Chapter 22 Her Plans (Two chapters combined)
To the east of Base 1 is a large lake, to the north are mountains, and to the other two sides are flat land.
The southern part is most frequently attacked by worms, so it is full of outposts, interspersed with farmland.
There are many large heavy industrial factories in the west, including an insect oil refinery.
The east and north sides are rich in natural resources, with large areas of arable land and dense farmland.
Most of the farms and ranches near the base are state-owned.
Units like "Star Fortress" are basically supplied with food by state-owned large farms and ranches.
Most of the vegetables and meat were delivered in the morning, but the pork was still nowhere to be seen by mid-afternoon.
However, by the time Cui Hongfei made the urging call, the truck carrying pork had already entered the gate tower.
"Damn it, there's a war going on up north, and we've run into these roaming worms, what bad luck!" As they unloaded and delivered meat, the drivers complained even louder than the owners.
Finally, at the "Star Fortress" Research Institute, when facing a major customer, the driver's tone became much gentler and warmer when explaining to the purchasing agent.
"Although we encountered some insects, our carriage is sealed and has a refrigeration unit, so the meat is definitely fine. You can have it tested if you don't believe me."
A whole pig was split in two, and the driver cut off a piece of meat from each half, put them in bags, and gave them to the purchasing agent.
All ingredients entering "Star Base" must undergo strict quality inspection.
Before taking the bag, the purchasing agent had already visually assessed the two carcasses of pork and couldn't help but ask, "This pig is so fat, it must weigh over 300 pounds, right?"
No, 270 jin.
This pig is a genetically modified breed. It doesn't have a large frame, but it's lazy, doesn't like to move, and has become quite fat.
"Since last fall, all the pigs we use for breeding on our ranch have been improved breeds."
In the apocalypse, food is scarce, and ordinary people rarely get to eat meat. Lacking oil and fat in their stomachs, they crave fatty meat.
However, this pig, especially its back and belly, is really too fat, being white and bloated.
A doubt arose in the purchasing agent's mind.
Confused, he took a knife and cut off a piece of meat from the fattest part.
The meat, along with the two pieces of hind leg meat that the driver had cut off, was sent to the neighboring biopharmaceutical research institute.
There's a small department over there, staffed by a few junior researchers who take turns inspecting food and medicine for "Star Fortress".
As the bag was carried away and swayed away, disappearing around the corner, the driver's heart pounded, and his palms became sweaty.
He was so nervous that his contamination level was slowly rising, while the contamination level of the intern next door who was in charge of testing skyrocketed!
The intern was contaminated after examining the meat sample under a microscope.
She quickly looked away from the microscope and gazed at the green trees outside the window for a moment.
The meat certainly had a major problem, but after a long silence, she still checked "passed" on the inspection report.
The results were immediately fed back to the "Star Fortress" purchasing staff.
Although he was still not entirely satisfied with the overly fat pig, it was already afternoon, and the pork was safe, so he signed the order and let the meat in.
Cui Hongfei called a familiar guard to help carry the meat.
The two walked through the back door, the lobby, and around each corner of the staircase, delivering the meat into the kitchen under the faintly flashing red light of the cameras.
......
Qi An had just entered the room.
She just went out the front door to pick up the gift package that Yang Yuning brought over.
After receiving the notification from "White Tower" yesterday, Qi An asked Lin Jia Ran to take the gift package back to their apartment.
Lin Jiaran went to participate in the battle today, so Yang Yuning was asked to deliver the gift package.
That person was dressed casually today.
Wearing a silver-gray fitted stand-up collar sweatshirt and dark gray casual pants, she exudes a sunny and dashing vibe, seemingly blending into the warm street while remaining extremely eye-catching and impossible to ignore.
Qi An saw it at a glance and felt that most of the damp chill that had seeped into him from the underground fortress was dispelled!
But while she was in a better mood, Yang Yuning's mood was not as relaxed as his.
Qi An's behavior of not bringing the gift back to his unit was already quite strange, and he also vaguely sensed that someone was watching him on his way to "Star Fortress"!
The closer he got to the "Star Fortress," the more pronounced the feeling became. After Qi An emerged, his sense of being "watched" reached its peak!
S-rank enhanced warriors have an intuitive sense of danger. Yang Yuning pulled Qi An aside and asked her in a deep voice, "Is there something wrong with this research institute?"
This research institute is a highly classified unit, and in addition to the guards visible at the entrance, there may be sentries hidden in the shadows.
