Chapter 33
The woman raised an eyebrow. "What? You want both?"
Jiang Zhi nodded.
"What are you doing here on such a hot day?"
Jiang Zhi blinked. "Then why did you put it out to sell?"
The woman choked, momentarily speechless.
Jiang Zhi laughed, "Sister, can you make it cheaper? If it's cheaper, I'll take more."
Based on the price the woman offered, the total would be over a thousand.
The woman frowned, looked at the brother and sister carefully, and said after a moment, "I can only give you a 30% discount at most."
A 30% discount means 805 points.
Jiangzhi wanted the woman to round down the price, but the woman, as if knowing what she was going to say, impatiently warned, "If you dare to make me round down again, I won't sell it to you!"
Jiang Zhi smiled awkwardly.
In the end, Jiangzhi spent 805 points to buy all the winter clothes.
Although it's unknown whether these coats and jackets will fit the Jiang family's figures, if they don't, their second sister-in-law, Xu Na, can alter them after buying them.
Before leaving, Jiang Zhi also asked for the woman's contact information.
"Sister, if you have any more winter clothes in the future, please contact me. Our family would like to buy more."
The woman, Jia Juan, asked upon hearing this, "Do you know something?"
Jiang Zhi feigned ignorance, "What?"
Jia Juan scrutinized her for a while before saying, "Never mind."
Jiang Shu will now act as the one carrying things.
After leaving Jia Juan's stall, the two continued walking. Jiang Shu kept muttering to himself, "Hey Azhi, how many points did Mom give you? Give me a heads-up! The way you're buying things, I'm really worried!"
Just like that, over a thousand yuan was gone.
Jiang Zhi: "Not much, just three thousand points."
Jiang Shu's voice immediately rose eight decibels: "What!?"
"Mom is so biased!?"
Jiang Zhi silently recalled her mother's words.
"Don't let your brother know about these points, or he'll definitely buy all sorts of random things."
"You too, these points are for our family to stock up on goods. If we find you wasting them, there won't be a next time!"
Jiang Shu was furious. "No way! I'm going to confront her when I get there!"
Jiang Zhi shrugged.
Don't let her brother's current state fool you; he'll still be a pushover when it comes to their mother.
Before long, the two saw Niu Dali's family selling things.
At this moment, their stall was surrounded by people.
Niu Dali is clumsy with words, but he stands behind Liu Xu as her guardian.
Because there were many customers, Liu Xu and her husband didn't notice Jiang Zhi and her brother.
Jiangzhi saw what they were selling.
They were all sorts of novel trinkets, a dazzling array that almost made one's eyes glaze over.
—Bookmarks made from the wings of mutated insects, as thin as gauze, with the natural patterns on the wings displaying different colors from different angles.
There were also small mutated beast skulls used as bases, painted with dyes made from different colors, resulting in very vibrant hues. Placed on their makeshift wooden tables, they instantly gained an artistic touch.
There are also necklaces made by wrapping dried, mutated vines with small pieces of metal. The knots of the vines are like natural decorations, and when paired with the shimmering metal, they jingle when worn around the neck.
Seeing this, Jiangzhi couldn't help but admire Liuxu's skillful hands.
No wonder the young couple's life got better and better after leaving the Niu family.
Living with someone who knows how to manage a household makes life enjoyable, no matter how tough it gets.
Jiang Zhi walked over and pointed to one of the bracelets.
"Boss, how much is this bracelet?"
It is made of special plant seeds that can sense radiation intensity. The beads are round and full, and look very nice when worn on the hand.
This thing is like those old items that could sense ultraviolet light; its color subtly changes depending on the surrounding radiation.
I don't know where Niu Dali found it.
"50 points—Sister Azhi!" Liu Xu's words were drowned out by her surprised expression.
"Why did it take you so long to arrive?" Liu Xu said with a smile.
Jiang Zhi: "I took a stroll along the way."
Then someone else asked about the price, and Jiang Zhi said, "You sell your stuff first, I'll talk to Brother Dali."
Liu Xu said generously, "Alright, Dali, you keep Azhi and the others company."
Niu Dali agreed in a simple and honest manner.
Section 2 was quite crowded, so Niu Dali took them to Section 1 next door and found a relatively spacious place.
