Fang Zhao ate until he was full. Under the astonished gazes of those around him, he devoured plate after plate.
The people around him, including Kevin Lin, had no appetite. Some people vomited after a mouthful. There was too much food left on the plates, so Fang Zhao helped those around him clear them.
"You... don't have to force yourself," someone beside him advised.
"I'm not forcing myself," Fang Zhao replied.
Fang Zhao knew how much he could eat. He had already asked about his military service and knew that normal military service consumed a lot of energy. He already ate more than others, so this was his first day of eating as a reminder to the people here that he had a bigger appetite. Even if he worked and ate even more in the future, they would not be too surprised.
As for why he could eat so much today...
He had no choice. He was hungry. During the transport ship's journey to planet Baiji, everyone else had been in hibernation mode, but not Fang Zhao. He had lost count of the number of symphonies he had played in his head. Using the brain also consumed a lot of energy.
The newcomers around him shot him looks of admiration. As expected of an idol. He can even eat this kind of half-raw, unwashed worm. He is indeed extraordinary.
The batch of people that had come in last October were also dumbstruck. How could this little celebrity eat so much more than these people who had adapted to the base for half a year?
After Kevin Lin's call with headquarters ended, he pondered for a while in the lounge before returning to the cafeteria. Fang Zhao had already eaten and was sitting there chatting with some of the base's conscripts.
Kevin Lin's face twitched as he scanned the pile of empty plates in front of Fang Zhao.
"Fang Zhao, let's discuss the live broadcast later." Kevin Lin called Fang Zhao to the side. "From today onwards, our live broadcasts on the base will not be censored. There will be less room for manipulation. This is what the higher-ups want. Therefore, we have to be more cautious during the live broadcast. "
Fang Zhao nodded his head in understanding.
"Later, we will go to the main kitchen of the base. There will definitely be more uncomfortable scenes there. Although I think you have adapted well for the time being, you still have to be more careful. Always remember that your words and deeds will be transmitted to more people through the camera. Sometimes, even if you are afraid, you have to pretend to be calm. Don't make a fuss, which will annoy people."
Kevin Lin told Fang Zhao a lot. In the past, when entertainment variety shows were not recorded or broadcast live, minor celebrities did not perform well. Kevin Lin still remembered a male celebrity who was usually too brave. In the end, when he was participating in a program, he was frightened by a snake and screamed. The image that his management company had created for him crumbled. Since then, Kevin Lin rarely saw that minor celebrity on screen.
When Fang Zhao and Kevin Lin were led to the kitchen, a nauseating odor assaulted their senses the moment the door was opened. Kevin Lin nearly fainted.
Before they came, they had already seen the surveillance video of the kitchen and had a general understanding of the situation in the kitchen. If they really went in without knowing anything, not to mention themselves, even the leaders of the base would not be at ease. If they really scared people, how would they ask for funding and support?
Standing here, he could not see the situation in the kitchen. Fang Zhao tried to discern the information in the smell. His mind recalled the surveillance footage he had seen, and he habitually analyzed more information.
"This is your first time here, so you definitely won't be used to it. This is a nose mask. It can filter out some of the smell and make you feel better." The kitchen supervisor handed over a nose mask that had been prepared in advance.
Kevin Lin hurriedly put it on and felt his breathing become smoother. He glanced at Fang Zhao, who still did not seem to have much of a reaction. Was this kid's sense of smell slow?
Actually, Fang Zhao did not feel that a nose mask was necessary for this level of smell, but there was no need to stand out. He took the nose mask from the cafeteria supervisor and put it on.
"Are you ready?" Kevin Lin looked at Fang Zhao. Seeing Fang Zhao nod, he adjusted the camera and turned on the live broadcast mode.
Kevin Lin adjusted his expression in an instant and said to the camera, "Hello everyone, we have already had our meal. Now, we are entering the base's cafeteria. This is also a place that many viewers have been hoping to learn more about. However, as this is our first time here, we are still not used to the smell here, so we are wearing nose masks …"
The internet was too advanced, and the intelligence of netizens was also high. They knew that what was served in the cafeteria did not necessarily represent their daily meals, so they wanted to use the cafeteria's kitchen to further understand the base's meals. This was a mission that all five channels had received.
