Chapter 180: Intense Assessment, Various Developments!

The official information from the inspection station was sent at 4:07 AM.Quite eerie!

But a lot of information could be gleaned from this timing. For the second batch of contracts to open, quite a few people had indeed been working behind the scenes as cogs in the machine, just to ensure the entire process ran smoothly without hitches that would delay satellite city construction and refugee consolidation progress.

Unlocking his defense communicator, four messages slowly unfolded:

[Notice Regarding the Launch of Second Batch Satellite City Construction Work]

[Inspection Station Notice Regarding Second Batch Contract Area Allocation and Qualification Confirmation]

[Implementation Details for Second Batch Satellite City Construction Assessment Work]

[Notice Regarding Further Refinement of Satellite City Construction Management Regulations]

"Wow, so formal indeed!"

Cheng Ye laughed in amazement. So he really had come to the wasteland to be a civil servant.

He didn't rush to read the content. Instead, he got up, pulled open the curtains, opened half the window for air circulation, then sat on the sofa to examine each item.

First, he clicked on the first notice.

[All Relevant Units and Departments]

[As of now, the first batch of satellite city construction has fully entered the stable construction phase. Infrastructure construction progress is good, material supply channels are smooth, and livelihood security and industrial cultivation work have all achieved expected goals, laying a solid foundation for coordinated development of the Happiness City region]

[To further expand the development space of the sanctuary city and improve overall functional layout, after joint research and decision by various departmental agencies of Happiness City, effective immediately, the second batch of satellite city construction work is officially launched!]

[All departmental agencies are requested to deeply recognize the importance of this work, continue the excellent work style from the first batch construction, strengthen responsibility and commitment, scientifically coordinate planning, strictly implement construction standards, and ensure all tasks advance efficiently]

[Happiness City Joint Committee hereby notifies]

[New Era Year 35, August 3rd]

"Hmm, this notice should be distributed to all departments participating in satellite city construction."

Though not many words, Cheng Ye read it several times.

His gaze lingered long on "livelihood security," "industrial cultivation," and "overall functional layout."

As a member of the system, extracting key points from official documents was an essential skill.

To stand out in the second batch construction, the key probably lay hidden in these three terms.

Continuing down, the second notice was almost identical to what Lee Matteo had initially received, just with "second batch" substituted.

After clicking in, the notification information was largely similar.

[After comprehensive evaluation, inspection officials who participated in preliminary assessments (see attachment for details) have all achieved prescribed standards. The construction implementation plans they submitted passed multi-dimensional verification by the supercomputer system, meet execution requirements, and have now officially obtained second batch contract area construction implementation qualifications]

[The specific division plan for second batch contract areas and corresponding responsible personnel list are now published (see attachment for details). Personnel receiving this notice must arrive at Central Station promptly at 1 PM today to participate in specialized assessment.]

[This assessment will focus on core content including regional coordination management and emergency response mechanisms, directly affecting subsequent work development. Please attach great importance, prepare in advance, and ensure punctual attendance]

[Inspection Station hereby notifies]

[New Era Year 35, August 3rd]

Still 1 PM sharp for assessment. Cheng Ye immediately downloaded the attachment to browse the participant list.

In terms of quantity, the second batch of satellite cities maintained the same number as the first batch, totaling 12 locations.

All were towns, with Dapo Town inconspicuously mixed among them, only its ranking somewhat prominent, actually listed in fifth position.

Additionally, he noticed the other two towns that had drawn attention during the initial contract assessment.

Changshui Town and Yunshui Town, these two county-level scale townships with permanent populations exceeding 100,000 people.

Only Yunshui Town had obtained qualification in the first batch, but in the second batch, Changshui Town was still not selected.

Was there no one who chose it, or were there some unresolvable legacy issues here?

Cheng Ye pondered. Changshui Town was upstream on the Baishui River. Though five kilometers from the waterway, it was still considered riverside.

If someone chose it, Dapo Town's pressure would be much less. Many infection sources could be intercepted upstream, reaching Dapo Town already "second-filtered."

But now with Changshui Town absent, it meant Dapo Town became the source, while downstream Yunshui Town could benefit instead, diverting some of the danger.

"Looks like after entering the wasteland, I'll need to find time to visit Changshui Town and investigate."

After reviewing area divisions, Cheng Ye turned to the personnel list.

Still the competitive system with four people minimum. Popular locations like Xipo Town and Tantou Town each had six people competing, while Dapo Town had five.