Jiang Shu plopped down, "Oh dear, these coats are really hot, my hands are about to get a rash."
Jiang Zhi was speechless. "Brother, you should train your endurance more with your uncle."
Jiang Shu was so hot that she used her hands as a fan to cool herself down. "I'll talk about it when I have time."
Niu Dali scratched his head. "Azhi, what do you want from me?"
That big oaf!
Jiang Shu rolled his eyes: "Can't I contact you if there's nothing wrong?"
"No, no!" Niu Dali quickly waved his hands, "I thought you needed my help..."
Seeing that he seemed unable to explain himself, Jiang Zhi didn't waste any more words and said directly:
"Brother Dali, would you like to come with us to collect resources in the future?"
Niu Dali was stunned. "Huh?"
Jiang Zhi just looked at him without saying anything more.
The idea of teaming up with Niu Dali to collect peanuts was only decided on the spur of the moment when Zhang Saozi suggested going to look for mutated peanuts.
After what happened with Feng Yan, Jiang Zhi still felt that one person's strength was too insignificant.
To increase your chances of survival in this cannibalistic world, you still need reliable gathering partners.
Moreover, she didn't know when winter would arrive, but she always made the worst-case scenario plan.
The highest temperatures she recorded during this period have consistently shown a downward trend.
Today's high temperature has dropped to 59 degrees Celsius.
Based on this rate of decline, winter will arrive in no more than three months.
So she set herself a goal: to stock up on enough supplies for her family to get through the winter within two months at most.
All things considered, they don't have much time.
Therefore, teaming up is the most efficient way.
Moreover, Niu Dali has incredible strength, and with him around, they can accomplish many things.
Niu Dali scratched his head, "Azhi, well... we agreed before that I would do whatever you asked me to do, it's just that... I'm not smart enough..."
"You don't need to use your brain; we'll handle the things that require thinking."
Niu Dali grinned sheepishly, "Okay."
Jiang Shu was somewhat surprised, "Brother Dali, you're not even asking about your wife?"
“Ah-Xu said that I will just listen to whatever Ah-Zhi says.”
Jiang Shu: ...He's overthinking it. He thought this guy had finally figured it out.
Jiang Zhi smiled slightly as she took out the wrapped fish belly from her pocket.
"This is good stuff, let's celebrate becoming gathering partners."
Niu Dali: "What's this?"
Just as he was about to take it, Liu Xu had already come over with the child, carrying the table.
Niu Dali withdrew his hand.
"What are you talking about?" She bent down and instructed Niu Xiaolu, "Xiaolu, call for help!"
Niu Xiaolu called out sweetly, "Auntie Azhi, Uncle Big Tree. Uncle Big Tree, you seem to have become even more handsome."
Jiang Shu was overjoyed by the praise and took out some food to give him, saying, "Good boy, Uncle Big Tree will give you something delicious to eat."
Xiao Lu accepted it after Liu Xu agreed.
Jiang Zhi glanced at Liu Xu's crossbody bag. "You're packing up so soon? Did we bother you?"
Liu Xu waved her hand: "No, there wasn't much left anyway, and we've almost sold out. I was just about to pack up at 9 o'clock and head to the center of the square to find a good spot to watch the documentary."
Jiang Zhi didn't expect that it would be almost nine o'clock after just one stroll, so the group decided to chat as they walked.
Jiangzhi told her about inviting Niu Dali to be her gathering partner. She originally thought Liuxu would hesitate, but to her surprise, Liuxu strongly agreed.
“That’s great. I’ve always been worried about Dali going out alone, and I’m also worried about the child when the two of us go out together. Now that Dali is with you, he can be looked after. Speaking of which, I haven’t thanked you for sharing so much fish and meat with us. We haven’t eaten meat in a long time,” Liu Xu said with a smile. “You can just tell him what to do. Dali doesn’t have any other good qualities, but he is obedient.”
Jiang Zhi was ashamed; those words...
It seems that willow catkins are quite a character.
Jiang Zhi: "Since you've agreed, then cook this for Brother Dali tonight."
Liu Xu glanced at it and asked, "What is this?"
Jiang Shu chuckled, "Anyway, it's good stuff."
