370: Hallucinations from exhaustion?

“We have too little equipment, and the fuel we found on the way is almost used up. I need supplies from the logistics warehouse to continue my research,” Gu Yunshan said anxiously.

Xi Province was thousands of kilometers from Yang City, and no one could contact the Huaxia Base.

Without approval from above, Miss Jiang's decision to use a portion of the supplies to transfer survivors was already very risky.

Taking more would likely be enough to warrant a severe punishment.

He wasn't sure if Miss Jiang would agree.

But he had no choice.

The research project had been stalled for too long, stuck at a critical juncture, and they had to make a breakthrough as soon as possible.

If successful, it could improve the nuclear contamination situation in Xi Province.

Jiang Fei: “Brother Gu, write down all the supplies you need. I’ll go to the logistics warehouse later to look for them and bring back whatever I can find for you.”

“If the Chairman and Director Ning knew about your research, they would also strongly support it.”

Her Supermarket warehouse had a large amount of supplies, which should be enough to gather what Brother Gu needed.

If not, she would use a teleportation talisman to return to the Huaxia Base and ask Director Ning for help.

“Alright! If the higher-ups ask about the whereabouts of the supplies, Miss Jiang, just say I forced you with a gun. I will bear all the consequences and punishments.”

Gu Yunshan finished speaking and immediately went to find paper and pen to write the list.

Taking advantage of this gap, Jiang Fei asked Mother Xiao: “Aunt Xiao, where is Uncle Xiao?”

“He’s in the bungalow behind the brick house, tending to the medicinal herbs.”

“The soil contamination in Songquan Town isn’t severe. After our improvements, a small patch of land can now be cultivated.”

“However, the soil lacks sufficient nutrients, causing the medicinal herbs to grow poorly, often turning yellow and wilting. Someone has to constantly watch over them.”

“Your Uncle Xiao usually loves growing flowers and plants and has planting experience, so Little Gu assigned this task to him.”

Mother Xiao suddenly lowered her eyes: “Old Xiao’s health isn’t what it used to be.”

“Although we’ve taken anti-cancer medication and won’t get cancer from nuclear contamination, we will suffer other effects.”

“Old Xiao’s immune system has problems; he often gets sick and has allergies.”

“I have joint pain, and my joints are deformed like a Gray Rat’s shoulder.”

Mother Xiao pulled up her sleeve, revealing her deformed right hand.

Her five fingers were twisted to varying degrees.

This was also one of the reasons she chose to stay and research.

She wanted to save herself, save Old Xiao, and hold on until the day she could see her daughter again.

Jiang Fei stared blankly at Mother Xiao’s right hand, lost in thought.

A moment later, Gu Yunshan handed her the completed list.

After putting away the list, Jiang Fei, Lu Yu, and Su Liuyuan returned to the team, called Xu Qianyao and the other two out of the car, and told them about Gu Yunshan’s situation.

“Qian Yao, you, Tian Jie, and Xiao Wu stay here and watch the cars.”

“Lu Yu, Liu Yuan, and I will go to the nearest Ye City to retrieve supplies and install the locators.”

Yan Tianjie again raised an objection:

“Jiang Fei, you cannot privately use the supplies stored in the logistics warehouse; that is state property.”

Jiang Fei simply ignored him and drove off to Ye City with Lu Yu.

Yan Tianjie, feeling ignored, stomped back to the RV and wrote down Jiang Fei’s “crimes” on paper.

When he returned to the Huaxia Base in the future, he would report her to the Chairman and Director Ning!

—

As soon as they entered Ye City, the nuclear radiation detector in Jiang Fei’s car sounded an alarm.

The reading was twice as high as that of Songquan Town.

With the super awesome RV and protective suits, Jiang Fei wasn't worried about radiation.

She found the logistics warehouse and got out of the car alone to collect the supplies inside.

There was still no gold, but Jiang Fei wasn’t disappointed. She returned to the car, sprayed her protective suit with solution, and then removed her mask.

After taking out pre-made meals from the Supermarket, Jiang Fei and the other two ate. To stall for time and avoid suspicion, they even took an hour-long nap.

After waking up, they re-donned their protective gear, replaced their oxygen tanks with new ones, and Jiang Fei drove back to the entrance of Songquan Town.

