I can upgrade the shelter-Chapter 759 - 657: New Contracting System

The arrival of new equipment has brought a qualitative leap in combat effectiveness to the frontline combat units.

With this new equipment and logistical supplies provided by the Flame Country, the frontline combat units can finally take a breath without such overwhelming pressure. The defense line finally no longer faces the constant risk of being breached and needing emergency reinforcement.

The stabilized defense line also brought relief to the countries behind the lines.

Previously, they were gritting their teeth, fearing that once the defense line collapsed, it would be their turn to feed those alien creatures.

Now, with the support of the Flame Country, the defense line has been stabilized, and naturally, these countries most directly affected feel it the most profoundly.

Though it is not time to relax yet, at least they can stop living in constant fear of receiving a report any day about a frontline collapse and then becoming food for the alien creatures.

This has made the officials of these countries even more grateful for Flame Country's support, while also hoping that Flame Country could provide them with more assistance.

Therefore, they not only opened more mining resources to Flame Country but also did not mind the full load of supplies on the cargo land ships.

If one shipload of supplies can be exchanged for a shipload of aid... no, even half a shipload of aid, it would be a gain for the European countries now.

After all, a small investment of resources can be exchanged for more aid from the Flame Country to keep their citizens alive, a long-term bargain that these Europeans clearly understand the value of.

And with the return voyage of the cargo land ship, the Energy Tower core it carried was also opened by Chen Xin to European countries, providing them with Energy Tower construction services.

This powerful geothermal heating equipment immediately aroused strong interest and demand from European countries. Though the frontline battle, no matter how fierce, doesn't directly affect them, such heating equipment offers a very direct improvement to their living conditions.

Without a doubt, this made the European countries salivate with desire, forcing them to again pull out good things from their pockets to satisfy the appetite of Flame Country.

Compared to military supplies, heating equipment is directly related to themselves and can be considered just as essential, even more so in some priority levels than military supplies.

But the number of Energy Tower cores in the hands of Flame Country is limited; whoever snatches them first gains priority.

For these Europeans, while they can unite against the threat of alien invasion, once the crisis is slightly averted, their tradition of internal strife resurfaces.

Everyone wants to secure an Energy Tower first, but it is clear Flame Country cannot simultaneously meet everyone's needs, nor can all Energy Towers be started at the same time. To gain priority, they can only curry favor with Flame Country, ensuring they can gain access to the core of the Energy Towers first.

Chen Xin naturally isn't bothered with these matters; after handing it over to the diplomatic personnel, he turns his attention to domestic situations during this period.

While the industrial ships' outstanding performance achieved remarkable results in Europe, domestically they were also put into use, and modified according to the blueprints sent back by Chen Xin, enabling industrial ships to be applied in more fields.

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Old Hu, with the ten-odd guys he brought along, looked at the snow-covered valley ahead, a bit apprehensive yet also hopeful.

This place would be their new home. Although there was nothing here now, as long as they worked hard with their own hands, everything would come.

"Alright folks, let's get to work! Unload the equipment from the ship first, a few of you put on mining suits and come scout the way with me. The rest, get started on the foundation," Old Hu shouted to the dozen or so men around him, assigning tasks: "Women and elders, keep an eye on the kids, don't let them run wild. Gather them for online classes on time; they can't afford to neglect their studies! We'll rough it out on the ship for now. Once we have the first harvest from the mine, we'll exchange it with the state for residential cabins and build our new home!"

"We've been waiting just for those words, Old Hu! We can't wait any longer!" The men cheered and heckled alongside, their enthusiasm overflowing, though a touch of anxiety about the future lingered on their faces, but mostly filled with hopeful anticipation for a new life.

Old Hu and his dozen companions were a mining team; they had contracted this valley, a small iron mine from before the disaster.

The state lent them a miniaturized, modified industrial ship, allowing them to mine this iron mine. The state stipulated their monthly mining quota, with seventy percent of the ore mined taken by the state, and the remaining thirty percent plus any excess belonged to them.

Of the seventy percent taken by the state, fifty percent was the iron mine's contracting fee, and twenty percent was the rental fee for the industrial ship. In two years, the industrial ship would belong to Old Hu and his team.

Their part of the proceeds could be exchanged for corresponding points, and with the state, they could exchange for various living materials, from living quarters, power supplies, heating equipment to small Ecological Domes, and all kinds of living necessities, all available through point exchange with the state.

These iron mines were identified by the state even before the disaster, originally contracted out to private parties for mining.

But with disaster striking, the original contractors evidently couldn't carry on, so the state naturally had to contract the mines to those willing to mine them.

And to enable these people to mine these small mines, the state specially downsized the industrial ships, removing 3D printing equipment and greenhouse cabins, providing them along with a few sets of Exoskeletons developed by Chen Xin for mining and some miniaturized mining equipment, allowing them to reopen the mines with these tools.

One could say that as long as one was hardworking and willing, one could live a prosperous and comfortable life through this method.

Old Hu was one such person; pulling together more than a dozen acquaintances willing to strive for a better life with him instead of languishing in shelters, they contracted this iron mine from the state, intending to work hard for their and their children's future.

Previously, they might not have had the guts or opportunity, but now with everything prepared by the state, all they needed to do was be brave, and then use their own hands to carve out a future. For these men, if they dared not at this point, they'd truly be cowards.

In fact, it wasn't just Old Hu and his team; at present, nationwide, the first batch of two hundred small industrial ships provided by the state had all been leased out, distributed among two hundred small mines across the country.

These people, leasing industrial ships and contracting for mining operations, will, through their hard work and sweat, carve out a beautiful life for themselves, while also contributing their part to national construction.