27. Stability

The days of busy and fulfilling construction flowed like a quietly flowing river in a valley, slipping quietly through the rising and setting of the sun and the setting of the moon, amidst the toil of the workers. The hillside, once barren and barely alive, has been completely revitalized by the five people's daily sweat, filled with the warmth and sense of security that belongs to "home."

The stone and wood house, once consisting of only a foundation and frame, is now fully constructed. The walls, constructed from a mixture of flat stones of varying sizes and clay, are thick and sturdy, effectively insulating the nighttime chill from the daytime heat. Lei Qing even cleverly utilized several large natural stone slabs as part of the house's foundation and partitions, lending the structure a more stable feel. The roof features a classic herringbone structure, with evenly spaced logs serving as rafters. Several thick layers of dry thatch and clay mixture are tightly laid atop, and then reinforced with a large sheet of waterproof cloth with stone-pressed edges, ensuring safety even in the event of a heavy rain. The walls are even covered with vines bearing tiny, lavender flowers, which Mu Lin had transplanted from who knows where. These vines soften the harsh lines of the stone and wood, adding a touch of life and softness. A faint smoke with the aroma of food often wafts out of the chimney on the roof. It is no longer the smell of fireworks in a temporary camp, but a reassuring signal of a truly stable residence.

Yes, Su Lin's cooking skills, after countless trials with products ranging from burnt black to bland and strangely flavored, and A Yan's heroic efforts, repeatedly saved by Mu Lin's timely water balloons, had finally reached a milestone. While he still couldn't create dishes like Mu Lin, transforming ordinary ingredients into magical, exquisitely delicious works of art, nor could he roast prey to the perfect crispy exterior and tender interior over a simple fire like Lei Qing, he could at least consistently and flawlessly create a few simple, heartwarming, and delicious home-cooked dishes. Tonight, for example, the large pot of warm, bubbling soup bubbling on the simple stove, filled with freshly picked wild vegetables and dried meat, exuded a simple, authentic aroma that captivated A Yan, who had just finished a day of training, like a large dog captivated by the aroma, circling the stove like a dog, constantly trying to lift the lid, only to be knocked off with a wooden spoon by Su Lin, both annoyed and amused.

The patch of land next to the house, once merely planned for cultivation, has now expanded into a well-established vegetable garden and a small, neatly laid-out wheat field. Lush green vegetables—primarily fast-growing leafy vegetables and tubers that tolerate poor soil conditions—are flourishing under Mu Lin's meticulously controlled, water-guided irrigation system, their leaves thick and vibrant. Nearby, a small patch of golden wheat ears, though sparse, gleams with hope in the setting sun, swaying gently in the breeze. Xingchen is the primary caretaker here, devoting nearly all of his free time to the land. His psychic abilities seem to have an unexpectedly helpful effect in perceiving the state of plants. He can even subtly "sense" which plants need more water or are plagued by pests and diseases, and alert Su Lin or Mu Lin promptly. He can even use gentle mental cues to soothe the small mutant animals that occasionally gravitate toward the young plants and attempt to nibble on them, guiding them away. Occasionally, you can see a few mutant angora rabbits with shiny and docile fur that he has "comforted" in this way, quietly nibbling the grass specially left for them by the fence at the edge of the vegetable garden. In a sense, their existence has made them the "livestock" of this home, and they may provide additional sources of fur and meat in the future.

The training ground Ayan had been clamoring for was already complete, even exceeding his initial expectations. On a relatively flat, open space, away from houses and crops, he had not only leveled the ground but also constructed several obstacles and targets of varying heights using rocks and dirt. Every day, he toiled profusely there, practicing his ability control. The flames sometimes surged like a raging dragon, sometimes tame like a leaping elf, dancing nimbly at his fingertips. He even experimented with shaping the flames into various weapon forms for attack, though his stability still needed improvement. Sometimes, he would challenge Lei Qing for sparring. The clash of pure strength against the raging flames, with a dull crash and whistling sound, became the most common sight in the valley, besides the sounds of nature. Rather than serious training, it felt like a kind of playful, cathartic release of power, brimming with tacit understanding and trust.

The canal system Mu Lin had brought in was now more organized and complete. He had lined the canal's edges with smooth pebbles, and near his settlement, he had carefully built a small, appropriately deep reservoir of stone and clay. In it, he kept several silver-scaled fish, which he had caught from the river and whose flesh was said to be quite delicious. Beside the pool, he had also transplanted several moisture-loving plants with medicinal properties, carefully monitoring their growth, thus providing a new source of medical care for his small home.

Lei Qing remained the most solid and silent cornerstone of this family. He not only reinforced the main house, but also built a sturdy and dry storage room next to it to store tools, supplies, and harvested crops. He used the remaining wood to make more practical furniture - rough, but sturdy enough tables, stools, and even a few chairs with backrests. He often went out alone to patrol the borders of the valley and check the simple early warning traps they had set up - a complex system composed of bells, hidden tripwires, and extremely faint spiritual imprints left by stardust, ensuring the absolute safety of the home and isolating potential threats from outside. His silence and reliability were the most stable support in everyone's heart, as if as long as he was there, no storm could truly invade this small world.

The setting sun once again painted the sky a brilliant and warm orange-red. Its light was like molten gold, spreading across the valley. It also shone through the simple window made of rough wood and waterproof cloth, illuminating the busy but lively kitchen and the rough wooden table that exuded the aroma of food.

Dinner was ready. On the simple wooden table lay Su Lin's fragrant soup; Mu Lin's thick, burnt wheat cakes, made from coarsely ground, freshly harvested wheat flour; Lei Qing's perfectly grilled, sizzling mutant goat, freshly hunted today; a plate of wild vegetables, prepared by A Yan at his insistence and under Mu Lin's strict supervision, though not quite as attractive, stir-fried; and even a small dish of sweet and sour wild fruits, which Xingchen had collected that afternoon and had washed clean. The food wasn't particularly varied, and the cooking was far from exquisite, but each dish embodied their sweat and care.

