Chapter 217 - 131: Satellite

Chapter 217: Chapter 131: Satellite

"This expansion will proceed from the existing main city wall, pushing outward by ten kilometers to construct a brand new, stronger, and more massive second permanent defensive wall. The current outer city area will be officially renamed the ’First Ring’ area; the newly expanded area will be named the ’Second Ring’ area."

The moment the news broke, Jiang City, still buzzing from the successful satellite launch, was injected with a new and more tangible dose of excitement.

If the satellite launch had been a boost to morale and sparked endless speculation about the future, then expanding the city walls and their living space was a massive boon that directly impacted everyone’s immediate quality of life and future prospects.

The broadcast went on to announce more detailed plans: "As the Second Ring wall is constructed and the area within it is cleared and secured, the existing ’First Ring’ area will undergo systematic renovation and upgrades. Large numbers of low, disorderly, and hazardous temporary structures and unauthorized buildings will be systematically demolished. In their place, we will implement a unified plan to construct safer, cleaner, and more space-efficient standardized residential buildings, service centers, and other supporting facilities."

"This initiative is intended to fundamentally improve the living conditions of our residents, increase land use efficiency, strengthen sector management, and prepare to accommodate a larger population of internal migrants in the future." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

This was undoubtedly a powerful prescription, signifying that Jiang City wasn’t just expanding its territory outward, but also launching a massive internal "urban renewal" project.

"The ’New Home’ project is launching today, and we are now recruiting builders from across the city. Whether you’re an experienced construction worker or an ordinary resident with nothing but brute strength to offer, as long as you’re healthy and willing to contribute to the future of Jiang City, you are welcome to sign up."

"Volunteers who participate in the wall construction, area clearing, demolition of old buildings, and construction of new housing will receive the following benefits: First, the command headquarters will provide three meals a day for the duration of your work. Second, you will be paid daily in Contribution Points, with generous rates determined by your position, technical skill required, and labor intensity. Third, those with outstanding performance will be given priority consideration for future housing allocation in the new residential buildings and for settlement rights in the Second Ring area."

The broadcast hadn’t even finished, but the streets and alleys had already erupted in an uproar. For the many residents at the bottom of society, struggling to make ends meet and surviving on odd jobs or scavenging, this recruitment notice was nothing short of a godsend.

A stable food supply and a tangible income in Contribution Points were enough to get anyone’s blood pumping. As for those eager to improve their living conditions or who had their eyes on the undeveloped ’new frontier’ of the Second Ring, the promise of priority status was an irresistible temptation.

In no time, long lines formed at the sign-up points in every district. Every face was filled with eager determination and hope for the future.

It was as if the entire city’s focus had shifted overnight from jubilant victory celebrations to bustling preparations for production and construction. A new, pragmatic, and vibrant atmosphere began to permeate the air.

Xu Mo sat in a wicker chair in his small courtyard, listening to the detailed plans on the broadcast and the faint clamor from the sign-up points outside. His fingers tapped unconsciously on the armrest.

’An expansion of ten kilometers... what a massive undertaking,’ he calculated. This meant Jiang City’s actual controllable territory would increase severalfold, and the population it could support could easily double, if not more. This was about far more than simply ’taking in more survivors.’

An undertaking like this had to be backed by immense confidence in their own strength, as well as some kind of prediction—or ambition—regarding the future.

Perhaps the successful satellite launch had given the leadership greater confidence and a grander vision. They were no longer content to be isolated, guarding a single ’lone city.’ Instead, they were beginning to take a more proactive stance, planning to become the core of a much larger and more influential network of shelters.

The expansion was both a practical necessity and a strategic gambit.

’First Ring renovations, new residential buildings...’ Xu Mo’s gaze swept over his own tile-roofed house and its courtyard. According to the broadcast, the area he was in—on the edge of the Inner City, near the former outer city—wasn’t included in the plan.

The broadcast continued, painting a grand blueprint for the "New Home" and stoking the people’s passion to throw themselves into the construction efforts.

Xu Mo stood up, walked into the middle of the courtyard, and looked up at the sky. Up there, a newborn "star" was moving along its predetermined orbit, a silent link to the distant and the unknown. And beneath his feet, the great machine known as Jiang City had roared to life, beginning a new cycle of expansion and self-reinvention.