Chapter 35 Internal Construction
The dust from the directional blast settled completely, turning the path to Cuiping Mountain into sheer cliffs and boulders, truly isolating the fortress into a desolate island in a precarious apocalypse.
The initial tension and vigilance, though not completely dissipated with the hasty retreat of "Rock Camp" and the complete closure of the passage, gradually settled into a deeper and more enduring will to survive. Since the road ahead was blocked and the outside world was fraught with danger, then this isolated island would be built into a true ark that could last a long time, even forever.
The goal has quietly shifted from "survival" and "defense" to the more profound goals of "self-sufficiency" and "continuation".
The simulated morning sunlight streamed through the glass roof of the sunroom, casting a warm, golden glow. Su Ran squatted before the tomato trellis, carefully picking the fully ripe, jewel-red fruits, her face radiating pure joy. Nearby, the lettuce grew lush and green, the strawberries blossomed a second time, and mint and basil released their invigorating aromas. This small, green corner was not only a source of food but also a symbol of life and hope within the fortress.
Wen Yu walked in, holding a tablet computer. On it were his preliminary ideas and data on expanding the food production system inside the fortress, which he had compiled overnight. He watched Su Ran carefully placing tomatoes into the basket, her focused expression and slightly upturned lips softening his gaze.
"Brother Yu, look, these tomatoes are growing exceptionally well!" Su Ran turned around when she heard footsteps, proudly holding up a particularly plump fruit, her eyes sparkling. "We'll use the freshest ones to make tomato and egg noodles for lunch!"
"Hmm." Wen Yu walked to his side, naturally took the basket and carried it, then put her other arm around Su Ran's waist and gently lifted him up. "Don't rush to eat. There's something I want to discuss with you."
The two sat down at a small table in the corner of the sunroom. Wen Yu pushed a tablet computer in front of Su Ran, displaying a map of the unused spaces inside the fortress, as well as diagrams and parameter comparisons of several efficient hydroponic cultivation systems.
"We have sufficient reserves, but fresh fruits and vegetables cannot be stored for long periods. The number of solar farms is limited, and they are constrained by natural light (simulation) and space." Wen Yu pointed to the blueprints. "I think we can utilize some idle warehouses and passageways to transform them into multi-level hydroponic farms. Lighting can be simulated using full-spectrum LED plant lights, and the nutrient solution circulation system can be connected to the main water source purification circuit. In this way, we can reliably obtain large quantities of leafy green vegetables and fast-growing fruits, and we can even consider planting some small fruit trees."
Su Ran's eyes brightened as he listened. He quickly scanned the information on the screen, his fingers swiping across it, sometimes nodding, sometimes frowning in thought. "This deep-flow system seems best suited for leafy vegetables; lettuce, spinach, and bok choy can all grow very quickly. Aeroponics might be even better for fruit and vegetable cultivation that requires a strong root system, such as strawberries and cherry tomatoes... but wouldn't it consume more electricity? And the nutrient solution preparation and circulation filtration need precise control."
"Electricity isn't a problem; our solar and energy storage systems have sufficient redundancy. We have spare parts for control and filtration equipment in our warehouse; I can assemble and debug them." Wen Yu watched Su Ran quickly get into the swing of things and ask professional questions, and inwardly praised her. "The key is that we need someone to lead the daily management and planting plans. Are you interested?"
"Of course!" Su Ran nodded without hesitation, a blush of excitement spreading across his face. "I've always felt that the sunroom isn't big enough! If we can expand it, we won't lack fresh vegetables anymore, and maybe we can even grow some fruit! And..." He paused, a brighter light flashing in his eyes, "Brother Yu, do you think... we could try raising some small animals?"
"Small animals?" Wen Yu raised an eyebrow. This suggestion was somewhat unexpected.
"Yes!" Su Ran nodded vigorously, counting on his fingers, "For example, chickens. If we could have a few hens, we'd have a stable supply of eggs. Eggs are nutritious and easy to preserve. Chicken droppings, after fermentation, make excellent fertilizer that can be used for planting. Also, chickens can eat kitchen scraps and leftover old leaves and spoiled fruit from our vegetables, creating a small cycle." He glanced at Wen Yu somewhat sheepishly, "I used to help raise chickens at my grandmother's house in the countryside, so I know a little bit. It's just…we might need a special place, and feed…"
Wen Yu listened silently, his mind rapidly assessing the feasibility, risks, and benefits of the proposal. Livestock farming could indeed provide high-quality animal protein; the value of eggs was undeniable. Manure composting could also reduce reliance on external fertilizers and promote internal nutrient cycling. However, problems were also apparent: space, odor, disease risk, feed source, noise…
"The chicken coop needs to be strictly isolated to prevent the spread of odors and possible pathogens. It needs a constant temperature, ventilation, and lighting control system. Feed…" Wen Yu pondered, "In the early stages, we can use stored grains, but in the long term, we must be able to produce our own or find alternatives. For example, we can expand insect farming or grow some high-protein crops such as ryegrass and alfalfa."
