Chapter 83: External Duty Team

At this point, Chen Mu had already agreed with eighty percent of Tang Jing's explanation, and he said: "So, last time in the cafeteria, Zhao Xiao Yan noticed the cockroach, made a terrified expression, and that gave us a chance to escape disaster."

Tang Jing said: "Exactly, this is also why you were able to open the parachute within 0.2 seconds, and in a life‑or‑death crisis, hold the shield in front of you."

Only then did Chen Mu realize that what Tang Jing had said was actually the same thing he had been wondering about.

But this question could ultimately not be confirmed.

What Tang Jing said was also merely the most reasonable explanation so far; as for the actual facts, probably no one will know for a long time.

But there is one point that can be confirmed.

The effect of mental power is not limited to the use of special abilities.

……

Soon.

Du Jia Jia finished touring the lookout platform and ran down with a pattering sound.

Her first words after coming down were: "Can we build an elevator?"

It has to be said, humans are truly gifted in the art of laziness.

This proposal was immediately adopted by everyone, and they began a serious discussion.

"Once Chen Mu can make a pulley, the elevator won't be a problem," Tang Jing said.

"Actually, a simple solution would suffice: use a basket, tie a rope to it, and then lift people up and down."

"That probably won't work; our current weight would overload the basket, and even a slight breeze would cause large swaying, making such a simple lifting facility impractical."

"What should we do then?"

"Erect four pillars as tracks, drill four holes at the four corners of the lifting platform, and slip the pillars through them."

"Isn't that just an elevator?"

"That's one way to understand it." Tang Jing chuckled: "But the most troublesome part should be the counterweight; actual operation would be relatively difficult. Let me think first and come up with a feasible plan."

"If I had known we wouldn't need to build stairs, I wouldn't have wasted so much of Chen Mu's time." Du Jia Jia sighed.

Tang Jing laughed: "Stairs are also necessary; otherwise, if the lifting equipment fails, people can't just wait for it to be fixed before coming down. Have you ever seen a skyscraper with an elevator but no stairs?"

The principle of the lift is not complicated, but without electricity its operation is rather troublesome, requiring continual adjustment of the counterweight to achieve the up‑and‑down effect.

These matters have always been left for Tang Jing to worry about.

……

After the lookout platform was completed, Chen Mu could focus his efforts on sealing the door gaps.

For now, the main purpose of sentry duty is still to deal with that elusive little cat.

The parents of this little broken cat are obviously irresponsible; the kitten keeps running out to the wild, and they don't bother to restrain it.

During the day, Chen Mu works beneath the door gap.

At this time, one person stays on the lookout platform and another on the ground; if danger approaches, the person above will immediately send a message down, and then the person below will warn Chen Mu to retreat.

For now, the method of transmitting messages is rather primitive: just throw stones downward.

But it is obvious that the stones humans can move, even if thrown from that height, produce only a slight disturbance, not enough to startle Chen Mu or the people around him.

Therefore, we need to assign another person below to constantly pay attention to any movement from above.

This clumsy method is also a temporary makeshift solution.

Moreover, because visibility at night is currently too poor, sentry duty is practically meaningless, so no one has been assigned to night watch.

Wei Dalei and Chen Mu do not need to stand sentry, since it is obvious they have more important uses, while everyone else, including Dong Junwei and Tang Jing, takes turns on sentry duty without exception.

On the first day, Zhao Xiao Yan, being the last to tour the lookout platform, volunteered for the first sentry shift, while the person below was Qian Fei.

Only then did we truly get to see what that little cat looks like.

According to Zhao Xiao Yan's later account, it was an orange cat, indeed a tiny kitten just two or three months old; each time it came, it would rush to the door meowing, or paw at the gap, play by itself for ten or so minutes, then slip back into the nearby grass.

This left everyone feeling a bit troubled.

Everyone likes cats.

From Zhao Xiao Yan's melted‑expression face, it is clear that even if she became smaller, her fondness for cats would not diminish.

But such a stubborn cat also gives people a headache.

For now it merely affects Chen Mu's project progress, but what if we happen to encounter it when we go out later?

Under interference, Chen Mu's total work of installing 125 iron fence posts amounted to only 35 on the first day, far below expectations.

At dinner that evening, he told Dong Junwei and the others about this.

Everyone, however, didn't really care about the speed of the project's progress.

These days, for the three daily meals, Chen Mu no longer intervenes; Du Jia Jia handles everything alone, at most letting Zhao Xiao Yan lend a hand.

Although the variety of food is limited, Du Jia Jia always manages to come up with some creative variations, but with so little to work with, the flavor won't change much.

Human desire is endless, especially for students from the big‑eating country; every delicious meal they ate before the disaster now feels like a nightmare tormenting their spirits.

Tonight's dinner is relatively simple; Du Jia Jia imitates Western cuisine, cooking each item separately and placing them on a plate.

When the meal was nearly finished, Chen Mu asked Du Jia Jia: "How long can our food still last?"

"The flour from last time is still quite plentiful, and adding the earlier rice, we should be fine for a month; if we start saving a bit now, everyone can tighten their belts and two months would also be no problem."

"For now we don't need to scrimp; after all we've done, if we still can't fill everyone's stomachs, that would be ridiculous."

"But what about after one month?"

"My idea is, after the door gaps are sealed, we still need to go out foraging; I suggest forming an External Duty Team to handle all external affairs—not just food, but if we want to keep developing, we still lack many materials."

Zhu Hao burst out laughing: "So, the name I originally came up with, the Apocalypse Super Mobile Team, can finally be put to use?"

"Don't; with such a name, I doubt anyone would want to join the External Duty Team."

"Haha."

"As for external duties, you should decide them, Chen Mu." Dong Junwei said: "The members are also up to you to choose."

"Good."

Chen Mu nodded, as if he had already considered it, and without hesitation said: "I tentatively have four people: me, He Ying, Sun Yuan, and Chang Junyan."

"Is Da Lei not needed?" Dong Junwei was taken aback.

Chen Mu stopped Wei Dalei, who was about to speak, and explained: "Old Wei's ability, while well-suited for combat, but outside, the main way to deal with danger is still to dodge and flee; the usefulness of strength isn't that great. On the contrary, at home, we really need him to stand guard."

"But, Chang Junyan..." Dong Junwei hesitated a bit.

Chang Junyan had just finished eating, and was happily scratching his arm, as the saying goes, scratching after a meal, even a god wouldn't want it.

He vaguely heard his name being mentioned, lifted his head with a blank expression: "Are you calling me?"