Chapter 71 Chapter 71 [VIP]
Back then, the city was in dire straits. Bai Zhuo, with foresight, rented a room at his uncle Bai Hui's house in exchange for grain. But less than a year into the lease, seeing the devastation worsen, Bai Hui's wife, worried that he would be using the family's grain to support his fellow villagers, frequently ostracized and mocked Bai Lao San's family.
Because Bai Laosan and his wife were city dwellers, they had always felt superior to their fellow peasant brothers and could not tolerate this kind of humiliation. The two sides quarreled every now and then.
Bai Zhuo was helpless and anxious. Today is different from the past. Morality and the rule of law have become worthless. His family is old and weak and has to live under the care of others. A falling out with his uncle's family will only bring many hidden dangers.
It wasn't until the resettlement area was established and Bai Zhuo spent half his fortune to move into a small village hut that guarded a fish pond that things began to smooth over. Although the house was small and old, it was a popular spot at the time, attracting many people.
The housing provided to ordinary people in the resettlement area is mostly collective dormitories, which are small and crowded, and there is no personal privacy at all. If you meet a roommate with bad character, it’s all over.
In the past few years, Bai Zhuo has changed a lot. The nonchalant and carefree air in him has disappeared, and his face is full of the vicissitudes and fatigue of many years, but he also has the responsibility and heaviness of his father.
Bai Zhuo was more far-sighted and adaptable than his parents. After the disaster, he kept his parents under strict control, preventing them from causing trouble. He also volunteered to help relatives whenever they needed help, without being asked. Thanks to Bai Zhuo's deliberate management, the villagers of Sheshui Village stopped gossiping about his occupation of their house. Even Grandma Bai, who had been critical of the Bais, had a positive impression of him.
Sui Sui greeted his elders politely. Bai Zhuo looked at the chubby and energetic Sui Sui in Bai He's arms, his eyes filled with admiration and envy. "Sui Sui has grown up really strong. When you have free time, go to Uncle Grandpa's house and play with Ji Bao. Ji Bao is a bit introverted, I hope you can inspire him." As he spoke, Bai Zhuo grabbed a handful of popcorn and fried dough twists from the bag and stuffed them into Sui Sui's pocket.
Fearing Sui Sui might develop cavities, the Bai family kept his sweet intake in check. He was greedy, but past experience and his family's guidance had also conditioned him to avoid eating other people's food. He swallowed, his bright eyes glancing at Bai He.
"Just accept what your uncle gives you."
Hearing this, he smiled and said, "Thank you, uncle."
"You're welcome." Bai Zhuo looked at Sui Sui's rosy cheeks and the pure eyes that only children have. When he thought of the child waiting for him at home, his tense nerves relaxed a lot.
"I hope you grow up quickly, but I also hope you can always remain carefree like you are now."
When Bai Zhuo's child, Bai Ji, was born, the village was in a state of panic and chaos. Arson attacks were frequent, and following the village attack, white cloth was once again raised, and everyone was in danger.
To avoid further panic, officials arranged for a number of professionals to conduct an investigation. However, the resettlement area was under construction at the time, and the large daily flow of people into the village made solving the case much more difficult.
After more than ten days, the murderer was apprehended. Their stories are heartbreaking. One was an eleven-year-old child abandoned by his family and nearly eaten as a two-legged sheep. His mind was twisted, and he only wanted revenge on society. The other was a local resident of Sheshui Village, whose husband and child died in a refugee attack. She then harbored hatred for the surviving Sheshui residents, especially those with happy families.
The children were the principal offenders, and the villagers were accomplices. Their success in committing these crimes stemmed from a combination of local knowledge and a natural tendency to overlook and overlook children. It's reported that children were seen wandering the crime scene multiple times, yet no one raised any suspicion. Publicizing the case taught the people of Sheshui Village a lesson, raising their guard.
But after the perpetrators were apprehended, the arson incidents did not end as everyone had imagined. Instead, they spread from Sheshui Village to the entire resettlement area, with several incidents occurring daily. Officials were overwhelmed and the people were in a state of panic.
When the dry mountain behind the resettlement area caught fire, the resettlement area and several nearby villages were in danger of destruction. The perpetrators took the initiative to walk out, and the officials learned that the culprit was the Fire God Cult.
Bai Zhuo, Bai He, and the others still feel a chill in their hearts when they recall that devastating fire that spread across the land. Tens of thousands of people were nearly burned to death that time.
Without water or machinery to extinguish the fire, countless soldiers, braving the intense heat and thick smoke, risked their lives to carve out a containment zone. Everyone in the area who could move was shoveling dirt to put out the flames. It took nearly every possible force to bring the wildfire under control.
It had been several years since the fire, but the damage it caused hadn't subsided. Bai He looked toward the back of the village. The fire had burned for four days, and the back hills had been completely burned. The barren mountains, the scorched earth, the bare, blackened tree trunks, and the exposed rocks all looked particularly eerie and desolate in the darkness.
That winter, countless people in the resettlement area fell into a deep sleep.
