Kingdom of Corrosion

At five in the afternoon, the sun was nearing the horizon, and the logging team returned to base with the sixth cartload of logs and all members. Without rest, Maya arranged for people to transport logs, split wood, and haul. Meanwhile, Su Shi produced a large number of wooden planks and iron nails, which Stone and Lin Wu used in conjunction with carpets to completely seal off the eight open stores. The back doors were stacked with firewood, which would naturally form barriers after it snowed.

Stone radioed through the earpiece, "Everyone come out, gather at the small plaza."

Everyone headed to the small plaza without needing Stone to say anything. They watched the western sunset about to disappear, either stretching hands to catch the last warmth or closing eyes to feel the lingering heat.

After watching the sun disappear and facing the piercing cold winds, Maya called everyone to change into winter clothes first, then finish the unfinished tasks. Lin Meng was curious inside, why everyone could resist discussing each other’s clothes? They were all new and quite stylish.

Lin Wu was dressed in a white snow combat suit which made him, who was originally a bit skinny, now look plump.

Stone’s winter outfit was a set of thermal underwear and an extended suit cloak. The cloak was hard and heavy, the kind that normal winds could hardly stir.

Lin Meng interrupted her observations and continued carrying firewood upstairs. She really liked the community atmosphere in Shadow. Since high school, she noticed that every community split into many small groups: the bad student gang, the star circle, the academic elite group, the makeup team. Each small group could further divide into even smaller ones.

After entering society, this situation worsened. Some colleagues were indifferent, hardly talking unless necessary. Others were enthusiastic but deep schemers. Initially, Lin Meng tried to discern the true from the false through scrutiny. After several setbacks, she found being a simple homebody wasn’t bad. She then began to be reticent, declining social gatherings, including company team-building and activities, and only connecting with colleagues during work, maintaining very polite and courteous manners, keeping people at arm’s length. She only mingled with her close college friends and the younger sister of her childhood neighbors.

Maya said she had a strong will to survive alone in the wilderness, but that was only partly true. Lin Meng’s dislike for the complexities of groups was one of the reasons.

Shadow didn’t have the issues Lin Meng worried about. People didn’t beat around the bush or talk behind others’ backs. Besides work, there were no demands on anyone; you could do whatever you wanted. There was no worry about being judged by others, about others not liking you, or about being scolded.

Then she got a thump on the head and, turning around, saw Lin Wu, who asked, "What are you grinning at the empty space for?"