The rain pattered down.
It had been raining continuously, and He Chao and the others, who had already entered Weng City, felt as if they had found the safest place.
They disregarded the cold weather outside and simply sat on the ground to rest.
Li Yu thought for a moment, then said to He Chao, "Come up here. I want to talk to you."
Upon hearing this, Da Pao lowered the steel steps.
He Chao didn't hesitate, turning to walk up, but as soon as he stood up, a pair of hands pulled him back: "Dad."
It was his daughter, Xiaoya.
He Chao touched his daughter's forehead; it was burning hot.
His daughter's small face was flushed, and her overall condition was extremely poor.
These past few days, the sudden rise in temperature, followed by rain and cooling, had given his daughter a fever.
Although she had taken some cold medicine, she hadn't gotten better.
Looking at his daughter, a thought suddenly surged in He Chao's mind.
He Chao said gently, "Be good, Dad will be back in a moment."
He then walked up the steel steps.
Li Yu watched He Chao slowly ascend; a previous idea, though somewhat vague, became clearer and clearer after seeing He Chao.
The Base needed to grow, it needed to become more complete, and even its scale needed to be strengthened.
However, admitting too many people at once would disrupt the hard-won team atmosphere and make management difficult.
Furthermore, what if the people who came in, without proper investigation and understanding, posed a threat to the Base?
Additionally, admitting too many people would place immense pressure on food supplies.
Therefore, accepting people had to be done cautiously.
So, outside the Base, there were still some survivors, and many people from Liberation City.
How could these people be utilized?
Li Yu thought of a method.
The first step was to exchange supplies, using their need for food to have them search for things the Base needed.
Or, issue some kind of recruitment, asking these people for help.
This way, Li Yu and his team wouldn't have to risk their lives to do certain things.
The second step was to find a spokesperson outside the Base, someone who was preferably loyal; or to have a stable ally outside the Base.
The third step was to implement an assessment during cooperation; if they made significant contributions to the Base, after passing the assessment, they would have a certain chance to join the Base.
Thus, making Da Zhangshu Base the best refuge in the hearts of the survivors outside.
Everyone yearned to enter Da Zhangshu Base.
How to enter? Through a point-based assessment; one could enter after accumulating enough contributions.
Moreover, if there were any disturbances nearby, these people could also exchange information for food.
Once these steps were perfected, Da Zhangshu Base would have unparalleled influence in this area, and numerous free informants outside.
In a fleeting moment, many ideas flashed through Li Yu's mind.
Some of these ideas still needed to be perfected.
He Chao, who had come up the steps, interrupted Li Yu's thoughts.
He Chao slowly walked over and then saw the group of people next to Li Yu, carrying rifles on their backs but holding crossbows in their hands.
He Chao looked at Li Yu, who was standing in the center, and said, "Mr. Li, you called me."
Li Yu nodded and said, "I can only help you this much, and that house down there has some things inside; tell them not to go in later.
It's raining now, so I'll have them set up a few shelters for you later."
He Chao's face showed gratitude, and he quickly said, "Thank you, Mr. Li. No words can express my gratitude."
Li Yu waved his hand, indicating that he didn't mind.
He then tossed a cigarette to He Chao and proceeded to light his own cigarette.
Although it was raining, it wasn't heavy, just a light drizzle with a slight wind.
Li Yu turned away from the wind and rain, took a puff of his cigarette, and said to He Chao, "Many people from Liberation City have come to our Base.
Even some of my family members were found there.
But you also know the reason for Liberation City's ultimate collapse.
I don't want to repeat the same mistakes, so we must be careful and cautious when choosing partners.
Additionally, it's not that you can't join; almost everyone who has joined our Base previously has contributed to the Base.
You have a chance, as long as we continue to cooperate and you show us your sincerity.
Furthermore, the fact that we opened Weng City to let you in means we already have a certain level of approval for you.
You can be external personnel; if you encounter a zombie horde, you can seek our help, and you can hide inside Weng City, just like now.
Regarding food, in addition to the previous exchange regulations.
I can give each of you two catties of grain per person per month.
But in return, I hope you can help me collect information outside; you can contact me if there's any disturbance, and together, help resist zombies and protect the Base's interests and safety.
If the cooperation goes well, eventually, you can even have the opportunity to directly join the Base from being external personnel.
Think about it yourself, and you can also discuss it with your brothers."
Li Yu said a lot, and his Second Uncle, who was standing nearby, listened to Li Yu's words, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.
Li Hang, standing beside him, felt that his elder brother was making empty promises, and he felt some sympathy for He Chao.
