What was the biggest problem with this proposal?

Actually, it wasn't the dispute between contracted and subcontracted models, nor was it those restrictive clauses binding the inspectors.

The real fatal flaw was that between the lines, it was too obsessed with the division and allocation of power, yet completely failed to list a clear objective.

More precisely, it lacked phased objectives that could show people a path forward.

Reading through the entire document, it reeked of an urgent "it has to be me" mentality, almost openly declaring that if you don't give me this job, anyone else will definitely mess it up but when the job was actually handed over, the proposal didn't contain a single actionable goal, just KPIs.

To use a more trendy term, it was "labor dispatch."

When Ding Yishan wrote this proposal, he should have been considering it from the perspective of contracting parties but now, the proposal had three distinct entities: Happiness City, the inspection station, and the inspectors.

Happiness City would only issue tasks, the inspection station would only receive and assign tasks, and finally dump all the actual burden on the inspectors.

Didn't do well? That's because individual inspectors lacked ability, nothing to do with the inspection station as the middleman.

Did well? The credit would naturally go to the inspection station for their successful training.

If this proposal was actually submitted and approved, the inspectors would be in for it.

Doing the most dangerous work, carrying the heaviest responsibilities, yet without even a clear goal to strive for, and having to take the blame when things went wrong.

When that time came, forget about voluntarily contracting the outer zones, probably no one would even want to take on the core zone contracts.

And after his subtle reminder just now, Ding Yishan obviously immediately realized this problem.

"Jiang Chuan might not have heard clearly part of what I said last night."

Cheng Ye's lips curved in a faint smile as he shifted his gaze back to Ding Yishan's face, "Station Chief Ding, why don't I supplement it now, and you can listen to see if it's appropriate?"

"Good!"

Ding Yishan unconsciously straightened his back, his expression becoming serious, "Inspector Cheng, regarding the resettlement of migrants, the various departments already held a coordination meeting yesterday. I was planning to bring this proposal to today's meeting for the department heads to review, firstly to let everyone pick out flaws, and secondly to expand some thinking."

"If you have better suggestions," Ding Yishan paused slightly, turning his gaze to Jiang Chuan, "go get paper and pen. Every single word Inspector Cheng says next, record it clearly for me."

"Yes, Station Chief!"

Jiang Chuan hurriedly turned around, pulled out paper and pen from the backpack by the door, sat down by Lei Hu's desk, and assumed a ready-for-battle recording posture.

From the initial "kid," to later "Cheng Ye," to now "Inspector Cheng."

The progressive change in address carried Ding Yishan's subtle hints.

Falling on Cheng Ye's ears, it made his heart skip a beat.

As expected, he had bet correctly!

Since Ding Yishan could bring this proposal for him to see and ask for his opinions, it meant he didn't care about the so-called "trainee inspector" status at all.

Especially the final "Inspector Cheng" address clearly indicated that all previous grievances wouldn't be discussed now, purely considering the problem from the inspection station's standpoint.

Understanding this point, Cheng Ye picked up his teacup and took a light sip, holding the cup wall as he slowly began to speak:

"The number of migrants is simply too large. Even if the inspection station operates at full capacity, it's impossible to accommodate everyone in the buffer zone. Moreover, even if they entered the buffer zone, that doesn't mean Happiness City could rest easy. We must ensure these people have shelter and work to support themselves to stabilize morale, this is the primary prerequisite."

Ding Yishan remained silent, only nodding slightly to show agreement.

"With this prerequisite, having everyone enter the buffer zone is definitely impossible. But if we implement the outer city plan and settle the migrants outside the buffer zone, we must first establish rules. However, no matter how the rules are set, they will ultimately revolve around one core issue, who will back up these rules?"

"Migrants aren't parts on an assembly line. Even if they were influenced by Walker, making everyone unanimously believe that Happiness City is the only place to survive, Walker didn't deprive them of their thinking ability. After arriving at Happiness City, they still have selfish desires, fears, the instinct to band together, and even more so, the ability to resist!"

Cheng Ye deliberately slowed his speech, articulating clearly.

At key points, he naturally carried a power that could make people follow along in thought: "Designating areas for them, distributing supplies, even helping them build shelters and providing work, none of these are difficult, because when making these plans, each person is just a quantifiable number."

"The real difficulty lies in implementing this plan. When people have conflicts over unequal resource distribution, when people fight over territory, who can step forward to stop them?"

"When construction is in full swing and infected entities suddenly infiltrate, or infection sources spread among the crowd, who can step forward to clean up?"

"When migrants can't endure the hardships of construction and want to enter the buffer zone seeking change, who can step forward to block these people?"

"Even when someone steps forward to openly question Happiness City, questioning these rules and plans we've established, who will calm this popular resentment, who can handle this mess?"