As they walked in, the cafeteria supervisor explained to them. The base's kitchen was not like that of a typical restaurant. There were many layers of inspections, and every box containing ingredients was made of special materials.
Fang Zhao looked at his surroundings along the way. It was still considered clean. The base had probably specially cleaned it for this live broadcast. Even if they wanted to complain about being poor, they could not make the audience feel too disgusted. The traces of cleaning were not obvious. The base's leadership was still very meticulous.
Although it was already past mealtime, there were still some people busy in the kitchen. This was not an act. This was the norm.
"Those who go out come back later. Our base still provides supper at night. To ensure that the soldiers who come back late from their missions have something to eat, the people who work in the afternoon in the kitchen still have to work for a period of time at night."
The cafeteria supervisor explained and also conveyed a message: We are working hard, working overtime every day!
At the side were some transparent vats that were close to two stories tall. Some were already empty, while others were full.
"Those inside have already become tonight's dinner," the supervisor explained as he pointed to the empty vats.
In the middle of the large vat, there were still some bugs left. Inside, several bugs as thick as an adult's arm were biting each other.
"These bugs are very aggressive and will even eat their own kind. Normally, we do not keep them for too long. These will be taken care of tonight, "the supervisor said.
The camera moved closer to the vats. Separated by a layer of transparent wall, it could clearly record the bugs that were biting each other. Just as the camera was filming, a bug that was biting its own kind probably saw the camera approaching. It suddenly opened its mouth and bit over, making a "bang" sound as it hit the wall of the vat. Many sharp teeth could be seen shaking on its enlarged and ferocious face.
The camera would not be frightened by this sudden action, but the online audience was different.
"F * ck! I was so scared that I dropped my cigarette! "
"It's the middle of the night in our continent's time zone! I was so scared that I screamed just now and woke up my roommates. "
"This … this is what they were eating at the dining table just now?"
"Hiss — looking at it at such a close distance, it feels creepy. I have goosebumps all over."
The camera moved back and no longer approached the vats. The bugs immediately lost interest and continued to fight each other.
The camera also captured the full vat at the side. It was said to be another type of organism that had been shipped over in the afternoon. It was also an invertebrate that was abundant on this planet and did not pose much of a threat. It lived in seawater and liked to cling to reefs. It was brought back by the marine survey team that had gone to the ocean during the day.
The palm-sized disc-shaped organism was brightly colored. When it stuck to the side of the vat, it looked like a cluster of large round eyes from afar, densely packed together.
The food in the other jars that were filled with ingredients were not as beautiful. Some of the audience could not stand it anymore.
"Ah — I have trypophobia! Change the channel! Quick, change the channel! "
"What's in that box at the back? It's so disgusting. I'm not watching anymore!"
"I can't stand the thought of not cleaning up these things and cutting them into pieces and serving them out for people to eat."
"Nonsense! There are many minors in the online audience. This will seriously affect the mental health of minors! "
"Channel S5, aren't you afraid of losing fans by broadcasting like this?! You should at least put a mosaic on it! "
However, there were some viewers who expressed that they could accept it.
"Heh, one look at those people and you can tell that they are little kids who have never done military service. Or perhaps they were lucky enough to be assigned to a rich planet. Honestly, for those of us who were assigned to poor planets, which one of us didn't experience this?"
"I heard that early military service was like this. It's not as comfortable as some people say."
"That's right! Those who haven't eaten alien bugs aren't considered military service! "
No matter how the online audience argued, things continued according to plan.
In the kitchen, there were chefs processing ingredients. Most of them were conscripts.
A tall and sturdy young fellow took off his mask at the behest of a supervisor. He explained to Fang Zhao how to process the various ingredients and how to deal with bugs outside the base. He didn't beat around the bush and was concise and clear. He didn't drag things out. If he dragged things out, how would he get another chance to show his face in front of the camera?
"Our leader said that the hunters and food transporters might not be careful enough, and they don't have the energy to filter the food. Our kitchen has to put in more effort. When we process the food, we'll separate the small ones to one side. When the time comes, we'll let the transporters bring them out and release them. Didn't the higher-ups say that we have to adopt a sustainable strategy for alien planet development? This is something we have to test every month. "
This young fellow was a little tanned. It wasn't clear if he was born this way or tanned. He had a simple and honest look and gave off a very sincere vibe when he spoke. He even pointed out the ecological balance line displayed on a screen in the kitchen.