Cheng Ye raised an eyebrow. Leading the list wasn't him, but the two third-term inspection officials who had previously chosen Dapo Town.

One Eastern, one Western.

The Easterner Yang Ming, the Westerner Rocook.

Ranked third was his name, and fourth was also an acquaintance, Yang Xingwen who had previously exchanged salted fish for Yaksha Bull meat with him.

At fifth, seeing Wang Kang's name listed there, Cheng Ye couldn't help smiling.

How considerate.

Old Ding didn't say it outright, but had given the privilege quite clearly.

Though he hadn't directly arranged a privilege for him to let him and Wang Kang pick Dapo Town together.

But precisely this way better suited Cheng Ye's thinking.

Other satellite cities were all competing. If he made exceptions, having two trainees predetermined for one satellite city location.

Never mind whether other inspection officials had opinions, if any accident occurred, he'd lose all initiative.

This way was best. Compete according to rules, and if he won the quota in the end, no one could say anything.

As for whether he could win with Wang Kang?

Cheng Ye gently shook his head. Even Ding Yishan had confidence in him, so how could he lack certainty?

As long as the assessment didn't focus on individual inspection official capabilities, bringing Wang Kang for collaborative projects was completely fine.

Additionally, if grouped in pairs, how would a 5-person group like Dapo Town compete?

Cheng Ye continued reading and soon understood the second batch rules.

No longer like the first batch with lottery groupings for head-to-head confrontation, but everyone on the list had one vote and could select a partner.

Candidates weren't limited to group members but could also choose first-round eliminated inspection officials. For instance, Gu Xinjing, Garcia and others eliminated by Lee Matteo and Song Haitao were all on the alternative list.

But the rules had a restriction. If not selecting group members and instead choosing eliminated candidates, assessment confrontations could only draw random topics, unable to self-select topics.

This both compensated for group members' disadvantages while limiting "strong alliance" advantages to some degree.

"Not bad." Cheng Ye relaxed. "With vote-selected partners, no need to worry about not drawing Wang Kang."

However, it was clear this rule wasn't a green light Ding Yishan specifically opened for him, but more likely the established plan for the second batch of contracts.

First, the first batch had already determined important locations. The basic framework of power balance was largely formed. With this framework, satellite cities below would automatically form alignments.

For instance, Wenlu County contracted by Lin Bao's trio. If Dapo Town wanted to seek support, he would naturally go to Lin Bao for aid, not Zhou Changhai and Ivan Davidson.

Second, the second batch locations no longer emphasized geographical advantages but focused more on local characteristics. Letting acquainted partners team up could improve coordination and develop these characteristics faster, accelerating construction speed.

More importantly, it gave first-round eliminated candidates another chance.

These people weren't necessarily lacking in ability, perhaps just unlucky like Gu Xinjing, drawing incompatible Western inspection officials.

With vote-selected pairing available, this truly utilized eliminated candidates' full abilities, counting as fair.

"These complex intricacies and arrangements targeting each person, let those above figure them out."

Cheng Ye stopped overthinking, exited the second message, and clicked on the third and fourth.

These two were pure bureaucratic formalities with no substance.

He glanced over a bunch of penalty clauses and skipped them. The reason was simple, the rule definitions were too flexible, with none clearly enumerated.

Like the clause strictly prohibiting embezzlement during satellite city construction.

What was the method for defining "embezzlement"?

Buying a thousand nutritional paste bags and having inspection officials drink fifty, did that count?

After obtaining basic construction material quota allocations, having inspection officials demand their office spaces be built first, then adding some not-so-necessary comfort configurations, did that count?

Even after Dapo Town's hydroelectric station repairs were complete, using it to charge himself, did that count?

None of this was specified, making rules elastic clauses with limited restrictive meaning.

Another example was the clause about losing qualifications for large-scale casualties, with severe cases even canceling inspection official qualifications and starting over from the trainee period.

"Large-scale" typically meant over ten thousand people, but first batch satellite cities could accommodate at most fifty thousand within six months.

If deaths reached one-fifth, it was definitely mother source invasion or extremely malicious infection sources infiltrating. In such cases, whether inspection officials could survive was questionable, let alone punishment.

Moreover, inspection official contracting's core wasn't just construction but also defense. Both were indispensable.

Like if he started construction in Dapo Town, the first thing he'd build definitely wouldn't be civilian housing, but an inspection station.

Securing the interior before expanding externally. Only with internal stability could there be confidence for gradual outward expansion.

