Chapter 395: A Call from the President
At dawn, Su Tao struggled to get out of bed.
Her head still ached, her whole body felt sore, and she was running a fever.
From the windowsill, Ling Yu flapped its wings and said, “Rest well, rest well.”
Su Tao rubbed her forehead and asked, “Did Shi Zijin tell you to say that?”
Ling Yu whistled in confirmation.
Waving her hand dismissively, Su Tao forced herself to stand up and started getting dressed and washing up.
There was no way she could stay in bed all day.
Today, she not only had an important meeting in Dongyang to discuss forming a trade caravan with Gu Mingchi to sell goods along the coast for crystal cores, but she also had an appointment with Shen Wencheng to take Old Mei to inspect Bone Wings.
On top of that, there were final details to confirm with Zhuang Wan regarding the “Talent Recruitment Program” planned for November.
There were too many responsibilities—she couldn’t afford to stop.
After freshening up and leaving her bedroom, she caught Black Sesame pulling its dirty paw out of her cup.
Su Tao frowned. “…No Chilli or Flame room privileges for three days.”
Ignoring Black Sesame’s wailing, she left the house.
On the drive to Dongyang, Su Tao noticed the temperature had dropped again, and the streets were eerily empty.
The driver, sighing, explained, “It’s all because of those skinning incidents—people are too scared to go outside. Some even fled to other bases overnight. There are hardly any survivors or beggars left around Dongyang.”
Thinking back to the survivors she passed leaving Taoyang, Su Tao realized that the numbers had significantly decreased.
The driver, clearly candid, continued, “They say it’s a new type of advanced zombie—worse than that winged one. Honestly, Boss Su, if Dongyang didn’t pay me so well, I wouldn’t dare drive you around. Couldn’t you bigshots hold your meetings online instead?”
Gu Mingchi had similar concerns.
When Su Tao arrived, he immediately strode over, fuming, “I just called you—why didn’t you answer?”
He had wanted to tell her not to come in person.
Su Tao checked her communicator and found that only Gu Mingchi’s calls were set to “Do Not Disturb.”
She narrowed her eyes—she already knew which ghost had meddled with her settings.
“…Sorry, I didn’t hear it,” she said.
Seeing her pale face and weak demeanor, Gu Mingchi’s anger quickly faded, though his tone remained gruff: “Take care of yourself.”
Su Tao nodded perfunctorily.
The meeting lasted about an hour, concluding with a decision: the caravan would depart for the coast on the first of next month, with the primary cargo being medicine and food.
A sharp-minded Dongyang accountant calculated that, barring any unforeseen issues, this trip could yield 6,000 crystal cores.
Hearing that number instantly alleviated Su Tao’s fatigue.
However, her good mood didn’t last long. As soon as the meeting ended, the old commander called her to his office and handed her a phone.
“The President wants to speak with you,” he said.
Su Tao froze, her excitement replaced by shock and anxiety.
The President wanted to speak with her?
Just a year ago, she had been a bottom-tier worker in Dongyang, desperately currying favor with the Su family for a little extra food.
She never imagined that one day the President—the most powerful man in the nation—would personally call her.
After calming herself for a couple of seconds, Su Tao took the phone and said, “Hello, Mr. President.”
A deep, elderly voice answered, “Is this Miss Su, the businesswoman?”
Only then did Su Tao recall that the President was indeed over sixty years old. When she was a child, she remembered seeing him on television as a dignified, middle-aged man.
“Yes, that’s me… though I’m hardly a businesswoman. You can just call me Xiao Su,” she replied humbly.
The President chuckled, his tone warm and nostalgic. “The younger generation is truly remarkable. Minister Xu told me you’re only eighteen—you could call me Grandpa without any problem. But let’s get straight to the point. Regarding Taoyang, the Changjing Council has unanimously agreed that, despite its young age, Taoyang meets all the requirements for an official base. I will personally issue a decree to all base leaders, granting Taoyang the status of a Level-3 Base.”
Su Tao sucked in a sharp breath.
If she remembered correctly, Minister Xu had only applied for Taoyang to be recognized as a settlement.
How did they leapfrog so many levels to become a Level-3 Base—equal to Dongyang?
After all, it had taken the old commander twenty years to elevate Dongyang to that status.
Sensing her surprise, the President chuckled. “A bit unexpected? You didn’t think us old folks would break the rules?”
Su Tao, always honest, nodded. “A little unexpected.”
She had worried that Changjing might outright reject Taoyang’s application.
After all, Shi Zijin had warned her of past tensions between the old commander and Changjing.
The President’s tone grew serious. “Rules are meant to regulate ordinary situations. Taoyang is an extraordinary miracle—we can’t let it be shackled by conventional limits.”
Su Tao felt a stirring of emotion at his words.
The President then outlined the extensive support Changjing would provide to Taoyang:
- Military Reinforcements – A regiment of 3,000 elite troops (including 800 ability users) led by Commander Dang Weiran would be stationed in Taoyang, operating under Su Tao’s command.
- Weapon Supplies – A year’s worth of advanced firearms and ammunition for 5,000 people.
- Scientific Support – A team of 200 researchers and a full suite of experimental equipment would be dispatched to Taoyang.
Hearing this, Su Tao’s blood pounded with excitement.
She knew better than anyone how scarce scientific expertise and high-level equipment were. Despite offering high salaries and generous benefits, Zhuang Wan had struggled to recruit qualified researchers, and Ma Dapao’s lab had long been desperate for advanced instruments.
With this massive backing, Taoyang’s immediate obstacles would be solved.
After finishing his explanation, the President chuckled and asked, “Are you satisfied with this arrangement?”
Swallowing hard, Su Tao replied, “…Yes. But what does Changjing expect from Taoyang in return?”
She wasn’t naïve—no one provided such tremendous support without expecting something in return.
But the President sighed softly. “You may think me an idealist, but Changjing asks for nothing. Or rather, we hope Taoyang will thrive, expand its territory, and offer humanity a glimmer of hope.”
“Next year, the world will face an unprecedented food and water crisis. Moreover, zombies are evolving rapidly—you’re mistaken if you think only Bone Wings, Huapi, or your young friend’s sister are mutant zombies. Cases have emerged in coastal areas and even abroad, and their numbers are growing.”
“At this rate, humanity may be half-extinct within three years. Taoyang is our miracle—our last Noah’s Ark.”
“For the sake of our collective survival, Changjing will unconditionally support Taoyang’s growth.”
