The news of the canteen opening swept through the Sanctuary like a hurricane, in an instant.
Everyone was discussing it.
"Have you heard? From now on, our food distribution will be done through eating at the canteen."
"I heard about it a while ago, I even went to see that canteen, tsk tsk, when Director Tang makes a move, it's really something else. It looks even better than where we live, using it as a canteen is such a waste."
"You don't know about it, I heard Director Tang also plans to build a batch of housing. People who perform well might get a chance to move in."
"I wonder what kind of food will be in the canteen, it should be better than our usual makeshift meals, right?"
"Definitely. Do you know who the chef at the canteen is? Lin Deyun, who used to work as a chef at a five-star hotel. His skills are unquestionable."
After a busy day of work, it was usually time to collect food, but now everyone was headed towards the canteen.
Some survivors with information channels couldn't help blowing their own trumpets first.
Displaying their shining moment of glory.
When Liang Hao arrived at the canteen, he saw a long queue ahead.
As an early survivor of the Sanctuary, he didn't need to engage in physical labor every day like the ordinary survivors. He was now one of the Sanctuary's grassroots management staff.
Of course, he still needed to eat…
The queue was very long, with probably a couple hundred people ahead.
More survivors kept arriving at the back, and someone frowned upon seeing the long line, "Why has a queue suddenly formed? If we're going to queue, it should be inside the canteen, right? The gate isn't small, surely it shouldn't be blocked up here."
Liang Hao heard this and immediately replied, "You don't know about it, there's naturally a reason for queuing at the entrance to the canteen."
He left them hanging, and several survivors nearby immediately looked over.
With a satisfied smile, Liang Hao continued, "I got the news this morning. Apparently, the Sanctuary is going to introduce an identity card that can record everyone's personal information and even store each person's work points for expenditure settlement. In short, a One Card Pass."
"With this One Card Pass, consumption and welfare distribution in our Sanctuary will become much more convenient. Surely you wouldn't want to wait for the recording of work points when getting your food in the canteen."
"And now, they are probably carrying out identity authentication, hence the queue and wait time."
The surrounding survivors showed an epiphany, all murmuring their admiration.
Liang Hao wore a smile, his face full of pleasure.
The queue moved along swiftly, and after about ten minutes, Liang Hao reached the front of the canteen. There were two staff members with a device... it looked a bit like the one used in the bureau to press fingerprints for ID cards.
After greeting the two people, Liang Hao pressed his thumb on the scanner. A green light flashed on, and then he signed his name on an adjacent writing pad. Quickly, a card rolled out from beneath the scanner.
"Brother Hao, this is your identity card. Your wages will be deposited here from now on, and you can carry out any transaction within the Sanctuary using this card."
It was an exquisite card, with only the name as the simple piece of information on it. Beside it was a semi-transparent small box. When the thumb that passed fingerprint authentication swiped over it, the remaining balance in the card appeared.
The functionality wasn't extensive, but it at least met the current needs.
If it hadn't been for the limited resources and the exorbitant consumption of Source Crystals needed for development, Tang Yu really would have liked to create a magic-altered version of a smartphone to solve all problems.
In front of the fast food counter at the canteen.
Seeing the dazzling array of dishes, Liang Hao couldn't help but feel a lump in his throat.
These dishes were nothing fancy, mostly home-style dishes or common cafeteria foods, such as fish-fragrant shredded pork, braised eggplant, Mapo tofu, stir-fried shredded potatoes with pork, tomato and egg, and so on.
However, survivors watched in a daze and smelled the familiar aroma, feeling as if they were transported back to the time before the apocalypse.
Those who were sentimental reminisced, while those quick to act had already begun to eat.
Zhao Ming had two large bowls in front of him, one with hot and sour noodles and the other with old crock pickled beef noodles. He slurped them up with great relish, and at the end let out an off-key sound, "So damn delicious."
Across from him, the Iron Hammer Brothers ate attentively and quickly, working on the big bowls on the table.
As powerful Awakeners, they had appetites that matched their strength, with large bowls filled to the brim with food piled up in front of them like small mountains.
This wasn't dining, this was battle.
Both took it very seriously.
