Embers Ad Infinitum

It is a certain day in February, 49th year of the New Calendar.

Although the Spring Festival has passed, there is no feeling that winter is about to end in the northern part of the Black Marsh Wilderness. The ground is covered with white snow. At a glance, the whole world is cold and vast.

"This is much more shocking than the snow scene we saw in Weed City." Long Yue said with sincere emotion as he approached the car window with a red face, looking out.

At the same time, on the right side of the driver Shang Jianyao, the small speaker with a blue background and black surface was playing a song:

"The snowflakes are fluttering and the north wind is blowing

"The world is vast..." (Note 1)

"Can't you play some festive music? It's not long after the New Year." Jiang Baimian, who was in the passenger seat, muttered, "The song you sang at the year-end report performance was very good."

Shang Jianyao sighed seriously:

“We are all outside and still immersed in the atmosphere of joy and joy, so it is easy to make mistakes.

"Although this is just an outdoor training session, we must take it seriously and not be too relaxed, otherwise it will not be effective in exercising."

In order to find the last Buddhist holy land, go to the ice field to explore the city where Shang Jianyao's father disappeared, and find the true location of the Eighth Research Institute, Jiang Baimian specially organized such a field training to avoid having a wild heart during the New Year. When the team members officially went out to perform tasks, they were unable to enter the state.

Moreover, she also specially selected the northern part of the Black Marsh Wilderness, where the climate is close to the edge of the ice sheet, so that the team members can adapt to the hardships of ice and snow in advance.

In this way, when the ice sheet encounters extreme weather, the "old adjustment team" will not be at a loss and panic.

Jiang Baimian originally wanted to do this a year ago, but considering that Long Yuehong and Bai Chen had not been married for a long time, it was really inappropriate to forcefully organize outdoor training, so he waited until after the New Year before formally applying to Xi Yu. The minister made a report.

"Hey, what you said is, are you the team leader, or am I the team leader?" Jiang Baimian rolled his eyes at Shang Jianyao.

She immediately told Long Yuehong:

“Wait until you get off the car, don’t look at the snow scene for too long, or put on sunglasses in advance.

"I remember telling you what snow blindness is before."

"Okay." Long Yuehong always listened to people's words. She took out her black sunglasses and put them on the bridge of her nose.

Bai Chen, who still had short hair, looked at the passenger seat:

"Looking for a place to rest?"

Now in this area, not only is there no village in front of it, no store in the back, there are no large rocks or conspicuous trees. It is endless and white as far as the eye can see.

"Yeah, it's almost time, it's time to eat." Jiang Baimian explained, "In such a climate and environment, we must ensure that the body has sufficient energy and has room to deal with accidents and risks."

Beep! Beep! Beep!

Shang Jianyao clapped his hands like a trumpet.

Before Jiang Baimian could respond, the jeep slid sideways for a long time along the road covered with a layer of snow, making a squeaking sound.

Fortunately, there were no other cars, no ravines or obstacles, and the Jeep finally came to a steady stop.

"Be careful." Jiang Baimian did not blame Shang Jianyao for distracting himself from patting the horn, because even if he didn't pat the horn, he still had to skate when he should.

Long Yuehong breathed a sigh of relief and said:

"Didn't we already change the anti-skid tires?"

Since survival in the snow is included in the outdoor training plan, they will definitely not forget to bring anti-skid tires and change them in advance.

"Anti-skid tires are not a panacea." Shang Jianyao laughed, "Just like you are at home, you can't just say what a novice says without any variables."

Long Yuehong was speechless for a moment, it shouldn't be, it shouldn't be, it shouldn't be.

"We all listen to whoever has reason." Bai Chen helped to resolve the situation.

"Yes, yes." Long Yuehong nodded quickly.

And it's usually Xiaobai who has a point... Jiang Baimian chuckled secretly and stopped Shang Jianyao from continuing to instigate other people's relationships.

She pointed to a patch of snow in front of her and said:

"Just stop there, set up a stove, heat up some cans, and have some biscuits."

Shang Jianyao responded by raising his right hand to wipe his mouth.

The Jeep quickly came to a stop, and several members of the "Old Tuning Team" got busy according to their division of labor:

Long Yuehong checked the condition of the solar charging panel on the roof of the car; Shang Jianyao moved out the induction cooker and the cans and biscuits he wanted to eat; Bai Chen used instruments to measure the pollution level around him; Jiang Baimian was responsible for vigilance.

"We haven't collected much solar energy." Long Yuehong was the first to speak out.

He then sighed:

“It’s not enough to recharge the Jeep, so we can only use high-performance batteries for cooking.

"If this continues, our energy will run out sooner or later. We have to plan our return trip in advance to avoid running out of electricity and leaving the car in the snow."

Jiang Baimian smiled and said:

“That’s one of the difficulties of missions to the ice.

