After Shen Yanming said this, most of Li's father's resentment towards the higher-ups subsided.

"As long as they're not doing nothing, that's good," Mr. Li remarked.

Shen Yanming nodded. "Faced with an unprecedented crisis, responding to it may take a long time."

Everyone fell silent, but their spirits had lifted considerably. As long as they were given hope, they were not afraid to wait through a long and uncertain period.

After chatting for a while, Shen Yanming said, "It's getting late, Uncle and Aunt, we'll be going now. Zhao Zhao, take good care of your wife. The old man has already talked to us about it, telling us to keep a close eye on you."

Although that's not the exact wording, it's pretty much the same.

Zhang Heping and Ji Kangyong burst into laughter, patting Li Zhaozhao on the shoulder: "Brother, you've had a tough time. The old man treats his apprentice like his own granddaughter. Now that you're married, you have to treat her well."

Li Zhaozhao raised an eyebrow, puffed out his chest, and said with particular pride, "Of course, how could I not love my wife?"

"Alright, we'll go back with Lao Shen then. You and your wife have a good time, and have a happy wedding night!" Zhang Heping said jokingly.

Li Zhaozhao laughed and poked at his wound: "What, are you envious? You want it but you don't have it!"

Zhang Heping looked embarrassed, and finally said angrily, "I'm ignoring you!"

Ji Kangyong smiled, a rare occurrence for him. "Ignore him, he's just being childish. We're leaving now, contact us if you need anything."

"Okay, drive carefully." Li Zhaozhao saw them to the door, and Xu Yajing waved to An'an and Nuannuan: "Little cuties, come to Auntie's house again next time!"

An'an and Nuannuan nodded: "Goodbye Auntie, goodbye Uncle!"

Xu Yajing was extremely envious, waving her right hand incessantly until she could no longer see him before preparing to go back.

"What, you really like children?"

"Yes, but the current situation doesn't seem to be suitable for having children."

Li Zhaozhao nodded, "Then let's wait and see. One day, we'll have such a cute baby too."

"I'm really looking forward to that day!" Xu Yajing said, her hands clasped to her chest, her face beaming with smiles.

Li Zhaozhao was momentarily stunned by her happy smile. He put his arm around Xu Yajing and whispered in her ear, "Actually, the process of sowing seeds is quite enjoyable. I'm really looking forward to it. When we get back, let's give it a try."

Xu Yajing pushed him away forcefully, her face flushed, and said, "You pervert!" before running off.

Li Zhaozhao chuckled and didn't chase after him. Thinking of the little umbrellas his friend had given him, he instantly felt his newlywed happiness was assured.

At this moment, Shen Yanming had no idea what his brother was thinking. He didn't return to the guard team, but instead followed Zhang Heping and Ji Kangyong back to Qingyu Residential Area.

Upon arriving at the underground parking lot, Shen Yanming opened the trunk and pulled out a black plastic bag. It didn't look very big, but it was impossible to see what was inside.

Zhang Heping glanced at it with surprise and curiosity, but did not ask in front of outsiders.

Indeed, many more residents have come to the underground parking lot to escape the summer heat.

The group of six took the elevator, and Shen Yanming pressed the button for the 16th floor.

Once home, she tossed the bag to Zhang Heping: "Dried fish, mushrooms, wood ear fungus, chestnuts—the haul from this trip. But since you two don't cook much, I took less. Is that enough? If not, I have more."

Ji Kangyong nodded: "That's enough, it'll last us quite a while." Old Shen was very considerate; the dried fish and chestnuts were the most abundant ingredients, and the remaining wood ear mushrooms and mushrooms weighed only about a pound or two.

Zhang Heping wanted to say something, but seeing Chef Ji's expression, he shut up. He figured he'd just eat first, and if it wasn't enough, he could ask Lao Shen for more; it wasn't like Lao Shen wouldn't give him any.

Having figured all this out, he smiled again. Seeing this, Shen Yanming tried his best to enslave him, making him help clean the house.

As expected, this prompted Zhang Heping to complain: "Old Shen, you're only staying for two days, just make do, does it have to be so clean?"

Shen Yanming glanced at him sideways, "Aren't all doctors supposed to be germaphobes? How could you say something like that?"

Zhang Heping choked up, "That's them, not me!"

Shen Yanming ignored him and said, "Just get on with it, my little darling is sleepy."

Zhang Heping glanced at An An and Nuan Nuan, and seeing them nestled in Bi Qiaoan's arms yawning, he immediately gave in: "Okay, okay, right away!"

Shen Yanming secretly smiled as he watched his son quickly mop the floor clean. In a crucial moment, his precious son was always the most reliable.

After the house was mostly tidied up, Shen Yanming put the two kids to bed and put them to sleep, then asked his two friends, "How's it going in the fields?"

“They’re all doing great. The ones you replanted later have also sprouted, and they seem to be growing even better than the wheat seedlings.”

Shen Yanming nodded: "The sunlight is different, so the natural growth conditions are different. Moreover, the natural conditions this year are much better than usual." He didn't mention the difference in the seeds at all.

Zhang Heping didn't think much of it. He nodded and said, "It looks like we'll have a good harvest this year."

Shen Yanming didn't reply, but looked at the sky outside.

I thought to myself, if this kind of weather could continue, it would give everyone a chance to breathe. But what if the disaster happened to occur on the two days of harvest? That would be a dead end!

He sighed, feeling utterly powerless. He was just an ordinary person, incapable of being a savior.

Although he had the space, he dared not reveal it. But even if he did, he couldn't save everyone's lives. More likely, it would become a tool for others to consolidate their power.

Natural selection will take its course, and everyone who is meant to go through it will go through it. Even he never thought of hiding in the space and living a life of ignominy.

"Let's try our best to improve our own abilities." Otherwise, I'm afraid none of them will be able to escape in the end.

Zhang Heping nodded seriously. Ji Kangyong asked, "Should we go take a look in the fields?"

Shen Yanming glanced at the time; it was only a little past four. He said, "Let's go take a look. It'll put our minds at ease."

"Okay, let's go together then."

The three grown men didn't waste any time and went straight to Qingning Mountain after changing their shoes.

On the way, Ji Kangyong said, "When we are too busy, Chen Shunwei will come to check on us. However, he is also busy at home, so he doesn't come as often as last year."

Shen Yanming smiled and said, "That's normal. With a new member in the family, there will be a lot more things to do. Let's try to handle things ourselves from now on."

"Yes, I know. I also told him that he doesn't need to come over so often."

The three chatted and laughed, and soon they arrived at Qingning Mountain.

Shen Yanming opened his barbed wire gate and looked at the tall wheat seedlings inside, his face beaming with joy.

"I never imagined that after such extreme weather, it could still grow so tall!" Shen Yanming reached out and pinched the wheat ears, finding them already quite plump. He said happily, "If nothing unexpected happens, this year will be a bumper harvest."