Stop, clean up, block, handle.

Cheng Ye deliberately emphasized the pronunciation of these four words.

The greater the responsibility, the greater the authority must be but one must never ignore that coexisting with responsibility are problems, risks, ever-present pressure, unbearable compromises and sacrifices.

In all of Happiness City, who could shoulder this responsibility?

"So the core isn't how to distribute, we must first clarify who will manage, who will be responsible for these messes."

Cheng Ye turned to look over, pretending to instruct Jiang Chuan, "Perhaps Jiang Chuan didn't hear this meaning clearly, which is why he confused the order. If we discuss distribution first, others will inevitably subconsciously ignore the difficulties of management, focusing entirely on competing for distribution rights. But if we first put the difficulties of management on the table, those wanting to distribute must present capabilities that match it."

Ding Yishan's fingertips lightly tapped on the sofa armrest, not immediately responding.

After a moment.

He suddenly spoke, "Over ten years ago, the buffer zone established a police bureau. Later, when Director Liu took office, he proposed ultimately abolishing the bureau system, but the buffer zone still retains the foundation for rebuilding. Yesterday, a department head proposed restoring the police bureau to handle security management and order maintenance in the outer city. What does Inspector Cheng think?"

As his words fell.

Jiang Chuan's pen-holding hand suddenly paused, glanced up at Cheng Ye, then quickly lowered his head to continue recording.

The police bureau had multiple armed conflicts with the inspection station over power disputes back then.

If it weren't for Liu Kun's timely promotion to transcendent, according to the higher-ups' intention, they probably would have merged the inspection station as a department under the police bureau, rather than allowing it to exist independently as it does today.

Now did the higher-ups again have ideas about restoring the police bureau to replace the inspection station?

"Restore the police bureau?"

Cheng Ye was slightly stunned, a flash of surprise in his eyes.

So Ding Yishan was worried about the police bureau?

After reading that plan, his biggest confusion finally had an answer.

No wonder Ding Yishan was eager to put reins on the inspection station, showing compliance to the higher-ups between the lines, it was because the higher-ups already had an alternative plan?

The inspection station wanted to prevail in this potential power struggle, so it needed unique competitive capabilities.

And in Ding Yishan's view, the inspection station's advantage over the police bureau was actually, obedience?

A bit absurd, but seemed to make some sense.

After all, compared to the police bureau that hadn't been restored and where everything was still unknown, the continuously operating, internally stable inspection station was obviously easier to set KPIs for and easier for the higher-ups to control.

But then again, perhaps too worried about the police bureau seizing power, or perhaps what he'd just said was too subtle, even at this point, Ding Yishan still hadn't realized what the real core of the problem was.

The core wasn't "who can shoulder the responsibility," but "to what extent can things be done."

Simply put, the key to victory wasn't which one could do it, but which one could do it well.

To be even more transparent, it was bidding!

Was there a problem with restoring the police bureau?

No problem at all. Even if the higher-ups wanted to start from scratch and establish a specialized outer city bureau to manage everything, there would be no problem but establishing these bureaus, could they pat their chests and guarantee that the rules they made could be perfectly implemented and the outer city could operate smoothly?

Could the police bureau chief pat the table and say he'd shoulder all the troubles in the outer city, taking responsibility for any problems that arose?

If not, what was the difference between the police bureau and the inspection station, just for the simple purpose of sharing power?

Cheng Ye suddenly felt his previous circumlocution was somewhat unnecessary.

Ding Yishan obviously still focused his thoughts on direct power competition, trying to beat opponents on the same track.

Rather than thinking from the foundation about what unique advantages the inspection station really had that other competitors didn't.

"Restoring the police bureau is a good idea. The outer city indeed needs a violent institution to execute orders."

After saying this, Cheng Ye changed his tone, "But what does maintaining order have to do with the police bureau?"

"Oh?"

Ding Yishan leaned forward slightly, "After rules are established, the police bureau is responsible for supervising rule implementation. How could there be no relationship?"

"Wrong." Cheng Ye shook his head slightly.

"What's wrong?" Ding Yishan was stunned, asking curiously.

"The first sentence, after rules are established."

Cheng Ye feigned confusion, "Why does Station Chief Ding think we have the ability to establish rules that constrain hundreds of thousands of outsiders?"

After saying this, he turned to Jiang Chuan, "Jiang Chuan, please help open all the windows in the room."

Jiang Chuan was stunned, instinctively getting up but hesitating.

Although Ding Yishan didn't understand why, he still sternly said, "Do as Inspector Cheng says."

The office had windows on four sides. Except for the floor-to-ceiling window by the desk that couldn't be opened, the other three could be pushed open.

