Chapter 224: 224, Meat is our staple food

When the ordinary soldiers arrived at the outpost, they were packed into troop transport trucks, but these Nano Warriors began as lieutenants, so over a dozen jeeps had been deployed here.

Ren Xiaosu counted their numbers—forty-eight. If these Nano Warriors at the outpost were merely to support the search operation next door, how many main forces had that adjacent outpost mustered?

The soldiers inside the outpost stood silently at the side, while Li Qingzheng lingered near the officers, inquiring whether they needed support or a midday meal here.

Yet Lin Qi sneered proudly: "We still have matters at hand. Where would we find time to eat here? On regular missions, we carry individual rations. If the food here is unhygienic and causes stomach upset, you’d bear no responsibility."

"Yes, yes," Li Qingzheng fawned with a grin: "You’re right."

In truth, Lin Qi’s resentment was mostly directed at Ren Xiaosu. After all, he had no grudge against others, and now that their statuses had diverged, his pride was nearly satisfied.

But back when they fled, Ren Xiaosu and his group had lived too comfortably, while they themselves had starved and suffered. Now that he had risen so swiftly, he naturally harbored a comparative mindset.

Of course, Ren Xiaosu understood this.

At that moment, Lin Qi said: "I heard the rice delivered here is mixed with sand. Even in the army, I’ve heard your expanded private forces live in poor conditions. Do you often go hungry?"

"It’s fine, it’s fine," Li Qingzheng laughed: "We can dig up some wild vegetables."

He couldn’t exactly say they had meat to eat, could he? As for going hungry, that was nonexistent. Saying such things would only inflame tensions, wouldn’t it?

Yet Lin Qi pressed on relentlessly: "Living on wild vegetables without proper staple food won’t give you strength. Don’t let it interfere with your patrol duties."

Chen Wudi, beside Ren Xiaosu, asked: "Master, what’s staple food?"

Ren Xiaosu pondered briefly and replied succinctly: "Main food."

Lin Qi overheard their exchange and laughed at Chen Wudi: "Truly a madman. Staple food refers to rice or noodles."

Chen Wudi shook his head: "No, our staple food is meat…"

Lin Qi: "???"

Li Qingzheng and Ren Xiaosu instantly sensed trouble. The fool had blurted out the truth. Yet they noticed Lin Qi didn’t seem to believe Chen Wudi’s words, only sighing: "Already resorting to lies to maintain your pitiful self-respect."

But Lin Qi! Though he didn’t believe it, others grew suspicious: "You lot have meat here?"

Ren Xiaosu’s heart sank. Indeed, there were keen-eyed individuals. Li Qingzheng laughed nervously: "Hahaha, he’s joking. Where would we get meat here?"

Yet the soldier wouldn’t let the matter rest, striding toward the outpost: "Something’s off about this place."

At that, Ren Xiaosu spoke calmly: "You’ve found out."

He walked toward a building in the outpost, then, under everyone’s gaze, flung open the door of a room… revealing the man inside!

This man was clearly a high-ranking official, for how else could he command a contingent of elite warriors rivaling a corporate force?

The old man had even planned to spend the New Year here. In this moment of crisis, who else could they drag out to deflect suspicion but him?

Hu Shuo gazed at Ren Xiaosu with composure, and Ren Xiaosu returned the look with equal calm. Hu Shuo nearly laughed in exasperation. He had specifically retreated to this room to avoid encountering this crowd!

At that, an officer gasped: "You… How are you here?"

Hu Shuo stepped out slowly: "Oh, I’m investigating some matters. The soldiers here have been helpful."

"I’m sorry—I didn’t expect to find you here. I’m a soldier of the Seventh Brigade, now temporarily assigned to the Shenji Battalion," the soldier said humbly, bowing deeply.

For instance, Lin Qi, a conscripted commoner, certainly wouldn’t recognize Hu Shuo, as he had only recently joined the Li Army. But this soldier, originally from the Li Army, recognized him at first glance.

Ren Xiaosu witnessed this scene and nearly drew a cold breath. What was Hu Shuo’s background, anyway? Just moments ago, these Nano Warriors had acted so arrogantly, yet now they suddenly humbled themselves.

If only Chen Wudi’s mind were clearer—he might at least grasp Hu Shuo’s true strength.

Hu Shuo smiled amiably at the officers and soldiers: "Go about your business. Don’t let this delay your duties."

The soldier immediately stood straight: "Yes!"

He beckoned the others to swiftly unload and don their gear.

Ren Xiaosu observed that these Nano Warriors’ equipment wasn’t vastly different from regular soldiers—standard combat uniforms and individual weapons. One carried a portable radio, as the outposts were tens of kilometers apart and required communication.

The only notable difference was that each of these soldiers wore a long saber at their waist, its sheath wrapped in black leather. Ren Xiaosu couldn’t discern the blade’s material.

But whatever was worthy of being carried by Nano Warriors couldn’t be ordinary weapons.

As someone organized their gear, they whispered to the soldier: "Who is that old man?"

The soldier’s face changed: "Don’t ask. We’re heading into the mountains. Leave this place."

His tone carried an unmistakable fear of Hu Shuo.

Ren Xiaosu saw this but pondered long and hard, finding nothing particularly fearsome about Hu Shuo.

All within the outpost watched as the officers fell into sudden silence, then hurriedly set off toward the Kunshan region. After they left, Ren Xiaosu laughed: "I won’t ask you questions for three days."

Upon hearing this, Hu Shuo’s anger, provoked by Ren Xiaosu’s "betrayal," slightly subsided…

Ren Xiaosu continued with a grin: "You see, matters about meat here can’t be spread. Otherwise, you won’t have a good New Year, will you?"

"Don’t push your luck and act smug," Hu Shuo said irritably.

"Still, I’m curious," Ren Xiaosu asked: "I know that Lin Qi—he wasn’t a soldier before. He’s only been in the unit a few days, yet they’ve assigned him to this task. Why the rush?"

Hu Shuo glanced at him: "What do you want to know?"

"Soldiers require long-term training," Ren Xiaosu said earnestly: "Whether in discipline or combat readiness, these aren’t things cultivated overnight. So I’m curious—why is Li Shi so eager to deploy them? They’re not even recruits."