Liu Xu's heart stirred. She glanced at the brother and sister without showing any emotion, hesitated for a moment, and then accepted it.
The group headed towards Zone 8.
When they returned to Zone 8, the area around the center of the main square was already packed with people.
The group managed to get back to their stall before the crowds became too dense.
The area within a 100-meter radius of the central area was cordoned off by staff.
The rest of the Jiang family had already returned and were sitting on the ground with leaves in their hands, waiting for the movie to start.
Upon seeing Jiang Zhi and the others, Grandma Jiang waved to them, "Zhi, where have you been? Why are you so late? Hurry up and come over, or there won't be any seats left."
The two families benefited from the flatbed cart; it took up a lot of space, and by leaning against it, the people behind them couldn't squeeze in.
Jiang Zhi and the others squeezed together and sat down next to Grandma Jiang.
Upon seeing Niu Dali and his family, Wu Xiu greeted them, "Dali and Liuxu, you've come too!"
Liu Xu smiled and said, "Auntie, I'm sorry to have troubled you."
"Oh, it's nothing."
Niu Xiaolu, with his sweet tongue, greeted all the adults, making the elders smile broadly.
Grandma Jiang gave half of the sweet and sour water she had specially saved for Jiang Zhi and her siblings to Niu Dali's family, saying, "This is the sweet and sour water we made today. You should try some too."
Liu Xu declined, saying, "How could we accept this, Grandma Jiang? If you do this, we won't dare to come and find Azhi."
"What's there to be embarrassed about? You're lucky. We made two buckets of sweet and sour water today; that's all we have left. If you want more, we won't have any. Take it, or give it to the child if you don't want it."
Having come this far, Liu Xu had no choice but to accept.
After giving Niu Xiaolu a sip, she saw her son's eyes light up. "Mom, the sweet and sour water is so delicious. Mom, you should drink some too."
Liu Xu smiled and said, "Mom isn't thirsty, you drink it."
She also took out a chain from her crossbody bag and handed it to Jiang Si, and gave Jiang Sui a toy made of bone, saying, "Si Si and Sui Sui, this is from Auntie."
"Wow!" Jiang Si looked at the sparkling bracelet and loved it so much. She looked up at Wu Xiu and asked, "Grandma, can I have it?"
Wu Xiu smiled and said, "Go ahead and accept it."
After thanking Liu Xu, the two little ones started playing with the Zhang family's children on their own.
Jiang Si didn't know how to unfasten the bracelet clasp, but Niu Xiaolu, ever the friendly type, leaned over and said, "I'll teach you!"
With a "snap," the chain was untied, and Niu Xiaolu put it on Jiang Si. It was shiny and Jiang Si liked it very much.
The children quickly became friends.
Jiang Shu casually tossed the food he had just bought to a few children.
The children cheered immediately, as happy as if it were New Year's Day. They said one cheesy thing after another, like "Uncle Tree is the best," making Jiang Shu beam with joy.
Jiang Zhi didn't see Jiang Hai and Jiang He, so she asked, "Grandma, where are Uncle and Second Uncle?"
"We just bought a lot of grain, so we let them carry it back first."
Jiang Zhi looked around. The Zhang family next door were sitting neatly together, and the baskets on the flatbed cart were empty.
And their two wooden buckets... had disappeared without a trace.
Grandma Jiang chuckled and said, "Don't bother looking, our sweet and sour juice is all sold out! I'll have your uncle and the others take it back with them."
The old lady was as happy as a child.
He whispered in the siblings' ears, "Guess how much we sold today?"
Jiang Shu asked curiously, "Five hundred?"
Grandma Jiang shook her head. "Guess again."
"one thousand?"
He still shook his head.
Jiang Shu's breathing became a few beats heavier. "Could it be 2000?"
Grandma Jiang smiled, her eyes crinkling, "It's one thousand seven hundred and sixty-two!"
Jiang Shu was stunned by this number.
In such a short time, I actually earned more than a thousand points!
This is equivalent to a month's income for their entire family.
Indeed, doing business is the path to wealth and prosperity!
Grandma Jiang looked at Jiang Shu's reaction with satisfaction, and when she saw the coat in his hand, her face lit up with joy, "You actually managed to buy winter clothes?"