As soon as Jiang Chuan pulled open the window latches, cold rain mixed with frigid wind slashed in diagonally, bringing bone-piercing coldness that made people shiver involuntarily.

"Station Chief Ding, my apologies for the offense."

Cheng Ye said this while efficiently stripping off his hoodie, exposing his muscular upper body, "Could you please do the same as me and remove your upper garments?"

Ding Yishan's expression darkened, but he didn't object.

Under Jiang Chuan's dumbfounded gaze, he actually removed his sweater and shirt layer by layer, revealing his still solid upper body.

However, that skin surface was far from as smooth and fine as Cheng Ye's, crisscrossed with scars large and small, new and old overlapping like a silent battle tapestry.

"Please come to the window."

Cheng Ye pointed at the window sill, taking position first.

Ding Yishan frowned but followed.

The moment cold wind mixed with rain droplets hit their faces, both men couldn't help but shiver.

Whether it was the second step or fourth step, these were just distinctions of new martial realm levels.

They didn't bring humans stronger physical qualities, nor made them immune to temperature effects.

Additionally, after becoming station chief, as age increased, Ding Yishan hadn't fought for many years. Even with occasional exercise and no worries about food and drink, his physical condition was only slightly better than ordinary people.

After standing for just over ten seconds, Ding Yishan's brow furrowed tightly, obviously having difficulty withstanding this coldness.

Half a minute, one minute passed. Rain hit their exposed upper bodies, and their skin gradually reddened.

However, Cheng Ye never spoke, just faced the window with his spine straight, like an unmovable stone statue.

Achoo!

Another colder gust of wind mixed with rain droplets rushed in, and Ding Yishan couldn't help but sneeze, his nose tip instantly turning completely red.

"This..."

Jiang Chuan standing nearby was dumbfounded, anxious like an ant on a hot pan, wanting to persuade the two to quickly put on clothes to avoid catching cold but as words reached his lips, he saw Ding Yishan's tightly furrowed brow slowly relax, the confusion in his eyes gradually dispersing, replaced by a thoughtful expression.

"Station Chief Ding, how is this weather?"

Cheng Ye finally spoke, his voice carrying a crisp coldness.

Ding Yishan hunched his shoulders, honestly saying, "Indeed quite cold, especially standing by this window, the cold wind is bone-piercing."

"If you were to establish rules, what should migrants do in this weather?"

"Take shelter from rain, keep warm, wait for clear weather." Ding Yishan barely thought before the words slipped from his lips.

"Hundreds of thousands of people all taking shelter?" Cheng Ye pursed his lips, "This is the rainy season. If it continues like this for half a month, with people arriving continuously every day, should we let them all huddle together?"

Ding Yishan fell slightly silent, his brow furrowing again: "Then let the old, weak, women and children take shelter, others work in shifts on construction. If we wait until everyone's crowded together before acting, it'll be too late."

"Is this part of the rules?"

"Yes."

"What if there are sick people among the others?"

"Let them rest."

"What if someone pretends to be sick to slack off?"

"Examine them." Ding Yishan answered increasingly decisively, "If truly sick, treat them. If no problems are found, work as usual."

"If after examination, they still don't want to work?"

"Everyone else is enduring in the rain, just he wants to hide?" Ding Yishan's voice deepened, "Establish punishment measures, or cancel priority resettlement qualifications."

"So you mean these migrants who traveled thousands of miles to reach Happiness City, even in this hellish weather, can't pretend to be sick and rest for a day, must be forced by rules like slaves to participate in outer city construction?"

Boom!

Cheng Ye's voice wasn't loud, but it exploded like thunder.

Ding Yishan's heart suddenly lurched, his throat feeling blocked, unable to utter a word for a long time.

He was suddenly stunned, his gaze uncontrollably drifting toward the window, looking at the distant guards on duty, at scavengers wearing raincoats walking toward the wasteland. Those thoughts sealed by power surged out like floodgates being pried open.

Right, how could he forget?

These migrants were influenced by Walker, dragging half their lives to escape to Happiness City seeking survival, not to become laborers adding bricks and mortar to the outer city.

The original intention of building the outer city was clearly to protect these people's safety, for Happiness City's long-term development but in practice, how had it become naturally forcing these people to work in the cold rain?

How had he thought to use harsh rules to bind them, where even wanting to rest a day in the cold rain would be punished?

But, why had he forgotten?

Subconsciously thinking that drawing enough boxes and restrictions could make everyone obediently follow his ideas, completing his desired goals?

"Establishing rules is to protect everyone's interests, only then will they be recognized and followed by all."

"Only when everyone recognizes them will they trust you, be willing to work for you, even building in cold rain."

