Chapter 385: Bound to the Childbearing System, Becoming a Winner in Life Chapter 386: Wasteland Gathering Daily Life (14)

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

Shen Jiancheng walked ahead pushing the cart in his hand, with Cheng Qi following behind.

Cheng Qi had just gotten off work and came over; on his way home he ran into Shen Jiancheng, and seeing his father-in-law busy, Cheng Qi couldn't just leave indifferently, so he simply followed along to help.

Shen Yao waved her hand, "How are you?" These past two days Cheng Qi was very tired; the Patrol Team members were all busy taking leave to dig sweet potatoes, and the Sweet Potato Garden area had become a popular Collection Point now, with several extra buses added to the route from the Base.

"It's fine, I can rest after being busy for two more days," the Patrol Team wouldn't always let him cover shifts, besides, Cheng Qi was helping to repay a past favor; owed favors shouldn't make him keep working this hard.

"My dad and Eldest Young Master will be back soon, why not set a time with Uncle Shen and Aunt Song first, our matter" definitely requires both families to sit down for a formal meal together; before there was no chance to meet, and now the Hot Rainy Season is almost here, Cheng Qi doesn't want to drag it out.

"Let's just decide today," Shen Yao settled it with one word, thinking it's better to pick a day than to hit the day, how could there be so many things.

Cheng Qi smiled, his handsome face making Shen Yao's heart itch.

To be honest, Cheng Qi's figure and looks were really good; looking at him, he seemed like protagonist material.

If it weren't for his previous cold, aloof, and solitary behavior, with all the girls who pursued him being rejected, someone would have long since taken him home to bear children.

The cart was stacked with hemp sacks collected, all filled with wood ears inside.

Two back baskets were carried by Shen Yu and Cheng Qi respectively; Cheng Qi, originally heading home, simply had a meal at the Shen Family, and as expected was scolded by Cheng Ma.

"Look, my mom says I'm thick-skinned," he openly showed his wristwatch to Shen Yao; Cheng Qi was currently helping Shen Yao process the sweet melons and cherries in the back basket.

All were fruits that were expensive and delicious; Song Ling didn't plan to sell them, but instead gave some to the Cheng Family, keeping the rest to eat slowly.

When drinking water, don't forget those who dug the well; being able to pick cherries and sweet melons all relied on Cheng Qi.

"What Aunt Cheng said is right," Shen Yao thought Cheng Qi's skin wasn't thin at all; turns out it wasn't like that, and she understood this person's true face even more.

The fruits were put into a basin and rinsed clean with clear water, then wiped dry with paper towels and placed to one side.

Five sweet melons were divided into two, and there were even more cherries, directly filling a small basin full.

Cheng Qi refused repeatedly; how could he take things from his in-laws' family, did he still want to get married.

"Xiao Cheng, just take it, take it; there's also that sack of wood ears, take them all back," Song Ling liked Cheng Qi more the more she looked at him.

These Collection Points wouldn't have yielded so much without Cheng Qi's help.

"Aunt Song," Cheng Qi was embarrassed, refusing again and again but couldn't get away, so he simply chose to accept.

Shen Yao hid to one side and mischievously asked whether to lend him the family cart, otherwise carrying it back would be tiring enough; even though C District and B District were relatively close, going from C District back to B District still took some time.

Daytime was getting longer; outside the sky wasn't dark yet, and Cheng Qi just carried things back so carelessly; even wearing the Patrol Team's work uniform, Shen Yao still worried about his personal safety.

Cheng Qi nodded, without being reserved, "I'll bring them to you tomorrow morning."

The cart that had rested in the courtyard for less than two hours was back on the road; Shen Yao went out to see Cheng Qi off for a stretch, but was finally pushed back by him.

"Still need to go out collecting tomorrow," Cheng Qi waved his hand and pointed to his wristwatch, "We'll chat later."

He planned to tell Shen Yao about the still-decent Collection Points around Chang Le Town; anyway, with the Patrol Team's map, who could guarantee it was definitely himself leaking secrets.

Cheng Qi knew very well that many people in the Patrol Team did this kind of thing.

Cheng Qi hadn't participated before because the Cheng Family truly wasn't short on food and drink, and colleague relations were decent; but now, the Shen Family's foundation wasn't as thick as the Cheng Family's, so Cheng Qi decided to follow his colleagues' example and dig up some good things to make up for his family.

With a ding-dong sound, Shen Yao opened her wristwatch; inside was a map more detailed than before.

If the previous map was only approximate, now there were exact locations.

Several of them were places Cheng Qi shamelessly got from Patrol Team members personally; opening and closing his mouth with a sentence, the favor from the Sweet Potato Garden people had to be repaid.

Shen Yao:...

Shen Yao covered her face with one hand, blushing more and more; even though both parties were separated by the wristwatch and no one could see each other's real face, it was still very embarrassing.

"It won't, this counts as a normal transaction; next time there's a chance I'll pay it back."