Yang Yuning couldn't be sure if the person watching him was just a sentry in the shadows or something else, but he still followed his intuition and asked Qi An, "Are you in danger?"
Qi An thought to himself, "Of course."
There might be a sniper hiding somewhere right now, aiming at her forehead or heart.
Qi An looked at Yang Yuning, his feelings mixed, and couldn't help but ask, "If someone you are very close to and trust has done something wrong, something really wrong, what would you do?"
Yang Yuning was slightly taken aback, his thick eyebrows like dark clouds, obscuring his bright eyes.
But he didn't hold it in for long. He said, "I am selfless and impartial. If someone very close to me makes a serious mistake, I will help them make amends, but I will never cover it up or condone it!"
The words were clear and firm, the answer Qi An had already guessed.
She paused for a moment, then asked, "If a battle could involve the safety of many soldiers and civilians, but is extremely dangerous, with a slim chance of survival, would you choose to participate?"
This time, Yang Yuning didn't frown, but raised an eyebrow: "Which of our missions isn't extremely dangerous? Isn't it common to face death at the very least? How can we not participate just because we're afraid of dying? Why join the army if you're afraid of dying?"
He could easily go into weapons manufacturing; he's quite talented in that area.
Qi An fell silent again, and after a moment said in a low voice, "Keep an eye on the movements of this research institute, but don't do it openly. Be careful of guns hidden in the shadows."
After she finished speaking, she ignored Yang Yuning's attempts to stop her, took the gift bag, and returned to the research institute, back to the damp underground.
Qi An walked very fast, heading straight for the main control room where Tan Fu worked.
She entered by scanning her face and showed the gift bag to Tan Fu: "This is a gift I prepared for Xiao Fu~"
Tan Fu was still wearing the "flower crown," but it was now "break time," and the little girl was holding a large pink cup with a straw, drinking sweet milk tea.
Her eyes lit up when she saw the huge gift bag, and she stretched out her hands: "Give it to me!"
Lan Jiarou stormed over from her office.
Uninspected items cannot be brought underground, so Qi An's gift bag had naturally been checked by the guards at the main gate and underground.
There were no prohibited items, but the clothes were fine; however, the shoes were definitely outdoor gear.
Song Fanyu's gaze was a little strange at that moment, and sure enough, he turned around and informed Lan Jiarou.
However, Lan Jiarou arrived a little too late; the gift package was already firmly held in Tan Fu's arms.
When Lan Jiarou came in, Tan Fu saw that she looked unhappy, so he held the gift bag and turned his body slightly to the side.
The rejection and warning were so obvious that they stifled Lan Jiarou's anger.
But after a moment of pause, it burned even more fiercely and intensely!
Does this little monster have no conscience?
She served her with more devotion than she would her own mother! For a full four years!
Four years of care couldn't compare to Qi An's four days of "emotional comfort"?!
Lan Jiarou was afraid that Tan Fu would cause a scene like yesterday, so she had to try her best to suppress her anger and temporarily leave the house.
She stared at Qi An with extreme coldness.
It's a bit late now, and there's no need to make a scene. She can deal with Qi An after the birthday banquet!
In another damp underground place, Yao Du'an looked at the message from the doctor and thought to himself: It's getting a bit late.
Tan Fu caused a scene and got injured yesterday, so the doctor has been by her side all day today.
Tan Fu promised to drug Qi An.
The drug makes people sleepy, and then they get sleepier and sleepier until their limbs are weak and their consciousness is blurred.
Qi An did indeed start feeling sleepy from noon, and it got sleepier and sleepier.
The doctor had prepared a set of explanations for the drowsiness and planned to work with Tan Fu to persuade Qi An to go back and rest.
Qi An will undergo a transformation while in a daze, and the pain of the transformation will be halved. Isn't that a kind of luck?
After 4 a.m., Qi An regained consciousness and became more and more alert. He even went out to pick up a gift!
When Qi An went out to get the gift, he was exposed to many eyes, and the people lying in ambush at a distance could not easily make a move.
When Qi An went out, the doctor was sending the message back to the underground of "This Shore Residence".
But by this time the pork had already been in the cold storage and had been there for two hours!
In the small cold storage room, which is less than 10 square meters, there are a few shelves and a fixed metal table.
The pork was unloaded onto a metal table.
The guards unloading the pork made a point of showing off their robust physiques, intentionally or unintentionally making fun of Cui Hongfei's skinny, bamboo-like figure.
