Li Yu watched Shen Xiaoxiao effortlessly carrying six bags of cement, as if she would never tire, moving continuously.

He recalled his last self-test, where he had to lift something weighing 500 pounds, which for him wasn't considered strenuous.

But it's after his rebirth that his physical strength improved.

If it were in the previous life, he definitely wouldn't have been able to lift it.

After pondering for a while, he smiled and said to Second Uncle, "This girl is not bad."

He then raised another issue, asking, "By the way, how is the food distributed now for the construction site workers?"

"Previously, there were two fixed dishes, and each person got one and a half pounds of rice.

Later, we found that some people weren't eating enough, so now rice is provided until full, under supervision to prevent waste and not to take away, eat as much as you can."

Second Uncle replied.

Li Yu nodded, reassured, and said, "Hmm, let's not skimp on this bit of food. They are already working hard and can't work if they aren't eating enough. Take Shen Xiaoxiao, her appetite must be large to support her physique."

Second Uncle remained silent, quietly watching Shen Xiaoxiao on the wall.

Departing from the wall near the Third Outer City, Li Yu returned to the duty room.

Second Uncle habitually picked up the walkie-talkie to contact Uncle, who routinely communicated about today's duty plan.

But remembered that Li Yu's Uncle had already left Big Camphor Tree Base to go to the Western Alliance.

On the third day after Third Uncle returned, Uncle left with Old Lv and Luo, along with some extra staff.

Meanwhile, Dapao couldn't sit still, feeling a bit bored staying in the base for a few days.

Thus, he requested to go to the Western Alliance together.

Coincidentally, Dapao had been to the Western Alliance last time and was quite familiar with the place, so Li Yu let Dapao accompany Uncle over there.

Just in time to help navigate.

Zuo Ruxue's group also joined in, perhaps inspired by Guo Peng and others, eager to quickly earn points and then join the Outer City.

Uncle had no objection to their group being all women; under Li Yu's rules, harassment of women was not allowed.

In terms of task execution, there was no separation between genders.

As long as you have the ability, you can go and do it.

Zuo Ruxue's group had a challenging journey, life in Doomsday had made them extraordinarily brave, and before joining Big Camphor Tree Base, they had been provoked by some forces because they were women, but they proved they were not to be trifled with through toughness.

After such honing, Zuo Ruxue's group was formidable.

If weak, they wouldn't have survived until now.

Given Zuo Ruxue's group's proposal, Uncle discussed with Li Yu and allowed them to go together.

Just right, they could drive.

They drove for a day and a half.

They brought many cars this time.

Diesel brought back by Li Yu from the Western Alliance last time was directly added to the fuel tank truck.

Uncle mainly stayed at Big Camphor Tree Base for passive defense, so running so far during Doomsday was the first time.

Yesterday, passing through cities and towns, he saw the ruined scenes, feeling a sense of lament.

Though he had been out before, it was mainly between Xin City and Gan City.

"Captain, I've already picked tonight's campsite, it's at..." Dapao, familiar with this route, had planned the campsite ahead.

Uncle looked at the map and said, "Okay, did you camp there last time?"

Dapao replied, "Yes."

"Mm." Uncle nodded slightly.

He wasn't a stubborn person; he had strong adaptability.

There was no need to prove himself; since someone experienced had gone down this path, why not listen?

Drones hovered in the sky, a flock of birds circling around and then leaving.

On the road, perhaps because of their numbers, carrying heavy machine guns raised to the rooftop, no one blocked the road for robbery.

They didn't encounter any setbacks on the way, except for some troubles on winding mountain roads.

The eighteen-bend roadway was a great test of driving skills.

Fortunately, they passed without danger.

......

At Big Camphor Tree Base.

Third Uncle lazily held half an iced watermelon, with a steel spoon, sitting in a chair at the Underground Plantation.

The watermelon, possibly just taken from the fridge, was emitting white cold air.

Seedless, with bright red flesh, it looked very appetizing.

Third Uncle scooped out a large piece with the spoon, the spoon rubbing against the flesh, making a rustling sound.

He put the chunk in his mouth.

Crunch, crunch!

Cool and refreshing, with sweetness.

Third Uncle closed his eyes in satisfaction, one hand stroking the orange cat lying at his feet.

The orange cat, with blue eyes, pitifully looked at the large watermelon in Third Uncle's arms.

Third Uncle laughed heartily, then flicked a small piece onto the ground.

The orange cat leapt over, extending its pink little tongue to lick the watermelon.

"An Ya, the watermelon you grew is delicious. Impressive!" Third Uncle laughed, speaking to An Ya who was working nearby.

He gave a thumbs up while saying.

Face slightly flushed, An Ya quickly said to Third Uncle, "You overpraise, this watermelon is just ripe. You can wait a bit, the watermelons in a few days will taste even better."

She basically hadn't left the Inner and Outer City, always staying within them.

She often saw Third Uncle; no choice, Third Uncle loved fruits too much, almost coming to the plantation every day, picking the freshest fruits to eat.

Again and again.

Over time, Third Uncle came often, and An Ya became familiar with him.

Though whenever she saw Third Uncle in the base, he always appeared languid, somewhat lazy.

Later, hearing about some of Third Uncle's exploits and seeing how Li Yu respected him, she realized Third Uncle wasn't as lazy as he seemed.

After returning from Guangzhou, Third Uncle was in a state of recuperation.

Plus, with recent hot weather, being indoors felt a bit suffocating.

He naturally liked flowers, plants, insects, and fish.

Staying in the mountains was without air conditioning, truly hot.

So the Underground Plantation, requiring constant temperatures for some plants, was relatively cool.

Or in mountain caves, where fish were raised during the natural disaster before, most were moved back to Mountain Pond, but some remained in the pool there.

Hearing An Ya's remark about even better watermelons later, Third Uncle chuckled and said, "Alright, I'll wait."

Saying that, he kicked his feet, rocking the chair slightly, leisurely eating the watermelon.

After checking the Underground Plantation plants, An Ya said to Third Uncle, "You're sitting, I'll go busy myself."

Third Uncle waved his hand, indicating he knew.

Understanding Third Uncle had just returned from executing a mission, seeing him so leisurely lying down, she felt he might be too tired.

She hadn't been outside, but before joining Big Camphor Tree Base, she and Bai Jie almost starved to death, enduring terrifying experiences, luckily escaping.

Understanding the outside's brutality, she cherished the current beauty.

Third Uncle often went out for missions, to An Ya those seemed dangerous.

Third Uncle and Li Yu, fighting outside, were equivalent to carrying others forward heavily.

An Ya was very satisfied with life now.

She put on the headphones gifted by Li Yu last time, rode the little electric scooter.

Every afternoon, she went to check the greenhouse in Outer City.

.....