Cheng Qi adapted well to this kind of scene, probably because he did it often usually; Shen Yao still had the mind to think random things, and while not idle she sent Cheng Qi a message, telling him to rest more after getting home and not cause trouble.

"Recently the Patrol Team is short on manpower; you all don't go to Collection Points too far away; even if there are many supplies, don't go," once something happens the Patrol Team can't arrive in time to rescue; no matter how many supplies, they'd all go to waste; if life is gone, everything is gone. Cheng Qi had Shen Yao stay around Chang Le Town; that place was considered a spot where safety and supply richness could both rank.

"Don't worry, we won't go far; you too," staying at the Base doesn't mean there's no danger; there are all kinds of people in the Base; there are plenty of those who can't survive themselves and still want to take revenge on society.

Shen Yao dug up quite a few such bloody scenes from the Original Body's memories; without any reason, purely wanting to drag others to die with them.

Even the most dangerous time, someone had already killed right up to her front; it was Shen Yu kicking the other person away with one foot that protected their two people's personal safety.

Base dangerous elements like this usually appear respectable on normal days and are hard to identify.

The two chatted for a good while using the wristwatch's chat function, until Song Ling called her over to bathe.

The bath water was warm; after bathing she changed into new clothes and by the way ate dinner.

Shen Yao sent the map from her wristwatch to the other three people, briefly retold Cheng Qi's words; Shen Jiancheng and Shen Yu hadn't spoken yet, but Song Ling took the lead in praising Cheng Qi.

"This child Xiao Cheng is just honest; but will it be too hard on Xiao Cheng? He's alone in the Patrol Team, isolated and weak; if someone gives him a hard time, why not just forget it."

Song Ling said with less and less confidence; it wasn't that she was reluctant about a few Collection Points, but Cheng Qi was more important than Collection Points; not to mention a respectable job could add glory to their face, just the Patrol Team's name was very impressive, making their Shen Family's safety rise another level.

For the sake of a few unimportant Collection Points, causing her son-in-law's job to have turmoil; in Song Ling's view this was completely unnecessary.

"Daughter, we can go elsewhere tomorrow; you tell Xiao Cheng absolutely not to force himself; there's still plenty of time; don't create conflicts with colleagues..." Song Ling chattered on endlessly; Shen Jiancheng, seeing the situation, also interjected; the couple's central idea was only one point: let Cheng Qi stabilize his job first; other things could be discussed slowly.

Shen Yao:...

Shen Yao rubbed her head, telling Shen Jiancheng and Song Ling not to worry; Cheng Qi was sharper than anyone; how would he do this kind of self-destructive thing.

"It's all things the Patrol Team itself did; it's just that the Cheng Family had more foundation than the Shen Family," Cheng Qi had only not acted until now, until he formed a marriage alliance with the Shen Family.

Shen Jiancheng, Song Ling:...

After hearing this, the couple felt even more embarrassed; wasn't this still their own fault? Their Shen Family's thin foundation was why their son-in-law used public resources for private gain.

"Don't say these things, Dad, Mom; you first look at which area tomorrow's Collection Points are in; we'll take these few days while we have time to scout them all."

Afterwards Shen Yao also gave her family a preventive shot in advance; the maps obtained from the Patrol Team—some Collection Points were very likely already scouted no less than several times; even if the harvested supplies weren't many, they couldn't complain.

"Hey, what's there to complain about? As long as we have it," they weren't picky at all; life right now was much happier than last year.

Whether days were good or bad depended on how one faced them; it was this Mild Season that the Shen family had climbed back up, previously scraping by every day.

Shen Yao:...

Shen Yao thought it was indeed true; she really couldn't blame the Shen family for being fearful on all sides, as they simply didn't have much confidence. The Shen family's ancestry, compared to the whole C District, was part of the lower-middle class.

The Shen family had two pillars, but how dangerous was it for the mercenary team to go out? If they didn't come back, it would be adding insult to injury. Unlike those in B District and A District who were truly stable in class and didn't worry about being overturned by accidents.

Standing up and leaving the table, Shen Yao swung her arms back to her room to rest.

As for what Shen Jiancheng and Song Ling could research, that was their business; Shen Yao just had to execute.

Early the next morning, the family went out and ran into Cheng Qi coming to deliver the cart.

Song Ling beamed like a flower and even stuffed two boiled wild eggs into the other person's hands, telling them to take them to class to eat.

Cheng Qi didn't refuse, sweetly thanking his future mother-in-law for the feeding, then walked over to Shen Yao's side, lowered his head to say a few words, and turned to leave.

Shen Yao didn't understand Cheng Qi's clinginess, but this person was usually too busy and had no free time lately.

"Come on, let's take the car to Chang Le Town," Song Ling said in a loud voice. As the four passed the Zhou family's place, Zhou Shen called out to them.

"Old Zhou, what's going on?" Song Ling hadn't spoken much with this old best friend lately; seeing the other person look so haggard now, she was startled.

Zhou Shen waved her hand, looking listless. "My Da Zhuang and Er Zhuang went out and haven't come back. I'm taking care of several children and can't leave."