The thin man lowered his head in embarrassment amidst the teasing.
The guard derived enough superiority from his shame and left satisfied.
The door to the cold storage was closed, and the enclosed room was filled with cold, dark air.
The darkness concealed a strange scene: in sub-zero temperatures, fat was seeping out of the fatty pork!
Of course, if there is light, you can see upon closer inspection that it is not grease, but a sticky, thick, white, greasy substance.
After the greasy substance emerged from the skin, it spun in strands, like white maggots, and converged in one place.
They were gathered into pieces the size of walnuts... the size of balls... the size of washbasins...
On the irregularly shaped, milky-white basin, a face protrudes, followed by tentacles.
This thing is alive!
A shout came from outside the cold storage: "Xiao Cui! Didn't I tell you to take the pork out to defrost? Are you sleepwalking again?"
"I'll go get it, I'll go get it," Cui Hongfei said meekly.
The lock on the cold storage door was swiped open once again.
Cui Hongfei cautiously entered the room, shivering, and tiptoed toward the pork.
The stains on the pork were clean; there were no traces left.
Cui Hongfei stepped past the pork and looked around. He spotted a creature on the side of the table facing the wall with a face that looked like it was growing on a butt. He shuddered.
His legs immediately went weak, and he only managed to stay upright by being supported by a tentacle.
The creature's eyes seemed to roll upwards, giving it a disdainful look.
The urging from outside grew even more shrill, and the head chef, wielding a spatula, arrived in person.
The creature's surface immediately turned black, matching the shadow, and stuck to the table.
Even if you look closely, it's not easy to find him, let alone the fact that the chef is just standing on the side of the table facing the door.
The chef pushed Cui Hongfei aside, picked up a piece of pork, and carried it out.
"Use the boning knife to chop up the ribs and pork hock, hurry up! It's getting late!"
They went outside, and the cold storage door was once again tightly closed.
The creature returned to its crystalline white color and grew larger once more, its features and limbs becoming increasingly clear.
It shines brightly even in the darkness.
The creatures in the cold storage were not the only ones that looked crystalline and luminous; the crucian carp soup that had been simmering for half a day in the kitchen was also there.
When the pot lid was lifted, the rich aroma and the jade-white soup revealed after the smoke dissipated truly amazed and captivated everyone in the kitchen for a moment.
The chef who made this dish was absolutely delighted!
He carefully scooped a spoonful of soup into a bowl and took a sip.
It looks like little wings have grown from her back; the chef looks so beautiful he could fly!
He suppressed his pride and excitement and passed the bowl to everyone.
Only after everyone nodded in praise did he finally break into a wide smile, waving his hands repeatedly as he grinned broadly.
"It's just so-so, but Old Li's braised pork and braised pork hock are truly exceptional."
The braised pork belly and braised trotters were cooked through, but they didn't taste as good as the crucian carp soup.
Because slow cooking consumes too much gas, apart from the signature fish soup, all other stewed meat dishes are either quickly cooked in a pressure cooker or not cooked long enough.
However, the ingredients themselves are already luxurious enough; the "Star Fortress" cafeteria only has a large meat dish one day a week!
As the last rays of the setting sun gradually faded, the hour hand on the clock struck between 6 and 7 o'clock, and the time for the small banquet was approaching.
From the afternoon onwards, everyone in every department and every position in this underground fortress was checking their watches frequently, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
Tan Fu's birthday banquet was a continuous feast.
All departments were scheduled to have shifts, but only key personnel were allowed to be seated in the first batch and enjoy the most abundant and freshest dishes.
Although there were fewer dishes in the later batches, the people at the table did not have to flatter the young girl or pay attention to their words and actions, so they could eat more happily and lively!
Who wouldn't be looking forward to this?
The irresistible aroma of meat wafted from the kitchen, and the workers were all looking forward to the moment of "liberation" rather than their jobs!
Finally, the minute hand pointed to "50", it was 6:50!
The first group of people, laughing and joking, rushed into the main dining hall.
The tables, chairs, and lights in the main dining hall had been carefully arranged long ago.
The little girl also took a bath, put on a brand new floral dress and a pair of soft-soled floral cloth shoes given to her by Lan Jiarou, and stepped into the hall amidst a crowd of people.
She sat down at the head of the long table in the center, with Lan Jiarou and Tan Shou sitting on either side at the very top.
Qi An received another warning and moved to another table.
Tan Fu was somewhat dissatisfied, but because Lan Jiarou explained in advance, he did not make a scene.
