Lin Yan had watched them when they made their move and could now point out their shortcomings one by one.
Of course, she first affirmed their progress before pointing out their deficiencies.
These days, they were mainly responsible for transporting rice to be dried here, but they inevitably encountered zombies along the way.
So this group of young boys, who had once trembled while holding swords and were fearful and vigilant, now would draw their swords and charge at the sight of a zombie, afraid of being a moment too late to seize an opportunity to prove themselves.
Their actions earned praise and thumbs-ups from the adults around them for their bravery. This greatly satisfied the boys' vanity, and thus they became even more eager to draw their swords and charge forward the next time.
The transformation of these boys also made many adults reflect on themselves.
Especially those who were afraid to go out and kill zombies. They felt that even these young boys dared to fight zombies.
What face did they, adults twice or thrice the age of these boys, have to be confined to the base?
In a short period, more and more people began to order weapons from Lin Yan. Swords, spears, sabers, halberds, and various other weapons were carried by everyone or held in their hands.
Everyone bravely faced the zombies, and few were willing to retreat. Their first home had already been destroyed. Taoyuan Base was their second home, and their haven in the apocalypse. They had to protect this haven.
And so, amidst the busyness of rescuing people and harvesting, time flew by into October.
The weather gradually turned cooler. There were still enough clothes in the town to suffice everyone. Bedding and other necessities were also plentiful.
However, because it was now autumn, they had to store more food to face the coming winter.
In Lin Yan's memory, this winter was an unprecedentedly cold one. Although this harsh winter caused the zombies to hibernate, giving survivors a little breathing room, it was also a challenge. Many people froze or starved to death because they could not survive this winter.
Besides harvesting a lot of grain, Lin Yan and her group also gathered other vegetables, fruits, and the like.
After all, there were many crops planted in the surrounding areas, especially in the vegetable gardens of the farmers. Every time they passed by, they would pick some vegetables to bring back.
Some were cooked directly into meals, and those not used up were sun-dried into preserved vegetables.
The wisdom of the working people was not to be underestimated. They knew better than Lin Yan, who was born into a wealthy family, how to live better and how to plan ahead.
Therefore, the entire Taoyuan Base had enough vegetables for the winter. This did not even include the food sold in the supermarkets throughout the town.
Lin Yan had experience managing a sect, and there were also some government officials among the people here. Together, they formulated a set of behavioral norms for Taoyuan Base.
Although money was no longer usable here, because Lin Yan had set up a local network, a new payment system was established to replace currency.
Everything in Taoyuan was in good order, as if the apocalypse had never arrived. It was truly as described in "The Peach Blossom Spring": living and working in peace and contentment.
There was no idle person in the entire Taoyuan Base. Even the youngest children helped with tasks in exchange for points, which they could then use to redeem the supplies they needed for their daily lives.
The original owner's parents were in another city. After the apocalypse began, Lin Yan tried to contact them, but the network went down too quickly for her to reach them.
Only at the very beginning did she manage to make one phone call and learned that her parents had not mutated into zombies.
"I might have to leave for a while," Lin Yan said during a meeting.
Such meetings had been held many times since the establishment of Taoyuan Base. The number of people grew, and the matters discussed became increasingly important.
Each time, Lin Yan occupied a prominent seat. However, she rarely spoke up in the usual meetings. Therefore, when Lin Yan spoke, all eyes turned to her.
"Xiao Lin, where are you going?"
"Yes, it's so dangerous outside. Although your martial arts are quite good, you can't fight off a mob with just your fists!"
Everyone looked at Lin Yan with concern, not understanding why she suddenly wanted to leave the base.
"The situation here at the base has currently entered the right track, and our preparations for winter are also nearly complete. Therefore, I want to take this opportunity to go home and see.
Since the apocalypse began, I haven't been able to contact my family for a long time. At first, I knew they hadn't mutated, but I was still worried about their safety, so I want to go and bring them to Taoyuan. "
No one could refute Lin Yan's words, as they were her family members. They thought that if their own families were still out there, they would also want to bring them over.
"Then, Xiao Lin, take a few more people with you! If you go alone, we really can't be at ease," a middle-aged man said. He was now one of the people managing the base.
Taoyuan Base had no title of "leader." The base emphasized democracy and harmony. The managers were all trusted and respected individuals.
However, they did not gain many privileges. Instead, they participated in labor and distribution just like ordinary people.
They simply had an additional task: managing the affairs of the base, for which the base also paid them a salary.
"Yes, Xiao Lin, you should take some people with you. On the road, you can have someone to take turns driving, and you can also rest."
"Exactly, if you bring your parents and the others over, you won't be able to manage them alone on the road! It's better to take more people!"
Hearing that they were all thinking of her, Lin Yan was very touched. However, she didn't want to bring too many people. Bringing too many people would not be a help to her, but possibly a burden.
"I'll just take Sui Sui with me. Everyone knows her abilities, and she can guarantee our safety." Lin Yan did not directly refuse but chose another way.
Others thought this made sense. With Sui Sui accompanying her, Lin Yan's safety would certainly be assured.
"Then it's settled. Later, Xiao Lin, you can go and collect more supplies. I'll give you a note to pick them up. You and Sui Sui both have space abilities, so you can carry more food."
"Right, although your home isn't far, who knows what the road conditions will be like, especially with winter approaching. We don't know the situation with your parents yet, so it's always best to be prepared by bringing more things!"
"Thank you all. I'll go and collect supplies later."
Such kindness made Lin Yan feel warm. At the same time, she felt the unwillingness hidden in her memories fading away.
There were still many good people in this apocalypse. If she could choose again, she would definitely choose to save people, and save more people within her capabilities.