"Slurp, slurp."
The sounds of people wolfing down food rose and fell one after another.
Enticing aromas mingled with the steam from the hot pot and filled the air.
Inside the shelter whose gate had been blasted open, everyone stuffed food into their mouths in huge bites while staring at Lin An with blazing eyes.
The moment Lin An's identity was revealed, every problem ceased to be a problem.
Apart from the small number of capital officials who knew what was really going on with Lin An, in the eyes of the outside world, he was China's public face. His authority was no less than that of the bigwigs who often appeared on television.
Especially Zeng Hongtian, who had been so stubborn and defiant at first. Once he realized that the medal was real and that the young man before him was the famed Lin An, he became so agitated that he almost burst into tears.
It might have seemed that he had refused so firmly at the start, agreeing only to join the official forces.
But in reality, he had merely assumed that no one would "want" them, and that the authorities did not think much of them. No one would care whether they lived or died.
The reason was simple. After the apocalypse, many local militaries and governments had suffered devastating blows. Ordinary people from the past were constantly replacing the original personnel.
Many official forces nominally belonged to a military district or a certain locality, but in reality, they were merely wearing the uniform.
Thus, with everything they had learned throughout their lives rendered useless and their location so remote, no one paid them any attention.
It might have seemed that they still had some supplies here, even extremely precious fuel.
But after the apocalypse, a journey