Stirring Things Up in the Wasteland 217

Chapter 217

After many years in the apocalypse, and with Ning Mountain established for several more, on holidays or on auspicious occasions, when Song Xun was in a good mood, this place would be very lively.

And today, it was the liveliest day so far.

The beating of gongs and drums, and the bustling crowd were not enough to show this liveliness.

The huge square was packed with people. The bluestone ground that had been broken during the competition had long since been repaired. For an ability user, this was a simple matter, as if the previous broken and damaged state had never appeared.

Ai Fei and the others were not seriously injured, and besides, there was a healing-type ability user. Even if Ji Tang didn’t make a move, it was fine.

Perhaps the only one who was still the same was Ye Bai.

In the square, people were coming and going. A dozen or so large pots were set up under the lights, in the very center. Around them, there were people rolling dough, stirring fillings, and making dumplings. In a corner, there were old people playing chess with nothing to do, and the new generation of children were running and jumping through the crowd, their laughter echoing, as lively as before the apocalypse.

“Actually, it would be great if it could always be like this.”

In a corner, Ai Fei had a leaf in her mouth, and she was constantly sniffing the aroma of the dumplings that filled the air, and sighing.

“That’s right.”

Peng Jing agreed, “And I didn’t expect them to have so much grain here. I thought it was a lie before I came.”

If it weren’t for Song Ye calling her over, Peng Jing wouldn’t have come.

If she hadn’t come, she naturally wouldn’t have seen this scene. But she was still very curious about where the grain here came from.

Not only were there rice, fresh meat, fruits, vegetables, and seafood, but there were even noodles. This was not something that could be explained by hoarding.

Seeing everyone’s thoughtful silence, it was clear that they were all moved. Although it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, Ai Fei still reminded them with a leaf in her mouth, “Don’t overthink it. How they do it is their own business.”

Xia Jin also followed, “That’s right. It’s good enough that we all have something to eat together.”

Thinking too much is not necessarily a good thing.

Peng Jing said, “I’m just curious.”

The group nodded, and one by one, they consciously changed the subject. Wu Dahu was even more direct. “Speaking of which, Ye Bai, what’s with your injury? Who could have injured you so badly?”

He had been so curious before.

Ye Bai was silent, his head slightly lowered, clearly not wanting to say much. “You’re so bored. Since you know, why ask?”

Know?

Know what?!

Li Zhuo suddenly reacted. “Could it be that what was said on the radio, that there was a terrifying, inhuman power in that Menjing City, you were telling the truth?”

The others also looked over. Ye Bai held it in, and couldn’t help it. “You guys actually thought I was lying?”

He couldn’t help but raise his voice, which startled the few people sitting nearby.

Shark rubbed his ears. “But you said that the whole city was affected, and it was very terrifying, like a heavenly power. That really sounds like a lie.”

So they didn’t believe it at all.

Even the usually most silent person had said so. The others all nodded. Ye Bai was so angry he was speechless. He accidentally stretched his wound and his face turned pale with pain.

“Then what about you, Ai Fei?”

Ye Bai looked over, and Ai Fei scratched her head. Although she didn’t say anything, she quietly averted her eyes.

Ye Bai: Damn it!

Glancing at Ye Bai’s almost-man-eating gaze, Ai Fei quickly tried to remedy the situation. “Let me make it clear. What Old Ye said is completely true. Menjing City is indeed very terrifying.”

Although she had never been in…

Wang Jing looked over. “Oh! Where is it terrifying? Tell me.”

Ai Fei: “…”

She poked Xia Jin in the back with her hand, without lowering her head, her eyes straight ahead, so she couldn’t see at all. But when she poked…

Aiya! It was quite soft.

Ai Fei blinked. Is Old Xia’s arm so soft? I didn’t expect that. What a surprise.

She couldn’t help but poke it again, so much so that Xia Jin’s face turned grim, and she glared at her, but she couldn’t say anything.

What was there to say about poking someone’s butt? If she said it, wouldn’t she be laughed at to death?

But for some reason, Ai Fei got addicted. Without realizing it, she poked again, and when she looked up, she saw Xia Jin’s cold gaze. Ai Fei blinked again, puzzled.

“What…”

Before she could finish her sentence, footsteps came from behind. Xia Jin jumped up in fright, which startled the people in front, behind, and to her sides.

She turned her head and met the strange gazes of Song Ye and He Qing.

After a moment of silence, the two of them said in perfect unison, “We didn’t see anything.”

Xia Jin: “…”

Ai Fei: “?”

The others: “???”

Behind the two of them were also Chang Wan and Wang Qingyao, who were also holding trays, with a puzzled look on their faces. “What’s wrong?”

Silence.

Ai Fei looked at Xia Jin’s murderous gaze, and was also very puzzled. “Why is no one talking?”

Song Ye gave a look, and although Chang Wan and Wang Qingyao were puzzled, they were very obedient and didn’t ask. The four of them placed the trays on the table. Inside were dumplings with various fillings, soy sauce, vinegar, and chili, as well as a few cold side dishes. The main thing was that it was complete, perfect.

Originally, Song Ye had wanted to say something, but looking at Xia Jin, she didn’t dare.

She just threw down a sentence, “Eat up. There’s more if you’re not full,” and then quickly pulled the two behind her, who still didn’t know what was going on, and retreated. In the end, she even gave Ai Fei a look that said, “you’re on your own.”

Ai Fei didn’t understand what it meant. She turned to ask Xia Jin, “What happened just now?”

Xia Jin finally couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Damn it, you’re just asking for a beating.”
She went up and gave Ai Fei two punches. It was so sudden, and she was so angry, that Ai Fei was sent flying and landed on the ground, stunned.

