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47 Digging a Well

Regardless of whether their speculations were correct or not, what they needed to do now was clear out the zombies. Without dealing with them, they couldn’t forge a new era. As for whether anyone else wanted to change the regime, Zhu Anfu didn’t believe it. He trusted in fate, believed in what was destined. Yet some things simply couldn’t be spoken aloud. The earlier comment about other people organizing teams was really meant to nudge Zhou Zhi—not to take himself too seriously and forget about planning ahead.

Previously, the overseas visitors had eased much of the burden on the cleanup teams. Though few of them remained, they had helped clear out a significant number of zombies; the coastal areas had seen a marked reduction. Along the way, some of their own people succumbed and became zombies, but many were eliminated as well. All in all, the zombies of their country had played a heroic role, defending the borders, though the sacrifice was immense. No matter what, they still had to thank these invaders. Those from the base were all trained; clearing out zombies was almost like a game for them—hardly difficult at all.

Zhu Anfu and Yuchi Ankang didn’t follow the main team. Zhou Zhi didn’t insist; now, with his head cooled, he had developed an awareness of his position as commander. Unlike before, when he was just a hot-blooded youth—he had strategies then, but compared to now, it was as if he’d been at kindergarten level. Zhu Anfu and Yuchi Ankang, left behind, weren’t idle. They led a group to survey the land. Neither was aggressive by nature; rather than fighting, it was more reliable for them to stay behind and contribute in other ways. Zhu Anfu led some people in preparing to plant vegetables and grains, but first they had to determine whether the land was suitable. Yuchi Ankang assisted Zhu Anfu, preparing food for him. Also staying with them were Wang Fei and Zhao Long, both assigned by Zhou Zhi to protect Zhu Anfu.

Having been reminded, Zhou Zhi reorganized the team, dividing it into several squads, each with a squad leader. Within each squad, there were smaller groups, with group leaders chosen by the squad leader. Everyone was trained to military standards; they had no complaints about shifting to a military structure, nor about food distribution among leaders and officers. Zhou Zhi was adept at deploying and managing his warriors, and everyone respected him.

The group found a relatively intact building, cleaned and disinfected it, and moved in. At first, they disinfected every hour; gradually, it became twice daily. Everyone took this very seriously. Although they claimed not to fear death or zombies, in the field, fear crept in—the worry of suddenly becoming a zombie. The land Zhu Anfu chose was a bit far from their temporary lodging, but luckily there were no zombies or mutated animals in the city. Even so, no one dared drink the water that they managed to extract.

The city was partially ruined, but not completely; some factories still held machinery and materials, which could be repurposed into handy tools. “Anfu, we found a machine for drilling wells. Do you think we can dig a water well?”

“There’s no electricity—how are we supposed to dig?” Zhu Anfu hadn’t replied before Zhao Long spoke up. Without the comforts of life, he was quite frustrated—not for lack of privacy, but for missing essential supplies. To dream of a harmonious life was just that—a dream.

“Zhao Long, mind your words!” Zhu Anfu felt Zhao Long was becoming more irritable. “Even if it’s not much use, Wang Fei’s spirit is commendable. At least he’s thinking of the group and knows we need water.” Zhu Anfu gave Zhao Long a light kick. “I do know an old method for digging wells, but whether the water is usable, I can’t guarantee.”

“If it works, we should try. The tap water at home was usable, but it was colored and had an indescribable taste. Who would dare drink it? You wouldn’t even want to smell it!” Zhao Long complained, but moved closer to Wang Fei. “Sorry, it’s been so hot lately—I’ve been irritable and couldn’t hold it in.”

“Alright, but if you do it again, I’ll take you down,” Wang Fei glared at Zhao Long. He understood Zhao Long’s frustration—it wasn’t just physical dissatisfaction but a psychological need that couldn’t be eased. On top of that, they had nothing but the clothes on their backs. If not for Yuchi Ankang, they might have starved.

“Yes, yes.” Zhao Long shrank back, and both turned to Zhu Anfu, who watched them with a smile. He tossed two items their way, which they instinctively caught. On seeing what they were, both nearly dropped them, but Zhao Long was quick to stow them in his bag. “Thanks.”

“If you need paper, ask Ankang,” Zhu Anfu avoided looking at them. Though they were all men, giving such items still felt awkward. “Zhao Long, find some thick tree branches. Drive them into the ground—go as deep as you can, one after another, until you hit water.”

