Chapter 733: Chapter 733: Backer

Time flew by, and soon it was the sixth month of the lunar calendar. Ethan Dawson and Instructor Micah Manning were getting married.

A marriage registration office had been established at the base several years prior. Newlyweds not only had to obtain a marriage certificate but also a health certificate from the hospital. The base had also rolled out numerous welfare policies. For all newborns, from the moment a pregnancy was confirmed until the child turned three, the base covered all expenses—maternal nutritional supplements, infant clothing, baby formula, vaccinations, and more. Between the ages of three and thirteen, children’s medical care remained free, and they were entitled to an annual physical. At age six, they began their schooling, which the base also provided free of charge.

The base was clearly going to great lengths to achieve its standards of a healthy and combat-ready populace.

Furthermore, the base conscripted five thousand young men and women between the ages of fifteen and twenty for military training each year. Even residents over fifty were subject to monthly surprise inspections, as long as they were able-bodied. Anyone who failed, was found to be neglecting their exercises, or was caught slacking off would be fined, have their picture taken, and be put on the residents’ blacklist. In more severe cases, they even had to endure a month of grueling "devil’s training."

Just last month, Joelle Finch and Miles Vaughn had been caught by the surprise inspection team. Their movements were deemed substandard and their limbs weak and lacking strength. Their pictures were taken and posted outside the main gate, which everyone had a good laugh about for a long time afterward.

Joelle Finch later complained to Wyatt Vaughn that it was all because Miles Vaughn had completely worn her out the night before, leaving her unable to even lift her arms and legs the next day.

Wyatt Vaughn, being the big mouth he was, "accidentally" told Quincy about it, and Quincy then "accidentally" let it slip. Before a day had passed, everyone knew.

As a result, Miles Vaughn had to sleep in the warehouse for half a month, and Joelle Finch gave him the silent treatment for just as long. As for the big-mouthed culprits, Wyatt Vaughn and Quincy, they earned themselves a beating from Miles.

Although the base placed great importance on learning survival and escape skills and improving the population’s overall physical fitness, the last two years had been relatively calm. The most severe natural disaster had been a hailstorm in November, followed by heavy blizzards after winter set in. But once spring arrived, the snow melted.

Though life seemed to have stabilized, the base’s leadership still considered improving public fitness their top priority. Even the psychiatric patients and those with special conditions, who were quarantined out on the grasslands, were required to perform mandatory exercises.

In the small courtyard, everyone was discussing how to plan Ethan Dawson and Micah Manning’s wedding. While they couldn’t host a grand affair, it shouldn’t be too shabby, either.

Regarding the reception, Officer Graham was finalizing the guest list, Taylor Vance was responsible for writing the invitations, and the others were discussing how many dishes to prepare, how many fireworks to set off, and what to give as gifts.

Evelyn Ford took full charge of the food, promising to provide the very best of everything, from abalone and lobster to fruits and vegetables.

Wyatt Vaughn and Quincy were tasked with making the couple’s wedding outfits and a four-piece bedding set. The base now favored simplicity, with elegant and clean designs being ideal, so a traditional wedding gown was naturally out of the question.

Joelle Finch and Miles Vaughn were helping decorate the newlyweds’ home. Everyone had pitched in to buy the adjacent courtyard house, intending to give it to the couple as a wedding surprise.

The rest were assigned to handle odd jobs. Wendy and Jonas Lucas were surprisingly asked to be the bridesmaid and groomsman. It was Wendy’s first time as a bridesmaid, and she started getting nervous days in advance.

On the wedding day, everyone gathered in the adjacent courtyard. All of Micah Manning’s friends and family were there, numbering more than twenty in total. Ethan Dawson had a good number of his own friends and family present as well—Rhys Chase, Ryan Rowe, Flynn Hansen, and even Leo Denton had come.

Roy Henderson and Owen Chapman had taken leave ahead of time to rush back. They were attending the wedding today as part of the bride’s family for Micah Manning.

The small courtyard was packed with people. The couple performed simple bows to heaven and earth, as well as to their parents and elders. Under the watchful eyes of all present, they were joined as husband and wife, and just like that, the marriage was sealed.

Ethan Dawson was rather emotional and had a bit too much to drink. By the time the toasts were finished, he was an absolute mess.

After dinner, Annie and Zoe went to set off fireworks. Everyone offered their blessings to the newlyweds before heading their separate ways home.

"It’s a little strange, seeing Mr. Dawson suddenly married. He’s always been a man of few words, quiet and keeping to himself, so he doesn’t have much of a presence. But with him suddenly moving out, it’ll really take some getting used to."

"Eventually, when Wendy, Annie, and the others grow up, they’ll get married and move out, too. This courtyard is just going to get emptier and emptier."

"But isn’t that just life? We’re all pursuing our own happiness. We’re not children anymore, why are you all getting so hung up on these things?"

"I just feel like our one big family is becoming many little families. It’s like a dandelion sending its seeds flying to different places."

"But don’t we all still live here? Nothing’s changed. We’re still one family."

"There isn’t much change now, but over time, it will become more apparent."

...

Evelyn Ford was in a reasonably good mood. When she returned to her room, she was still discussing the night’s dishes with Ronan Kendrick.

"Micah Manning’s parents are getting a bit old. I heard her mother tonight, urging her to have children soon. It’s a good thing the base has that policy—once a woman gets pregnant, she not only gets paid leave, various subsidies, and an extra-long holiday, but her job is also permanently secured. That policy is so good for women. Even though Rhys Chase has never been married, he really understands the plight of women. No wonder he was able to become the base commander."

Ronan Kendrick’s brow furrowed. "You have a very high opinion of him."

"Well, he really is exceptional. I mean, look—the base now has its own legal code, even a marriage law. He proposed all of it. I hear all the women on the base adore him. Some have even gone to the administration building to bring him flowers and all kinds of gifts."

"It’s his duty. The amount of power he enjoys should be matched by his accomplishments."

Sensing the jealousy in Ronan Kendrick’s words, Evelyn Ford threw her arms around his and burst into laughter.

"I just paid him a couple of compliments, and the sourness is already thick enough to drown me."

"I am not jealous."

"Right, right, you’re not jealous. Let’s get to sleep, then. We have to go fishing tomorrow."

Ronan Kendrick was speechless. ’So fishing is more important than me. I’m so mad I could die.’

The sixth lunar month was rainy, and mushrooms began to sprout on the grasslands and in the forests. In addition to fishing, Evelyn Ford had found a new pastime: mushroom picking.

Worried she might get lost in the woods, Ronan Kendrick never left her side while she was picking mushrooms. Many others were out foraging as well, mostly children and the elderly, though there were also plenty of unemployed young people. On a few occasions, just as Evelyn Ford found a good patch of mushrooms, someone would try to snatch them away. After all, the base paid a high price for mushrooms, and they could also be traded for staples like rice, flour, and oil.

Whenever someone tried to compete with her for a find, Evelyn Ford would turn to Ronan Kendrick with a pitiful expression, asking for help. No matter how far away he was, he would instantly appear at her side to handle the troublemakers.

Over time, the other mushroom pickers learned that Evelyn Ford was not to be trifled with. After all, she was always accompanied by a fierce-looking man who, it was said, wouldn’t hesitate to beat up anyone who crossed her—be they adult, child, or elder.

Leaning on Ronan Kendrick as her protector, Evelyn Ford thrived in the forests and grasslands for the entire rainy season. Anyone who saw her coming would give her a wide berth.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.