Chapter 375: Bound to the Childbearing System and Became a Winner in Life Chapter 376: Wasteland Gathering Daily Life (4)

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

Finally got a harvest!

Shen Yao's face was full of surprise, her hands moving faster and faster, afraid someone would notice and swarm over to disturb her.

People like that are everywhere; if they can't find their own, they sidle up to others to brazenly pick up the leaks, and you can't even say anything about it, because the land is ownerless.

Huffing and puffing, she dug out the bamboo shoots; the adult-arm-length shoots weighed over ten catties, and after peeling the outer skin, there was still a lot of edible flesh inside.

The back basket was half-filled with bamboo shoots in an instant; Shen Yao continued feeling around the surrounding ground, hoping to dig up another large bamboo shoot.

"Aaaaaah! There are bamboo worms here!"

"Where? Where? Don't snatch, don't snatch, I saw them first."

"..."

A noisy clamor rose up ahead; Shen Yao lifted her head for a glance, then kept searching for her own plump, white bamboo shoots.

Because it hadn't rained much, the quantity of bamboo shoots in the bamboo forest wasn't high.

Moreover, most of the bamboo shoots were already old; even if dug up, they wouldn't taste good — bitter and astringent — unless the family truly had no food.

"Girl, girl"

Song Ling waved at Shen Yao; Shen Jiancheng stood beside Song Ling, busy wiping sweat.

He had already chopped down several bamboo stalks as thick as a thigh; Shen Jiancheng was doing the finishing work.

Shen Yao came over and lowered her head to look at her busy dad, not understanding Song Ling's purpose.

"Stunned, huh? Look quick?" Song Ling pointed at the gray lumps buried under the bamboo forest, a type of fungus, edible but with a peculiar flavor.

"This thing yields a large quantity; you and I dig some and take them back. Even if we don't eat them, we can sell them to the Exchange Center. The nutrient agents at the Exchange Center — where do they come from? Aren't they just a paste mixed from these very things? It's only natural Song Ling dislikes nutrient agents."

Shen Yao:...

Shen Yao gave an "mm" of acknowledgment, nodded, turned around, and with head bowed used the tool in her hand to directly scrape away the soil under the bamboo forest.

Song Ling bent over, happily picking them up; the detection needle indicated edibility, so she tossed them into the hemp sack.

They had brought out quite a few hemp sacks this time; Song Ling had discovered this treasure food again, and planned to leave only after filling them full.

"Mom, how about we also go check out the bamboo rats?" After digging for about an hour, Shen Yao couldn't hold back, persuading Song Ling not to be too heartless/greedy.

Song Ling was already lost in these gray lumps; even though the gray lumps didn't taste great, and even the points at the Exchange Center weren't high, who cared when the yield was so large.

See, one hemp sack was already full, and a second was about to be filled.

Song Ling didn't care what others thought; adhering to the principle of never letting grain go to waste, Song Ling planned to collect all the gray lumps in the surrounding area.

As for the bamboo rats, "Not going, it's very dangerous there. Your brother can run and jump on his own; if we go, we'll just add trouble for him."

Song Ling tidied the already half-full hemp sack, pointed at the gray lumps not far away, and had Shen Yao continue.

Shen Yao:...

Shen Yao sighed, buried her head and worked hard; by the way, when she encountered bamboo shoots she also tested them — edible ones she dug out and put in the back basket, inedible ones she ignored, letting them keep growing.

The family of three all worked hard at their own tasks, until a shout came from not far away, and only then did Shen Jiancheng call out to stop the two of them.

"Something happened up ahead!"

Shen Jiancheng's tone was certain. "Hurry and head out, everyone stop digging."

Song Ling and Shen Yao exchanged a glance, tacitly shouldering their back baskets and lifting their hemp sacks.

By the time the people at the bamboo forest edge had all run out of the forest, Shen Jiancheng planned to go in and scout the situation; he hadn't forgotten Shen Yu was still inside, and no matter what, he had to take a look.

Song Ling was frantic with worry, instructing him again and again, afraid Shen Jiancheng would go and never return.

Shen Yao grabbed Song Ling's wrist and carefully soothed her. "Dad and Brother won't have any trouble."

Gene Awakeners dealing with a bamboo forest is just a minor problem; this bamboo forest has no great danger, otherwise the Base wouldn't allow the bamboo forest to grow unchecked.

"Just afraid they'll be careless. You don't know, blah blah blah..." Song Ling went on and on, basically all about things that happened to surrounding neighbors.

You have to know, out there beyond the Base, a death is perfectly normal; who can guarantee they'll forever avoid mishap?

Shen Yao's gaze fixed on the bamboo forest; rustling sounds, people constantly running out, chattering in a babble describing that something had happened deep in the bamboo forest.

As for what exactly occurred?

"Bamboo rat riot! Come quick, come quick! Let's hurry and pick up the bamboo rats to take back."

Shen Jiancheng ran out, carrying a blood-dripping bamboo rat corpse in his hand — only half a body left — but Shen Jiancheng was very happy.

