Read Novel Full Chapter 506: How did they end up in the Arctic?
Chapter 506: How did they end up in the Arctic?
Her homeland no longer exists, but her sense of identity remains unchanged. She still wants to celebrate traditional holidays.
With the advantage of her space, her life was far better than that of the average survivor. Unless there was a special reason, she wouldn’t miss any festival.
As soon as her birthday passed, the countdown to the Spring Festival began, and the family started preparing for the New Year.
It’s called preparation, but in reality, it’s more about passing the time.
The space has everything, but it’s not convenient to steam, stir-fry, or deep-fry because of the neighbors around.
While preparing, Jiang Ning checks the supplies and intends to restock a batch of semi-finished products.
Buns, dumplings, steamed bread, and flower rolls.
A lot of what she made earlier had been used up, so they needed to stock up again.
She would just put them in the space after they were done and steam them later when there was an opportunity.
So, she began kneading the dough, mixing, and fermenting…
Doudou became busy helping, and Huo Yishen would also help when he and Jiang Ning returned from patrols.
Meanwhile, her hydroponic vegetables had sprouted, but the germination rate was average, and their growth was poor.
Jiang Ning repeatedly adjusted the temperature, changed the supplemental lighting, and altered the nutrient formula.
After several attempts, she finally found the right combination, and the bok choy and lettuce started growing.
One evening during a patrol, they suddenly heard loud noises from a distance, followed by gunshots.
Huo Yishen observed through binoculars. “They’re hunting crocodiles.”
It is impossible to grow food in the Arctic, but people need to survive, so they turned their attention to crocodiles.
They dig holes in the ice during the day and catch them with nets at night.
Jiang Ning was a bit surprised. “Those rich tyrants?”
Huo Yishen smiled, “The wind and water have turned, and now you’re the real local tyrant.”
After making sure there was no danger around, the two quickly returned home, locked their doors securely, and ignored what was happening outside.
On the 28th day of the lunar year, Ivanov drove over in a snowmobile. “Jiang, how do you make dumplings?”
The Russians had been living quite comfortably recently and were starting to seek a higher quality of life.
On the day the base collapsed, they picked up a lot of crocodile carcasses from outside the base, all of which were edible and could be used to make dumplings.
This time, Ivanov brought someone with him.
The newcomer looked like an East Asian man in his fifties or sixties, with a thin body, sunken eyes, sparse hair, and a yellowish tint to his eyes.
When he saw Jiang Ning, he was so surprised that he couldn’t close his mouth, revealing a few missing teeth.
Ivanov, observant as always, grinned and asked, “Yang, do you know her?”
The man surnamed Yang hesitated. “Jiang Ning?”
His voice was hoarse and extremely weak.
Jiang Ning looked at him for a few moments, but she had no impression of him in her mind. If she guessed correctly, he should be one of the two-legged sheep detained in the base.
With Ivanov there, Jiang Ning remained calm. “Do you know me?”
Since even Chen Yanfei had made it to the Arctic, it wasn’t impossible that some captives had come from the Jiacheng base.
After years of natural disasters, survivors had changed so much that it was usually others who recognized her first.
The man gave an awkward laugh. “It’s more of an acquaintance. We used to live in the same neighborhood and occasionally met downstairs, but we never talked. You probably don’t recognize me.”
Jiang Ning followed his words. “What’s your name?”
“Yang Weimin.”
Jiang Ning thought for a moment, then shook her head. “Sorry, I don’t remember.”
The man didn’t speak again, lowered his head, and remained silent.
Ivanov, however, started teasing. “Jiang is so beautiful; no man would forget her after seeing her.”
Jiang Ning didn’t humor him. “Ivanov, there is no one in China who doesn’t know how to make dumplings. Comrade Yang must know how to make dumplings, so why come to me for help?”
Ivanov replied casually, “Yang has been locked up in the United Base for a long time, and his mind is not very clear. Sometimes he says he knows how to do it, sometimes he says he doesn’t. Last time, he even made dumplings that turned out like rice balls.”
It wasn’t just him, many of the “two-legged sheep” from the base were like this, almost as if they had dementia.
Jiang Ning’s expression turned darked and cursed the United Base a few times before explaining to Ivanov how to make dumplings.
Ivanov listened attentively but seemed confused. “Jiang, you said to put the right amount of salt. How much is the right amount?”
Uh, Jiang Ning didn’t know how to explain. “Ask Yang; he might remember.”
So Ivanov then turned to Yang Weimin, instructing him to pay close attention and remember the details.
After understanding the process, Ivanov asked again, “Jiang, I heard you need vegetables to make dumplings. Have your vegetables grown?”
“About forty percent survived,” Jiang Ning did not hide it. “They’re just ready for harvest. I’ll get some for you.”
Hearing about fresh vegetables, Ivanov nearly started drooling.
Jiang Ning returned home and harvested half of her bok choy and lettuce, about eight pounds, according to their verbal agreement.
With sufficient supplementary light, the vegetables were green and lush.
Ivanov was so excited he nearly started eating them raw. “Jiang, you Chinese are truly impressive.”
Fresh vegetables—actual living vegetables.
“The first batch didn’t grow well, and there were a lot of germination issues and dead seedlings. I’ve replanted a batch. Come back in about ten days,” Jiang Ning explained.
Ivanov waved goodbye and drove the snowmobile off.
Watching the two leave, Jiang Ning’s expression darkened.
Yang Weimin, Yang Jie’s father and vice-captain of the Aoyuan.
She hadn’t expected him to end up in the Arctic, let alone as a “two-legged sheep.”
She had previously thought the Russians were straightforward, but how many times had they tested her now?
Doudou frowned. “Sister-in-law, what does Ivanov want to do?”
“Human nature is complicated,” Jiang Ning said cautiously. “Maybe they don’t intend to harm us, but they’re very cautious.”
After their leader’s death, his successor had taken over by default. But since he hadn’t earned the position through real strength, he never felt secure and was always paranoid that the tragedy of his predecessor might repeat. He was wary of everyone.
As for Yang Weimin, what was his intention today?
He revealed that they knew each other yet pretending not to be familiar.
Huo Yishen thought deeply. “Yang Weimin’s time at the base must not have been easy.”
The Russians have food in their hands, and they are not as cruel as the United Base. Not only did they not harm the “two-legged sheep” they even granted them some freedom.
But that freedom is limited.
Judging by today, it was evident that their relationship wasn’t equal but hierarchical.
In other words, the Russians still categorized people into different ranks.
Back at the Russian base, Ivanov proudly showed off the vegetables. “Comrades, fresh greens!”
Yang Weimin silently returned to the planting area and planted potatoes with a dull expression.
At night, he dragged his numb body back to the second floor below the submarine fortress.
The room was dark, cold, and devoid of sunlight.
More than 30 people were crowded into a room, and no one spoke. Like zombies, they worked when they woke up and slept when they lay down.
After more than ten minutes, another person lay down beside him and said in a low voice, “Old Yang, I heard the Russians took you out today?”
Yang Weimin came back to his senses a little. “Mm, they took me somewhere to get vegetables.”
“Vegetables?” The man frowned slightly. “Chinese?”
Not just Chinese people, but familiar faces.
When he learned that it was Jiang Ning and Huo Yishen, He Tianming was stunned. “How did they end up in the Arctic?”