Chapter 25
While they were discussing having hot pot, Su Ming felt like he was being roasted over a fire, his conscience being constantly seared.
Although he still gets along well with everyone in the team and is very popular.
Even when he's just wandering around, people will greet him. Younger people will ask him to play games, younger people will discuss his illness with him, and even older people will like to chat with him.
Just like returning to normal society.
He was indeed happy for two days because of this. He felt that being in a crowd allowed him to better demonstrate his abilities, and he got along well with his teammates. There were no scary dogs, and with everyone working together, the future should be even better.
But gradually, I realized something was wrong.
Firstly, it seems that my personal freedom is restricted, and I am always accompanied wherever I go. He mentioned it casually once, and then his gaze shifted to something else entirely.
Secondly, the atmosphere in the team was not as harmonious as he had initially imagined. Everyone was outwardly kind, but behind the scenes they liked to gossip about this person and that person's shady dealings. A dozen or so people would try to put on a show, and they even formed cliques. Only one female teacher with her younger brother stood out from the crowd.
Third, while ensuring their own survival, the fleet is desperately squeezing out the living space of others.
Ever since the convoy arrived at this large service area—the standard one they brought from Fang Xiaoyu—even though all the vehicles were fully loaded with supplies, modified, repaired, and maintained, and everything was ready, Gang Ge would always find various excuses to delay leaving. Today he'd say Sister Wen had a headache and couldn't sit in the car, tomorrow someone else would say they had leg pain and couldn't drive, and the day after that someone else would have food poisoning and couldn't leave without going to the restroom.
The convoy only had sixteen people in total, but with him, there were seventeen. Yet they took over all twenty rooms on the first and second floors of the rest area, and later they gradually took over the rooms on the third floor as well.
He had always assumed the other rooms were occupied by individual guests. Until one day, he passed by one of them, and because the door wasn't closed properly, he inadvertently saw that it was filled with supplies brought from the shopping center, and then he understood everything.
His companion at the time looked completely normal and even urged him to leave.
When I met Gang back later, he didn't mention the matter, but just asked me when I planned to leave.
Gang said not to rush, to wait until everyone is in a better state.
After being asked too many questions, Gang Ge retorted, "Wouldn't it be better to rest for a few more days? Why are you in such a hurry to leave?"
He said, "But once the supplies are used up, the service station will disappear, did you know that?"
Gang Ge, however, didn't seem to care: "I know, everyone will return to the highway when it disappears, there won't be any danger."
"Then what?"
"Of course we should head out and find a new service area. You're still too young, don't rush things. I'll lead everyone to a better life, you just need to focus on ensuring everyone's health."
Su Ming: ...
He desperately wanted to ask, "What about the others?" Service areas were the hope for everyone on the highway, the only supply point for a long stretch of road. Having already received supplies, why did they have to use up their last drop of water?
But when he noticed Gang Ge's somewhat impatient look, he swallowed his words.
What's the point of asking and getting an answer? They don't see anything wrong with it at all; they'd just laugh at his naiveté.
Later, the shopping center's supplies dwindled, and the remaining items were moved to rooms here and into the vehicles of the convoy.
He saw cars arriving excitedly, dusty and weary from their journeys, only to leave disappointed. Before leaving, he glanced in their direction.
He would never forget that look in his eyes.
Prayer, despair, hatred...
However, Gang didn't care. He led his young and strong teammates back to the room full of supplies, where they either squandered them or slept soundly.
He felt nauseous for a moment.
This is hardly the ideal racing team.
It's clearly a leech caravan.
He wanted to leave, but he couldn't leave immediately.
After I officially joined the team, the car keys were taken away by Sister Wen, who had previously been a senior executive, who said it was for unified management and discipline.
The advantage is that someone helps him repair vehicles and organize supplies.
The downside is that all the supplies in his vehicle have to be distributed by the convoy, and even taking a bottle of water to quench his thirst requires reporting and registration.
He didn't want to treat these people anymore.
The auto mechanic whose legs ached when the weather changed was because he ate too much frozen seafood at the shopping mall.
Sister Wen, who often suffers from migraines, never stops thinking about how to control others, how to seize power and suppress variables.
...
They didn't value him; they just needed a doctor who was always available when they wanted to enjoy life, and he just happened to be there.
He also learned the secret of the box of water. Because the child had accidentally drunk it and fallen asleep for a long time, his sister came to him asking for help.
He remembered taking a bottle from inside and handing it to Sister Xiaoyu, and then she drove away shortly afterward.
He remembered what she had said and the little things she did every day.
In his dream, he also saw that big yellow dog that always tried to approach and please him, but which he avoided like the plague. It was different from the ferocious, mad dog in his memory.
Overwhelmed by a torrent of regret.
Fang Xiaoyu, unaware that someone had already assumed she had met with misfortune, sneezed several times.
Over the next month, they made some attempts but still couldn't find the pattern for lanes of different widths. They only discovered that "the emergency lane and the space of the exterior wall are interconnected, and the impact is only within the lane."
Since the routine didn't seem to have much impact on their daily lives, and the two didn't plan to separate for the time being, too many attempts might lead to a sudden separation, so they stopped trying to find out the truth.
Aside from driving and resting, the two spend most of their time practicing ziplining and improving their physical fitness.
Fang Xiaoyu can now run 150 meters in one go, a huge improvement.
When it was Yue Yue's turn to drive that day, she suddenly exclaimed, "Am I hallucinating because I'm craving roast whole lamb so much?"
Fang Xiaoyu glanced back upon hearing the sound: "...There are three lost lambs. Stop the car and let's catch them for a treat."
"!!!" Yue Yue.