The culprits, members of the Fire God Cult, refused to wait for official arrest, instead walking one by one into the blazing flames like sacrificial offerings. The Fire God Cult was a product of its time, and its members all had tragic experiences, but they were also extremely mad. That self-immolation left an indelible scar on countless people.
The authorities, repeatedly angered, resorted to drastic measures to eliminate their followers. However, everyone knew that as long as the social situation did not change, there would be many people like the Vulcan Cult.
Due to the ongoing unrest in the outside world and his frail condition at birth, Bai Ji was confined to his home since birth, with little contact with others, which inevitably led to his delicate temperament. One time, while out and about, he witnessed a bloody robbery and murder scene, which frightened him and made him even more reluctant to interact with others.
"This fucked up society..." Bai Zhuo said gritting his teeth.
"The security in the area is much better now. When you have time, take him out for walks more often and let him interact with more people. He'll be fine."
"Well, once this deal is done, I'll have some free time. I'll definitely have to train him more." Raising a son for a hundred years is like worrying about ninety-nine. Bai Zhuo once yearned for the free-spirited underworld of Young and Dangerous, wanting to experience it. But his parents, like a chain, shackled him tightly, and he couldn't understand their constant worries. Now that he's a father, he understands his parents' mindset.
The two of them walked into the village together. As soon as they entered the village, they found a group of people gathered inside.
"You're going to whorehouse again. What did you promise me before, Zhao Mingyuan? You're so dirty. Get out of here. Get out of my house." Chen Hongyan, the daughter of the Chen family at the entrance of the village, was hysterically cursing at the tall and strong man opposite her.
Without warning, she grabbed the water glass on the table and threw it hard at the man. The man dodged awkwardly, and with a loud "bang!", the water glass hit the wall and shattered instantly, sending ceramic fragments flying everywhere.
The man's eyebrows twitched with fear, but then bowls, chopsticks, stools, etc. flew towards him.
The two children at home were frightened by the scene and burst into tears. Zhang Hongxin, who always doted on her children, coldly locked her two grandchildren in the room and joined the battle.
"Don't think you can bully Yanyan just because her father is gone. You ungrateful bastard, you eat and live in our house, and now you dare to cheat on us. Get out of here and go back to that shabby home of yours." Zhang Hongxin grabbed her son-in-law's arm and pulled his clothes out.
She was used to doing farm work and had quite a bit of strength. The man tried his best to resist but was still pushed to the door in a mess. His old clothes were torn into pieces.
The pointing and talking of the people around him made his face turn red, his teeth clenched, and his hands clenched into fists.
"He's been living and eating at his wife's house for so many years. Not only is he ungrateful, but he's also cheating on her. He's so heartless."
Chen Da had opened a small shop in the village decades ago, and his family was quite well-off for Sheshui Village. As his family only had one child, Chen Hongyan, he didn't spoil her too much, having already bought her a house and a car in town years ago.
Zhao Mingyuan was the partner she found herself. He was tall and handsome. Even though he had no special abilities and his family was a mess, she still insisted on marrying him.
After they got married, the two lived and ate at her parents' house. Although Zhao Mingyuan was a bit lazy, he loved his wife and children and didn't see any major problems. But later, when his father-in-law passed away and society became chaotic, his true nature began to show.
"Alas! What man doesn't cheat? Especially in today's shitty society, where there's no tomorrow after today, so men won't try their best. If anyone is to blame someone, blame Zhang Hongxin for not being able to have children. If Chen Hongyan had a few more brothers to support her, he wouldn't dare to bully her like this." A woman said sarcastically.
"It's also Yan Zi's fault for not listening to others in her early years and finding a Phoenix man. I knew Zhao Mingyuan was not a good guy. He has shifty eyes and is only tall enough to deceive these young girls. It's a pity that he has two children at home."
"Those women are just restless and naughty. I say those bitches should all be shot." The woman who said this gnashed her teeth, her eyes red with bloodshot eyes. It was obvious that she had suffered losses in this regard.
"If a girl doesn't really have to make a living, who would be willing to do this job? There are many poor girls in Chang Street. If it weren't for the current world, these people in our village would never be able to get in touch with them in their lifetime." A young girl, whose passion has not been wiped out, said angrily.
But her voice was too weak and was immediately drowned out by the angry crowd.
Don't those who stand here and make sarcastic remarks understand the difficulties others face? No, no, they do.
It's just that the pain of life has distorted their souls, and they want a channel to vent. As for those who bear their negative emotions, whether they are innocent or pitiful is not something they consider.
When the granaries are full, people know etiquette; when they have enough food and clothing, they know honor and disgrace.
The living environment in Sheshui Village is much better than outside, but people still have a long way to go to get enough to eat. After a few years, there are almost no elderly people in the village.
In the face of survival, in today's world where morality and the rule of law are gradually disappearing, the malice of human nature cannot be looked directly upon.
A man recognized as an honest man in the village abandoned his wife and children to find a new love during a disaster; in order to reduce the burden, several children could force the elderly in the family to death; brothers could fight to the point of bleeding for a piece of land; and children could be sold as commodities for a bag of food.
In comparison, "prostitution" is the least serious crime.
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