Chapter 59: Welcome Dinner

What is a survivor's welcome meal?

It is the first meal prepared by the shelter for the public who come to the shelter after the most chaotic period of a disaster has passed.

Everyone who seeks refuge is hungry, so as soon as they arrive, they can immediately have a steaming hot meal.

This meal includes two small pieces of meat, a scoop of beans, and a bowl of rice.

And what's more surprising, there's no cap on this first welcome meal; as long as it won't make you burst, they'll give you as much as you want to eat.

But the meal Gao Yuan and the others are eating is not the welcome meal.

Is it two dishes? Or four dishes and a soup?

No, it's six dishes and a soup.

Sweet and sour pork, scrambled tomatoes with eggs, stir-fried cabbage, minced meat with vermicelli, cabbage stir-fried with pork, shredded potatoes, and a pot of seaweed egg drop soup.

The sweet and sour pork was served in a big bowl, but the stir-fried cabbage and shredded potatoes were only in a small plate.

"Please, take a seat, take a seat. Sorry we couldn't offer a more lavish welcome, quickly, sit down and eat."

Zhao Zhengwu was inviting Gao Yuan and his group to eat. Gao Yuan swallowed his saliva; he was truly hungry.

"Would you like some rice?"

Gao Yuan immediately nodded. In fact, he hadn't been lacking in rice or wheat flour these days; the food found in the village couldn't last a lifetime, but the village's stored grains were enough for the three of them for half a year.

But seeing such a rich table of dishes, how could Gao Yuan not be excited?

A middle-aged man, skinny and wearing an apron, stood there, sizing up Gao Yuan and Luo Xingyu.

Zhao Zhengwu said to the middle-aged man, "Stop standing there staring; come over and say hello. This is Gao Yuan, and this is Luo Xingyu. Oh, and this gentleman is Commander Xiang."

Old Zhang nodded his head and stepped forward to Gao Yuan, took a curious glance at him, and said loudly, "Not bad, not bad, the young man looks spirited, and the girl is pretty, a good match, truly a good match!"

Luo Xingyu smiled sweetly. Unable to help himself, Gao Yuan asked, "I want to ask, what's different about me?"

Old Zhang pondered for a moment and said, "An internet celebrity, right? Yes, that's it, an internet celebrity."

"Internet celebrity? Can you relate that to me?"

Old Zhang said seriously, "Pretty much. Everyone's been talking about it. A young man hiding in Taihang Mountain named Gao Yuan who saved a very pretty young lady, and then the very pretty young lady fell for Gao Yuan, and then, they fell in love and started living a happy and fulfilling life together. Also, there seems to be nothing else, but everyone's been talking, so I wanted to see for myself, right?"

Zhao Zhengwu rubbed his head and said, "That's about the gist of it. But at this time, being able to talk about such things over the radio during New Year's, we all find it quite extraordinary and nice."

Being nice means becoming famous? To become famous just like that? And to enjoy celebrity treatment; that can't be reasonable, right?

"You eat, you eat! The sweet and sour pork is made from frozen meat, so it's a little tough, the tomatoes are canned, and the eggs are dehydrated, so they taste a bit off. The cabbage and potatoes are fresh vegetables, not dehydrated, and there's also this egg drop soup, hey, you guys try it out."

Old Zhang didn't seem talkative; he just wanted Gao Yuan and his group to eat.

Wei Guo sat down and said to Zhao Zhengwu, "Director Zhao, sit down and eat with us."

Zhao Zhengwu hesitated for a moment but eventually sat down and smiled, "Then I'll join you."

Gao Yuan was truly famished and nearly wept as he finally tasted the familiar flavors.

The food was indeed delicious, and Gao Yuan naturally picked up a piece of bok choy with his chopsticks and placed it in Luo Xingyu's bowl, then picked up a slice of sweet and sour pork, saying, "You should eat more."

"Oh my! Oh my, my, my, how wonderful! How wonderful!"

No one spoke, but Old Zhang couldn't help exclaiming repeatedly, as if Gao Yuan and Luo Xingyu had performed a grand play before him.

Old Zhang, rubbing his apron with his hands, looked emotional and then said with a sad face, "My daughter was about the same age as Xiaoyu. If she hadn't died... I'm sorry, you keep eating, I'll go top up your dishes. Sorry, I'm really sorry."

Old Zhang suddenly apologized and turned to leave, feeling the need to apologize because he felt he had lost his composure and disturbed the dinner.

Gao Yuan suddenly felt a tightness in his chest.

Why had he become famous? Because the story of him and Luo Xingyu was warm, a commonplace sort of warmth in the past but precious in the present.

Zhao Zhengwu whispered, "Old Zhang... sigh, please eat more."

At that moment, Zhao Zhengwu suddenly stood up, saluted, and said loudly, "Greetings, commander, this is Colonel Xiang Weiguo, and this is Gao Yuan and Xiaoyu."

Both Xiang Weiguo and Gao Yuan stood up, while Luo Xingyu swallowed what was in her mouth, wiped her lips, and quickly stood up as well.

The commander returned the salute to Xiang Weiguo and said, "Wang Hu, former commander of the 33258th Mechanized Infantry Brigade of the Army, currently the commander of the stationed forces at Stonegate City Second Shelter."

Wang Hu was a colonel, and the officer beside him was a lieutenant colonel.

"Li Guangting, former political commissar of the 33258th Mechanized Infantry Brigade of the Army, currently the political commissar of the stationed forces at Stonegate City Second Shelter."

Xiang Weiguo returned the salute and said, "Xiang Weiguo, former director of the Combat Training Department at Landscape Military Academy, retired with the rank of colonel. Commander Wang, Commissioner Li, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Wang Hu and Li Guangting immediately showed admiration and then Wang Hu took Xiang Weiguo's hand and said, "Elder Xiang, it's really great that you could come to our shelter, and of course, it's great that Xiao Gao and Xiaoyu could as well, haha, it's really too good."

Wang Hu, in his early forties, wore rimless glasses and had a clean and scholarly appearance, not quite looking like a commander of an Army combat unit, but rather like a civil servant.

On the other hand, Li Guangting looked dark and strong.

Xiang Weiguo looked thoughtful, then he suddenly said aloud, "Wang Hu! I remember now, you were in the newspapers, known as the 'Tiger Commander'! Is that you?"

Wang Hu smiled and replied, "Yes, it's me, but that's all in the past now."

Xiang Weiguo, filled with emotion, said, "It's true that appearances can be deceiving. The famous Tiger Commander turns out to look like a scholar. This I truly did not expect."

"Please sit, everyone sit. Let's eat and talk."

Wang Hu took a seat next to Gao Yuan, then looked at him and said with emotion, "I didn't expect Xiao Gao to really come to us. This is an honor for us. If I spread the word, our Stonegate Second Shelter will also become famous, haha."

Gao Yuan felt quite embarrassed, but Luo Xingyu thoroughly enjoyed the moment, smiling sweetly and saying, "Thank you, Commander Wang, thank you for your warm hospitality."

"Very good, very good, don't mention it. You eat, you eat, take your time eating."

Wang Hu was very cheerful and then said in a suggestive tone, "I've visited your friend, who is undergoing surgery. There should be no major problems. Then, I have something to discuss with you. Could you possibly speak on the broadcast tomorrow, and let the other shelters know you've come to us, so they won't have to worry or miss you anymore. What do you think?"