Stopping in front of a unique stall, Chen Yutong curiously picked up a mushroom and looked at it for a long time. He really didn't see any clues, so he brought it close to his nose.
However, her actions caused a misunderstanding in Crow Crow, who quickly stood up and stopped her. "This mushroom is not for eating."
"I know...just smell it."
Of course Chen Yutong knew that this mushroom was inedible.
The round red umbrella and the flat, short white pole were dotted with round white spots. No matter how you looked at it, it was a highly poisonous species.
What's even more strange to her is that this thing feels like rubber when pinched, and it actually smells particularly fragrant.
Seeing the confused expression on her face, Crow Crow smiled sheepishly and explained patiently.
"This is a rubber mushroom. I picked it up outside the forest in the Elm District. Survivors nearby usually make it into brooches, buttons or hairpins."
"Incredible... mushrooms can actually produce rubber!" The curiosity in Chen Yutong's eyes became more intense.
"I heard that a factory has recently started using it to refine rubber. Although there is still a gap in quality and performance compared to our Dilat rubber, the output is quite amazing, and it is not difficult to breed artificially. Except for the Camu tree,
Besides, the rubber for many of our tires here is provided by this thing."
"It's amazing... I have never seen this kind of mushroom in the Wandering Swamp." Chen Yutong said with emotion. Of course.
Maybe no one would notice even if they saw it by chance.
Each expedition of the exploration team has a clear goal, and when they are not on duty, they are also very busy and cannot have time to wander around.
"Humph." Crow Crow raised the corners of his mouth proudly. This achievement was recorded in the Hall of Fame a long time ago.
In fact, this achievement is indeed worthy of praise. She is the most enthusiastic about collecting mushroom illustrations in the entire server. If it were not for this unexpected discovery, the alliance's rubber production value would definitely not grow as fast as the steel production value.
"If you are interested, just buy it and study it," Lao Bai smiled, looked at Crow Crow and continued, "How much does it cost?"
"5 silver coins!"
Taking the silver coin from Lao Bai's hand, Crow Crow's eyes turned into crescent moons with a smile, and he even enthusiastically helped the embarrassed Chen Yutong put on his homemade mushroom hairpin.
The red and white color scheme is so versatile, and it doesn't feel out of place when pinned on light brown hair. Instead, it adds a bit of playfulness.
Looking at himself in the mirror, Chen Yutong touched his hair with his fingers in embarrassment, feeling that it didn't match his temperament.
"Would it be a little inappropriate for me?"
"How is that possible?" Lao Bai said with a smile, "It would be weird for a girl your age not to dress up."
"This gentleman is very good at talking!"
The crow boss narrowly raised his eyebrows, and Chen Yutong, who was standing next to him, coughed slightly in embarrassment.
"I can't be considered a girl at my age..." However.
She really liked this gift.
Whether in terms of research value or aesthetics, it struck a point of interest in her heart. It wasn't even just the gift itself.
Including the selection process on the street, and the charming smile of the proprietress when she put on the accessories herself...
No matter whether it was the fourteen years in the survivor colony or the ten years in the academy, she had never experienced such indescribable leisure and contentment.
Originally she just wanted to come here to have a look.
At this moment, it is the first time that I feel like I want to integrate here. I really want to share this joy with my former teammates...
Jiang Xuezhou should be more suitable for such brightly colored accessories than himself. Touching the outline of the hairpin with his index finger, Chen Yutong said sheepishly.
"It costs you money."
Lao Bai, who was walking next to him, smiled and said.
"It's okay, it's only 5 silver coins. It's not a waste."
Although the manager didn't give him any funds for the task, he didn't have to worry about such a small amount of money.
To put it another way, the tracked vehicle they got from the Beacon Team cost more than that, and it was their duty to help her integrate into the life here.
Chen Yutong lowered his head and thought for a while, then suddenly said, "Here... where should I go if I want to work?"
Lao Bai recalled the following words.
"The City Hall has a registration and employment office. After you fill in the information, it will help you arrange a job as soon as possible. The sub-district office can also check the vacant positions nearby... Don't worry about your ability. I'm afraid the scientific expedition team will rush for you.
people."
