Chapter 644: Chapter 644: New Year’s Eve Dinner

Since currency couldn’t circulate here, and creating a new form of money was out of the question for a mere base, vouchers were the perfect solution. They functioned just like currency, allowing people to buy and sell goods.

Evelyn Ford had already heard about this from Rhys Chase. The base’s voucher department was already producing various types, and they would be distributed to all the workers by the end of January.

Once things stabilized, everyone wanted to earn money and live a better life. In Eldoria, vouchers were money. Paying wages would boost productivity, and with that, the base could only get better.

"I wonder if the base will sell toilet paper and sanitary napkins. That’s so important."

Evelyn Ford’s eyes flickered. "They should sell toilet paper and sanitary napkins. After all, back when we were in Frelia, the base had a factory that made them."

The three of them breathed a sigh of relief. Women inevitably had to face these problems. When they were fleeing in the heat, they had no choice but to make their own cloth pads. They all understood the misery of that experience.

After the three women left, Clay Gable arrived with Dotty. It had been a while since Evelyn had seen the girl. Her face was clean, and she seemed much more vibrant. Clay Gable leaned on a homemade crutch fashioned from a tree branch. Although he was missing a leg, the light had returned to his eyes.

"Dr. Ford, Happy New Year. Two days ago, I saw a child in the logistics department who said he knew Dotty. He also mentioned you were looking for her. I’ve been busy the last couple of days and didn’t want to disturb you. But the logistics department is closed today, so I brought Dotty over to wish you a Happy New Year in advance."

Evelyn Ford was pleasantly surprised to see the father and daughter. Dotty seemed a little shy when she saw Evelyn, but she still gathered her courage and called out, "Dr. Ford."

"Has Dotty found a job yet?"

Dotty shook her head, a flicker of anxiety in her eyes. Evelyn invited them into the carriage and brought out two chairs for the pair.

"What kind of work are you looking for? I can keep an eye out for you."

"Dr. Ford, we can’t do that. We’re in Eldoria now; we have to stand on our own two feet. We can’t keep troubling you. Even though I’m missing a leg, it doesn’t affect my ability to get by. It’s fine if Dotty doesn’t have a job. I can support her. She’s still young. I want her to go to the base library to read and learn. She can look for a job in a couple of years."

"Mr. Gable, with only you working, I’m afraid the subsidized goods and various vouchers won’t be enough for the two of you to live on."

Clay Gable sighed. "Times are hard, but as long as we’re alive, things will eventually get better. One can’t be afraid of hardship. But at Dotty’s age, she should be learning to read. The world is a difficult place, and it’s always harder for those who are illiterate. Being able to read might give her a way out."

Evelyn nodded. She understood Clay Gable’s reasoning, but Dotty clearly felt differently.

"Dad, I want to work. I want to support myself with my own two hands. I’ll still go read when I’m not busy. I won’t grow up illiterate."

"But you’re only twelve."

"Tim Channing is younger than me, and he’s already working in the logistics department! I’m not any weaker than he is. I can support myself, and one day, I’ll be able to support you, too."

Clay Gable turned his head away from Dotty, his eyes welling up with tears of guilt and self-reproach.

Evelyn cleared her throat. "Dotty has a point. The base is encouraging everyone to work—men, women, young, and old alike have to find a job to support themselves. It’s not exploitation. Besides, children under thirteen only have to work six hours a day. Those aged thirteen to eighteen work eight hours, and adults can work ten to thirteen hours. The more you work, the more you earn, and everyone gets subsidy vouchers."

Clay Gable sighed. "There are just so many people at the base. My main concern is that she’ll get bullied."

Clay Gable doted on Dotty. Back at the Second Base, he would go to work and leave her by herself in the shelter, which is why they were separated after the earthquake.

Fortunately, his doting hadn’t made Dotty lazy or arrogant. On the contrary, she had a rather reserved and shy personality and was very polite. Otherwise, Evelyn wouldn’t have wanted to help her.

"The base has soldiers on patrol. Dotty, if you’re ever in danger, tell a soldier right away, you hear me? Don’t just suffer in silence because you’re scared." Evelyn took a whistle from her pocket and gave it to Dotty.

"If anyone bullies you, blow this whistle."

Dotty took the whistle, her expression growing determined. "I will. Thank you, Dr. Ford."

Evelyn smiled. "So, you can tell me now. What kind of work do you want to do?"

"I’ll do anything. You need a job to be assigned a house and get food vouchers. I’ll do sanitation, clean toilets, anything."

Evelyn remembered Rhys Chase mentioning that the camp was short on cooks. His mealtimes were irregular, and most days he ended up eating instant noodles and canned food.

An idea began to form in Evelyn’s mind.

"Come back here at ten tomorrow morning. I’ll have an answer for you then."

"Yes."

After Dotty and Clay Gable left, many more people came by to give Evelyn their New Year’s greetings. At five-thirty in the afternoon, just as Evelyn was about to close the carriage door, Tim Channing hurried over.

He was wearing a pair of oversized straw sandals, his clothes were slightly damp, and his forehead was beaded with sweat. He let out a sigh of relief when he saw Evelyn.

"Tim Channing, you made it! Happy New Year."

Tim Channing smiled, pursing his lips, then pulled two sausage sticks from the pocket of his torn jacket and offered them to Evelyn.

"Dr. Ford, thank you for helping me find a job. This is for you. Please, you have to take it."

The boy was proud and sensitive. Evelyn smiled and took one of the sausages.

"One is plenty. It’s New Year’s Eve, so you should head home for dinner. A full belly tonight means you’ll have food to eat every day in the new year."

Tim Channing wiped the sweat from his brow. "Right. Happy New Year, Dr. Ford."

"You too."

After Tim Channing left, Evelyn locked the carriage door and entered her space, carrying half a bucket of sunflower seeds.

"Evelyn, you’re even busier than Rhys Chase. He didn’t even have to work today."

As soon as she entered the wooden cabin, Quincy took a pine branch and tapped it against her arms and legs. It was a ritual to drive away bad luck and cast off all the troubles of the past year.

"I didn’t expect so many people to come wish me a Happy New Year. I talked so much today my throat is completely dry." As she walked into the living room, she saw everyone bustling about, preparing the New Year’s Eve feast, arranging fruit, putting out flowers, and hanging up good fortune characters.

"Didn’t we already finish hanging those?"

"Mr. Graham said the stables, the cattle pen, the sheepfold, the pigsty... they all need one. And he wants to stamp good fortune characters on the Mammoth and the Red Deer."

Evelyn watched everyone bustling about and rolled up her sleeves, ready to help.

Ronan Kendrick and Ethan Dawson brought out the fireworks and Fairy Sticks for the evening. Zoe couldn’t wait and lit a Fairy Stick, earning a round of applause from everyone.

"So pretty."

Evelyn took out her phone to record a video of her. Zoe grinned and flashed a peace sign at Evelyn.

"Dinner’s ready! Everyone, come help bring out the food!" Taylor Vance hollered, and the group flooded into the kitchen.

"Whoa, king crab! How luxurious."

"It’s New Year’s! Eat until you burst!"

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