Chapter 131: 131, Inside the barrier! (Third update, requesting monthly votes)

How long they had waited, the gate of the wall finally creaked open, its heavy doors drawn upward by hidden ropes within the walls, the massive machinery inside groaning with effort.

Ren Xiaosu turned his head abruptly, gazing into the gate with an intensity he had never felt before, drinking in the sight of that world.

In the past, the gates of Wall 113 had often opened, yet Ren Xiaosu had always restrained himself from looking, for life in this world held both bitterness and sweetness, and he feared that once he glimpsed that realm, he would think of nothing else.

Once, Yan Liuyuan had tried to sneak a peek inside, but Ren Xiaosu had stopped him, insisting he would one day bring Yan into the walls—though he himself had never truly believed those words.

Now, they were to become part of that world.

A crowd emerged from the wall, and a well-built, handsome middle-aged man strode out, smiling as he greeted Luo Lan: "Boss Luo, you grace us with your presence! We’ve been remiss in not greeting you sooner!"

But Luo Lan’s face darkened: "Is that all you have to say—a mere ‘we’ve been remiss’?"

Lu Zhengyuan laughed apologetically: "I received word from Chairman Qing and sent my men rushing here, but we lost contact. Otherwise, I’d have been waiting here long ago."

Luo Lan said nothing more, instead walking directly into Wall 109, waving at the truck: "Follow me!"

Suddenly, Lu Zhengyuan called out loudly: "Wait—there are people on the truck. They need to be checked!"

The next moment, Luo Lan spun around and slapped him across the face: "You dare inspect a Qing family vehicle?!"

Everyone froze in shock! This was Lu Zhengyuan, the administrator of Wall 109!

The scene surprised Ren Xiaosu, who had not expected Luo Lan’s sudden fury. Until now, Luo Lan had finally seemed like the "business magnate" he imagined.

Yet Ren Xiaosu had long understood, from their journey together, that this was not Luo Lan’s true nature.

Or perhaps it was merely a shell he wore, a facade to make others fear him.

No wonder the people of Wall 113 had always spoken of Luo Lan with such reverence.

What Ren Xiaosu did not know was that the administrator of Wall 113, Old Liu, had met his end on the road to exile in Wall 178—all because of a single word from Qing Zhen!

Still, Ren Xiaosu found Luo Lan intriguing, for this time, Luo Lan acted thus only to bring them into the walls. After all, the truck carried nothing but Ren’s six companions and Jiang Wu with her twenty-odd students.

The middle-aged man stood silent after the slap, and Luo Lan smiled faintly: "What’s wrong, Lu Zhengyuan? Forgotten who you are?"

Lu Zhengyuan lowered his head: "No, Boss Luo. Please, come inside."

He didn’t even inquire about the men he’d sent off—nor did it seem to matter much to him.

Ren Xiaosu sat quietly in the truck bed, watching. So this was the power and confidence of a business conglomerate.

At that moment, several more figures emerged from the wall and approached Luo Lan respectfully: "Chairman Qing told us to wait here for you."

Luo Lan raised an eyebrow: "My brother’s men?"

"Yes."

Luo Lan’s face brightened: "Very well, lead the way." Then, turning to Lu Zhengyuan: "You attend to your duties. Tonight, I’ll have someone deliver your identity records. Prepare twenty resident cards for me."

"Understood," Lu Zhengyuan replied politely.

With that, Luo Lan climbed into the awaiting SUV, while Ren Xiaosu watched from the truck’s shadow as it slowly entered the wall. Lu Zhengyuan stood outside, motionless, lost in thought.

Once inside, Yan Liuyuan leaned out the back of the truck, sighing: "Brother, the streets here are so clean!"

"Brother, the buildings here are so tall!"

In the settlement, only low houses existed, but here two- or three-story buildings were common, even five- or six-story ones.

Yet what Ren Xiaosu wanted to tell Yan was that he had once seen taller skyscrapers in the abandoned city beyond Jing Shan, towering like blades into the clouds.

After witnessing that, he realized even these walls’ buildings paled in comparison, for humanity’s civilization had regressed so much.

Jiang Wu watched Yan Liuyuan with a dazed expression, but her heart held no amusement—only the realization that their everyday life was a rarity to the refugees.

"Brother, there are so many plants here, planted along the roads. Wait—there’s even a patch of grassland over there," Yan Liuyuan marveled.

"That’s a park," Jiang Wu explained. "The people inside can stroll here after meals. At night, elders gather to dance. In this era, recorders are rare—any elder with one becomes the brightest star of the dance troupe..."

Yan Liuyuan nodded: "Brother, look at that lawn—there’s a father and child feeding each other. What a loving scene... Wait, why are they kissing..."

Jiang Wu’s face twisted oddly: "They’re not father and child..."

Just then, a peculiar vehicle sped past the truck, its engine’s roar sending up a wave of sound. Inside sat a balding middle-aged man.

Ren Xiaosu asked curiously: "Why doesn’t this car have a roof?"

Jiang Wu pondered: "It’s called a convertible. Only the wealthy inside the walls can drive them—they’re a symbol of status."

Ren Xiaosu sighed: "How wonderful it must be to be rich—even your hair is a convertible..."

"..." Jiang Wu was stunned, unsure how to respond.

At last, Ren Xiaosu understood why stars like Luo Xingyu existed within the walls—for their lives were far happier than theirs!

These people didn’t face beasts or toil in coal mines, drenched in sweat. They merely did respectable work within the walls and received resources.

The refugees outside were like worker ants, sustaining over a hundred thousand queens.

Ren Xiaosu had heard Zhang Jinglin say that the refugees beyond Wall 113 were relatively few—some places gathered large numbers to farm or work in factories, even entire human settlements filled with refugees.

Of course, those settlements were also controlled by the business conglomerates.

Suddenly, Ren Xiaosu noticed iron rails embedded in the road: "What’s this?"

"These are tram tracks," Jiang Wu said. "Residents ride trams to work and back each day."

...

Thanks to Classmate 32732 for becoming the book’s new ally.