Chapter 759.1: Site 721

Compared to most wasteland settlements filled with the bustle of everyday life, Site 721 felt much more like what a true survivor settlement ought to be. And the people living there seemed more like genuine survivors as well.

That wasn't to say they were poor.

Their patched-up winter clothing looked old, but it was still far better than the situation in the Poro Province, where entire families often couldn't even scrape together two complete outfits. The locals certainly didn't have to eat dirt to survive. Even during the hardest times, they at least had nutritional paste to fill their stomachs. During better periods, they could even get bread and sausage.

In fact, the researcher who had been reading papers on the train hadn't lied. The Scientific Committee provided the locals with all the nutrition necessary for survival, along with every basic necessity required to sustain life.

Concrete houses, fuel for heating and lighting, and even schools built as beautifully as churches.

The right to an education was fundamentally guaranteed. As long as the local survivors completed the production quotas assigned by the Scientific Committee, which were hardly considered harsh, they would never go hungry or cold. However, they would never live particularly well, either.

Most of the hardships they endured came from the climate itself. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

There wasn't much point complaining about the climate. Even before the war, the Wandering Swamp had never been a hospitable place.

The only thing that truly seemed worthy of complaint was the staggering inequality. The resources available to a single Researcher exceeded the combined personal consumption of over 1,000 ordinary survivors.

Moreover, that was merely their personal standard of living. It didn't even include research expenditures. If laboratory expenses were factored in, the disparity became impossible to quantify.

Even so, that wasn't necessarily something worth complaining about. After all, the opportunity to change one's fate wasn't nonexistent.

In fact, every person had eight chances. Once they turned 12, they could take the apprentice selection examination. If they failed, they could continue trying until the age of 20.

As long as someone became an apprentice, they would leave the Scientific Committee's jurisdiction and officially become a member of the Academy.

That wasn't merely a personal honor. The entire settlement benefited as well.

The Scientific Committee rewarded not only the family that had raised a "future Researcher," but also granted rewards to the settlement as a whole.

Precisely because of that, those who remained in the frozen wilderness had little left to complain about except not studying hard enough when they were young.

Instead, they placed all of their hopes on the next generation. Families that produced an apprentice naturally became the most sought-after stars within the settlement and invariably received preferential treatment from the local administrators.

For example, Jiang Xuezhou's father had been promoted to leader of the drilling team because of her achievements, freeing him from having to work underground personally. Her mother had also been transferred from the workshop to the comparatively easy accounting office.

That wasn't all. Their home was the sturdiest two-story building in all of Site 721. It stood in the very center of the settlement, in the same neighborhood as the technical staff and administrators assigned by the Scientific Committee.

That street enjoyed round-the-clock heating, gas, electricity, and potable running water. Basic furniture and household appliances were also provided.

Still, even with all the preferential treatment, everyone still had to fulfill their assigned work.

Li Xiang and Wu Xiaoxiao's families also lived on the same street and the two of them appeared to be rather close.

Although Night Ten's story wasn't finished yet, it was already time to say goodbye. Li Xiang wore a look of reluctant regret, so he arranged a time to meet Night Ten again before the group parted ways at the crossroads.

By the time Jiang Xuezhou brought Night Ten home, it was already 5:00 in the afternoon.

Her parents were still at work and the only one home was a little girl of about six or seven years old. Her hair was tied into two little buns. She looked bright and mischievous, almost like a miniature version of Jiang Xuezhou herself.

The moment she saw her older sister appear in the doorway, the caution on her face instantly turned into surprise, followed immediately by delight as she threw herself forward.

"Big Sis?! You're back?"

"Yep! Big Sis is home... Yuehan's gotten taller! Come here, let me hug you. Hehe, such a good girl." Catching her little sister in her arms, Jiang Xuezhou affectionately stroked her head. An unusually gentle smile spread across her face.

The suitcase following behind her rolled through the entrance of its own accord and headed straight toward her bedroom.

Moments later, sounds of clattering echoed from inside the room.

Night Ten couldn't help growing curious.

Can that thing unpack automatically too? Is it like one of those Mobile Construction Vehicles from Red Alert?

Still, he didn't dare follow her inside to find out. Even someone who had never been in a relationship knew better than to casually enter a girl's bedroom.

Even Jiujiu, his little sister who practically lived at his place, would mercilessly beat him up if he tried anything like that.

While Night Ten stared toward the bedroom door at the end of the hallway, the little girl hanging onto Jiang Xuezhou's neck was also staring intently at the unfamiliar man.

After setting her sister down, Jiang Xuezhou stood up and introduced the two. "This guy's Night Ten, one of my friends. His name's a little strange, so just call him Big Brother."

"And you, this is my younger sister, Jiang Yuehan. My parents haven't come home yet. Why don't you wait in the living room while I go unpack?"

With that, Jiang Xuezhou crossed the living room and disappeared down the hallway, leaving the two of them standing in the entryway.

Night Ten smiled warmly at the little girl before walking past her into the living room. In the end, he sat somewhat stiffly on the sofa. Instinctively, he reached for the television remote before realizing there wasn't even a television. In the end, he simply picked up a cup and poured himself a glass of water.

