Li Yu saw that Xiao Shi had changed into a set of clothes issued by the base, naly a pink tracksuit.
The fabric was of good quality with minimal embellishnts, making Xiao Shi look youthful and vibrant.
These clothes were from the initial outbreak of the apocalypse, crazily obtained by Li Yu and his people for free.
Indeed, a stockpile had been accumulated, which included not only tracksuits but also various windbreakers, jackets, etc.
As for the clothes Xiao Shi originally wore, they had been long reduced to tatters during their exile.
Li Yu glanced at her and quickly averted his gaze, then led Xiao Shi towards Weng City in the Outer City.
....
On the other hand, Captain Luo and his team had been waiting inside Weng City for nearly half an hour.
Although Captain Luo was anxious, given that they were on soone else’s turf, and that these people had saved them,
he felt it inappropriate to rush them.
He could only chat with Li Yu’s Second Uncle, who happened to be quite the conversationalist, cleverly extracting clear details about the situation at their Headquarters Base during their sporadic chat.
Captain Luo didn’t realize that Second Uncle was pulling information from him; his mind largely occupied with thoughts of Ye Shishi and why she hadn’t appeared yet, occasionally glancing up at the gate of Weng City.
He hadn’t paid attention when Second Uncle directly responded to his queries, as answers tend to be truthful when one’s attention is scattered.
Second Uncle continued the conversation smoothly,
saying, "This apocalypse is really too arduous. Tell , how did you manage to survive last year’s severe winter?"
Captain Luo’s mood suddenly dropped upon hearing this, saying, "Last winter, many trees died, crops perished. Ah, if it weren’t so cold, we wouldn’t have had such severe food issues.
Nor would so many people have died."
Upon hearing that, Second Uncle could see that they were having a tough ti.
He quickly changed the subject and said, "Not to worry, you’ve found food, right? What are your plans on using these supplies?"
Captain Luo replied, "Initially, because of the food issue, we couldn’t aid the civilians. Receiving instructions from Elder Ye, who commanded that we serve the people, we might distribute so to the civilians."
Second Uncle subtly asked, "How many people are there?"
"That’s a lot," Captain Luo said. "Just around Headquarters, there are thousands.
Due to the weather last year causing many foods to mold and rot very quickly, very little of what we found was edible. Many are still starving, and even more have died..."
Second Uncle expressed strong praise for their lofty actions but internally he was worried. Directly distributing food to civilians,
This thod, sigh.
It seed sowhat problematic. Unconditionally giving away food could foster dependence, potentially sparking riots.
Whether before or after the apocalypse, giving too many benefits freely
fears disparity more than scarcity.
Seeing Captain Luo frustrated, Second Uncle opened his mouth but ended up saying nothing.
He knew it would be pointless, so lessons can only be learned through painful experience.
Big Camphor Tree Base hadn’t learned those lessons, but they had seen similar cases.
Wasn’t the collapse of Jiefang City attributed to this?
.....
The two continued their disjointed conversation, suddenly Captain Luo stood up abruptly.
At the gate of Weng City, slowly opening,
A pink silhouette approached.
It was, it was Xiao Shi!
His face filled with excitent, it was her, indeed it was her.
Captain Luo, who frequently visited Elder Ye’s house, had watched Xiao Shi grow up and treated her like his own niece.
Thus, when he learned about this mission, he was the first to volunteer to lead the team both to retrieve the food reserves and because he truly wanted to find Xiao Shi.
"Uncle Luo!" Xiao Shi ran up to Captain Luo.
She then saw Captain Luo’s bandaged wounds, her eyes, just cald, reddening again: "Uncle Luo, your injury..."
Seeing the worry in Xiao Shi’s eyes, Captain Luo stretched his body pretending to be fine and said, "It’s nothing, Xiao Shi. How have you been this past year?"
It was fine until he asked, but upon hearing this, the tears Ye Shishi had been holding back fell: "It was very tough before, but after Director Li rescued ,
life at Big Camphor Tree Base has been good."
Xiao Shi hadn’t cried in a long ti, and seeming to reassure Captain Luo, she quickly wiped her tears, saying, "I’m fine, Uncle Luo. How is Grandpa doing?"
Captain Luo sighed heavily, "Elder Ye’s health was already poor, and with many people dying last winter due to the cold, his health deteriorated further.
However, just before we left, Elder Ye’s health surprisingly improved much.
He seed much better overall."
Worriedly, Xiao Shi said, "Grandpa always worries too much. He’s so old and still staying up late. I’ve told him several tis, but he doesn’t listen..."
Captain Luo sighed again, remaining silent.
Imdiately, as if recalling sothing, Captain Luo said to Ye Shi, "Ye Shi, the purpose of our trip this ti, besides finding food reserves, is to find you and take you back. You....."
Captain Luo glanced at Li Yu and left the rest unsaid.
