Rotting Land: Survive

Chapter 829: Chapter 814: Retrial of Yao Ruyi (Part 4)

"I was among the relatively early group to arrive at Juli Sports Arena, so I know quite a bit about the survivors here. However, the last time you asked me if I’ve seen your parents, I’m very sorry, but based solely on the photo you provided, I can’t be certain. At least in my memory, I don’t recall encountering that couple. On this point, I can swear to the heavens, I’m not deceiving you." As she spoke, Yao Ruyi subconsciously raised her right hand, making a vow-like gesture.

Tang Xiaoquan quickly reassured, "Xiao Yao, I believe you on this point. The photo I showed you was of my parents when they were young. Asking you to recall based on that is truly too much to ask. Please, continue your story."

Feeling understood, Yao Ruyi emotionlessly continued, "During the days when I lived at Juli Sports Arena, how should I put it, it was truly hard to adapt for those of us who had never been exposed to militarized management. But as time passed, everyone got used to it. As for the quality of life, it was quite passable. Compared to the outside where meals were uncertain, this place could really be called heaven. Meals were distributed three times a day, all on time. Moreover, just looking at those fully armed soldiers gave everyone a small sense of security, at least no longer as helpless as during the escape."

Old Xu felt more and more puzzled. With the armored defense and ample supplies at Juli Sports Arena, entering it to live during the apocalypse should have been a considerable stroke of luck. So why did Yao Ruyi speak of it so reluctantly, with a look as if it were a ghostly place?

With doubt in his mind, Old Xu pulled his chair closer to the table so he could hear every word from Yao Ruyi more clearly.

Seeing through their thoughts, Yao Ruyi straightforwardly said, "After hearing my introduction of Juli Sports Arena’s basic situation, I’m sure you all are considering living there. To be honest, initially, I shared the same thought, I even felt this might be the last pure land of human society. The reason I had this idea was because, during the days I hadn’t been rescued, I witnessed too many terrifying scenes at the beginning of the outbreak. Moreover, every day, survivors were being continuously brought to the base at Juli Sports Arena. I don’t quite remember the last time I told you how many people the arena could accommodate, but I’m sure what I told you then was not an exaggeration. If I had to give you a relatively accurate estimate, I’d say at least 1,000 people."

"1,000 people!" Old Xu gasped, inhaling sharply, "Yao Ruyi, you must be joking with me. Do you know what 1,000 people means!"

"What, do you think I’m lying to you?" Yao Ruyi met Xu Renjie’s skeptical gaze firmly, "As I said, 1,000 people is just my conservative estimate, the actual number is definitely higher. Our accommodation was divided into regions, each with a regulated number of people. That’s why I can be so sure."

Even with Yao Ruyi’s resolute attitude, as someone who previously managed a large refuge, he still couldn’t believe the figure she mentioned.

What is 1,000 people, just feeding this group alone would be no small feat, let alone in a world with scarce resources: "Yao Ruyi, you said there are 1,000 survivors in the sports arena, and meals are punctual, but do you know how much food it takes to feed 1,000 people? Do you think that’s realistic in this apocalypse?"

"Captain Xu, it may seem impossible to you, but that doesn’t mean it’s unrealistic. I lived there for almost a month, do you think what I saw and heard were just imagined in my dreams?" Yao Ruyi shifted from his previously conciliatory approach to a remarkably serious attitude, showing clear displeasure at Old Xu’s questioning.

Old Lin sensed the tense atmosphere, smelling gunpowder. To avoid escalating conflicts between Xu and Yao, he promptly spoke to ease the tension, "Xiao Yao, don’t misunderstand, Old Xu is not doubting the truth of 1,000 survivors living in Juli Sports Arena as you said. He’s simply curious about the methods used by the administrators there to ensure such a large population’s food supply. To be honest, we also stayed at a refuge base before, where Old Xu was responsible for resource supply, so how to feed all those people was always quite a headache for him."

With Old Lin’s gentle explanation, Yao Ruyi nodded understandingly, "I’m not sure exactly how they did it, but during the month I stayed there, military trucks brought back loads of supplies every day. Oh, also, there were two times supplies were delivered by helicopter."

"Helicopter?"

"Yes, something flying in the sky. I’m not sure exactly what type it was, generally it brought only a few boxes. Yao Ruyi, who usually makes a small living by selling fried skewers, never had the leisure to learn about military matters, so in his eyes, anything with rotors was considered a helicopter."

Of course, no one would challenge his classification of helicopters now, but the military capabilities of the sports arena indeed shocked Old Xu and his companions.

"Xiao Yao, your observations are quite detailed!" Tang Xiaoquan asked, seemingly casually. In fact, he was very curious why an orphan who lost his parents so young would observe everything in his refuge so meticulously during the apocalypse.

Understand, Tang Xiaoquan and his companions met various survivors in their journey, who all shared a common trait of surviving through inertia, what Tang summarized as eat, sleep, and wait for death.

However, this time Tang Xiaoquan evidently overcomplicated the issue. Yao Ruyi was not as focused as he thought. His reply was very straightforward, viewing everything as a way to kill boring times:

"Meticulous? Haha, do you think I deliberately observed these things? You’re overestimating me, I don’t indulge in such idle whims! You’ve mentioned staying in a refuge too, you should remember the monotonous life there vividly, hmh, at least in Juli Sports Arena, I hardly had anything to do every day. Apart from chatting with a few friends, my greatest hobby might be staring at the sky, oh, and sleeping. So, any slight movement in the base was like a rare entertainment to me."

"Ha Ha!" Tang Xiaoquan chuckled dryly, admiring the other’s way of spicing up boring times, at least for him, he’d rather sleep than entertain himself by counting heads in tents.

"Alright, Xiao Yao, please continue." Continuing to dwell on the 1,000 people issue was pointless, figuring out what happened in the sports arena was the key. (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to vote at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)