Chapter 183

Chapter 183: The Door to Rebirth in the Apocalypse

After consulting with the people who followed her off the ship, everyone expressed their willingness to go to the settlement point with Gu Ning. Most were motivated by gratitude, while a small minority simply followed the crowd, knowing that they couldn’t survive in the base alone if everyone else left. It was better to follow Gu Ning to the settlement point.

Upon returning to the settlement, Gu Ning had the supplies unloaded from the vehicles, claiming they were exchanged from the base, though they were actually from her personal space. She also brought back guns; Zhuang Chen kept a small portion, but most of the firearms and ammunition, including grenades and two rocket launchers, were given to Gu Ning. Third Brother and his team had run out of bullets, and when they saw the weapons Gu Ning brought back, they pounced on them like wolves, quickly dividing them up.

Gao Yue, passing by, casually slung a rocket launcher over her shoulder: “I’m taking this one.” After walking a few steps, she turned back and said to Gu Ning, “Hurry up with the machine I asked for. We’re running low on antidote.”

Everyone was speechless.

After a simple breakfast, Gu Ning called a small meeting with Third Brother, Jia Daozhang, and others. She explained the ideas the young people had come up with the previous night. Third Brother and Jia Daozhang were stunned, taking a while to process it: “Gu Ning, are you serious? Building a base? Like the Capital City base?”

Gu Ning nodded, “Exactly.”

“Gu Ning, you’re aiming big!” Jia Daozhang swallowed hard, his tongue tingling from excitement. “But how are we going to gather enough supplies to sustain such a large base?”

“I’ll handle the supplies. For now, let’s focus on developing this settlement point. I hope everyone here can keep the base plans confidential,” Gu Ning said. Apart from Xia Yu, everyone present was from the Three-Linked Team. Lin Zihao, Chen Wen, Liu Mei, and Liu Xin were not there yet; they needed more time to prove their trustworthiness.

“After lunch, Xia Yu, Zhang Xiaobai, and Zhong Xu, each take a group to nearby settlements to recruit people. Ages 14 to 50, regardless of gender, as long as they pass the assessment, they’ll get three meals a day, all they can eat. Additionally, the elderly and children from the settlement can come here for lunch daily. They must eat on-site; no takeout allowed,” Gu Ning instructed. It was just the beginning; they needed to recruit capable people to build a solid foundation, but not too many at once. Due to the settlement’s limited resources, Gu Ning worried that the weak elderly and children might not survive long, so the free lunch initiative was also a way to save their lives.

“Mengyao, select a few people to handle the ‘interviews’ and register their information. Third Brother, Daozhang, and Hong Jie, you’ll be responsible for interviewing and selecting suitable candidates. Method and Cheng Ming, maintain order during the process; don’t be lenient. Xiang Yi, you’ll lead Xiang Xu, He He, and Wu Sen to oversee the porridge distribution. No takeout allowed; they must eat on-site. If anyone disobeys, kick them out.”

Xiang Yi nodded readily, “Got it!” He had practically become the leader of the kids. Gu Dad was responsible for their cultural lessons, while Xiang Yi supervised their physical training. Every day at dawn, they ran laps around the field. Xiang Yi, who was initially reluctant, had now gotten the hang of it. He planned to teach the kids over ten how to shoot in a few days.

Everyone had their tasks. After discussing the details, they all felt a sense of excitement. Since the apocalypse, they had been constantly on the move, just trying to survive, killing zombies and digging for crystal cores, hoping to see another day. Now, with a clear goal, they felt a surge of motivation and excitement, especially with Gu Ning’s vision of a future base. Zhang Xiaobai, Method, and Cheng Ming, in particular, felt like they were making history, creating a legend!

With such enthusiasm, their efficiency skyrocketed.

Huang Mengyao called Liu Mei, Liu Xin, and Chen Wen, directing a few men from the settlement to set up tables and chairs at the entrance. Hong Jie briefed them on key points for filling out the forms.

Gu Mama took charge, moving tables, chairs, and cooking utensils. Soon, three makeshift stoves were set up in the field, with large pots and a row of tables and chairs. The stoves were lit, and porridge preparation began. The elderly in the settlement also pitched in, showing great enthusiasm, washing rice and adding firewood. The once-quiet settlement suddenly came alive.

“Once we recruit more people, I plan to raise the walls higher. We need patrols around the settlement 24/7 to ensure absolute safety. Also, Zhuang Chen promised to get us a few drones to help us see further. That way, if zombies approach, we can prepare in advance,” Gu Ning said as she and Third Brother Jia Daozhang walked around the settlement, making arrangements.

“Who exactly are Zhuang Chen and Yi Shaoqing? How can they still get drones in these times?” Jia Daozhang marveled, then added with concern, “But Gu Ning, aren’t you trusting them too much? They’re from Base One. What if in the future…”

“Don’t worry, Daozhang, I know them well enough,” Gu Ning reassured. “We can trust them completely.” Though inwardly, Gu Ning found it amusing. While Zhuang Chen and Yi Shaoqing had special statuses, the drones were actually something she planned to request from Ji Jiuzhe. She would attribute such resources to Zhuang Chen, inadvertently building an image of Zhuang Chen and Yi Shaoqing as all-powerful.

