Chapter 411

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

In the days before the Cold Season ended, the base interior stirred up right on schedule.

It was still because of trouble stirred up in the public area; there was no helping it — who let the wealth gap in the base be too obvious, and this time the base didn't want to bleed resources to help like last year, causing the later districts to suffer heavy losses.

Normally even family members bump into each other in conversation; now living together with a group of strangers, one doesn't need to think to know how lively it would be.

Shen Yao stayed at home with Manman the whole time; news all came from Cheng Qi's mouth.

Sometimes Cheng Qi felt it was too bloody and unwilling to speak, and there was also the big-mouthed System.

In short, don't look at how Shen Yao never went out the door — she didn't miss a single bit of relevant news.

As the weather grew warmer and warmer, this gust of the Cold Season seemed to have blown past as well.

This girl Manman was already seven or eight months along, like a solid little counterweight; picking her up was heavy on the hands.

"Be good, sit for a bit yourself, Mom needs a rest," Shen Yao put her chubby daughter down, stretching her hand to massage her somewhat sore arm bend.

Aiyo

Next time I can't hold her like this anymore, too solid; this little girl is greedy for food and not picky, and doesn't like to cry and fuss — truly there is no child easier to raise than her.

Manman revealed her cherry mouth, a few milk teeth the size of white rice grains faintly visible.

Shen Yao had already prepared complementary food for Manman, paired with milk powder for daily consumption, completely without the discomfort ordinary children have when weaning.

Creak—

Sitting on the sofa, Manman tilted her neck, eyes unblinkingly staring at the doorway.

The movement just now was someone entering; at this hour, besides Cheng Qi, there was no other possibility.

Sure enough, Cheng Qi quickly came to the living room, stretched out his hand to scoop Manman from the sofa into his arms; father and daughter first had a good bout of affection, then in unison twisted their heads to look at Shen Yao.

Shen Yao: …

"I'll go cook; you hurry and put her down — she can already walk two steps, no need to spoil her so much."

Ever since Manman could walk, Shen Yao didn't much want to watch the child; nothing else, just that she was full of energy and could make a ruckus, and one person couldn't keep a close enough eye on her.

It was also the two of them raising the child well — she looked not small in stature, and even occasionally a few unclear syllables could pop out of her mouth.

Shen Yao paid no mind to what father and daughter played, busily reheating dinner and bringing it out of the pot.

The family of three each had their own rice bowl; after eating they served themselves seconds (Manman had them do it), until every bit of food on the table was eaten into their bellies.

Eating and drinking their fill, the couple accompanied the child to play; only when the child fell asleep did they have the mood to chat a little.

The topic couldn't leave this three-fen land of the base; the Mild Season was coming right up, and according to plan they still needed to continue stockpiling in the space.

The space still had plenty of idle room; in other words, no matter how much they stockpiled, they could never fill the Golden Finger the System opened for them.

But "the most important thing is still the vehicle; vehicles always carry the risk of breaking down."

If it breaks down on the road then, in unfamiliar territory they'd have nowhere to set foot.

Cheng Qi moved his wrist, opened his wristwatch and revealed the mission list to Shen Yao, "This time there are more reclamation missions; let's look first to see if we can find an opportunity."

Reclamation missions give little and have high danger; last year the base's missions barely passed; this year the base upper echelon increased reward investment, so it should be a little stronger than last year.

Cheng Qi planned to focus on the vehicle; as for stockpiling arrangements, contact last year's old clients, inside and out together piecing it together would be enough.

Certain people in the base upper echelon have already taken action; they couldn't fall behind either.

…………

"Manman, I'm Grandma, Grandma"

"Yaya"

Song Ling lowered her head and bent her waist, teasing Manman in all sorts of ways.

Shen Yao helplessly let Song Ling sit quickly; the little girl hasn't reached the age of learning to speak yet — her yiya-yaya are all unconscious syllables; how could she truly call someone.

