Chapter 638: Chapter 638: Colleagues

The next day, a long-unheard broadcast echoed across Eldoria. First, it announced the recruitment of 100,000 soldiers. All young men and women between the ages of thirteen and twenty-six were eligible to sign up. However, there was a condition: those over twenty had to be single. Individuals with families were not permitted to apply.

Applicants had to be able-bodied, with no hereditary diseases, heart conditions, or liver or kidney-related illnesses. Intelligence and vision had to be normal.

All young people who met the conditions would be sent by the base to the Tass Desert, twenty kilometers away, to set up camp and train. During the training period, the base would provide three meals a day, and each person would also receive nutritional supplements, clothing, and daily necessities.

Second, it was announced that all bases would be merged and renamed the Covenant Base.

Third, the base was recruiting 10,000 miners to work in the mining district. The conditions in the mines were harsh, with certain risks to life and health. Miners had to be between the ages of thirty and fifty, with preference given to those who already had children. They would receive medical stipends, nutritional supplements, and allowances for daily necessities. The miners’ children and families could also receive a monthly living stipend.

Fourth, all workers with assigned jobs must report to work diligently. Fighting, instigating trouble, and bullying the weak within the base were strictly forbidden. Anyone found guilty would be immediately dispatched to the ironworks in the mining district.

Liam Sterling was no longer Rhys Chase’s assistant, but he still often went to the command tent to help Rhys with some official business. Evelyn Ford was also getting busier. In addition to her part-time job as the base’s obstetrician, she also had to produce special medicines.

The supply of special medicine she had prepared in her space was running low. Just in case, Evelyn decided to make several hundred more bottles.

There were still over two hundred mu of cotton fields left to be harvested, which should be done within a week. Next week, she could probably start digging up medicinal herbs.

After Ronan Kendrick gave the tree seeds and Four Seasons Green seeds to Rhys Chase, Rhys sent people out the very next day to sow the grass seeds on the plains and by the freshwater lake. As for the tree seeds, he had them all sent to the Tass Desert for agricultural experts to reclaim the desert and cultivate saplings. As long as the desert could be turned into an oasis, the winds in Eldoria would weaken.

During this time, everyone—man, woman, old, or young—had to wear a headscarf and a mask whenever they went out. The wind was too strong, and many people had already developed migraines from the hot gusts. The wind blew yellow sand from the desert all the way to Eldoria, and if you didn’t wear a mask, you couldn’t even dare to open your mouth.

Evelyn Ford found a large box of silk scarves and shawls in the storage area. Before heading out, she wrapped herself up like a rice dumpling, even covering her only exposed feature—her eyes—with a pair of old glasses.

To keep a low profile, Evelyn wore rather shabby clothes. Even the shawl wrapped around her head was a deliberately chosen piece of coarse, blue-black linen.

Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Evelyn nodded in satisfaction.

"Actually, I think a helmet would be better against the wind and sand. Won’t a shawl wrapped around your head be too hot?" Wyatt Vaughn and Joelle Finch had come to find Evelyn, and upon seeing her getup, Wyatt offered her opinion.

"No, it won’t be. The wind in Eldoria is strong, and except for the period between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., the temperature is quite low—probably only fifteen or sixteen degrees Celsius. Besides, everyone else is using headscarves. If I’m the only one wearing a helmet, I’ll stand out too much. People will definitely question where I got it."

"That’s true. I thought you’d finally get a break after we got to Eldoria, but you’re only getting busier."

"Wendy’s even busier than I am. The base even assigned her a tricycle. She’s out from dawn till dusk every day, so tired her hands shake and her legs feel like jelly. I have it relatively easy. The pregnant women are pretty cooperative, too."

Evelyn Ford straightened her clothes, picked up her medical kit, and prepared to leave her space again.

"Did you two come looking for me for afternoon tea? Unfortunately, I have to go on a house call now."

It was their day off, so Wyatt Vaughn and Joelle Finch had made a big batch of milk tea, with a large cup for everyone.

"We’ll save a cup for you, then. We’ll put it in the fridge so you can drink it when you get back. Do you want a little extra sugar?"

Evelyn shook her head. "Not too sweet."

"Evelyn, I remember there were several rolls of polyester fabric in the storage area. Wyatt and I just went looking for them but couldn’t find them. We don’t know where they got stacked. Do you know?"

Joelle Finch and Wyatt Vaughn wanted to make some sun-protective clothing and sleeve covers for everyone, but they had searched all over without finding any suitable fabric, so they had no choice but to come and ask Evelyn.

"They’re in the fabric area, stacked at the very bottom. There are a few rolls of cotton fabric on top of them, which is why you didn’t find them."

Evelyn led them to the storage area, where fabrics, clothes, and shoes were piled up almost to the ceiling. From underneath a pile of cotton fabric, Evelyn dragged out several rolls of polyester.

"Can we use these pieces of cowhide and deerskin?" Wyatt Vaughn asked, picking up a piece of cowhide. Zoe was getting more mischievous as she got older, going through a pair of shoes almost every month. Wyatt planned to make a few sturdy pairs of leather shoes for her.

"Yes, feel free to use them however you like. You don’t need to ask me."

Evelyn picked up her medical kit, glanced at the time, and saw it was time for her rounds.

"I’ve got to go. Don’t forget to save me some milk tea." With that, Evelyn vanished on the spot.

There were now over a hundred more pregnant women in the maternity tent. The other teams didn’t have an obstetrician, so the administrators had consolidated them all in one place, which was not only easier to manage but also more convenient for Evelyn’s rounds.

Several of them were already near their due dates and would likely give birth in the next day or two. Evelyn had asked the team leader to find her two more assistants, as she couldn’t manage on her own. The team leader brought ten girls for Evelyn to choose from, but Evelyn only kept the three youngest.

The three girls were around Wendy’s age. Evelyn asked them to introduce themselves. They were a bit timid and shy. Evelyn gave them an encouraging look, and after half a minute, the tallest girl finally mustered the courage to stand before her and bow.

"Dr. Ford, my name is Yolanda Lawrence. I’m fifteen years old. I was with Team Seven before. Back at the old base, I cleaned the hospital. I’ve seen you before."

Fifteen years old, about 1.5 meters tall by the looks of her, with a sallow face and gaunt frame. She looked like she weighed little more than sixty-five pounds.

"Dr. Ford, my name is Jane Warren. I’m fourteen. I used to be in charge of watering the plants in the greenhouses."

"Dr. Ford, my name is Misty York. I’m fourteen, and I used to handle waste disposal at the base’s garbage station."

After they finished their introductions, they looked at Evelyn with anxious expressions. Evelyn smiled and introduced herself as well.

"From now on, we’ll all be working in this tent. Your living quarters have also been set up here. For a while, you’ll follow me and learn the basics of delivering babies. After that, the three of you will take separate shifts. Each of you will work an eight-hour shift, and you’ll rotate. When I’m not here, if there’s an emergency, come find me by knocking on the back of the truck trailer where I live."

The three girls were a little surprised that they would only have to work eight hours.

However, the team leader had told them when he brought them over that once they were here, they were to follow all of Dr. Ford’s arrangements. So, they all nodded obediently in agreement.

"Dr. Ford, perfect, you’re here." Just then, the team leader walked into the tent with a young woman.

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