Su Nian shook her head. "The base isn't lacking in skilled cooks."
Although Su Nian didn't know exactly how many people were in the first base, she was certain there were quite a few.
There must be many people who knew how to cook.
Why didn't these people open restaurants? It was simply because they lacked ingredients.
It's not like it was before the apocalypse!
Upon hearing Su Nian's words, Jing Mo just smiled and didn't respond.
This topic was somewhat heavy, and neither of them wanted to dwell on it.
After stir-frying for a while, Su Nian poured hot water into the pot. The water level should just cover the rabbit meat.
Covering the pot, Su Nian glanced around with a slight worry. "What if those people come looking for wild animals in the mountains and follow the scent here?"
"It doesn't matter if they come or not. Nobody should think about taking our meat."
His words were assertive, quite different from his usual cheerful demeanor.
Even if Jing Mo didn't say so, Su Nian wouldn't let anyone take away this pot of rabbit meat.
However, Su Nian still hoped that no one would come and disturb their meal.
Luckily, until the rabbit meat was stewed, no one came.
Even the wild boars and wolf packs didn't return.
Actually, it was still early; not even 11 am yet. But neither of them cared. They just carried the cooked rabbit meat and got into the car.
Sitting in the trunk, each holding a lunch box, they began to eat directly from the pot.
There wasn't much rabbit meat, only about two or three kilograms.
Both of them had good appetites. After finishing the meat in the pot, they took the gas stove outside the car and boiled noodles in the soup.
Su Nian took out the noodles without Jing Mo asking any questions. He just stared eagerly at the boiling noodles in the pot. "When can we eat?"
Watching Jing Mo's expression, Su Nian was speechless.
Who would have thought he was so hungry!
However, the truth was, he already had about one and a half kilograms of rabbit meat in his stomach.
The noodles cooked quickly. Before long, they were ready.
Looking at the noodles boiling in the red soup, Su Nian sighed softly.
The noodles were good, but they lacked a bit of greenery.
But on second thought, having something to eat was already good enough. One shouldn't be too picky.
They both finished a pot of noodles, feeling full and lazy, leaning against the car without wanting to move.
Su Nian squinted, feeling that this kind of life was quite good.
Originally, after being reborn, Su Nian thought that in this life, she would probably be on her own.
But inexplicably, she met Jing Mo, and they became neighbors and now partners.
This feeling seemed quite nice!
As Su Nian was thinking, she saw Jing Mo suddenly sit up straight. "Rest for a while. I'll go wash the pot and utensils."
Jing Mo was full of energy. He was already holding the pot and getting out of the car as he spoke.
Watching Jing Mo's back, a slight smile curved Su Nian's lips.
Just a moment ago, she thought it was good, but now she felt even better.
When Jing Mo finished washing the dishes, Su Nian joined him in bringing back the bodies of the wild boars and wolves.
They put the bodies they could fit in the trunk and the ones they couldn't on the roof of the car.
Fortunately, the car was large enough and had strong carrying capacity, so they managed to fit everything.
However, their journey back was slower now.
As they headed north, passing through the first village, they didn't see any rescue vehicles.
Su Nian glanced outside. "They must have already rescued people and taken them back."
Jing Mo nodded. "Probably. Most people would be willing to go back to the base together."
Even if the villagers had their own food reserves, those reserves would eventually run out.
Now they couldn't farm either. Staying outside the base was a dead end sooner or later.
Su Nian was about to speak when she heard screams in the distance.
Su Nian was momentarily stunned, then turned to Jing Mo. "Did you hear something?"
Jing Mo listened attentively for a moment before nodding. "Sounds like someone's shouting."
The sound was carried by the chilly wind, making it hard to tell where it was coming from.
The two exchanged a glance, neither saying they wanted to go check.
However, someone didn't want them to leave just like that.
Jing Mo slowed down, signaling ahead. "Someone buried something under the snow ahead. It seems they don't want us to pass."
Su Nian looked ahead and saw a thick layer of snow in the middle of the road.
There were snowdrifts elsewhere, but they were thin layers, likely accumulated after snowplows passed by.
But in one area, the snow was noticeably thicker than elsewhere.
Anyone with a bit of sense could see there was a problem.
Su Nian couldn't help but think of the bald men who had set up iron spikes on the road to block her before.
Those bald men were brazen, but these people were hiding in the shadows.
Su Nian's eyes flickered with amusement. "They should know that we can see through their plan; they're just waiting for us to get out of the car."
Now it seemed there was no one on the sides of the road, but Su Nian believed that as soon as she and Jing Mo got out to clear the roadblock, people would immediately emerge.
Jing Mo smiled wryly. "Since they want us to get out of the car so badly, let's do it."
With that, Jing Mo looked at Su Nian. "You stay in the car while I go clear the roadblock."
He didn't need to say more; Su Nian already understood.
"Go ahead!"
Jing Mo tilted his head and then got out of the car, walking briskly forward.
Almost as soon as Jing Mo had walked past, people emerged from the snowdrifts on both sides of the road.
Some of them headed straight for Jing Mo, while others came towards the car.
These people were dressed very warmly, some even wearing sheepskin coats.
The sheepskin coats were rudimentary, probably made from sheepskins they had stripped themselves.
As Su Nian observed them, someone kicked the door.
"Get out of the car!"
Su Nian remained unfazed, only looking at Jing Mo ahead.
By now, Jing Mo was surrounded by four or five people, all holding knives of various kinds.
Kitchen knives, cleavers, even axes, the variety was quite rich.
Because Su Nian was sitting in the car at some distance, and with the wind howling, she couldn't hear what they were saying to Jing Mo.
But seeing that Jing Mo hadn't given her any signal yet, Su Nian knew it wasn't time for her to get out of the car.
After a while, those people began to lead Jing Mo towards the car.
Jing Mo stood at the car door and knocked on the window, his tone unusually fierce and firm. "Open the door and get out! Can't you see I'm about to get killed here?
The boss said that as long as we hand over the supplies, he's willing to accept us. We'll live a good life following him. The days will only get better."