This joy only lasted for six days. When Qiao Qingqing woke up on the seventh day, she felt that the sky was brighter. Most of the dark clouds had dispersed, and the sky in the east was a clear blue.
The temperature has risen significantly and the air has become more humid and hot.
Qiao Qingqing began to prepare honeysuckle water and also began to remind her family to pay more attention to hygiene and safety.
"It's summer now. How are we going to spend this summer?" Shao's mother looked at her right hand and right foot in annoyance. Seeing that she was in a bad mood, Qiao Songzhi hurried to comfort her.
Life is a life that you will live through whether it is good or sad. It is better to live happily. If you worry too much, it will affect your health.
"Everything will work itself out when the time comes," said Qiao Songzhi.
The sun drove away the haze and damp mold, but it also brought new problems. Before, there were puddles everywhere when they went out, and if they stepped into it carelessly, the soft mud would reach their knees. After the temperature continued to rise, the shallow puddles disappeared directly, the ground began to become dry and hard, and the large puddles also disappeared at a speed visible to the naked eye. After the seventh day, they began to face the problem of difficulty in getting water.
The third brother and Liu Zhen were in charge of this ruined camp, but they were outnumbered. After the sun came out, water resources became scarce, and the water points they often went to dried up. There were larger puddles nearby, but they were occupied by other camps after only two days of use.
"That camp is a joint force of several wealthy people, with guns and crossbows." The third brother bit a straw and looked ahead solemnly, "We can't waste time here any longer. When the sun gets brighter, there will be less water."
"Food is not hard to find. I feel like there are a lot of things growing on the ground after the rain, especially big roots. They grow as fast as balloons. Once you dig them up, you can find a bunch. It's enough to keep you full." Liu Zhen said with a bitter face, "But how do we find water? Third brother, do you have any ideas?"
The third brother retracted his gaze and looked at Liu Zhen: "I plan to go out and find a water source--" He spit out the straw, frowned, and glanced at the top of Liu Zhen's head, "That family, are they planning to leave?"
"Ah?" Liu Zhen turned around and saw Shao Shengfei dismantling the tent. He stood up and said, "I'll go ask."
Qiao Qingqing and her family were indeed leaving.
Originally, Qiao Qingqing decided to stay here for a while longer to recuperate. Now that she had found her family, there was no place she couldn't stay. But the rainy season finally ended, and as summer was coming, the number of nearby water points quickly shrank, and the larger water points were occupied by the nearby rich camp. She guessed that there would be constant friction in the future, and this ruined camp would not last long. She would either merge with the rich camp or leave and find another way to survive.
Qiao Qingqing was used to making plans in advance, so after discussing with her family, she decided to go to the same sea area as before and find a place to camp near the sea where it would be convenient to get water.
Liu Zhen came over to ask, and Shao's mother asked him to sit down: "Even if you didn't come to ask me, I would have wanted to say goodbye to you." She told him the news about Hai.
Liu Zhen was horrified: "Sea? How can there be a sea?"
Qiao Qingqing explained: "The news is absolutely true, you can discuss it with Third Brother." She turned around and took out a bag from the tent that had not yet been dismantled, and handed the bag to Liu Zhen, "I haven't formally thanked you for helping my mother-in-law yet, this is a thank you gift."
"No, there's no need to do that..." Liu Zhen waved his hand.
"Please accept it. This is a gift from our family." Qiao Qingqing stuffed the bag into his hand.
"Thank you. I'll go back and talk to my third brother about this first!" Liu Zhen didn't want to refuse the thank-you gift, so he quickly ran back to find his third brother.
Qiao Qingqing didn't know what the other party would choose, so she continued to pack up after sending the message. She put many things in the tent back into the space, and refilled everyone's backpack. She carried Shao's mother's backpack herself, and Shao Shengfei carried hers. Shao's father used a crutch to prevent his injured leg from falling to the ground, insisting that he could walk. Qiao Qingqing supported her mother, and Qiao Songzhi waved her hand: "No need, I've rested well recently, and I'm very strong now."
The whole family is action-oriented. They decided to leave last night and packed up everything and set off this morning.
"Can I go fishing this time?" Shao Shengfei asked.
"Sure, we're staying by the sea this time, so brother can go fishing every day." Shao Shengan said.
Shao Shengfei smiled happily.
The family walked in the sunshine and gradually walked away.
Watching the family leave, the third brother retracted his gaze and looked at the bag in Liu Zhen's hand: "Open it and take a look."
"oh oh!"
Liu Zhen opened the bag and saw what was inside. His eyes widened in surprise: "Is it medicine?" He took out the things in the bag. There was a bottle of Huoxiang Zhengqi water and a paper medicine box. He opened the soft medicine box and found two boxes inside. One box contained six antipyretic pills, most of which had been used up. There were still two pills intactly wrapped under aluminum foil. The other box contained aspirin capsules, most of which had been used up, but there were still three pills left.