In the distance, Peng Bo held a large tray for serving dishes, already laden with numerous bowls and plates. Upon seeing the Iron Hammer Brothers' table, his eyes widened.
How could anyone eat more than him!
"Big Peng, help me hold this, I need to order some more."
He handed the items to Lu Xiaopeng and returned to the service window, saying to the uncle who was serving the food, "Two bowls of beef offal noodles, three servings of enoki and beef over rice, three servings..."
Shortly, Peng Bo walked back to his seat with another tray, glancing at the Iron Hammer Brothers who were still battling in the distance, then comparing that to the food in his hands, he nodded, satisfied.
If Chen Haiping were present, he would find that his prediction about food had a huge oversight—he had neglected the variable that is foodies.
Zhao Ming, after slurping up his noodles, took another look at the Iron Hammer Brothers, who were quickly finishing off the food they had ordered, and he couldn't help but feel that strength truly showed in all aspects. Even in the speed of eating, he had to admit he was outmatched.
But Zhao Ming believed this was just a temporary setback. He had a dream, hoping to become a powerful figure like Captain Luo.
To realize this dream, he didn't need to rely on others, nor on serendipity, nor on arduous hellish training. He only needed to lie on his bed every night, close his eyes, and that was it.
At this time, the Iron Hammer Brothers had finished their last bowl and were preparing to leave. Zhao Ming called out to them, smiling mysteriously, "Two old pals, I've got some good news. Do you want to hear it?"
The Iron Hammer Brothers looked curious. "Didn't you already tell us about the canteen being established this morning? What other good news is there?"
"What do you think of the canteen, I mean in terms of environment?" Zhao Ming teased and asked instead.
"The environment..." The tall and thin Ma Jiafeng pondered and said, "The environment is quite nice, clean, comfortable, spacious."
He couldn't think of better words, but the canteen's environment was indeed a surprise to everyone.
Named a canteen, its various decorations could already be considered mid to high-end dining, the seats were soft and comfortable. If truth be told, it was even better than where they lived.
"That's right, let me tell you..." Zhao Ming said, still appearing mysterious.
A few minutes later, the three of them arrived at a corner of the villa district. This place was rather secluded, but at some unknown time, a few villas here had been demolished and replaced with two eight-story buildings towering over the area.
Seeing the dazed expressions on the faces of the Iron Hammer Brothers, Zhao Ming couldn't help but laugh proudly inside.
He was privy to a lot of insider information, and with his gift of gab, he was able to hang with strong men like the Iron Hammer Brothers. No longer keeping them in suspense, he revealed, "That building on the left will be our Patrol Team's residence. Captain Luo will probably announce it tonight, but of course I found out ahead of time."
Zhao Ming led the two forward, took out the identity card he had just received today, scanned it in front of the door and it opened.
The group went upstairs, through the corridor, and into a room.
The rooms here were single occupancy, equipped with a toilet and bathroom. They seemed small but had all the essentials and were powered by Source Power, which was much better than living in a villa.
Although the villas were big, they housed many people and every night only candles could be lit, and one had to fetch water from one or two kilometers away.
By comparison, it was like moving from a wild mountain village into a bustling city.
"This is a benefit only for our Patrol Team, with a single room per person. Other survivors who want to move into the apartments will have to spend work points or Source Crystals, but of course, I've also gleaned that the Sanctuary intends to construct a batch of more advanced housing, like suites and real detached villas. We can live in those after earning enough contribution points. Just thinking about it is exciting."
Zhao Ming explained on the side.
The Iron Hammer Brothers surveyed the room's environment, extremely satisfied in their hearts... of course, this was Zhao Ming's room.
Although the brothers valued rigorous self-improvement through hardship, fetching water every day barely counted as training and instead wasted their practice time. Now things were better; with all the basic furnishings already in place, Zhao Ming had indeed brought them good news.
Ma Jiafeng, pleased, patted Zhao Ming on the shoulder. "It's you, kid, who's got the insider scoop. To thank you for informing us ahead of time, today we will take you through hellish training. After all, you're still quite weak."
Zhao Ming's expression changed from pride to shock, and then to dejection.
Happiness equals hellish training? That can't be right!