cultural assessments were at least A grade, and the prosecutor's handbook assessment was even S grade, but when it came to the physical assessment, just like Cheng Ye back then, all of them were at least F grade.

"Would you like to see the other two?"

The remaining two sheets of paper were casually tossed over by Ding Yishan, and Jiang Chuan's gaze instinctively settled on the assessment results.

Most of the cultural categories received B or C grades, and in the combat skills assessment, several items even received a failing grade.

"grown ups."

He was completely stunned, his whole body trembling slightly.

"This is not only a test for you, but also a test for Cheng Ye. If you want me, Ding Yishan, to place my hopes on him and groom him as the next stationmaster, that's fine."

"But this kind of temperament and strength alone is far from enough. The reason why I valued Cheng Long back then was never because of his status as a member of the Cheng family, nor because of his methods or skills, but because he could lead the entire team and make other prosecutors respect him!"

Ding Yishan stood up, his gaze leisurely. "Now, you've passed the test. It's his turn."

　P.S.: An old classmate I hadn't seen for years suddenly came over, so I went out to greet him. Sorry for the late update. Thank you all for your support!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)