Beyond safety, there was the issue of food. Not to mention the amount of stored food, what was currently grown on the ground and in the basement was enough to feed their team of over a hundred people.
After safety and food, came the issue of energy. There was a large storeroom near the edge of Weng City.
It also stored some coal and charcoal, as well as some leftover steel, cement, and other materials from before.
Most critically, the main energy consumption still relied on solar power. In addition to solar power, wind energy was also available, and there were two small hydropower generators, which were currently powered by the water flowing down from the mountain pond.
However, these two hydropower generators were rarely used, typically only during heavy rainstorms.
Solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, and coal were all basically included, so their energy supply currently seemed to be without major problems.
Time flew by, and night fell.
It was still under that Big Camphor Tree. This camphor tree had lived for hundreds of years, and before the apocalypse, many locals would insert incense sticks under this camphor tree when offering incense to the local land god.
A huge lamp hung on the Big Camphor Tree, illuminating the night sky of this part of the base.
There were also many solar streetlights in the base, especially in the mountain forest area. At night, the repaired cobblestone paths were lit by streetlights on both sides, with the surrounding trees faintly visible, creating quite a park-like atmosphere.
Under the Big Camphor Tree.
This time, the event was still based on Li Yu's previous suggestion, with some fish, beef, and also some vegetables and fruits.
Because there were more people now, a self-service model was adopted. People could take whatever they wanted to eat and then grill it themselves.
Peanuts were, of course, indispensable.
Since there were peanuts, liquor was naturally also indispensable.
Li Yu had stocked several tons of liquor, and some had been consumed by now.
Normally, everyone rarely drank alcohol, and only during gatherings would they be allowed to drink.
To accommodate the on-duty personnel, their gathering tonight adopted a rotation system, divided into two shifts: first half and second half.
Second Uncle had been on duty all this time, and he had only attended one of the many gatherings.
The temperature dropped quickly at night, but because of the warmth from the fire, everyone didn't feel that cold.
Only an occasional evening breeze blew by, giving everyone a slight chill.
Li Yu looked at everyone's faces lit by the firelight, saw Lao Xie drinking alcohol, saw Xiao Wu competing in strength with Da Pao, and saw Lao Lü grilling food for his daughter.
Li Yu walked to the center and coughed twice.
Hearing Li Yu's cough, everyone put down what they were holding and began to listen attentively to Li Yu.
It quieted down.
Li Yu said with a smile, "It's been a long time since we had a gathering. The reason for this gathering today is, firstly, to welcome Captain Lü and his team. They've actually been here for a while, but we haven't had time to organize this welcome event."
"Secondly, everyone has worked hard recently. Now, everyone can relax. Later, we'll have some small activities, and you can participate to win some small prizes."
"Thirdly, I hope everyone lives well and protects the base well. We, the people here, are like a big family in this apocalypse. I hope everyone can continue to unite! Only then can we keep going."
Li Yu finished his few remarks and said no more. Li Yu was not very good at speaking such formal words; often, people could feel his attitude through his actions.
A cheer and thanks came from below.
"Good."
"Alright."
"Thank you, President Li."
"Thank you, Brother Li."
After Li Yu finished speaking, Captain Lü thought for a moment and had Shang Xue'er, the only female member of his team, bring her daughter.
He also walked up.
Captain Lü's expression was somewhat serious, but his eyes were full of sincerity:
"We are truly grateful to President Li, and to all of you. For accepting us, for helping us in our most difficult time, for saving us, and even for helping us get revenge. For this, we are truly grateful to President Li, and grateful to everyone."
As soon as he finished speaking, he bowed.
Perhaps because the wound on his back had not fully healed, this bow made him frown slightly.
"The wound just scabbed over, you didn't break it open again, did you?" Li Yuan, who was next to him, couldn't help but say.
Captain Lü looked up, returned a smile, and then said, "Just as President Li said, we are one big family now. Lao Xie and Xiao Wu, we all came from Liberation City. From now on, we will follow President Li and work for him. Everyone must listen to President Li's arrangements from now on."
These words signified a transfer of power. Even though Third Uncle had led Lao Xie and others to deal with He Park before, the transfer had already happened in practice at that time.
But now, it was a formal transfer of power, and this was very important.
Whether it was Lao Lü or Lao Xie and others, they all needed such a clear statement.
Even Song Min and others before them had gone through the same process.
A base can only have one core leader. Others can suggest and propose ideas, but there can only be one person who makes the final decision.
Especially in this apocalypse, a chaotic power structure would breed many troublesome things.
Hearing Lao Lü finish these words, Lao Xie and the others visibly relaxed a lot.
Currently, Li Yu's Third Uncle was leading them, which made it seem somewhat unofficial.
In this joyful atmosphere, Lao Lü, unable to drink due to his injury, could only drink tea there.
He played chess with Li Yu's maternal grandfather. On this night, everyone ate and drank. Because the food supply was sufficient, and in Li Yu's view, a gathering should have the meaning of a gathering.
So, in terms of food, everyone could basically eat the ingredients they wanted.
In this joyful atmosphere, the children were the happiest. They ran around the Big Camphor Tree, laughing and playing.
Because there was also a certain distance from the wall, the sounds from here were difficult to transmit outside the base.
Li Yu held several skewers of beef, with some fatty meat and some lean meat, skewered alternately. Then he placed them on the charcoal grill to cook. Under the heat of the charcoal, the meat was grilled until fragrant, making sizzling sounds on the surface, and drops of oil fell onto the charcoal, making the flames even more vigorous.
In a moment, after a few skewers of beef were grilled, Li Yu skillfully sprinkled some cumin powder and chili powder, and handed two to Yu Tong, who was sitting next to him. The two chatted, ate grilled meat, and occasionally clinked beer glasses.
The scene was exceptionally harmonious.
Under this lush Big Camphor Tree, everyone ate and drank to their heart's content, as if all worries had disappeared.
The happiness of this moment made them feel that even in the apocalypse, they could still live a comfortable and leisurely life!
—— —— —— ——
Recommend a book by Brother Guan Guan Gongzi, "Heroine, Slow Down."
Boss Guan Guan's writing is superb. Everyone can go and read it~~
