Chapter 1778 Top 5 in the Nation
"How do you accumulate points to exchange a prefab house for an apartment with an elevator? Can ordinary people accumulate points too?" Shi Xinxin asked curiously, her eyes full of anticipation.
"Of course!" Qin Fenglin chimed in. "When I was delivering goods outside the base, I heard from the people inside that you can earn points whether you're farming, working, or going on missions with the patrol team. If an ordinary person works hard and saves up for half a year, they can apply to upgrade to an apartment with an elevator. I heard that the rooms are fully furnished with basic furniture like beds, tables, chairs, and wardrobes, as well as a private bathroom and kitchen."
Looking out the car window, Li Luo could vaguely see the open area of the community and casually asked:
"Looking from a distance, do you see small squares in every community? I think I can even see the outlines of fitness equipment."
“Yes!” Qin Fenglin nodded. “I heard about it from friends at the base. Every community has a small square with fitness equipment, playground equipment for children, benches, and green plants. Every evening, residents come out for a walk and chat, and children run around chasing each other. It’s a very lively place.”
"Won't it be safe to stay here at night? There are so many residents, what if a zombie breaks into this area?" Shi Xinxin was still a little worried and subconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes.
"Don't worry, you can tell from the outside that the base's defenses are layered and progressive. There are three more lines of defense outside the fourth layer!" Li Nana reassured them with a smile. "And I've heard from people who come here often that each community has a dedicated patrol team of superhumans, and there's a curfew after 10 p.m. But it's not a one-size-fits-all approach. If residents have any emergencies, such as being sick or giving birth, they can contact the patrol team for help at any time. The base's rules are very thoughtful."
She paused and added:
"The community has public restrooms, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. The cleaners keep the environment clean and tidy, making it a very comfortable place to live."
Chu Yuanqing gazed at the orderly community in the distance and the bustling area that could be vaguely seen, and nodded:
"With such well-organized management of both the outer perimeter and the internal living quarters, it's no wonder that the Youzhou Base has become a core shelter."
Shi Xinxin leaned close to the passenger seat, half her body dangling over, and tightly wrapped her arm around Li Luo's wrist, shaking it playfully. Her eyes shone like stars in the sky.
"Lollo! Once we're inside the base and finished this mission, we absolutely have to go to that shopping street and shop to our hearts' content!"
She pointed with her fingertips towards the distant, bustling scene outside the window, her voice brimming with barely suppressed excitement.
Having traveled with Li Luo all the way, Shi Xinxin had long been accustomed to those "sudden" conveniences, and her life was even more comfortable than before the apocalypse. She had never worried about food, clothing, or daily necessities.
But the commercial street in Youzhou base is different.
That is where tens of thousands of survivors truly settled down and lived their lives; it is the place with the strongest sense of everyday life.
Sunlight streamed onto the neatly arranged shop rooftops, reflecting a warm glow. The shadows of people moving about could be vaguely seen, and even the air seemed to be filled with the aroma of food.
She wasn't curious about what she lacked or what she wanted to buy, but rather wanted to see if the food stalls were serving the old flavors of her memories, to browse the items on the shelves of the small shops that carried the warmth of human connection, and to squeeze into the crowd to feel the lively atmosphere.
This realistic picture of post-apocalyptic life, belonging to "everyone," is something that no amount of convenient "convenience" can replace. After running around on missions for so long, being able to join in this rare moment of excitement with my best friend is the real reward for myself.