To his surprise, however, the little girl wasn't shy around strangers at all. She walked over, sat opposite him, stared straight into his eyes, and suddenly asked, "Big Brother... are you my sister's boyfriend?"

Night Ten nearly choked on his water. After coughing twice, he hurriedly explained, "No."

As he spoke, he instinctively glanced toward the hallway, making sure someone hadn't suddenly returned.

Actually, he wasn't even sure why he felt guilty.

"Oh..." The little girl sighed.

Sounding far more mature than her age, she muttered, "Big Sis said she would bring her boyfriend home the next time she returned. Hmm... She lied again."

"... Haha." Night Ten laughed awkwardly.

The little girl continued staring straight at him and spoke softly, "Then, Big Brother, when you're not busy, can you bring my sister home more often?"

Seeing the loneliness hidden in those innocent eyes, Night Ten fell silent. After a long moment, he nodded gently. "Mm."

He could actually understand why Jiang Xuezhou rarely came home. After all, even with her mentor looking after her, the survival rate of a D-class Researcher wasn't exactly high.

And she had only become D-class the year before. Before that, she had merely been E-class.

Perhaps... She had deliberately distanced herself from her family so they wouldn't suffer quite as much if they ever lost her.

Although her words could often sound rather harsh, deep down, she genuinely cared about other people's feelings. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been so heartbroken back when Night Ten been lying half-dead in bed.

At that moment, Night Ten suddenly realized. He had accidentally glimpsed another side of her, a side she rarely revealed.

Then, he quickly shook his head and chased the strange thought away.

Why am I trying to understand an NPC so much...?

The little girl tilted her head curiously. She couldn't understand why he was suddenly shaking his head, but she didn't ask. Instead, she picked up the book she hadn't finished and resumed reading.

Waiting for Jiang Xuezhou felt too damn long.

About an hour later, footsteps finally echoed down the hallway beside the living room. Seeing Jiang Xuezhou return, Night Ten breathed a sigh of relief. "You were gone forever. What took you so long?"

Standing at the end of the hallway, Jiang Xuezhou had changed into comfortable clothes for home. She wore an apron, and tiny beads of sweat dotted her forehead.

Looking at this man who clearly had no idea how much work was involved, she couldn't help rolling her eyes. "What else? I was worried you'd be hungry after such a long train ride, so I made something to eat."

"Dinner's ready!"

The moment she heard there was food, the little girl on the sofa immediately lit up. She tossed aside the book that had been making her head spin and darted past Jiang Xuezhou like a little rabbit into the small room beside the kitchen.

Inside stood a simple dining table where the family ate together.

Night Ten stared at Jiang Xuezhou in astonishment, almost as if he were looking at some rare mythical creature. "You can cook?"

Jiang Xuezhou chuckled. Brushing a strand of hair behind her ear with one finger, she proudly raised her chin. "Are you kidding? I've been living on my own since I was 12. Cooking food until it's edible isn't exactly difficult."

Night Ten had almost raised a thumbs-up, but her final phrase suddenly gave him a very bad feeling.

And, just as he feared, the meal waiting on the table consisted of nothing more than a bowl of roasted baby potatoes and a pot of chicken drumsticks that looked like they had simply been thrown in an air fryer.

The drumsticks were coated in a dark red marinade and it looked vaguely like New Orleans seasoning... Yet somehow, it still smelled distinctly of raw chicken.

Night Ten involuntarily gulped.

For a moment, he couldn't say a word.

Wait... she didn't even blanch the chicken first?

Roasting chicken without blanching wasn't impossible. But surely she weren't supposed to leave all the gaminess in there too...

The little girl, however, wasn't picky at all. She had already grabbed a drumstick and was happily gnawing away.

Seeing the expression on Night Ten's face, Jiang Xuezhou frowned slightly. Resting one hand on her hip, she asked, "Is there a problem?"

She was a dignified D-class Researcher who had personally cooked for him and he wasn't overflowing with gratitude?

Even my respected mentor had never tasted my cooking! Hmph!

Night Ten hurriedly shook his head. Forcing a smile onto his face, he sat up properly. "Nothing... It looks great."

No matter what, she had worked hard to make it. Besides, resources in the Wandering Marsh were scarce. Even if ingredients purchased with GP were cheap, wasting food was still shameful.

Completely missing the perfunctory tone in his compliment, Jiang Xuezhou's lips curved upward in delight. Brimming with energy, she turned toward the kitchen again. "You and Yuehan start eating. Mom and Dad will be home soon. I'll make something for them too."

The moment Night Ten heard that, he sprang to his feet as though shocked by electricity. "Wait! I'll do it instead."

"You know how to cook?" Jiang Xuezhou stopped and stared at him with suspicion.

Night Ten smiled sheepishly and replied, "A little... To be honest, I've been living away from home for over three years too."

It wasn't that he wanted to show off. He simply couldn't bear to watch perfectly good ingredients go to waste.