"I can try scaling up insect farming! We can use kitchen scraps and plant byproducts!" Su Ran immediately chimed in, his eyes brimming with eagerness. "We might have rye grass and alfalfa seeds in the warehouse; they grow quickly and can be used as a green fodder supplement. Chickens don't need a lot of space, so we can design a compact, multi-layered cage system, complete with automatic feeding, watering, and manure removal equipment…" As he spoke, his voice trailed off, and he looked at Wen Yu with some trepidation, "Isn't it… too much trouble? Aren't there any risks?"
Looking into Su Ran's eyes, which held a mixture of anticipation and unease, Wen Yu's scales, weighing the pros and cons, tipped slightly. Trouble? Certainly. Risks? Required strict control. But, if successful, it would bring not only food, but also a positive ecological cycle, and… the yearning and passion in Su Ran's eyes for "creating" and "managing" a more complete little world.
"It can be done." Wen Yu finally nodded, his tone steady. "But it must be done according to the highest biosafety standards. Site selection, design, and epidemic prevention procedures must all be strictly planned. You are responsible for proposing specific requirements and daily management plans, and I will be responsible for providing technical, material, and construction support."
"That's great!" Su Ran's face instantly lit up with a bright smile, her eyes curving into crescents. She couldn't help but rush over and hug Wen Yu's neck, quickly giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Brother Yu is the best!"
Wen Yu was taken aback by his sudden intimacy, then a hint of indulgent smile flashed in her eyes, and she tightened her arms, hugging him back. "Let's make it clear first, if there are any problems, or if it's too tiring, we can stop at any time."
"No way! I can do it!" Su Ran said confidently, pulling away from his embrace and eagerly picking up her tablet and pen and paper to start sketching. "I'll first think about where the chicken coop would be best, what equipment I'll need, and how to mix the feed..."
In the days that followed, a quiet yet bustling "mass production movement" seemed to have begun inside the fortress. Su Ran was in charge, while Wen Yu became his most solid and reliable supporter and "technical director."
The plan to expand the planting area was launched first. Wen Yu selected two suitable, relatively dry and well-ventilated idle medium-sized warehouses. He led Su Ran to thoroughly clean and disinfect the warehouses, and then personally designed, cut, and welded to build a sturdy steel multi-layer planting rack. Each layer was equipped with interfaces for installing LED plant lights, nutrient solution circulation pipes, and drip irrigation heads.
Su Ran, like a busy and happy little bee, meticulously searched the warehouse for various parts according to the equipment list provided by Wen Yu: LED light strips of different wavelengths, timer controllers, miniature water pumps, nutrient solution mixing tanks, pH and EC value detectors, PVC pipes and fittings of various specifications... He learned extremely quickly and soon was able to independently complete the laying of most pipelines and the initial installation and debugging of equipment. His slender fingers handled screwdrivers and wrenches with remarkable steadiness and dexterity.
The preparation of the nutrient solution is crucial. Wen Yu brought out several large bags of water-soluble fertilizers and trace element additives with different formulas from deep within the warehouse. Su Ran carefully calculated, weighed, dissolved, and mixed the ingredients according to the information, then poured them into the mixing tank and connected it to the automatic replenishment system. He even designed a simple record sheet to track the nutrient solution consumption and plant status of different crops at different growth stages in order to optimize the formula.
When the first batch of lettuce, bok choy, and cabbage seeds were carefully sown by Su Ran in seedling trays lined with coconut coir substrate and planting cotton, and placed in the newly built "plant factory" germination chamber, his eyes were filled with tender anticipation as he looked at the neatly arranged little squares that were nurturing new life.
"Once they grow up, we'll have an endless supply of leafy greens to eat," Su Ran whispered to Wen Yu beside her.
