Chapter 70 - 71: Caged Bird - Wasteland Development Diary - NovelsTime

Wasteland Development Diary

Chapter 70 - 71: Caged Bird

Author: Deer Man Conference
updatedAt: 2025-09-02

Zhou Yi personally came downstairs to welcome the first group of clients visiting Jade City.

"Welcome, welcome, everyone feel free to look around."

Qian Su, wearing the purple wool hat given to her by Zhou Yi, chuckled and said, "Mr. Zhou, Jade City is indeed the genuine Dead Sea Alien architecture. The Second Generation Aliens that it has nurtured are now openly allowing residents… I've visited twice and hadn't heard a thing. If I hadn't stayed over in Sand Port, I would have missed this great opportunity."

Zhou Yi said, "The decision to open up was made not long ago."

For the sake of outside understanding, Building No. 2's promotional stance was ultimately set as Second Generation Aliens.

Qian Su glanced at the two companions beside her, then focused her gaze back on Zhou Yi, "Mr. Zhou, could you briefly talk about why you're willing to open up such a rare resource?"

"Of course, it's for money," Zhou Yi said with a righteous expression.

The young merchant was stunned, while the two accompanying her chuckled.

"Chairman Zhou is straightforward."

"Indeed."

Zhou Yi smiled slightly and introduced to the trio, "The construction of Building No. 3 in Jade City is about to be completed, and Building No. 4 has already started. Although these are descendants of the Dead Sea Aliens, they are like infants born of various life forms, still in a state of bewilderment, without any other consciousness."

"After some experimenting, I found that these harmless high-rises are in themselves excellent residences. I'm sure you all know that the growth of Dead Sea Aliens is extremely slow. Such infant Aliens will be completely harmless for at least a hundred years. They fall into slumber and draw Death Light from nature."

One of them, a middle-aged man with a wind cap on his head and a black coat draped around his plump body, looked up at Building No. 2, "Indeed, compared to your Jade City tower, it's much smaller. But, after all, it's an Alien, even the infants are so massive."

He continued to share his thoughts, "Such Alien high-rises are novel and fashionable for most people. Promoted well, it might become the winter trend in the Sand Port Region."

Qian Su took the chance to introduce in the middle of the conversation, "Mr. Zhou, this is Boss Sha. Boss Sha is a well-known businessman in Sand Port, with connections in all industries. If you want to find someone in Sand Port or deal with some special goods, Boss Sha is the man. He's the go-to for everything in Sand Port."

"I dare not say that," Boss Sha, with a smiling face, said, "I'm just trying to make a living, with everyone's help. As businessmen, we negotiate everything. Chairman Zhou is the real powerhouse; in just a few months, you've turned Mao Valley Town upside down. I hope for your continued help and care."

Zhou Yi also replied, "You're too modest, Boss Sha."

He observed with "Alert" that both individuals Qian Su had brought along emitted a faint white light.

Both were enhancers.

"And this is Senior Zheng Tao."

Qian Su moved to the other person's side, smiling, "Uncle Zheng is a veteran grain merchant, with grains passing through his hands into dozens of cities. Mr. Zhou, you like food, so you should get along well with Uncle Zheng, who also loves exploring gourmet food."

"Oh, we must have a good talk then," Zhou Yi looked at Uncle Zheng.

He was the oldest among the three, looking to be in his sixties or seventies, with salt-and-pepper hair and beard, and his face carried age spots and wrinkles.

The old man wore thick clothes and a felt hat, his eyes somewhat cloudy, but his smile seemed very kind, "Hello, hello."

Qian Su added, "Uncle Zheng traveled with trading caravans from the South to the North when he was young, often escaping death by a hair's breadth. Now at the high age of 44, he is still very interested in new things. Hearing about Jade City, he took the initiative to join us."

The old man then said, "I think I would like to live here in the winter, is that alright?"

Zhou Yi nodded, "Of course."

He sighed internally; people from the Wasteland Era did indeed age visibly. At an age suitable for fighting battles, they looked like they had been retired for years.

By age, he should actually be calling him "Young Zheng."

"Thank you."

The old man showed a delighted smile, "As you get older, you prefer a quiet place. Qian Su said it's very warm here, and there's no disturbance, very suitable for me. I wonder how much it would cost?"

Zhou Yi did not expect the other party to be so direct, so he simply opened up, "Since it's a trial stay, Building No. 3 in Jade City will not charge any fees this time. You only need to pay some seeds, which are also intended to solve the current lack of green plants in Jade City."

"Oh, that's good," Zheng Tao came back to reality, "As for seeds, I still have quite a few at home. I'll find some that suit this environment and try to grow as many as possible."

