General Wei led Shen Feng and his group to an area on the outskirts of the city, designating several buildings as Shen Feng's future base. He explained that they were not allowed to move around freely before the battle began, except for Shen Feng himself, as his parents were residents of Rongcheng and he could visit them.
General Wei smiled and said to Shen Feng, "Before the battle starts, you will stay here. If you need anything, just tell the people below, and they will prepare it for you, except for bullets. Once the battle begins, bullet supplies will be guaranteed!"
Shen Feng nodded and smiled, "Thank you. I will ensure my men do not leave this area."
After a brief chat with Shen Feng, General Wei departed. Shen Feng leaned against the wall, sighing, "What can I do? I'm not part of the regular army, so I'm being sidelined like this. They've even assigned us a base, clearly to keep an eye on us and prevent us from causing trouble."
Chu Chaoyan nodded in agreement, "It's obvious, isn't it? They don't give us normal treatment, yet they expect us to fight alongside them. They get all the benefits, it's infuriating."
Shen Feng thought for a moment, then called Guo Pinming and Yang Chang over, instructing them to keep the soldiers under control. As for himself, he planned to visit his parents. Although it had only been a few months since he last saw them, after the zombie outbreak, even opportunities to call were scarce. Shen Feng missed his family dearly and wanted to go home to see them.
Guo Pinming and Yang Chang immediately agreed, assuring Shen Feng that he could leave with peace of mind, as they would manage their subordinates well.
As Shen Feng prepared to leave, Yu Renshu caught up with him, smiling, "I'll go with you to see them. I wonder what your parents are like, and if they'll welcome me?"
Shen Feng looked reluctant, "You shouldn't go. We're not related, and if my parents misunderstand, it won't be good. So, you'd better stay here."
Yu Renshu gently shook her head and said to Shen Feng, "That won't do. I also want to take this opportunity to observe the situation in Rongcheng. I can't miss this chance. With me by your side, I can guarantee to give you suitable advice."
Shen Feng reluctantly agreed. He didn't really want Yu Renshu to accompany him home. After all, he hadn't even brought his senior classmate home to meet his parents. Now, bringing Yu Renshu home felt wrong. If his senior classmate found out, she might get angry, and he might even be kicked out of bed while sleeping!
However, Shen Feng genuinely wanted to know how Rongcheng was doing. If the living conditions were good, it would be fine for his parents to stay. But if the situation was bad, he would have to find a way to take them to Luzhou, where they could be safe and their living conditions could be improved.
When Chu Chaoyan heard that Yu Renshu was going to Shen Feng's house, her eyes gleamed, and she also proposed to go along. Shen Feng was even more displeased, "Why are you joining the fun? It's already a bit awkward for me to bring the doctor home. If you come with me, don't let my parents misunderstand and think I'm indecisive!"
Chu Chaoyan played her trump card, directly saying, "If you don't let me go, when I get back to Luzhou, I'll say you and Yu Renshu have some unspeakable secrets, and you wouldn't even let me tag along. Let's see if Chang Jianyi believes you!"
Hearing this, Shen Feng pointed at Chu Chaoyan speechlessly. He was already worried about his senior classmate misunderstanding, and now Chu Chaoyan was planning to embellish the story. This was even worse. If his senior classmate's misunderstanding deepened, he would be in trouble. So, Shen Feng could only shake his head helplessly and say, "Then let's go together."
Yu Renshu glanced at Chu Chaoyan, thinking, "Could this girl also like Shen Feng? I'll have to find an opportunity to test her."
Afterward, Shen Feng, Yu Renshu, and Chu Chaoyan set off. Shen Feng had nothing to bring, as he was going home. He wasn't going to bring gifts, was he? However, Yu Renshu and Chu Chaoyan were different. They found some canned goods from a truck to bring along. Chu Chaoyan also took off the diamond necklace she was wearing, put it in a box, and prepared to give it as a gift.
Yu Renshu, not to be outdone, took off her jade bracelet and prepared to give it as a gift as well.
