Chapter 73 Supporters and Volunteers

Meng Liang was very efficient. Seven days after Jiang Rong made the request, the first batch of people to support the Xinghuo Base had already boarded buses. The first batch consisted of more than 300 people, and their main responsibility was to help build natural gas pipelines for the Xinghuo Base.

The atmosphere inside the bus was heavy. Although the announcements stated that the two bases were at peace, everyone knew that Xinghuo Base was poor—so poor that it didn't even have central heating in winter, relying instead on an old-fashioned charcoal stove for warmth. Most frighteningly, Xinghuo Base had no fortified walls and few people or resources to protect them. If they went to such a base, would they even survive?

In the dead of winter, their hands were so cold they couldn't even stick out after leaving the house. If they could just get by, who would want to go out and do odd jobs? As the first group of volunteers, they actually went through a long internal struggle.

But they had no choice. Two bran cakes a day weren't enough to feed or clothe them. If they went to serve as supporters, the Peace Base would give them an extra packet of instant noodles each day. What did an extra packet of instant noodles mean? It meant that with a little more soup, they could have a decent meal.

Almost everyone on the bus got on for the instant noodles. The people at Peace Base were afraid that these people would take the noodles and run away, so they only started distributing the noodles when the bus was about to arrive at Spark Base. The rest of the noodles would have to wait until they were alive to be picked up at the base.

The leader tossed a packet of instant noodles into everyone's arms: "Do your best at the Spark Base, don't embarrass our Peace Base. The boss said if you do a good job, everyone will get ten more packets of instant noodles when we get back..."

When the leader reached one of the supporters, the man was trembling. The leader frowned and kicked him: "What are you trembling for?!"

Yu Han was suddenly kicked. He shivered and said, "No, it's not that I want to shiver, I, I'm cold..." He was only wearing two thin autumn shirts and a dirty scarf around his neck. The cold wind blew in from his collar, making his bones ache.

The leader chuckled coldly twice: "You're cold? I'm cold too! Sit up straight and don't embarrass us!"

Yu Han's hands were so frozen that she could barely hold a bowl of instant noodles.

Some people who received instant noodles couldn't wait to open the packaging. They put away the oil and vegetable packets, then carefully sprinkled the powdered seasoning onto the crumbled noodles. After shaking the seasoning well, they cautiously picked up a piece of noodles and put it in their mouths to chew.

Some people couldn't bear to eat instant noodles now, so they carefully packed them into their backpacks and then tucked them into their pockets. Having spent most of their time at the base with their children, they wanted to take the instant noodles back home for their families.

Smelling the delicious aroma of flatbread in the air, they swallowed hard and looked out the window. After the great crisis, much of the roadside vegetation had withered and died, leaving a desolate landscape as they walked. Even so, they gazed at the scenery with rapt attention. This was one of the few times they could freely breathe fresh air.

Time ticked by, and the group noticed fewer vehicles had broken down on the roadside, indicating they were nearing the Starfire Base. Sure enough, after traveling several hundred meters, they spotted a service area ahead. A red ribbon hung above the service area's sign, with large, gleaming gold characters proclaiming: "Welcome to the Peace Base Supporters!"

The vehicle slowly drove into the service area, and the leader got out of the car first.

Looking through the car window, Yu Han saw the leader talking to the people from the Spark Base with a smile on his face. The people from the Spark Base were wearing thick cotton coats, and the man seemed to be in good spirits, though she didn't know if he was a superhuman.

After verifying the list, the leader prepared to head back. He got into the car and impatiently said, "Get out, all of you! Remember, don't embarrass the base!"

Yu Han and the others got out of the car nervously, and silently walked toward the receptionist from the Xinghuo Base who was holding a megaphone.

The receptionist's voice came through the loudspeaker: "I am Jia Yuanqing, the receptionist from Xinghuo Base. Welcome everyone! Please follow me to the service area for a short rest. The base's convoy will be here to pick you up soon."

The weather was so cold that the volunteers' hands and feet were numb with cold, and every step they took felt like the chill was seeping into their bones. The distance from the parking lot to the service area was only two or three hundred meters, but people didn't say a word; the only sound was the cracking of their teeth.