"I'm not... not... such a powerful person... I'm just an E-level prospector."
"We don't value status, we value ability more." Looking at Chen Yutong, who looked slightly embarrassed, Lao Bai gave her an encouraging look, "I believe you can do it well!"
"Then... let me try it." Chen Yutong hesitated for a moment and nodded.
Her major is the same as Jiang Xuezhou's in AI and information technology, but she feels that her professional level is much inferior to Jiang Xuezhou's.
Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been unable to become a researcher.
However, Lao Bai didn't seem to care about this at all. He didn't mention work at all along the way. He just took her shopping around and picked out some things she needed in daily life.
For example, a change of clothes, a towel for washing, or even a bedding for sleeping.
Although he only planned to buy a little at first, Lao Bai thought he might as well buy them all at once, so he bought a bunch of them without realizing it.
In this way, the time came to evening without realizing it.
Looking at the big and small bags in her hands, Lao Bai suddenly remembered that she had just arrived in the alliance and she didn't have a place to stay.
He said slightly embarrassed.
"Sorry...I just remembered that you don't have a place to stay."
"It's okay." Chen Yutong couldn't help but snorted and said with a smile,
"I forgot too..."
It is somewhat inconvenient to bring people to your own home.
On the one hand, he basically regarded it as a warehouse, without even a bed, and on the other hand, he was afraid that others would misunderstand him.
So, Lao Bai carried the large and small bags he bought and took her to the Highway Town Hotel not far from the trading station.
Different from the last time I came here, the lobby area of this hotel feels wider, and there are many more tables outside.
I heard that in order to solve the problem of tight housing supply, the boss here simply bought the warehouse next to the hotel and turned it into a lower-grade four-story apartment for those who have certain needs for a living environment.
peddler.
It is said that it was sponsored by a guest from Ideal City, and the designer hired was a resident of Vault 404.
In a sense, this hotel is like a piece of amber. Although it was formed not long ago, it has witnessed the growth of the alliance.
From the original large wooden house reserved for the residents of Highway Town, it has grown to thousands of square meters. The only thing that remains unchanged is the smell of fireworks here.
Merchants traveling from north to south and survivors would choose to rest here, drinking and changing cups while chatting about rumors and intelligence brought from far away.
But it's just evening now, and it's still a while before the bustling time. There are only a few people eating in the lobby.
From the moment he walked into the lobby, Chen Yutong looked around curiously.
There are no facilities like hotels in the college, and there is no concept of "the hotel lobby becomes a beer hall at night".
For fear of being noticed by wastelanders with their bionic prosthetics, the exploration team on duty would almost never stay in a survivor colony outside the jurisdiction of the Science and Technology Committee. They would rather sleep on cars or make beds on the ground in caves.
"Come from the front?" Old Man Hook, who was sitting in front of the bar, asked with a smile as he watched Lao Bai cross the threshold and walk into the hotel lobby.
"I just came back... Open a room in the backyard for me, so I can live alone." Old Hook looked at him in surprise.
"Hey, you are quite well informed. I was just planning to introduce it to you, but you knew it first." Lao Bai smiled and said nothing.
Of course he wouldn't say that they have a place called "Official Forum".
They usually share the battle situation on the front line on the forum, and professional life players are also sharing the changes on the front line.
You can find this kind of thing by just searching on the official website forum.
He pulled out a rolled-up account book from the counter, and Old Hook spread it out on the counter. "I have to make a registration...Is this lady living here?"
"Yeah." Chen Yutong, who was not familiar with the rules here, nodded slightly nervously.
Although she is not an introverted and shy person, she still subconsciously talks a lot less in a strange environment.
Old Hook was about to ask her with a smile if she had any requirements for the accommodation environment, but Old Bai standing aside spoke first.
"Please help me choose a quieter and cleaner room." "Okay, which room at the corner is the most spacious, long-term rental or short-term rental?"
"Let's rent it for a long time. The deposit will be credited to my account." "No problem!"
After asking the guest's name and origin, Old Hook wrote two strokes in the book skillfully.
