Chapter 37: Lan Lili's Gift

Jiang Shilong's demise had obliterated their malevolent gang.

The pivotal figures from Jiang Shilong's faction had met a fatal end. Ye Fan meticulously inquired with his parents and other survivors regarding the remnants. Two individuals who collaborated in Jiang Shilong's nefarious activities were exposed and dealt with by the red alert soldiers.

The surviving henchmen, having caused minimal harm, were placed under Ye Fan's watchful eye. He assigned them various tasks to gauge their effectiveness.

The burden weighing heavily on the survivors was lifted, and gratitude permeated the air for Ye Fan's intervention.

Yet, Ye Fan now confronted a dilemma.

His attempts to alter his father's staunch stance proved futile. Despite his unwavering support during the Jiang Shilong incident, his father adamantly refused to part ways.

Ye Fan empathized with his father's sentiments. Having spent his entire life in this locality, the prospect of migrating to an uncertain world seemed no more promising.

The concern for his daughter further solidified his father's resolve.

Although his mother remained taciturn, her alignment with his father was evident.

The resolute parents left Ye Fan with only two options.

One was to locate his sister and depart with the group; the other was to stay put.

However, evacuating everyone posed challenges. The train journey was feasible but limited to Coal City's train station, where Ye Fan and the others originated. The railway was obstructed by two derailed trains, making it unfeasible to transport over a hundred people back to the villa area without attracting perilous attention from zombies.

The only viable course of action was to stay. Staying meant rebuilding everything from scratch, and Ye Fan would shoulder increased responsibilities.

Contemplating in Jiang Shilong's former room, Ye Fan pondered the words of his father and Jiang Shilong.

In the current apocalyptic scenario, people held paramount importance. Food production was crucial, and Ye Fan deliberated on the idea of enlisting the Red Alert soldiers to take up farming.

However, he hesitated to divert their military capabilities for agriculture.

Beyond sustenance, various professions required human involvement, preventing a desolate world in the future.

"I seem to have no alternative but to stay for now. Even if I send my parents back to the villa area, I'll have to return here to find my sister. The time required for this round trip, coupled with the inoperable vehicles, won't affect our firepower," Ye Fan reflected.

With this decision made, Ye Fan wasted no time formulating the next plan.

Donghua Restaurant, strategically located on the town's outskirts, presented an opportunity for increased safety. To achieve this, Ye Fan aimed to eliminate the zombies infesting the town.

Approximately thirty thousand survivors remained in the town, with an estimated twenty-five thousand zombies, considering those who scattered or fell victim to the undead.

Ye Fan recognized the complexity of the task, given his additional responsibilities.

Apart from locating his sister, Ye Fan needed to retrieve the Su sisters and Gao Dongliang, who couldn't indefinitely stay in Coal City.

Ye Fan assigned scout Xu Haoran to bring back a few individuals from the villa area, leaving behind the armored mining vehicle and warrior vehicle temporarily.

As Xu Haoran departed with four three-star mobilization troops, Ye Fan felt the strain on his firepower.

With limited forces, Ye Fan divided his troops, allocating some to guard Donghua Building and others to initiate his sister's rescue mission before clearing zombies in Chengguan Town upon their return.

Navigating the densely populated urban area, especially Lingshui No. 1 Middle School with over 10,000 students, posed significant challenges.

Ye Fan sensed the urgency to expand his army and attain a company commander position.

Contemplating their next move, a voice interrupted his thoughts, "Stop!"

Li Biao, Wang Hu, and others, stationed at the door, signaled an incoming presence.

"I am Ye Fan's classmate. My name is Lan Lili. Can I go over and talk to him?" a voice pleaded from outside.

Ye Fan, discontent simmering within, had investigated Lan Lili's association with Jiang Shilong but spared her life due to her limited involvement. Despite her unpopularity, Ye Fan agreed to her entry.

Wearing a blue low-cut dress, Lan Lili, carrying a backpack, entered with a smile that faded upon facing Ye Fan's icy gaze.

"What's the matter?" Ye Fan inquired, unmoved by Lan Lili's discomfort.

Attempting to justify herself, Lan Lili explained, "Ye Fan, I know you may hate me, but I also have to explain myself. Even if I don't take the initiative to commit myself to Jiang Shilong, he will not let me go. We women are too vulnerable in this world. I have seen him kill women who didn't listen to him. I don't want to die..."

Ye Fan dismissed her plea, "Stop talking, that's all your business. As long as you do things honestly, no one will interfere with you in other matters."

Persisting, Lan Lili requested a chance to sew clothes, citing her inability to handle the pork chopping task. She presented a backpack containing cash and items gifted by Jiang Shilong.

Upon inspection, Ye Fan discovered gold and silver among the contents.

Unexpectedly, Lan Lili's contribution provided timely resources, including over four kilograms of gold.

Opting to convert the precious metals, Ye Fan's rank ascended to that of a company commander, marking a significant advancement in his post-apocalyptic journey.