“You ask why?! I came even earlier than you, and I haven’t said anything! What are you yelling about!” Sun Wei scolded irritably. “This list is determined by the safe base over there. If you have the ability, go argue with them! What kind of skill is losing your temper at Uncle Zhao?!”

Zhang Qi: “Fine! I’m going today for sure! Even if I can’t enter the base’s gate, I’ll ask how exactly this list is selected!”

Sun Wei had a terrible headache. “Xiao Zhang, what’s wrong with you today? Did you take the wrong medicine?!”

Uncle Zhao appeared calm and spoke up, “It’s fine. Everyone wants to go to the safe base. After not being selected for a long time, it’s normal to have resentment—it’s human nature. However…”

He changed his tone, facing the crowd, and said unhurriedly, “However, this list absolutely has no problems, and no one has tampered with it. Everyone can rest assured. If you don’t trust me…”

“Uncle Zhao, don’t say that. Everyone definitely trusts you!”

“Yes, without Uncle Zhao, who knows what state we’d be in now.”

“Uncle Zhao, don’t worry. Xiao Zhang just hasn’t come around yet. We’ll talk to him in a bit.”

Everyone spoke one after another, trying to ease the atmosphere.

Zhang Qi stood in the crowd, still looking indignant, his face full of hostility.

Old Zhao tried to persuade him, “The base is now overcrowded. Who they select to go over, they certainly have their considerations. I reported Wu Lili’s situation yesterday. Perhaps considering the base has better medical conditions, that’s why they selected her.”

Zhang Qi snorted coldly, stubbornly opposing Old Zhao to the end. “Anyway, I’m going today for sure! If I can’t go, none of you should think about boarding the ship!”

After speaking, he pulled an axe from the cloth bag he carried!

The crowd panicked and scattered with a whoosh!

“Zhang Qi! Are you insane?!!!” Sun Wei roared, unable to believe his buddy would do such a thing!

Uncle Zhao’s face also completely darkened. He looked at Zhang Qi expressionlessly. “Even if I take you over, if the numbers don’t match, the base won’t allow our boat to dock. You still won’t be able to get on the island.”

“That’s your problem! You solve it!” Zhang Qi said, holding the axe. “In any case, I must board the ship today!”

The atmosphere became tense.

Zhang Qi gripped the axe.

Uncle Zhao had a sullen face and said nothing.

Neither would yield.

Just then, Cheng Weicai hesitantly stepped forward and said, “How about… giving my spot to Xiao Zhang?”

Everyone’s expressions relaxed, then they were all astonished. They couldn’t believe someone would be so selfless, willing to give up the chance to go to the base!

“Teacher Cheng, you need to think this through.” Sun Wei couldn’t help but say.

Cheng Weicai smiled warmly. “It’s nothing. Xiao Zhang is worried about relatives and friends at the base and is anxious to go over. Let him go first. I’ll wait here a few more weeks—it’s fine. There will be opportunities in the future anyway.”

Everyone thought silently: Everyone knows there will be opportunities in the future, but when this opportunity is already right in front of you, who would want to miss it?

Cheng Weicai gently patted Zhang Qi’s shoulder, took the axe from his hands, and said amiably, “Go back and pack. The boat leaves at ten. Don’t be late.”

Zhang Qi’s eyes reddened. He lowered his head, let go of the axe, and walked away without a word.

The others came forward to say a few words of thanks to Cheng Weicai, then gradually dispersed.

Bai Youwei watched this scene from a distance, seeming to vaguely understand why Old Zhao had written Cheng Weicai’s name on the list…