Chapter Forty-Eight: A Base Suitable for Cultivation?

Chen Yi stood at the bow of the ship, gazing ahead at the vast, misty sea. In the distance, a new island was gradually coming into view, its contours growing clearer with every passing moment. A gust of sea breeze brushed past him; he squinted slightly, quietly calculating everything that lay ahead. This time, they would build a true utopia on this new island.

“Is anyone feeling unwell? If so, step outside for some fresh air—it’s much better than staying cooped up in the cabin,” Chen Yi called out, glancing into the ship’s interior at the people inside. Then he stepped out onto the deck.

Before long, many others joined him, looking around at their surroundings. As the new island appeared before them, their faces lit up with excitement and anticipation.

Standing at Chen Yi’s side, Chu Yunxi could not help but say, “We’ve gathered so many resources this time. Establishing the new base will be much faster!”

“Once we land, we can finally settle down and live in peace—no more wandering and hardship,” Chen Yi said, giving her shoulder a gentle pat. “You’ve worked hard too; make sure you get some rest soon.”

Chu Yunxi smiled and nodded, her heart filled with sweetness. She began to imagine the days ahead, living on the island.

Just then, little Yaxi came over, positioning herself between Chen Yi and Chu Yunxi. “Brother,” she said, wanting to be picked up in her usual affectionate way.

Seeing her so obedient and adorable, Chen Yi scooped her up in his arms. At that moment, a clicking sound rang out.

“How wonderful! You look just like a family of three!” A team member grinned as he admired the image on his camera.

“Hey, how did you get that?” Chu Yunxi asked curiously.

The team member explained, “I used to be a photographer. When the apocalypse struck, I happened to be in the warehouse looking for light stands.”

“After surviving by sheer luck, this camera became my only companion.”

Hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but sigh. It felt as if those unchanged days were still lingering in yesterday, yet now they drifted upon the sea. But soon, they would arrive at new territory and get to start life anew. Each heart was filled with hope, wishing for a return to the days before—even if only halfway, they would be satisfied.

Soon, the ship finally docked at the shore. For a moment, the world seemed to quiet, broken only by the sound of waves crashing against the rocks. Hundreds of people bustled between the deck and the pier, and before long, the ship was firmly secured.

Chen Yi stood at the bow, letting out a silent sigh of relief; at last, they could begin a new life on this island.

“Everyone, be careful! Don’t wander off—we need to pick a spot for the camp first!” Chen Yi called out loudly to the crowd.

Chu Yunxi walked beside him, her eyes brimming with anticipation. She tugged gently at Chen Yi’s sleeve and asked, “This place feels really nice. What will we call our new base?”

Chen Yi smiled, brushed her hair lightly, and after thinking for a moment, said, “Let’s call it Newborn Isle. What do you think?”

“That’s wonderful!” Chu Yunxi nodded in agreement. “It means we’ve been reborn!”

Just as they spoke, several rough-looking middle-aged men crouched on the ground, carefully examining the soil. They scooped up handfuls of earth, sniffing and inspecting it closely.

This caught Chen Yi’s attention, and he went over, asking, “Excuse me, what are you doing?”

One of the men looked up with a cheerful expression. “Young man—no, team leader—we’re checking the soil quality here.”

“If this land is suitable for farming, we’ll never go hungry again.”

“Who are you?” Chen Yi asked, puzzled.

“We’re all professors from the agricultural university,” the man replied proudly. “Before the apocalypse, we’d just been hired, but we know our way around agriculture.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Yi felt a rush of excitement—almost disbelief. He called out loudly to the others, “Everyone, look! These professors are helping us assess the soil. If it works, we can grow our own crops and automate production!”

A cheer erupted from the crowd, everyone looking at the professors with passion and hope.

Chen Yi spoke seriously, “From now on, no one is to disturb the professors’ work. Assign a few people to follow them—if they need anything, help immediately!”

With the order given, people sprang into action.

Lu Kai led a group of young volunteers, following closely behind the professors, ready to assist.

Meanwhile, the professors began their research in earnest. They brought out simple instruments they had fashioned on the ship to measure the soil’s pH, moisture, and nutrient content, carefully recording their findings.

As time passed, each new result brought a gleam of hope to their eyes. At last, one professor turned to Chen Yi and proclaimed, “Good news! This land is perfect for cultivating crops. As soon as we find suitable seeds, we can be completely self-sufficient.”

Chen Yi was overcome with joy, grasping the professor’s hand. “Excellent! As long as we can develop steadily, we’ll build an entirely new home here.”

Beside him, Chu Yunxi leapt to his arm in excitement. “So what should we do next?”

Chen Yi thought quickly and decided, “First, we need to find suitable seeds and set up a temporary planting area. That will prepare us for future farming.”

“Then, we must distribute resources wisely and build temporary shelters as soon as possible, ensuring everyone’s basic needs.”

Chu Yunxi nodded, “Understood. I’ll organize the search for seeds.”

Hu Sanhan chimed in, “Lu Kai and I will handle the construction of the temporary shelters.”

As night fell, the sky was adorned with a full moon, casting a mysterious silver glow over Newborn Isle.

The temporary base was already taking shape, with simple wooden cabins lined up neatly—all timber brought from their previous island. After all, the trees here had been ravaged, and there weren’t enough resources left for construction. However, in the remote part of the island, there was a small mountain that seemed abundant in resources.

At the heart of the base, small bonfires burned amid the crowd, driving away some of the chill.

Chen Yi stood by the fire, letting out a long breath—exhausted, yet unable to hide his satisfaction.

Chu Yunxi stood quietly at his side, her gentle gaze flickering in the firelight.

Lu Kai and Hu Sanhan had returned as well, busy arranging night watches and distributing supplies.