When extreme heat was mentioned, the question Huang Jinghe had wanted to ask earlier finally came up naturally.
Huang Jinghe hurriedly spoke, "Professor Pei…"
Before he could finish, Professor Pei interrupted, "What professor? Call me Grandpa."
Huang Jinghe quickly corrected himself, "Grandpa Pei, when will the extreme heat come? We still want to reach Capital City base before it arrives."
At Huang Jinghe's words, Professor Pei frowned and asked, "Let me ask first, how did you get to H City base? Normally, even if you were going to a base, you should go to J City base."
"We went there. Because we had no car, we used ice skates and a skating cart all the way. We stayed there three days for temporary residence and rest. Then we came to H City base. Of course, we hitchhiked sometimes. Otherwise, we could not have arrived quickly. Since we had no car, our plan could only go one base at a time, resting a few days at each before moving to the next."
Although Professor Pei had been in the lab, he had kept up with all outside news. Hearing ice skates and a skating cart, he immediately reacted, "So this is how you came. Then don't go anywhere. Even if there was a car, I wouldn't suggest it."
He continued, "I came during the insect disaster. During the rainy season, I received an extreme cold forecast, which was supposed to last three years. So I stayed here for research. But just a few months later, I received news that the extreme cold had ended. The most recent warning of extreme heat arrived the day before yesterday. I fear today's earthquake is a pre-warning. The next few days will not be calm. If you plan to go, I really do not recommend it. With or without ice skates, even with a car, you cannot go."
No one could give a precise date, but in any case, reaching R City base in the short term was impossible, not to mention the disasters that would follow.
"You should pick up your people and keep them in the base for now. Once I report to the higher-ups, they will make arrangements for my next steps. Since we are traveling together, just follow me." Although Professor Pei was unsure if his next stop would be Capital City base, it certainly could not be a further base.
Lao Gao, however, thought it might not be so simple. "The car taking you must be arranged by the higher-ups. Would they let strangers like us ride it?"
"If it doesn't work, then figure it out another way. The time is short. Whether by car or skating, you cannot reach the next base, so you will stay here."
"But I have another question. The base just experienced an earthquake. The mountain cracked. Can it still be lived in?" Lan Jin asked, worried that bringing people in would backfire.
"Whether it can or cannot be lived in, you should have people with you. If we have to leave urgently, where would you get them?"
Lan Jin and Ling Jiang discussed briefly and decided to create space for the two first. Yesterday's plan had been different—they were leaving alone, so moving people could wait. But now, following Professor Pei, there might be no chance later to prepare space.
Planning in advance proved useless. In any case, decisions had to match reality.
"Okay," Lan Jin said, standing up. "Ling Jiang, let's go bring them back."
"I'll go with you," Lao Gao added, then turned to Professor Pei and Huang Jinghe. "You two can talk first. We'll be back soon."
Huang Jinghe understood and knew the three would not go far from the base, so he agreed, "Alright, I'll wait in the hall."
"Mm."
The three then went downstairs.
In the hall, Captain Zhang was still directing everyone. Seeing the three come down but not Huang Jinghe, he asked, "Xiao Huang? Still talking with Professor Pei."
"Yes. We plan to bring Grandma Ling and my daughter into the base, so we left first." Since they met Captain Zhang, Lan Jin felt it necessary to ask again about whether the base was still livable. "Captain Zhang, can people still live in the base?"
Captain Zhang smiled. "I sent people to check. Wait for the survey results. Even if people cannot stay, the base will handle follow-ups. You don't need to worry."
"Good."
The three then brought their skating gear down the mountain.
Of course, the skating gear was mostly for disguise. They could not walk all the way; otherwise, it would be dark before returning.
The three quickly descended, found a secluded corner, and entered the space together.
Inside, Lan Qiaoqiao was sitting by the straw hut doorway, reading a book while eating fruit fed by Grandma Ling. Life looked blissful and comfortable, almost provoking the urge to hit someone in annoyance.
Lan Jin quickly said, "Grandma Ling, let her eat herself. She has hands, after all."
Hearing Lan Jin's voice, Lan Qiao Qiao immediately dropped her book and ran into Lan Jin's arms. "Mama, back!"
"Yes, just left this morning and already back. If we weren't back so soon, we might have missed our little lazy cat."
Lan Qiaoqiao laughed cheekily. Seeing Lan Jin's face, she knew Mama was not really angry, so there was nothing to worry about.
Lan Jin, not wanting to make a fuss over small things, kissed her little one and said, "Qiao Qiao, this time I'm bringing you out. You can't stay in the space anymore. You'll live with Mama in the base."
"Base? What?" Lan Qiao Qiao did not understand the word.
Lan Jin explained, "The base is like our neighborhood. A new place to live."
Then Lan Jin realized a problem. "If I bring a child, can I still stay in the dorms?"
"You can stay if it's Qiao Qiao, but definitely not if it's Nana." Lao Gao hugged Nana's head and asked, "Sister Lan, do you plan to bring Nana when you leave?"