When he learned that she came from the Wandering Swamp, the old man had a look of surprise on his face, but he didn't ask any more questions. He took out two keys with house numbers on them and threw them on the table.
Lao Bai gave both keys to Chen Yutong.
Looking at the two of them with a smile, Old Hook put his arm on the counter and continued.
"Just leave your luggage here. I'll ask the waiter to take it to your room. Do you two want to eat something? Today's recommended dishes are the variant rhino ribs and garlic roasted potatoes."
“Mutant rhino ribs?!”
Just halfway through speaking, Chen Yutong suddenly realized that her voice was a bit loud. Although no one paid attention to her, she still felt embarrassed and lowered her voice and spoke loudly.
"Can the mutated rhinoceros?????? be eaten?"
There were many alien species in the Wandering Swamp, but she had never heard of anyone eating those things.
Survivors with poor strength do not have the ability to hunt exotic species. The major survivor settlements will not include them in the recipes according to the teachings of the Science and Technology Committee, and there are not enough spices to cover up their taste. And academies that pay attention to nutritional content will not.
Eat these things.
However, she heard the captain mention once that the meat of some exotic species is more delicious than it looks on the market, but there are some risks when eating it.
Old Hook laughed and said proudly.
"Of course. If you stay here for a long time, you will know that there are no alien species that cannot be eaten, only people who cannot eat them."
In the past, they would not eat many different species.
But since Vault 404 was unsealed, as the residents of the Vault developed various food processing methods, the monsters and cleavage crabs within a radius of dozens of miles were almost extinct due to their consumption.
"Don't listen to his bragging. There are still a lot of things you can't eat."
Looking at Chen Yutong who was swallowing his saliva, Lao Bai coughed lightly and picked up the menu on the counter.
"Cream mashed potatoes, stewed beef with two heads of mushrooms, mapo tofu, fish-flavored shredded pork?????? and rice, let's start with these."
This guy couldn't move his legs as soon as he heard about eating.
But it was time to order dinner, and he felt a little hungry. "You didn't order any of the recommended dishes."
Old Hook complained, glanced at the menu, and sent it to the kitchen through the large curtained window next to it.
Then he looked at Lao Bai. "Would you like something to drink?"
Before Lao Bai could speak, Chen Yutong asked expectantly. "Is there any Coke and vodka?"
"Coke and vodka? Of course???..."
Looking at this expectant girl, Old Hook was stunned for a moment, and suddenly understood something, and then a very understanding smile appeared on his face, "Oh, that one?????? I probably understand what you mean.
, the guest wants to try our special cocktail, right?”
"Special cocktail?" Chen Yutong asked blankly.
"Yes, it's very popular recently. It's also a drink that the residents of the shelter are thinking about."
Seeing the expectant expression on Chen Yutong's face, Lao Bai remembered that he had promised to buy her a drink before, so he coughed lightly and said.
"Let's have a drink." Old Hook smiled slightly.
"okay!"
After ordering himself a beer, Lao Bai took Chen Yutong and sat at the wooden table near the bar.
Looking at the waiter who sent the luggage to the room, Chen Yutong thought of today's expenses, looked at Lao Bai and said sheepishly.
"Thank you for today. When I find a job and earn g points---I mean silver coins, I will pay you back."
Looking at the embarrassed Chen Yutong, Lao Bai smiled and said, "Don't say such things, this little money won't save you."
It's rare to meet an NPC friend that I can chat with for a long time. Besides, he was abducted to the alliance by himself. Of course, he can't just leave the person here and ignore him.
And he always felt that she was very similar to him.
Although their original intentions and processes are completely different, both of them are the type of people who pay more attention to "the meaning of life" than to life itself.
Perhaps it was precisely because of this that they were able to chat like this all the time. Even a week ago, they were still fighting for different positions on the battlefield. At this time, Lisa came over carrying a dinner plate.
She was wearing a waiter's dress designed by Teng Teng Cottage, and her light brown hair was tied with a white headband.
After a period of adaptation, the little girl has become accustomed to the life here, and the smile on her face is much brighter than when she first came here.
"Sir, you ordered beer and sleepy black tea."
When he heard the last word, Lao Bai, who was drinking water, almost spat out a mouthful of tea. He coughed and choked for a long time before he came over in a hurry.