"Need to hurry and notify Wang Kang."

Just as Cheng Ye was thinking of getting up, he saw Wang Kang running up with a panicked expression.

Of course, not just panicked, but also suppressed excitement and agitation mixed with some bewilderment and confusion.

Cheng Ye rarely saw someone's face showing so many complex emotions simultaneously, but considering Wang Kang's recent experiences, perhaps if he didn't die and became a high-term inspection official at the inspection station years later, his experiences could write a legendary biography for posterity's evaluation.

After all, no trainee inspection official had ever started by going to South Station.

No inspection official's first week of duty had ever encountered large-scale void mist natural disasters.

Even more outrageous, he was now even going out to contract, leading thousands to tens of thousands of people in satellite city construction.

"Brother Cheng..." Wang Kang ran up. Cheng Ye looked down and couldn't help laughing.

This silly kid had even put on the wrong shoes, left foot wearing sneakers, right foot in work safety boots.

"Don't panic, come inside with me first."

Cheng Ye indicated with his head. The two entered the room.

He casually grabbed the broom and dustpan from behind the door and handed them over, "First sweep and mop the floor, calm down."

Wang Kang's lips moved as if wanting to say something, but finally just nodded and earnestly began sweeping with the broom.

At times like this, steadying one's mind was more important than anything.

While Wang Kang swept, Cheng Ye was about to wash up when his defense communicator suddenly rang.

"Yang Xingwen" flashed on the screen.

They had previously exchanged numbers and occasionally called to maintain relations, but only exchanged pleasantries without deep communication.

Calling now, could he want to team up?

Cheng Ye walked to the fifth-floor corner to answer. The receiver immediately carried Yang Xingwen's hearty laugh, "Inspector Cheng, good morning! Have you seen the new announcement?"

"Just finished reading it." Cheng Ye's tone was calm.

"What a coincidence, we both chose the same place. Fate!" Yang Xingwen chuckled twice, then changed tone, "Wonder if you've chosen a partner yet?"

"Planning to team with Wang Kang. Why?" Cheng Ye didn't beat around the bush.

To his surprise, Yang Xingwen seemed to have expected this, his tone candid, "I know you have a good relationship with Inspector Wang, choosing him is normal. But speaking honestly, contracting outside isn't child's play, you'll face life-threatening dangers directly. Inspector Wang has only been on duty one week, his experience might be..."

He paused, lowering his posture, "Inspector Cheng, give me a chance? If you and I team up, wherever you point I'll strike. I'll just be a soldier under you, whatever you tell me to do I'll do. How about it?"

Oh?

A first-term inspection official facing a trainee inspection official, saying he'd just be a soldier under the other.

This face-saving gesture was really sufficient, full of sincerity.

However, Cheng Ye gently shook his head, deciding to speak plainly, "No thanks, Inspector Yang. Wang Kang and I agreed long ago, and... who knows, maybe we two can't even pass assessment and get eliminated directly?"

"Heh, Inspector Cheng is joking." Yang Xingwen's laughter carried indescribable meaning. "Alright then, I won't disturb you further."

"Mm, good."

The call ended simply without excess entanglement.

Cheng Ye stared at the black defense communicator screen for two seconds. He didn't know Yang Xingwen well at all.

He hadn't planned to have close contact with such people, or rather, currently he didn't intend to get too close to this batch of academic faction Easterners frantically choosing sides.

Besides, Yang Xingwen might just be casting a wide net seeking partners. No need to take it to heart.

However, before Cheng Ye could clip the defense communicator back to his waist, another unfamiliar number popped up.

Answering, a slightly shrill male tenor voice came through the receiver:

"Hello Inspector Cheng Ye, I'm Zhao Jia. I wonder if you still remember me?"

"Inspector Zhao, how could I forget?" Cheng Ye chuckled. "We're six years apart in age but studied at the same school."

He repeated what he'd said at the hospital before.

Zhao Jia on the other end was amused, "It's like this, I saw we're both on the list. Want to team up?"

"Team up? Didn't you register for Donggang Town?"

"No problem, this doesn't interfere. There's no restriction on inspection officials from different satellite cities teaming up."

Zhao Jia explained, "I just asked the station. After inspection officials on the list team up, they can choose either person's location. For instance, you could come compete for Donggang Town, or I could go to Dapo Town."

"I see..." Cheng Ye frowned. With this rule change, the original pattern would be completely disrupted.

