Chapter 211: Stay Alive, Walk Toward the Light!

Near noon, the truck was loaded with all kinds of supplies; the greatest haul was breaking into a clothing store, where warehouses held dozens of last year's down jackets—stylish they weren't, but their warmth was excellent.

Zhang Su picked out a suitable size and put it on; at around zero degrees, it was plenty warm—even if temperatures dropped another ten degrees, it would still suffice.

They counted on the spot: over a hundred pieces total. This batch would provide winter clothing for everyone in the camp.

"How's it going?"

Zhang Su walked over to the excavator, stared at the tangled wires inside its opened cover, and felt his head spin. Even the wiring inside a computer case had left him clueless—how much more so now? He wanted to just yank it all out.

"Brother Su, we've figured out the problem. Starting it isn't hard—just need fuel. But getting it to move? That's tough. We need a welder."

Guo Dachao then explained the basics so Zhang Su understood why they needed the welder.

"Where are we supposed to find a welder right now? What about that one over there? Can't we just take parts from that excavator?"

Zhang Su rubbed his head and pointed to another excavator of the same model across the road.

Fixing the excavator needs a welder. Then we find a welder and it's broken. Fixing the welder needs some other machine. It's an endless loop.

Guo Dachao shrugged. "That excavator's engine blew up. But you're right—the parts can be reused. We just don't have equipment to lift it and take it apart."

Wang Xin spread his hands. "The voltage was unstable. It burned out during wall construction."

Zhang Su jumped onto the truck and grabbed the walkie-talkie. "Hey, Wang Longzhong!"

"Yeah, Brother Zhang, I'm here. What's the order?"

"Yeah, check if the United Village has one. That thing shouldn't be rare!"

"This damn thing… fine."

Wang Longzhong replied quickly—the walkie-talkie hung on his chest, always ready. Clearly far more diligent than Wang Xin.

Zhang Su's forehead darkened. Tianmayu's voltage had always been unstable. That welder was just some homestay owner's cheap hobby tool—poor quality was only expected.

As he stood beside the truck talking, another walkie-talkie on the truck suddenly crackled to life!

Wang Xin recalled: "Right, I saw Teacher Yu use it before. But Liu Tianji said it's broken."

"Welder, welder… didn't the camp have a small welder before?"

"This old guy's acting desperate—could he be up to something?"

"Alright, keep an eye out while you're packing!"

When conditions are good, many problems aren't problems at all. Without a gantry crane or lift, the issue becomes huge.

"Do you have a welder in your village?"

Zhang Su asked bluntly.

"Welder? Maybe you can find one in the village. We've never used one ourselves."

"Master Zhang, don't tell me you're not coming today? Hello? Hello?"

Zhang Su glanced at Zhao De and the others. He hadn't been involved in the camp's defense construction, but he thought he'd glimpsed it before.

"Broken? How?" Zhang Su asked, puzzled.

Wang Longzhong gave an uncertain reply.

Zhang Su muttered, picked up the walkie-talkie, and pressed the transmit button: "Old Village Head, you're not leaving for a while yet—why the rush? I'm busy here…"

Ma Changshou, hearing the word "busy," caught the implication immediately. "What are you busy with, Master Zhang? Is there anything I can help with?"

Zhang Su, thinking on the spot, said: "I was planning to trade a few sheep with you—right now I'm welding the sheep pen!"

"Welding the sheep pen? That's a tiny thing—no need to call it busy! My village has a welder. He comes to your door with his own gear, charges only a small fee. Do you need him?"

Ma Changshou instantly gained confidence, eager to squeeze some oil from Zhang Su.

A faint smile appeared on Zhang Su's lips. Those around him also smiled knowingly.

"No need, no need—we're almost done. I'll come over this afternoon, around the same time as last time!"

Zhang Su replied to Ma Changshou.

"Perfect, perfect! We'll be honored to welcome you!" Ma Changshou didn't press further, happily speaking polite words.

Zhang Su turned and said: "Let's go back to camp for the New Year hot pot. This afternoon we'll pick up the welder. Tomorrow we bring fuel and drive the big excavator back—our New Year gift!"

"Uh…" Guo Dachao scratched his head awkwardly. "Brother Su, one day probably won't be enough. We'll need more time."

Zhang Su made a strange face. "So serious? Fine, take a few more days. Let's go back to camp!"

"Let's go!"

"We're home!"

"Haha, I'll tell Qingqing to get things ready!"

Half an hour later, Zhang Su's group returned to Tianmayu.

