Read Novel Full Chapter 569: She Had Changed
Chapter 569: She Had Changed
Chief Ling observed Jiang Ning. From her younger years to her thirties, her appearance hadn’t changed significantly, but the aura she exuded was completely different.
“Were you on the transport ship just now?”
Even after years apart, his sharp gaze remained the same—nothing could escape him.
Jiang Ning nodded. “Yes. A few days ago, my teammates mentioned encountering a group of survivors from Jiacheng while searching for Fire Seed Containers. I assume that was your team?”
Chief Ling nodded. “Thank you for helping us. Otherwise, we might not have made it to the base.”
Jiang Ning was curious. “Huacheng Base is a national-level stronghold. Why did you choose to come to Fengcheng instead?”
Chief Ling smiled. “Just a feeling.”
Jiang Ning was momentarily stunned, then chuckled. “Huacheng Base is far more advanced, but your instinct was right. You have old friends here—the kind you can look forward to seeing.”
She extended her hand warmly. Chief Ling, welcome to Fengcheng.”
Having interacted with all kinds of people, Chief Ling could tell that her status in Fengcheng was far from low. She was no longer the same person she used to be.
She had changed.
He reached out, and their hands clasped firmly.
Just as they let go, another figure approached.
“Chief Ling.”
The next moment, an arm draped over his shoulder.
Chief Ling scrutinized the person for a long moment. “Third Young Master?”
Was this the old friend Jiang Ning mentioned? The flicker of hope he’d felt was quickly extinguished.
Still, the man in military uniform was nothing like the person he once knew.
Rong Sanshao wasted no time in flattering, “Sister, Chief Ling’s arrival is like adding wings to a tiger for our Fengcheng Base. The good days are truly coming!”
He kept rambling without pause. “Chief Ling, just yesterday, I was talking to Mayor He about you. He said you’re a top expert in security and criminal affairs—exactly what Fengcheng needs. Who would’ve thought you’d actually show up today?”
Jiang Ning couldn’t help but wonder—how did he manage to sound so natural and not awkward at all?
Since there would be plenty of time to interact later, she exchanged a few pleasantries before leaving.
Chief Ling watched her departing figure, deep in thought.
When Jiang Ning returned home, she found Huo Yishen there and mentioned running into Chief Ling.
Having interacted with him in both of his lifetimes, Huo Yishen knew him as a principled yet unyielding enforcer of the law.
Despite their many encounters, when it came to matters between Jiang Ning and himself, Chief Ling had always chosen to turn a blind eye.
So, both Jiang Ning and Huo Yishen respected him. “I’m sure He Tianming won’t let this opportunity slip by.”
Regardless, running into an old acquaintance in Fengcheng today was something to be happy about.
Jiang Ning had encountered three separate groups of Jiacheng survivors so far. She believed many more were still alive, scattered in different corners of the world. In time, they would reunite.
The transportation of Fire Seed Container supplies took ten days to complete. Meanwhile, the team finished modifying their shipping containers and moved everything back.
Though they didn’t have red-brick houses, the containers were still a huge improvement over tents. It’s quite spacious and bright.
The only drawback was the heat, but that could be solved by adding shade covers on top.
Besides, they would be spending a long time at sea salvaging supplies, so they wouldn’t be staying in them for too long each time they returned.
The team headed to the exchange center to trade for supplies. Due to their contributions to the base, they miraculously managed to get flour and rice.
They also exchanged for sweet potatoes, potatoes, and green vegetables in large quantities.
Meat, however, was out of the question. The only option was to pay a high price for canned goods.
If not for the generous rewards from their missions, they wouldn’t even be able to afford those.
While they struggled to gather supplies, Jiang Ning effortlessly carried back a whole load—bamboo shoot cans, luncheon meat, cured meat, salted fish.
By now, after every mission, no matter what tricks Sister Ning pulled, no one was surprised anymore.
A few people happily got busy preparing a rather lavish welcome feast.
Claypot rice with cured meat, salted fish and eggplant buns, pickled vegetable dumplings, fresh greens, and canned food.
All of it came from the southern military base. When Zhang Li tasted the Gan Zhu canned food, she couldn’t hold back her tears. “Back when I stayed in the school dormitory, I used to buy this brand from the small shop. One can would last me several meals.”
It was a shared memory of an entire generation. Even Huang Mao and the others were full of praise. “It tastes just like we remember.”
Jiang Ning smiled. “Once the base is fully up and running, canned food will be nothing. You’ll have fresh ingredients until you get sick of them.”
There was no denying it was an optimistic promise, but no one doubted her.
Ever since Jiang Ning arrived, the base had been improving—glass greenhouses, poultry farming, and the Fire Seed Containers brought back from missions had all given the place a new lease on life.
They firmly believed that Fengcheng would only continue to get better.
However, the truly prosperous days had yet to come, so the welcome meal was enjoyed behind closed doors.
One reason was to avoid shameless freeloaders; another was to prevent any questions about why the Gan Zhu canned food hadn’t expired.
Despite their happiness, everyone was well aware of the situation.
Not long after the meal, the special team set out again.
Unlike their first trip, Doudou had grown capable of handling things on her own. Gu Tinglin had fully recovered from his pneumonia—he only needed to maintain his health with exercise and proper care.
Meanwhile, the heartless wolf and dog couple clung to Jiang Ning, reluctant to let her go. They even went as far as to bring their pups over and place them in her hands.
The four plump little ones had already opened their eyes.
They might be mixed breeds, but they had perfectly inherited their parents’ striking features, making them absolutely adorable.
Unlike Sanbao, these pups had already been claimed by the military upon learning that the chief’s family had wolves and dogs.
Once the four were weaned, they would be taken in for training to accompany soldiers on various patrol missions.
Wolves were carnivores, though, so it remained to be seen whether the military could keep up with their dietary needs.
Still, with the poultry farms steadily developing, as long as no major disasters occurred, meat supply wouldn’t be a problem.
The weather remained unpredictable, but the atmosphere at the base continued to improve. Everyone was looking forward to a successful greenhouse harvest and the early completion of the livestock farm.
Perhaps one day, they wouldn’t have to worry about food. They could have fragrant, sizzling meat and even make clothes for themselves.
Because of this, the most talked-about topic around the base was the chief’s mysterious daughter and son-in-law.
It was said that these two incredibly capable individuals were also in the special salvage team and that the department was created specifically for them.
The survivors didn’t envy their ability to eat meat, drink alcohol, keep dogs, or drive cars. They only hoped that their influence would trickle down to benefit the common people—being able to eat well and stay warm was the greatest happiness.
On the day of departure, Gu Tinglin came to see them off. “Stay safe.”
Simple words, no unnecessary chatter, yet they carried warmth.
The heartless wolf and dog couple whimpered in protest, with the dog even climbing into the vehicle, refusing to get out. In the end, they had no choice but to let Doudou drive them to the dock.
The dog stood at the shore, staring at the ship as it disappeared beyond the horizon, unwilling to leave for a long time.
Once everyone had gathered, apart from the supplies distributed by the base, each person had brought additional items of their own. Jiang Ning was no exception.
She had packed plenty of beans, so she could sprout them or make tofu when she had free time.
Reuniting once more, the team had become much closer. Everyone was looking forward to this new salvage mission.
That night, Jiang Ning stored the transport ship and the 2688 away, and the group gathered on Xu Kaitai’s nuclear submarine…