The doors and windows of the service area were already damaged, but fortunately, thick curtains were hung inside. Seeing the curtains, Yu Han breathed a small sigh of relief. With the curtains blocking the wind, and with so many of them, they should be a little warmer, right?

Unexpectedly, as soon as the curtain was lifted, a wave of heat rushed out, along with the aroma of rice and pickled vegetables. Everyone looked closely and saw a workbench set up in the middle of the room with a long table. On the workbench were a row of large insulated containers, and four men dressed in white chef's uniforms were busy behind them.

As soon as they entered, the men called out, "Hungry? Quickly have some porridge to fill your stomachs! It's freezing cold, you guys have worked hard!" "Come on, come on, the mixed grain porridge is freshly cooked, everyone have some first, the steamed buns will be ready in a bit!"

The group exchanged bewildered glances. Yu Han pinched her thigh. A dull pain shot through Mu Mu's thigh, and he widened his eyes in surprise. They weren't dreaming; the people at Xinghuo Base had actually prepared delicious food for them!

Jia Yuanqing raised the megaphone again: "Brothers of the Peace Base, you've come from afar and must be tired. Our Xinghuo Base has prepared some warm porridge for you. Please don't be shy, eat as much as you like."

The crowd finally reacted, quickly forming four lines and looking expectantly at the porridge in the insulated containers.

The porridge wasn't the kind of thin, clear porridge where you could see your reflection in it; it was a thick, multigrain porridge, brimming with grains. The cook used generous bowls, and soon everyone received a large bowl of porridge, bigger than their face.

The group found a corner with their bowls of porridge, and before it even cooled, they carefully sipped it from the rim of their bowls. The sweetness of the grains filled their mouths, awakening their dormant taste buds.

A quiet sigh rippled through the crowd: "If I could drink rice porridge like this every day, I'd be willing to die at the Starfire Base."

"My goodness, this is so delicious! I haven't had such good porridge in years."

"How much grain must have been used to make such a large pot of porridge? The Spark Base is actually willing to spend so much on us..."

Just as everyone was engrossed in eating their porridge, the loudspeaker blared again: "Don't just drink porridge, everyone! We've also prepared pickled vegetables and steamed buns."

Then everyone noticed several large plastic boxes on the long table behind the cook, filled with various kinds of pickled vegetables. There were bright red dried radishes, dark green pickled mustard greens, and pickled Jerusalem artichokes sprinkled with chili powder. The dry pickled vegetables were a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate, with both sour and sweet options to choose from.

Next to the plastic box were two large bamboo baskets, and two burly men were pouring snow-white steamed buns into them. Each bun was the size of a 100-cent coin, with a smooth, swollen skin, and the unique sweet aroma of the buns filled everyone's nostrils.

No longer caring about being reserved, they crowded around the basket: "Give me one!" "Give me one, give me one."

The cook distributing the steamed buns quickly reassured everyone, "Don't worry, there's plenty. Everyone can eat as much as they want."

Seeing the people at the Peace Base scrambling for steamed buns, Jia Yuanqing turned his head away, suppressing the stinging feeling in his nose. He was from the Peace Base himself; how could he not know what kind of lives the ordinary people there led?

The past days had been too hard; they were no living beings. He was determined to use this time to persuade these people to leave the Peace Base and join the Starfire Base as soon as possible.

Just as everyone was eating, the superhumans from the Spark Base came in: "Manager Jia, after everyone has finished eating, find a few people to help carry the clothes."

The Spark Base prepared two sets of thick winter clothes for the supporters who came to provide assistance. Although the style was a bit old-fashioned, it could protect everyone from the cold as much as possible.

Jia Yuanqing quickly replied, "Okay, don't worry!"

Ordinary people in the Peace Base couldn't even guarantee access to clean drinking water, so they naturally couldn't keep themselves clean every day. The stench of human bodies combined with the aroma of rice porridge, heated by the steam, created an indescribable odor.

