Natural Disaster: I Started By Hoarding Tens Of Billions Of Supplies

Chapter 288: Let’s Eat Together



Hearing Wu Lian's question, Yao Ran nodded and explained, "A Yu built the hydroponic room to ensure sustainability. We are lucky it works."

After storing the snow-white tube in the kitchen's storage room, she filled a bowl with rice and asked, "I'm going to prepare lunch. Would you like to join me?"

Though hungry, Wu Lian understood the value of supplies. Smiling, he shook his head and politely refused, "We still have food, so we won't join you. Please just prepare your portion." Yao Ran raised her eyebrows slightly at his refusal and nodded, "Alright."

Seeing her busy preparing the lunch, Wu Lian tactfully left the kitchen with the young soldier.

When left alone in the kitchen, Yao Ran prepared a big pot of steamed rice and some side dishes.

After seeing Wu Lian and the soldiers' appearance, she knew that they had been starving for a long time. Since she had plans that required their cooperation, Yao Ran couldn't let them starve while they stayed here.

As Yao Ran worked on lunch, Wu Lian wandered around the shelter. Noticing his men crowding inside one of the bedrooms, he approached curiously. As he got closer, he overheard their conversation.

One soldier came out of the bathroom, holding a cup of clean water, and excitedly showed it to the others.

"Brothers, look! There's really clean water here!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

The soldiers were surprised and fell into silence. A few seconds later, they erupted in excited discussion.

"Let me test the water first," one volunteered.

"No, no, no. This is a dangerous task. I should do it," another countered.

The first soldier frowned at them and said, "What are you guys fighting for? I will try it!"

As soon as he said that, everyone shouted in unison, "No, don't drink it!"

The others tried to stop him, but the soldier had already taken a mouthful. As he swallowed, the group stared at him nervously.

After a tense moment of silence, one soldier asked, "How do you feel? Are you alright?"

The soldier licked his chapped lips, smacked them a few times, and then grinned brightly.

"Brothers, it's safe! The water doesn't have any smell, and it's refreshing! It tastes better than the water created by water element ability users!"

As soon as he spoke, the soldiers stood stunned for a second before rushing to the sink to fill their water bottles.

Watching his comrades queueing impatiently, the soldier sighed and said, "Brothers, there are plenty of bedrooms. Why are you crowding around this sink? Just go to another room to get water!"

The other soldiers froze when they heard it, glanced at him briefly, then continued talking amongst themselves as if they hadn't heard anything. Pretending to be deaf, they ignored him entirely.

"..." The soldier stood there, speechless.

"..." From outside the room, Wu Lian watched the scene unfold, equally speechless.

Finally, he entered the room and asked, "What are you all doing?"

At the sight of their captain, the soldiers quickly stopped filling their bottles.

The soldier holding the glass of water hesitated, then replied guiltily, "We are... filling our water bottles."

Before Wu Lian could say a word, he quickly added, "Captain, it was my idea to refill our water bottles. If someone needs to be punished, it should be me."

Hearing this, the other soldiers chimed in hurriedly, "Captain, we are all to blame for taking the water without permission. You should punish all of us together."

Wu Lian stared at them, speechless again. "..."

He knew they were all thirsty and couldn't bring himself to blame them for wanting to drink. Just as he struggled to decide whether to punish them, a fragrant aroma filled the air. The soldiers sniffed, and one exclaimed in shock, "Is that the smell of braised meat?" At his words, everyone exchanged glances, disbelief evident in their eyes.

One soldier shook his head and said, "Impossible. The last time I saw meat was eight months

ago."

The soldier sniffed the air again and confidently replied, "I'm not mistaken. This is definitely the fragrance of braised meat."

While the two argued, the young soldier swallowed hard and said, "You two keep talking. I will go check it out and let you know the truth later."

Without waiting for a response, he hurried off. Seeing how fast he walked, Wu Lian and the others knew he wasn't coming back anytime soon, so they quickly followed him.

Guided by the aroma, the young soldier arrived at the kitchen. When he saw a large pot of braised meat on the counter, he swallowed involuntarily.

Before he could take another sniff, Yao Ran entered with a second large pot, this one filled with milky white fish soup.

Noticing the young soldier staring intently at the braised meat, she said, "It's great that you are here. Could you help me carry the food to the dining room? Just place it on the counter

there."

Hearing her request, the young soldier asked curiously, his voice tinged with anticipation, "Miss, why did you make so much food?"

Yao Ran smiled and replied, "Are you not hungry?"

The young soldier nodded at first, then quickly shook his head.

Watching him swallow while trying to resist nodding again, Yao Ran chuckled and asked again, "Can you help me move the food to the dining room?"

"Yes!" He answered eagerly.

As the young soldier brought the pot of braised meat to the dining room, Yao Ran placed the fish soup on the kitchen counter and returned to fetch more dishes. By the time Wu Lian and the others arrived, three more side dishes had been added to the counter.

Yao Ran saw them and said, "Please help me bring the rest of the food to the dining room."

Carrying a pot of cold watermelon juice, she led the way. Upon entering the dining room, she saw that the young soldier had already set out the cutlery, bowls, plates, and cups on the long table beside the counter.

She placed the pot of watermelon juice in the refrigerator and said, "Thank you for your help. Let's eat together."