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Apocalyptic Reincarnation: Start with a 30-million Bonus-Chapter 318 - 310: Generous Bai Jie (4/9) Repaying a Debt
Dusk descends, the distant mountains grow dim, and the chilly sky looms over wretched white huts.
Dogs bark behind the firewood gate, as someone returns through the wind and snow at night.
In Bai Jie's heart, this was the most difficult moment of her life, even more desperate than when the zombies first erupted.
When the zombies came, they could muster their courage to resist and pick up weapons to fight back.
But in such extreme weather, the cold was constantly draining their physical fitness and eroding their willpower.
In the cold, she felt powerless.
And at this time, Li Yu and the rest had given her hope, warmth, and consolation.
Inside the infirmary, everyone quietly listened to Bai Jie recounting the hardships they had faced along the way.
Of the six people who left Jiefang City, none had been killed by zombies, but today, on their way here, a sister had frozen to death.
Now, there were only five of them left.
"Thank you, really... Thank you. We really have nowhere else to go, can you take us in?" Bai Jie's beautiful eyes looked at everyone present.
Everyone became silent at once, they all understood that saving someone was one thing, but to take in people was another matter—they didn't have that authority.
After all, taking in one more person meant one more mouth to feed.
Although food supplies were still very abundant at the base, the power to increase or decrease personnel lay in the hands of Li Yu.
Li Yu looked at Bai Jie; the infirmary was heated, and the temperature of the entire space was in the twenties.
Bai Jie, having removed her coat, revealed an undeniable figure, with a heavy chest and peach-blossom eyes that seemed as if they could talk.
In her glances and expressions, there was a certain charming allure.
"No, we already have enough people at the base," Li Yu replied directly.
The expressions of the people around were varied, and one auntie's face immediately sank. Even as relatives, she couldn't demand that Li Yu take them in.
Li Yu had already done all he could by rescuing them; moreover, he owed them nothing. How could she ask Li Yu to compensate them just because she owed them?
"However, unless you can prove your own value, we do not shelter idlers in our base. We can't afford to either," Li Yu said solemnly.
Anyone in the base had to demonstrate their value, otherwise, Li Yu would not take them in.
Unless they were Li Yu's relatives; in that case, he might take them in because of family ties.
But that didn't mean they could freeload, and fortunately, Li Yu's relatives had not been dragging him down. They had not behaved irresponsibly or been lazy just because they were his relatives.
"I...I and Xiao Lan were classmates; we both used to be in a scientific research institute, specializing in life sciences, though I guess that's not very useful now..." Bai Jie said, her tone turning somber.
Li Yu, on the other end, remained expressionless but was inwardly stirred upon hearing this.
Then Bai Jie continued, "But maybe An Ya can stay; she used to be a graduate student in agronomy at a 211 university. And Meng Yu, she's a surgeon, who was in charge of medical affairs in Jiefang City."
Li Yu's eyes brightened at this, not expecting these young women under 30 to be highly educated.
In fact, in terms of his psychological age, he was almost thirty years old as well, with five years after reincarnation and this past year.
Bai Jie then glanced at the young girl who was running a high fever, and said, "She is the youngest among us. We don't know much about her identity. We met her while searching for supplies outside. It seemed that her two bodyguards held off the zombies for us, and then she followed us."
"Bodyguards?" Li Yu frowned. In these times, being able to afford bodyguards and then having them remain so loyal during the apocalypse was rare.
"Yes, we don't know much about her background; we just call her Xiao Shi."
"Mhm."
Bai Jie finished speaking and waited quietly.
From the look in these people's eyes just now, she could tell that the man before her was the one who had the final say on whether they would stay or leave.
Li Yu pondered for a moment before saying, "You all can stay for the time being. As for your abilities, we'll make a decision after verification."
Bai Jie was delighted upon hearing this. Though she hadn't received his direct agreement, just being able to stay temporarily was already enough for her.
For Li Yu, he couldn't blindly agree to their request. After all, there were now more people at the base, and many had gone through multiple tests before they were allowed to stay.
If he agreed too easily to let them stay, it would send the wrong message to everyone else.
Yet, in Li Yu's heart, he was practically overjoyed.
The newcomers this time were all highly educated, the talents which were urgently needed.
Agriculture, doctors, these were utterly crucial professions. After all, Li Yuan was just a third-year medical student and definitely couldn't compare to these experienced surgeons.
As for Bai Jie and Xiao Lan, who were involved in life sciences, it might not be useful right now, but in Li Yu's heart, he couldn't help but think about completely ending this apocalyptic era.
Perhaps... well
That girl Xiao Shi.
Li Yu looked at the fair-skinned, beautiful girl, who still exuded an air of nobility even while asleep, and felt a headache coming on.
This type was the most troublesome. If she had a good temper, fine, but if not, and she acted all high and mighty, he couldn't guarantee he wouldn't throw her to the zombies.
But, if he killed this girl, Bai Jie and others would know, and that would be problematic!
He felt a headache just thinking about it.
Li Yu was not a patient man, so he asked Bai Jie directly, "Xiao Shi, what do you know about her?"
"We only know she's 20 years old, and as for her family background, she didn't say, and we didn't ask much. We think this girl is quite good, especially hardworking. If it wasn't for her suggesting to come find you, perhaps we would've frozen to death by now..."
"Coming to find us was her idea?" Li Yu's entire presence suddenly changed.
Li Yu never tolerated the feeling of being targeted. Whenever there was a sign of trouble, he tended to deal with it right at the outset.
"Mhm, she just made a suggestion for us to try," Bai Jie said honestly, looking at Li Yu's somewhat frightening expression.
The ever-cautious Li Yu was already contemplating whether or not to kill.
After his rebirth, he preferred not to let problems accumulate. This 20-year-old girl, with an unknown identity and unclear background...
Although in these apocalyptic times, money and background were pretty much useless.
Thinking back to his own rebirth five years ago, he hadn't seen any particularly powerful forces.
He had also doubted himself, wondering if it was because he had always been struggling at the bottom that his perspective on things was limited.
But the present was what mattered most.
He slowly exhaled.
This person's identity was not important.
Since she has come, then let her stay.
Talk to her, and if it doesn't work out, kill her!