RLDRFH Chapter 48

The present day base was quite different from what it looked like when they left. More and more survivors from the vicinity of city A have arrived. Although there were many original buildings in the base and many vacancies, no matter how big it was, it was impossible for everyone to have a place to live.

Two days before they returned, the base adjusted the rules again. All houses will be levied with housing fees. Those with real estate and evidence to prove ownership only needed to pay a unified management fee every month. Those who have a housing residence certificate can naturally live in their own house. Those who have paid enough fees when entering the base will be allocated a unified residence at the base – naturally, such people need to pay a certain amount of “rent” every month to be able to continue living there.

In addition, there are some people who have not paid enough to enter. But because the base in city A was built following the laws in the world before the end, they cannot completely prevent victims from entering the city. These people could only find a place outdoors to build temporary shelters and tents. The base began rebuilding the school that was used as a temporary residence, and also sent people to build houses on the open space to solve this problem.

Many people lived in places similar to corridors, under eaves, and so on.

He Zizhong and Fang Hao drove the entire way. The originally spacious streets became crowded. Temporary “houses” built of various shapes and materials were everywhere. Aside from space for cars on the main road, pedestrians had to squeeze hard in the gaps on the side streets and sidewalks.

It’s more exaggerated than the small vendors occupying roads and setting up stalls, but none of these were considered illegal for now. Even the upper levels of the base kept their eyes closed and left them alone for the time being.

No matter how chaotic it was outside, it had nothing to do with the villa area. When the two drove to the street near the villa area, they could no longer see the illegal residences. There is a patrol police force outside the villa area for 24-hour monitoring and protection. Showing their original notice to enter, they were told it had expired. The head of the household needs to go to the property office and apply for the latest pass and various relevant certificates within the next 24 hours.

He Zizhong knew in advance that there would be such a situation, so he completed all the formalities he could when they first arrived. After they returned to the villa area with the old notice, they went straight to rest. There is enough time to go to the office the next morning.

The streets in the villa area are quiet and clean, not like the street markets outside filled with clutter and people. The villa area was exactly the same as before they left, almost unchanged. After stopping the car, the two hurried back to the room to confirm that the doors and windows were closed tightly without any problems. They returned to the basement and turned on the surveillance video to check the situation outside the villa these days.

There was no situation except that someone from the military came to the door the morning before yesterday, found that no one was present, and put something in the mailbox.

One thing in the community that was not the same was the greatly increased flow of people in the villa area over the past few days. The number of vehicles passing through the community was more than three times more than people.

“Shall we go back?” Fang Hao asked He Zizhong after confirming that there was nothing else in the video.

“Yes.” The two went back to the bedroom and entered into the space again.

The soft white ball rushed towards Fang Hao like a cannonball when the two of them appeared, but was caught by the quick-eyed He Zizhong who stretched out his big hand to block Tuanzi’s path.

Feeling the strong momentum, He Zizhong admonished the ball that changed shape in his hand: “Don’t charge at people with such a strong force! What should we do if you crash?”

Tuanzi seemed to feel papa’s irritation, blinking its big watery eyes flatteringly. It took the opportunity to shake its slippery body and slipped out of his palm, leaping directly into Fang Hao’s arms and rubbing again.

Fang Hao patted its big head with a smile: “No such sudden attack is allowed in the future. You have to wait for us at home, you know?”

Tuanzi didn’t care what Fang Hao said, still rubbing and rubbing in his arms happily. Who told them not to let it out these two days? No, next time it will definitely not compromise! Must maintain its rights!

Amusedly looking at the coquettish dumpling, He Zizhong took Fang Hao’s hand and walked back to the small bamboo building.

After changing their dirty clothes and throwing them into the washing machine, the two of them went into the hot springs, soaking comfortably. In the outside world, the sky is gray and the air is full of dusty smog-like gas. Almost all plants withered and died, shrouding the whole world in gloom. Even if they did nothing after going out, there was still an urge to take a shower first before doing other things.

The dumpling that had just jumped into the warm water was once again sent out of the bathroom door by the unsympathetic He Zizhong. Blinking its watery eyes, it stared pitifully at the nasty door. Why can’t it go inside? Whenever the two of them are not in the space, it could obviously go everywhere unhindered!