"Mmm." Wen Yu stood beside him, looking at Su Ran's gentle and focused profile under the light, and the neat seedling trays, feeling a sense of peace. This feeling of creating with one's own hands and waiting for the harvest was completely different from fighting and defending, but equally fulfilling.
Meanwhile, the small-scale breeding plan was also proceeding cautiously. After repeated surveys and evaluations, they chose to build the chicken coop in a peripheral equipment room, furthest from the living area, with the best ventilation, and convenient for isolation and waste disposal. Wen Yu once again demonstrated his strong hands-on skills, using stockpiled light steel framing, composite panels, and metal mesh to build a two-story enclosed chicken coop with independent laying nests, perches, automatic feed troughs and water lines, a manure collection conveyor belt, and ultraviolet disinfection lamps. To reduce odor and ammonia, he also specially designed a small negative pressure ventilation and activated carbon filtration system.
Su Ran was in charge of the internal "soft furnishings" and future management planning. He laid clean wood shavings on the chicken coop floor, adjusted the temperature control and lighting equipment, and carefully checked every gap that could trap chickens or allow them to escape. Based on his memory and research, he compiled a detailed feeding and management checklist: daily checks, feeding and watering, egg collection, observing the flock's condition, regular disinfection, manure cleaning and fermentation processes, and contingency plans for common diseases that might occur.
The source of the chicks was a problem. But Wen Yu's reserves were once again astonishing—in a temperature-controlled storage cabinet, he actually found a small batch of fertilized eggs that he had purchased before the apocalypse for special experiments, as well as a small, fully automatic incubator! Although the quantity was small, only twenty eggs, and they had been stored for quite some time, upon inspection, some of them seemed to still be alive.
"Give it a try." Wen Qi handed the incubator and eggs to Su Ran. "Let's see how many hatch."
Su Ran was overjoyed. He placed the incubator in a small, temperature-controlled room next to the chicken coop, strictly adhering to the requirements for temperature, humidity, and egg-turning frequency. He checked on it several times a day, shining a flashlight through the observation window onto the quiet eggs, as if he could hear their faint heartbeats. That cautious, expectant demeanor made Wen Yu feel that even if the last one failed to hatch, the process itself would be worthwhile.
Perhaps it was luck, or perhaps it was Su Ran's meticulous care, but twenty days later, the first batch of six fluffy, pale yellow chicks successfully broke through their shells and entered this strange world amidst the apocalypse. Listening to the faint yet vibrant chirping from the incubator, and seeing the almost overflowing smile on Su Ran's face—a smile brimming with excitement, joy, and tenderness—Wen Yu felt that all the trouble and risks had been worthwhile.
The chicks spent their initial vulnerable period in the incubator before being moved into the brand-new chicken coop under Su Ran's careful care. To ensure a sufficient supply of feed, Su Ran expanded the production of "insect protein," using more kitchen scraps and plant residues to feed mealworms and yellow mealworms. At the same time, he also sowed rye grass and alfalfa seeds wherever possible in the corners of the sunroom and the new plant factory.
Inside the fortress, a miniature ecological cycle has quietly taken shape: the plant factory consumes electricity, nutrient solution, and carbon dioxide to produce vegetables and oxygen; kitchen waste and some plant by-products are used to raise insects and compost; insects and some grains serve as chicken feed; chickens provide eggs and droppings; and the fermented droppings become fertilizer for the plants...
This cycle is still small and fragile, far from being truly self-sufficient. But it represents a direction, a positive effort to seek long-term survival in absolute isolation. More importantly, in this process, Wen Yu and Su Ran's relationship grows ever closer through shared labor, planning, and anticipation. They are not only partners and comrades-in-arms, but also collaborators in building their home and planning for the future.
As night fell, the two finished their day's work and sat side by side in the rest area of their expanded "new sunroom." The lighting was soft, and before them lay layers of thriving green seedlings, the air filled with the fresh scent of plants. The faint, peaceful clucking of chicks drifted from next door.
Su Ran leaned on Wen Yu's shoulder, holding a notebook in his hand, recording today's observation data and new ideas, discussing them quietly with Wen Yu. Wen Yu put his arm around Su Ran's shoulder, listening to his gentle voice, his gaze sweeping over the vibrant greenery and the serene profile of the person beside him.
The outside world remains cold and dangerous, and the road ahead is blocked. But in this isolated fortress they built with their own hands and are still perfecting, life is taking root, sprouting, branching out, and nurturing new hope and possibilities in a slow but steady way.