227: Chapter 227 Chamber of Commerce Closing Meeting

"Of course I can, otherwise why would I spend so much time and effort on this?" Yan Zhengping replied as a matter of course, as if he didn't understand Baili Ji's meaning.

"What I mean is, since there's a good method, it should be popularized throughout the Military Region," Baili Ji said with a thick skin.

"Didn't you just say I was obsessed with raising mice?" Yan Zhengping threw the words back at him.

"Did I say that? Why don't I remember?" Baili Ji frowned, recalling, looking like he had no recollection at all. If it wasn't for knowing what was going on, one might have really been fooled by his acting.

"Act! You act for me!" Yan Zhengping said with a smile, pointing at him.

"I'm telling you something serious!" Baili Ji interrupted him.

"I don't think it's necessary to popularize it," Yan Zhengping also became serious.

"Not necessary? Why?" Baili Ji didn't understand.

"We can make the breeding method public and encourage various Settlements to breed them," Yan Zhengping said.

Baili Ji pondered for a long time and said:

"Letting the Settlements do the breeding is a win-win solution. It gives the Settlements work to do and can greatly increase the output of crystalss. However, this matter still needs to be handled carefully. I don't think it's appropriate for the council to take the lead. The general direction of letting them be self-reliant and show their abilities shouldn't change; we can't let them start relying on the council again. So I think we shouldn't interfere with this matter; let the Military Region handle it."

Yan Zhengping nodded.

This was Baili Ji, a Baili Ji with depth of thought.

...

Binjiang City, Huatong Chamber of Commerce Headquarters.

Today was the last day of training for the 1,200 reserve personnel recruited from various Settlements.

Around 8 AM, all the trainees arrived at the auditorium.

Today was their graduation ceremony.

The Chamber of Commerce's auditorium structure was somewhat similar to a cinema. The stage was small and low. The audience seats extended upwards in a tiered fashion.

The auditorium was generally used for online conferences, multimedia teaching, and large meeting rooms.

Its full capacity was over 1,600 people, and the more distant seats in the back were equipped with LCD screens and loudspeakers to ensure that those sitting in the back could also see and hear clearly.

The meeting was about to begin, and everyone had taken their seats.

They were a little nervous, wondering what kind of work they would be assigned next.

This past month was the most comfortable period they had experienced in nearly a year. Here, they didn't have to worry about zombies attacking in the middle of the night, nor did they have to worry about three meals a day. They had obtained a comfortable life comparable to before the apocalypse, and deep down, they all hoped that such a life could continue.

They had already made up their minds that as long as there was an opportunity, they would seize it tightly. No matter the cost, no matter how much effort was required, they would strive to stay here.

Of course, they also knew that the competitive pressure was immense. At this moment, no one sitting in the auditorium was a rookie. Before the apocalypse, they were all top students or elites in various industries. To stand out from these people was extraordinarily difficult.

No one was communicating, no one was chatting.

They just sat in their seats, anxiously waiting.

Soon, the substitute teachers collectively walked in and sat in the front row.

Those substitute teachers also looked serious, appearing no more relaxed than the trainees.

They were even more anxious than these trainees. After the trainees completed their studies, they were destined to be assigned to various positions within the Chamber of Commerce, with a bright future ahead. But they were very worried about their own future. Would they be sent back to the capital after the course ended?

No one wanted to return to the capital anymore, because those days were truly too difficult.

The capital was under martial law. Everyone stayed at home and was not allowed to go out. They could only receive very little living material subsidies each day, making it difficult to even fill their stomachs. Moreover, the types of materials were scarce, and obtaining useful items often required paying a huge price.

Compared to the capital, this place was simply paradise.

They could move freely and had unlimited supplies. They also received salaries, which could be used to buy anything they needed.

Everyone was harmonious; you didn't need to curry favor with anyone, nor did you need to beg and plead over small matters. They were all intellectuals before, and they inherently detested such practices. But during their time in the capital, they were forced to do so by life every day.

Among them was a professor in his 50s who, at the time, knelt before a material delivery person in his 30s just to find a fever reducer for his loved one. He would never forget that experience.

Therefore, these professors responsible for teaching had also communicated privately, and they also wanted to find an opportunity to stay.

If the trainees knew what their teachers were thinking at this very moment, one wonders what their thoughts would be.

Their competitors were not only their classmates undergoing training with them, but also their teachers...