The bricks, tiles, steel bars, and other materials were all piled up in an open space, waiting to be arranged together with the construction team later so that construction could begin. The excavator was almost finished with its work.

We can arrange for someone to come here and help dig the foundation.

After taking everything out of the space, Jian Ning was done. Xiao Lingfeng had to stay and do some handover, while she strolled home by herself.

Upon arriving at the base's main gate, we saw that the gate was wide open and there was a large crowd outside.

There must be at least three or four hundred people, some pushing bicycles, some carrying loads on shoulder poles, and some carrying luggage on their backs.

There were men, women, and children, all covered in dust and dirt, looking like refugees who had come from famine.

Judging from the fact that they had moved from some small refuge, Jian Ning didn't think much of it. She glanced at them and was about to leave when she heard someone excitedly call her name.

"Jian Ning, Xiao Ning, is that you?"

Immediately afterward, a person ran out from the crowd. His hair was messy, and he was so thin that he looked like he could be blown away by the wind. But just by hearing his voice, Jian Ning recognized him as Liu Yan, the original owner's good friend, who had even helped her buy medicinal herbs before.

"Yan Yan, how did you get here?"

Jian Ning actually thought she was no longer in this world. After all, many people died when the apocalypse began, and after the cell phone signal was cut off, they lost contact with her.

"Waaaah! Xiao Ning, it's so good that you're here. I don't have a home anymore. My parents are dead!" Liu Yan rushed over, grabbed Jian Ning's hand, and burst into tears.

She must have suffered a lot over the years. She wasn't fat to begin with, but now she's so thin she looks unrecognizable.

If it weren't for Jian Ning's sharp eyesight, people who know her would generally remember her face and probably wouldn't have recognized her at first glance.

"Yan Yan, don't be sad. People can't come back to life, you have to grieve in moderation." Jian Ning knew that saying this was useless, but she had no other way to comfort her.

"Yan Yan, is this your relative?" A rather sturdy middle-aged man walked over from the side. He wasn't tall, but he was all muscle and looked like someone who exercised regularly and knew a thing or two.

"No, she's my friend, Jian Ning. This is my husband, Wu Gang. We met on the road during our escape, and he helped me a lot." Liu Yan wiped away her tears, stopping her sobs. She forced a smile as she introduced them to Jian Ning.

"Hello!" Jian Ning simply nodded to him, ignoring Wu Gang's enthusiastically extended chubby hand.

For some reason, she didn't like this man at first glance; his gaze was very lewd.

There must be a reason why Liu Yan would marry such a person.

"Jian Ning, right? You're Yan Yan's friend, so we won't stand on ceremony with you. Have you been staying here all this time? Could you find someone you know to arrange a better place for us to stay?"

We're new here and don't know the area well. There are families with children, some as many as five or six people.

Wu Gang didn't seem to mind Jian Ning's coldness towards him, and instead smiled and said to her.

"Okay, I'll ask for you. Yan Yan, why are you so thin? Are you sick?" Jian Ning noticed that Yan Yan's face was pale and sickly, and she didn't look well at all.

"It's nothing, I'm just pregnant and I'm vomiting everything I eat, so I'm not absorbing any nutrients. Plus, I've been traveling for so many days, so I might be having some water and soil incompatibility."

Liu Yan forced a smile, touched his rough face, and felt so sad that he almost cried again.

"There's a doctor here. Once you're settled, I'll take you to see him."

"Okay, you all wait here, I'll go ask."

Jian Ning walked up to Company Commander Huang, who was maintaining order at the front, and asked with a smile, "Company Commander Huang, how are these people arranged for accommodation? Are they all going up the mountain?"

"No, they just arrived. They need to have their health checked and be quarantined for a day before they can be assigned accommodation. Do you know those people?"

Company Commander Huang turned around and glanced at Liu Yan and the others.

"Yes, a friend of mine is pregnant. Can we see a doctor today to give her a priority check-up? I feel like she's not feeling well."

“Sister-in-law, of course it’s fine. Here’s what we’ll do: the brick house over there that was built earlier is empty, so we can arrange for these people to stay there. Once I’ve settled everyone here, I’ll have the doctor take a look at her.”

"Okay, thank you. I'll lead them there first. If there's anything you need to know, please send someone to let them know later."

"No problem. Here's the key." Company Commander Huang took one key from the large bunch he was holding and handed it over.

Jian Ning took the key, walked over to Liu Yan, and said...

"I've arranged a temporary brick house for you, it's not far from here. Come on, I'll take you there. Who else lives in your family?"

“Those are my parents-in-law, my brother-in-law, my sister-in-law, and my sister-in-law.”

Liu Yan gestured behind him.

Jian Ning looked over and thought, how to describe these people? They were obviously from the countryside. The old woman was short, with triangular eyes, and her face looked like she was not someone to mess with.

My father-in-law is clearly not in charge of anything at home.

My brother-in-law's eyes were lecherous as he looked at me. What kind of family are they? How desperate must Liu Yan have been to marry me off?

Wu Gang had already heard Jian Ning say they were near the house, so he quickly called his family over. They all arrived at the house together. Jian Ning unlocked the door and handed the key to Liu Yan.

"Keep this key safe. You'll have to return it when you move to a different place in a few days."

"Okay, I understand. I don't know if this house is messy or not. I won't invite you in for now. Where do you live? I'll come visit you later."

"It's in the villa area over there. Since you're not feeling well, I'll come find you later."

Let's find a place to talk for a bit first.

When Jian Ning saw that Wu Gang and his family had already squeezed into the house with their luggage and that no one had even glanced at Liu Yan, she felt a tightness in her chest.

He took her hand and walked to a secluded spot behind the house, then took a piece of chocolate from his pocket and put it in her hand.

"Eat something to replenish your energy."

"No need, I'm not hungry, you keep it." Liu Yan looked at the chocolate in her hand, quickly pushed it back, and tears kept falling down her face.

"I have more. Look at you! Did you starve yourself to death? I feel a bit feverish. Eat up." Jian Ning said, tearing open the wrapper and stuffing the chocolate into Liu Yan's mouth.

How long has it been since I've eaten something this delicious? Chocolate, which I used to take for granted and find too cloying, now seems like the best treat in the world.

Liu Yan grabbed Jian Ning's arm, crying so hard that her whole body trembled.

"Yan Yan, are they treating you badly? How could you marry such people? You may not like what I'm saying, but I can tell your mother-in-law doesn't have a good temper. Has she bullied you a lot?"