Although the superhuman disliked the smell, he didn't show any disgust. He had also come from this point; without the Starfire Base, he wouldn't be much better off than an ordinary person. He took the megaphone from Jia Yuanqing and said, "The Starfire Base has prepared hot bathwater for everyone. After dinner, you can all take a bath."

A shower? You can actually take a shower at the Spark Base?

Everyone who entered the bathroom received a toiletries gift bag containing toiletries and two sets of thick winter clothes. Carrying the heavy gift bags, the supporters were incredulous; Starfire Base was really generous. Were these clothes just given to them? Were they being tricked?

When they lifted the bathroom curtain, they were met with an even bigger surprise. In the middle of the house was a brightly lit bathtub, filled with mostly clear, steaming bathwater.

Upon seeing the clear water, everyone paused for a moment, then cheered and ran towards the bath: "Water! It's clear water!"

Since the Black Rain, they haven't had any clean water to drink. The water at Peace Base is purified by a water purifier; it's not only dark in color but also has an indescribable strange taste.

Everyone scooped up some warm water and drank it straight from their mouths. The water tasted sweet and had no strange flavor. It tasted exactly the same as the water they had drunk before the great crisis!

Is this really all for bathing? Isn't it too extravagant?

At this moment, the familiar loudspeaker sounded again, and Jia Yuanqing's voice echoed throughout the bathroom: "Please go to the showerhead to clean your bodies first. After you are clean, you can go to the bathtub for a bath."

Upon hearing the horn, everyone fell silent for a moment, then eagerly began to take off their clothes and rinse themselves under the showerhead. Clear, warm water flowed from the showerhead, and those who hadn't bathed for months abandoned their inhibitions, tilting their heads back to welcome the transparent water droplets, letting the clean water wash over their dirty bodies.

Yu Han was one of them. He closed his eyes, feeling the water splashing on his face, tears streaming down his face along with the water. Their lives were so miserable; to survive, they had abandoned their dignity and pride. They lived in basements like rats in a sewer, drinking uncleaned water and gnawing on barely edible bran cakes…

Before arriving at the Spark Base, everyone had grown accustomed to this kind of life. But when hot porridge and water were placed before them, the pain in their hearts became unbearable.

*

After more than 300 people had showered, it was already noon. The bus sent by Xinghuo Base to pick them up was just outside the gate. This time, when they boarded the bus, the heavy mood they had felt in the morning was gone.

They began to look forward to seeing what the Spark Base was really like. Just how different was a base that could provide them with good food, clean showers, and warm clothes?

The bus slowly pulled out of the service area and headed southeast. The group noticed that the roadside greenery was gradually increasing, and the road was becoming wider and smoother. After turning right at an intersection, they saw a checkpoint ahead.

A huge sign hangs above the checkpoint, with four words written on it: Spark Base.

Before everyone could relax, they were horrified to discover a huge, blood-red mass on the gate sign. The mass resembled a flowing flame, its vines swaying on the checkpoint, the sharp thorns of which were clearly visible.

Yu Han's face turned deathly pale. He asked his companion in terror, "That...that's a mutated plant?!" His companion's voice trembled, "Yes, yes..."

Have the superhumans at Starfire Base gone mad? It's one thing if they don't eliminate the mutated plants, but why are they leading them towards them? They're in the lead vehicle; if the mutated plants suddenly attack, they're doomed!

The mutated plant unleashed red vines, blocking the passage below the checkpoint, and the hearts of those inside the car raced. Just as they were about to scream in terror, the driver opened the window, stuck his head out, and chuckled, "Little darlings~"

Little Darling responded with a soft "Mmm!"

The driver honked the horn twice. "Stop it! There are passengers on the bus!"

Little Guaiguai twisted its vines and said crisply, "There's a problem~" Then it put away its vines and continued to lie on top of the checkpoint, waving its vines.

After rolling up the windows, the driver reassured everyone in the car: "Were you scared? Don't be afraid. This is a mutated spirit plant, the Bloodthirsty Vine, that our Jiang Tou'er tamed. It's called Little Darling. It looks fierce, but it actually has a very good temper. As long as you don't attack it first when you're walking around the base, you'll be fine. Oh, by the way, if you get lost, you can ask Little Darling to lead the way!"

