There was a pause on the other side of the portal, and it seemed that Old Chen sighed heavily. His breathing was rough and deep, and it was clear that he was extremely tired. However, he did not grab Cheng Zhen's outstretched hand, but instead handed the two people, one big and one small, to his hands.
It's Huang Ying and Wu Xuan.
Then his earnest admonition rang out: "Yu Fen, the days ahead will definitely be more difficult than they are now. You must listen to Cheng Zhen and never act willfully again."
After saying this, Old Chen fell silent. Only survivors continued to be brought in, indicating that he was still alive.
Jiang Wan wanted to suggest going back to the forest farm several times. She couldn't just leave those nationally protected plants she had dug up there unattended. But seeing how anxious they were to save people, she couldn't bring herself to say it.
Human life is only once, but even if this plant is gone, there may be many more in the wild.
She sighed inwardly, then rallied her spirits to help resettle the refugees.
This is the wilderness, with no houses to shelter from the wind, rain, and cold, only tents, all of which she had collected in Xiashan Town. She searched several outdoor clubs and got dozens of tents of various sizes.
The city guards, having regained their senses, went about their duties: some stood guard, some maintained order among the refugees, some set up tents, and some dug defensive fortifications. After all, this was the territory of Zhusha City, and they had to take precautions.
Jiang Wan then brought out a solar generator and used an induction cooker to cook porridge for everyone to ward off the cold. Fortunately, this was in the wild, so boiling the snow would produce hot water. There were also many wild vegetables hidden under the snow, and even a small patch of sweet potatoes that looked like they were growing wild.
Everyone was given a chance to survive, and their enthusiasm for survival soared instantly. They helped dig sweet potatoes, shovel snow, or dig for wild vegetables.
Huang Ying came over to help her cook porridge, while Wu Xuan, carrying a basket even bigger than himself and covered in mud, stood beside her and said, "Aunt Jiang Wan, I brought them all back for you. I didn't have time to dig up the rest."
Jiang Wan looked into the basket, which contained Cypress-leaved White Moss, Jellyfish Snow Rabbit, and Snake-foot Stonehus—all precious and protected plants that she had been thinking about!
She excitedly patted Wu Xuan's head, thanking him, "Good boy! You did a great job!"
These are all endangered plants. If she hadn't saved them this time, she really wasn't sure if she would ever encounter them again!
"But there are still dawn redwood trees..."
“Those trees are too big for you to dig up. We’ve done our best and left the rest to fate. We have a clear conscience.” Jiang Wan was trying to comfort him. Actually, she felt a little regretful, or rather, she was eager to go back to Xiangcheng if she could.
Jiang Wan served two bowls of thick porridge with wild sweet potatoes and wild vegetables to Cheng Zhen and Yu Fen. Ever since they learned about the earthquake, they had been saving people. Even now, when everyone on both sides of the time portal was exhausted, they still showed no sign of resting.
"Eat something. People need food to survive. You won't be able to hold on if you don't eat or drink. There are still many people in Xiangcheng waiting for you."
Cheng Zhen took it and drank it quietly in a few gulps.
Yu Fen, however, had bloodshot eyes and seemed to be possessed. He refused to take the bowl of porridge from Jiang Wan's hand and kept trying to pull people from the other side of the time portal.
In the end, Cheng Zhen couldn't stand it anymore, so he forcibly pulled him over, shoved the bowl of porridge from Jiang Wan's hand into his, and commanded, "Drink!"
Jiang Wan sighed. In the face of natural disasters, the insignificance and powerlessness of humankind are clearly visible to the naked eye.
"Do you have something to say to me?" Jiang Wan noticed that Cheng Zhen looked at her several times, as if he wanted to say something but then looked away the moment she looked at him.
After hesitating for a while, Cheng Zhen finally asked, "Do you want to go back to Xiangcheng?"
"think!"
Jiang Wan answered immediately without the slightest hesitation.
"..." Cheng Zhen, on the contrary, was not very agreeable. "Then, then we'll go back and take a look once things stabilize in Xiangcheng."
Although Jiang Wanren was aloof, she was quite intelligent. After a little thought, she understood his meaning: "Do you want me to go back and collect supplies?"
Cheng Zhen did not deny it, but lowered her eyes and admitted, "Yes."
He was inwardly quite annoyed. How useless he was to want her to risk her life in Xiangcheng at such a critical moment.
“I’ll go.” Jiang Wan stood beside him and said, “I won’t put myself in danger. You should know my capabilities.”
Cheng Zhen remained silent and continued to open the portal to rescue survivors. However, he only knew a few people, and most of them still needed to be sent over by Old Chen.
So much time has passed, and apart from the city guards, there are no more than a thousand survivors here.
In the entire city of Xiang, there are fewer than a thousand people left...
Cheng Zhen suddenly made a decision: "Okay! I'll take you with me! We can't let all those supplies we collected go to waste!"
Jiang Wan wholeheartedly agreed: "Yes, our lives will only get harder and harder from now on."
Because that's the truth.
Therefore, any supplies available now could be life-saving in the future.
After they had discussed it, Cheng Zhen arranged for Song Hui to protect the twins' safety. Suddenly, Yu Fen appeared, his eyes bloodshot, and he was on the verge of a mental breakdown.
His appearance really surprised Jiang Wan: "What's wrong with you?"
Yu Fen simply blocked their way, his gaze fixed on them, emphasizing, "Take me with you!"
“No way.” Cheng Zhen refused decisively.
Seemingly realizing that he had gone too far, he took a slow breath and said, "Old Chen needs someone to help him. I don't trust anyone else but you."
These words struck a nerve, and Yu Fen immediately became agitated: "He's not going to make it! He's about to die! Although he won't speak anymore, I can feel that he's about to pass away!"
Cheng Zhen's face darkened, and a fleeting look of sorrow crossed his eyes: "So, you absolutely cannot leave!"
“He’s going to die!” Yu Fen almost roared.
"Yu Fen! I promise you, I'll go and take over for him right now and bring him here immediately!" Cheng Zhen patted his shoulder heavily. "You stay here and watch over him. When he arrives, take good care of him."
Yu Fen wanted to insist, but Cheng Zhen emphasized, "You won't be of any help if you come with me, but we need you here!"
"Think carefully about what he said to you."
Yu Fen's lips twitched for a long time, but in the end he listened to Cheng Zhen and stayed.
Cheng Zhen shared his thoughts with Old Chen on the other side of the Time Gate. After a long silence, a hand finally reached out, steady and strong. Cheng Zhen recognized it; it belonged to Old Chen.
He took Jiang Wan with him and stepped into the portal of time and space, instantly transporting them from the peaceful wilderness to ruins.
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