Grandma Jiang spoke quite loudly, and Zhang's wife and the others heard it and immediately perked up their ears.
Buying winter clothes at this time of year is quite unusual.
The Jiang family is large, and after spending half a day together, they realized that the Jiang family's words were not unfounded, and they immediately became curious.
Liu Xu was the same; she had been curious about the coat in Jiang Shu's hand ever since she saw it, but she was too embarrassed to ask.
Jiang Shu: "Yes, that's what Azhi found. It wasn't expensive, but there weren't many of them."
Hearing this, Sister Zhang couldn't help but ask, "Sister-in-law, it's so hot, why are you buying winter clothes?"
Grandma Jiang didn't try to hide anything: "I'm worried that the weather will change in the future, so I'm stocking up on some things while I have spare money. It's more cost-effective to buy out of season!"
Sister-in-law Zhang was somewhat tempted.
Although their family wasn't well-off, they were frugal and had some spare money. After hearing what the old lady said, they didn't think she was being unrealistic.
After all, it's only been three years since the cataclysm; who knows what will happen in the future?
Liu Xu smiled and said, "Grandma Jiang's idea is good. She's planning ahead. Since we're already here, it's no big deal to stock up on some clothes."
Grandma Jiang was very happy to be recognized. "Yes, you can also stock up on more food. It's better to have food at home than to panic."
Sister Zhang didn't think much of it.
Liu Xu, however, thought about things more deeply.
Does the Jiang family... know something?
It's no wonder she thought that way; someone who could produce that life-saving powder was definitely not an ordinary person, and it's not impossible that they knew some inside information.
As they were talking, the projectionist in front started up the equipment inside.
A modified van drove past from behind, carrying a projector, a loudspeaker, and several heavy electronic devices.
Jiang Zhi was surprised that the base still had these things.
She couldn't help but crane her neck to look.
The projectors weren't large, and the buttons and knobs on them looked rather complicated. There was a long stand next to them to support the projector lens. A large, round, dark speaker hung from a tree nearby, its power cord snaking along the ground.
It looks a bit like an old antique from the 1970s or 80s.
But it also seems to contain some high-tech elements that are hard to understand—the open-air movie screen is actually 360 degrees, and the entire screen is set up very high.
People almost had to look up to see it.
The projection windows of those projectors were lifted up by the staff, facing the air.
Jiang Zhi was dumbfounded. How should she interpret this?
Seeing her like this, Xu Na smiled and said, "Azhi, isn't this curtain strange?"
Jiang Zhi nodded.
Xu Na said, "We were shocked when we first saw it. It's a 3D projection, and it looks like you're actually there."
Jiang Shu was very interested. "What kind of technology is this?"
Xu Na shook her head, "I don't know, but everyone says it was made from parts extracted from mutated creatures at the base."
Jiang Zhi seemed to be deep in thought.
Before long, people gathered around the screen in droves, including entire families.
The children, like lambs running wild, darted through the crowd, scrambling for the "good spots" in the front row, and every now and then they would stand on tiptoe to peek at when the projector would start.
The adults carried their own small stools, chatted about everyday things, and slowly found an empty spot to sit down, their eyes fixed on the still unlit curtain.
The elderly people, leaning on canes and supported by their children and grandchildren, murmured about wanting to see the outside world, their faces full of anticipation.
As soon as the projector started clicking, the white beam of light shone on the screen, and the crowd instantly fell silent, with only occasional coughs and the hushed chirping of children. Everyone looked up at the screen.
Soon, a flash of white light appeared on the screen, and in the air above, the white screen transformed into beams of white light.
Strangely, despite the ridiculously large screen, people who look at it are able to feel as if they are actually there.
Jiang Zhi sensed the prompts on the dashboard and realized that the projector was made from two golden items.
One is an owl's eye, and the other is a mutated jade.
Their functions are to save the screen/record and to play the past screen externally.
Although I knew the mutated world was amazing, I still felt like my eyes had been opened.
There are indeed many talented people in the base; I never expected them to be able to make such full use of the functions of the golden items.
No wonder the base was built so well in such a short time...
Jiang Zhi snapped out of her reverie and continued looking at the reflection in the sky.
