I can upgrade the shelter-Chapter 760 - 658: Running the Boat

In the midst of the snowstorm, a cargo land ship was maneuvering forward.

The weather today was somewhat terrible, with snowflakes whipped up by the fierce wind incessantly battering against the glass of the land ship's bridge, severely affecting Jiang Yao's vision.

However, Jiang Yao wasn't worried about encountering any obstacles or dangers. Although the snowstorm outside was significant, it wasn't enough to impact the cargo land ship he was currently aboard.

Moreover, this land ship was cruising at five hundred meters above the ground. Unless there was a mountain that Jiang Yao couldn't see, nor the radar could detect, nothing would pose an impediment to the cargo land ship.

Nevertheless, even so, Jiang Yao did not relax his vigilance. As a navigator, he was dutifully watching ahead and monitoring the radar display on the console, promptly identifying any obstacles that needed to be avoided, ensuring the safety of the cargo land ship.

"Xiao Jiang, how much longer until we reach the next mining area?" The captain, who had just returned from a meal, asked Jiang Yao as he was still gazing outside.

"We're about fifty kilometers away from the next mining area, it should take approximately fifteen minutes to fly there." Jiang Yao replied to the captain's question and curiously asked, "Captain, how's our haul this time?"

Since Jiang Yao was the navigator, he stayed on the bridge during the previous mine stops and didn't help with loading and unloading cargo, so he was unaware of their haul this trip.

Seeing the captain now, Jiang Yao hoped to satisfy his curiosity.

To this question, the captain replied cheerfully, "The haul is quite good; all the mining areas have been operating smoothly, and they've generally exceeded the country's prescribed extraction quota. Our cargo hold is almost full too."

"That's really good to hear!" Jiang Yao couldn't help but feel happy. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Although their income wasn't tied to these hauls, Jiang Yao genuinely felt pleased about having a full cargo hold.

"Yeah, I heard that Old Wang's ship on the European route also came back fully loaded with cargo, all supplies urgently needed domestically." The captain shared the news he had heard.

Even though he had only recently become the captain of the cargo land ship, he was familiar with and in contact with the captains of other cargo land ships.

"European route? Captain, I heard the subsidy for the European route is higher, is that true?" Hearing the captain mention the European route, Jiang Yao couldn't help but be curious.

As a navigator of a cargo land ship, Jiang Yao received additional supplies as a subsidy for each trip, which was his primary source of income and his assurance to support his family, naturally making him more concerned about related matters.

Regarding this, the captain seemed indifferent and jested with a smile, "What? Think this route isn't profitable and want to run the European route?"

"Hehe, Captain, you know, I have two kids and parents to support; earning a bit more is always good." Jiang Yao shyly explained with a smile.

"I know you have a heavy burden, but I wouldn't recommend you run the European route." The captain fully understood Jiang Yao's thoughts but didn't wish for him to take the European route. "There's a war going on in Europe; the European route is still quite dangerous. Old Wang and his crew encountered flying alien creatures on their last trip, and if it weren't for the escort ships, they would've been in danger.

Your family relies on you for income; if something happens to you, who will take care of your wife and kids?"

At this point, the captain spoke sincerely, patting Jiang Yao's shoulder, "Of course, if you really want to run the European route, I can speak to Old Wang for you, but I hope you consider carefully and don't act impulsively, merely seeing the higher earnings from the European route and taking that risk."

Though the captain's words seemed somewhat timid and conservative, Jiang Yao knew the captain was looking out for him.

The higher subsidy for the European route indeed stemmed from its greater danger.

Despite the national reports indicating that the situation on the European battlefield was gradually improving, Jiang Yao knew it was still perilous over there. Encounters with flying alien creature attacks weren't frequent, but running that route inevitably meant facing one or two.

Previously, he had heard that a crew member on Old Wang's ship was injured in an alien creature assault.

This forced Jiang Yao to restrain his thoughts and consider the consequences more deeply.

However, while contemplating whether to abandon the idea of running the European route, Jiang Yao couldn't help but ask the captain, "Captain, do they make money from contracting these small mines? I heard the state takes seventy percent; is there profit?"

"Why wouldn't there be? Don't think the state's share is high; you must know that the industry ship for mining is provided by the state, the mining equipment is also state-provided, and even the mining areas are contracted from the state, so the seventy percent cut is quite reasonable." The captain had been intrigued by the idea of contracting a mine himself, so he understood, "As long as they work for two years, they only need to give up fifty percent, and that industrial ship becomes theirs, and the remaining mined ore is theirs entirely!

They can exchange these ores for various good things provided by the state, making me drool! If I didn't have to run the ship, I'd want to gather a group of buddies to contract a mining site, work diligently for a couple of years, and we'd have everything!"

"Then why don't you go, Captain? If you do, I'd definitely follow you!" Jiang Yao said to the captain, half-jokingly and half-seriously.

If the captain really had such intentions, Jiang Yao thought he would indeed likely join.

Unfortunately, although the captain was intrigued, he didn't have a real desire to mine.

"Hey, what are you thinking! Mining requires professional skills, and what are we? We're sailors! Sailors should just focus on running the ship; mining isn't something we can handle." The captain shook his head with a hint of regret, having indeed inquired about it, but the professional skills required for mining discouraged him.

And most importantly, there's a sense of responsibility.

The captain patted Jiang Yao, whose face showed some unwillingness and regret, with a smile, "Young man, broaden your perspective; you must realize that we are also very important! They can mine here in peace, all thanks to us transporting supplies to them and carrying away their mined ores!

If we weren't here, they wouldn't receive supplies, and their ores couldn't be transported—nothing could be accomplished! So don't underestimate the importance of our work; we are all contributing to national development by doing our part!"