Zheng Ming felt that since they had already arrived, they should hurry home to find their families and there was no need to spend the night outside. So he drove ahead and led the way to the neighborhood where Wang Jing lived.

As a precaution, they parked the car near the residential area, and at Xu Lin's suggestion, the two changed into dirtier clothes and shoes before entering the residential area.

An hour later, Zheng Ming helped Wang Jing out of the residential area, tears streaming down her face.

It turns out that Wang Jing's grandparents lived with her parents, but they passed away during the coldest period of winter. The elderly couple had a habit of hoarding things, which prevented Wang Jing's parents from suffering from hunger, but instead led to persecution from their relatives.

Wang Jing's uncle's family initially refused to support her in her old age. Seeing that Wang Jing's family had surplus food, they first pretended to be pitiful and moved into Wang Jing's house, then occupied the rooms, and finally kicked Wang Jing's parents out. In the end, the two of them froze to death. It's a classic case of the farmer and the snake.

These are all things said by Wang Jing's old neighbors. The old lady is over sixty years old and likes to hoard things, but she doesn't do charity indiscriminately, which is why the whole family is still alive today. They were the ones who took Wang Jing's parents for their final resting place.

"Where are your uncle's family?"

"They found a vehicle while searching for supplies and hitched a ride with some people to the Beijing base. They left as soon as the floodwaters receded, and they should be settled in the base now," Zheng Ming answered for Wang Jing.

Wang Jing's house is now deserted. Everything that could be taken has been taken away, and what couldn't be taken has been ransacked by several groups of people, leaving nothing behind.

"Let's go, let's go to your house now."

The group then headed towards Zheng Ming's house, which was not far from his home, separated by only two roads.

Zheng Ming's family consists of only his parents, who live in a fairly nice neighborhood. As usual, the group parked their car near the neighborhood, and Zheng Ming went in alone.

Half an hour later, Zheng Ming's voice came through the walkie-talkie: "Jing, bring Xu Lin and Zhou Pin over here!"

Wang Jing led Xu Lin and Zhou Pin into the residential area and arrived at Zheng Ming's building. Zheng Ming's parents were already downstairs to greet them.

"Aunt!"

"Jingjing, poor child, stop crying, let's go inside and talk."

Zheng Ming's parents are around 50 years old. It's clear that their family had a good standard of living before the apocalypse, living in a high-end neighborhood. However, their house is now severely dilapidated.

After exchanging pleasantries, Zheng Ming's mother took out two jars containing the ashes of Wang Jing's parents and grandparents. Wang Jing burst into tears again, and Zheng Ming's mother also wiped away tears; she and Wang Jing's mother were best friends.

After crying, Zheng Ming's mother was about to make something to eat. Xu Lin took out two one-kilogram packs of noodles, a vacuum-packed bag of cured meat, a can of food, and a bottle of mineral water and handed them to Zheng Ming's mother. These things would be considered a great gift nowadays.

"Xiao Xu, what are you doing?"

"Auntie, this is our first visit, so please accept this small token of our appreciation. We'll be eating and staying at your house soon, so I won't eat if you don't accept it!"

Xu Lin saw that Zheng Ming's mother was genuinely kind to Wang Jing and was very generous to her.

"Okay, Auntie accepts it. I appreciate your kindness. You wait here, I'll go cook now. Old Zheng, could you pour some water for the children?"

"Okay, sure."

Zheng Ming's mother went to the kitchen to busy herself, while Zheng Ming's father told them about what had happened over the past year.

At first, Zheng Ming's parents and Wang Jing's parents were still in contact. When Wang Jing's grandparents passed away, Zheng Ming's parents even went to pay their respects.

Later, when Uncle Wang Jing came looking for them, Zheng Ming's mother told Wang Jing's mother that it was best not to take them in, as they were not good people and that it would be a waste of effort. However, Wang Jing's parents felt that they were brothers and could not abandon them.