The dining hall was filled with aroma, windows fogged with steam. The table was already set with abundant ingredients: thanks to the greenhouse, vegetables were plentiful—lettuce, cilantro, Chinese chives, bitter chrysanthemum. Meat was simple—only thinly sliced raw pork—but in this environment, it was already a luxury!

Three copper pots boiled over charcoal, bubbling vigorously. The red oil base was fragrant and spicy; even the steam looked like happiness shaped.

On another nearby table sat a slightly smaller pot, also with red broth—but no charcoal lit beneath it. Around it lay sliced vegetables and meat, reserved for Zhong Xiaoshanjian and Zhao Xue, who were on watch in the monitoring room.

"Brothers and sisters!"

Zhang Su took the central seat without hesitation, raised his teacup as if it were wine: "I won't say much. I only wish you all stay alive, and walk steadily toward the light!"

"Stay alive, walk toward the light!"

Everyone stood, raising their cups together.

Zhang Su had planned for Teacher Yu to give a speech to elevate the New Year feast, but Yu Wen declined, saying no words could match the smell of hot pot—let everyone enjoy themselves.

"Eat! Do it however you're comfortable! Watch out for burns…"

Zhang Su drained his tea, waved his hand, and declared the meal open—like a patriarch tenderly reminding everyone.

"Before the disaster, I'd just eaten hot pot. I never imagined it'd been two or three months already. Sometimes I wonder—was it because I didn't use my coupon that time that the disaster happened?"

Liu Tianji picked up a leaf of cabbage, blew on it as he spoke.

"Come on, no matter how much butterfly effect you've got, it can't stretch this far… Man, this smells amazing—ahhh!" Wang Xin, risking burning his mouth, shoved a slice of meat into his mouth.

"Oh my god, this is so good! Eating this one meal, Zhao De, if zombies start chewing on you, I won't even put down my chopsticks to save you!" Lu Yu said while eating.

"You bastard! I'd do the same—once you're half-eaten, I'll be done eating and strong enough to bury you!"

Zhao De had been happily serving Yu Qing food, but hearing Lu Yu's words, he immediately launched a verbal counterattack.

"Honey, why aren't you eating? Here, have some meat!"

Zheng Xinyu placed a hot slice of meat into Zhang Su's dipping sauce bowl and noticed his gaze was distant, completely distracted from the food.

"Before we knew it, so many people have come together…"

Zhang Su picked up his bowl, took a bite, eyes brightening. It was truly delicious—the long-missed taste of science and tech (hot pot seasoning pack) still pure, leaving flavor lingering on his lips!

"What do you mean 'come together'? I don't get it," Zheng Xinyu said, eating vegetables and shaking her head.

Zhang Su whispered: "Haven't you noticed? Bo and Lan are together, Zhu and Little Yu know each other, Guo Dachao and Yang Wenjie, Little Chen and Pei Lan, Zhang Ya and Wang Xin are a pair too…"

"Oh, you mean that? It's normal for two people who like each other to get together. You've got me and Sister Xiaoshan—why are you jealous of others? Pfft!"

Zheng Xinyu rolled her eyes playfully.

"That's not what I meant…"

Zhang Su grinned. "In the camp, when men see others find partners, the single ones will envy them. Envy turns to jealousy. So we need to bring over some girls from the United Village!"

"Following you is great—you even help your men find wives, hehe…"

Zheng Xinyu grinned mischievously, mouth full of greens.

"It's not just about finding wives. Enough. Eat!"

Sleep, appetite, survival, and sexual desire—these are humanity's four basic urges, instincts written into our genes, driving us to pursue them one by one.

This is a very real issue. Forcing control over basic human desires cannot last; only channeling and guiding them works, as history has shown in every war.

From struggling to survive to living stably, once fed and warm, lust inevitably follows. That's not bad—it's part of preserving human civilization, including the difficult task of reproduction. If we don't balance this, trouble will arise at some future point.

Everyone at the lavish New Year feast ate with great joy. Food brings happiness—it's no empty phrase, especially now. The team's cohesion rose another notch.

After resting in camp for a while, at around two in the afternoon, Zhang Su called for Zheng Xinyu—who had strongly insisted on going out—and Guo Dachao and Zhao De to head to Xida Ying Village for trade.

He brought Guo Dachao because he was the expert and could help discuss the welder. He brought Zhao De mainly to let him feel how harsh the environment was—to crush his urge to have children!

(End of Chapter)