Apocalyptic Hoarding Diary

Chapter 278 Checkpoint

The text continues scrolling down, explaining in detail the specific meaning of this "freehold housing eligibility":

This refers to a housing unit having an independent property ownership certificate registered in an individual's name.

The right to reside is not subject to the lease term, can be inherited according to law, and enjoys full housing security rights.

The supporting policies also include allowing qualified individuals to apply for a transfer to another available unit of the same size, depending on the availability of housing at that time.

To enhance persuasiveness and visual appeal, several carefully crafted images are displayed in a loop at the bottom of the screen between text announcements:

This appears to be an interior schematic diagram of a standardized residential unit in Zone B.

Although it is only three square meters, the image has been processed to appear neat, bright, and orderly.

The diagram clearly shows the folding bed, built-in storage cabinet, mini washbasin/table, and a separate sanitation facility interface that connects to the public plumbing.

The caption next to the image reads: "Standard unit example – providing you with a stable, private, and secure living space."

This stands in stark and enticing contrast to the generally crowded, noisy, and privacy-challenged capsule pods or dormitories in Zone C, where residents are constantly at risk of being evicted due to running out of points.

"Buzz—!" After a brief, almost breathless silence, the crowd erupted into an even greater commotion.

The whispers instantly turned into excited discussions in various tones, the clamor almost shaking the small square.

"Five years! Just work for five years! I can really have my own house?!" A young man's voice trembled with unbelievable elation.

"And it's permanent! Just like those people in Block B! I won't have to put up with the landlord's attitude anymore, and I won't have to worry about being kicked out because I don't have enough points!" A middle-aged woman wiped her eyes, her voice choked with emotion.

"Look at those positions! 'Data entry clerk,' 'event organizer'... It seems like some of the requirements aren't too high. Just being literate, able to do arithmetic, and quick with your hands and feet should be enough, right?"

A thin young man wearing glasses analyzed the situation quickly, his eyes shining.

"An assessment? I don't know what the assessment will be like... Will it be difficult? Will there be any written exams?"

An elderly man with gray hair asked the person next to him with concern, but his eyes were also full of longing, as if he was planning for his children and grandchildren.

"Finally, there's a legitimate way out! We don't have to waste our days in those shady workshops or try our luck in dangerous areas anymore! This is an opportunity given to us by the management committee!"

A dark-skinned man with scars on his hands clenched his fist, his excitement palpable.

"The service agreement... is a five-year contract, so I can't just quit easily, right? What if I don't perform well and fail the performance review?"

Some remained cautious, raising questions in hushed tones, but these voices were quickly drowned out by more optimistic discussions.

"Three square meters is a bit small, but it's our own! We can inherit it! Our children will have a place to belong in the future!" This was the excited voice of a father.

Five years of service, in exchange for a truly ownable, stable "home" where you can enjoy basic dignity.

This deal is undoubtedly incredibly tempting to the residents of Zone C, who have long endured overcrowding, instability, lack of security and privacy.

Especially noteworthy is the "permanent ownership" specifically mentioned in the announcement.

It also pinpointed the deep-seated envy, longing, and even subtle jealousy that the people of Zone C felt for the "official resident" status and stable life in Zone B.

This is not just a housing promise, but a symbol of identity and future security.

Xu Xiaoyan stood on the steps outside the crowd, taking in every word and every picture of the announcement.

It also clearly saw and heard the various reactions of the people around it, such as excitement, desire, doubt, and calculation.

She saw the bespectacled young man pull out a small notebook and quickly write down the job titles on the screen.

I saw several familiar women gathered together, having a heated discussion about which job might be more suitable for themselves or their families.

I saw that the dark-skinned man had already started asking the people next to him about the specific location and time for registration.

I also saw a few older people or those with weathered faces with complex expressions, showing both excitement and deep concern about the conditions such as "assessment" and "five-year service period".

She tilted her head slightly, her gaze lingering on the key words and phrases on the screen:

"Five years of service", "All performance evaluations met", "Open, fair, and impartial selection process", "No objections after comprehensive review upon contract expiration"...

The corners of her mouth turned down almost imperceptibly, forming a very faint curve.

Drawing a pie in the sky.

These were the first words that popped into her mind.

She was all too aware of the complexities that might be hidden behind these official words.

Who sets the standards for "open selection"?

How should the criteria for "meeting the assessment standards" be determined?

Are there any hidden barriers or loopholes for manipulation?

A five-year service period means that an individual's career and development are firmly tied to the job for five years. What will happen if anything goes wrong or if the performance evaluation is "failed"?

Is "permanent housing" allocated in kind, or is it a "qualification" that requires continuing to wait in line?