Jia Daozhang felt reassured by Gu Ning’s confidence. Despite her youth, Gu Ning wasn’t one to trust easily. He had also interacted with Zhuang Chen and Yi Shaoqing and found them to be upright individuals, so he set aside his worries and focused on the present.

“We can cut down some trees from the mountains to build protective walls. I also suggest opening a back gate behind the school and scouting the rear roads, just in case,” Jia Daozhang offered.

“Xiang Yi plans to teach the kids over ten how to shoot in a few days. I think that’s feasible. Even He He and Wu Sen can now shoot zombies, and the kids are eager to learn. Method is steady; he can oversee it,” Third Brother said.

Gu Ning nodded in agreement.

“By the way, the base’s vegetables are grown hydroponically, with crystal cores mixed in the water to speed up growth. We can have Gao Yue experiment with it. If it works, we can have fresh vegetables in the future,” Gu Ning added. It wasn’t practical to bring everything from elsewhere; solving the problem at its root was better. She had accumulated a significant number of crystal cores, enough for dilution as Ji Jiuzhe suggested.

“It really feels like we’re rebuilding a home,” Third Brother said, watching the bustling settlement with a smile. More importantly, everyone was working towards the same goal, a feeling both subtle and incredibly motivating.

Jia Daozhang didn’t speak, just chuckled. He was still grateful for the decision he made back then.

Gu Ning couldn’t help but smile, “It will get better.”

Third Brother and Jia Daozhang nodded in unison, firmly saying, “It will.”

The first batch of recruits arrived quickly.

Zhang Xiaobai was the first to step out of the vehicle, calling to those inside, “Everyone, come on out!”

Huang Mengyao and Liu Mei were ready.

The bus was packed, and people filed out one after another, their faces filled with anxiety and curiosity. Gu Ning, Third Brother, and Jia Daozhang walked to the entrance to observe. This group had about fifty people, men and women of all ages, but most of those eligible for the assessment were men. There were about seven or eight women, but five of them were holding children, clearly there for the free lunch rather than the assessment.

Though expected, Gu Ning couldn’t help feeling a bit disappointed.

“Those here for the assessment, please register here! Elderly and children, follow us this way!” Chen Wen and the younger Liu Xin were assigned as guides, leading the newcomers to their destinations.

The elderly and children followed Chen Wen and Liu Xin nervously. Those here for the assessment waited at the entrance to fill out forms. Huang Mengyao and Liu Mei quickly wrote on paper, occasionally looking up to ask questions: “Age? What did you do before the apocalypse? Have you killed zombies? Any family?” and so on.

Some also asked questions: “What do we eat for three meals a day? Is it all-you-can-eat? Do we need to pay for accommodation? If I pass, can I bring my wife and kids here?”

Huang Mengyao and the others were prepared, patiently answering each question.

Third Brother and Jia Daozhang watched for a while before returning to the interview area, waiting to meet those who passed the initial screening.

Meanwhile, a conflict arose at the porridge distribution line.

“Why can’t I bring my child in? What if you take my child and don’t give them back?!” a woman shouted at Liu Xin. Liu Xin, feeling wronged and unsure what to do, suddenly saw Gu Ning watching and nodding encouragingly. Instantly filled with courage, she pursed her lips and said to the woman, “This is our rule. If you don’t want to follow it, you can leave with your child.”

Seeing Liu Xin’s firmness and the men at the entrance with guns glaring at her, the woman’s tone softened, “Oh, I was just asking. Baby, be good, go in with her and have some porridge!”

Liu Xin took the hand of the four or five-year-old boy and walked forward, glancing back at where Gu Ning had been standing, only to find it empty, feeling a pang of disappointment.

“Thank you, thank you!” The elderly receiving porridge kept thanking.

Gu Mama smiled warmly, “No problem! If you’re still hungry, come back for more. All-you-can-eat! There are tables and chairs over there; everyone can sit and eat.”

The first elderly person to get porridge thanked her and sat down, picking up a spoon from the table and scooping a spoonful. The porridge they usually had was often watery, with barely any rice grains, but this bowl was thick, like what they used to make at home.

Taking a sip, the hot porridge warmed their throat and stomach, an indescribable comfort that almost brought tears to their eyes.

These people had come hoping for a stroke of luck, and with the free transportation, they decided to give it a try. They never expected such kindness in these times!

Gu Mama watched them devour the porridge, especially the children, who seemed to have been starving for a long time, gulping it down despite the heat, then spitting it back into the bowl. Gu Mama quickly walked over, “Everyone, slow down! Don’t burn yourselves! Don’t eat too much and upset your stomach. We’ll be serving porridge here every day before 2 PM. You can come every day.”

“Grandma! Can we come here to eat porridge tomorrow?” a clever-looking twelve or thirteen-year-old boy asked.

“Of course!” Gu Mama replied, “Just be careful not to get caught by zombies on the way.”

“I’m not afraid of zombies! I can kill them!” the boy said seriously.

Gu Mama chuckled and walked away.

The boy drank his porridge, his eyes darting around. Seeing no one was watching, he quietly pulled out a red plastic bag from his pocket, slowly moving the bowl under the table, his eyes fixed on Gu Mama. His hand under the table tipped the bowl into the bag—

“What are you doing?” a voice suddenly rang out above him.

The boy, already on edge, was startled, his hand jerking, causing the bag and bowl to fall to the ground.