Take Xipo Town, originally six people competing. If no one partnered within the group and all chose outsiders, it would end up as 12-person melee, eliminating 10, practically a slaughter field.

But if someone felt they had no chance of winning, they could completely find inspection officials from lower-ranked towns to team up and flee.

For each person who left, Xipo Town's competition decreased by two.

This way, lower-ranked towns might actually become more popular than higher-ranked ones.

"Sorry, I already have a partner." Cheng Ye was straightforward.

"Inspector Wang Kang?"

"Right, we agreed long ago. Sorry."

"No problem, no problem." Zhao Jia was gracious. "Inspector Cheng taking my call is already giving me face. Wish you smooth assessment!"

Donggang Town already had someone who pulled in a fourth-term inspection official as assessment teammate.

For first-term inspection officials like them, this was practically dimensional suppression.

No choice but to seek inspection officials from other towns to team up and escape Donggang's competition.

Finding Cheng Ye was because he felt Cheng Ye wouldn't directly refuse him due to first-term inspection official status.

Now that Cheng Ye was teaming with Wang Kang, he had nothing to say.

After hanging up, Cheng Ye thought for a moment and simply switched to external duty mode.

No need to guess, there would definitely be more people looking for him.

Who made him a trainee inspection official? And with Old Cheng family status here?

Plus his performance had been consistently excellent, his abilities completely matching normal first- and second-term inspection officials.

Those third-term people, first-term inspection officials had no qualifications to ask about teaming up, but everyone wanted to ask this trainee inspection official without refusal rights.

Rather than dealing with rejections one by one, better to have some peace.

After washing up and returning to the room, Wang Kang was still earnestly mopping, as if completely forgetting about contracting outside.

This performance made Cheng Ye nod approvingly.

He did want to help Wang Kang up, but had never provided mindless assistance. Instead, he tried to help Wang Kang grow quickly and create more suitable growth space for him.

If Wang Kang himself didn't want to advance or refused to improve, there was nothing he could do.

This way was just right, counting as mutual effort from both sides.

Wang Kang was willing to work hard. Whatever the future results, he deserved this opportunity.

Only after Wang Kang finished mopping and cleaned the mop did Cheng Ye point to his shoes.

Wang Kang immediately flushed red, hurriedly went downstairs to change shoes and put on clean clothes before coming back up.

"Know why I had you sweep and mop?"

"I know." Wang Kang immediately nodded. "I was too hasty. Brother Cheng, I really didn't expect the inspection station to let me participate in assessment. I haven't even been to initial assessment..."

"Don't worry, I fought for this with Station Chief Ding."

Cheng Ye didn't hide it, briefly explaining the plan he'd reported to Ding Yishan.

"I want exclusive management rights over Dapo Town. I can't work with others, so I approached you."

"Hey, that's exactly what I was worried about!"

Wang Kang immediately got excited, "I don't know anything. How could I manage so many people outside? Wouldn't that disgrace inspection officials?"

"What if I had you supervise people below in construction work?"

"Then no problem. I won't dare say about other things, but I'm confident about construction!"

Wang Kang smiled somewhat proudly, "I've learned how these past few days. Brother Cheng, rest assured, I can't help with other matters, but leading ordinary people in construction, leave it to me!"

"Knowing where your strengths lie, that's very good."

Cheng Ye nodded, "I'll have community people assist you then. Don't be afraid, everything has a first step. Those first-term inspection officials aren't necessarily stronger than you."

After simple reassurance, Cheng Ye didn't treat Wang Kang like a child and directly began assigning tasks.

His requirements for Wang Kang were simple yet difficult.

First, be able to replace him guarding Dapo Inspection Station, ensuring Dapo Town's basic safety.

Second, be able to supervise masses below to implement completion after he issued construction plans.

Third, be able to promptly report details and oversights he might miss.

These three points determined that Wang Kang's authority in Dapo Town would be second only to his, while shouldering less than one-fifth the workload.

But doing these one-fifth well was no simple matter.

Just guarding the inspection station alone, Dapo Town's danger level might not be lower than South and North Stations, requiring even more care in properly handling emergencies.

"Brother Cheng, rest assured!" Wang Kang clenched his fists, eyes shining. "As long as you trust me, I absolutely won't disappoint you!"

"Of course I trust you, otherwise I wouldn't have found you as partner, right?"

Cheng Ye smiled, glanced at the time, "Let's go. Before participating in assessment, you should also know what I've been busy with lately."