Several mutant figures appeared on the white screen in the air.
And the environment they were in was... ruins.
After the cataclysm, almost all the buildings were submerged in various mutated creatures. In addition, due to the movement of the earth's crust, the outside world was mostly no different from the primeval forest.
But at this moment, several mutants appeared in the ruins covered with vines.
The surrounding area was a desolate jungle, and the occasional bird calls could be heard, seemingly coming from a distant place.
Everything was so realistic that you could see every single leaf in the images. It was even more impressive than the 5D images they had seen before.
The mutants cautiously stepped into the ruins, avoiding the mutated plants that had grown there. After searching upstairs for a while, a female mutant began to use her powers to eliminate the danger.
After a short while, once they were sure it was safe, the tense expressions of the group relaxed slightly.
The video content was very disorganized, and the audience could only glean from the occasional conversations among the mutants that a few of them were searching for something.
It doesn't look like a film; it's more like a somewhat boring documentary.
Despite this, everyone present watched with great interest.
Even ginger twigs are no exception.
Just then, a rustling sound suddenly came from not far away. The sound seemed to echo in everyone's ears, making everyone present tense.
Grandma Jiang nervously grabbed Jiang Zhi's hand.
"Ah Zhi, look at the tree behind that male mutant, isn't it moving?"
Like Grandma Jiang, most people saw the moving tree, which was not only moving but also moving rapidly toward the mutated individuals.
Almost instantly, the moving thing appeared!
Sobbing immediately erupted from the crowd.
Some people recognized the suddenly appearing mutated beasts—
It's a mutated wolf!
And there's more than one!
The younger children were so frightened by the sight that they burst into tears.
The children from the Jiang and Zhang families rushed into the adults' arms.
Even Niu Xiaolu's face was deathly pale, but he was trying to remain calm and staring intently at the curtain.
The five mutants on the screen changed their expressions drastically.
The mutated wolves in front of them were each as strong as calves, far larger than any ordinary wild wolf they had ever seen before.
In the dim jungle, one can clearly see that the mutated wolf is covered in glossy black fur, with each hair standing upright.
Its head was broad, with a hard bump on its forehead, and its blood-red eyes, like eerie will-o'-the-wisps, gleamed with murderous intent. From its gaping maw, sharp fangs gleamed coldly.
Its limbs looked very strong and powerful. The thick, long tail behind it had hair like a steel whip, which whistled through the air when it was swung, exuding a ferocious and chilling aura.
Suddenly, the mutated wolves with ferocious faces lunged at the group, howling and drool flying from their mouths.
At the same time, huge mutated vines coiled around it like pythons.
The female mutant's expression changed drastically upon seeing this: "Oh no! We've fallen into their trap!"
The people present were stunned by the real and tense atmosphere.
Some people were even so frightened that they screamed.
These mutated plants and mutated wolves are clearly cooperating.
Jiang Zhi stared intently at the mutated creature above.
Unexpectedly, the mutated creatures outside have already developed intelligence.
Although it's still not as good as a human, it's still enough to give anyone a headache.
The ginger tree looked at the ginger branches and felt a chill run down its spine.
He never imagined that the outside world would be so terrifying.
Previously, their territory consisted of an air-raid shelter that was only a few hundred square meters in size.
Although there are mutated plants outside, the degree of mutation is not high.
In addition, there is a small mountain village nearby.
After the cataclysm, although the villagers were all gone, most of the buildings were still well preserved.
At that time, his family lived with companions they met on the road, barely surviving by searching for food in the small mountain village.
They stayed there for three whole years; compared to the fierce fighting above, their place was like a paradise.
Jiang Shu couldn't help but say, "Hey, Azhi, do you think there was something protecting us where we lived before? We stayed there for so long and didn't encounter any powerful mutated creatures..."
What was said without malice may have been taken to heart by the listener.
Jiang Zhi pursed her lips.
She had her doubts.
Unfortunately, her dashboard hadn't been upgraded when she left, and it's unclear whether it was affected by some special golden item.
Their previous territory wasn't far from the base.
The journey took a day and a night.
In order to stay safe on the road, they dug a temporary underground garage in the middle of the road before heading to the base as a shelter for the night.
