Besides the capsule dorms, the base also had proper rooms. A single-room apartment cost thirty contribution points per month.
One bedroom, one living room, one kitchen, and one bathroom cost fifty contribution points per month.
Two bedrooms, one living room, one kitchen, and one bathroom cost seventy contribution points per month.
Three- and four-bedroom layouts had one kitchen, two living rooms, and two bathrooms. Their rent was much higher. Three-bedroom units were one hundred contribution points per month, and four-bedroom units were one hundred thirty contribution points per month.
Slightly better double-story villas also existed, though they were not standalone. They were built together like a block of apartments, similar to lofts but larger.
The rent there was even higher, starting at two hundred fifty contribution points for the smaller units. Larger ones could reach four or five hundred.
And that was just for one month. Who could afford long-term rent?
Still, someone always lived in these villas, so even in the apocalypse, no one should look down on anyone. Water and electricity billing in villas was separate, just like in the two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartments.
The system worked like old university dorms. When residents moved in, they received a card. Inserting the card activated services and billing, removing it stopped them. Though expensive, the base never overcharged.
But in the base, handling a separate card was cumbersome. The system was connected to the residence permit. The original card slot became curved, and any consumption was paid by inserting the residence permit. Since the residence permit was used many times daily, theft or loss was unlikely, making it safer.
Even before the apocalypse, the rent was considered low. Now, with the contribution points hard to earn, even one hundred points was a high cost.
For them, however, it was cheap. Lan Jin said, "We are this many people. Why not rent a four-bedroom?"
Lao Gao and Huang Jinghe exchanged a glance. "Three rooms are enough. We can share. You guys will be crowded anyway. No point in separate rooms for us two."
"Fine, then three rooms it is."
But the problem now was not just renting rooms.
Lan Jin asked, "Brother Zhang, when will we know if we can stay in the base? If we pay now and cannot stay, it's wasted."
Brother Zhang hesitated. Looking at the cracked mountainside, he said, "Settle in officially first. Stay in the dorms for now. When it's confirmed, rent a room. The dog… I can take it back for you. Later, I'll bring it to you."
As soon as someone mentioned taking it away, Nana refused. From birth, he had never left his owner or the little owner. Leaving was not an option.
He jumped to Lan Jin, stood up, and pressed against her. Knowing he was large, he held back his strength, fearing he might knock Lan Jin over. When he landed, he kept glancing at Brother Zhang and softly barked a few times.
The scene made Brother Zhang, a man who dealt with dog traders before, helpless. "I am not selling you. Come on, follow me."
Nana did not move. After calling him many times with no effect, Brother Zhang said, "Fine. You are renting anyway. Stay here for now. It's just a day or two."
The rent would be counted if they stayed longer. If not, just two or three days. The military base could cover it. With four powerful superhumans, small issues could not make them leave.
Lan Jin agreed immediately. "Fine. You stay here a moment. We will carry the food up from the mountain soon. Let's handle long-term residence first. Whether we stay in H city base or not, at least it's done."
Outside, the weather was cold. Neither Ling Jiang nor Lan Jin wanted the old lady or child to run around. Ling Jiang took responsibility. "I'll take Grandma Ling and Qiao Qiao around the base first. When it's close to mealtime, we'll pick some dishes on the third-floor cafeteria and wait for you."
"Good, that's settled."
Lan Jin led Lao Gao and Huang Jinghe down the mountain. The food was not far, but not too close either. They needed to reach a safe zone in the base to store it, otherwise mutant animals could consume it all.
This trip took at least one or two hours.
When they returned to the base, it was nearly mealtime. As for Nana, Ling Jiang and others could not bring him around, so Lan Jin tied him at the base gate. She said, "Stay here. No mischief. I'll get something and be right back. I won't go far. Qiao Qiao is here too. Be good."
Nana watched Lan Jin leave, then looked at Qiao Qiao, who had not left the base. His heart eased slightly.
Ling Jiang had already started chatting with the elderly and the child. "Grandma Ling, Qiao Qiao, the base is large. Let me show you around first."
Qiao Qiao nodded. "Good, good, Sister Ling. Is here fun?"
"Here… there is a supermarket, a school, and housing…"
Hearing this, Qiao Qiao frowned more and more. When Ling Jiang finished, Qiao Qiao said, "Sister Ling, this not fun."
"Not fun? Haven't you played enough? I can take you to the supermarket, maybe the mall."
For Qiao Qiao, a supermarket or mall was not exciting. But she could not just stay in one place. "Okay. You decide."
She spoke with a child's body but an adult's mind, making Grandma Ling helpless. "Let's see new things at the mall. It's been so long since I last went shopping."