Without viewing the houses, he had already made his intentions clear.

Zhou Yi led the three to visit the model room in Building No. 2.

There were a few vacant rooms here, no different from the under-construction Building No. 3.

Zheng Tao really liked the lighting, heating, hot and cold water, and the simple toilet facilities, "When you get older, you fear the cold and the heat, wearing too much makes it easy to fall, and heating the home can be too dry and stuffy. Here it's nice, comfortably just right."

Boss Sha stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room, staring out towards the Dead Sea, lost in thought.

From this angle, he could see that the monsters in the fog were still fighting each other.

"Fantastic, just fantastic!"

Boss Sha stared intently at the life-and-death struggle over the Dead Sea, "To observe the Guangna Species fighting and hunting each other up close like this, having such thrilling entertainment all winter long, this is way better than those artificial fighting arenas!"

Zhou Yi was doubtful.

Did this guy really enjoy this sort of thing?

But then again, since ancient times humans have watched cockfights, dogfights, cricket fights, and now new humans watch monster battles—it didn't seem all that wrong.

"Chairman Zhou."

Boss Sha turned around, not hiding his excitement and joy, "These are infant Aliens, which means, they would be protected by Jade City as their parent, right?"

"Right."

Zhou Yi mentally commanded to drive the monsters away.

Upon receiving the command, Building No.1 of Jade City prompted the nearby flying houses to rise from the ground. They started a round of small bombings, warning the monsters that had been hitting each other at the edge of the Dead Sea.

After the daytime fireworks.

That side immediately cleared out, and the view outside the window returned to peace.

"It's like that; the monsters near Jade City are now very careful."

Zhou Yi briefly explained.

Boss Sha, on the other hand, murmured to himself, "This is the feeling I wanted."

He slightly contained his expression, then said earnestly, "Chairman Zhou clearly comes from an extraordinary background. You might not realize that for ordinary people, facing the Guangna Species is utterly terrifying and powerless. Even with immense wealth and guards at their side, facing the Guangna Species is still a matter of life and death."

"Most people, even with the necessary resources and wealth, cannot undergo the intense training required to become an enhancer, nor can they endure the agony and rejection response of an enhanced body, and they also need to regularly take medication... Human flesh is ultimately fragile."

"To the powerful Guangna Species, humans are ants that can be crushed at any time. They tower above us, passing by next to the city, looking down on humanity as if we're birds in a cage."

"The ordinary people's fear of them has become a kind of instinct to flee."

"But here."

Boss Sha walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, stretched his fingers out, and, through the glass, poked towards the distant Dead Sea, "They are the ones being watched."

"This kind of experience, no matter how much it costs, people are willing to pay for it."

Zhou Yi vaguely understood some of this.

...

The other two were freely visiting Building No. 2 when Zhou Yi finally got the chance to learn about the situation from Qian Su.

"Mr. Zhou, the villagers you hired, they've been handing out those flyers everywhere, quite the grand gesture, considering the price of paper isn't cheap. It caused quite a commotion, because those papers can still be reused."

"I took the opportunity to make a recommendation and brought these two over to take a look, never expected you'd actually be here."

Qian Su chuckled softly, then whispered, "These two are not ordinary."

"Boss Sha is the nephew of the former Sand Port Mayor, specialized in the black market trade."

"Zheng Tao is even more complicated; he used to be a grain trader in Jin City, running farms and the food business. As he got older, his health declined, and it's said that he has an incurable disease, with less than two years to live. He came to Sand Port to spend his final days, but his inheritance has caught the eye of many, coveting it... making him quite unhappy."

The girl said, "He came to Jade City to spend his last days in peace and quiet."

"These two have considerable influence. Their move would certainly aid in the promotion."

Zhou Yi immediately grasped the situation.

"Thank you for your hard work."

Qian Su hesitated for a moment, but still spoke up, "Mr. Zhou, I've always been a traveling merchant without a fixed location, and I hope to have a place to stay here."

"Normally, 'Mission' and I travel around delivering and purchasing goods, but every month we would return and spend a few days, so our customers can find us."

Zhou Yi felt this was not a big deal at all.

The other party had been a big help, and he felt the need to reciprocate.

He said, "I've reserved a suite for you, you can pick from either Building No. 2 or No. 3, choose any floor you like. You can come and stay anytime, whether you use it for business or as a mixed-use residence. Unlike those temporary residents, that room will always be reserved for you, no matter when you come."

Qian Su immediately beamed, "Thank you! You're as generous as ever! Then I'll pick the first-floor room on the left, close to the main entrance of Building No. 3."

Just like that, Qiansu's Shop officially decided to settle in Jade City.

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