Apocalypse Escape: Day One of Survival

Chapter 183: Chapter 183: Forbearance

Both children’s lips were dry and pale; they looked to be in extremely poor condition.

Song Youxuan was leading the two children, about to step forward and ask, when a looping announcement began to play over the base’s loudspeakers.

"Starting today, the base will open five water distribution points on the south side of the Town Square daily at 5:00 AM and 7:00 PM. Residents in need of water may use base points to redeem it."

"Base points?" The announcement brought joy to some in the crowd who were desperate for water.

But these "base points" left everyone feeling confused.

People began to whisper amongst themselves, "Where do we get these base points?"

"The detailed rules for acquiring base points will now be announced. Afterward, the rules will be posted at the base’s main gate for all to see."

Song Youxuan’s grip on her children’s hands tightened.

Just then, in front of the female administrator’s booth, an old woman sat on the ground and began to wail, making a scene.

Many people behind her complained, their faces full of resentment. "What do you think you’re doing? Stop wasting everyone’s time!"

"Stop cutting! Get to the back of the line."

"You’d really push past an old woman like me? Have you no shame? I can’t stand any longer, so I’m just going to sit right here."

The old woman stubbornly remained in front of the female administrator, banging her cane on the long counter. DONG! DONG! "Register me! My name is Cai, Cai Afeng! Hurry up and register me!"

The crowd glared at her, but no one dared lay a hand on her.

The female administrator gave her a cold, dismissive look. "City Defense Team! City Defense Team! Drag this old hag out of here."

A moment later, a squad in City Defense Team uniforms ran over, hoisted the old woman up, and dragged her out of the crowd.

Many people pointed and murmured disapprovingly, but a few older women who couldn’t bear to watch spoke up. "Do you have to be so rough?"

"That’s right. You need to show some restraint, even when you’re enforcing the law."

Someone shouted to a young soldier accompanying a doctor in a white coat over at Gate Four, "The City Defense Team is assaulting people! Isn’t the military going to do anything about it?"

The young soldier gave them a helpless look.

Captain Lu had told them that all internal security matters were now under the full authority of the base leader, so by regulation, they were forbidden from interfering.

The doctor glanced up, gathered the things on the table, and urged the young soldier, "Alright, no more Superpower Users are coming to register. Let’s head back to the infirmary."

Song Youxuan, her arms around her two children, moved with the crowd deeper into the base.

She hadn’t managed to get a single drop of water and could only tell her pale-faced daughter to hold on a little longer.

Suddenly, she felt a tug on her backpack.

She whirled around and yanked her bag away, her angry gaze meeting a pair of mocking eyes.

"Poor wretch. Nothing in here at all." The scrawny woman who had been rummaging through her backpack spat at her and pushed past without a hint of shame.

Song Youxuan trembled with rage. She felt as if the moral code she had lived by for decades was collapsing amid these throngs of displaced people.

Not daring to let go of her children for even a second, she kept them close as she scanned their surroundings, finally arriving at the entrance of the administration building.

The infirmary was on the second floor. After she explained her purpose to the guard at the door, the man gave them a long, searching look from his narrow, upturned eyes.

"Wait here."

Before long, a pale-faced Master Zhu shuffled toward them.

"Dad!" Zhu Nanxing cried, rushing forward and burying himself in the man’s embrace.

"Master Zhu, can you walk?" Song Youxuan asked, seeing how weak the man was and rushing forward to support him.

Zhu Yong forced a smile at them. "I’m okay, Yu Yue’s mother. Thank you so much. Let’s head back to the tent and talk there."

He reached out to pat his son’s round head. "Nanxing, Dad’s okay. You have to be a brave little man and stay strong."

Zhu Nanxing’s big, round eyes widened, and he nodded firmly.

Song Youxuan sighed. "Too many survivors flooded in today, and there aren’t nearly enough tents. The four of us have been assigned to the same tent as another family of three."

Zhu Yong paused for a moment, then nodded. "Well, let’s find the tent first."

Song Youxuan took out a small number plate. "It’s 1126."

The four of them followed the large crowd of refugees to the tent area.

Across the lawn, they saw numerous makeshift shacks and neat rows of container homes.

"Everything over that way requires rent. One of those simple sheds costs about five kilograms of rice a month, and the container homes are even more expensive."

"According to the broadcast, supplies and other goods can be converted into points. You can use points to buy food and water, and to pay rent."

"On the other side of Scenic Lake are the apartment buildings, and I think there’s a villa district too. But those... we shouldn’t even think about them."

"Let’s get settled first," Zhu Yong said with a nod.

’No matter what, at least we have a place to stay. It’s much safer than wandering around outside, never knowing when we might be overrun by a horde of zombies.’

The group of four made their way past tent after tent, doing their best to hold their breath and block out the smell.

There were simply too many people, and combined with the unusually hot weather, the air was thick with the sour stench of sweat and smelly feet, mixed with a musty odor.

"It stinks here!" a sharp, childish voice cried out from nearby.

A little girl about Yueyue’s age, wearing a rhinestone princess tiara and dragging a small, pink suitcase covered in stickers, trailed behind a couple, complaining nonstop.

"Annelina, stop complaining," the girl’s mother chided, her voice rising slightly. "All I’ve heard from you this whole trip is complaining. What else can we do now?"

"I want to go home!" the girl yelled, stomping her exquisite little deerskin boots.

"Home is surrounded by a horde of zombies! Do you want to go back just to feed yourself to those ugly things?" the girl’s mother snapped, turning on her.

"All right, all right, why are you arguing with a child?" The girl’s father glanced at his wife impatiently. "Let’s just find the tent. There are so many here, where on earth is 1126?"

Zhu Yong and Song Youxuan exchanged a look, then silently glanced at the number plate in their own hands.

’What a coincidence.’

Zhu Yong’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. He had a feeling that sharing a tent with this family of three meant they wouldn’t have a moment’s peace from now on.

All seven of them arrived at the entrance to tent 1126 at the same time and exchanged glances.

The girl’s father was polite enough, nodding to Zhu Yong and Song Youxuan. "You must be the other family of four?"

Zhu Yong gave a wry smile. "Yu Yue’s mother and I met on the road. It seems it’ll be three families living together from now on."

"Oh, really?" The girl’s father was taken aback for a moment, then gave an embarrassed laugh.

The seven-person tent was similar to a construction tent—army green on the outside, with an interior that was surprisingly spacious. It was more than enough room for seven people.

Along one side of the tent were two simple square tables and a few small folding stools.

The moment the girl stepped inside, she flew into a rage. "How is anyone supposed to live in a dump like this?"

"Annelina, that’s enough shouting!" her mother yelled.