Who would dare let a mutated plant lead the way? Isn't that asking for trouble? Someone in the car asked, "Why doesn't Jiang Tou'er keep it with him?" Since it's a tamed mutated spiritual plant, it's safer to keep it with him. Why release it to scare people?

However, the driver's words left everyone speechless: "The little darlings can split into branches, and we currently have several hundred of them at our base. But don't worry, all the little darlings split off from the same vine, they have a unified will, and they won't harm anyone."

The supporters were dumbfounded; they finally understood why Starfire Base didn't need walls. With such terrifying Bloodthirsty Vines, what need was there for walls?

After passing through the checkpoint, we entered the Spark Base. Just as the broadcast said, the Spark Base is located in the countryside, without skyscrapers or steel forests, but with boundless fields and peaceful, beautiful villages.

The supporters, whose hearts had nearly stopped from frightening the little darling, finally felt relieved. They peered out the window, carefully observing the Starfire Base. No wonder the Starfire Base could send them vegetables; their fields could produce so much.

The vehicle continued forward and finally stopped in front of a village. The driver smiled and said, "We've arrived at our destination. This is where you'll all be staying. Please wait in the car for a moment; other volunteers will take you around to familiarize yourself with the base."

Yu Han asked in surprise, "Volunteers?" Are they the kind of supporters forced into service by the Peace Base? The base doesn't want to pay them; they just want to hire people to do their work for them at the lowest possible cost. Yu Han and the others are all so-called "volunteers."

The driver chuckled, “It’s been cold lately, and there’s not much to do at the base. A lot of people are just sitting around doing nothing. Since I have some free time, I thought I’d do something for the base. I’m one of the volunteers who came to pick you up.”

Being a volunteer at the Spark Base is no easy feat; you have to overcome numerous obstacles. Although it was a bit of a hassle, all the volunteers got to see Team Leader Jiang, and thinking about that made it all worthwhile, no matter how hard or tiring it was.

Just then, the car door opened, and a square-faced man walked in: "Hello everyone, my name is Jiang Fangming, and I am an ordinary resident of the Xinghuo Base. You have all been assigned to Tangqiao Village. Please pack your belongings, and I will take you to see your dormitories."

After getting off the vehicle, the supporters were first taken aback by the neat rows of houses: "Wow, all villas..." Who said the Starfire Base was poor? Their village is full of small villas.

"Look, there's a solar panel on the roof!" Solar panels mean electricity, and life is much better with electricity.

Jiang Fangming led everyone toward the village, saying as they walked, "The base has prepared two houses for everyone. Before you move in, you'll draw lots to decide which room you'll live in. After you've chosen your dormitories, I'll take you around to familiarize yourself with the base environment."

Someone in the crowd asked, "Captain Jiang, are you a superhuman?"

Jiang Fangming smiled and said, "Please don't call me Captain Jiang. I'm just an ordinary person like everyone else. From now on, we'll be colleagues, so please just call me by my name."

Jiang Fangming was telling the truth; he was just an ordinary person at the base. If there was anything special about him, it was probably that he had a stable job as an electrician in Pan Pan's team, a member of the earth-elemental ability user group.

After learning Jiang Fangming's identity, everyone's relationship unconsciously grew closer. Curious, they asked, "Can we just walk around the Spark Base?"

Jiang Fangming laughed and said, "Of course, but the base is a bit big, and I haven't explored it all yet."

Yu Han sighed, "That's great... We're not allowed to wander around in the Peace Base." The Peace Base is full of cold steel and concrete; getting lost is a minor issue, but bumping into someone with superpowers would be troublesome. He'd been at the base for several months, and he could count the places he knew on one hand.

Jiang Fangming said cheerfully, "Our base is accessible by foot. Do you know Lingshan Reservoir? It's located within our base. If you're interested, I can take you there to see the scenery later."

Everyone was filled with envy: "How wonderful! A star-rated scenic spot right on our doorstep..." and there's even scenery to see. Inside the Peace Base, all they could see were high concrete walls, and even then, they had to be wary of mutated plants and animals that might appear at any moment.