That night was the most difficult night they had ever had.
Looking back now, it seems that the place they lived before was quite safe compared to other places.
Just as Jiang Zhi was lost in thought, a muscular mutant roared, flames suddenly erupting from his hand as he slammed it down on a wolf that pounced on him, causing it to howl in agony. Another mutant, whose eyes glowed blue, grabbed a vine with hands like eagle claws and yanked it hard. With a snap, the vine broke, and green sap splattered everywhere.
However, more mutated animals and plants rushed in. One of the mutated wolves opened its blood-red maw and bit at a mutated creature. Just then, a female mutated creature leaped up and plunged a sharp blade into its neck, causing blood to gush out.
But the mutated wolf, scorched by the flames, its fur blackened and smoking, became even more ferocious.
Ignoring the pain of its wounds, it pushed off the rubble with its hind legs and leaped up again, opening its blood-red maw full of blisters and lunging straight for the throat of the flame mutant. Its sharp claws slashed through the air, creating a hissing sound.
"Oh my god!!!"
Another scream of fear erupted from the crowd!
Fortunately, the mutant was quite agile and quickly took a step back. Even so, the mutated wolf still managed to bite off his arm.
Seeing this, the other uninjured mutated wolves nearby tacitly spread out, forming a fan-shaped encirclement.
The most agile wolf head, its eyes flashing with an eerie green light, crouched low, its belly almost touching the ground, and silently circled behind a young mutant. Just as the mutant was focused on dealing with the frontal vine attack, the wolf pounced like a black lightning bolt, biting at his hind leg. Its sharp fangs instantly pierced through the muscle, and the young mutant screamed as he fell to the ground.
Just then, the video abruptly stopped.
"What happened? Why is it gone? Is the signal bad?"
Is something wrong?
"How are they now?"
Some people have low stress tolerance.
Upon seeing this, she even burst into tears.
Suddenly, the loudspeaker came on.
"It's not that the signal is bad, but that the recorder is injured, and that's all the footage we have."
Someone recognized the person who came out and spoke, "It's Captain Ji Xing!"
"Oh my god, Ah Zhi, isn't this the person we met before?"
Jiang Shu, with his good eyesight, immediately recognized him as Captain Ji, whom they had met at the construction materials store in Zone B.
Jiang Zhi hesitated for a moment—could this be an accident that happened on the way to find the rhinoceros horn?
Ji Xing continued, "The video we're showing you today is of our mutants encountering mutated beasts while on a mission for the base."
"The reason we chose this footage is to let everyone know that the front lines are always fraught with danger. The comfortable life we enjoy now is thanks to the hard work of our frontline explorers. We hope everyone can cherish this life."
"They took on unimaginable dangers for us, leaving hope and security for everyone. It was their courage that allowed the base's boundaries to expand continuously; it was their perseverance that brought about a more relaxed life for the masses. In those days of being away from their loved ones and pushing their limits, they never flinched in the slightest."
Ji Xing's words moved everyone present.
Someone shouted, "Captain Ji, are they still alive?"
Ji Xing nodded. "These mutants were lucky this time; they all returned safely. However, the two injured mutants' limbs will never fully recover."
The crowd erupted in uproar.
Does this mean those two people are crippled?
Some residents who had become disabled due to collecting materials were deeply disturbed upon hearing this.
They kept complaining and blaming others.
It turns out that in places unseen by them, mutants also face these cruel threats just like them.
After the night market ended, the crowd remained unsettled for a long time.
Although Jiang Zhi knew this was a tactic used by the base to appease and win over people, the sacrifices made on the front lines were genuine.
The moon overhead was as red as if it had just been stained with blood, hanging in the sky and illuminating the earth in a crimson light.
As people walked along the moonlit road, their shadows stretched long.
The people around were all on their way home in twos and threes.
Discussions about the footage were rampant among those around them.
At times like these, ordinary people feel more clearly that the world has changed dramatically.
It is already a great blessing to have survived safely.
In the face of brutal survival of the fittest, hunger seems insignificant.
When they reached the fork in the road, the Niu family parted ways with them.
Along the way, Jiang Si was led by Wu Xiu, and she kept asking, "Grandma, what will happen to those two mutant uncles in the future?"