Listening to the gradually changing tones inside, Tuanzi went up the stairs and back to the bedroom with its head down, alone. It knows everything! As long as mama and papa come back and go into the bathroom, it is fine~~~~~ they will come out after a long time. After coming out, they will definitely go back to the big bed on the second floor to sleep!

Even if papa doesn’t sleep for a while, mama will definitely want to sleep. And then it can sleep in mama’s arms!

Sure enough, the two came out of the bathroom to the bed where the sleepy Tuanzi was dozing off. The tall He Zizhong held Fang Hao, who could not even move his little finger, and climbed to the second floor.

The quality of sleep after the dual cultivation was exceptionally high, and even more so after the two of them did not sleep well last night. They woke up fully refreshed and extremely energetic. Even when practicing martial arts, it felt like they could get twice the result with the same effort.

Sitting at the dinner table, He Zizhong took a pen and paper while eating breakfast to write and draw. This was his personal habit. Even when he had a computer at work, he would subconsciously use pen and paper to sketch a general idea first.

“Let’s go to the property office to finish up the formalities around nine o’clock, and then go around the base to see the current situation. Finally, we’ll go to the south gate.”

Fang Hao nodded. “The south gate… is it to see the ashes?”

“Well, our efficiency of transporting the ashes now is not high. It is better to see if there is a chance to go to the large pit where the ashes were buried…” After the space is upgraded, the two of them can fetch objects in the air, increasing their collection range by a lot. If two people act together, they might be able to “screen” the pit where the ashes are buried outside the south gate.

But the biggest problem was – how do they go out without being discovered?

Nighttime is naturally the best choice for going out and “sifting” the ashes. Although the base still has electricity, it is not enough. At night, only searchlights can be used to scan and monitor outside. However, most searchlights are arranged at the north gate to monitor whether anyone suddenly becomes a zombie in the waiting area. There is only one headlight at the south gate, which sweeps around regularly. As long as they don’t unluckily encounter a mutated, silent zombie, it is very convenient to move at night.

This matter was put on hold. The issue of updating the expired residence pass is more important and needs to be resolved as soon as possible. He Zizhong and Fang Hao got up to get out of space, and Tuanzi also followed them out of space in an instant.

After talking to it endlessly, Tuanzi continued to act pitiful in Fang Hao’s arms and was unwilling to go back. The last two of them had no choice but to use a small bag on their shoulders to put the dumb guy in, and let Fang Hao carry the bag and the dumpling in his arms. It was the only way solve the problem.

“If people see me holding you, my image will be completely ruined!” It was not like beating zombies in a deserted place and holding a white ball. People come and go in the base, so if someone are seen walking around holding a “toy”, their image…

Tuanzi blinked at Fang Hao through the gap in the backpack, puzzled, rubbed his hand, and squinted comfortably. This really… he wants to get angry but had nowhere to release it.

“It’s okay, even if you hold it directly, the effect is good.” He Zizhong grinned and stroked his hair. A handsome young man, holding a three-dimensional white pillow in his arms, looks very pleasing. It’s a pity the world outside isn’t peaceful now, otherwise he might be considered mentally abnormal if he  goes out like this… hehe.

Glancing at He Zizhong, Fang Hao put on his hat and sunglasses, tightened the mouth of the backpack, and left the villa with him.

There were more people coming and going in the villa area than before. Most people with “high status” people who originally didn’t want to go out to work, saw their dwindling supplies after nearly a month of wastefulness. After the mandatory “management fee” was introduced, most large landlords don’t even have enough food! Therefore, even if they don’t want to go out, they had to leave home to find things to survive.

When He Zizhong and Fang Hao arrived at the property office, there were still many people inside. Some were there for check-in procedures, some were to complain about various problems in their houses, and others, like He Zizhong and Fang Hao, came to exchange things like passes.

After the two asked, they moved to the end of the line in front of a certain table. The line was next to a group of people who wanted to “rent” in the villa area. In the base, not everyone is eligible to rent a house in the villa area now. It was easier when the troops just evacuated here. Some powerful people with connections to upper-level figures in the same industry took the opportunity to live in a villa on the periphery.

But among the people who arrived the base later, unless it was someone well-known before the apocalypse or had useful skills, those relying solely on their identity were no longer eligible to rent a villa in the villa area.

Note that it was renting, not buying. Nowadays, no matter how much money one has, no matter how many supplies they brought upon entry, they can’t live in the villa without any connections.