"But without everyone's support, holding the attitude that building the outer city is for your own good, for everyone to have a beautiful tomorrow."

"Station Chief Ding."

Cheng Ye smiled, reaching up to close the window, the glass instantly blocking out wind and rain, "I can follow your orders to build, but what about others? They might not necessarily be willing."

People.

After struggling too long in the quagmire of power, they forget who granted them that power.

They also forget that after gaining this power, whose shelter they should use it to provide.

Only by standing in this wind and rain and getting cold can they wake up and know what they're really doing.

"Station Chief Ding, look how many people are queuing at Quarantine Zone B."

Cheng Ye walked to the cabinet and picked up the towel from before, wiping the water droplets on his body, "I need to hurry over for duty, otherwise they'll have to wait for me, this inspector, in the rain."

"Well said."

Ding Yishan sighed deeply, extending his hand to the side.

Jiang Chuan quickly handed over a dry towel.

"Inspector Cheng is still in the trainee stage, yet can keep his responsibilities firmly in mind. I, as station chief, am somewhat ashamed." He laughed self-mockingly, "Even forgetting when duty time arrived."

"The station chief handles myriad affairs daily. If you had to consider everything thoroughly, how exhausting would that be?"

Cheng Ye put on his hoodie, grinning with a show of sharp, youthful spirit, "It's a bit cold outside. We young people can handle it, but you should quickly put on clothes and don't catch cold."

After saying this, under Jiang Chuan's dumbfounded gaze, Cheng Ye pushed open the door, bringing a gust of wind, his figure quickly disappearing at the corridor's end.

Wait.

How did this just end?

What about the plan, the process? Why couldn't I understand a single word?

Jiang Chuan's mind was in complete chaos, even forgetting he was still holding the pen used for recording.

"Achuan."

"Ah!" Jiang Chuan startled, hurriedly responding.

"Why aren't you closing the windows yet?"

Ding Yishan's voice carried a slight shiver but was much clearer than before.

"Oh, oh." Jiang Chuan suddenly realized, moving quickly, hastily closing the remaining two windows.

When he turned around, he saw Ding Yishan had already dried the water droplets on his body and returned to sit on the sofa.

He didn't immediately put on clothes, just stared intensely at the proposal on the table.

After a pause, he reached out, picked up the proposal, folded it, folded it again, then tore it forcefully.

Tear.

The sound of paper ripping was particularly clear in the quiet office.

The torn paper pieces were crumpled into a ball and accurately thrown into the trash can in the corner.

"Sir, this..." Jiang Chuan watched with alarm. This was something Ding Yishan had stayed up all night to write.

Just, torn up like that?

"Sigh."

Ding Yishan let out a long sigh, his voice carrying a sense of relief from laying down a burden, heavily weighted with indescribable complexity, "After all these years, I never thought I'd also been assimilated by those twists and turns."

He picked up the shirt from the sofa, slowly putting it on.

Finally, he slowly put on the sweater, his entire body sinking into the sofa, his gaze somewhat unfocused as he looked at the rain outside the window.

"Achuan, do you think the inspectors' power struggles over the years have something to do with me as station chief?"

The sudden question was like a stone thrown into water.

"Uh," Jiang Chuan was suddenly stunned, instinctively stuttering, "How could it be related to you? It's all because they themselves fought for power..."

Halfway through, he couldn't continue.

As station chief, Ding Yishan had tacitly allowed inspectors to form cliques over the years, even deliberately turning a blind eye when both sides were fighting fiercely. How could he possibly escape responsibility?

"You also had no choice," Jiang Chuan tried to smooth things over, but his voice grew smaller and smaller.

"Wrong!"

Ding Yishan suddenly exhaled forcefully, his chest rising and falling dramatically, "I always had options. I could set rules, dismantle small groups, take back power and redistribute it. But I worried, worried that one move would cause chaos, afraid the higher-ups would think the inspection station was unstable, afraid they'd use the opportunity to reclaim these powers, so I just dragged it out, waiting for the next opportunity to appear!"

"But when such an opportunity finally appeared before me, I actually forgot that some powers aren't given by the higher-ups at all. They, can't give them!"

"We need to fight for them ourselves!"

As he spoke, he stood up.

Looking toward the crowd queuing for inspection, looking at several large vans waiting at the entrance.

There seemed to be merchant caravans, seemed to be from surrounding settlements.

And that figure already wearing a raincoat, walking in the rain.

"Let's go. The nine o'clock meeting, time to attend."

"But didn't you say before that without Director Liu, this meeting would..."

"He has his business, I have mine."

Ding Yishan took the windbreaker hanging on the coat rack, putting it on efficiently, "Said it wrong again. This time it's not just my business, it's all the inspectors' business!"

[NEXT CHAPTER]