Even through brief contact, and only having seen the Outer City, truth be told, the Headquarters in Guangdong Province aren’t even comparable to their Outer City.
Not to ntion, he had never been inside the Inner City, and just now when he observed Ye Shi, he noticed that although her face was a bit darker and fatter,
she looked much healthier compared to her previously thin and trashy appearance.
From Ye Shi’s condition, it seed she was living quite well.
Even though Captain Luo hadn’t finished speaking, Ye Shi already understood his intention.
Ye Shi turned her head, glanced at Li Yu, and wanted to say she would follow Captain Luo back, since her only relative was there after all.
But saying this directly in front of Li Yu, wanting to leave,
didn’t feel quite right; the base had treated her so well, and to just leave like that felt as though she had no attachnt to the base.
Just as she was struggling how to begin speaking,
Li Yu softly said: "If you want to go back, then go back, after all, that’s where your family is.
But if you encounter any problems and want to return, the base’s doors are always open for you."
Hearing Li Yu’s words instantly filled Ye Shi’s heart with emotion: "I-I-I... Thank you, Brother Yu, without you, I would have died from the cold or starvation long ago."
Li Yu smiled and said: "Don’t worry, go back peacefully. And if you want to co back, just co back."
In Li Yu’s heart, there wasn’t much dilemma; whether Ye Shi stayed or left, it didn’t pose any detrint to the base.
Since she wanted to go back to her grandpa, it was only reasonable, and Li Yu could understand that. Furthermore, when she returned, having her there would also solidify the alliance relationships with Ye’s group.
So Li Yu gave her so encouragent, "You can co back anyti," sending Buddha to the west, making Ye Shi even more grateful for the base.
That way, future collaboration and communication would beco much simpler and pleasant.
Li Yu saw that they, the old acquaintances, surely had so things to discuss, so he arranged for the remaining tasks as well.
He then said to Second Uncle: "Second Uncle, it’s getting dark now, go talk to He Chao later, arrange for them to stay in the Outer City."
Second Uncle nodded and said, "OK."
Then to Captain Luo he said, "Captain Luo, you and your team follow later, I’ll make arrangents."
Li Yu continued, "Let’s distribute so of the food first. We just weighed them at the weighbridge.
There are a total of 22 trucks, each carrying about 45 tons. We’ll transport our portion back first.
Of the remaining 11 trucks, five were brought by you guys, keep those there, and later, you will need to drive here to collect the rest."
Captain Luo gave a thumbs up and said: "Director Li is generous, but this trip we probably can’t transport so much, can only take three trucks back.
The rest, we’ll co back next ti to pick them up."
Li Yu nodded and said: "Okay, then you guys chat, I’ll go inside then. Second Uncle, arrange dinner for these brothers tonight and then take them to the Outer City."
Today there were especially many things to do, only trouble Second Uncle.
Second Uncle waved his hand, indicating he understood.
Li Yu was about to leave, suddenly turned back to Ye Shi and said, "Ye Shi, if you do leave, rember to tell everyone later."
Images of several people flashed through Ye Shi’s mind; her heart filled with reluctance. In this post-apocalyptic world, sotis a goodbye might an never seeing each other again.
Captain Luo noticed Ye Shi’s sentint and said, "Ye Shi, don’t be too sad, if it doesn’t work out, next ti when you co to pick up the rest of the food, co with us."
Upon hearing this, Ye Shi imdiately felt it was a good idea and said, "Uncle Luo’s suggestion is good."
Li Yu saw that things here were already more or less settled, so he prepared to leave.
He still had important things to do; before bringing Ye Shi, he had talked with He Bing.
Tomorrow, he needed to get up early to go to the neighboring city to find that lathe.
The production of bullets was crucial.
Eventually, bullets would run out, and they had to be able to produce their own.
Strength was the fundantal safeguard for survival in the post-apocalyptic world.
After bidding farewell to Ye Shi and Captain Luo, Li Yu found Dapao and Third Uncle.
On the ramparts.
Inside the Inner City base, smoke curled from cooking fires, Lai Dongsheng’s wife was preparing food.
Li Yu said to Third Uncle and the others: "Do you think what He Bing said today might be false?"
This question instantly made everyone tense.
But He Bing had no motive for deception.
Deceiving would bring no benefit to He Bing and his team.
Moreover, He Bing and his team were also going tomorrow.
Li Yu smiled and said: "The possibility is lower, but we still have to follow our usual principle: assu the worst in everything and prepare adequately.
Especially since according to what He Bing and his team said, the factory with the lathe still has so surviving workers.
We need to consider how to handle the situation if they don’t want to give us the lathe."
Third Uncle glanced at Li Yu, smoking silently and said, "You kid have many tricks, I’ll follow your arrangents."
Li Yu said, "Alright, then we’ll do it this way..."
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