Chapter 36: Eating Hotpot

𝗜'𝗺 𝘂𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 10-20 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗞𝗼-𝗙𝗜. 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗺𝗲! 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘆𝗼𝘂!!

•---•---•---•---•

On the way back, aside from Ye Zian, only Anna was casually playing with the puppies, while the rest of the team remained silent.

Sensing the atmosphere was somewhat somber, Ye Zian decided to say something, stating,

"The world we live in now is one where the weak are preyed upon by the strong. To protect yourself from harm, you must enhance your strength and gain a voice."

Ye Zian's words were transmitted through the walkie-talkies to every vehicle. He felt deep sympathy for the four victims, but sympathy alone wouldn't fill their stomachs. Similar events were happening every day in every corner of the apocalypse.

The convoy safely returned to the fortress, where Liu Qinghuan and Ye Yu were standing guard at the city gate.

Once inside the fortress, Ye Zian unreservedly pulled Liu Qinghuan into an embrace, saying,

"Notify everyone to go to the cafeteria to collect clean clothes."

He decided not to make the residents exchange points for these essentials but instead let them freely choose a few sets.

Certain benefits were still essential.

Of course, the box of clothes Anna had given him was secretly kept aside by Ye Zian.

Inside were various styles of intimate apparel, and he couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of everyone wearing outfits that suited them.

Upon receiving news of Ye Zian's return, Zhao Wanrong hurried to the cafeteria, still wearing the shirt she had on. She was efficiently directing the administrative team to assist the warehouse team in distributing various styles of clothing.

The fortress was about to become a more aesthetically pleasing place, with a riot of colors.

"Everyone, split into five teams, line up according to size, and collect five sets of clean clothes. The rest will be stored in the warehouse for future point exchanges."

The clothing Ye Zian and the search team had gathered from the Yida Mall amounted to over ten thousand sets. Even if every person received five sets each, there would still be plenty left in the warehouse.

These garments, while not as critical as food, were irreplaceable resources in the apocalypse, essential for survival.

After all, no one wanted to be naked.

Seeing Zhao Wanrong's serious and meticulous demeanor, Ye Zian walked over and handed her the [Ultimate Rice Seed (2 pounds)] card.

As she was supervising the distribution of clothing, Zhao Wanrong was taken aback when a card was suddenly thrust into her hand. She was about to get angry but then saw Ye Zian's cheerful face.

With a hint of playful reprimand, she said,

"You little rascal, what are you up to now?"

"Jiejie Wanrong, you're wronging me!"

Ye Zian silently pointed at the card in her hand.

Zhao Wanrong recalled Ye Zian's childhood expression, feeling a twinge of guilt.

When Ye Zian was wronged as a child, he often wore that same look.

Feeling a pang of empathy, she gently stroked Ye Zian's head, comforting him just like when he was little.

"Alright, I see I misjudged you."

She picked up the card and examined it closely, curious about what Ye Zian had placed in her hands.

Upon seeing the contents of the card, she couldn't help but exclaim, her joy matching that of Ye Zian earlier.

"With this, we won't have to worry about food shortages in the fortress anymore."

A golden light surrounded Zhao Wanrong, eventually converging in her hands, where two palm-sized bags of seeds appeared.

The once brilliant golden card lost its luster and turned semi-transparent.

However, Ye Zian knew that the card was absorbing energy from the air and would be ready to recharge in three days.

Zhao Wanrong, with her usual decisiveness, immediately arranged for people to plant the seeds.

While Ye Zian was out searching for supplies, Zhao Wanrong had already directed the support team to clear out several plots of land within the fortress, ready for planting as soon as they obtained seeds.

"Good, it seems I was wrong about you."

Ye Zian chuckled, "Then like when I was little, give me a hug, and I won't be angry anymore."

Zhao Wanrong laughed softly, no longer paying attention to Ye Zian, instead turning to find someone to be responsible for planting the seeds.

The five teams quickly selected their clothing, with half of the surplus being stored in Ye Zian's space and the other half kept in the warehouse.

Today, every team member who went out received an additional 500 points as a reward, and it was announced that there would be a group hotpot dinner tonight, with unlimited ingredients.

Everyone was eager to lift Ye Zian high, shouting long live the city lord.

Tonight, the kitchen was preparing hotpot, primarily because Ye Zian had found a large stock of vacuum-sealed hotpot ingredients in a restaurant.

The temperatures in early spring weren't too low, so the ingredients hadn't spoiled even with the power outage.

On this chilly night, a steaming hotpot was the best way to warm everyone's hearts.

Except for some city defense team members dining on the walls, who were forbidden from drinking, the rest of the residents sat at tables of six, gathered around a yin-yang hotpot, clinking glasses and enjoying their meal.

Ye Zian's table was especially large, including leaders from various groups and Su Wei and Lin Qianshan.

Each was a stunning beauty, once the center of attention before the apocalypse, now gathered around Ye Zian.

The table was filled with dozens of plates of hotpot ingredients: beef balls, two large plates of sliced beef, duck blood, enoki mushrooms, potato slices...

Unlike the hotpot restaurants outside, Ye Zian placed no limitations on the portions; the only requirement was that team members wash and prepare their own ingredients, taking as much as they wanted without wasting.

The bubbling broth boiled in the pot, and the red-and-white yin-yang pot was filled with various ingredients.

"Wow, so hot, so spicy!"

Anna grabbed a piece of beef, not caring whether it was fully cooked, and shoved it into her mouth. The scorching, spicy beef made her yelp, and she couldn't help but smack her lips.

She continuously panted and then grabbed a cold beer to chug, feeling somewhat better.

Anna didn't learn her lesson and picked up a beef ball to pop into her mouth, only to be burned again by the broth inside.

Everyone laughed at Anna's adorable reactions, and the atmosphere lightened considerably.

"City lord, let's have a toast."

Two members of the search team approached Ye Zian, each holding a glass of beer.

Several brave team members specifically came over to toast with Ye Zian.

Without Ye Zian's foresight, they wouldn't know what kind of life they would be living now.

"Cheers!"

Ye Zian naturally welcomed them, which led to even more residents coming over to drink. Even Liu Qinghuan, who had never tried alcohol before, tentatively had a few sips.

It was cold and a bit bitter.

Seeing this, Anna hoisted a crate of beer and approached Ye Zian provocatively.

•---•---•---•---•

𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁: '𝗕𝗼𝗴𝗱𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂' 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝘆 $5 𝗧𝗶𝗲𝗿.

𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁: '𝗝𝗰1202' 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝘆 $5 𝗧𝗶𝗲𝗿.

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