Upon waking up to a scene of writhing, blood-red flesh, Zhao Xiaoxiu found herself not frightened at all. Instead, she cheerfully raised her little hand and greeted the bloodshot eyes around her, saying, "Hello!"
Although the human cub couldn't understand why its living father liked to wrap himself up so much.
But she had to admit that it was warm and quiet inside, which greatly improved her sleep quality.
Moreover, with Abebe in my arms, I felt even more at ease.
Last night before going to bed, Zhao Xiaoxiu wondered what her father wanted to do by bringing her baby, Abeibei, out of the house.
Now she knows.
Zhao Gang planned to take her and the Meng brothers on the mission.
Abebe was used as a baby carrier for her.
Zhao Gang actually wanted to stuff her directly into his body and wrap her up, which would be very convenient.
But he also realized that humans might not be able to accept this method of carrying.
Kosode said not to expose herself in front of other humans, so it's better to use a baby carrier, which is a way for humans to carry children.
In order to be able to leave on time at 6:30, Meng Laoda knocked on Zhao Xiaoxiu's door at 5:00 in the morning and asked Zhao Gang to go to the water room to queue up.
That way, when the water is released at six o'clock, they can immediately collect the water.
Go home and get ready, then set off promptly at 6:30.
Neither Meng Laoda nor Meng Laoer expected that there would be a three-year-old child in the team.
"Xiao Xiu?"
Meng Lao Er was shocked, wondering if there was something wrong with his eyes. He rubbed his eyes, opened them again, and looked over.
Zhao Gang was seen carrying a backpack, a stick and a rope on his shoulder, a machete in his left hand, and a bulging package hanging on his chest.
The person with spiky yellow hair in the package could only be Zhao Xiaoxiu!
"Uncle Meng, Second Uncle Meng," Zhao Xiaoxiu greeted them obediently.
Actually, his toes were already awkwardly curled up.
She knew, of course, that having a three-year-old in the group would cause a lot of trouble, but her father insisted on taking her with him.
In Zhao Gang's own words, how could his own cubs be no match for those low-level mutated trash? He had to take them out for some training.
"The cubs are too thin and weak. They need more exercise to grow strong!"
Zhao Gang explained this with a serious expression.
After saying that, without looking at the incredulous faces of the Meng brothers, he put one hand on the stick on his shoulder, carried the machete in the other, and with a backpack full of survival supplies for the cubs on his back, he led the cubs wrapped tightly in front of him, his eyes firm, and strode out of the base.
Boss Meng: "No, Brother Gangzi, you..."
Meng Lao Er quickly caught up and tried to dissuade him: "Once you leave the base, there are mutated plants everywhere. Gangzi, don't joke around!"
Zhao Gang wasn't joking with them; he was serious.
They ignored their advice completely.
The three walked through the shantytown and arrived at the isolation zone.
A road runs straight through the middle of the median strip, connecting to the outside of the city into a continuous forest that stretches as far as the eye can see.
Two old pickup trucks and a modified Wuling Hongguang minivan were parked by the roadside.
The van driver leaned against the side of the vehicle, a cigarette butt dangling from his mouth as he savored the taste. His previously lazy eyes lit up instantly when he saw Zhao Gang and his group approaching.
"Hey! Going into the mountains?" the driver asked.
Zhao Gang strode forward, his eyes fixed straight ahead, but Boss Meng quickly pulled him back. "Get in the car, let's go to the foot of the mountain."
The last sentence, "Go to the foot of the mountain," was directed at the driver.
The driver immediately laughed and opened the car door for the group.
He glanced at the bulging ball in Zhao Gang's arms, looked at it curiously for a few more seconds, and frowned slightly. He had never seen anyone bring such a small child into the mountains.
"Four people, eight points."
"Hey, why are you taking in kids too? They don't even take up a spot," Meng Lao Er said irritably.
The driver sneered and pulled an old-fashioned pistol from his pocket. "Take it or leave it, if you don't want to, get lost!"
Meng Lao Er wanted to say something, but Meng Lao Da stopped him.
"Eight points it is, when are we leaving?" Boss Meng asked as he transferred the points to the driver.
After collecting the points, the driver didn't put his gun away; he just lowered the muzzle and stopped pointing it at anyone.
He said lazily, "We'll leave once everyone's here."
The group could only wait, as there was still a long way to go from the base to the foot of the mountain.
If I walk, I'll waste most of my time on the road today, and I'll also expend a lot of energy.
At that point, let alone fighting mutated hyenas, even a random mutated plant that can run by the roadside could take away most of their lives.
Many people wanted to go into the mountains, and the minibus was full in no time.
But the driver wouldn't leave; he crammed twenty people into the van before starting the car.
With a large number of people and a lot of things to bring into the mountains, the small van slowly drove out of the open median strip.
The forest outside the base was like a colossal creature, its mouth agape, slowly swallowing cars full of people.
Behind the minivan, a series of modified SUVs caught up, overtaking it in a flash and quickly leaving it behind.
This was Zhao Xiaoxiu's first time leaving the base, and the first time she had seen so many trees and cars. She was overwhelmed by the sights through the car window.
Suddenly, another hunting party's convoy sped past them, looking aggressive.
As I was turning, I overtook another vehicle on the curve and almost pushed the van off the road.
"Damn it!" the driver cursed angrily, "What's with the arrogance?!"
The passengers, who had been squeezed flat, were all furious and started cursing as well.
Zhao Xiaoxiu's gaze remained fixed on the metal plate floating on the hood of the SUV.
The suspension panel is two meters wide and four meters long, almost matching the width of the car roof, so it's clearly custom-made.
The suspension plate is connected to the vehicle by a nylon rope. The suspension plate is full of supplies, but it does not take up any weight or space inside the vehicle.
People can sit comfortably inside, and all their belongings are placed on the suspension board; the vehicle travels at extremely high speeds.
Despite his cursing, the driver couldn't help but sigh with envy, "I wish I could have a hovercraft someday."
At that time, one truck will be able to carry forty people!
Meng Lao Er was still brooding over the two extra points he had received, and upon hearing this, he scoffed, "A hovercraft isn't something you can just buy whenever you want. You have to make a contribution to the base and earn contribution points first."
The driver glared at him, and Meng had no choice but to put on a smile, since he would need the driver's car to pick him up in the evening.
An hour later, the van stopped at Zhao Gang and his group's destination.
Meng paid four more points in advance, asking the driver to come back and pick them up in the evening.
The driver said, "I'll wait until 6 PM. If the people haven't arrived by 6 PM, I won't care about you."
It's dark and dangerous outside; he's not willing to risk his life for these people.
Moreover, many people go into the mountains, but few come out.
These three people had a child with them; what difference was there between them and going to their deaths?
Meng nodded to indicate that he understood the rules.
Before leaving, he threatened the driver that if he took the points and didn't do the job, he would definitely cause trouble for him when he got back. After the driver made repeated assurances, he led Zhao Gang and his daughter into the mountains along the route they had scouted the day before.
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