Chapter 604: The Dumpling Incident
It wasn't only Chen Ye and his group who were busy.
Other convoys were busy non-stop as well.
Since Old Shen went out, he hadn't been seen.
When it came to making dumplings, it wasn't that the entire convoy took part, but at least seventy percent of them did.
Some people had hardly ever made dumplings with their own hands before the apocalypse; either their family made them and they just waited to eat, or they bought ready-made ones.
But now…
If given the chance to try, nobody would refuse.
Even if the dumplings turned out looking nothing like dumplings, people wanted to try, and then they'd be met with a round of mocking laughter from those around them.
The rest boiled water, the rest cleaned.
Accompanied by the sound of waves, everyone cleaned the inside and outside of several vehicles.
Those vehicles had migrated together for a while; even after they settled here someone had been in charge of maintenance and cleaning, but now it was the New Year.
Those cars that had looked old and broken actually took on a bit of new life after such a wash.
The ground had been leveled by the Silent Council. Though it wasn't cement or tile, it was tidy enough.
This was the south, the temperature wasn't very high, but it was in the teens Celsius.
Many people with nothing else to do simply took out their old clothes and washed them.
Other convoys did the same; everyone's situation was broadly similar.
A few members of the Post-Apocalyptic Opera Troupe couldn't sit still and actually dressed up, went to the camp's stage, and began to sing.
Soon a large crowd had gathered.
In truth, traditional opera performances don't hold much appeal for young people.
Before the apocalypse, many traditional operas were already on the verge of disappearing.
But now, looking at that heaving crowd, some members of the troupe felt complicated emotions.
Most of the time people couldn't understand what was being performed on stage.
Yet the cheers and applause never stopped.
After the troupe stepped down, some youngsters with guitars and drums rushed the stage.
It's understandable that young people like to show off.
But this band on stage was truly something nobody knew how to comment on.
In the end they were booed off.
Such a band could never compare to Lin Qingge's performance.
Someone called for Lin Qingge to come on stage.
In the end Lin Qingge didn't appear, only saying she would come after the New Year's Eve meal, as if it would be the year's gala.
Actually these days the base had been lively as more people arrived.
But today felt especially different.
Little Fish still worried about Tang Le Le, but she had also met a few kids around her own age.
Riding on having a Sword Immortal Sequence sister, Little Fish had quietly become the big sister among the children.
With the sound of waves in the background, the sky slowly darkened amid this New Year atmosphere.
Finally, as dusk settled, the Fair Convoy's dumplings were almost done cooking.
Whether people had been out washing clothes or wandering around, not a single person failed to return.
Xue Nan had someone find a plank to act as a door and blocked off the camp's makeshift gate, effectively closing the gate.
With the gate shut, it meant the New Year's Eve meal was about to begin.
Many people had barely eaten since noon, waiting for this meal.
Their stomachs had been growling for a long time; seeing the steaming big pots, they kept swallowing saliva.
By comparison, the Post-Apocalyptic Opera Troupe's rations were also decent, they were eating dumplings too.
They had slightly fewer people than the Fair Convoy, but still prepared two large pots.
The Fair Convoy had three large pots constantly boiling.
The usually most meager Skeleton Convoy also had two large pots. Although their supplies had always been scarce, nearly everyone watched those two pots with hungry eyes.
Clearly, the Skeleton Convoy had made some profits recently by doing business at the base.
Everyone held their big bowls, staring longingly at the dumplings in the pots.
When the order was finally given and the dumplings could be eaten,
the whole base's collective swallowing sound almost became one continuous sound.
Some who were particular had even gone to the trouble of getting a dish of vinegar, happily clutching a bowl of dumplings and a dish of vinegar to find an empty spot to hide and eat.
Of course, that dish of vinegar was pitifully small.
Now it was impossible to have that many dishes.
People used bottled water caps, pouring the vinegar into the caps; that little vinegar couldn't even cover the cap's bottom.
But people dipped the steaming dumplings in that little bit of vinegar and happily popped them into their mouths.
Even when the dumpling was scalding hot, "s-shh… s-shh…" they still wouldn't spit it out.
Some people started to cry while eating!
Some sat on the ground sobbing as they ate!
Some fell silent as they ate!
The Superhumans' New Year's meal was a bit more abundant.