She forgot to press the electronic brake when she parked, so she unbuckled her seatbelt, opened the door, grabbed a rope, and rushed out.
The eldest princess excitedly followed, rushing to the front immediately.
Fang Xiaoyu had no choice but to clean up the mess. She pressed the electronic brake and then leaned against the car door for a while.
As expected, not long after, a person and a dog appeared at the car door.
Yue Yue's surprise turned to hesitation, then she suddenly realized: "We've gone too far!" She had run so far for nothing and even scared the sheep so much that it kept backing away.
The eldest princess looked around blankly, then stuck out her tongue at her, her paws shifting restlessly on the ground, occasionally flashing a sharp glint, her eyes gleaming as if to say: "One more time!"
Fang Xiaoyu chuckled: "As long as they aren't eliminated sooner or later, we'll catch them."
Yue Yue agreed wholeheartedly, and completely suppressed her outward emotions, no longer appearing so eager.
Luck was on their side.
The lost lamb didn't just disappear while walking; after a moment of panic, it slowly moved forward, getting closer and closer until it was caught red-handed by the two people lying in wait.
They tied the sheep together with ropes and secured one end to the cart.
At first, the lambs stamped their feet in a panic, but after they got used to it, they huddled together and didn't move, occasionally bleating softly.
Yue Yue rubbed her hands together: "It's actually Yanchi Tan sheep! We're in for a treat!"
Fang Xiaoyu: "Will you slaughter a sheep?"
Yue Yue: "Don't underestimate me. Just wait, I'll lead one away and kill it somewhere far away so it won't scare you. Today, I'll let you taste a whole roasted lamb!"
Fang Xiaoyu wasn't afraid of that. Although her mouth watered, she remained rational: "We need to save the water. We don't have enough seasoning to make a whole roasted lamb, but we can roast a leg of lamb."
Yue Yue had forgotten about this, and only remembered after being reminded: "I brought enough seasonings, but I really can't get water." She reluctantly gave up her plan to slaughter the animal on the spot.
The two men, leading the sheep, could not walk fast and it took them three days to find a new service area. By then, the sheep had become extremely weak from hunger.
They walked around the small service area, but there was no one around.
Yue Yue: "You go ahead and do your work, I'll slaughter the sheep."
Fang Xiaoyu didn't stand on ceremony and handed her a kitchen knife, a basin, plastic bags, garbage bags, rope, and a disposable raincoat that could cover her whole body before driving the car to the repair shop.
Yue Yue stopped at the sink and began to brandish the knife.
She was just bragging; she could kill fish, chickens, and rabbits, but she'd never killed a sheep.
However, I have seen others slaughter sheep.
But someone who dares to travel alone on a shoestring budget would say she can't do it; there's a first time for everything. Besides, her sisters have already taken good care of her; she can handle this little thing herself.
To encourage herself, she took a deep breath and began to slaughter the first one.
Fang Xiaoyu would occasionally look up while washing the vehicle. Seeing that she was methodical in her work and efficient in binding her legs and bleeding, Fang Xiaoyu focused on maintaining the vehicle. After finishing, she prepared the tools and seasonings needed for roasting the whole lamb and marinating the meat.
Iron wire, oven, smokeless charcoal, blowtorch...
Salt, chili powder, cumin powder, Sichuan peppercorn powder, MSG, cooking wine, cornstarch...
Yue Yue was a bit clumsy at first, but after killing the first sheep, she got the hang of it, had a plan in mind, and gradually became more composed, with her expression hardening.
After she finished slaughtering the sheep, she looked up and saw Fang Xiaoyu washing the car. Layers of dirty water were being washed down, which looked very soothing. She couldn't help but smile. She turned around and quickly began to clean up the dirt and grime around her, putting the trash into several opaque black bags.
Then, he found a spare booster nozzle at the repair shop, went back to the sink, connected it to the tap, and began washing the sheepskin, mutton, and offal.
She was so engrossed in cleaning that she didn't notice when Fang Xiaoyu finished cleaning the car and came over to help.
Three hours later, the two finished cleaning the items and pushed them to the restaurant in batches using a trolley. Fang Xiaoyu had already set out the positions of the tools and seasonings, and then they soaked and marinated the items, working up a layer of sweat on their backs.
The eldest princess knew they were busy with important matters, so she didn't go over to cause trouble. Instead, she urinated nearby to mark her territory and check for safety.
They worked from noon until late at night, and finally got to eat their first bite of roasted whole lamb.
The lamb skin is crispy and fragrant, the meat is firm and chewy, and it has a subtle milky aroma. Absolutely amazing!
Fang Xiaoyu ate without looking up, Yue Yue burped contentedly, and the eldest princess wagged her tail wildly.
The two people and the dog tried their best to eat, but only ate half of the dog, leaving two and a half to eat later.
After eating and drinking their fill, they slumped in their chairs, unwilling to move.
Fang Xiaoyu started to feel sleepy, then remembered, "I haven't been to the convenience store yet."
Yue Yue said lazily, "Let's do it tomorrow."
Fang Xiaoyu struggled to get up: "No, I need to fill it up before I sleep."
Yue Yue looked mournful, but still got up and followed behind her.
After clearing away the space reserved for the mutton, the remaining cargo space needed to be carefully calculated. Combining Fang Xiaoyu's experience on the road and Yue Yue's experience in the wild, the two quickly made up their minds and filled the car with cargo again.
After finishing all that, taking advantage of the availability of rooms and bathrooms, Fang Xiaoyu and Yue Yue bathed and dried the eldest princess together. They laughed and joked around for a while, and finally each chose a room, took a shower, changed clothes, and fell asleep instantly.
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