Ling Cage: Twelve Talismans? I have everything I need.

Chapter 67 Red Hair
ASH's soft electronic voice echoed at the doorway: "Identity verified: Yang Chen, permissions granted."

"Welcome to you and your students."

The heavy alloy gate slowly opened with a deep hum, revealing a bright and vibrant scene inside the Longgu Village No. 2 Ecological Base.

"Thank you, ASH." Yang Chen replied with a smile, then turned around and clapped his hands at the children behind him who were already bursting with curiosity.

"Alright, little ones, line up and stay close to me. Don't run around or touch anything."

"Yes, Teacher Yang!" the children replied in unison, their voices filled with excitement.

Ulanmaido consciously walked at the front of the group, trying her best to maintain the orderliness of the squad leader.

Stepping into the base, a completely different atmosphere from the outside world hits you.

The warm, humid air was filled with the smells of earth, plants, and a faint disinfectant.

The first thing that catches the eye is the huge central control area. Under the transparent dome, countless automated robotic arms glide silently on tracks, precisely caring for the layers of hydroponic vegetable racks below, which gleam softly with nutrient solution.

Wow! So many dishes!

"Look at that robotic arm! It's watering the plants by itself!"

"Teacher Yang, are those lights the sun?" a little boy asked, pointing to the simulated sunlight system on the ceiling.

Yang Chen patiently answered every question the children had, guiding them to observe the automated sowing and irrigation process.

"These are important food sources for us. Thanks to these automated systems and ASH's management, we are able to eat fresh vegetables."

He pointed to rows of neat shelves in the distance: "That's the mushroom cultivation area. Mushrooms are also an important source of nutrition."

Passing through the hydroponic area, the space becomes more open.

This is the livestock breeding area of ​​the base. The children's eyes widened even more instantly.

"baa"

"moo"

"Hum..."

Flocks of sheep graze and stroll leisurely in fenced enclosures lined with hay.

Several robust yellow cattle were swishing their tails in another compartment; in rows of clean pigsties, plump white pigs were rooting around their troughs.

Further away, there are well-organized chicken, duck, and goose pens, where brightly colored poultry stroll or peck at food, creating a vibrant scene.

The automated feeders, water dispensers, and cleaning systems operate smoothly, while the air circulation system effectively manages the odors.

"This is a cow! The meat I ate yesterday looked like it was one of its kind!"

"The sheep's wool looks so soft!"

"The little pig is so cute!"

"Look over there! There are still many more!"

The children excitedly pointed at various animals, their chatter filling the entire area.

Yang Chen looked at them with a smile and reminded them, "Keep quiet and don't run in to catch them."

"The uncles and aunts here take good care of them every day to ensure that we have meat, eggs and milk to eat."

Although Ulanmaido looked at the animals with the same curiosity as the other children, her attention was soon drawn to the commotion at the other end of the breeding area.

That place appears to be a supply distribution point for the base, connected to the passageway leading to the residential area of ​​Village No. 2.

A line of people is waiting quietly to receive supplies.

Maido's gaze swept across the crowd, and suddenly, her eyes fixed on the woman at the very front of the line who was checking the list with the base staff.

The woman was tall and straight, wearing a black coat, and was carefully checking the clipboard in her hand.

What's most striking is her short, fiery red hair, with a few stray strands falling beside her face.

Under the bright lights of the base, that splash of red appeared exceptionally vivid and dazzling.

Maido's eyes widened suddenly. She subconsciously tugged at the sleeve of one of her friends, her voice filled with disbelief and surprise.

"Look, look! That lady over there...her hair!" "Her hair color...is exactly the same as Sister Hongkou's!"

Her words immediately caught the attention of several children nearby, who all looked in the direction Maido was pointing.

"Really! She has red hair too!"

"She looks just like Sister Hongkou!"

Although the children's chatter was not loud, it still seemed somewhat out of place on the edge of this relatively quiet pastoral area.

The red-haired woman seemed to notice the gazes directed at them; she looked up and gazed in the direction of the children.

It was a face full of heroic spirit, with firm and bright eyes.

Her gaze swept over the children, carrying a hint of gentleness.

Finally, the attention fell on Ulan Maiduo, who was pointing at her. She smiled slightly and nodded in acknowledgment, then lowered her head again to continue focusing intently on checking her list.

Yang Chen was picking a juicy red apple from a branch of a fruit tree and handing it to Qiu Shi, who was standing nearby.

Qiu Shi shook her head slightly, her withered hand gently pushing it away: "I won't eat it."

"Didn't you really like eating fruit when you were little?"

Seeing that Qiu Shi wasn't eating, Yang Chen took a bite himself.

Qiu Shi looked at the children not far away, her slightly wrinkled face filled with emotion.

"Back then, we had nothing, so we definitely wanted to eat everything. Now that we have everything, we don't feel the same way we did back then."

"Hmm? Is this the kind of reflection on life that comes with reaching a certain age?" Yang Chen teased.

Qiu Shi couldn't help but roll her eyes, a gesture that seemed somewhat childish: "I'm almost fifty years old, do you expect me to act like I did when I was a kid?"

She paused, her gaze falling on Yang Chen's still-young face, which seemed far younger than his actual age.

"But you, boss, haven't changed much over the years."

"Um"

He couldn't help but ponder Qiu Shi's words.

He ate the apple in his hand and casually threw the core into the recycling bin next to him.

Perhaps it was because the dog charm kept his body in peak condition that his mind was also affected by his body.

After all, does physical age determine psychological age?

He looked at Qiu Shi and said, "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Tie Xiao and the others seem to be in that area up ahead, right? Let's go take a look."

"Yes, that's true." Qiu Shi nodded.

"Alright, children," Qiu Shi raised her voice slightly to bring the children's attention back.

"Let's continue our tour. Ahead we'll see a poultry hatchery and a dairy processing area. Would you like to see the newly hatched chicks and ducklings?"

"Yes!" The children's attention was instantly drawn to the new goal, and they cheered in unison.

Although the older sister over there had a very unique hair color, just like Hong Kou, she was clearly not as attractive as the lively little animals.

Maido also withdrew her gaze from the red-haired woman; a child's curiosity is always easily drawn to newer things.

She straightened her small frame again and fulfilled her duties as class monitor.

"Everyone line up and follow Teacher Yang and Principal Qiushi!"

The red-haired woman in the distance smiled as she watched the children slowly walk away, then put the data board with the completed list back into place on the device.

"ASH, please confirm."

ASH's blue projection appeared, a smile playing on his lips.

"Okay, Red Heron."

"The existing food reserves at the ecological base are sufficient to meet the requirements."

(End of this chapter)