Chapter 58: Bringing New Colors to the Apocalypse!

Californium.

A byproduct of nuclear reactions, there was a whole pile of it in the warehouse.

But this thing was radioactive and had to be stored in sealed containers.

No one had thought of giving it to Gu Man before, precisely because of its radioactivity.

Until Dr. Li Kan brought it up.

Everyone agreed—it was a great idea to gift it to the Savior.

“Pack it in radiation-proof boxes, 100 grams per box. Send 100 boxes first.”

Song Lufeng made the final decision.

Once the idea was suggested, it seemed perfect.

The group eagerly prepared to send it over.

Before Song Lufeng even had the chance to send it, Gu Man had already transmitted 49 bowls of beef noodles.

The rich aroma of beef filled the room instantly.

The beef outweighed the noodles, packed full in each bowl, topped with thick broth and chewy noodles. The sight alone made everyone’s mouths water.

“Savior, please enjoy the noodles with everyone.”

“I’m tired, going to take a nap.”

Hearing this, everyone was thrilled.

Wow.

The Savior is treating us to noodles!

They all gathered around, eyes glowing, inhaling the delicious scent of meat and broth.

Although they’d been able to eat porridge, meat, and vegetables recently,

The apocalyptic cooking techniques were too crude compared to the Golden Age—honestly, almost unbearable!

They were already grateful to have food with nutritional value,

But the food the Savior sent always exceeded expectations.

“According to historical records, ancient China had ten major regional cuisines, each forming a distinct system. The pursuit of flavor by our ancestors was endless.”

Professor Lin Guomin swallowed hard.

“Not just that,” Du Guan said, eyes fixed on the beef noodles.

“Every household had its own cooking secrets, unique flavors.”

He found it incredible—after all, it was just beef, yet their cooking methods always made it tough and dry.

Sure, in this world, they could even gnaw on oyster shells without complaint,

But the beef in these bowls looked exceptionally tender and flavorful.

Even Professor Chen Huayuan’s eyes lit up, though he tried to maintain his composure.

“Can we eat now? I can’t wait anymore. The Savior is truly kind!”

The first part was his impatience, the second part was heartfelt gratitude.

Song Lufeng handed a bowl to Chen Huayuan.

“Professor Chen, the ‘artificial sun’ project is in your hands.”

Chen Huayuan took the bowl.

“No matter how important the mission, an old man like me needs to eat first.”

The room erupted in laughter.

Song Lufeng waved his hand.

“Everyone, dig in. Eat your fill.”

He took a bowl himself, noticing the wooden chopsticks inside.

Hmm, another valuable resource.

As the noodles entered his mouth,

The broth was thick and rich, made from slow-simmered beef bones, turning gelatinous.

The indoor temperature was around minus five degrees Celsius, causing the noodles to stiffen slightly.

A little warming brought out an even stronger aroma.

The beef slices were tender, infused with deep flavors, offering a perfect balance of softness and texture.

Sliced against the grain, the taste was even better.

The braised fragrance was irresistible.

Delicious food brought warmth and nourishment,

Boosting their abilities, strengthening their bodies.

Everyone had so much to say—

But soon, the only sounds were the slurping of noodles, the chewing of beef, the drinking of broth.

Not even a single chopped green onion was left behind.

They licked their bowls clean in secret.

After eating, they patted their full stomachs, still in awe.

It was just beef—why did different cooking methods produce such different flavors?

And the beef in this noodle soup tasted nothing like the kind in instant noodles!

Yet both were equally delicious!

“City Lord, can you ask the Savior for a favor?”

Shu Weng looked at Song Lufeng expectantly.

“What is it?”

Shu Weng hesitated but couldn’t hold back.

“Could you ask the Savior to send us some recipes?”

Everyone’s eyes lit up.

Full of anticipation.

Recipes!

In this apocalyptic world, where resources were depleted, livestock and plants had gone extinct, and people barely survived on extracted protein and nutrient solutions,

A century ago, to prevent despair and mass suicides, all recipes had been systematically destroyed.

Even most food images were shredded.

Only basic descriptions of vegetables, livestock, and fruits remained.

No mention of their flavors was allowed.

Being able to taste food from the Golden Age was already an unimaginable blessing.

But Gu Man kept sending so much food,

Those lucky enough to receive rice, flour, or meat rewards started wanting more ways to prepare them.

Recipes.

But only the Savior could provide those.

“Add another 100 boxes of californium, 2 tons of gold, and 5 crates of diamonds.”

“I’ll ask the Savior after she wakes up.”

Laughter spread through the room.

“Of course, of course.”

“Give everything to the Savior if needed.”

“Just hope she has enough space to store it all.”

After the meal, everyone returned to their tasks.

The news of the artificial sun project spread through the entire base.

To welcome this new sun, people voluntarily took up work.

Sweeping floors, patching gaps, cleaning every corner.

They even added color to surfaces, giving the base a fresh new look.

Faces once blank and lifeless now carried smiles.

The more talkative ones even started conversations about the artificial sun.

They were too excited to wait.

The happiest were the children.

Cheng Lin and Shi Yan were still young.

When the Frozen Apocalypse began, they were only three or four years old.

Their only memory of the sun was a vague impression of a warm, glowing sphere.

Now, they huddled together, eagerly discussing what the artificial sun might look like.

“It’s going to be big, round, bright, and warm! With it, our whole base will light up, no need for lamps anymore!”

Cheng Lin had grown healthier, her cheeks fuller, her hair starting to regrow.

Her big blue eyes made her look like a doll.

Cheng Fang had exchanged military credits for two sets of cotton clothes for her.

This one had a hood, with two little cat ears—she adored it.

She cherished it dearly, carefully keeping it clean, never letting a speck of dust touch it.

“But if it’s that warm, won’t we have to stop wearing our cozy and pretty cotton coats?”

Another little girl pouted, conflicted. She liked the bright sun but didn’t want to give up her warm clothes.

“You don’t have to worry,” Shi Yan, a small boy, reassured them.

“The artificial sun can be contained with a magnetic cage. Once it’s suspended in the sky, we can adjust the temperature and create seasons! We’ll still wear our winter coats.”

“And when we grow up, and the Frozen Apocalypse ends, the real sun will shine again. In winter, we’ll still need warm clothes.”

Shi Yan was already studying advanced physics and chemistry.

He had a small dream—to one day invent the strongest weapon to protect the Savior.

Cheng Lin giggled.

“Shi Yan, you’re so silly! When we grow up, these clothes won’t fit us anymore!”

Shi Yan scratched his head, embarrassed.

The other children burst into laughter.

The adults, hearing the kids’ joyful voices, couldn’t help but smile too.

The cold, bleak apocalypse was finally gaining new colors.

Meanwhile, Gu Man was completely unaware.

She slept soundly until 2 PM.

When she woke up—she had struck it rich again.