Li Hongxi muttered in a low voice, "Don't mention that. We brought a few ordinary people here incidentally. Being received by the military is already good enough. Do you want to be treated as an esteemed guest? We can buy our own supplies. The materials we've gathered along the way can be exchanged for a lot."

"Aren't we keeping those materials to buy houses at Yangcheng Base?" Wu Yong had his family with him. When they arrived at a new place, they needed a place to stay. They had all agreed to live together and make it easier for joint missions.

"I asked. Every base has affordable housing. If our points aren't enough, we can rent a place temporarily. Housing prices aren't high now. We can earn enough through a few more trips. Moreover, Yangcheng Base will likely reward us, and they might even allocate settlement housing." Now every base needed people. They wouldn't have trouble finding a place. He had savings from the past few years, so sorting out housing for his sister and brother wasn't a problem.

Li Yunxiu sat aside, sulking. She intended to search for news about Zhou You. After all, she was the one who brought him here. She couldn't just ignore him disappearing. However, everyone was now focused on themselves, and no one was willing to take the risk.

Chapter 44: Do I Look Like a Bed-Warmer?

Li Yunxiu probably hadn't expected to see Zhou You again so soon, and especially not accompanied by a military officer. Despite his short stature and slight frame, he didn't appear meek anywhere he went. He stood proudly with Shao Qi and others. Sometimes, she wondered how someone like Zhou You could possibly be an ordinary person.

"Zhou You, it's so good to see you. You and Shao Qi left without a word, and both Brother Shao and I were worried." Li Yunxiu's face blossomed with a smile, the storm having passed.

Zhou You exchanged greetings with everyone, then pulled Li Yunxiu aside and asked, "Where's Dr. Zhao?"

"They're still inside getting checked. Let me take you to them." Li Yunxiu assumed Zhou You was rejoining the group and prepared to lead him back to the rest.

"No need. I'll wait here. I wanted to see you all and pick up my luggage. Are you planning to stay here for a few days?" Zhou You and Li Yunxiu chatted on the side, while the rest huddled around Shao Qi and the Deputy Staff Officer, clearly aware that these two were the important figures.

"Is this Captain Li of the Dawn Exploration Team? Pleasure to meet you. I've heard about your deeds. To do so much for ordinary citizens is truly the mark of a national hero!" Deputy Staff Officer Cheng Ziang instantly held Captain Li Hongxi in high regard. He had already inquired about the group's situation during their journey and felt confident about convincing them to stay.

Li Hongxi was flattered and paid his respects, modestly saying, "They're all fellow townspeople of mine. Escorting them was my duty. I'm not worthy of being called a hero."

"Haha, truly worthy of your military background. Your sense of responsibility is exceptional. Our country needs talents like you... It's getting late. Why don't we have dinner and then chat? I'm very interested in your experiences on the way here. You should stay in Jiangnan Base for a few days. Explore around. Our base has the best scenery in the nation." Deputy Staff Officer Cheng's attitude put everyone at ease. It seemed they wouldn't have to worry about supplies.

The military compound had several large canteens. Deputy Staff Officer Cheng took them directly to the first canteen, arranging for meals to be delivered to the hospital as well. The aim was to make these visiting guests feel at home.

Zhou You whispered to Shao Qi, "What's the Deputy Staff Officer after?"

Shao Qi took a sip of tea, the finest West Lake Longjing, a specialty of Jiangnan Base. It was said that many lives were sacrificed annually for tea-picking, making it both expensive and rare. Using it to entertain them indicated that Deputy Staff Officer Cheng was going all out.

He smiled and lowered his head, saying, "Scheming, of course." In these times, there were only a few things people schemed for. Cheng Ziang's thoughts were easy to guess. He treated Li Hongxi with less enthusiasm than he did Zhou You.

After pondering a bit, Zhou You understood. Talent was always a scarce resource, regardless of the era. "No wonder even our Chief Engineer Shao isn't highly regarded." This neglected appearance was probably the first time Shao Qi had experienced such treatment.

Leaning closer, Shao Qi whispered in Zhou You's ear, "If he knew you were a big shot, he'd regret it to no end." Shao Qi believed that Zhou You's worth far exceeded that of the entire team. Fortunately, he had acted swiftly; he was determined to bring Zhou You back.

Ning Xufeng had been observing Zhou You out of the corner of his eye. Seeing him frequently whispering with Shao Qi and their intimate behavior, he assumed Zhou You had changed his benefactor. For him, Zhou You was now an even more prized possession.

Cheng Ziang was warm and hospitable to everyone. He quickly established camaraderie with Li Hongxi and even familiarized himself with Li's team members. His goal was straightforward—retain as many talents as possible. At least they shouldn't be a loss.

"Brother Li, if you want to settle in Yangcheng Base, I understand. Our Jiangnan Base might not have the same conditions, but there are many martial artists there, and the competition is fierce. Even if you go there, you might not receive the attention you deserve. You should consider our Jiangnan Base. Our treatment of every martial artist is excellent. We not only provide positions but also training resources. Each year, we select talents to send to Dawn City for further training. We also have training opportunities with various major sects and faster promotions than other bases. These are practical advantages. How does it compare to creating your own exploration team?"

Wu Yong asked in surprise, "Everyone can get a position?"

"Of course, as long as you have a warrior's certificate, regardless of your level, you can join. Our Jiangnan Military District has more positions than people, so the competition is not intense. Basically, anyone who reaches the level of a junior warrior can be assigned a regular position. If you don't want to serve in the military, that's fine too. You can do whatever you want on normal days. Just serve the military once a year, respond to the military's call in times of disaster, and follow the orders of superiors. Besides, as you all know, only military personnel and their families can enjoy special benefits. If unfortunately martyred, the families can receive the highest level of government compensation. No worries for your loved ones."

Hearing all this, Zhou You was moved. If he had a family, he might genuinely choose this place. In this post-apocalyptic world, no one could guarantee returning safely from missions. Their loved ones were their greatest concerns. Without such worries, they could boldly charge forward.