Confirming their companions were unharmed, Fu Xin Ci brought over several self-heating hot pots and hard-boiled eggs, trading them over.
Fearing her companions' rooms were cold, she also bundled over several bundles of straw.
The companions found the bundles of straw amusing, but when they returned, the three young men and women who had delivered the message showed looks of longing.
Luo Xiao Shuai, the eldest of the three youths, held considerable sway with his younger siblings. Seeing that the Long Teng members weren't using the straw, he mustered the courage to ask the Long Teng captain.
"Brother Long Teng, if you aren't using these straw bundles, could you give them to us?"
The boy's cautious expression immediately reminded the captain of the first time he saw Pang Dun Er. Without a word, he agreed.
The three little ones were surprised at how accommodating the Long Teng captain was.
"Thank you, Brother Long Teng."
"Thank you, Brother Long Teng."
"Thank you, thank you."
With three different voices of gratitude, the captain smiled and gave the little ones several more hard-boiled eggs.
The little ones hadn't expected to receive so much just for helping Sister Fu deliver a message. Each of them, with smiles all over their faces, bid farewell to the captain.
"Brother Long Teng, we're going back." The three youths put the hard-boiled eggs into their pockets, each carrying a bundle of straw, and happily returned.
"Captain, let's go back too. I'm starving," Pang Dun Er was now salivating at the sight of hard-boiled eggs. If he wasn't so dirty, he would have started eating already.
"Let's go, we're going back." The captain picked up a self-heating hot pot and led the way out.
Xu Jia Can also balanced the basin of hard-boiled eggs on his head, his two long legs, which had nowhere to go, running faster than anyone.
Pang Dun Er: "This is incredible! Let's go chase Xu Jia Can."
"Okay." The three girls followed Pang Dun Er, egging him on from behind. The ability users, who were so tired they were practically crawling, looked on with envy, tears almost forming.
Long Cheng Jia: "Unfair! Why is it that we fought for ten continuous hours on our expedition, but theirs wasn't?"
Long Cheng Yi: "The Long Teng members went out full of spirit and returned with smiles on their faces, aside from being a bit dirty."
Long Cheng Bing: "Anyone who didn't know would think they were back from a picnic."
Long Cheng Ding: "If all our abilities reached level four, we would be this relaxed too."
Someone didn't quite believe it. "Impossible, right? The Long Teng members can't all be level four."
Long Cheng Ding: "Not all of them are level four."
"I knew it couldn't be that monstrous."
Long Cheng Ding: "The Long Teng captain's ice ability has reached level five."
"What? Are you kidding me? He really reached level five?"
Long Cheng Ding: "Why would I lie to you? There's no benefit in it."
"He's not lying. We fought alongside the Long Teng members. The Long Teng captain leveled up around dusk. We all saw it then," echoed one of Ding's teammates.
Long Cheng Jia: "My heavens! Doesn't that mean our Long Cheng's combat power ranking has been refreshed? The Long Teng captain will be ranked first."
Long Cheng Yi: "Of course. The Long Teng captain is the first level five ability user in our Long Cheng."
"And he's still the monstrous ice type," Long Cheng Ding added.
Long Cheng Bing: "Why do the Long Teng members level up so quickly? Can we not catch up even if we took a plane?"
Long Cheng Jia: "How could they not level up quickly? With Miss Fu as their logistical minister providing solid backing, the Long Teng members don't have to worry about survival. Focusing solely on cultivation, how could their levels not increase quickly?"
On this point, everyone could only envy; there was no room for jealousy.
Long Cheng Bing suddenly smirked, "I'm really curious now, what are those who left Long Teng feeling right now?"
"Their intestines are green with regret."
"If Long Cheng had a regret pill, I'm sure it would have been snatched up long ago."
The crowd chattered, but to the ears of the companions, it felt like they weren't tired, otherwise, their mouths would have been shut.
But their mouths were their own to use, and they could talk as much as they wanted. Anyway, what they said wasn't wrong. The captain had indeed leveled up, becoming the first level five ability user in Long Cheng Base, and a monstrous ice type at that.
Moreover, Xin Ci was equivalent to their minister of logistics. With Xin Ci around, they had no worries about food and clothing.
They could be envied, they could be intensely jealous. What did it matter? If they weren't convinced, they could come and fight. Who were they afraid of?
The "If you're not convinced, come and fight" series. The Long Teng members never shied away from trouble.
Humming a tune, they returned to their dorms. After cleaning up, they sprawled on the sofa like lords and began to eat.
"These hard-boiled eggs are exceptionally delicious. I could eat them one after another."
After Pang Dun Er finished speaking, he suddenly remembered something. "Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. Can we make dumplings?"
"Whether others can or not, we definitely can."
"We can?" Pang Dun Er was still worried.
The captain stood up and kicked Pang Dun Er's plump backside. "It's already three in the morning. Everyone go to sleep quickly. Tonight, just tell Xin Ci what you want to eat."
"I want chive and egg dumplings," Xiao Ai spoke up first.
"We still prefer beef and onion." Xu Jia Can, his father, and Uncle Sun had the same taste.
Yang Xin Jie and Xu Ru Yi: "We still prefer pickled cabbage filling."
Pang Dun Er glanced at the captain. "We're not picky eaters. Any filling is fine."
Captain: "Who says? I want cabbage and pork."
It was as if no one had preferences. Pang Dun Er snorted. "I want lamb filling, with one meatball."
"Pfft~" Xiao Ai couldn't help it. She was used to speaking her mind, so she didn't hold back as much. "Do you think we should stir-fry some rice cakes too?"
"Stir-fried rice cakes are okay, but can you make rice cakes?" Xu Ru Yi supported Xiao Ai's suggestion.
Xiao Ai also answered without pressure, "I can eat them."
"Pfft~" This time, everyone else laughed.
Even Uncle Xu and Uncle Sun weren't left out. At this critical moment, Uncle Sun and Uncle Xu shouldered everything.
"Ask Xin Ci tonight if she has glutinous rice flour. If we have glutinous rice flour, we can make them."
"Wow, Long live Uncle Sun, Long live Uncle Xu."
The companions gathered around the two middle-aged handsome uncles, almost cheering.
"Hahaha."
"Quick, get pens and paper and write down everything we need for the New Year. Don't wait until tonight to think of it. It will take too much time."
"Right. Pang Dun Er's suggestion is good. Tonight, the people trading with Xin Ci will definitely be many. We can't cause trouble for Xin Ci. With her current small frame, she can't handle it."
"That's true."