Early the next morning, while everyone was still deep in their dreams, the base's loudspeakers blared with a major decision.
An emergency appointment had been made: Zhang Defan was now the temporary Base Chief of the Lanshan Tower Lake Safe Zone, with a probationary period of six months.
This meant that if he didn't perform well as Base Chief, he could be removed at any moment and replaced by someone more capable.
The loudspeakers played a loop about Zhang Defan's life, his past great achievements, and encouraged the safe zone's residents to enthusiastically sign up to participate in building the base, and so on.
Xie Ning was jolted awake by the noise. She lay on her stomach, not wanting to move.
The block of ice at the foot of her bed had long since melted, and the room was now unbearably stuffy.
Xie Ning was covered in sweat. Squinting, she rummaged through a drawer in her portable villa's bedroom and pulled out a small, embroidered handkerchief.
