NOVPUB64: Chapter 52 Work
64 -52 Work
The three elderly people also wanted to step forward to inquire about the situation, but seeing Uncle Zhang surrounded, they considered that there were only two children at home.
Thus, persuaded and escorted by Gu Yanzhi and Song Zhao, they returned home first.
In the afternoon, the residents of Building 10 who worked outside gradually returned home.
Gu Yanlin managed to find some time amidst his busy schedule to return to Building 10.
It was rare for everyone to gather together for a meeting.
They were exhausted from the day-long training yesterday and the morning’s presentations, but they still summoned their energy to share the information they knew.
Gu Yanlin hadn’t slept at all last night, patrolling the entire City C to eliminate potential threats that might arise with the coming of night.
He had quickly eaten breakfast this morning before heading out to maintain order in the streets.
Night was the time when crimes were most likely to occur, and since there were no conditions for installing cameras, they had to rely on physical patrols.
There was nothing special about the gathering in Building 10; everyone worked in government departments and was aware of the general situation.
They wouldn’t give up their relatively more secure livelihood due to external changes.
The purpose of the meeting was to exchange rumors they had heard and to connect emotionally, stabilizing their small community.
After everyone had shared what they knew, they each returned to their homes to catch up on sleep.
Exhausted, Gu Yanlin didn’t even bother to exchange pleasantries with his sister and brother-in-law.
He dived into his room and fell asleep on the bed without changing his clothes.
Gu Yanzhi and Song Zhao went downstairs to check on their vegetables.
Fortunately, they had traded a batch of green vegetables with the government before the polar night arrived.
Now, they were uncertain whether the vegetables in the pots could grow properly.
However, since Gu Yanzhi knew about the impending polar night, she had also prepared experimental plantings of vegetables that didn’t require light, like bean sprouts and garlic chives.
During the planting a few days ago, she covered the vegetables directly with opaque bags, and now they had begun to sprout.
Using flashlights, Gu Yanzhi and Song Zhao carefully removed the bags to check that the current growth was satisfactory.
The spinach that had been planted had started sprouting delicate green shoots, but after a day without sunlight, the leaves seemed to be turning yellow, most likely unable to survive.
Though Gu Yanzhi could provide constant light, it would be too conspicuous in this darkness.
Providing heat for the planting room could be explained as having surplus heating materials due to their formidable strength.
However, as for lighting, even the government could not afford to have a planting room illuminated twenty-four hours a day, so she couldn’t risk it.
Gu Yanzhi and Song Zhao had even agreed to use candles at home and keep the lights off as much as possible.
Their curtains had good blackout properties but were not perfect; light might leak out from the edges and corners, sparking suspicion.
After catching up on some sleep, Gu Yanlin couldn’t even wait to eat dinner at home before rushing to the army to join up with Squadron 532.
They had more important tasks to handle.
Right after Gu Yanlin left, the members of the planting team knocked on their door.
“Miss Gu, Mr.
Song, sorry for the intrusion,”
“We have come to invite you both once more to work with our planting team,” Zhang Qi quickly got to the point after a brief exchange of pleasantries.
Zhang Qi was the son of the overall responsible person of City C, having come to support City C with his father.
After graduating with a doctorate in agronomy, he dedicated himself to agricultural research suitable for City C’s current situation.
Unfortunately, progress had not been good until they met Gu Yanzhi and Song Zhao, who helped them make significant advances.
It was just that before they could thoroughly understand it, the environment in City C and beyond shifted drastically again.
After inviting them once before to join the planting team and being refused, Zhang Qi strongly invited them to act as consultants.
Now, he had no other choice but to plead again for their participation in the research.
“Yes, Gu, please help us out.
We really need you,” said Yan Zhenong, Gu Yanzhi’s senior from the same school and also a graduate in agronomy, his family background evident from his name.
Influenced by his father, a big name in agronomy, he had loved farming and studying the growth conditions of various crops since childhood. 𝚗ov𝚙𝚞𝚋.c𝚘m
Yan Zhenong, two grades senior to Gu Yanzhi, was a prominent figure in the school before graduating and went to the Capital for further studies, coincidentally sharing a supervisor with Zhang Qi.
Zhang Qi had a good relationship with his junior and when the apocalypse arrived, it was Zhang Qi who rescued Yan Zhenong when he was trapped at school.
Being a native of City C, when he heard Zhang Qi was coming to City C, he actively joined him.
It was regrettable that Yan Zhenong’s parents passed away during the floods before they could see their son one last time.
At school, Gu Yanzhi and Yan Zhenong were like ships passing in the night, each having heard of the other’s reputation as the celebrated senior or junior but never meeting each other.
It was only when Gu Yanzhi sold ginger that Yan Zhenong found the name familiar, and upon talking did they realize who the other was.
Gu Yanzhi and Song Zhao might not have had the same professional agricultural knowledge, but Gu Yanzhi’s nutrient solution greatly increased the survival rate of crops in extreme weather conditions.
Moreover, vegetables cared for by Gu Yanzhi grew very well; even before the apocalypse, the vegetables she grew could be considered top-quality.
After multiple invitations and generous offers, what really tempted Gu Yanzhi was the proposition, “You can go to the planting base whenever you like, just stroll around every now and then.”
With that condition, Gu Yanzhi immediately agreed.
The overall terms were actually similar to when Gu Yanzhi served as their consultant, but now with more job options available, Zhang Qi was uneasy.
He feared Gu Yanzhi would be attracted to other positions and came early to tie her firmly to their side.
For Song Zhao, his role was incidental.
He was more responsible for assisting Gu Yanzhi, stabilizing her emotions.
After all, separating the clingy young couple was something neither wanted.
Yan Zhenong reminded Zhang Qi of this, knowing from university that the school’s beloved junior had a childhood sweetheart with whom she had an excellent relationship.
More than once, he overheard roommates lamenting that the school beauty’s boyfriend had come to pick her up again, waiting a long time outside the dormitory.
Now that they were officially together, their relationship still seemed strong, and Yan Zhenong was happy for them.
