Second Uncle nodded in agreement and said, "Yes, time flies so fast, and we don't know what the future holds. There was a natural disaster outbreak two years ago, and this year, apart from floods, things are relatively fine. But this sense of uncertainty is really unsettling."

Uncle had a more relaxed attitude and said, "Leave the future's matters to the future. We can't possibly know what will happen. Do what you can, and leave the rest to fate."

"You have a good mindset." Second Uncle chuckled, glancing at Uncle, and then said, "Last time you brought back so many things from the Western Alliance; it took several days just to sort it all out. So, how was your last trip out there?"

Uncle thought for a moment and said, "Nothing much, just a long journey. Being older, sitting for long made my backside sore."

Speaking of this, Uncle laughed.

But he quickly suppressed his smile: "You feel a lot of pressure, leading so many people. The day is alright, but at night you worry about zombies breaching the defenses. I wanted to bring everyone back safe."

As Uncle said this, his face was serious.

"We didn't encounter people while traveling during the day, but it was oppressively quiet. At night, sleeping was uneasy, quite tense. It's completely different from being in the base. Returning to the base, it felt surreal."

"What kind of feeling?"

"Too safe, like there's absolutely no need to worry about security."

Second Uncle was silent for a moment, and Youyou reflected, "Yes, perhaps only when it's lost do we understand its value. In Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the basic physiological needs, food and clothing, and safety needs. In Doomsday, these basic needs have become the most luxurious demands."

Uncle agreed, nodding:

"So, in Doomsday, dignity and morality, emotional values have become less important.

Human nature's corruption is inevitable; after all, everyone is starving, who cares about face and values.

On our way back, we encountered someone who nailed spikes on the road, trying to burst our tires, likely aiming to rob us. Maybe because we had many people, they didn't show themselves. But if there were fewer of us, those lurking might've emerged to rob."

.......

The two chatted, talking about Old Dong and other people at the base, sharing their views on them.

With them standing high and speaking in low tones, the gentle evening breeze carried their casual conversation.

"Old Dong's daughter is a top student from Electronic Science and Technology University, seemingly majoring in electronic engineering. Recently, she's been tinkering with remote radio transmission and reception."

"That's good! If long-distance communication is possible, like when we were fighting in the Western Alliance, we could always stay in touch with the base, not like now when we have to return to Gan City to connect."

"She mentioned over thirty kilometers, ultra-long-distance radio transmission and reception. Receiving is fine.

It's just transmission issues; usually, only military radios can do it, but she says she can find some materials to make it herself. Things like oscillators, frequency doublers, low-frequency amplifiers, and power amplifiers... a real mix; I don't understand much. Anyway, I've assigned the task to gather whatever materials can be found."

"Yes, this matter needs urgent attention, we must handle it with care. By the way, Old Dong's folks are all talents."

....

In the quiet night, two men in their forties were chatting leisurely in the gentle evening breeze.

....

....

Oil City.

Early the next morning, before dawn.

Li Yu got up; he had a good night's sleep and felt refreshed.

The flames outside the walls had died down who knows when, and the air was filled with the smell of rotten eggs from the sewers, a stench that had been brewing for a long time.

Along with it was a nasty charcoal smell.

The combination of the two scents made Li Yu, who had just gotten out of the car, wrinkle his nose; the smell was quite strong.

Third Uncle and Ju Tianrui and the others were already up early, having packed their things and were sitting on the RV steps, eating breakfast.

"Third Uncle, I'll go to the Motorcycle Gang's lair later. You go to the grain planting site to the west, colonized by the Motorcycle Gang?"

"Either works." Third Uncle replied casually, raising his head while eating dry food.

"Alright, we'll stick to this plan for now. Leave this place to Old Bi and his team for guarding."

After speaking, Li Yu called out to Old Bi, some dozen meters away: "Old Bi, come over for a moment."

Old Bi had just finished packing up. Hearing Li Yu's call, he quickly rushed over. "Director Li, you called?"

Li Yu nodded slightly and said to Old Bi, "I, along with Third Uncle, will head to the Motorcycle Gang's lair later. This area needs guarding, so you stay behind."

Upon hearing this, Old Bi, although he wanted to go with them, sensed from Li Yu's tone that it wasn't a question. He nodded and said, "Alright."

"Okay, I'll leave you forty people here. Go ahead and get busy." Li Yu said.

Five minutes later.

The sun hadn't risen yet; the sky was still gray outside Oil City.

Outside Oil City, there were still some zombies that hadn't been burned to death. Their bodies were charred black, exuding a strong rotten smell. But their heads hadn't suffered fatal damage.

The number of zombies compared to last night had halved.

By all accounts, the sun should rise in about twenty minutes.

At this point, heading out wouldn't be too risky.

After Li Yu and Third Uncle discussed, they decided it was time to set off.

So, Old Bi and his team were instructed to move two vehicles to create an exit.

As an exit was formed, zombies gathered under the walls swarmed in.

Boom!

Luo drove a tank, leading the charge.

Rumble, rumble!

Two tanks and two armored vehicles made way in front, instantly crushing the zombies squeezing in under their wheels.

A couple of stray zombies squeezed through gaps and were quickly dealt with by Old Bi and others, who were prepared.

Vehicles drove out, crushing through zombie hordes, forming a path paved with zombie corpses.

Upon spotting vehicles coming from Oil City, the zombies attempted a chase, but the vehicles were far faster.

With several tanks and armored vehicles clearing the way, the follow-up vehicles faced considerably less pressure.

When Li Yu and his team exited, nothing unexpected occurred.

As the last vehicle drove out, Old Bi and his team maneuvered two trucks loaded with mud to seal the gap.

Crash!

In their haste, the two vehicles collided; a loud noise echoed from the front bumper area.

Zombies caught in the middle gap were instantly crushed to a pulp.

After driving a few kilometers, Third Uncle and Li Yu split ways.

One group headed towards the Motorcycle Gang's lair, the other towards their colonized grain planting site.

Along the way, sporadic zombies wandered the roads, looking like ghosts in the gray dawn.

......

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