More importantly, the announcement only emphasized the positive outcome, but made no mention of the specific intensity of the work, the compensation, or the potential risks.

The sudden opening of so many "jobs" and "permanent housing" promises in a resource-scarce underground city is suspicious in itself.

Is it that the manpower shortage is so huge that such a huge investment is necessary, or is there some kind of "hole" that requires a large number of people to fill?

Or is it a soothing measure thrown out to alleviate the growing discontent in Zone C?

Xu Xiaoyan couldn't help but think of the "Five Guarantees" households that the government provided for during peacetime.

It was clearly a good thing that would benefit the country and its people, but when it was implemented in the villages, it turned into a case of "the peach tree turning into a plum tree" (meaning the policy was ineffective). The worst thing about policies is that the promises are too good to be true, but the reality is too harsh.

She looked around at the people whose cheeks were flushed with hope; some young people were eager to get started, some middle-aged people had their fighting spirit rekindled, and some elderly people were murmuring plans for their children.

They yearn for change, for a certain future, and that's not wrong.

But in her view, this announcement was more like a "pie" that looked delicious on the surface but was hollow inside.

She exhaled softly, looked away from the screen, and left the most crowded area.

For her, it was that small truck that could travel across districts and had better access to goods.

And the upcoming independent operation is a difficult path, but one in which we have more control.

However... as she turned to leave the noisy square, she silently wondered if the consumer market in District C would change if a large number of young and middle-aged people were successfully hired.

Once they have formal jobs, it means they have a stable income, so they can spend much more lavishly on things, which is beneficial for her to distribute and sell her products.

Back in the capsule warehouse, Xu Xiaoyan finally had a little free time. She took out the "BC Zone Interchange Vehicle Procurement List" again and studied it carefully by the light inside the warehouse.

This time, she focused on items provided by the B supply point that were not on the C supply list.

Just as I was pondering this, my phone, which was on the bunk, suddenly vibrated and the screen lit up slightly.

Xu Xiaoyan picked up her phone.

A new message appeared on the screen from "Ningjingzhiyuan": "Xiao Xu, regarding checkpoints, the general procedure is to check the vehicle's valid pass and the driver's ID card."

As long as the paperwork is complete, the vehicle has no obvious modifications or violations, and the goods do not contain any explicitly prohibited items, they usually won't deliberately make things difficult. They are just following the rules. Best of luck!

After receiving an affirmative answer, Xu Xiaoyan's slightly furrowed brows finally relaxed.

She didn't reply immediately, but instead put her phone aside and leaned back.

He lay down relaxed on the bunk, which was only covered with a thin mat, with his arms behind his head and his eyes fixed on the monotonous, slightly reflective metallic textures on the ceiling.

From the moment she received the confirmation letter for that BC interchange vehicle, a worry had been weighing on her mind.

Her initial business model revolved around utilizing the special privileges granted to this vehicle.

They travel between Zone B, where supplies are relatively abundant and of better quality, and Zone C, where demand is diverse but supply is insufficient, to earn profits through the price difference between buying and selling.

The feasibility of all of this rests on a foundation that appears simple but may be incredibly complex:

Goods were able to pass through the checkpoint connecting Zone B and Zone C relatively smoothly.

She had heard a lot of news about highway transportation before:

Vehicles transporting supplies were detained without cause for various reasons such as "incomplete procedures", "unclear documents" and "need for further verification", and could only be released after "bribing" people.

The goods being transported were asked to open their packaging and undergo "inspection" under the pretext of "routine inspection," "safety spot check," or "suspected over-standard specifications."

During the inspection, some scarce and high-value goods may be detained under the guise of "sampling for testing" or "detaining a portion as management fees in accordance with regulations".

They "reasonably" deduct a portion, euphemistically calling it "loss" or "management cost," but in reality it's blatant exploitation.

In some poorly managed or morally corrupt areas, some unscrupulous inspectors may deliberately make things difficult for passing vehicles and people.

They may deliberately misinterpret the regulations, nitpick, find all sorts of unfounded "problems," and then imply or explicitly demand exorbitant "toll fees," "smoothing fees," or "hardship fees."

If the conditions cannot be met, they will delay indefinitely, preventing your vehicle from passing. The goods on the vehicle will rot and depreciate while waiting, ultimately resulting in a complete loss of your investment.

The sense of powerlessness and anger in the face of overwhelming power is enough to destroy all the hopes of a small business owner, and these concerns are not unfounded.

Although the reply from "Ningjingzhiyuan" brought some comfort.

But Xu Xiaoyan knew that rules and regulations are rigid, but those who enforce them are flexible, and human greed may manifest itself in a more brutal way.