The main purpose of this trip was to scout the route, and secondly, to collect supplies. They didn't find much of a route, but they did collect a truckload of supplies. They decided to leave this place in the afternoon to complete their supply collection mission ahead of schedule.
When the sun reached its highest point, Zhou Pin and Minister Sun finished work and had dinner.
Xu Lin had already prepared the meal, cooking a pot of rice with cured meat. The three of them finished it in a few bites, packed their things, got into the car, and left.
The car was crammed full of supplies, not to mention the saplings, lake water, various plant seeds, and fruits that Xu Lin had secretly stored in the space when Minister Sun wasn't looking.
This place is nice. I'll come back to collect supplies next time. It would be great if I could bring some live animals back with me.
The way back was the same as the way there, but they drove slower. Their truckload of supplies was too conspicuous, so they waited until dark to return to the base to avoid being discovered.
The cold wave had just passed, and it was still quite cold outside, so there was no one around after dark, and the three of them made it home safely.
Li Jingjing and Grandma Wu were startled when they saw them return, thinking something had happened. Seeing that all three had gotten out of the car without injury, they were relieved.
"You've brought back so much stuff in just two days!" Li Jingjing exclaimed in surprise.
"We were lucky to find an oasis. We'll unload our stuff first and then divide it up later," Xu Lin said.
"Little Youyou is asleep. I'll go heat up your food." Old Mrs. Wu was worried that everyone would be hungry while traveling.
"No need, Aunt Wu, we've already eaten on the way. You and Uncle Sun can rest," Zhou Pin said.
They weren't in a rush on the way back; they had stopped and eaten compressed biscuits on the way, and by the time they got home it was only around 8 o'clock, so they weren't hungry at all.
"What you ate on the road wasn't really a meal. I'll go cook you some porridge to warm you up." Before they could object, Old Mrs. Wu turned and went to the kitchen.
The group quickly unloaded the supplies and came to the living room; it was too cold outside.
The stove in the living room was burning brightly, fueled by firewood added by Grandma Wu. A stainless steel pot was on the stove, simmering porridge with a "popping" sound. Little Youyou was fast asleep on the small bed next to the stove.
After washing their hands with hot water, they began to feel warm all over.
“We collected a lot of firewood this time, enough for a few days. We also got mushrooms, wild fruits, wild vegetables, and Uncle Sun caught a lot of fish. We originally wanted to bring them back alive, but the weather suddenly changed... so we can’t eat freshly killed fish anymore,” Xu Lin said, holding a bowl.
"We're lucky to have any fish at all, what more could we ask for!" said Grandma Wu.
"I see there are two extra barrels of gasoline?" Sun Wei said.
“Let me explain!” Minister Sun put down his bowl and began his performance.
Sun Wei was also very interested in the car that Minister Sun mentioned and planned to go to the oasis again the next day.
"How have you been doing at home these past few days?" Xu Lin asked.
"It's alright, but the villas near the west side might be being targeted. I've been going out for a walk every day these past two days and I've noticed people loitering around the villa area, probably looking for an opportunity to strike," Sun Wei said.
The group chatted about the past two days while drinking porridge, and then began to "divide the spoils".
Firewood was shared among everyone, gasoline was shared among each family, clothes and bedding were divided equally, Xu Lin kept the computer, cash, and jewelry, and most of the food was given to Sun Wei and the others.
Minister Sun and his colleagues believed that Xu Lin was deliberately taking care of them, saying that she wouldn't let them suffer any losses.
Finally, Grandma Wu stood up and said that from now on, we should put all the food together, she would cook, and everyone could eat together.
Neither side had any objections to the arrangement, mainly because Grandma Wu's cooking was delicious!
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