Chapter 488: Chapter 178: Objective Achieved, Ding Yishan’s Guidance

Checkpoint investment?

Twenty thousand points?

Cheng Ye calmly took the sheets of white paper handed over by Ding Yishan, his fingers deftly flicking through the smooth surface, and quickly browsed through them.

[Proposal on Checkpoint Investment for Zone B7 Buffer Zone Construction Center]

This is not purely an investment but rather a proposal that has yet to be submitted for a meeting.

Currently, the internal power structure of the checkpoint has already formed a delicate balance.

As one of the few highly educated individuals within the checkpoint, Harlem, the deputy station chief, holds a firm grasp on the economic lifeline.

Approvals for material expenditures, management of the logistics system, leadership in personnel training, adjustments to the contribution value system, and even decisions on facility purchases and renovations—all financial matters are firmly in his hands.

Meanwhile, Station Chief Ding Yishan tightly controls the personnel authority.

Final decisions on personnel appointments and dismissals, scheduling of cross-regional transfers, establishment and distribution of field tasks, formulation and modification of the welfare system, and approval of resolutions involving major expenditures are all under his control.

Currently, this proposal is still a draft, with many areas left blank.

Such as the future planning for Zone B7, the concept for pedestrian street development, and various aspects related to personnel allocation and economic income.

Interesting.

What is Ding Yishan trying to do?

Cheng Ye quickly sorted through his thoughts; Zone B7 was originally an Idealist Faction-supported pilot area where the elders wanted to demonstrate the feasibility of the "Carriage Theory" through community development.

The ideology as the coachman, the community as the steed; the stronger the horse, the faster the carriage runs.

They need a "swift horse" to drive the development of the entire buffer zone and even Happiness City, thereby validating the correctness of the Idealist Faction’s ideology.

The elders wish to support a swift horse to promote the development of the entire buffer zone and Happiness City.

But if the checkpoint wants to involve itself, it surely isn’t just to share the benefits once Zone B7 becomes central.

If that were the case, the proposal wouldn’t have so many blanks left, rather it would just lay out the clauses for him to sign.

Now, Ding Yishan hands over the draft, obviously wanting him to fill in the contents and then bring it to the checkpoint meeting for voting.

By then, every inspector would be aware of Zone B7’s development plans; but what’s the significance of letting them know?

Hmm.

In that instant, Cheng Ye realized and somewhat bewilderedly looked towards Ding Yishan.

But at this moment, Ding Yishan didn’t wait for his response, just stood with hands behind his back, looking at the end of the pedestrian street, sunlight casting a mild melancholy over his slightly hunched back.

Like a lonely old man guarding an old house, watching the impending demolition with a sense of forlorn.

"Station Chief Ding?" Cheng Ye called softly. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"Hmm?" Ding Yishan turned around, his face habitually showing a faint smile, as if the earlier melancholy was just an illusion, "So, what do you think?"

"This is quite a sizable effort, enough for me to overhaul the underground pipelines in Zone B7, but unfortunately if other areas aren’t repaired, even if this area is thoroughly fixed, it might just end up as an isolated island, wouldn’t you say?"

"Perhaps."

Ding Yishan nodded slightly, giving Cheng Ye a look of appreciation. "The buffer zone’s network hasn’t been touched for decades; it’s not that Happiness City lacks resources but there’s a need for justification, enough potential to make the investment worthwhile. Just like the checkpoint is willing to bet on Zone B7, there’s a need to see some hope."

"Well, I must thank Station Chief Ding for the trust; I’ll fill out this proposal seriously."

"Sure, remember to show it to Harlem once completed; he’s in charge of the economy, so it has to be reviewed by him first."

"Understood."

Cheng Ye nodded lightly.

Smart people never reveal everything; Ding Yishan, perhaps due to hierarchy, couldn’t overtly express the upper echelon’s decisions, but this proposal itself is the clearest signal.

The upper layer is moving the buffer zone!

But the reconstitution cake is only so big; where the investment goes all depends on who can present the "potential."

This is yet another round of interest reshuffling; whoever can tie more forces to their area can seize the future center.

It’s complicated.

The distribution of Satellite City’s interests is being redefined, and the buffer zone’s chess game is already laid out.

When some are eating meat, others are just drinking soup; seize this reshuffling opportunity, and it can lead to meteoric rise.

Cheng Ye looked at the pedestrian street’s construction site, already enclosed with green netting.

Suddenly, he felt that his cat-and-mouse game with Mu Shuang and Jiang Chuan had yielded tangible benefits.

Could it be... Ding Yishan already foresaw Mu Shuang’s failure and prepared a reward in advance?

This proposal indeed addresses immediate needs; the funding gap for reconstructing the pedestrian street in Zone B7 has been bridged, and the area’s potential rises accordingly.

In return, he must face Harlem’s review and withstand the doubts from other inspectors.

Nevertheless, these are just the trials that a flag bearer must undergo, mixed within, is there any deeper meaning?

Hard to say.

The more Cheng Ye deals with this old fox station chief, the less he understands.

But he has no choice; he indeed lacks experience in this domain and around him there is no master to offer guidance.

Even someone like Matthew Lee, who is deeply concealed, can only keep a low profile and disguise himself as a loafer, showing how difficult it is to grasp real power in this million-populated Shelter City.

Ability is the foundation, but the capacity to accommodate, control techniques, and employment methods are more crucial.

Otherwise, this city is just an empty shell; forget expansion, just stabilizing internally would be a blessing.

"What are you thinking?"

Noticing Cheng Ye slightly lost in thought, Ding Yishan’s voice came through with a hint of teasing.

"When I was an intern inspector, I focused on doing my job well without having so many thoughts."