The question is, why are there no harmful mutated plants or animals in such a large Spark Base?

As they approached the village entrance, a car horn sounded behind them. Jiang Fangming turned around and quickly said, "Everyone, move aside and let Captain Jiang and the others pass!"

Everyone turned to look and saw a convoy of pickup trucks and military vehicles driving in. Jiang Fangming straightened up and his smile became even brighter: "This is the convoy of Jiang Rongjiang's team from our base. They must have just returned from a mission."

Someone in the group exclaimed in surprise, "Huh? Your leader is going on a mission personally?!" The leaders of the Peace Base always assigned tasks to their subordinates, while the higher-ups remained comfortably seated in their offices, untouched by the wind or rain.

Jiang Fangming laughed and said, "Yes, Captain Jiang and his team work very hard. They are always the ones who rush to the front for the most difficult tasks in the base. Didn't you just ask me why our base doesn't have any mutated plants or animals that can kill people? It's because all the dangerous mutated plants and animals have been eliminated by Captain Jiang and his team."

From the very beginning of the construction of the Spark Base, Jiang's team cleared away mutated plants and animals village by village and town by town. Only after they had gone through could the people travel with peace of mind.

The supporters were astonished: "Captain Jiang and his team... are they really that good?!"

As they spoke, the convoy slowly pulled up beside the crowd, and Jiang Rong and the others got out of the car. Jiang Rong greeted them with a smile, "You must be supporters from Peace Base? Thank you for your hard work. I'm Jiang Rong, welcome to Spark Base."

The people at Peace Base were stunned. In their minds, Jiang Rong should be a mature middle-aged person. They never expected Jiang Rong to be so young and so good-looking!

They never imagined they would have the chance to speak directly with high-ranking officials from another base in their lifetime. Many in the team blushed and said, "It's no trouble at all, it's what we should do."

Jiang Rong smiled and said, "Everyone must be tired from the journey. Let's rest well today and talk about work tomorrow." After saying this, he looked at Jiang Fangming and said, "Xiao Jiang, I'm entrusting my friends who have come from afar to you. Please take good care of them."

Jiang Fangming's eyes sparkled. "Yes! Captain Jiang, don't worry, I will definitely take good care of everyone." Jiang Fangming screamed inwardly. Captain Jiang actually remembered his name. He felt so happy that he started to feel dizzy.

As Jiang Rong was speaking to the supporters, a group of elderly women ran out of Tangqiao Village. They were carrying red plastic bags filled with delicious treats: "Team Leader Jiang, Team Leader Jiang is here! Hahaha~"

"Captain Guan is here too! Ahhh, Captain Guan is so handsome!"

Each member of the superhuman team was called by name by the residents, causing them to flinch and instinctively pull back towards the vehicle behind them. Jiang Rong smiled at the supporters, "Time is short, we have to get back to work. I'll treat you all to a welcome feast another time."

Jiang Rong raised her hand and said, "Retreat!" Now everyone has to run fast before the residents gather around.

What happened next was a miraculous scene: Jiang Rong's team quickly retreated back to their vehicle, while the villagers of Tangqiao Village threw the food they were holding towards the convoy of superhumans. Red plastic bags traced arcs in the air before landing solidly in the pickup truck's trunk and open windows, while Jiang Rong and his team worked hard to stuff the items the residents had thrown onto the truck back into the vehicle.

During the scuffle, Chu Qiang yelled, "Who hit me on the head with a sweet potato?!"

The supporters from the Peace Base fell silent. This scene would never have happened at the Peace Base. Back there, they would avoid anyone with superpowers, afraid of offending them and incurring trouble. Food was such a precious thing; they didn't even have enough for themselves, let alone give anything to someone with superpowers…

As the residents continued to stuff things into the car, the supporters fell into deep thought: Were they really here to support the Spark Base?

Author's Note:

Supporters before heading to the Spark Base: Instant noodles are a good thing, we should keep them safe.

After arriving at the Spark Base: Who the hell eats instant noodles...?

The old cat, who had stocked up on three packs of instant noodles during Double Twelve, silently shed tears.