However, what Li Hang didn't know was that for He Chao, this was already the best outcome.
It was truly conscientious.
In this apocalyptic world, most of the food outside had already been cleared out.
The constantly changing weather, the occasional appearance of zombies, and sometimes even zombie hordes appearing during rain, like today, made it incredibly difficult to find a stable place to cultivate and develop.
For He Chao and his group, after leaving Liberation City, they understood one truth even more clearly.
Having something to eat and a safe place to stay was the most important thing.
Living was the most important!
He Chao said somewhat excitedly, "Mr. Li, I can give you my answer right now; there's absolutely no problem, we are willing to agree."
Li Yu nodded with satisfaction and said:
"Alright, then it's settled. You can stay in Weng City, and we'll help you set up tents later. Alright, if there's nothing else, you can go down."
He Chao immediately turned around, but at the moment of turning, a thought surged in his mind:
Since Mr. Li and his team needed them, and since they could be external personnel, he could also suggest letting his daughter join the Base first.
This thought arose because he knew how difficult it was to survive in the apocalypse.
Throughout this journey, his daughter had suffered so much with him.
If she could join the Base, she would at least be able to live without worry about food and clothing.
Moreover, based on his understanding of Lao Lü, Lao Xie, and the others, they would definitely take care of his daughter.
Furthermore, through these few interactions.
He had some understanding of the people in this Base; although Mr. Li and his team were sometimes very ruthless, and he had witnessed them in action before, they were indeed vicious.
But when he saw Lao Lü and others join, their entire demeanor, and during the last material exchange, he even saw an old man.
It was said that he was Mr. Li's maternal grandfather, which shocked him even more:
Even the elderly in the Base could be in such good condition.
Moreover, if he made this request, Mr. Li and his team would likely agree; if his daughter was with them, she could serve as a bargaining chip for them.
But then he thought again, feeling a bit reluctant; what father would want his child to leave his side?
However, very quickly, the image of his younger daughter's death flashed in his mind, making him suddenly harden his heart.
Li Yu watched He Chao standing still, not leaving, so he asked, "He Chao, do you have anything else?"
He Chao gritted his teeth and then said:
"Mr. Li, it's like this.
My daughter has been having a high fever for the past two days, and I don't know what's wrong. Could I trouble you to have someone here take a look?
Also, I have another request, I don't know if you'd be willing. My wife and younger daughter have both died.
Now I only have this 11-year-old elder daughter left; she's my only remaining family. She's been suffering with me, and there are so many zombies outside.
So I was thinking,
If possible, could my daughter join your Base first? The child is really too young, and it's too dangerous for her to be constantly on the move with me outside.
If my daughter could be placed in the Base, I would be at ease, and I could serve you better outside."
After saying all this, He Chao seemed to have used all his strength.
As soon as He Chao spoke, everyone present was somewhat surprised.
No one had expected He Chao to make such a request. Was it because he didn't love her?
But on second thought, this was indeed fatherly love.
Li Yu looked at He Chao, staring into his eyes for a moment, then turned his head, seemingly inadvertently glancing at his Second Uncle.
His Second Uncle nodded slightly, indicating that he thought it was acceptable.
Li Yu's inner conviction grew stronger, so he said:
"Yes. Fortunately, our Base still has schooling available. When your daughter recovers, she can learn like a normal child."
Upon hearing this, He Chao's excitement intensified. He hadn't expected that there was even a school in this Base where one could study normally.
So, He Chao nodded heavily and sincerely said, "Thank you, Mr. Li, I will definitely work hard for you."
Li Yu said with a smile, "Alright, your daughter will be in the Base, but you can still come and see her often.
Didn't you say your daughter was sick? I'll have the doctor come and take a look. Have your daughter come up."
He Chao quickly nodded and said, "Alright!"
He then hurried down the wall.
After Li Yu watched him go down.
He then said to the people around him, "Now, during this tense rainy period, double the defensive strength on the wall.
Keep five people guarding the main gate at all times, and those at the main gate, remember to pay attention to the movements inside Weng City. Neither the main gate nor the gate leading to the Base should be opened.
If there's any unusual movement, report it immediately."
Everyone indicated their understanding.
Soon, the doctor Meng Yu and Li Yuan arrived.
After He Chao went down, he briefly explained the agreements Li Yu had just reached with him to the crowd below.
The people from Liberation City below rejoiced upon hearing that they could be external personnel, celebrating on the spot.
Cheers erupted.
Subsequently, He Chao brought his daughter up the wall, and Li Yu had them enter the guard room.
This guard room at the main entrance was the largest of the five guard rooms. It was a full thirty square meters.