"This is really generous." The third brother was also stunned. In the past, these things could be bought at any pharmacy on the street. They were nothing special. Two months ago, when he had not yet been transferred to the earthquake preparedness post outside the base, these two types of medicines could be used in the infirmary after reporting. On the day of the earthquake, he and Liu Zhen happened to be patrolling outside, carrying only emergency kits. The two of them were separated in the earthquake and reunited later, but at that time they were already far away from the post... After the medicine in the emergency kit was used up, they had no medicine left. He knew that many people lost their relatives and supplies in the earthquake, and being able to take out these medicines as a thank-you gift at this point was already a very sincere gesture.
"This is too precious! Third brother, I have to return it to them." Liu Zhen was anxious.
He ran away as he spoke, and the third brother didn't stop him.
Ten minutes later, Liu Zhen came back dejectedly: "They won't accept it. Third brother, what are you doing?"
The third brother clapped his hands and told the survivors to go back and think about it: "We will set off in an hour."
The survivors dispersed, some returned to their own caves, some sat on rocks in a trance, and some gathered together to talk. Although there were only a dozen people here, the third brother knew that everyone was an independent individual. He was only providing some limited shelter temporarily. For some decisions related to the future, he would only make suggestions and would not make tough decisions.
"I told them that we would leave here and find a new place with water."
Liu Zhen was surprised: "Are we going to follow Aunt Xia and the others? Third brother, didn't you suspect that they were not good people before?"
The third brother glanced at him and said, "That was a routine precaution. There are more than ten of us here. What if we get hurt by someone?"
Liu Zhen chuckled: "So now you think they are trustworthy? That's great. Actually, Aunt Xia just advised me to go with you. I couldn't bear to part with you, so I came back."
"Okay, go pack your things, we'll leave as soon as possible." If what Aunt Xia's daughter-in-law said was true, then that vast sea area would definitely be in great demand in the future. Maybe other comrades would also go there to get water? Then we could get in touch.
Liu Zhen quickly ran to the floor where he slept to pack up his things. Looking at a large stone piled next to him, he remembered that when he got up a few days ago, he saw Aunt Xia was barely breathing. He felt sad. When he was looking for firewood outside, he saw this stone. At that time, he thought that if Aunt Xia could not make it, at least she could not be buried casually. This large stone could be used as a tombstone. It could be placed next to Aunt Xia to serve as a bodyguard for her. It could also be used as a mark. When he meets Aunt Xia's family in the future, he can tell them where Aunt Xia is buried. This stone is the mark...
"Aunt Xia is fine now. This is unlucky..." Liu Zhen muttered as he picked up the stone and found a place to bury it.
In front, Qiao Qingqing and the others continued to move forward. The sun gradually rose higher and everyone put on hats to protect themselves from the sun.
As the temperature rose, the air started to smell bad again, so they put on their masks again. Qiao Songzhi sighed, "This smell is just like when we were in Flower City before, when the sun was strong and the ice was melting. It's not a good smell."
"Not only does it smell bad, but it's definitely bad for your health if you smell it too much." Shao's mother pinched the mask on Shao Shengfei's nose while he was on his back. Shao Shengfei said in a muffled voice, "Mom, don't move."
Qiao Qingqing and Shao Shengan walked hand in hand. They felt that the road was long when they came here, but it was very easy to walk on the way back. No matter the cracks on the ground, or the stones and ruins blocking the road, they no longer made her irritated. Hearing this, she said with a smile: "But the sun is generally a good thing. If there are no more natural disasters in the future, we can enclose a piece of land for planting and raise chickens again."
Speaking of this, everyone became excited and started talking at once.
Father Shao said, "I want to grow potatoes. I'm tired of eating big roots. Potatoes are still more delicious."
Shao's mother added: "Sweet potatoes are delicious too!"
Qiao Songzhi thought for a moment and said, "Let's raise some ducks this time."
Shao Shengfei yelled: "Dabao!"
Qiao Qingqing thought of the big hen that was "fat and strong" and felt very distressed. Dabao was the best-growing one among the fertilized eggs she stored in the space. None of the second and third generation chickens she raised later could fight against it. Unfortunately, on the morning of the earthquake, as soon as the sun rose in the sky, Dabao flew out of the chicken coop and escaped. More than a month later, the survivors with little food would definitely not let such a fat hen go when they saw it -
"Dabao!"
Shao Shengan comforted his elder brother in a gentle voice: "I will raise another little treasure in the future, elder brother, please don't hurt——"
"Dabao!" Shao Shengfei's voice almost broke. He was carrying Shao's mother on his back and even jumped a little. Since his hands were not free, he stretched his neck and pointed with his chin, pointing in a direction with his eyes shining. If he was not carrying his beloved mother on his back, he would have flown away!
Qiao Qingqing turned her head in confusion and looked in the direction Shao Shengfei was looking at, her pupils dilated slightly.
What did she see?
The majestic, fluttering wings standing on the ruins on the left, then tilting its neck to look at their big fat chicken -
It’s really Dabao!
"Dabao!" Qiao Songzhi and Shao's mother were also very happy! They and Shao Shengfei took care of the chickens the most and had the deepest feelings for them. Dabao was almost the mascot of the chickens, and they loved it very much. How could they not be surprised and excited to find it again after losing it?
Dabao tilted his head to look at them for a while, and before Shao Shengan could catch it, it flew down by itself. It was really flying, with its wings spread out, reflecting brilliant colors in the sun. At this moment, it didn't look like a chicken, but more like a proud and confident peacock.
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