Edible meat, and low-degree mutation at that; even if it only has one leg, he's taking it home!

Song Ling and Shen Yao, carrying their own things, ran toward the depths of the bamboo forest; the family of three didn't stop their steps. When they arrived, they saw Shen Yu, covered in blood, skinning and testing the bamboo rats.

"Mom"

Shen Yu grinned, looking just like a pervert; fortunately Song Ling's gaze was entirely on the pile of bamboo rat corpses stacked up — as for Shen Yu's appearance, it didn't matter.

"Girl, hurry and hold the sack open, stuff all the bamboo rat meat inside."

Rolling up their sleeves and joining the testing lineup, the family of four cooperated with tacit understanding; the accumulated bamboo rat corpses directly filled the hemp sacks they had brought.

"The blood smell is too heavy here; we need to return to Base quickly. No going out this afternoon."

Who knows what madness seized the bamboo rats; Shen Jiancheng wondered if deeper in the bamboo forest there had been some mutation they didn't know about.

The biological world has always followed survival of the fittest, the theory of natural selection.

Before certain wild beasts, bamboo rats are just Kamilla — not even enough for a snack of two liang of meat.

Now the bamboo rats are rushing out like mad; even if killed they still charge out — there must be a more powerful wild beast that entered, forcing them to desperately try to survive.

The family of four wasn't greedy, unlike other people; there were even more crowds who, hearing the commotion, specially rushed over, facing the bamboo rats and falling into frenzy.

The small cart was stacked with hemp sacks, and blood water dripped down along the sacks.

Shen Yao carried a back basket on her back, filled with the bamboo shoots and bamboo leaves she had dug up earlier.

Avoiding the crowd squeezing over, Shen Yao looked back, and was called away by Shen Jiancheng.

"Dad, you say they..." Shen Yao wanted to say dangerous, the longer they stayed the easier it was for trouble to happen.

"Depends on luck, who can not be tempted?" These are all meat that can be eaten and sold, easily gaining dozens or hundreds of catties, everyone wants it.

"We can't control other people, let's go back, the Patrol Team will come over."

The Base cannot not care, the Base has even already received news of the bamboo rat riot, deeper levels may also know.

Shen Yao nodded, lifted her leg and followed Shen Jiancheng, in just half an hour they had already left the Bamboo Forest and walked onto the main road returning to the Base.

Besides the crowd wanting to watch the excitement, there were also Patrol Team members wearing uniforms beside them.

Shen Yao's gaze swept clean, only pausing for an instant before placing her vision on herself.

The queuing situation at the Base gate reversed, a sea of people coming out, very few going in.

Shen Yao's family of four returned from the Bamboo Forest wrapped in bundles large and small, attracting much attention, especially when they put the hemp sacks and other things on the conveyor belt for inspection, those gaze-like searchlights stabbed people until they couldn't help but want to turn their backs.

Shen Jiancheng and Shen Yu blocked at the very front with cold faces, scaring other people so they didn't dare ask more.

Song Ling and Shen Yao lowered their heads carrying back baskets and left, not exhaling until they had walked far away.

Patting her chest, Song Ling complained that every time they couldn't gather too much food, otherwise those people would always pry into something, like annoying flies buzzing buzzing buzzing.

"Hurry back, this meat can't be kept too long," the weather is getting warmer and warmer, to store meat besides making it into jerky is to rub salt and cure it.

Of course, if you have money you can buy a freezer, directly freeze the meat.

However the Base's electricity fee is somewhat expensive, the freezer is even more the Exchange Center's treasure, their family only had points to install the space a few years ago, as for the freezer, they still need to save for some days.

"Fortunately yesterday we bought salt and canisters back, today we'll cure it all when we go back."

Song Ling shook the hemp sack in her hand, inside were all bamboo rat skins, smelling of extremely heavy bloody smell, yet also a very good warmth-keeping tool.

The family's winter leather clothes are somewhat worn, just right to use bamboo rat skins to mend and mend, when the time comes pick some cotton back, the cold season days will be much better.

Creak—

Open the iron lock, push open the gate, the four people put things in the Courtyard, casually found a place to rest panting heavily.

They left in the morning until now, not even bearing to drink a mouthful.

Bellies gurgled and called, Song Ling lifted out a bamboo rat weighing several catties from the hemp sack, heroically declaring tonight they would eat bamboo rat meat.

As for right now, casually pad some coarse flour mantou, still better hurry up and work.

Shen Yao:...

Shen Yao took out the woven rush mat and spread it in the Courtyard, poured out the bamboo shoots and bamboo leaves planning to air-dry.

The gray lumps Song Ling gathered were sent to the Exchange Center by Shen Jiancheng who had rested over with the cart, uniformly exchanged for points, conveniently also purchasing Nutrient Agent to supplement, they father and son would use when going out later.

"These low-degree Mutations, leave some for daily eating. Store the rest.

Moderate Mutation ones all bake into jerky, and these bamboo rat skins, Xiao Yu ah..."