"Who picked this name?!"
Lisa looked blankly at Lao Bai who had an exaggerated reaction, hugged the dinner plate in her hand, and said slightly panicked.
"I don't know?????? I heard that he is a resident of a certain shelter? What????? Is there anything wrong with the name? "No, no, I'm sorry, I heard it wrong???.?."
Even if there is a problem with this, it is not easy to explain.
As Chen Yutong and Lisa watched in confusion, Lao Bai awkwardly reached out and picked up a napkin and wiped his mouth. In fact, he could have guessed it without asking.
The tail is not here.
That can only be mosquitoes.
Seeing that the two of them had no need for her help, Lisa leaned down slightly, then turned around and got busy while holding the dinner plate.
Completely different from Lao Bai's reaction, Chen Yutong seemed to be very interested in the name of this special cocktail. He stared at the crystal clear cup curiously and leaned in with his nose to smell it.
"Is this drinkable wine? Unbelievable????..."
Incredible was probably the word she said the most today. "But why is it called sleepy black tea? Is it added with tea polyphenols?"
"It has nothing to do with tea????? In short, this is the vodka and coke I told you. You can drink it a little leisurely. This thing is suitable for novices, just because it tastes good in the mouth, and its base liquor is spirits after all."
, you’ll get sick if you drink too much.”
Looking at Ms. Chen who was about to take a sip, Lao Bai reminded her seriously. Chen Yutong took a big sip and frowned slightly.
"Weird taste." It's a bit strange. Take another bite.
Looking at Chen Yutong who was pecking at rice like a chicken, Lao Bai took a sip of beer and said jokingly.
"To be honest, I really can't imagine your life there?????? Your technology should be stronger than that of the enterprise, right? But it makes me feel like a monk with strict discipline."
"Monk?" Chen Yutong was slightly stunned, having never heard of this word before.
"Servant of God, priest, or ascetic monk? In short, it means something similar." Lao Bai tried to explain using the words in the Chinese couplet.
"Ascetic monk??????."
Putting down the wine glass in his hand, Chen Yutong held his chin and thought seriously for a moment, then answered rigorously. "It may indeed be difficult after entering the academy, but life in the academy is not actually difficult. On the contrary, it is very wealthy."
Lao Bai asked curiously, "Where is it reflected?" Chen Yutong thought for a while and said.
"At least in my impression, the supply of food and consumer goods is never lacking, and there are only a few special things that need to be ordered."
Lao Bai nodded understandingly. Think about it.
After all, the academy also has the largest number of black boxes in the entire wasteland. In addition to black boxes, they also have production technology and methods.
Moreover, living supplies are completely supplied by the survivor settlements under the banner of the Science and Technology Committee. The supplies are distributed under the coordination of the Foreign Affairs Department of the college and are highly concentrated among scientific researchers.
At least the researchers of the academy will never be poor.
After listening to Chen Yutong's words, Lao Bai suddenly realized that this academy did not seem to be as "weak" as he imagined.
Even stronger than he imagined.
They have a complete organizational structure and talent selection system. Every individual who can enter this large and rigorous organization is undoubtedly an expert.
The abundant material supply allows them to focus on the work at hand. The g score limits the proportion of wealth an individual holds in society to a certain extent, while the k score ensures that every gear in the system can be in the right position and in the right manner.
way to work.
Those survivors who failed to become researchers or whose majors are not suitable may indeed have a harder time, but after all, this is a system designed by researchers, and the first priority is of course to meet the needs of researchers, and there is no way around it.
Not only does this organization have a clear structure, it even has a clear action plan and goal - that is, to do everything possible to recover the legacy of the Prosperity Era before resources are exhausted!
After completing this goal, they will go to more distant worlds to expand their territory and continue the fire of civilization.
Although this ideal sounds grand, Lao Bai always feels that if they really get to that point, the human civilization in this game world may only have one scientific research ship left.
He doesn't quite understand those big principles.
But he knows that people who use matches to light cigarettes today may switch to lighters tomorrow, but they will never want to quit smoking until the critical day.