Wu Xiu was in a bad mood; the images reminded her of her husband and son.
But she still responded to Jiang Si: "They will be taken care of."
Jiang Si said, "That's wonderful. They've contributed to the base; they're good uncles who serve the people. My father and grandfather have also contributed to our family; they're good fathers and grandfathers too!"
Wu Xiu's eyes were slightly red, but she couldn't help but want to laugh.
“You’re right, they are good fathers and good grandfathers.”
Jiang Sui said, "Grandma, don't worry. When I grow up, I can do a lot of work and find lots of food for the family, just like Dad and Grandpa!"
Everyone laughed.
Grandma Jiang looked at the points in her hand and sighed, "If only there were a night market every day."
Yuan Ying said with a smile, "If there were a night market every day, our products wouldn't sell so well."
As before, ordinary people save up their savings over a period of time before they can afford to splurge once in a while. Setting up a stall every day doesn't guarantee that anyone can afford it.
Wu Xiu said, "It's a pity we don't have many candies left, otherwise we could do this business in the future."
Jiang Wen: "It's alright. We'll see what materials we have at home and make something else using what we have. I've seen many people make food that isn't very good, but still a lot of people buy it."
He felt a sense of satisfaction after making a sale today; the feeling of making money so quickly can be addictive.
The family chatted as the heavy atmosphere brought about by the recording slowly dissipated.
The brother and sister walked behind the crowd, listening to their family members chatting amongst themselves, and remained somewhat silent.
"Ah Zhi, what if we become mutants in the future...?"
Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Zhi interrupted him: "Brother, are you scared?"
Jiang Shutou shook his head vigorously, like a rattle-drum, "I'm not afraid."
Jiang Zhi lowered her head, looking at the gravel road beneath her feet, and pursed her lips: "Brother, I'm selfish. I only want my family to be safe and healthy, and I only want them to not go hungry or suffer. As for contributing to the base, I... won't consider it for now."
Therefore, even if she became a mutant, she didn't want to join any vanguard team...
She wants to become stronger, simply to protect her family and herself.
Jiang Shu nodded seriously: "Azhi, I think the same as you. I like freedom. As long as I can eat well, I'm satisfied. I don't want to think about anything else."
*
On the other side, Niu Dali and his wife and children returned home. As soon as they entered the door, Niu Xiaolu skipped and hopped as he put the gift Jiang Si had given him into his small cabinet.
"Mom, can I still go play with Sisi again?"
Liu Xu smiled and said, "Then next time Mom goes to see them, she'll take you with her."
Niu Xiaolu clapped his hands happily, "That's great! I like Sisi, and I also like Grandma Jiang and the others."
Liu Xu patted his head.
She hadn't seen her son so happy in a long time.
After putting her son to sleep, Liu Xu asked Niu Dali to take out the things Jiang Zhi had given her.
"Dali, look what Azhi gave us?"
She had a feeling that it was something as good as the medicine powder.
Niu Dali took out the item, opened the leaf, and both of them were a little confused.
"Wife, wife, this looks like a piece of fish belly to me?"
Liu Xu took it out and looked at it, "It's fish belly."
It looks like it came with the half fish that Niu Dali brought back that day.
It wasn't bad, but it wasn't particularly fresh.
"Dali, let's cook and eat it quickly, otherwise it won't last long."
Niu Dali had no reason to refuse.
The two went to the kitchen.
Niu Dali squatted in front of the stove adding firewood. The water in the pot was bubbling and boiling. Niu Dali put the fish belly in, and it was cooked in no time.
I scooped up the willow catkins and gave them to him.
As always, Niu Dali said, "Wife, you eat first."
Liu Xu slapped it across the face.
"This is from Azhi, you can eat it yourself!"
Niu Dali scratched his head. "Wife, don't be afraid. Azhi shouldn't mind these things."
Liu Xu rolled her eyes. "I said I'd give it to you, so I'll give it to you! Stop talking nonsense!"
When we parted just now, Jiangzhi specifically instructed that this stuff should only be given to Dali, so how could she possibly cause trouble?
Niu Dali reluctantly ate the cooked fish belly.
Liu Xu looked at him nervously, "How are you? How do you feel?"