The five of them sat around the table, like the most ordinary and warmest family in the world.

"Eat, eat! I'm starving!" Ah Yan was always the first one who couldn't hold back. He couldn't wait to pick up the wooden spoon and scooped up a big bowl full of soup. He didn't care about the heat, blew on it twice and drank it. He grimaced in the heat but still mumbled loudly and praised, "Wow! It's delicious! Su Lin, your soup is getting better and better! The meat is tender and the vegetables are tasty!"

Mu Lin elegantly tore off a piece of toasted wheat cake and slowly dipped it in the gravy. Looking at A Yan's anxious look, he smiled and shook his head, saying softly, "Eat slowly, no one is going to snatch it from you. Be careful not to burn your throat." His eyes swept over the simple dishes on the table with satisfaction in them.

Lei Qing said nothing. He simply used his large, bony hands, covered in scars both old and new, to naturally carve off the best roasted leg of lamb, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with his dagger, and placed it steadily on the wooden plate in front of Su Lin. He did this movement with such naturalness that it seemed as if it were only natural.

Su Lin accepted this silent care with a smile, feeling a warm current flowing through his heart. He also handed a golden, wheat-scented pancake to Xingchen, who was sitting quietly beside him, his eyes fixed on the food. "Xingchen, you weeded the vegetable garden today and caught a few bugs chewing on the leaves. You've worked hard. Eat more."

Xingchen accepted the pancake, which meant so much to him, a shy yet genuine, relaxed smile on his face. He whispered, "Thank you, Brother Su Lin." It had been a long time since he'd had nightmares of being abandoned or chased by zombies. His cheeks had plumped up a bit with the relatively stable supply of food, and the anxiety and fear in his eyes had long since been replaced by a sense of peace and belonging. He was an indispensable part of this family, and he proved it in his own way.

The dining table was filled with lighthearted laughter and the clinking of dishes and chopsticks. Ah Yan, chewing his food with big mouthfuls, recounted the embarrassing incident today when he was practicing a new move and almost lost control of his temper, singeing the tuft of red hair that always stuck up on his forehead. This made everyone laugh. Mu Lin shared his observation that the newly transplanted herbs seemed to have begun to adapt to the soil and had sprouted new shoots. Lei Qing mentioned that he planned to go to the deeper part of the forest farther away tomorrow. It was said that there were a few wild chestnut trees there, and it might be harvest season. Su Lin planned to wait until there were more wild fruits next time so that he could try making some jam with the ice crystals condensed by Mu Lin and a small amount of sugar. Xingchen whispered with a little pride that the mutant angora rabbits seemed to have gained weight, and the fur of one of them was particularly shiny.

There is no bloodshed of the end of the world and the cruelty of living in uncertainty, no cold calculations and oppression of rules within the high walls, only the warm steam rising from the food, the companionship of family members without barriers, and the plain but real taste of happiness that permeates the air.

After dinner, the five of them did not return to the house immediately. Instead, they tacitly moved out the homemade, slightly bulky wooden stools and chairs, and sat on the open space in front of the house that had been firmly stepped on by them. They watched the last gorgeous sunset, like a shy girl, slowly sinking into the dark blue silhouettes of the distant mountains, and watched the brilliant starry sky gradually cover the deep, ink-blue velvet sky.

The evening breeze is gentle, carrying the faint fragrance of grass, soil and wild flowers in the distance, blowing across the face, bringing a hint of coolness, and also bringing the ethereal cries of a few unknown small animals in the distance, which further contrasts with the tranquility and serenity of the valley at night.

A Yan and Xingchen argued over the rules of a silly little game about which mutant mushrooms tasted better grilled. Their voices echoed far through the silent valley, brimming with life and energy, rather than the usual fear and repression. Mu Lin smiled at them, not intervening. His fingertips unconsciously formed tiny, diverse ice crystals, which shone dreamily in the cold moonlight, like tiny stars dancing on their fingertips. Lei Qing sat slightly back from Su Lin, his arm resting naturally on the back of his chair. It was a gesture full of protection and a silent declaration, steady and resolute.

Su Lin leaned back in his chair and relaxed, his eyes slowly and gently sweeping over his family, the place where he had gone through hardships and finally arrived home.

He remembered the horror and humiliation at the Black Rock Base, the despair and separation when the canyon collapsed, the hardships, battles and unexpected reunions on the way north, and the suffocating cold rules of the Northern Base... Those days of displacement, life and death, and uncertainty seemed to have really become a distant and vague past with the breeze in the valley.

And now, they have each other, this home they built brick by brick with their own hands. Here, there are no grand walls, but the strongest bonds; no strict rules, but the warmest protection; no cold exchanges, but the most selfless giving.

Love, hope, trust, dependence...all these complex and profound emotions flow and blend quietly in this small, isolated world. They do not need to be defined or expressed. As long as they feel and cherish each other, they can gather into the warmest and most powerful force to support them to survive in the end times and strive to live a better life.

They went through life and death trials, separation and reunion, and finally found a spiritual home and peace of mind here.

As the night deepened, the stars became brighter and brighter, and the remaining charcoal in the campfire pit occasionally sparked and made a slight crackling sound.

No one suggested going back to the house to rest, as if everyone wanted to greedily prolong this quiet, happy and hopeful moment a little longer and longer.

Our hearts have long been quietly connected and integrated in every daily moment from sunrise to sunset, in every tacit exchange of eyes, and in every unintentional touch and care.