“We were lucky to be in summer before, but after going deep into the ice sheet, we may also encounter extreme weather in summer.

"Don't think it's cold now. When it gets colder, it's hard to say whether high-performance batteries can be used."

Long Yuehong nodded slowly:

"That's why we need such a training session to help us adapt to all aspects of the situation."

"How about a snowball fight later?" Shang Jianyao ruined the atmosphere of the discussion with a look of great interest.

Long Yuehong shook her head:

"Do not hit."

This guy has no problem with snowball fights!

Shang Jianyao sighed regretfully:

"Do I have to wait until you and Xiaobai have a child and the child grows up to play with him?"

Can't you let Xiaohong and his family go? Jiang Baimian cursed.

However, compared to the fact that Shang Jianyao was disappointed that she could not have a snowball fight, she was more concerned, concerned and curious about another question:

Xiaobai and Xiaohong have been married for several months, why haven't they made any news yet?

Within "Pangu Biology", once you get married, it means you have to start preparing for pregnancy. This is true for every family, without exception.

Although there are some people who have been married for more than a year before their wives become pregnant, these are a minority after all, and Long Yuehong and Bai Chen had undergone detailed physical examinations when they underwent genetic modification before, and there were no problems in that regard.

Jiang Baimian was concerned, but he also knew that there were some things that he could never ask unless others mentioned them.

No matter how good the relationship is, there must be a sense of boundaries.

She resisted her impulse and urged Shang Jianyao to cook:

"hurry up!"

"Okay!" Shang Jianyao returned his attention to the induction cooker.

Long Yuehong breathed a sigh of relief quietly.

During this period, his mother Gu Hong has mentioned the "many children and grandchildren" thing twice, and the implication is self-evident.

He doesn't want to go out to practice in the wild and have to bear the pressure of birth.

Not long after, the canned braised beef was heated up, and the fragrant smell filled the snow, making Long Yuehong swallow his saliva.

In addition to Jiang Baimian, who was in charge of guarding, the other three members of the "Old Diao Group" each held their lunch boxes, squatted there, and started eating.

After taking a bite of the biscuit covered with juice, Long Yuehong narrowed her eyes with satisfaction:

"I felt tired of it before. I haven't eaten it in the past few months, but I found it is still delicious."

Shang Jianyao sneered:

"If you eat it for another ten days and a half, you will complain that you feel sick when you see canned food."

"Aren't you the same?" Long Yuehong retorted.

Shang Jianyao nodded:

"Yeah yeah."

After one "punch" failed, Long Yuehong could only focus on eating.

After Shang Jianyao finished devouring the food and replaced Jiang Baimian, he and Bai Chen were still enjoying the canned braised beef.

While eating, Jiang Baimian pretended to be casual and asked as if chatting:

"Xiao Bai, according to company regulations, newlyweds are not required to go out to work.

"Why didn't you and Xiaohong go up there to report?"

Others didn't apply, and Minister Xi Yu didn't take the initiative to give orders. She didn't know how to arrange Long Yuehong and Bai Chen, so she could only bring them with them.

Bai Chen pursed his lips and said:

"Newlyweds don't have to go out to work because they want to prepare for pregnancy with peace of mind and have children as soon as possible.

"Xiaohong and I don't want to have a child so early, and we plan to enjoy our world together for a few years first.

"This is a bit contrary to the company's policy of encouraging childbirth, but we have made so many contributions, we should be able to postpone it for two or three years."

world of two people? This is not something you can say, Xiaobai... Jiang Baimian frowned slightly, suspecting that Bai Chen deliberately made such an excuse because he didn't want to leave the team.

And it was copied directly from old world entertainment materials!

Jiang Baimian then looked at Long Yuehong:

"You think so too?"

She remembered that Xiaohong liked children very much and hoped to work in the back office with Xiaobai.

Long Yuehong nodded:

"Yes, what Xiaobai said is what I think."

This is not scientific, but it is very realistic... Jiang Baimian forced a smile and said:

"This is not like you before."

"Of course not." The person who answered her was not Long Yuehong, but Shang Jianyao who was on guard not far away.

Shang Jianyao smiled:

"Because both he and Xiaobai have been implanted by me into thinking that they will not leave the group until they have children for the time being."

"Ah?" Long Yuehong and Bai Chen looked surprised.

Their first reaction was to stop joking, but when they saw Shang Jianyao's expression becoming serious, their minds suddenly buzzed, and they regained their original understanding.

They were indeed implanted with corresponding thoughts by Shang Jianyao!

Jiang Baimian looked at Shang Jianyao and asked in a deep voice:

"Didn't you say that you won't use your abilities on your teammates for serious business?"

Shang Jianyao nodded and said seriously:

"I have something to tell you."

Note 1: Quoted from "One Cut Plum" by Fei Yuqing

PS: I wish everyone a happy New Year and good luck in the Year of the Tiger~