Apocalyptic Wasteland, I Hold the Infrastructure System

Jiang Lin is a survivor in a post-apocalyptic world where global pollution has rendered the soil barren and food scarce. For three years, she has fought daily to stay alive in a dilapidated residential building on the outskirts of a city, enduring scorching heat and yellow dust storms. Her water-elemental ability, though generally considered weak, has been trained to an exceptional level, allowing her to condense vapor into lethal ice spikes. As the third summer of the apocalypse drags on, Jiang Lin finds herself on the verge of death from dehydration and starvation in her crumbling home. At this critical moment, a damaged intelligent brain, which she had previously owned as a cheap model, activates and binds to her. The entity identifies itself as System 110 and explains that because Jiang Lin was near death, the binding was automatic. It warns that if the binding is terminated, she will return to that near-death state. The system projects a holographic interface revealing a construction and farming capability, offering a path to survival through agriculture, a necessity in a world where natural crops no longer grow.

The system informs Jiang Lin that she can unlock building materials and farming modules by using discarded batteries, which are abundant but worthless in the current economy. However, she currently lacks seeds. System 110 detects that plantable seeds are available at the First Base free market and triggers a mission: purchase the seeds to receive a planting bed as a reward. Before Jiang Lin can fully process this opportunity, a man in a black combat suit delivers an invitation to her door. The letter, sealed with the gold emblem of the First Base, invites her to join the Patrol Team, reporting to the East Gate at 5:30 p.m. Given that it is already 4:30 p.m., Jiang Lin has little time to hesitate. She accepts the invitation, recognizing that joining the patrol team will provide her with the points and resources necessary to survive and pursue her goal of growing food. She sets out for the First Base, navigating a landscape filled with slow, shambling zombies. Her water abilities allow her to dispatch threats efficiently, though she notes that the zombies seem to be gathering and moving in a coordinated manner, heading toward the base as if answering a summons.

Upon arriving at the First Base, Jiang Lin is greeted by Lin Dehou, the newly appointed patrol team supervisor. He is initially skeptical of her small stature but is convinced of her combat capability when she demonstrates her ice abilities by piercing a tree with an ice spike. Jiang Lin is assigned to the patrol team and provided with a uniform, a wristband for navigation and payment, and a small courtyard house in Area 99, a residential zone far from the trade district. She befriends Xu An'an, a friendly colleague who helps her settle in and explains the base's systems. Jiang Lin uses her initial salary of 1,500 points to purchase seeds from a stall in the free trade market. The seller, a middle-aged man named Huang Yi, is reluctant to part with the seeds, which were inherited from his botanist father, but Jiang Lin promises to take care of them. After completing the purchase, she receives her planting bed reward from System 110.

Back in her courtyard, Jiang Lin begins to adapt to her new life. She discovers that the soil beneath her yard contains discarded batteries, which System 110 can absorb to credit her shop balance. She digs up fourteen batteries, enough to purchase a washing machine and bedding, significantly improving her living conditions. The following day, she reports for her first shift as a patrol member. Her duties involve inner-base patrol, monitoring the free trade market and maintaining order among residents. During her shift, she witnesses a conflict involving a mother and daughter accused of stealing gold jewelry from a wealthy family. The accused woman claims the jewelry was a gift from the family's young master, but the accusers dismiss her story. Jiang Lin intervenes, challenging the lack of evidence and demanding proof that the items belong to the accusers. Her intervention disrupts the proceedings, and the patrol leader, Tang Zheng, confiscates the jewelry for investigation. Jiang Lin's actions draw attention, and after her shift, she is summoned to Lin Dehou's office, likely regarding the incident. Throughout these events, Jiang Lin remains focused on her primary goal: using the system to establish a sustainable food source while navigating the complex social and political dynamics of the First Base.

As Jiang Lin settles into her role as a patrol member, she continues to explore the capabilities of System 110. The system's ability to convert worthless batteries into useful goods provides her with a unique advantage in the resource-scarce environment. She begins to plan for the future, considering how to expand her farming operations and secure more resources. The mysterious behavior of the zombies, which seem to be responding to some unseen signal, adds an underlying tension to her daily life. Jiang Lin is aware that the apocalypse is not static and that new threats may emerge. Her alliance with System 110 gives her hope, but she remains cautious, knowing that survival in this world requires constant vigilance. The story follows her journey from a dying survivor on the brink of death to a functional member of society with a clear purpose. Her interactions with other characters, such as Xu An'an and Lin Dehou, provide glimpses into the social structure of the base and the challenges faced by its inhabitants. Jiang Lin's determination to grow food and her willingness to stand up against injustice mark her as a resilient and principled individual in a harsh world.

The narrative establishes a foundation for Jiang Lin's growth within the First Base. Her acquisition of seeds and a planting bed represents a significant step toward self-sufficiency. The system's guidance has been instrumental in her survival, offering solutions to problems that would otherwise be insurmountable. However, the cost of using the system—discarded batteries—means that Jiang Lin must continue to scavenge and work, integrating herself into the base's economy. Her role as a patrol member provides her with a steady income and a sense of belonging, but it also exposes her to the dangers and conflicts that exist within the community. The incident with the stolen jewelry highlights the inequalities and tensions between different social groups in the base. Jiang Lin's intervention suggests that she is not afraid to challenge authority or defend the vulnerable, traits that may define her path forward. As she continues to explore the mysteries of System 110 and the changing dynamics of the apocalypse, Jiang Lin's story is one of adaptation, resilience, and the pursuit of a better future in a broken world.