Rotting Land: Survive-Chapter 452 - 448: Winter Plan (Part 2)

"Xiao Quan! Is there something you need to tell everyone?" Old Zhao asked as soon as everyone was seated.

"Here’s the thing, it’s early November now, and it won’t be long before winter arrives. So I was thinking we should prepare in advance to avoid being caught off guard when the time comes."

Tang Xiaoquan’s words immediately caught the attention of the older generation. They were used to planning ahead, unlike Wang Qiang and the younger ones who seemed less concerned, which was evident from their differing expressions.

Nodding to himself, Old Zhao responded affirmatively: "Xiao Quan, you make a good point with that reminder! Winter really isn’t far off, and for our group, we definitely have issues like winter clothes and bedding to worry about. In my opinion, we should do this: while Old Xu is out looking for people, let’s send out another team. They can gather supplies and patrol at the same time. That way, it’s also a chance to look for people. What do you all think?"

Sweeping his gaze over his companions in the living room, the suggestion was naturally met without objection, as everyone nodded in agreement. And so, the plan for preparing winter supplies was set.

After speaking, Old Zhao seemed to have thought of something else. He leaned over to Li Xiaoxin, whispered a few words in a mysterious manner, seeming to inquire about some matters.

After a few moments, he turned his head back indifferently, pondered for a few seconds, then raised his head and spoke again: "There’s one more thing I want to discuss with everyone."

"What’s up?" Seeing Old Zhao’s serious demeanor, Wang Qiang couldn’t help but ask curiously.

"It’s like this, everyone is aware of the situation at the stadium, right? What I want to bring up relates to the whereabouts of Dai Sha."

"Dai Sha!?" Upon hearing the unpleasant words, nearly everyone present frowned in unison.

"Old Zhao, why are you bringing up that bastard? He should have been zombie chow by now!"

In the face of Wang Qiang’s indignant outburst, Zhao Yunhai remained very calm. He understood Wang Qiang’s emotional reaction, but some things shouldn’t be judged subjectively just out of anger or dislike. For instance: "I just discussed things thoroughly with Comrade Xiaoxin. According to what he said, there is no direct evidence showing that Dai Sha’s group is all dead. He found a lot of spent ammunition at the scene, overturned vehicles, and the most important point—they entered the stadium through the south gate which was open. In other words, Dai Sha possibly fled the city as the crisis erupted."

Undoubtedly, according to Old Zhao, considering Dai Sha’s cunning nature, he might have used the base’s citizens as bait to buy time for him and his cronies to escape.

Thinking of this, Tang Xiaoquan felt his scalp tingle because if Dai Sha indeed escaped, it could mean their Bieyuan District might not be safe anymore.

Especially with the recent loud and open reconstructions, rescues, and busy activities, they might have exposed their once hidden whereabouts.

"Come on! Old Zhao, you’re overthinking it! If Dai Sha really managed to escape, why hasn’t he come to cause us trouble?" Wang Qiang was dismissive of Old Zhao’s concern, thinking Zhao Yunhai was just worrying too much due to his age.

"Qiang! You’re being a bit hasty!" Without giving Old Zhao a chance to explain, Hu Xiaodong interjected: "The fact that Dai Sha hasn’t attacked us can’t be taken as proof that they’re gone. It’s possible they no longer have the capability to attack, or they might be observing us from the shadows, waiting for the right time. In short, whether Dai Sha is alive or dead, to be safe, we should assume he’s still out there."

Hu Xiaodong’s words were fair, and everyone nodded in agreement after hearing them.

Wang Qiang, although reluctant to accept the idea that "those bastards are still alive," compromised: "So what do you think we should do now? We can’t just up and leave, can we?"

Slightly stunned, Old Zhao hadn’t really considered "moving out" as an option, and half-jokingly replied to Wang Qiang: "Haha, so Xiao Wang, do you have any good places to suggest?"

"Well~" Scratching his head, Wang Qiang raised his hand and pointed to Tang Xiaoquan on the other side, quickly replying: "Didn’t you say your hometown in the county is nice? If we’re going, let’s go there and maybe find your parents."

As they say, "what one says without thinking, another takes to heart."

The soldiers might not know, but the survivors who had shared life and death with Tang Xiaoquan for so long remembered the things he had mentioned in the past thanks to Wang Qiang’s reminder.

"That’s right! I almost forgot until Qiang mentioned it. You’ve always talked about going back to the county to find your parents. I don’t know about others, but I’d be willing to go to your hometown with you!"

"Hey, hey! Me too! I’m with you!"

"Count me in too!"

What started as a joke turned into a serious suggestion, which somewhat surprised Zhao Yunhai.

He instinctively glanced at the young man on the other side, pondered for a moment, and decided to leave the final decision to the young man himself.

He trusted that the young man would have the big picture in mind and make an appropriate decision.

"So, Xiao Tang, what do you think we should do?"

Old Zhao’s question posed a dilemma for Tang Xiaoquan. He was grateful that everyone remembered what he had said in the past, and going home to find his parents was reasonable. But if it risked the safety of other members, it wasn’t quite right, at least not something Tang Xiaoquan could accept:

"My hometown can only be a choice. If anyone has a better place..."

"Enough! Don’t waste your breath. I’ll make it clear, I, Wang Qiang, don’t have a better place to offer. Wu Chao, do you?"

"Nope! And Xiao Wen?"

"Crap! I hate thinking! No way!"

Everyone expressed their opinions one after another, like a game of passing the parcel, which left Tang Xiaoquan feeling touched and so flustered that he spoke in a stuttering manner: "Everyone! You all... this... I..."

Seeing the young man’s dilemma, Old Zhao signaled for everyone to quiet down and summed up persuasively: "Alright! Xiao Quan, don’t be troubled! I think we can compromise. Let’s set your hometown as our goal. If we find a suitable place along the way, we can settle there. If not, we’ll head to your hometown. How about that? Can you accept this approach?"

Looking at Old Zhao’s warm smile, Tang Xiaoquan nodded gratefully: "Okay! Let’s do it your way!" (To be continued. If you like this story, please go to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)