Chapter 94: A New Year
The cafeteria dinner was indeed far more lavish than usual, just as Jiang Xuzhou had said. For only two work points, one could buy a set meal that included braised eggplant in oil, tomato and scrambled eggs, plus a bowl of pickled mustard soup.
A meal of two dishes and one soup would have been so ordinary before the apocalypse that it barely warranted mention, but now it made everyone feel as though it truly was the New Year—luxurious and abundant.
Thanks to the base’s well-designed system, as long as a person wasn’t so lazy that they refused to do anything at all, everyone could find a suitable job. Aside from positions requiring physical labor, there were also jobs specifically prepared for the elderly, women, children, and those who were weak or ill. Earning enough to keep oneself fed and clothed was no problem at all.
Moreover, with the arrival of winter, many additional positions for clearing snow had opened up. These not only offered generous work-point rewards but also provided cold-weather clothing and hot water. It could truly be said that the system was very humane.
Zhan Yun, Su Ruizhe, and the others put on their thick down jackets, went to the cafeteria for a steaming hot meal, and then headed to the central square on time to watch the performances.
The New Year’s Day gala was scheduled to start at exactly eight o’clock, but even before eight, the central square was already packed with people. A small stage had been set up in the middle of the square, and red lanterns and decorations were hung everywhere, creating a festive atmosphere.
The performers this time were mainly cultural troops from the military, along with some specially invited guests. Before the apocalypse, some of these people might have been moderately well-known singers or dancers, who would normally charge tens of thousands for a single performance. Now, however, performing once earned them only twenty work points.
The lighting and sound equipment in the central square could only be described as rudimentary, yet everyone felt deeply immersed in it. Many people were even moved to tears—they felt that they were still alive, that there was still hope.
A new year had begun.
“Captain Zhan! Mr. Su!” After the performances ended and the crowd began to slowly disperse, someone suddenly called out to Zhan Yun and Su Ruizhe.
They turned around to see Zhang Maorong, Lin Jia, Xu Fengying, and the others. All of them wore expressions of delight, and Xu Fengying’s eyes were faintly red.
“It’s you. How are things now? Have you settled in?” Zhan Yun asked.
“We’ve settled in, settled in! Things couldn’t be better!” Their smiles were impossible to hide. “We’re really so grateful to you. We never would have imagined that a place like the Southern Base could exist in the apocalypse.”
With Línchéng Base as a comparison, the Southern Base was practically paradise.
When they had followed the map Zhan Yun gave them and arrived at the Southern Base, they’d been extremely nervous.
The Southern Base was brightly lit everywhere, with large numbers of fully armed soldiers standing guard at the gates. While lining up to enter the base, the tight security and orderly queues made them feel very tense.
But once they were inside, staff members guided them, helped them register, and arranged everything. All newcomers received three days of free food and lodging, and the meals were actually hot dishes with soup—something they never would have dared to imagine. Even their accommodations, because of the sharply dropping temperatures, came with fire basins provided free of charge. While these couldn’t compare to air conditioners or central heating, they were still wonderfully warm.
They hadn’t even mentioned that they’d been recommended by Zhan Yun’s group. Just receiving the same treatment as other survivors already left them more than satisfied.
All of them were strong and capable workers, so they easily found jobs within the base. With full bellies and good sleep, they worked hard and soon obtained official ID cards. With the work points they earned, filling their stomachs was never a problem, and they could even afford to enjoy better food from time to time.
Later on, the base began providing padded jackets, padded trousers, and quilts, which could be exchanged for only a small number of work points. It all felt so unreal that it was as though they were living in a dream.
When Zhang Maorong and Xu Fengying entered the base, they hadn’t concealed their status as ability users and voluntarily joined the city guard. Lin Jia, however, had deliberately hidden his abilities—he truly didn’t want to return to a life of being imprisoned.
But after spending this time living in the base, Lin Jia developed a strong sense of safety and belonging. He?? revealed that he was a healing-type ability user and expressed his willingness to contribute his strength to the base.
As expected, Lin Jia’s healing abilities were highly valued. He began working at the medical center, where he received excellent??. Unlike the way Línchéng Base had treated him, the Southern Base instead showed him great respect and protection.
The base did not publicly announce his identity as a healing-type ability user. Instead, he worked in the medical center like an ordinary doctor. Patients he treated recovered very quickly, and everyone simply attributed it to his superb medical skills and the base’s so-called “special medicines.” Everyone called him Doctor Lin.
Every day Lin Jia spent in the Southern Base was relaxed and happy. The group chatted with Zhan Yun and Su Ruizhe for quite a long time, noted down their address, and only then said their reluctant goodbyes.
After returning to their high-rise apartment, Su Ruizhe fell silent. Zhan Yun seemed to understand what he was thinking and gently took his hand.
Su Ruizhe looked up and met Zhan Yun’s gaze. Then, holding his hand tightly, he led him into his personal space.
This was the second time Zhan Yun had entered Su Ruizhe’s space. After Su Ruizhe’s ability upgrade, the space had undergone tremendous changes.
The original valley had doubled in size. The orchard was heavy with ripe fruit, the fields were filled with golden rice, and the vegetable plots were planted with all kinds of produce. On the open ground, flocks of chickens and ducks bustled about, while cattle and sheep grazed on the green grass. In the stream, plump fish leapt joyfully through the water. It was truly a picture of an idyllic paradise—let alone the piles of supplies collected before the apocalypse that were stacked across the open areas.
Zhan Yun already understood what he meant. After hearing what Lin Jia had said, Su Ruizhe no longer wanted to continue hiding his identity as a space-type ability user. His space held so many resources—resources the Southern Base needed more than anything.
Lin Jia’s healing ability was just as special and just as coveted as Su Ruizhe’s space ability, yet the Southern Base had chosen to protect him rather than exploit or scheme against him.
Su Ruizhe had been deeply moved. He felt that the Southern Base was truly doing practical things for the people, genuinely trying to help everyone survive better in the apocalypse. He hoped that he, too, could contribute his share.
“If you want to do it, then go ahead and do it. No matter what decision you make, I’ll support you,” Zhan Yun said softly, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead.
“Thank you.” Su Ruizhe wrapped his arms around Zhan Yun’s waist and leaned against his chest, listening to the steady, powerful beat of his heart, which filled him with a sense of peace.
He was truly grateful to fate for giving him a second chance—to live a life completely different from his previous one.
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