Chapter 29: Recruiting a New Chef!

As the words faded, everyone broke into spontaneous applause. It felt like the kind of moment that warranted such a gesture.

Zai Zai also giggled and clapped along. Since this was Lin Chaofeng’s first time participating in a morning briefing, she clapped even harder than the rest.

Song Mingchen, claiming his leg was bothering him, opted not to join the briefing and sat to the side, watching. He couldn't wrap his head around it: had Tang Miao’s psychic energy really not recovered in a week? If not, how had she managed to control the red cedar tree to open the gate yesterday?

Tang Miao cleared her throat and announced adjustments to the farm’s management system, implementing a zone-based responsibility structure. Each group would be responsible for the maintenance and management of a specific area, with daily check-ins to report on planting or livestock progress.

The vegetable planting area was vast and diverse, so she assigned "Skinny Tall" to oversee it with a team of three. The poultry area remained under the care of Lin Chaofeng and Song Mingchen. The orchard had few fruit trees for now, but since it also included a fish pond, two people were assigned to manage and maintain that section.

The work for the dorm matron remained unchanged, and Zhang Xinrou and Jiang Nanxing continued their roles in supervision and guidance. Since the farm was not yet fully open, the business district did not require staff at the moment.

Everyone else without a specific assignment was to continue digging the artificial lake. Those who finished their shifts early were encouraged to volunteer for extra digging. Although the turbine had not yet been secured, Tang Miao had deliberately chosen a location far from the spring to ensure that water bubbling up wouldn't interfere with the excavation. Once the basin was finished, it would take time to channel the spring water into it to fill it up, so the digging could not stop.

"Baba, baba!" *What about me, Mama?*

Tang Miao laughed, pulling Zai Zai into her arms and poking her sea-urchin-like hair. "I didn't forget you, Zai Zai. You’re our mobile worker—wherever you’re needed, you’ll go."

The meeting concluded, and after breakfast, everyone got to work. Just as Tang Miao was studying a map, Lin Chaofeng ran over to warn her that visitors from the Red Fire Safe Zone were waiting outside the tree line.

Li Yong and Yang Sen had delivered the medicine and the initial samples Tang Miao had requested, but...

"I asked for a chef named Lu Qingyun. Who is this person? I don't know her. The terms haven't been met, so I won't be paying the balance."

Li Yong gave a sheepish laugh. "Her name is Lu Qingyun, isn't it? Maybe it’s just a coincidence, but I tested her beforehand. Her cooking is excellent; I’m sure you’ll be satisfied."

The safe zone did indeed have a woman named Lu Qingyun, twenty-seven years old and a better fighter than Yang Sen. The problem was that he had sent her out to scavenge for supplies days ago; she was now off the grid, and it was unclear if she was even alive.

Tang Miao cast a cold glance at him, her tone firm. "When you found the right person, you should have communicated and confirmed it with me on WeChat. Instead, you brought someone over without a word, knowing full well there was a risk of mistaken identity."

The atmosphere turned tense. Being lectured by Tang Miao left Li Yong feeling deeply resentful. Tang Miao sighed softly, offering him a way out.

She paid half of the remaining balance out of consideration for the Yang brothers, but insisted that the rest would not be paid until she saw the real Lu Qingyun. Li Yong knew he was in the wrong and agreed.

"Wait. If the Red Fire Safe Zone manages to find that turbine for you, can we increase the reward?"

Last night, his men had seen the bounty Tang Miao posted online: for a turbine, she offered 80 chickens, 80 ducks, 80 geese, 500 catties of fresh vegetables, 20 catties of fruit, and 20 fish. It was a generous reward that made anyone’s heart race, but...

"There’s no way to find a turbine in the nearby city. About 200 kilometers away at Liutuo Mountain, there’s a newly completed hydroelectric plant that hasn't been put into operation yet. It’s not just the time it’ll take to go back and forth; it’s a life-threatening mission. You need to sweeten the deal."

Li Yong was tempted. He held leverage over so many people in the safe zone that he had plenty of expendable labor, but he wanted to squeeze out as much as he could.

"You must have seen that I was very clear: whoever brings the item back, whether they lose a hand or a foot—as long as they aren't dead—I can heal them."

True, Tang Miao had said that, but what benefit did that offer Li Yong? It wasn't as if she were healing him.

Tang Miao’s patience wore thin, and after paying the first half, she began shooing them away.

"Miss Tang!"

Yang Sen stepped forward to stop her, but sensing her displeasure, he immediately backed off. "I apologize. I truly don't know how I should address you."

"Just call me Sister Miao. What is it? Speak."

"Does the farm need more help? I have a few resumes here. Perhaps you could see if anyone is useful."

Tang Miao became interested. The resumes were crude, but the personal information, specialties, and relevant experience were clearly written, and they even had photos attached. Yang Sen was quite sharp. Seeing the pleasure on Tang Miao’s face, Yang Sen breathed a sigh of relief; he knew how to play to her interests. He understood perfectly well that Tang Miao was no savior and had no obligation to take in refugees. Her current staff was more than enough for her needs. Still, he clung to a glimmer of hope that she might take even one of them—it would be one less person to worry about.

Tang Miao sifted through them and kept a twenty-four-year-old girl who had been a home-cooking blogger before the apocalypse. Until she found Lu Qingyun, the girl would fill the chef's position.

Yang Sen thanked her solemnly and hurried back to the safe zone to call for the others.

Over a dozen people were huddled in a 120-square-meter three-bedroom apartment, mostly women and children. In the kitchen, someone was boiling a soup made from chicken and duck bones. Hearing a knock at the door, everyone scrambled into the bedrooms, and the person in the kitchen didn't forget to take the pot with them.

The knocking came in a rhythmic sequence: *da-da-da, da-da, da, da-da.*

"It’s Uncle Yang!"

"Shh! Be quiet."

"It must be Brother Yang Sen. It’s about time for him to return."

"You all stay hidden. I’ll go see." Lin Yue pulled a kitchen knife from under her pillow and cautiously approached the door.

"It’s me, Yang Sen."

Lin Yue quickly opened the door. "Brother Yang Sen! Did she agree? Can we finally leave this place?"

"Yes, but..."

Before Yang Sen could finish, Lin Yue dropped the knife and rushed into the bedroom. "We can leave! Everyone, grab what you’ve packed! Hurry, hurry, hurry!"

The bedroom erupted in chaos; they cried and laughed, quickly gathering in the living room. Yang Sen stood frozen, only asking after a long silence, "Where are Uncle Zhang and Yang Lin?"

Lin Yue wiped away her tears. "Not long after you left, those people came and dragged Brother Yang Lin off to collect protection fees. And Uncle Zhang..."

A small child chimed in, "Grandpa Zhang went to find us food. The chicken bones in the pot were what he had someone bring back."

Hearing the child speak, a middle-aged woman realized her own child wasn't by her side. She ran back to the bedroom only to find the little one sucking on a chicken bone from the pot.

"Oh, you! You're still eating? Once we get to the farm, you won't have to worry about not having meat!"

Yang Sen felt a lump in his throat. Uncle Zhang was old, and to those people, he had no use. Going out to scavenge meant joining the supply teams, where, if they encountered zombies, the old and weak were thrown from the vehicles to serve as bait, just to save a few bullets.

"Brother Yang Sen, why are you standing there? Let’s go!"

"Only one can go..."