Song Ling commanded Shen Yu busy busy, Shen Yao fiddled with bamboo leaves years quiet good.

Suddenly several huge roars came from the distance, hearing people all looked up in unison.

"Mom, someone is running."

Shen Yao pointed at the Street end, figures continuously sprinting back.

Song Ling subconsciously gripped Shen Yu's wrist, "Your dad hasn't returned yet, nothing will happen right."

"Nothing," Shen Yu comforted, "From the movement it sounds like Base Outside."

They stay in the Base Interior C District, above their heads there is also a thick layer of dense Energy Grid, if something happens here it can only be said to be the Base's survival crisis, wherever they flee they can't escape.

"Xiao Yu ah, you go see your dad, he..." Song Ling's words not finished, was interrupted by Shen Yao.

"Mom, Dad is back."

The one pulling a cart running back at the front is precisely their family's Comrade Lao Shen.

Song Ling craned her neck to look forward, sure enough saw Shen Jiancheng.

Busily pushed open their own gate, waited for Shen Jiancheng to arrive in front then pulled the person inside.

Shen Jiancheng laughed hehe letting Song Ling wipe sweat for him, himself panting roughly explaining the movement just now was Base Patrol Team people opened fire.

"A big guy ran out inside the Bamboo Forest, wooden warehouse couldn't beat it so had to open fire."

This fire refers to the several Energy Cannons placed at the Base gate, one shot can blast a three-story small Building to pieces.

Just now fired several shots in a row, visible the danger on the Bamboo Forest side is bigger than imagined.

Song Ling heard finished busy chanting Bodhisattva bless, fortunately they returned timely, otherwise would have to fight for time with other people.

The Bamboo Forest certainly has many people who didn't have time to run, who knows if lives will be gone.

"Who says not, this time Bamboo Forest also can't go, we tomorrow still have to change to a new place."

Shen Jiancheng muttered quietly, most worried is still not having enough time to store a certain amount of food, Gene Awakeners' appetite is really good, and once they can't eat full belly, Gene Awakeners will accelerate Gene Collapse.

City Outside matters waited until afternoon to end, hearing from people who escaped a disaster, what ran out from Bamboo Forest depths were two Wild Boars several meters tall and strong.

Just like the crazy bamboo rats, crazily rushed toward the Base, finally blasted into fragments by the Base's Energy Cannon shells.

Evening eating, family of four as wished ate all the stewed bamboo rat meat into bellies, counting vegetable dish and a basin of coarse flour mantou made, ordinary families can't afford to eat.

"Lao Song, Lao Song"

Outside the gate was knocked, familiar female voice drifted in along the Window.

Song Ling wiped her mouth, herself stood up opened the Room door, smiling greeted neighbor Lao Zhou who came looking for her.

These two's sisterhood, say plastic not right, say true feelings can't talk about, just daily able to gather together gossip partners.

This not, don't know because what matter gathered together muttering muttering, when Song Ling returned, face emotion obviously not right.

Three people one look look me, I look at you, finally Shen Yao opened mouth, "Mom, what did Aunt Zhou say."

Song Ling waved her hand, her tone casual, "Your Aunt Zhou came over to deliver a wedding invitation; their Ying Zi is getting married next week."

Shen Yao:... Ah?

"Mom, Zhou Ying is the same age as me, how come she's getting married so fast."

Although the base, in order to maintain population quantity, defaults that men and women can marry once they turn sixteen, those who actually marry are all young men and women in their twenties.

No other reason, just poor.

Everything at the base is expensive; marrying is easy but surviving is hard, how can one marry without a bit of family savings.

Otherwise how could Shen Yao gather in peace of mind, if not because marriage wasn't pressing.

As a result, Zhou Ying actually got married quietly without a sound; wouldn't it affect herself.

Shen Yao was somewhat worried, but didn't speak it out, only heard that next week she would attend the wedding together with Song Ling, nothing else was mentioned.

In the following days, the family of four only moved about in the surroundings of North City and City West.

Waiting until the riverside was unsealed, Shen Jiancheng and Shen Yu once again carried their luggage and went out hunting with the mercenary team people.

Song Ling and Shen Yao, although reluctant, also knew the family's food was still far from enough; the mother and daughter decisively boarded the bus heading outside, going to more distant places to gather.

"A round trip by bus costs 2 points; we haven't done anything yet and just entering costs 8 points, truly expensive."

Song Ling carried the back basket, inside it loaded full with the hemp sacks they brought out.

The place the two came to this time is called Pine Tree Ridge; the surroundings have the most pine trees, easy to find some mushrooms, pine nuts, and squirrel granaries.

Song Ling planned to collect some pine needles to take back for kindling, and also gather some mushrooms to dry and store; Pine Tree Ridge thus stood out, becoming the mother and daughter's destination today.

The bus stopped; the people squeezed on the bus got off one by one and left.

"Head back at 4:30 in the afternoon; if late, no waiting," the driver spoke very coolly; finishing speaking, he turned and left, not wanting to stay outside a moment longer.