With Lu Shiyan’s help, Su Wan simply washed up and changed into clean clothes.
After the hot porridge warmed her stomach, some color returned to her pale face, and her spirits lifted considerably, though her body still felt heavily fatigued.
After resting for another day in the small house, they decided not to linger.
After a quick tidy-up, the four of them set off again, continuing their journey towards the Central Base.
Along the way, while Su Wan’s spirits were noticeably better, Lu Shiyan frequently checked on her condition.
“I heard the Central Base is one of the largest safe zones right now,” Xiao Han said, looking at Su Wan through the rearview mirror, a hint of expectation in his voice.
Su Wan nodded slightly, taking small bites of an apple and chewing slowly.
Sweetness filled her mouth.
She recalled some information about the concept of large shelters from the original book, as well as rumors she had heard about the Central Base during their journey.
On the surface, this base seemed safe and stable, but internally, the intertwining forces were likely far more complex than imagined.
However, the highest leader here was relatively fair.
“Once we reach the Central Base, we can finally relax for a bit, right?” Xiao Han stretched with a big yawn.
He turned his head and saw Su Wan’s cheeks puffing out, like a little squirrel hoarding food.
This time, he didn’t make any snide remarks, muttering to himself, “She’s a pregnant woman, eating for two, so gnawing on more apples is perfectly fine.”
In the driver’s seat, Lu Shiyan quickly glanced at Su Wan through the rearview mirror, and his perpetually icy lips seemed to move ever so slightly.
The off-road vehicle drove for about an hour, and in the distance, the outline of a massive wall gradually became clear.
“That’s the Central Base,” Xiao Han said, pointing ahead, his voice clearly excited.
Su Wan leaned closer to the window, looking through the glass at the wall.
The Central Base was even more magnificent than she had imagined.
The towering metal wall was at least a dozen meters high, equipped with surveillance devices and defensive weapons.
Outside the wall was a wide clearing, with no obstructions, clearly designed to prevent zombies and ill-intentioned individuals from approaching.
The vehicle slowly approached the base’s main entrance.
As they drew closer, Su Wan noticed a long line of vehicles and people waiting to enter at the entrance.
Every vehicle and every person had to undergo strict inspection before being allowed through.
“Looks like there are a lot of people,” Xiao Han tutted, “How long will this take?”
Lu Shiyan calmly scanned the chaotic and noisy surroundings, his voice low: “Stay in the car.
The entrance is crowded and full of chatter; don’t cause trouble.”
Several hours slowly dragged by, and their vehicle finally crawled near the checkpoint.
The queue ahead suddenly erupted into chaos, with human voices, car noises, cries, and shouts all jumbled together.
“What’s going on?” Su Wan peered out slightly.
She saw a ragged, emaciated woman being roughly dragged out of the line by two heavily armed guards.
The woman was clutching a child of about three or four years old, who was crying loudly, his small hands clutching the woman’s tattered clothes, his knuckles white.
“Let go of me! Let go of me! We really have a pass! My husband’s name is Wang Dahu; he sacrificed himself to protect the base!” the woman cried out shrilly, her voice hoarse and full of despair.
Several pieces of paper in her hand scattered on the ground, trampled by the chaotic crowd.
“Sacrifice? Hmph, plenty of people have sacrificed for the base; does that mean every single one needs special treatment?” the rough male voice from before rang out again, filled with impatience and mockery.
A burly man, who looked like a guard captain with a Scarface, walked over and stepped on the scattered papers, grinding them with his foot.
“The rules now are the rules!
Everyone must be re-tested!
Anyone with any abnormalities or carrying unknown viruses will not be allowed to enter!”
Scarface’s eyes were fierce, sweeping over the hushed crowd.
“Dare to make noise again, and you’ll be treated as rioters directly!”
The woman, held by two guards, struggled desperately, her cries and the child’s cries intertwining, piercing the eardrums.
“Please, my child is sick, he needs medicine… We really are fine…” The woman’s voice grew weaker, laced with pleading.
“If he’s sick, he’s even less allowed in!” Scarface snorted coldly and waved his hand, “Drag them away, don’t cause trouble here!”
The two guards were merciless, practically dragging the woman and child towards a temporarily erected isolation zone nearby.
Inside the isolation zone, some people with ashen faces and despairing eyes were faintly visible.
Su Wan watched this scene, feeling a chill rise from the bottom of her heart.
Not far away, a uniformed staff member was sternly reprimanding several young people who were trying to cut in line.
Those fellows were well-dressed, their hair slicked back, and their chins tilted so high they could poke the sky, completely disregarding the staff member.
The leading young man, with striking yellow hair, directly pushed away the guard blocking his way, cursing obscenely: “Get lost! Are you blind, you dog! If you delay us, do you think you can handle the consequences, you bastard? Hurry up and call your supervisor; tell him people from the Zhao family in the East District want to come in!”
The staff member said sternly: “There are no privileges here; everyone must line up and be inspected according to the rules.”
The faces of several refugees who had been waiting in line for a long time were full of anger, yet they dared not speak out, only muttering curses at these arrogant people who lorded over others.
“Heh, look at them, the privileged class, even in the apocalypse, you can’t get rid of these parasites,” Xiao Han sneered, his tone full of mockery.
Seeing that reason wouldn’t work, the young men actually started shoving the staff member.
As the situation was about to spiral out of control, a tall military officer walked over.
“What’s going on?” The officer’s voice was deep and powerful.
“Captain Pan!” The staff member immediately stood at attention, “These gentlemen refuse to queue and insist on going first!”
The man called Captain Pan sharply scanned the group of lounging young men: “Rules are rules; there are no exceptions.
Either line up honestly, or get out.”
The leading yellow-haired youth was initially stunned, then a more arrogant sneer appeared on his face: “Pan Yong, right? Don’t you dare think you’re so great just because you’re some lousy Captain! When I get in, I’ll tell my dad, and we’ll see how he skins you alive!”
Pan Yong’s expression didn’t change, his eyes not even wavering: “As you wish.
Now, immediately, get back in line.”
The yellow-haired youth wanted to curse a few more words, but a slightly more perceptive companion behind him vigorously pulled his arm: “Forget it, forget it, say less, don’t cause trouble here; we can talk about it once we’re inside.”
The yellow-haired youth glared fiercely at Pan Yong, his eyes wishing they could gouge out two chunks of flesh from him, but he eventually retreated to the back of the line, unwillingly.