The vegetables and grain seeds found, though catalyzed by the base's wood-element ability users, were still in short supply. Moreover, due to a lack of seasonings, the food made lacked flavor.
Daily necessities were also insufficient, with items like toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and shampoo being rare.
Some items were even being sold at exorbitant prices. Meanwhile, gold, silver, and various pearl jewelry had become worthless.
However, Chen Chen enjoyed collecting these items.
"Boss, haha! Those gold bars you collected before, who knew they'd actually be useful. I thought those things were just a waste of space before! You really have foresight, boss." Thin Monkey said as he ate.
Chen Chen also smiled at this. "Yeah! Who could have imagined! Back then, I just thought that one day the apocalypse would pass. With this gold, we could just lie flat. This boss Luo from Hao Yun Lai is truly a god. He actually exchanges gold and silver for points."
"Mhm, mhm, boss, I knew that boss Luo was definitely a big shot! Otherwise, how could he open a shop in the city center, a place crawling with zombies, during the apocalypse? I really don't know why the former base leader of Qing Long Base was so stupid."
Chen Chen snorted coldly. "People are just never satisfied! Did he not know boss Luo was powerful? But there are always greedy people who want to take a gamble and go from rags to riches. How did it turn out? They delivered their own heads. I heard they even took tanks and armored vehicles. Haha! Heads and supplies, all handed over."
"Haha! Boss is right! Boss, are you going to video call boss Luo later?"
Chen Chen nodded with a smile. "This boss Luo, we can only befriend him, never offend him. Some people appear soft and easily bullied, but they could very well be a big shot. This boss Luo is like that. We shouldn't grovel to please them! But at least we should make a familiar acquaintance, at least the first impression must be good."
This was the experience he had gained from working for several years before.
While eating his second boxed meal, Thin Monkey successfully advanced to level 4.
"Haha! Boss! This boxed meal is really effective! We should let everyone in the base eat it. Maybe some people will even advance."
"Mm, starting from today, the base's small canteen will start serving boxed meals!"
As soon as the time came, the rabbit food truck was brought over.
Chen Chen looked in the mirror and tidied his hair. He coughed lightly and opened the video call on the food truck.
...
On the other side, Luo Yunshi, seeing that there were no problems in the county town, asked Mingzhu and Deng Fengmingyi to attract customers while she herself located back to the Hao Yun Lai fast-food restaurant.
As soon as she arrived at the store, she saw the video call.
Luo Yunshi clicked to accept. A man in his late twenties suddenly appeared on the video.
"Hello, boss Luo! I am Chen Chen, the base leader of Bai Gu Base."
Seeing that the man's eyes were clear and he was neither servile nor overbearing, Luo Yunshi politely greeted him, "Hello, base leader Chen! What can I do for you?"
Chen Chen's face showed a hint of a smile upon hearing this. "Nothing much. I just want to represent the entire Bai Hu Base in thanking boss Luo. Without boss Luo, our base would probably still be living a hard life."
Seeing Chen Chen's sincerity, Luo Yunshi smiled and replied, "You don't need to thank me, we are just mutually beneficial, there's no need for thanks."
"Haha! If boss Luo has time, you can come to our Bai Hu Base for a visit. Our base welcomes boss Luo's presence."
Luo Yunshi had a good impression of this Chen Chen. Hearing this, she nodded.
"Hao Yun Lai also welcomes your arrival. A new branch will be opening here tomorrow. If you're interested, base leader Chen can come and have a look."
Afterward, they chatted for a while and then hung up.
"Sigh! We're both base leaders! The difference is truly huge." Luo Yunshi murmured.
The rabbit food truck left Bai Hu Base and went to Qing Long Base.
By this time, Qing Long Base had already changed hands. The new base leader had purged the former base leader's faction and began to reform the base.
Since seeing the base leader and his group being killed, Yang Xiaolin had not visited Hao Yun Lai fast-food restaurant again. Instead, she continued to be supported by her boyfriend Wu Wenjie and her good brother Zhang Weichang.
When Lin Cong, an ability user in his early thirties, became the base leader, Yang Xiaolin began to set her sights on him.
Even though she knew he had a wife, and his wife was also an ability user, Yang Xiaolin still did not give up.
Hmph! There are no cats that don't steal fish. Yang Xiaolin thought smugly.
So, seeing Lin Cong working hard, Yang Xiaolin found various excuses to show kindness and warmth, making Lin Cong's wife appear even less considerate and gentle.
However, Lin Cong was not Qi Jin, nor his blind boyfriend. Lin Cong was a master of discerning women, and he knew that this woman was trouble from the moment he saw her.
No matter how much Yang Xiaolin tried to curry favor, he paid her no mind, only dealing with her perfunctorily and showing affection to his wife.
Seeing that Lin Cong was unmoved, Yang Xiaolin, harboring resentment, went to find her 'good brother' Zhang Weichang for help. However, as the two of them were plotting in bed, Lin Cong suddenly burst in with his wife, Wu Wenjie, and others.
"Ah!" Yang Xiaolin screamed upon seeing this and quickly covered herself with the quilt, ignoring Zhang Weichang who was naked.
Seeing this scene, Wu Wenjie's eyes filled with anger. He pointed at Yang Xiaolin and said, "Bitch, didn't I treat you well? How could you do this to me! I was truly blind back then to think you were kind and lovely!"
As Wu Wenjie spoke, he lunged forward.
Yang Xiaolin screamed in fear and hid behind Zhang Weichang.
Seeing this, Wu Wenjie became even more enraged. He glared at Zhang Weichang.
"I even considered you a good brother, and you hooked up with my woman right after we broke up!"
"Wenjie! It's not my fault, Yang Xiaolin seduced me first. She said she had no feelings for you and wanted me to be responsible for her." Zhang Weichang quickly pulled Yang Xiaolin out from behind him to explain, then picked up his pants and put them on.
Little Lin, I'm sorry, I can only sacrifice you now. Killing is not allowed in the base, so he won't kill you. I will avenge you later, Zhang Weichang thought to himself.
Hearing Yang Xiaolin's words, Wu Wenjie's rage intensified. He grabbed Yang Xiaolin and slapped her.
"Slap!"
Yang Xiaolin's head buzzed from Wu Wenjie's slap, and five red finger marks immediately appeared on her face.
Dizzy and disoriented, Yang Xiaolin cried and begged for mercy, "It's not my fault, it's all Zhang Weichang's fault, he forced me first."
Wu Wenjie snorted, neither of them were good people. He then moved to attack Zhang Weichang.
Hearing Yang Xiaolin's words, Zhang Weichang was filled with disbelief. He had just been thinking of avenging her. This bitch! So her kindness and claims of love were all lies.
Yang Xiaolin's words enraged Zhang Weichang. While dodging Wu Wenjie's attacks, he also went to hit Yang Xiaolin.
The three of them chased and fought. Soon, under Zhang Weichang's fury, Yang Xiaolin was accidentally killed.