“I’ve never heard of this method for digging a well. Are you sure it’ll work?” Wang Fei and Zhao Long asked in unison. Their skepticism was understandable—how would they retrieve anything from such depth, and would water really emerge?

“My grandmother told me this was how wells were dug in her day, unless you have a better idea.” Zhu Anfu shrugged, as if to say, “This is all I know. Believe it or not, it’s up to you.” Wang Fei and Zhao Long exchanged glances and, resigned, went to look for branches. They wouldn’t leave Zhu Anfu alone, though; checking the time, they decided to wait until Yuchi Ankang brought food, eat first, then search.

By evening, the two returned with several thick, sturdy branches. “We picked dead trees—luckily, the plants here haven’t mutated. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have gotten back so quickly.”

“Even if the plants haven’t mutated, it doesn’t mean the land can be cultivated. I plan to plant trees first, observe the saplings, and then decide whether to farm.” Zhu Anfu had Yuchi Ankang enter the mech and hammered in the stakes. “Were there many dead trees where you cut?”

“Plenty, and they were brittle. Maybe our strength has increased. Either way, it was easy.” Wang Fei and Zhao Long held the trunks, and once they reached a spot where they could swing the hammer, they took over. Each trunk was over a meter long, and after hammering about ten, they were exhausted. “Anfu, there’s still no water!”

“Of course not! This is only the first step. Now, dig around the trunks and remove them.” Zhu Anfu smiled. Hammering the stakes was something he’d heard about; digging around them was his own idea, since he didn’t know why no water had appeared.

“Seriously, will this work?” Wang Fei and Zhao Long were discouraged; they couldn’t go on tonight and would have to wait until tomorrow. They hoped that if they finally struck clear water, they could bring some back for a bath. It had been ages since they’d washed; even if they had the means, they didn’t dare use it.

“By the way, can we find some solid stones? As we dig down, we could line the sides with stones.” Unlike their doubt, Zhu Anfu grew more convinced of his method. Yuchi Ankang never stopped Zhu Anfu’s efforts—as long as they weren’t beyond human limits, he would do everything possible to help. “We’ll also need rope; the deeper we go, the more dangerous it gets. Without rope, how do we get back up?”

As the four walked back, they discussed tomorrow’s plans. Wang Fei and Zhao Long grew more exasperated, but Yuchi Ankang was steadfast in his support of Zhu Anfu. They could only try and hope that tomorrow would bring water. They longed for water to bathe and wash clothes; only now did they realize its preciousness. In days past, when water was plentiful, no one paid much attention or cherished it.

“Brother Zhu, I’ve brought a small team escorting some people back. Each has their own skills. Chief Zhou asked you to assign them reasonably. They don’t need good food—Chief Zhou said this is a critical time, and morale is unstable.” The leader of Squad Two hurried over as Zhu Anfu and his companions returned, saluting and explaining his purpose. “Chief Zhou believes they’re safe for now.”

Zhu Anfu glanced at a group of people sitting nearby, then at the squad leader. “Thank you for your hard work. Let Ankang cook some instant noodles for you.” At this moment, instant noodles were a luxury for newcomers, while for Zhu Anfu’s group, they were junk food, rarely eaten. With outsiders present, future meals would need more care. Yuchi Ankang squeezed Zhu Anfu’s hand, reassuring him—he could prepare meals in the space and bring them out when serving.

“Brother Yuchi, is there anything we can help with?” The squad leader turned to Yuchi Ankang. This was a highly capable man, and none of the factory survivors would underestimate anyone rebuilding their homeland.

“No, take your rest—you have to return tomorrow. I’ll prepare some things in the morning for you to take back and share with everyone.” For those who cleared zombies, there was only respect. “Did you encounter any special dangers?”

“Just zombies. Chief Zhou said there may really be another group cleaning up; we’re seeing fewer and fewer zombies.” The squad leader was unconcerned; their unity was unmatched.

“Alright, be careful and rest well.” Yuchi Ankang said no more. When the four returned to their temporary lodging, they exchanged glances but no one spoke first. If there truly was another force, someone who had seen the future, the four would have to make a decision. Whether from understanding or emotion, they hoped for Zhou Zhi’s success, but more issues needed consideration.

Author's note: Updated~