Chapter 121 Calm and Tranquil
After finishing up the yard, it was already lunchtime.
During lunch, Lin Fan asked Bai Tang a question:
"Sisters-in-law, how did you know that bugs would crawl out from underground?"
Bai Tang said in a serious tone, spouting nonsense: "Do you know what a cicada is?"
Lin Fan nodded and said, "I know, those things are really high in protein. What's the connection between cicadas and insects?"
Bai Tang continued, "Cicadas emerge from underground."
Then there's the fact that Raymond Lam was bitten by insects on the roadside a while ago.
Therefore, we both concluded that after a period of time, a large number of insects would definitely emerge.
To prevent our house from being crawling with those bugs, we need to seal some of the floor space with cement.
After listening to Bai Tang's bluff, Lin Fan and the others completely believed him.
Lin Fan said, "My sister-in-law is right. Just thinking about that scene makes me lose my appetite."
While eating, Grandpa Gu teased him, saying:
"Xiao Fan, if you don't like what you're eating, give me that chicken leg from your bowl."
Lin Fan instantly protected the chicken leg in his bowl and said:
"It smells delicious, Grandpa. There are some more on the table. Let me get you one."
Everyone burst into laughter at the two of them.
After dinner, everyone found something to do to pass the time.
Bai Tang went into the space and was looking for the most effective insecticide.
The thought of the army of insects made her feel uncomfortable all over.
I prepared insecticides, insecticidal powder, and all sorts of other insect-killing products in advance in the space.
Time passed quickly, and after the sun went down in the evening, Bai Tang put the unused items left in the courtyard into her space.
They can be used again later, since these are consumables, and each use reduces their quantity.
Although Bai Tang has a whole space full of supplies, she still needs to be frugal where possible and spend money where appropriate.
...
A month passed quickly, and every morning the first thing Lin Fan did was to go out and check if there were any insects.
He was almost obsessed. Bai Jiyang said to him, "Are you really looking forward to the bugs coming?"
Lin Fan said, "No, I just wanted to see if there were any bugs. We can't let down the cement floor we prepared."
Bai Tang came out again and said, "Have you ever heard the saying that when a storm is coming, the sea is always unusually calm?"
Don't you guys think you've been living too comfortably these past few days?
Apart from the fact that it was still very hot, nothing else happened.
The quieter the silence, the more terrifying the events that will follow.
Lin Fan and Bai Jiyang said in unison, "Is it that scary?"
Bai Tang deliberately tried to scare them: "Yes, that's right. So, you two should go wash your hands and have breakfast."
The two went back inside to eat breakfast, and Bai Tang also closed the front door and went back inside.
Outside, everything remained calm and peaceful; apart from the extreme heat, nothing else happened.
...
Then one day during the day, someone discovered red ants on the back hill.
The man immediately reported it to the patrol team, who rushed over and discovered it was an ant colony.
The back hill was covered with swarms of ants, a sight that made one's scalp crawl.
Each ant was as big as a human fist, with a red body and white stripes, looking like it was poisonous.
If you get bitten, the consequences are unimaginable.
The patrol team was overwhelmed by the sheer number of ants, so they quickly reported the situation to their superiors.
The higher-ups allocated them several more teams of people and insecticide to kill the ant colonies.
Then, simultaneously, an announcement was made over the base's loudspeakers:
"Urgent notice, urgent notice."
Please be aware that there is a large ant colony found on the back hill of the base, and the patrol team is exterminating it.
For your own safety, please do not go to the back mountain.
Another notice requests that capable teams report to the base's service center.
The ant colony is too large and needs everyone's help.
Teams with the capability are requested to proceed to the base administration center as soon as possible.
Bai Tang and the others were at home, having just finished breakfast, when they heard the announcement over the base's loudspeaker.
Lin Fan asked, slightly excited, "Is it a bug?"
Bai Jiyang said, "What they're shouting over the loudspeaker is an ant colony."
Bai Tang walked over and said, "Pack your things, get ready to go to the service center."
A thousand-mile dike can be breached by an ant hole; an ant colony should not be underestimated.
"Be careful when we get there, everyone, don't get bitten."
Gu Yanxu also said, "Mom and Dad, we put insecticide in the corner of the living room."
If you find bugs in your home, just use insecticide.
They quickly got into the car and left, and people came out from every corner of the base, heading towards the center of the base.
As soon as Bai Tang and his group arrived, they saw some familiar teams.
Chen Weiliang was at the very front, holding a megaphone and shouting:
"The ant colony that has been found in the back mountain is likely poisonous, so please be careful."
Ant colonies can be burned to death, and people can prevent the ant colonies from coming down the mountain and into the base from different places.
Please make sure your safety is guaranteed. Someone will take you to the vicinity of the back mountain in a short while.
Because they are frequently on missions, most of the squad's equipment is kept in the vehicle.
So everyone quickly followed the leader to the vicinity of the back mountain.
Upon seeing the dense swarm of ants, some team members considered retreating.
Several team members said, "Forget it, even if we want to contribute points, we need to be alive to spend them. Our team is leaving first."
This operation was temporary and not mandatory.
So even if someone deserts, the people in the base won't blame them.
They would just quietly remember which squad it was.
Then they were not allowed to accept some official missions, and were only allowed to accept missions from ordinary people.
Two or three teams left temporarily, but Bai Tang and his team stayed, as did Zhao Lei's team, and quite a few other teams remained.
The patrol had already cleared the ant colony for a while before they arrived.
A person came over and explained the situation of the ant colony to them:
"Ant colonies do not attack people unless provoked, but they are poisonous and vulnerable to fire or gunshots."
You can choose how to handle it, but you must not allow them to come down the mountain and enter the base.
Soon someone led them to several important nodes at the foot of the mountain.
Bai Tang and his team were also guarding a spot. Bai Tang asked Lin Fan and the others to take out the lime powder from the trunk.
They were no longer allowed to ask why; they did whatever Bai Tang said.
Bai Tang said, "Sprinkle lime powder in this area, then take out the buckets of water from the car."
These ant colonies are afraid of fire and heat. You guys are in charge of the lime over there, and I'll burn it with alcohol over here in a bit.
Anyway, just be careful and don't get bitten.
Lin Feng and his team were extra careful and made two preparations, resulting in a noticeable decrease in the number of ants on their side.
But others weren't so lucky, and Bai Tang prepared to free up her hands to help.