Ultimately, Captain Lü and his two companions were not allowed inside the base, but this time they didn't make a wasted trip either, as they were given three bags of food.
Although it was all just corn on the cob and such, this kind of thing could be stored for a long time, especially dried sweet potato slices. If stored properly, they could last for several years without issue. Li Yu saw the three of them off.
Captain Lü and the others got into a pickup truck. When they first left Liberation City, Captain Lü took several barrels of oil and a few vehicles with him.
However, those vehicles were too fuel-inefficient and too large. Later, while searching, they found this pickup truck.
"Alright, I'll see you off here. Be careful on your way back, and contact me if anything comes up," Li Yu said faintly, looking at Captain Lü and his two companions.
"Understood, Mr. Li, we'll be going now," Captain Lü said to Li Yu as he got into the car and turned his head.
Lao Xie and the other person beside him also waved and nodded goodbye.
Li Yu watched them leave.
As soon as the three left, Li Yu walked towards the wall, with his second uncle walking alongside him.
Neither of them spoke. This time, someone else had come. It was unclear whether they were friend or foe. Although a batch of firearms and ammunition had just been seized, the killing would continue like this.
When would it end?
Why do people always seek death?
"When do you plan to take in Captain Lü and his team?" his second uncle suddenly asked out of the blue.
Li Yu was a little speechless. Although he had this intention, he hadn't made up his mind yet.
"Let's wait and see, and observe them," Li Yu said.
His second uncle looked at the departing figures of Captain Lü and the others, frowning as he said, "Do you think they're deceiving us?"
Upon hearing this, Li Yu's eyes turned cold as he said, "It shouldn't be the case; they have no motive to deceive us. However, we cannot rule out that possibility."
His second uncle chuckled self-deprecatingly, "I was just talking nonsense. I was cheated so many times when I used to do business that it's hard to trust others anymore. So, when I do many things, I always consider the worst-case scenario."
Li Yu listened to his second uncle's somewhat wistful words, feeling a bit annoyed, but after thinking about it, he still said, "It's okay. People's hearts are unpredictable, so we'll test them slowly. Only by binding interests can things last."
After hearing what Li Yu said, his second uncle thought of Da Pao, Ding Jiu, Song Min, and others, and he realized it was true!
In the base, these people, since joining, have all performed very well so far.
During the previous few outings, they were all very dedicated and treated the base as their own home.
After all, their blood relatives and friends were inside.
Moreover, in the base, they were basically equal. Everyone ate the same food, and when difficulties arose, Li Yu always led the charge.
What kind of group is the most stable?
A group with a consistent goal, the same ideals, a reasonable profit distribution mechanism, and a sound and stable environment.
Such a group's cohesion is undeniably strong.
Li Hang and Ding Jiu's daughter, Ding Qingqing, have recently started dating, and Da Pao is also having an affair with Song Min. Da Pao and Li Tie are comrades-in-arms.
Optimistic Xiao Han, who is under Song Min, has also recently had some contact with Li Haoran.
When well-fed and warm, lust arises.
Ah, young people are so energetic.
Thinking of this, his second uncle looked at Li Yu beside him and said with a smile, "What are you planning to do about Yu Tong and that girl Xiao Zhu?"
Li Yu rubbed his forehead. Matters of the heart were truly complex. Ever since he confirmed his relationship with Yu Tong, Xiao Zhu still wouldn't let go.
To be honest, it would be false to say he didn't like Xiao Zhu at all. Li Yu truly didn't want to hurt this simple-minded girl who had always liked him.
Now everyone was squeezed into one place.
Difficult.
"It's fine, it's a new era now. At most, Brother Tianlong will give me a beating," Li Yu said, scratching his head.
Li Yu continued, "I don't want to think too much. I'll take it one step at a time."
His second uncle smiled and said, "You're still young, take your time."
Li Yu was stunned.
Meanwhile, after Captain Lü and his two companions left, Lao Xie looked at the food in the trunk of the car, then at the bag of corn he was holding.
If there wasn't enough space in the seat, he would have at least kept the food by his side. Such precious items, if too far from his sight, made him uneasy.
Captain Lü saw Lao Xie's miserly appearance and said with a smile, "Don't worry, it won't run away. It's safely in the trunk."
Lao Xie smiled and said, "You know what, Mr. Li and his people are really generous. Every time they meet us, they give us things. If you ask me, why didn't we just join them in the first place?"
Captain Lü's face was full of bitterness. He had words in his heart that he couldn't speak: Damn it, it wasn't that he didn't want to join, but after all those incidents with the refugees, how could he even bring it up? Besides, Li Yu and his people weren't stupid; why would they let them join?
Captain Lü sighed and said, "He who eats from another's hand is beholden, he who takes from another's hand is beholden. We are now beholden in both ways. Let's do our best to watch over things for them. Don't betray their trust."
"Absolutely. My character, Lao Xie, is super reliable," Lao Xie said, hugging the heavy corn, his mouth almost splitting to the back of his head.
"Look at you," Captain Lü said with a smile. He knew very well that in a time of such food scarcity, having a few bags of these things, if they economized, would be enough for them to eat for more than half a month.
"Hehehe." Lao Xie didn't have much hair. Although he was only a few years younger than Captain Lü, he had a young mindset and was optimistic when facing things.
"With this food, Xiao Jing and Xiao Fei won't have to go hungry," Lao Xie thought of his daughter, who was about the same age as Captain Lü, and his heart was filled with mixed emotions.
Of the thirty people who ran out together, only sixteen remained. Most of the other twelve were bitten by zombies, and they eventually had to make a painful decision.
Among the sixteen people, only four were women. There were only his and Captain Lü's daughters, a team member's wife, and another team member's daughter. And that team member also died on the way during this escape.
Thinking of this, the joy that had just risen was quickly swallowed by sadness.
Seeing his old partner like this, Captain Lü knew what he was thinking and said with a sorrowful expression, "People always have to look forward, right!"
Lao Xie remembered his wife. At that time, he and Captain Lü were outside searching for supplies. When they returned, they found zombies in the base, and many people had died.
Even Captain Lü's own wife died among them.
Of the thirty people, there were originally 8 females and 22 males. Now, only 12 males and 4 females remained.
Three of them were not yet adults.
Hearing Captain Lü's words, Lao Xie blinked hard. His eyes were a little red, but at least he didn't cry.
Life always slaps you hard when you least expect it, but those who are alive must continue to live.