With no one around, she took out five military large trucks.

One truck was loaded with supplies that survivors would need on the road.

Two trucks were loaded with the items Gu Yunshan requested.

The supplies in the logistics warehouse all had national flag stickers, so there was no fear of mixing them up with hers.

However, Jiang Fei didn't have several types of equipment, so she could only take them from the logistics warehouse.

Taking out paper and pen, she noted down the name of each piece of equipment, intending to show the list to Director Ning.

They couldn't drive all five trucks back, so Jiang Fei used the walkie-talkie to call Xu Qianyao, asking him to bring Yan Tianjie and Zhu Xiaowu to help.

Soon, the three arrived.

Along with Lu Yu and Su Liuyuan, they drove the large trucks into Songquan Town.

Jiang Fei followed behind in the RV.

Parking the car near the brick house, Jiang Fei got out and went inside to find Gu Yunshan.

“Brother Gu, the vehicles and supplies have been transported back.”

“Everything you asked for was in the logistics warehouse.”

“That’s great!” Gu Yunshan excitedly went out to check.

Three whole trucks full of supplies made Gu Yunshan’s eyes widen:

“Did you three move all these supplies?”

“No,” Jiang Fei fabricated a lie:

“There were transport planes and grabbers in the warehouse. We used machines to load the trucks.”

Gu Yunshan didn’t think much of it and went to announce the good news to the survivors.

Upon learning that they could leave Xi Province and even go to the Huaxia Base for treatment, everyone cheered with joy.

Gray Rat was responsible for counting the number of people.

Gu Yunshan, Lu Yu, Su Liuyuan, Xu Qianyao, and Zhu Xiaowu led the survivors in moving things off the trucks.

Yan Tianjie also got out to help.

This was not an endorsement of Jiang Fei’s decision through action, but because he wanted his compatriots to go home as soon as possible and escape this damned place.

But rules were rules; that annoying person using supplies privately was simply wrong!

Jiang, the annoying person, Fei, found Mother Xiao, who was setting up equipment alone:

“Aunt Xiao, actually, Chu Xia isn’t at the Huaxia Base. She’s on a secret mission in Min Province.”

“I just contacted Chu Xia on the walkie-talkie on the way. She’s finished her work there and can come to see you before returning to the base.”

Aunt Xiao and Uncle Xiao chose to stay with Brother Gu in Songquan Town to conduct research.

Who knows when they would succeed and be able to go to the base.

Especially since their health wasn’t good.

If something unexpected happened, she was afraid Xiao Hua Lao would live in regret her whole life.

It was a good opportunity to report the situation here to Director Ning and send some people to help Brother Gu and his team.

“Only I know about Chu Xia’s mission. Besides Uncle Xiao, Aunt Xiao, you cannot tell anyone else, including Xu Qianyao.”

Otherwise, it would be exposed.

Mother Xiao’s breathing quickened: “I promise I won’t tell anyone!”

“Then when Chu Xia arrives, I’ll bring her to see you.”

Jiang Fei went outside and quietly told Lu Yu and Su Liuyuan about returning to the base.

“If Qian Yao and the others ask what I’m doing in the car, just say I’m not feeling well and resting.”

Lu Yu: “You go ahead, I’ll handle things here.”

Returning to the RV’s bedroom, Jiang Fei pulled the blackout curtains, locked the door.

She took off her protective suit, cleaned it with solution, and stored it in the Supermarket warehouse before taking out a teleportation talisman.

She glanced at the watch on her wrist: 13:00.

At this time, Director Ning had just started his afternoon work.

“System, I want to use the teleportation talisman.”

“Please choose the teleportation destination, Host.”

“Yang City Huaxia Land Base, Director Ning’s office.”

“Please confirm the teleporting personnel.”

“Jiang Fei.”

The talisman paper in Jiang Fei’s hand suddenly flew into the air, emitting a strong white light.

She instinctively closed her eyes.

When she opened them again, Jiang Fei was standing in Director Ning’s office.

The room was empty.

The next second, with a click, the door was pushed open.

Director Ning walked in, holding a ceramic teacup, then suddenly froze, staring blankly at Jiang Fei not far away.

“It’s over… I’m so tired I’m hallucinating…”