"Another point." Ding Yishan’s face showed a clear smile, "I didn’t expect that going out once would make your mind sharper."

Jiang Chuan didn’t respond, continuing to think, "And the recent weather, snow in July, temperature dropping suddenly, Inspector Cheng has no experience in construction under harsh weather, could it be..."

"That’s not right." Ding Yishan shook his head directly, interrupting, "Harsh weather isn’t all bad. If you go out now to recruit refugees, as long as you promise them food, warmth, and shelter from the elements in the future, you can persuade them to follow you. When the weather warms up, these promises become less tempting."

"Then..."

This time Jiang Chuan didn’t speak rashly. He frowned, thinking for two or three minutes, and suddenly his eyes lit up, "Chief, could it be that the higher-ups have decided to first rectify the water areas around Dapo Town and clear the flooding?"

"Hmm?"

Ding Yishan raised his brows slightly, with a hint of surprise in his tone, "Evidence, or just a guess?"

"Half guess, half observation," Jiang Chuan replied with an honest smile, "The White Water River is okay, but the embankment of the Yellow River is on the verge of breaching. If it’s not managed, the surrounding undeveloped areas will flood. Dapo Town is not far from the Yellow River. If we start construction first, the subsequent flood control costs might be deducted from the town’s resources, which would be uneconomical."

"You’re quite observant." Ding Yishan nodded slightly, acknowledging his conjecture, "The Industrial Department is already deploying excavation machinery. Once the flooding is dealt with, Dapo Town’s construction can begin, with fewer detours."

Jiang Chuan observed Ding Yishan’s expression and suddenly had a thought, probing, "Chief, your expectations for Inspector Cheng probably aren’t just to ’build Dapo Town’ so simply, right?"

Unexpectedly, Ding Yishan responded straightforwardly, without any concealment: "Of course not. I’m willing to let an Intern Inspector take charge; how could I measure him with the same standard as other inspectors?"

He leaned slightly forward, with a few more solemn notes in his tone: "The construction of the hub, the final distribution of power and benefits, the inspection station can only take a small part, ultimately it will all be handed back to Happiness City to govern. Only places like Dapo Town will determine whether our inspection station can expand in the future."

"In the plan, there are 12 hub satellite cities. Based on an estimate of 30,000 migrants per satellite city, adding the No.1 Satellite City outside the Buffer Zone, we can already accommodate nearly 600,000 people. The follow-up 12 auxiliary satellite cities are planned for 20,000 people each, and combined, they basically can absorb this wave of a million migrants."

"But the quota we applied for in the meeting is actually 30. The remaining 6 quotas are tacitly allowed for the inspection station to operate independently. We fund 50% of the construction costs for these areas ourselves, and Happiness City supplements the remaining 50%. However, the future profits and management rights are all the responsibility of our inspection station... Hmm, I’ll give one quota to Dapo Town."

Here, Ding Yishan suddenly paused.

It wasn’t because the expectation revealed by these words was too high for an Intern Inspector.

But because he saw that Mu Shuang beside him was already frowning, eyes full of confusion, clearly not keeping up with the conversation and not quite understanding the power distribution behind this wave of satellite city construction.

"Chuan, explain the specifics to Shuang later, let her understand the key points here too." Ding Yishan smiled helplessly, pushing the task of explanation to Jiang Chuan.

"Sure!" Jiang Chuan nodded, turning to Mu Shuang with a trace of mischief in his eyes.

"Ghost King Mu, now that I’m Chief Ding’s assistant, isn’t it according to the rules that you should be leaving first?"

"Goodness, you’re messing with me again, aren’t you?" Mu Shuang was taken aback, then laughed in exasperation.

But this laugh actually eased the estranged feeling that had arisen from not seeing each other for years, as if returning to the days of bickering and banter in the inspection station.

"Chief, shall I leave first? Call me if you need anything."

"Yes, go on."

Watching the two walk to the door, Mu Shuang stopped again.

"What is it?"

"Chief, can I meet Inspector Cheng beforehand? Both you and Director Liu value him, and Shuang is quite curious."

Ding Yishan leaned back in his chair, waving his hand with a smile, "Of course, but you must mind your limits and not go too far. If Inspector Cheng comes to me to complain, I won’t spare you."

"Don’t worry!" Mu Shuang immediately stood up straight, patting her chest in assurance, "Shuang understands moderation; at most I’ll just watch from a distance, won’t disturb his work."

"Besides, I won’t be like ’Brother Jiang Chuan,’ being interrogated tied up in a community~"

...