On the horizon, a layer of grayish-white clouds cast a shadow, and in the distance, there were ruins of the base.
Shi Hai opened the door, the light inside the house was soft, and warmth filled his face.
"Dad, I'm back!"
Shi Rui raised his head, looked at his father who was covered in dust, and said with a smile.
"You've worked hard today. Sit down. The dumplings will be ready soon."
Shi Hai put down his coat and stretched his shoulders. His slightly aged face showed the calmness that came from the years.
He said nothing, but his eyes scanned everything in the room.
Daughter-in-law Yu Zhu was busy in the small kitchen, and the aroma of steaming dumplings wafted out of the steamer.
Sun Zi Shiyan was playing with a cracked crystal core in the living room, with a faint light emitting from his fingertips.
"Yanyan, stop playing around, that thing will hurt you!"
Shi Hai frowned.
"No, Grandpa! I can control it!" Shi Yan raised his head with childish stubbornness on his face.
As soon as he closed his small palms, the crystal core was wrapped in a soft energy, flashing with silver light.
"Yes, the little guy has talent."
Shi Hai was surprised and ran over quickly.
"You've awakened your superpowers!"
He laughed out loud with joy!
But it was soon replaced by a complex emotion.
He remembered that half a year ago, the area outside the base was still a hopeless place.
The whole family could only survive by chewing dry and cracked tree roots and taking nutritional supplements without any nutritional value.
The base is in danger.
Don't even think about food and water.
But now, they can sit in a brightly lit house and make dumplings for the New Year.
If it weren't for the Savior...
It's a pity that those old guys fell on the eve of hope...
In the kitchen, Yu Zhu came out with a large plate of steaming dumplings and said with a smile:
"Dad, the dumplings are ready, eat them while they're hot."
Shi Rui sat down at the table and placed the long knife in the corner. His hands were covered in blood and had not been washed clean yet.
He raised his arm and sniffed it, then smiled bitterly and said, "I'll wash it after I finish eating. I just killed two exotic beasts and it stinks."
"Yanyan, go get the dishes and chopsticks, don't just focus on playing with the crystal core!"
Yu Zhu called out to him, and Sun Zi obediently put down the crystal core in his hand and ran to the kitchen.
The family sat around the table, the atmosphere was quiet and peaceful.
Shi Hai picked up a dumpling, took a bite, and the delicious fragrance filled the air.
He put down his chopsticks, looked at his grandson, and suddenly said with emotion:
"Yanyan, remember this dumpling from now on. It is not just for eating. It is given to us by the Savior. It is a blessing passed down by our ancestors."
Shi Yan was stunned for a moment, then nodded solemnly:
"I remember that, Grandpa."
The TV screen was on, and the sound of singing and dancing from the Spring Festival Gala filled the whole house.
The lights on the stage are bright, the songs are melodious, and hope is filling my heart.
"If there hadn't been a savior, we wouldn't have seen this."
Shi Rui sighed, his eyes slightly moist.
"Don't forget your ancestors. Without them, there would be no Chinese roots."
Shi Hai gently put down his chopsticks and said in a deep voice.
————————
"Dad, be gentle! You've chopped the meat into paste!"
Cheng Lin stared angrily at the piece of meat in front of her. The piece of meat, which was in good condition just now, was almost turned into a pool of meat paste by Cheng Fang using his flying knife ability.
"Haha, didn't I lose control of my hands?"
As Cheng Fang spoke, he raised his hand again, flicked his fingers lightly, and a flying knife whizzed out, accurately cutting off a piece of dough on the chopping board.
"dad!"
Rainie said coquettishly,
"If you keep using your powers like this, I won't be able to make dumplings anymore!"
"Okay, okay, no, no."
Cheng Fang raised his hands helplessly, but couldn't help smiling.
He has been roaming the apocalypse with this flying knife ability since he was young, and is now one of the top S-class psychics in the Xuanwu base. But in front of his daughter, he seems a little clumsy and ridiculous.
There was already a small pile of dumpling wrappers on the table. Rainie expertly scooped a ball of meat filling into the wrappers, pinched them twice, and a dumpling was formed.
"By the way, Dad,"
Rainie asked while making dumplings,
"I heard that the base has received another spaceship mission. Do you want to participate?"
Cheng Fang was silent for a while, then nodded:
"Yes, but this time it's just logistical support. The airship project is too important, and every detail cannot go wrong."
“I really hope that no one will have to suffer this in the future.”
Rainie's voice lowered and her expression became a little heavy.
Cheng Fang raised his head and glanced at her, then sighed:
"No one wants to live like that again. But the fact that we are still alive today is a blessing from our ancestors."
Rainie nodded and handed a dumpling to Chengfang:
"Please help pack a few, instead of just cutting the meat."
The laughter of father and daughter echoed in the house, and the opening song of the Spring Festival Gala was playing on TV.
The bright lights and festive dancing warmed up the whole room.
——————
The reservoir outside the base was sparkling, and the base simulated moonlight shining on the water, like a layer of broken silver.
Shu Weng and Qi Wan walked slowly along the embankment. Under their feet was the newly repaired concrete road, and the air was filled with a faint moist scent.
"It's still incredibly hot, but the water here is getting clearer."
Qi Wan said softly, with a hint of emotion in her tone.
"Yes, but this kind of life is like heaven compared to the past."
Shu Weng smiled and looked down at the water.
At this moment, the water waves in the distance suddenly surged, and a giant fish over a hundred meters long jumped out from the bottom of the water, causing a large splash of water.
"ah!"
Qi Wan was splashed with water and couldn't help but scream, then quickly stepped back.
Shu Weng was also soaked, he wiped his face and couldn't help laughing:
"I've been dealing with this guy for a few months, and he's still so rude."
"Why is it so big?"
Qi Wan looked at the giant fish's back as it sank into the water and asked with lingering fear.
"Of course, it's a fish sent by the savior."
Shu Weng said softly, "But now it is the guardian of this reservoir and our mascot."
Qi Wan looked at him and asked softly, "How come you always know so much about these things?"
Shu Weng paused, turned his head and looked at her with a gentle gaze:
"In the apocalypse, even fish can survive... so humans should survive even more. Isn't that right?"
The boy's eyes were so burning under the simulated moonlight.
Qi Wan lowered her head, her face slightly red: "Yeah."
The two continued walking along the embankment, their shadows stretched out in the moonlight, seeming to blend into the night.
In the distance, the waves of the reservoir are still shimmering.