Forty-nine rules of the end times

Chapter 234 Reunion of Old Friends
8 month 12 day.

After leaving the academy, Guan Tong went to a building in the middle of the city according to the address.

When he arrived, Xu Xiaotian, wearing yellow overalls, was waiting at the door.

Upon seeing Guan Tong, he quickly raised his hand to greet him: "Brother Tong, over here!"

Guan Tong walked over, looked at the two large yellow characters "Rationed" printed on the other person's uniform, and said, "Is this your department's uniform?"

“Yes,” Xu Xiaotian said with a smile. “Like I said before, after graduating from the academy, I was assigned to the supplies distribution department.”

"It's kind of funny. The person in charge of personnel allocation told me that I was assigned to this department because of my instant noodle props. They said that if there was an emergency and food was scarce, I, as an employee, could make instant noodles myself for those in need."

Guan Tong nodded, agreeing that it was indeed a viable option.

It didn't work under the previous snow disaster rules because the team-up function wasn't enabled on the terminal back then.

However, once this feature is enabled, some items can be shared when in a team.

In this way, if Xu Xiaotian really encounters an Ascended Being who needs food, he can simply team up with them and have them eat the Mind Power Instant Noodles that he creates.

"How's it working in this department?" Guan Tong asked. "It must be very busy."

Before the earthquake rules were finalized and before this set of rules were released, Guan Tong had already contacted Xu Xiaotian, planning to meet him when he had some free time.

But Xu Xiaotian said he was too busy to find the time. It wasn't until yesterday that he left a message for the faculty and staff, telling Guan Tong that she was free today.

So Guan Tong came over after finishing her morning classes.

"Yes. After all, the previous earthquake destroyed many shelters and many people had to be evacuated. Our department had to maintain the food supply throughout the process and there couldn't be any mishaps. So, I was just assigned here and I was so busy every day that I could only sleep for five or six hours."

"That must have been quite tough."

"That's right... thankfully it's much better now." Xu Xiaotian suggested, "Come on, I'll take you for a walk around the department building, Tong-ge!"

Upon hearing this, Guan Tong asked, "Are you allowed to bring outsiders into the department building?"

"Hehe, there's no rule against it. Besides, there are a lot of people in the lower levels, they're inconspicuous, so as long as you don't go to the upper management, there's nothing to do."

"……All right."

Guan Tong didn't mind and followed Xu Xiaotian into the Pinglu City Material Distribution Department building, where the latter belonged.

As soon as he entered the lobby on the first floor, he realized that Xu Xiaotian was right.

The hall was packed with people, at least a hundred of them, making a lot of noise.

Xu Xiaotian explained, "It's all because of these new rules. Normally, when we use network devices to communicate, there aren't this many people at the same time. Now we can only rely on manpower to spread the word."

"I heard that because of these new rules, many places are hiring ordinary people. Hasn't your department done that?"

Xu Xiaotian shook his head: "It seems the department head doesn't have that plan. He's probably just barely managing right now. Besides, the physical condition of an average person can't withstand this kind of abnormal work intensity. Not only are the working hours long, but we also often have to work two shifts every day! How can an ordinary person stand it?"

"Wouldn't even the most advanced person be unable to endure this for a long time? Wouldn't they develop psychological problems?"

"It's alright. Our department offers very good benefits, with several thousand Shenghua coins in salary every month. Plus, we'll receive priority protection after the rules are released, so we can tolerate it."

A monthly salary of several thousand Ascension Coins... that's much more than the rule rewards, which currently only amount to a few hundred Ascension Coins.

Guan Tong thought that this was not a big problem.

People like Xu Xiaotian have been working tirelessly, day and night, to supply food to a large population, devoting countless hours and energy. As compensation, it's reasonable for the authorities to allocate some of the shelter personnel's Ascended Coins as wages.

Overall, it shares similarities with the tax distribution system of the pre-apocalyptic era. "This is the main office, and that's the temporary warehouse. And this room over here is the control room for the supply trucks, but we won't go through it; it's full of network equipment, so we don't want to accidentally mess up the rules."