Niu Dali sensed it for a moment, and a look of doubt appeared on his face.
Just as I was about to answer, a knocking sound suddenly came from outside the courtyard, so loud that the dust accumulated on the door frame fell down in a flurry.
"Niu Dali! You heartless ingrate, open the door for me!" Niu Dezhu's raspy voice pierced through the mud wall. Liu Xu's hand trembled, her face changed drastically, and she said hatefully, "They actually dare to come again..."
Niu Dali grabbed her hand, "Wife, don't be afraid, I'm here!"
The door was pounded even harder.
Niu Dali told Liu Xu to hide in the hall, and went out to open the door himself.
As soon as the bolt was removed, Niu Dezhu kicked open the courtyard gate, followed by his foster mother, Old Lady Niu.
What are you doing here?
Niu Dali's tall and strong figure blocked the two of them.
"What are we doing here? My good son, who was it that said he would give us a monthly pension?" Old Mrs. Niu stretched out her hand to Niu Dali: "Give it to me!"
Niu Dali's honest and simple face showed anger. "We just gave it to him half a month ago!"
As soon as Niu Dali finished speaking, Old Lady Niu plopped down on the doorstep, slapping her thigh and wailing, "Neighbors, come and be the judge! We, the old couple, raised this bastard with so much hardship, and now that he's married, he's forgotten all about his parents! He only gives us that meager monthly allowance! Look how thin we've become, while the two of them are eating their fill and getting plump! Aren't they afraid of divine retribution?!"
There were many people outside at that moment, and they all shook their heads upon seeing this.
"The Niu family is here again."
A small number of people watched the spectacle, saying, "Niu Dali! That's not very kind of you. Look how hungry your parents are. You're so unfilial! They raised you after all."
“I…you…” Niu Dali was tongue-tied, his face flushed red from the words, but he didn’t know how to refute them.
Liu Xu, who was hiding in the hall, couldn't hold back any longer. She rushed out, pointed at the two of them, and cursed, "Bullshit!"
"Why don't you say that you've treated Dali like an ox or a horse since he was a child?"
"Not only did he have to do the hardest work, but he's such a big guy, and he only drinks half a bowl of porridge every day. He was so hungry that he fainted at home and no one cared. All the food he found and earned went into your own stomachs!"
"When we divided the family property, it was agreed that your Niu family disliked my Dali for eating too much, so you kicked us out and wouldn't even give us a chance to survive! What did we do then? We knelt down in your house and begged you for some food! And you said you had none!!"
"No? Bah!" Liu Xu said fiercely. "How dare you say that!"
"Back then, in order to find food, Dali had no choice but to do hard labor and scavenge... We suffered for so long, and finally life got better, and you still dare to come here!?"
"The 200 points we give each month as retirement funds have all gone into the mouths of these beasts!?"
Niu Dezhu and his companion were severely scolded.
Many passersby couldn't help but stop and watch.
Old Mrs. Niu was mortified. She jumped up abruptly, her fingernails almost digging into Liu Xu's face: "You brat, how dare you talk nonsense! If we hadn't rescued Dali from the snowdrift back then, he would have been fed to the wild dogs long ago!" She suddenly ripped open her coat, revealing a patchwork of clothes underneath, and cried out at the top of her lungs: "Look at this, everyone! We can't even afford a decent piece of clothing, and this wretched child lives in a brick house!"
"Now that you're living a better life, you don't take us seriously anymore, do you?!"
Niu Dezhu squinted his triangular eyes: "Old woman, stop yelling. If we don't get any points today, we'll sleep here!"
More and more people are pointing fingers and gossiping.
Liu Xu felt a sense of despair. "Dali used up all his points trying to save me!"
Old Mrs. Niu's calculating eyes darted around. "Didn't you go to set up your stall today? We all saw you make quite a bit of money!"
Liu Xu's suspicions were confirmed, and she said angrily, "No! All those points are for paying off debts!"
How could Old Lady Niu possibly believe that?
She stepped forward, grabbed Liu Xu's hand, and turned her detector over to examine it.
Liu Xu wasn't about to let her have her way; she slapped Old Lady Niu's hand away.
This directly stirred up a hornet's nest.
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