Not only did everyone have a full bowl of dumplings, there were a number of side dishes on the table.
There was even a large bowl of mutton.
As for how that big bowl of mutton came about.
Well…
Of course it was traded for from the Shepherd Convoy.
Originally it had been Captain Chu, Chu Che, who went to trade.
Having stolen somebody's sheep before, and now trying to trade for mutton, who would be willing to let him save face?
Naturally he failed to trade.
Although the Shepherd Convoy didn't have concrete evidence, they could guess the Fair Convoy had something fishy going on.
Everyone in the convoy always thought Ding Dong looked the most trustworthy among them.
After all, within the whole convoy the most principled person seemed to be that clear, aloof older girl.
So the mutton trade task fell to Ding Dong.
Ding Dong sat at home when trouble fell from the sky.
Ding Dong still remembered how the others had given her expectant looks, putting endless pressure on her.
In the end, Ding Dong couldn't resist their shameless persistence.
Ding Dong, face red, took along some potatoes and some lettuce.
Of course, those weren't ideal grain seeds.
Maybe because Ding Dong genuinely looked reliable and sincere.
In the end, Ding Dong managed to secure the mutton.
Ding Dong was the main contributor to that bowl of mutton.
Of course, the table had more than just mutton and a few dishes; in front of each person there was even a cup of baijiu.
Just one cup each, no more.
You must remember, this is the apocalypse; even the cheapest liquor is precious.
However, Dantai Bie had decent connections and had already drunk some at other convoys before returning.
He wasn't much of a drinker to begin with; he was probably a little tipsy after not drinking much.
His speech was slurred.
"Captain Chu, isn't there more you want to say for the New Year?"
Dantai Bie looked at Chu Che with a flushed face.
"Captain Chu, as the leader who has brought everyone to survive in this world, I, Dantai Bie, admire you."
"I've been all over for so long, what convoys haven't I seen, what convoys haven't I been with!"
"But honestly, a Fair Convoy like this—it's my first time seeing one, and it's my favorite convoy!"
"People can be hypocritical, petty, stingy, selfish, not very nice, but they're real…"
"For example, Captain Chu, at first I thought you were sincere and kind, but after knowing you I realized you're a pervert! You actually like eavesdropping on gossip, that's disgusting!"
Dantai Bie shook his head with an expression of utter disdain.
Chu Che's face darkened like the bottom of a pot, but he didn't get angry.
Dantai Bie then looked at Ye: "Brother Ye, and you—stingy, selfish, violent, suspicious, difficult to deal with, it's a miracle you survived to now!"
Chen Ye's eyelid twitched madly, but he didn't lose his temper.
Dantai Bie looked at others: "Iron Lion, you look slow-witted but you're just plain dumb!"
"Xu Lina, you're pretty, but what's the use? If Chen Ye says he doesn't want you, then he doesn't want you!"
Xu Lina suppressed her anger but still smiled.
"And Ding Dong sister, you're just a soy-sauce girl! Gong Yong, you look pretty dumb too…"
"Xixi, pretty and capable, but still…"
"Chen Hao, you little stutterer! You're a good person, but useless, and you still stutter!"
Chen Hao's face flushed with anger.
"Although you all have various flaws, although you're not exactly good people, I, Dantai Bie, love you!"
"I'm serious, I love you to death! I love all your faults—petty, stingy, selfish, stupid…"
"Come on, for our friendship, for your stupidity, cheers!"
"Cheers…"
Dantai Bie raised his cup, and once he began speaking he didn't stop.
Maybe he'd had enough to drink, maybe it was the New Year.
A little drunkenness wouldn't fell a Superhuman.
But on New Year, a bit tipsy was a good thing.
Dantai Bie was normally talkative, but today he talked even more.
Everyone listened to him seriously.
Being the center of attention thrilled Dantai Bie; mixed with the alcohol, he became excited.
For a chatterbox, the happiest thing is someone listening to your nonsense!
Unbeknownst to him, a pair of chopsticks had already reached into Dantai Bie's bowl.
Then another pair…
And another…
When Chen Hao decisively took the last dumpling from Dantai Bie's bowl,
everyone looked at Chen Hao in surprise.
Wait, even the saint does this? That doesn't match her image at all!
Chen Hao lowered her head and stammered, "He he he…"
Chen Ye cut in directly: "He he he my foot, just eat it already!"