“No, what’s wrong with you? Didn’t I just poke your hand a few times and ask you to tell me…”

Wait a minute. If that was the angle…

As if she had understood something, Ai Fei’s eyes widened in an instant, and then she was also stunned. She looked up at Xia Jin’s dark-faced, retreating back, and subconsciously shivered, and then she also quickly limped after her.

“No, Old Xia, you have to let me explain.”

“Wait for me! This was an accident, an accident…”

“…”

The others: “…”

What’s going on?!

On the other side of the square, Song Xun was with Chang Fei, Shi Tou, and the others, moving the projector. Seeing that Song Ye and the others had quickly returned, she asked, “Have you delivered all the dumplings?”

“Yes.”

Song Ye and He Qing had strange expressions. Alright, it was mainly Song Ye.

“What’s wrong?” Song Xun was a little strange.

“Nothing.”

Song Ye’s eyes darted around. She couldn’t just say she had seen Ai Fei touching Xia Jin’s butt, could she?

And besides, when had these two gotten together? She didn’t even know.

Song Xun glanced at her and didn’t ask any more. The equipment was moved out, and she began to choose a film. Song Jin’an came over with her short legs. “Mommy, Mommy…”

“What is it, old girl?”

“Mommy, I want to watch ‘The Adventures of the Flying Butterfly’.”

Song Xun blinked. “But it’s so lively now. Isn’t it a bit inappropriate to show a cartoon?”

The group’s gazes were helpless. It wasn’t just a bit inappropriate; it was completely inappropriate.

Seeing Song Xun hesitate in the face of Song Jin’an’s coquetry, Ji Jinning was speechless. “Mommy, you’re not really going to show a cartoon, are you?”
Ji Jinyu put her hands on her hips. “That’s right, Mommy. Aren’t you spoiling her a bit too much?”

At these words, Song Xun and Ji Tang both looked over. “What are you talking about? It’s as if I didn’t spoil you when you were little.”

Ji Jinyu blinked and didn’t say anything.

“Then let’s just show two. Let the children watch something they like too.”

It wasn’t like they didn’t have the equipment. Why be so conflicted?

To prevent the sound of the two movies from clashing, Song Xun even deliberately separated them a little. The new generation of children from Ning Mountain, led by Song Jin’an, gathered around and chattered away.

In these past few years, the birth rate of Ning Mountain had been relatively high. Although it hadn’t broken a hundred, compared to the zero growth of the other bases, it was a considerable contrast.

After finishing their work, the group went over to eat dumplings together.

They didn’t do anything special. They just randomly found a few spots and sat down. It was a happy day, and Song Xun had taken out a lot of meat. The four kinds of fillings, pork, beef, lamb, and horse meat, were all fragrant.

The steam from the dumpling pot was rising, and there was firewood underneath. With so many people eating, as soon as they were finished, they would put in another pot. Fortunately, there were also many people making dumplings, so the supply was completely sufficient.

After eating, they had a bowl of warm dumpling soup. In this little cold wind of the eternal night, it was simply wonderful.

By the time the festivities were over, it was already past 4 AM.

But the eternal night sky would not get light, so it didn’t really matter. The survivors had long gotten used to it.

In the cave, the lights were on. The people from Ning Mountain and the base leaders were all there. Everyone knew that after a full meal, it was time to talk business.

Song Xun sat at the head of the table. “Then, first, let’s all discuss what to name our city alliance.”
“Also, regarding the planning and construction of the city, if anyone has any good ideas or suggestions, you can say them. We can brainstorm and strive for the best.”

The Ning Mountain base had no architects, but with the tens of thousands of people in the other bases, there should be some. Finding ten or eight of them was not difficult.

A small problem.

Ai Fei, with a pair of panda eyes, raised her hand. “How about we call it the City of the Apocalypse? It’s fitting.”

She looked left and right. Alright, Xia Jin was sitting on her right. She didn’t dare. In the end, she looked at Song Xun above. “What do you think?”

Song Xun didn’t give her any face at all. “I don’t think it’s very good.”

Ai Fei tsked. “Don’t you think this name is very nice? It’s so easy to understand.”

But the others started to discuss among themselves, and no one paid her any attention.

Wang Jing: “I think since it’s a city of our eight alliances, why don’t we just call it the City of Eight Dao?”

Li Zhuo: “I think it should be called the City of Watch.”

Shark: “How about we just call it the City of Mountains and Seas?”

Wu Dahu: “What kind of names are these? We are for the hope and reproduction of the human survivors. Let’s just call it the City of Hope.”
Peng Jing was also excited. “I hope it can be called the Cornerstone. How about the Cornerstone? The cornerstone of humanity. What a good meaning?”

Song Ye also followed, “Then it’s better to just call it Ning Mountain City.”

What a bunch of messy, rotten names.

“Alright.” He Qing nodded in support.

Song Ye turned her head and giggled, her eyes shining. That simple and silly expression, which was exactly the same as when Song Xun was facing Ji Tang, made the people next to her cover their faces.

This person, she really changed just like that.

For a name, a few people were gathered together, arguing, you don’t agree with me, and I don’t agree with you.

“Call it the City of Mountains and Seas?”

“No, it should be called the Cornerstone. The meaning is so good.”

“It should be called the City of the Apocalypse…”

“…”

In the end, Song Xun got annoyed and made the final decision. “It’s decided. We’ll call it Ning Mountain City.”

Her territory, her choice.

The others: “…”

After a few seconds of silence, they were all speechless.

Since you two sisters had already decided, why did you even ask us? What’s wrong with you?!