Chapter 38: Can’t Bear to See Them Suffer!

“The Savior has brought supplies!”

The playful children rushed over.

The workers also gathered around.

They loved seeing the supplies.

The towering piles of goods gave them a strong sense of security.

Every day, when Gu Man delivered supplies, it felt like a festival for them.

“What did the Savior bring this time? Looks like household items—porcelain basins, bowls, and chopsticks!”

“There’s also food! That thing is called instant noodles—I’ve had it before! So many instant noodles!”

“What are those? Soy sauce, vinegar, MSG? Seasonings from the Golden Age! I heard adding these makes food taste amazing!”

“Salt! I recognize that! I studied items from the Golden Age—that’s called salt!”

“Oh my god, the Savior brought so many things, so many, so many! Food, necessities—those are—”

Someone sharp-eyed recognized what was in the boxes.

“Clothes! Shoes! Gloves! Warm clothing!”

The frozen apocalypse was unbearably cold.

Extremely cold.

Normally, temperatures stayed around minus 70 to 80 degrees. In extreme conditions, it got even colder.

Due to the lack of resources, the base rarely turned on the heating system. Only at night, when the temperature became unbearable, would they turn it on for an hour or two.

That one or two hours was a matter of survival.

Usually, everyone wore clothes.

But the clothes were made from materials that had been recycled countless times, barely providing any warmth.

Even so, each family only had a few garments.

Some clothes had been passed down for generations, tattered and patched but too precious to throw away.

The base was simply too poor. You couldn’t find a single person dressed decently on the streets.

Even Song Lufeng’s military uniform had belonged to his grandfather.

It had been damaged and repaired countless times.

Soaked in the blood of mutant beasts, enemies, his grandfather, his father, and himself—it had been stained over and over again.

As for shoes, most people didn’t even have them. They ran barefoot on the frozen ground.

Most of the children suffered from frostbite, their feet covered in thick layers of dirt.

Some had such severe frostbite that their heels and toes had rotted away.

Yet, the children born into the apocalypse were especially resilient. They were like tough little weeds, stubbornly pushing through cracks in the stone.

They stared at the shoes and clothes with wide, round eyes, wanting to touch them but hesitating because of their dirty hands.

Their eyes were filled with longing.

Seeing this, Gu Man’s heart ached.

“Give every child a set of cotton-padded clothes, a hat, shoes, and gloves. If it’s not enough, let me know!”

She hadn’t noticed before.

But through Song Lufeng’s perspective, she had seen more and more.

And the more she saw, the more her heart ached.

Just thinking about her descendants living like this made her chest tighten with pain.

Song Lufeng nodded.

“Find the children’s clothing, shoes, socks, gloves, and hats. Distribute a set to each child here.”

“The rest will be delivered to each household.”

The soldiers hesitated.

“City Lord, this is all natural cotton. If used for combat uniforms, it could make high-quality gear!”

Shi Hai suggested.

Among the children was his grandson.

Of course, he wanted his grandson to have warm, natural cotton clothing.

But the base’s resources were scarce, and there were more important priorities.

Using such precious cotton like this—it was a waste.

“Do as the Savior says.”

The Savior’s will was his will.

“The materials for combat uniforms and other needs will come from the adults’ cotton clothing.”

Song Lufeng made the decision without hesitation.

Everyone was stunned, their faces filled with shock. Some even had tears in their eyes.

The Savior was the best.

The City Lord was also the best!

So be it.

The adults would endure and tighten their belts so the children could have warmth first!

Natural cotton clothes—just looking at them brought joy!

One by one, cotton-padded coats, shoes, gloves, and hats were handed out.

Shi Yan and the other children held their new clothes in disbelief, their little faces unable to contain their joy.

Clothes! Warm clothes!

Just holding them in their hands, they felt warmth radiating.

“For us? Really for us?”

A thin girl with big, beautiful eyes was both excited and disbelieving.

She clutched a red coat with rabbit ears sewn onto the hat, her eyes shining.

She had never worn such beautiful clothes before!

“They’re for you,” the soldier said gently.

“Then… can I have that?”

She pointed at a plastic bag.

Plastic bags and paper boxes were usually collected for recycling and reuse.

The little girl was meticulous.

She didn’t want her beautiful new clothes to be stained by her filthy hands, so she wanted a bag to protect them.

The other children looked at the soldier expectantly.

The soldier hesitated.

Song Lufeng said, “Give them the packaging. Any clothes and shoes given to the children—let them have the bags too.”

He had been a child once.

When he studied the history of the Golden Age, he had imagined countless times what it would be like to wear warm clothes and stylish shoes. He had sworn he would cherish them if he ever got the chance.

Now, these children were living his dream.

“Yes, sir!”

The plastic bags were distributed, and the children carefully packed their clothes, holding them tightly in their arms with sweet smiles on their faces.

The sight warmed everyone’s hearts.

“Alright, let’s get to work!”

“I can carry more! I have the strength to lift two boxes at once!”

The chapter wasn’t over yet.

“Ah, this is the kind of life that makes it all worth it!”

Everyone was full of energy.

Sets of clothes were delivered to families with children.

Each child, upon receiving their clothes, transformed from blank expressions to eyes filled with light, as if their souls had been given color.

The adults, on the other hand, discreetly wiped away tears, their resolve strengthening.

The children treasured their gifts.

How could they put on gloves or wear shoes with dirty hands and feet?

They scrubbed off the dirt, making sure they were clean before carefully putting on their gloves and shoes, admiring them as they walked around.

That kind of gratitude, that sense of treasuring something, that sheer joy—children in an age of abundance could never understand.

Other supplies were also being distributed.

Pots, bowls, and plates were prioritized for researchers, professors, and elite warriors.

The rest would be available for redemption through the points system.

Everyone worked with enthusiasm.

White porcelain bowls and chopsticks became highly sought-after collectibles.

In the cafeteria and military mess halls, salt was added to the large communal pots, making the food more flavorful.

People ate heartily.

Their frail bodies started gaining strength and flesh.

“Song Lufeng, these clothes are for you.”

After delivering the supplies, Gu Man stopped by the Mu Corporation. On the way, she had casually bought some clothes for him.

“I noticed you’re quite tall, so I bought these based on a height of 1.9 meters. See if they fit.”

“If they don’t, I’ll get you another size.”

She had no idea what her simple act meant to Song Lufeng.

It was a dream.

A dream from childhood that had never been fulfilled.