"Old Song, I just want to ask you for a favor. Help me check on how Zhou Ying is doing?"

When Zhou Shen mentioned her own daughter, her eyes were full of tears. Weren't they the ones who had quarreled before? Zhou Shen had given Zhou Ying quite a bit of grain, which caused dissatisfaction among the family, and after that, Zhou Ying never came back once.

Zhou Shen worried her daughter couldn't hold out with a big belly, so she wanted Song Ling to make the trip for her.

Knowing this was a bit improper, Zhou Shen looked embarrassed. As she hesitantly stuffed the grain she had prepared in advance over, Song Ling couldn't stand it, snatched it herself to reassure Zhou Shen.

"It's just on the way. You take care of yourself. It's not okay to starve yourself to save grain for your daughter." Song Ling knew very well where the grain came from—she was saving her own food ration. Who let her family have a daughter-in-law and grandchildren? Zhou Shen found this aspect harder.

"I don't want to cause too much trouble for the children at home. And I'm an old woman; eating a little less is nothing," Zhou Shen weakly defended herself, looking very heartbreaking and helpless.

Song Ling was indignant. "You're just too stupid. If the children don't listen, let them eat some bitterness and they'll understand. You just keep spoiling them."

Zhou Ying didn't look very sober at first glance. When they got married, Zhou Shen couldn't stop her. Now, being soft-hearted and helping her again would only let Zhou Ying take advantage even more.

This wasn't a good thing. Zhou Shen currently relied on her son at home for elderly care. A married daughter could help in limited ways. Besides, this daughter was someone who could drag them down.

Seeing she couldn't persuade her old best friend's infatuated heart, Song Ling simply shut up, waved her hand for Zhou Shen to go back, and promised to deliver her there.

Shen Yao didn't understand. "Zhou Ying's situation isn't good. Can Zhou Shen bring her back?"

Song Ling shook her head with a wry smile. "How could it be that simple? Zhou Ying's man is too much of a burden, and your Zhou Shen pins her hopes on her son. If the daughters-in-law aren't willing, Zhou Ying will never come back, dead or alive."

Besides, what if Zhou Ying gives birth to the child in her belly? Can the Zhou family's situation afford to raise a precious little infant for free? There's no money.

"Daughter, although Xiao Cheng is not bad, you two don't need to have children too early," children are hard to raise. Song Ling took the opportunity to educate her, fearing Shen Yao's head would get dizzy and she would insist on having one at all costs.

Shen Yao:...

Even though she came here with a mission to bear children, the premise was that life had to be good. What's the point of having children when you're dirt poor? Feed yourself first.

"Mom, Cheng Qi and I have discussed it. We're not in a hurry for these two or three years."

They're so young. In modern society, they'd still be enjoying single life.

It's just that this mutated world is too qizhi. Everything is rushed, rushed, rushed. It even affects their dating—they can't even date properly. Instead, they have to get married first and talk about feelings later.

The trope of marry-first-love-later popped into her head. Shen Yao rubbed her forehead, utterly speechless. Forget it, she really couldn't think too much about it.

Because they had to deliver things to Zhou Ying, the group took a detour.

"She lives in D District, right?" Shen Yao had a vague impression of the address.

Song Ling shook her head. "They moved. Not in D District anymore. They're in E District."

"E District?"

Shen Yao hesitated to speak, thinking to herself that E District was remote to the extreme, the easiest place for trouble to happen. Why would they be so muddle-headed as to move out there?

Song Ling didn't see Shen Yao's conflicted expression and kept nagging about Zhou Ying being unreliable.

On the wristwatch, Zhou Shen had already told Song Ling a lot about Zhou Ying, none of it good. And Song Ling had a premonition that this trip she was making for Zhou Shen wouldn't go smoothly.

Soon, they arrived at E District.

Compared to the orderly C District, E District's streets looked chaotic and messy. Moreover, the people living in E District didn't look very spirited.

Shen Yao frowned. If Song Ling hadn't already pointed out Zhou Ying's home, she would have turned around.

They couldn't stay here long. Even with Shen Jiancheng and Shen Yu, two big men, just looking at the gazes cast by the people around was enough to make one's hair stand on end.

Dong dong dong—

Standing in front of a single-story house with no courtyard, only a simple wooden door, Song Ling patiently knocked and called out Zhou Ying's name twice.

Not a single response.

This...

"Are you their relatives? No one has come out for two days."

A voice came from the neighboring room, clearly impatient with Song Ling's disturbance.

Song Ling helplessly told Shen Jiancheng to push the door open directly. Not coming out for two days definitely meant something had happened.

As expected, the door was pushed open, and the four saw in the cramped space that Zhou Ying had fainted on the small wooden bed, with bloodstains flowing beneath her.

"Xiao Yu, borrow a cart to come back. Old Shen, come with me to send Zhou Ying to the hospital."

"Yao Yao, contact your Zhou Shen. Tell her to go to the hospital and wait as soon as possible."

Taking a deep breath, Song Ling arranged everything in an orderly manner, and the four immediately took action.