Today is a happy day. After Lan Jiarou sat down, she looked around and felt as proud as the chef who made the crucian carp soup.
Here, there are only smiling faces, music, and delicious food; everything is bright, clean, and radiant, just like a real banquet hall.
At this moment, the fortress resembled a real palace.
This is what she created, what they created for Tan Fu!
Surrounded by admirers, Tan Fu doesn't seem like a real princess at all.
Compared to many people struggling to survive in the apocalypse, she was already very fortunate.
She should love them, she should be grateful to them!
The jade-white fish soup was served in a large jade-white porcelain bowl and brought to the first table by Cui Hongfei.
As he walked through the winding corridor, he paused for a moment at a certain corner, as if he had lost his balance.
There was a small L-shaped table for miscellaneous items fixed to the wall at the corner, and he placed the porcelain basin on the table.
The chef in front didn't notice and kept going, while the one behind hadn't even turned the corner yet.
In that brief half-minute, Cui Hongfei took out a small bottle from his pocket and sprinkled the white powder into the soup like salt.
His movements were swift and decisive. Although he wasn't very strong, he at least had the advantage of being meticulous and skillful.
Cui Hongfei picked up the porcelain basin again and swayed as he walked.
The powder, like real salt grains, quickly dissolved in the milky white broth.
This tempting soup was placed on the long table in the center, very close to the little girl.
The candles were blown out, and the melody of the birthday song had faded away.
Everyone took their seats, but Tan Fu did not sit down.
Filled with gratitude, yet somewhat awkwardly, she picked up the soup spoon and small bowl, ladled out a bowl of soup, and handed it to Lan Jiarou with both hands.
"Thank you, Aunt Lan, for the new clothes. Thank you, Aunt Lan, for helping me put on my shoes and wash my face yesterday. Thank you, Aunt Lan..." The little girl seemed excited, her words somewhat disjointed, but the meaning was clear:
"In short, thank you Aunt Lan for always being by my side!"
Lan Jiarou was surprised, then delighted, and couldn't suppress her smile.
The little monster still has a conscience!
She responded with "Yes, yes" and stood up, glancing at Qi An sitting far away before she did.
What a smug look! It was as if wings had sprouted from her back, and she was about to take flight!
Amidst the attention of everyone, Lan Jiarou accepted the soup bowl and praised with a smile, "Our Xiaofu is such a good child!"
Good boy Tan Fu presented the second bowl of soup to Tan Shou.
"Brother, drink up. Brother, don't be disappointed in me," she whispered.
Tan Shou, as the older brother, was a little jealous that he didn't get the first bowl of soup, but then he saw Tan Fu staring at him with wide eyes.
The girl's pupils were large and round, with a jet-black color. Her eyes, which resembled his, seemed to be churning with countless complex emotions, and her eyes were reddened at some point.
It seems somewhat sad, somewhat pitiful.
Tan Shou's heart was moved by those eyes, and a trace of pity welled up in his heart. He suppressed his dissatisfaction and took the soup bowl.
"If you behave well from now on, I won't be disappointed," he said gently.
A smile appeared on Tan Fu's lips, a smile that was somewhat cold, blooming and then fading away.
The little girl took the bowl again and ladled out a bowl of soup.
Her personality has always been eccentric and unpredictable. She can be crazy and violent at times, or well-behaved and adorable at others. It's hard to find a pattern to her switching between these states!
This time, she was unusually well-behaved and adorable again. Who wouldn't want to enjoy the service of a "little princess"? Everyone eagerly offered their bowls.
But Tan Fu doesn't accept just anyone's offer; she's selective.
The room erupted in a commotion, with someone teasing their neighbor with their eyes: "Oh dear, all your pity for her was for nothing, in the end she didn't even notice you!"
Someone shamelessly called out, "Little Fu, Uncle Wang, isn't Uncle Wang treating you well? Why doesn't Uncle Wang have a bowl of soup?"
A pot of soup has a limited capacity; after serving more than a dozen bowls, it was empty.
The hall was still lively when Lan Jiarou called out loudly, "Alright, alright! Don't tire Xiao Fu out!"
Today is Xiaofu's birthday. Those with soup, use soup; those without, use water. Let's all drink it together! Happy birthday, Xiaofu!
"good!"
Those who held up their bowls were all very pleased, while those who held up their cups were a little embarrassed, but everyone agreed in unison, laughing as they drank the soup in their hands in one gulp.
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