Jiang Li's actions did indeed shock them. They didn't expect Jiang Li to be so ruthless, killing people without hesitation. Everyone kept their distance from Jiang Li, creating a vacuum around him.
When Gu Jin returned, he saw this scene: there was a lot of empty space next to the two tents, and two corpses were lying on the ground.
"Are you alright?" Gu Jin stepped forward and asked Jiang Li.
"It's nothing, just solved two problems."
"That's good." Gu Jin saw that Jiang Li was really alright, so she didn't say anything more.
He put down what he had brought back, silently walked to the two corpses, picked them up, and threw them into a crack not far away.
Upon returning, Gu Jin began preparing to make something that could boil water. She first shaped it into a circle, leaving an opening in one place for burning firewood, and then leaving an opening at the top for supporting the pot. This made it very stable and also windproof.
While Gu Jin was working, Jiang Li went into the ruins and found a pot that looked brand new. Actually, this pot was one Jiang Li had taken out of his spatial storage; it was the one he had been using to burn things, since everything in the rubble was either too dirty or deformed and unusable.
Jiang Li took out the pot, poured some water on it to make it look like it had been washed, then picked up some wood before heading back.
Gu Jin's method was quite good. The two of them poured some water into the pot and boiled it to disinfect it before starting to cook the instant noodles.
Jiang Li found the instant noodles in the ruins, confirming that the packaging was intact. He also found a small bag of compressed biscuits and several bottles of water.
After cooking the instant noodles, Jiang Li used a disposable plastic lunchbox that Gu Jin had seen before. Unexpectedly, the lunchbox that Gu Jin took out was the same one that Jiang Li had given him last time, which Gu Jin had kept all along.
The aroma of instant noodles wafted through the square, but no one dared to cause trouble for Jiang Li and his group anymore; they could only watch from afar.
Many people saw Jiang Li and the others set up a pot and tried to make one themselves, but none of them made it as well as Gu Jin, though they were barely usable.
Some people can only eat the bread or biscuits in their hands. Some people have instant noodles, but they don't have water or enough water, and they don't know how to set up a cooking stand, so they can only eat them dry.
No one caused trouble for Jiang Li and his group. In other parts of the square, many people were robbed, mostly elderly people or women. Some were alone. There were shouts, cries, and sobs that could be heard from time to time in the square.
Jiang Li knew this, but she didn't interfere. If she helped one, there would be another. She couldn't possibly manage so many people. Besides, even if she helped them once, they would still try to take things from her after she was gone. The main thing was to become strong herself.
In her past life, she had helped others, but instead of gratitude, she was met with moral blackmail, so she didn't want to get involved in those things in this life.
After they finished eating, they went to their respective tents to rest. Jiang Li took an apple from his spatial storage and ate it. In the post-apocalyptic world, fruits and vegetables were considered luxuries. They were not easy to preserve or carry, so almost no one hoarded them.
Gu Jin returned to the tent and ate a piece of bread. He had a big appetite and was afraid he would feel embarrassed to eat outside.
As night fell, under the dark sky, the campfires lit up one by one, bringing a rare change from despair to warmth.
So everyone stayed in the square for about two weeks. During that time, some people wanted to go back, but the aftershocks made them give up the idea. Some people went to other places, while others came here. The people in the square changed a bit as they came and went.
Now there are collapsed houses everywhere, and most people choose to stay where they are. They have heard from people who have been there that the situation is the same in other places, which makes them even less inclined to leave.
One day at noon, Jiang Li heard a sound not far away. It was an official vehicle announcing that a base had been built in H City and that those who wanted to go could go.
People surrounded the official vehicle, all asking questions about the base.
"Is the base far from here? We don't have a car, will someone from the base come to pick us up?"
"Is there food at the base?"
"base……"
"Alright, alright, everyone, listen to me."
The person leading the group was a man surnamed Wang, who was about 180 cm tall and had a buzz cut.
"The base is in H City. A bus will come in three days. Those without a car can take the bus, and those with a car can follow behind the bus."
"Regarding the food issue that everyone is most concerned about, the base uses a points system for trading. Points can be used to exchange for goods or earned by completing tasks. You can find out the details when you arrive at the base."
"You can choose to go or not. If you have family or friends in other cities, you can also go to other bases. You can find out about other issues when you get to the base."
After confirming the meeting point, Captain Wang got into the car and headed to the next location.
The car drove away, but the conversation about the base didn't stop; everyone was still discussing things related to the base.
By understanding that official bases have been established in all four directions (north, south, east, and west), we know that this is D City, and the nearest base is H City. Before the apocalypse, it would take two or three hours to get there by highway, and more than an hour to get to the base location after getting off the highway.
Because of the earthquake, the highway is probably closed. Taking the road below would probably take a day, and with the cracks caused by the earthquake and the collapsed buildings everywhere, it would probably take two or three days to get there by taking a detour.
In my previous life, news of the base's completion came more than a month after the earthquake. In this life, it came much earlier. Although there are no more major earthquakes now, the intervals between aftershocks are getting longer and longer, but they still happen occasionally.
In my previous life, I only learned about the country's early precautions after I went to the base. I don't know why the high temperature couldn't be detected earlier, but the earthquake was detected early. After all, seismographs existed in ancient times, not to mention with today's advanced technology.
Jiang Li wondered if the changes in this life were related to his rebirth, or if the apocalypse could end in this life. All of this was unknown.
Regardless, this is good news for now, bringing a glimmer of hope to the depths of despair.
Seeing that Jiang Li looked calm and uninterested, Gu Jin asked Jiang Li a question.
Will you go to the base?
"I'm going, but I'll be leaving a little later than the main group. What about you?" There are too many people going now, and with more people, there will be more trouble. Besides, with so many people going together, I don't know how long the queue will take. I'm not in a hurry. I can take my time. As long as I can find a place to stay at the base before the extreme cold.
"Well, I still have some things to take care of. I should go to the base after I'm done."
Jiang Li didn't ask anything. Everyone has their own secrets, and besides, his cooperation with the other was only temporary. He also had secrets to keep from the other person, so there was no need to keep asking.
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