111: evacuation

Lujiang Base

When the convoy from Hongshan University drove into the perimeter of Lujiang Base, the exhaustion of everyone on board was instantly dispelled by the shocking sight before them!

Students crowded against the windows, and the teachers couldn't help but stand up, letting out gasps of disbelief!

"Oh my god! Is... is that a city wall?!"

"Holy mother of god! It's so high!"

"Look! There are artillery emplacements up there! And Machine Gun Bunkers!"

What greeted their eyes was a towering city wall stretching for several kilometers and reaching fifteen meters in height! The wall, cast from an unknown silver-gray alloy and high-strength concrete, was as thick as a mountain, exuding an indestructible, icy luster. On the wall, watchtowers stood like the horns of a steel beast, while gaping machine gun ports, menacing sentry guns, massive searchlights, and sturdy Machine Gun Bunkers were densely packed like dragon scales. Squads of well-equipped Red Alert Soldiers in uniform stood like steel statues behind the battlements, while patrol vehicles drove slowly along the wide top of the wall, emitting a dull, reassuring rumble. This was no mere temporary shelter; it was clearly a steel fortress built for war! A strong sense of security instantly enveloped everyone who had just arrived.

The convoy passed through the massive alloy gates and entered the city, the sight inside once again causing everyone to gasp in amazement.

The streets were wide and clean, with neatly planned, bright, and tidy residential buildings. There were orderly queues in front of the supply distribution points, signs for neighborhood offices were clearly visible, and there were even patrol outposts. Most surprising of all were the people in the base! Although everyone's face bore the weathering characteristic of the apocalypse, they all radiated a peaceful, and even hopeful, smile. Children played in the base park, the elderly sat on benches basking in the sun, and those hurrying about mostly seemed to have a clear sense of purpose.

"Big brother, this... how does this place feel..." a student couldn't help but stop a passing resident.

"Hey, you guys are new, right?" The resident smiled with pride. "Our Lujiang Base isn't just about fighting! We have production zones! See those big factories smoking over there? Food processing plants, textile mills, machinery repair shops, and even farms... they're all operating! Those with skills go to be researchers or Engineers, and the benefits are great! As for me, I have a bit of strength, so working in the construction team is pretty good too! In our base, everyone has work to do, and everyone has food to eat!"

Listening to the resident and seeing the orderly, even vibrant scene before them, the teachers and students of Hongshan University felt as if they were in another world. Was this really the apocalypse? Even in the orderly days of peace, things were barely better than this, right?

Under the warm guidance of Luo Xun, the teachers and students of Hongshan University were efficiently directed to various offices under the resident neighborhood management headquarters. Registering information, taking photos, recording fingerprints and iris scans, receiving the base's special identity point cards... the process was efficient and user-friendly.

"Hello, Principal Li! I am Luo Xun, in charge of the resettlement work. Based on your resume and your Evolver ability, the base has arranged a two-bedroom apartment for you in Building 3, Zone B. Of course, if you have any special needs or are willing to take on a management position..." Luo Xun flipped through the files, his attitude respectful.

Principal Li waved his hand wearily but gently, interrupting Luo Xun, his voice carrying a hoarse sense of relief: "Director Luo, thank you for the base's arrangements. There is no need for a position. This past month or so... has been too exhausting. I just want to be an ordinary person; I'll go work at the farm, that's fine. Watching those pigs and chickens jumping around makes me feel at ease." There was no disappointment in his eyes, only the calm of someone who had set down a heavy burden. Zhang Lei nodded silently on the side, understanding that what this old educator needed most at this moment was spiritual rest and a return to simple labor.

When assigning accommodation, Evolvers and recognized high-end technical talent (such as several professors) received preferential treatment, being assigned single suites or more spacious residences. Ordinary teachers and students were assigned to fully equipped two-bedroom suites with four people per room; although slightly crowded, they were clean, tidy, and had stable water and electricity, which was infinitely better than their time at Hongshan University.

The base's policy: For the first month, everyone is provided with two free basic meals per day (usually coarse grain buns/rice with pickles and a small amount of vegetable soup). To get extra meals or better living supplies (such as fresh vegetables, meat, clothing, daily necessities, etc.), one needs to exchange points earned through labor. All work compensation is recorded on the identity point card; this point system replaces currency and is efficient and transparent. Many survivors, in order to save up points to exchange for crystal cores that might awaken a Supernatural Ability, are extremely "stingy" with themselves, preferring to eat less just to save their points.

In the evening, the base canteen was brightly lit. Having experienced a long journey and huge emotional fluctuations, the teachers and students of Hongshan University arrived here, covered in exhaustion.

The canteen was filled with the aroma of food. The serving windows displayed steaming coarse grain buns, glistening white rice, thick meat porridge floating with drops of oil, and crisp pickled vegetables. There was even a special window offering a limited supply of free, fragrant roasted mutant beast meat! The enticing aroma made people drool.

"Come, come, children, you've worked hard! Here, take two buns and a bowl of porridge each! Add the pickles yourself! There's plenty! Eat your fill and get a good rest!" The canteen aunt's loud voice carried a strong sense of everyday life and warmth as she efficiently distributed the food.

The students and teachers carried their trays and found seats. Although the meal was simple, after experiencing hunger and fear, this warm food felt like a delicacy from heaven. Their exhausted bodies were nourished by the food, and their tense nerves gradually relaxed. The canteen was filled with low conversations and the sound of bowls and chopsticks clinking.

"Professor Wang, I heard you were hired as a senior consultant by the research center? And you got a single suite? That's amazing!"

"Eh, it's just doing a bit of my old trade. The base values knowledge highly, and the benefits are indeed quite good."

"I was assigned to the food factory, and I start work tomorrow! I heard that if you do well, you get plenty of points!"

"I'm going to the textile workshop... I hope to save up enough points soon to exchange for a crystal core and see if I can become an Evolver..."

"Old Li, look over there, the recruitment notice for the farm is posted. Shall we go sign up together tomorrow?"

Watching the radiance return to the faces of his students and teachers as they discussed their assigned work and small plans for the future, Principal Li, sitting in the corner quietly drinking porridge, finally let a genuine, relieved smile touch the corners of his mouth. He didn't need to stand at the very front anymore. In this majestic city forged of steel and united by human hearts, being an ordinary animal keeper and watching life propagate was perhaps the peace he needed most at this moment. The physical and mental exhaustion of the past month had finally found a harbor where he could dock and slowly heal.