Shen Feng pretended not to notice. The three of them set off together. As they walked down the street, they didn't see many pedestrians. However, upon closer observation, one could see many people working and hurrying along. After walking for a while, they saw job postings on the street. The wages were paid in grain, either rice or flour, and some even in vegetables.
As they walked, Yu Renshu analyzed, "It seems that Rongcheng's currency system has not been restored, so even wages are settled with grain. This means that grain must be under strict control."
Chu Chaoyan also began to analyze, "Rongcheng's location is very special. In peacetime, it's the most developed center, but in wartime, it can also serve as a rear base. Moreover, Rongcheng has always had a large population, so it can output various products."
Shen Feng had nothing to say, as the order here had been restored quite well. The public security on the streets was still good. However, there were very few cars, and there was no chance of getting a taxi home because there were no taxis on the street. Even if there were taxis, fuel supplies were likely restricted.
Rongcheng was bustling with activity, which proved that the place had recovered well. As long as the grain supply was not a problem, it could indeed serve as a rear base. Shen Feng believed that Rongcheng could not compare to Luzhou, as Luzhou, apart from its good water conservancy, was inferior to Rongcheng in all other aspects.
As Shen Feng passed through a rather secluded road, a seductive voice suddenly came from a small alley, "Young man, would you like a quick meal?"
Shen Feng turned his head and saw a scantily clad woman leaning against the wall of the alley. It was deep autumn, but she seemed unaffected by the cold. She was wearing an off-the-shoulder camisole that exposed her navel, and a short skirt with black stockings underneath. Such an outfit, if she were not feeling cold, would be impossible. Shen Feng, after a moment's thought about what the woman had just said, instantly understood her meaning.
However, before Shen Feng could reply, Yu Renshu walked up, linked her arm through Shen Feng's, and said to the woman in the alley, "Get lost! Don't flaunt yourself here, not working and only thinking of making money by lying down! Shameless."
The scantily clad woman heard Yu Renshu's words but did not get angry. She smiled and said, "If I can make money by lying down, why should I make money by standing? Isn't it tiring? Besides, money is useless now, and we earn grain. Otherwise, why would you snatch my work?"
At this, Yu Renshu's face instantly turned red. She hadn't expected to be mistaken for a prostitute. She immediately retorted, "Shameless! This is my boyfriend, who is snatching your work? People like you are beyond redemption!"
Saying this, Yu Renshu forcibly dragged Shen Feng away, scolding as she walked, "The world is going downhill. There are still people like this in broad daylight. Can't the relevant authorities do something? Really, shameless!"
Chu Chaoyan followed behind, quietly taking out a pen to record: Yu Renshu said today that she is Shen Feng's boyfriend, and she wasn't embarrassed at all. Her intentions are as clear as day!
Seeing that Yu Renshu was genuinely angry, Shen Feng smiled helplessly. He hadn't expected someone as calm as Yu Renshu to get so angry over a few words. He found it amusing. The three of them continued to walk, and Yu Renshu did not let go of Shen Feng's arm, as if she had forgotten. She continued to walk ahead with a cold expression.
After walking for two hours, Shen Feng finally arrived downstairs at his home. Unfortunately, he didn't have his house key, so he had to wait downstairs. Only when someone came out of the building did he seize the opportunity to enter. The security system was useless at normal times, but it was very effective in blocking people without keys.
Shen Feng then pulled Yu Renshu's arm away and said sternly, "Please be mindful of your conduct!"
Afterward, Shen Feng arrived at his doorstep and knocked gently. After a while, the door creaked open. Shen Feng saw his mother appear before him and quickly said, "Mom, I'm back!"
Before opening the door, He Liping had thought it was someone from the neighborhood committee. But when she opened the door, she saw her son, whom she had been longing for. Instantly, she couldn't help but burst into tears, hugging Shen Feng as she cried, "You're finally back. You've been away for so long, and I've been worried about you every day!"