Xu Xiaotian showed Guan Tong around the department, and finally they arrived at the catering area. Xu Xiaotian said mysteriously, "Brother Tong, I'm treating you to a hot meal today. How about it? Haven't had this in a long time?"

Guan Tong asked curiously, "Does your department still have a cafeteria?"

"That's right. But don't tell anyone outside, or you'll get criticized and attacked."

"..."

That's true. If others knew that there was still a canteen here, and that people didn't have to eat canned food every day like most people, they would definitely criticize it harshly.

Xu Xiaotian went to the kitchen for a while, and when he came back, he was carrying a large wooden tray with several hot dishes and two bowls of steaming white rice on it.

Guan Tong wasn't particularly picky about food, but after not having eaten hot dishes for so long, he actually felt a bit hungry.

The two picked up their chopsticks and began to eat and chat.

"Brother Tong, do you know why I stay in this department despite the high-intensity work? It's not because of the Ascension Coins salary, but because I can eat a freshly cooked hot meal every day!"

"Yes, I believe that."

More than a year ago, when Guan Tong was temporarily staying at the Limei Hotel, he would see Xu Xiaotian eating voraciously every day. Back then, food was unlimited, and every time he saw Xu Xiaotian, the latter was usually holding a chicken leg or a pork knuckle.

"I can't believe it. In just over a year, it's become so difficult to even get a hot meal outside," Xu Xiaotian sighed. "These Fire Thieves... they've ruined so many foodies!"

"But speaking of which, I really didn't expect you to become an acting lecturer at the academy, Tong-ge. What's your relationship with Lecturer Jingyi?"

Xu Xiaotian knew that Shi Jingyi and Guan Tong knew each other, and Shi Jingyi was able to get Guan Tong's phone number only after Xu Xiaotian obtained Guan Tong's consent.

However, he never knew how the two met or what their relationship was.

“We’re just friends,” Guan Tong said. “Do you think she recommended me as a substitute lecturer because of our relationship?”

Xu Xiaotian shook his head: "That's definitely not the case. The students trust Jingyi's character. Since she recommended you, Tong-ge, it means you are capable enough to be the substitute lecturer."

"Ah."

“That’s a good idea,” Xu Xiaotian suggested. “Tong-ge, you should stay at the academy. It’s much safer there than outside. When there are survival rules, the authorities will provide protection immediately. Even if Instructor Jingyi comes back after her recuperation, you can become an associate instructor or something.”

“No,” Guan Tong rejected. “I’m just filling in for someone. I’ll leave again when Shi Jingyi comes back. To be honest, I don’t really like this environment.”

"Ah...that's true. Otherwise, you wouldn't have refused to come to the academy with me to register back then, Tong-ge."

Xu Xiaotian recalled that last year, he had invited Guan Tong to go to Yong'an with him, but she had declined. Even then, it was clear that Guan Tong disliked this kind of communal living environment.

"So, where do you plan to go then, Tong-ge?"

"Not sure yet."

It's hard to say where she'll go, but Guan Tong will definitely have to resolve some unresolved issues from the past, such as taking revenge on those enemies who wronged her.

“I heard from people in the department that the higher-ups are working on a space colonization plan right now,” Xu Xiaotian mentioned. “I heard they plan to send some people to Terra. That place must be too unbearable for people to live in. Radiation, gravity, energy use and other issues all need to be resolved.”

"Space colonization... Is it now confirmed that the apocalyptic rules only apply to Tianshui?"

"I don't think so. Didn't we hear news last year that after the first 'sleep deprivation' rule was announced, astronauts who were sleeping on the space station died? That means even in space, you can't escape the rules, right?"

“Perhaps some rules can be avoided, and some cannot,” Guan Tong guessed. “For example, the first rule you mentioned, those that directly affect people cannot be avoided. But what about those that affect the environment? As for the previous rule about earthquakes, didn’t people who were in space at the time avoid the threat?”

(End of this chapter)