Touching the wine glass with his index finger, Chen Yutong muttered the memories while sorting out the fragments in the corner of his memory.
"The academy is very taboo about waste and meaningless use of resources. According to Dr. Conclusion's calculations, at the rate of resource consumption on this planet, the legacy of the Era of Prosperity is enough to sustain it for up to two centuries."
When she said this, she suddenly and instinctively felt a little guilty in her heart. However, after hearing her words, Lao Bai smiled.
"Can he figure this out?" Chen Yutong nodded lightly.
"He is the wisest, most knowledgeable, and most far-sighted person on the planet." Lao Bai said casually.
"Then did he calculate the year when nuclear winter would begin?"
Chen Yutong was slightly stunned.
"Then??????I'm not sure."
Lao Bai clinked glasses with her, grinned and said.
"Really? It seems that your doctor is not omnipotent. I think it is better not to think too much. Things that will happen two centuries from now will be discussed two centuries from now. People who live in the present should take good care of the people in the present. I think this
Will suffice."
Perhaps because he remembered something, Chen Yutong, who had just opened his mouth, suddenly stopped talking and nodded thoughtfully.
"Maybe you are right."
The sumptuous food was quickly served on the table.
Chen Yutong, who had a serious look on his face just now, was quickly attracted by the intoxicating aroma of stewed meat and the mashed potatoes on the side.
"What, what is this?! Why is it so bad!" She held her chin with her right hand, her excited voice distorted.
"Mashed potatoes?????? In the past, we used to mix oil boiled with hyena fat and croissant potatoes, but now that conditions have improved, it seems that they have been replaced by potatoes and butter."
After all, she is a young girl who cannot resist the temptation of delicious food.
Looking at Chen Yutong devouring her food, Lao Bai couldn't help but smile. Seeing that she was already able to use chopsticks proficiently without his own help, he turned his attention to the lobby in the distance.
The night outside is getting darker and darker, and the hotel lobby is becoming lively.
Looking at the growing crowd and the overflowing beer foam, Lao Bai couldn't help but curl up a smile and took a satisfied sip of beer.
Whenever he sits here, his heart feels extremely fulfilled.
Although he is a virtual life, he can clearly feel that indescribable feeling---the world needs him.
He could see with his eyes the changes his efforts had brought to the world and the prosperity he had brought to the alliance that belonged to them all.
Nothing here is due to him, but everything is inseparable from their brave fighting on the front line, through life and death.
This is the daily life he protects!
Lao Bai's thoughts couldn't help but wander far away, thinking of what this place would be like many years from now.
At this time, he suddenly noticed that Lisa, who had put the last dish of delicacies on the wooden table, did not walk away, but stood beside her without hesitating to speak.
Vaguely guessing something, he said in a gentle tone. "Is something the matter?"
The little girl nodded slightly and summoned up the courage to ask. "Um, pangolin?????? Is he okay?"
She, who was still stammering before, suddenly became fluent before mentioning that name. "He..."
Lao Bai's eyes were a little subtle.
This guy seems not to be satisfied with Colwe's "favour" recently, and has hooked up with a beautiful reporter from Triumph City.
Of course, this was probably the guy's bragging after being teased.
After all, in the eyes of the vast majority of Weiland people, other races are just cattle. Unless the beauty has unique tastes, there is no way she would favor a "native".
Unable to bear to see that cute face stained with disappointment, Lao Bai took a sip of beer and talked nonsense under the influence of alcohol.
"He is very brave and a good helper for us. Thanks to him, the battle is going very smoothly. If you hurry up?????? you should be able to see him before the end of the year."
She didn't doubt what he said at all, and Lisa's eyes shone with hope. "Can you tell me more about him?"
Although he expected to hear this sentence, Lao Bai was still confused about how glorious this undercover job could be.
The key is that it’s hard for him to tell the inside story that’s too sensitive! There’s no other way but to make it up.
Seeing the curious eyes all around him, Lao Bai sighed quietly in his heart and started talking.
"When it comes to the victory at Oasis No. 3, we have to mention Lowland No. 330, and when we talk about Lowland No. 330, we have to start with a bowl of chicken soup that provides help in the snow????"