Shen Feng quickly comforted his mother and tried to divert her attention, "I'm fine, I'm fine. It's only been a few months, it's not like this. By the way, where are Dad and my sister?"
He Liping stopped crying after two minutes and explained, "Your dad only comes back once a month. As for your sister, she hasn't finished work yet. Come in quickly."
As she was speaking, He Liping noticed the two women standing behind Shen Feng and asked, "Afeng, who are these two?"
Shen Feng quickly introduced them, "These are my friends. This is Yu Renshu, she's a doctor, a highly educated talent. And this is Chu Chaoyan, she studies literature."
Yu Renshu and Chu Chaoyan nodded and said, "Hello, Auntie. We are Shen Feng's friends."
"Oh, oh, then come in quickly, don't just stand there." He Liping quickly wiped the tears from her face. She had been so excited to see her son that she had shed many tears. Now that outsiders were present, she quickly composed herself, wiped her tears, and beckoned them inside.
As Shen Feng entered his home, he noticed that there were no significant changes. However, upon closer inspection, he saw that there wasn't much rice in the kitchen, and he frowned.
He Liping quickly explained, "The food supplies are all under unified management. But it's okay. Tonight, your sister will bring back rice and vegetables, which will be enough to entertain guests!"
Yu Renshu quickly brought over the plastic bag she was carrying and said, "Auntie, here's a little something to eat. Please accept it if you don't mind."
Yu Renshu was glad she had prepared gifts. Although the items were not valuable, in Rongcheng, where grain was controlled, these seemingly worthless items had become precious. Seeing this, Chu Chaoyan also quickly offered the canned goods she was carrying.
He Liping smiled, accepted the gifts, and prepared to start cooking.
Since the zombie outbreak, He Liping had been constantly thinking about her son, worrying if he was in danger, if he had been bitten by zombies, or if he had been deceived by bad people. She would often wake up from nightmares, as she always dreamed of her son being bullied in another city. When the zombie outbreak first occurred, she only had time to call and ask. The person who answered was Shen Feng's senior classmate, and she didn't know if her son was being taken care of.
Later, when Shen Feng finally contacted her, she felt relieved, believing that her son's safety was finally guaranteed. However, with hundreds of miles separating them, He Liping still missed her son dearly and could only wait for peace to return before they could meet. Now that Shen Feng had suddenly appeared, she finally felt at ease. Shen Feng also seemed to have grown taller and more handsome, and he had two beautiful girls by his side.
After arriving in Rongcheng, Shen Feng's phone also had a signal. He wanted to call his senior classmate, but he learned from his mother that phone calls were only allowed for two hours at noon and six in the evening. At other times, calls could not go through. For urgent matters, one had to go to the official phone booth and pay half a catty of rice for ten minutes of call time. Other than that, there was no other way.
"This is too stingy!" Shen Feng couldn't help but complain upon hearing this. He hadn't expected that even making phone calls would require payment. The financial system had collapsed, and money was now settled with grain. Yet, phone calls still charged a fee, which was too harsh!
He Liping was also helpless and said, "This regulation was issued only in the last two weeks. We can't do anything about it. The main reason is that too many people are making calls recently, and the signal congestion is very severe, so this is the only solution."
Shen Feng couldn't help but ask, "Is it possible that electricity and water are also restricted?"
"You know that too! Yes, there are restrictions. The amount of electricity or water each household can use is regulated, and it's the same for everyone!" He Liping explained.
Shen Feng shook his head helplessly. He had already decided to take his parents away. Although Rongcheng was safe, the living conditions here were too harsh. It was one thing for food supplies to be restricted, but communication and utilities being restricted was too much. In Luzhou, with the power plant, electricity was not an issue as long as lights were turned off on time. There were never any power outages, and communication was available during the day, though not at night.
Comparing the two, Shen Feng still felt that taking his family away was the best option. However, his father was in the army, and his sister worked in a government department. Taking them away seemed like a difficult task.