"Look, the planet's ecological system is still very stable and developing healthily. Not long ago, our base received a complaint that we had seriously damaged the ecological balance and falsified our data. The supervisory department even came here to investigate. From the hunting team to the transportation team to our kitchen, they thoroughly investigated everything. They didn't find anything. Our data is also reliable. That day, to cooperate with the inspection, we didn't eat and almost fainted from hunger. "
The young fellow clasped his hands together and smiled bitterly at the camera. "If there's no evidence, I'll cry for all of you! This isn't a joke, it's related to our military evaluation! "
Military service required a record of results. The final military evaluation that would be recorded in the individual's file would accompany them for life. This was the overall evaluation score for that entire year.
The ecological monitoring map and sustainable strategy that this person had mentioned just now wasn't something that was mentioned on a whim.
After the founding of the era, when humans successfully found the first habitable planet and proposed an immigration plan, ecologists came up with a word — domestication.
The measures they adopted for the newly discovered planet's organisms weren't to exterminate them or destroy the planet's original ecological chain, but to "domesticate" them.
It wasn't to forcefully change the planet's original ecological chain, but to domesticate the ecological chain and gradually infiltrate it. This originally human-free ecological chain would slowly adapt to the existence of humans.
The establishment of extraterrestrial bases in recent years had also met with many objections. The military was using this live broadcast to express to the public: We aren't violently interfering, but have a plan to develop gently.
"Our leader said that the land that has been demarcated has already been improved and can be planted. Among the people who came with you are people from the Academy of Sciences. They are in charge of introducing new species and monitoring the ecological balance. Our leader said that the introduction process is very important. It isn't as simple as randomly grabbing a handful of seeds and scattering them and having a bountiful harvest and filling one's stomach. If the ecological chain collapses and the ecosystem changes, more time will be needed to manage it. A place with an unhealthy ecosystem is not suitable for immigration. "
He mentioned "our leader said" a few times. There were too many leaders' names, and it wouldn't be good to leave anyone out. If he got nervous in front of the camera and missed an important person, it would be troublesome. So he simply didn't mention any names.
Don't be fooled by this person's simple and honest looks. Otherwise, he wouldn't have gotten the chance to show his face on the live broadcast.
People with a keen sense for politics had already deduced many things from what he had just said. In the political game behind the scenes, the stabilizers had won.
For someone who had once been a leader, Fang Zhao could naturally hear the hidden meaning behind those words. However, he was now just a small celebrity, so he pretended he didn't know some things.
Having said all the instructions from above and done with the bootlicking, the young fellow skillfully grabbed a dead bug from a box beside him. He skillfully decapitated it, removed its poisonous glands, and cut the bug into several pieces before placing them on a conveyor belt. These pieces would be sent to the furnace in front for sterilization.
Fang Zhao and the others also went to other parts of the kitchen to film the sterilization equipment. This was also something Kevin Lin had highlighted. The basic machinery in the kitchen could be a little crude, but the sterilization equipment couldn't be sloppy.
By the time the kitchen equipment and ingredients had been filmed, the kitchen staff had already gathered for dinner. Their dinner time was slightly later than others, and they still had to continue working overtime after dinner.
The black fellow who had just explained to Fang Zhao and the others brought over a plate of freshly roasted bugs and handed it to Fang Zhao and the others. "More? It's still warm from the oven. "
Kevin Lin looked at the bug meat on the plate that probably wasn't even medium rare and started to feel nauseous again.
"No thanks, I ate a lot in the canteen just now," Fang Zhao replied.
The other party laughed and kept the plate. Thinking that Fang Zhao wasn't used to this, he consoled him. "These bugs with many joints and many legs live underground. They are often seen at construction sites. At first, we were also very afraid of them, but as we ate more and more of them, we weren't afraid anymore. When I first came, a senior told me that these things look scary, but after eating a lot of them, you won't be so afraid anymore. You guys can give it a try. After all, you guys still have to live here for a year. "
Still have to live here for a year …
A whole year …
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
