Chapter 96: The Thanksgiving Dinner!

Tang Qiqiang could already tell that Zhao Weisu was likely involved with Xue Feng as well. All the beauties within the base had already pledged their allegiance to Xue Feng.

“Just to remind you, Zhao Weisu is the second most powerful fighter in our base—only after me. She’s an ability user, and was once the leader of another base,” Xue Feng explained.

Currently, there was another ability user in the base, Hao Yifei. However, in Xue Feng’s eyes, Zhao Weisu was the stronger of the two. Although Hao Yifei’s abilities were more suited for combat, she lacked the heart for it—she only wanted to protect herself in this apocalyptic world.

Zhao Weisu was different. She had gathered a group of her own and was determined to carve out a place for herself in the end times.

“An ability user! I see!” Tang Qiqiang’s heart was struck by this revelation, and he nodded rapidly, his gaze toward Zhao Weisu becoming much more respectful. So she was an ability user, and she’d managed a base before! He realized he had underestimated her.

At that moment, Tang Qiqiang could hardly stop himself from slapping his own face. What age was this, after all? It was the apocalypse! How could he still judge people with old-fashioned thinking, or look down on women? If he truly offended someone powerful, he might not even know how he met his end.

Afterward, Xue Feng gave Tang Qiqiang some further instructions, telling him to come directly to him with any questions or issues. Tang Qiqiang left, full of gratitude.

Once back at the third zone, in his own quarters, Tang Qiqiang couldn’t wait to share the news with his wife, Song Yan.

When Song Yan learned she would be responsible for organizing the group to plant melons and vegetables, her face was full of worry. “I’ve never managed so many people before… What if I mess it up?” Song Yan had been an ordinary housewife. She’d never held a position of authority, let alone organized thirty people to work the fields. It was no simple task: How could she make use of all thirty people? How could she improve efficiency and avoid slackers? What if someone refused to follow orders? These were all things she had to consider.

“Don’t worry, I’ll help you draw up a plan. Besides, in the apocalypse, everyone knows the consequences of disobedience. My ability will be useful too,” Tang Qiqiang reassured her with a smile.

He’d once worried as well—back before the Honghua Society persecuted his group, he’d had over two hundred people under him, unsure how to manage them all. But later, he realized his worries were unfounded. Now, the only hope for survivors was to keep living.

As long as they could survive, they would do anything.

Song Yan nodded. She understood that her promotion to C-level had a lot to do with her husband’s abilities.

“It’s getting late. Dinner is at six. Let’s go,” Tang Qiqiang said, looking forward to their first meal here.

With the increased population in the base, mealtimes could no longer be organized as before, with everyone eating in their villas. Gu Xiaoqian had converted one of the vacant villas in Zone Three into a cafeteria, simply by furnishing it with tables and chairs. The actual cooking still took place in Zone One.

With the growing number of mouths to feed, Liu Qiqi was no longer the only cook. Gu Xiaoqian assigned the original five girls to assist Liu Qiqi. These five had now all been promoted to D-level staff. When they learned they would be working in the cafeteria, each was thrilled. Once, working as a cafeteria lady was something they’d have despised, but now it felt like paradise.

Gu Xiaoqian had chosen them because they’d all been properly trained—not one dared sneak food, even in the cafeteria.

Soon, Tang Qiqiang and the others received their dinner: fried rice with some sausage and green peas mixed in. Each person received a full plate. Some were so moved at the sight of steaming hot fried rice that tears sprang to their eyes. They’d forgotten the last time they’d eaten anything hot, let alone a staple food like rice. In the apocalypse, eating rice was a rare luxury, especially in the city. Without electricity, cooking required making a fire—a complicated affair that involved gathering wood and expending precious energy. Most people simply soaked the rice in water until it was soft enough to eat. Fried rice? That was something from a dream.

The portion of fried rice was generous, enough to fill their stomachs. They’d expected their food rations to be meager, but clearly, their fears were unfounded—they wouldn’t go hungry here.

Tang Qiqiang also noticed that his plate included an extra grilled sausage and an instant chicken leg—perks of a B-level member. Song Yan’s plate had an extra sausage.

“Here, you eat it,” Tang Qiqiang said out of habit, offering the chicken leg to his wife. For years, he’d always given his wife the better portion.

“No, you eat it. You’re going to be the main provider now. I already feel lucky to have this,” Song Yan said firmly, pushing the chicken leg back. This was no longer a time of abundance—her husband, as the family’s pillar, needed more food.

Tang Qiqiang nodded, taking a bite of fried rice. Normally, it would have been just an ordinary meal, but now it was unparalleled in flavor.

At that moment, Tang Qiqiang felt deeply grateful for his decision to join Xue Feng’s base—it had truly been the right choice.

…

“This fried rice is pretty good. Liu Qiqi’s cooking has improved,” Xue Feng commented after finishing his dinner. Of course, his own meal included more than just fried rice; there was also some grilled meat.

“She’s settled down now. With Liu Jun safe, she feels secure enough to focus here,” An Xiaowei explained, understanding Liu Qiqi’s worries—her only concern was her brother.

Hearing this, Xue Feng nodded, then looked toward a new face at the table: Li Wangmiao.

“Are you settling in well here?” Xue Feng asked.

Perhaps the mention of her brother had distracted her, because Xue Feng had to repeat the question before Li Wangmiao responded.

“I’m fine! The dogs haven’t forgotten me, you know—they still recognize my scent,” she replied. Seeing the rescued dogs again had lifted her spirits, especially when she saw how well they were doing—unlike the dogs she’d kept herself, who were all thin and malnourished. It made her question herself: perhaps handing all the dogs over to Xue Feng would have been the kinder choice—keeping them with her had only caused them suffering.

Guilt welled up in Li Wangmiao’s chest. She and her brother had even asked Xue Feng for instant noodles and bottled water. They should have been giving compensation to Xue Feng instead.

Suddenly, a flush crept over Li Wangmiao’s face.