BXBX NOVEL Chapter 84 - 80 News from the Film and Television City_2
They particularly introduced the hunters who ventured out to scavenge for supplies, encouraging everyone with the capability to consider applying for the hunter role.
However, there were very few takers, as after all, these survivors had barely made it to a safe haven. They were content to work hard in exchange for a meal and had no desire to risk their lives scavenging for supplies.
The trio wasn’t surprised; if there were really that many willing to go out and scavenge, the base wouldn’t be in such need of hunters.
Ren Jie announced the start of the welcome banquet, and then people began wheeling in the food.
Wang Tao glanced at it and noticed that the food wasn’t much different from what he got from the cafeteria using his ration tickets: they were all some sort of mush of unidentifiable ingredients, only now there was more of it.
The new survivors were overjoyed at the sight. Most of them could only earn one ration ticket for a day’s work, and the meager food that bought was hardly enough to fill them, only enough to stave off starvation.
Now, seeing the vast amount of food, they couldn’t contain their excitement—finally, they could have a full meal!
Wang Tao wasn’t too interested in the food, but since it was provided, he symbolically took a couple of bites from his small bowl.
Chen Zhuang and Han Rui, on the other hand, weren’t nearly as “reserved” as Wang Tao. They each grabbed a large bowl and ate heartily, almost with abandon.
While eating, Chen Zhuang explained that not everyone was entitled to partake in this welcoming ritual; ordinary people could only attend twice—the first being welcomed, and then they could freeload another meal. That’s why, in a base of over five hundred people, only more than two hundred attended—it wasn’t that they didn’t want to come, but rather they couldn’t.
As one of the few doctors in the base, Chen Zhuang enjoyed certain privileges, like attending these kinds of food-grabbing events as much as he pleased.
The food was concocted by several of the base’s chefs, who would throw various kinds of food into a pot to stew together before blending them into a paste. Normally, inedible things like bones became edible once processed this way, thus saving a lot of food.
Essentially, they used whatever food was available in the base. Despite the mush being a daily staple, its taste could vary from day to day.
As for whether the food actually tasted good, seeing how everyone, including Chen Zhuang and Han Rui, seemed to be enjoying it greatly, Wang Tao wisely chose not to inquire further.
At that moment, the three committee members walked in Wang Tao’s direction.
“Hello, you must be Wang Tao. Welcome to the base as a hunter!”
The older gentleman, Ren Jie, offered a hand with a warm smile.
At the mention of a hunter, the people around them couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise. In the base, a hunter represented someone capable of dealing with zombies and finding supplies—a real heavy hitter!
“Hello.”
Wang Tao shook hands with the man diplomatically, neither humble nor arrogant.
He had assumed the other party had come to discuss the matters of Ability Users and committee membership, but instead, after a few encouraging words and a metaphoric shot in the arm, the man left.
Wang Tao looked at Chen Zhuang in confusion, and Chen Zhuang quietly said in his ear:
“Captain Wei of the squad spent most of his day sleeping and hasn’t had the chance to tell them about you. We didn’t want to overstep our bounds, so they’re unaware of your strength. Of course, if you want to show it, I can speak for you.”
“Let it be for now, we’ll wait,” replied Wang Tao, shaking his head nonchalantly.
Not only did Ren Jie chat with Wang Tao for a while, but he also interacted with others, appearing very approachable and devoid of any sense of superiority.
The tech guru, Liu He, followed Ren Jie around, not saying much, either disinterested in such affairs or somewhat slow on the uptake.
As for Feng Ming’an, he took Han Rui aside and spoke to her with a smile, though far enough away from the crowd.
Wang Tao didn’t mean to eavesdrop on other people’s conversations, but his hearing was too good, and he accidentally overheard Feng Ming’an mention something about appointing Han Rui as some sort of department head.
Wang Tao was quite taken aback. It was not that he found it unexpected that Han Rui would use her connections, especially in these times when it was silly not to take advantage of them. What surprised him was that Han Rui seemed not to have told Feng Ming’an about her Ability, or else she wouldn’t just be a department head—she’d be straight on the committee.
Wang Tao didn’t know how Han Rui was weighing her options, but since she chose not to disclose, he saw no reason to speak up.
After Han Rui left Wang Tao’s side, several women approached, expressing a desire to get to know Wang Tao.
Chen Zhuang gave Wang Tao a knowing look that all men understand, then quietly slipped away, leaving the space to Wang Tao.
“You, you’re Wang Tao?”
Suddenly, a voice rang out, filled with surprise.
Wang Tao turned, facing the attractive woman before him, and furrowed his brow. She looked familiar, but for the moment, he couldn’t place her.
“Wang Tao, it’s me, Huo Ziyi! The scar on your face is gone! I almost didn’t recognize you…”
“Oh, it’s you,”
Wang Tao recalled who she was upon hearing the name. Huo Ziyi was a minor celebrity who had worked with Wang Tao on several dramas.
Of course, “worked with” might be overstating it since their interactions were minimal.
Wang Tao was a Martial Arts Substitute, the kind who never even showed his face on camera, whereas Huo Ziyi, however minor, was a celebrity who could. They were not in the same league..