Snowstorm: I’m Super Rich in the Apocalypse
Chapter 283: Reunion Dinner

Chapter 283: Chapter 283: Reunion Dinner

Chen Lang was already squatting beside Lu Ruisheng, looking at the generator with him and trying to spot the problem.

But this was Chen Shaonan’s area of expertise, and soon he had found the cause. Chen Lang helped him pass the tools, and Lu Ruisheng also learned by watching, since such skills would always be useful to know.

Gu Pan and Duan Shumei went to the kitchen, where they started cooking since they had previously taken out the semi-prepared dishes, so it wasn’t too much trouble now. The two chatted as they cooked.

Duan Shumei told Gu Pan about the things they had encountered on their way back; they had basically survived because they had weapons, including grenades and smoke bombs, else they would have been wiped out twice already.

First, Gu Pan started stewing the meat, as it would taste better if given more time. They could stir-fry the other dishes when everyone else arrived, just in time for the stewed meat.

The meat was fresh, which Gu Pan said they brought from outside, as they had just returned from beyond the base, so it wouldn’t raise any suspicions among the others.

Half an hour later, the savory aroma from the kitchen wafted into the living room.

Drawn by the scent of the meat, Chen Lang came over. The smell of fresh meat stewing was different from dried meat being re-cooked.

With a smile, Gu Pan served him two pieces, "Try this and tell me if it’s tender enough."

Duan Shumei looked at Gu Pan and chided her playfully, "To check if it’s tender, you could simply poke it with chopsticks. You’re just spoiling him."

"Who can blame me? Chen Lang is the youngest; he deserves some perks." Gu Pan replied, grinning as she added the soaked dried radishes to the pot. Now more than ever, it was important to consume vitamins and other nutrients; without sunlight, it was easy to develop skin diseases.

Chen Lang was especially pleased, "Being the youngest has its benefits."

After that remark, he thought of Meng Meng, "If Meng Meng were here, she’d be the youngest."

The mention of Meng Meng made both Gu Pan and Duan Shumei feel a twinge of heartache. Now only Guo Gang’s family hadn’t made it, and everyone just hoped they were still alive and well, even if they didn’t join them — to be alive was enough.

Cheng Yang entered just then, "It smells amazing — stewed meat! I knew the moment sister returned, our meals would get a lot better." He had come straight over after Squad Leader Fang told him that Gu Pan and the others were back.

Fang Lanlan finished work late, so they didn’t come back together. Fang Lanlan had been working night shifts recently because their section needed to be manned twenty-four hours a day, with shifts rotating three times.

His sudden entrance broke the previous conversation, and everyone’s gaze turned toward Cheng Yang, diffusing the somber mood.

Having just tasted a piece, Chen Lang hurriedly offered the other piece to Cheng Yang, "Let’s see together if it’s tender enough."

Cheng Yang didn’t stand on ceremony, knowing that with Gu Pan and the others, there was never a shortage of meat.

Seeing that it was about the right time, Gu Pan began stir-frying dishes.

Feng Zhekai and Lu Xuerong also returned home, pressing into the room to chat and help. Inside and out, the house was filled with people, bustling like the Lunar New Year.

By the time the meal was almost ready, the generator had been fixed, and with it running, the house lit up.

Squad Leader Fang also came over, sitting on the sofa and watching everyone busy and cheerful. His mouth never stopped moving, genuinely happy from the bottom of his heart. It felt to him like an elder during the holidays, watching over his children and grandchildren — even though he wasn’t that old, the sentiment was the same.

Gu Pan prepared a meal for Lu Jianguo and asked Lu Ruisheng to deliver it on his motorbike first, as there was still a soup that would be ready by the time he returned, so they could start their meal at home.

Lu Ruisheng picked up the lunch box and left.

Gu Pan also set aside a meal for Fang Lanlan, to be taken back by Squad Leader Fang later when she could heat it up after her night shift.

With the table set and food ready, Lu Ruisheng soon returned, having taken the motorbike which was fast, and because it wasn’t far, plus Lu Jianguo wasn’t in the office and the meal had quickly been handed to his secretary without much conversation, so there was no delay.

At this moment, the supply of electricity to the base began, now at No.7 Base, it was both at seven in the morning and seven in the evening, one hour each time, just two hours of power supply each day.

As soon as the base’s power was supplied, the outside lit up significantly, the entire villa area was illuminated, as if transformed into a different world.

This sudden illumination, unlike the gradual lighting up of the dark sky when one light after another switched on was a slow transition, this was sudden, creating a sort of dreamlike feeling.

They shut down their own generator and used the base’s electricity instead.

Everyone at home sat together, the original members of their little team had all gathered; thinking back to when the apocalypse first arrived, Gu Pan and Lu Ruisheng first allied with their neighbors, Chen Shaonan’s family, followed by Feng Zhekai downstairs. Initially, they might have had their own reasons, but after sharing so many experiences together, they truly became comrades-in-arms.

Cheng Yang felt the most fortunate in his heart, having no particular skills, he considered it his good luck to have allied with these powerful individuals at the beginning.

Lu Ruisheng said to Squad Leader Fang, "Squad Leader Fang, you’re the oldest among us, so you should make the first toast."

Squad Leader Fang waved his hand, "No, no, although I’m older, in this team, you and your wife are the most capable."

Feng Zhekai also said to Lu Ruisheng, "Squad Leader Fang is right. If it wasn’t for meeting you, we probably wouldn’t have made it out of that first building, so you should make the first toast."

Chen Shaonan also added, "Indeed, without Xiao Gu and Xiao Lu, our family would probably have been among the earliest to fall. To be honest, if we hadn’t followed the two of you and fought side by side for so long, after being swept away by the tornado, even with a breath left, we wouldn’t have survived and would’ve had no idea how to face all this."

Unable to decline any further, Lu Ruisheng stood up with his wine glass, "This toast is to celebrate that we are still alive and gathered here, hoping that we will have ten, twenty, or even fifty years together, and hoping that we can get through the apocalypse and welcome a new life."

Everyone also raised their glasses and stood up to finish the first toast.

Following this, Squad Leader Fang raised his glass, "I would also like to toast everyone. I admire all of you—I wasn’t one of the first to get to know you, but ever since you came to our villa area, I saw that you were extraordinary, even more outstanding than I expected. To be able to know you and be with you now is both Lanlan’s and my luck, and I’m truly grateful to you all."

With the oldest hosting the toast, everyone quickly raised their glasses and drank together.

They were drinking a fruit wine today, with a low alcohol content, and the glasses weren’t large either, so having one wasn’t an issue.

Chen Shaonan and Duan Shumei then raised their glasses, "We also want to toast everyone." Perhaps there wasn’t a need to say much—the fact that they could all gather was a happy occasion in itself.

Everyone drank another round and, although it was fruit wine, it started to go to their heads all at once.

Seeing that everyone had drunk three rounds without eating, Gu Pan quickly broke the rhythm, "Let’s eat some food, have something first, and then we can drink more."

Then, turning to Cheng Yang, she said, "Cheng Yang, hurry and serve the soup for everyone."

It seemed like ages since Cheng Yang last performed this task, and he stood up happily to serve the soup for everyone.