"No need to hurry; I came over just to take a look — there's still a pile of things inside and outside the house I can't get free from."

Song Ling told Shen Yao not to busy herself; it was just that she seized the time while it was still early to run over for a trip; actually this Mild Season was extremely important for the Shen Family, because Shen Yu's wife Chen Jia was pregnant.

"Don't let yourself be this busy; wasn't it agreed that I'd help you find rice, flour, grain, and oil — why do you still like running off to wild collection?"

Shen Yao truly didn't know what to say; Song Ling always had reasons waiting for her.

"Your mom isn't pregnant; if I don't go out at this time, others would get suspicious.

Besides, your sister-in-law is pregnant — it's precisely the time to prepare in advance.

And that so-called base upper echelon you mentioned," Song Ling twitched her cheek, "all of this has to be considered — if the family has no grain and no supplies, we can't all rely on you two to support us, and there's Manman too."

Shen Yao: …

Shen Yao thought to herself: according to the due date, her sister-in-law's child would most likely be born in the Hot Rainy Season; at that time, not reaching the village ahead, not reaching the store behind — what to do.

"Your sister-in-law is a nurse herself; besides, one can still go out in the Hot Rainy Season.

The house has air conditioning and a refrigerator; at that time, arrange people in advance to come over and help — as long as the price is sufficient, no worry about not finding a doctor who can deliver."

It's just that this child's timing is coincidentally tight; once the departure is set, it won't be easy to move.

Song Ling hesitated, indicating they might as well stay and wait another year; everything can wait until next year.

Shen Yao: …?

Shen Yao speechlessly saw Song Ling off, conveniently bringing along some fruit.

They were all seasonal fruits collected in Chang Le Town; Shen Yao went there once, relying on the System to cheat, and the harvest was several times that of others.

Song Ling's family had a pregnant woman who needed to replenish her body; the two tugged back and forth for half a day but still accepted.

"Later matters wait until the child is born," Shen Yao persuaded Song Ling not to hoard too many points; exchanging for visible supplies was the most secure — "like whatever the family lacks or is short of, tell me; one family doesn't speak two families' words."

And she didn't need to be too polite with herself; including the gene stabilizers Shen Jiancheng and Shen Yu needed, everything relied on Cheng Qi to help make connections.

Song Ling waved her hand to tell Shen Yao to hurry back, leaving the child alone in the room was too dangerous, and besides, they had four adults at home—how could they really pin everything on a daughter who had married out? Did they have no shame?

Watching her birth mother leave with small, quick steps, Shen Yao turned around and went into the room to close the door.

Manman cooed and cried out again, her words unclear, but one could vaguely hear the sound of wanting food.

She touched Manman's little belly, and as expected, it caved in.

Oh, she was hungry.

Turning around, she took out teething snacks from her space and put them to Manman's mouth for her to eat; Shen Yao quickly ran back to the kitchen and brought out the prepared complementary food and milk within a few minutes.

Feeding and coaxing at the same time, by the time Cheng Qi got off work and came home, the chubby daughter was already asleep, and the two of them had a rare quiet dinner.

Getting up to help clear and wash the bowls and chopsticks, Cheng Qi said he had taken a land-reclamation mission and would be leaving for a trip in a few days; if all went well, he wouldn't be back for half a month.

"Half a month? Not too long."

"At a newly opened intersection, a group of wild cattle that couldn't be driven away suddenly appeared."

"The base wants them driven away as soon as possible; they can't affect the mineral vein's yield."

After all, the base counted on these mineral veins to make money; these wild cattle were staying in the wrong place and really delaying things.

Hearing this, Shen Yao made an acknowledging sound; her luggage was packed as previously prepared, and the food for the trip was mostly jerky, dried vegetables, and nutrient agents.

As for private extra meals? Wasn't there still her space as a cheat tool? Cheng Qi could find a place with no one around if he wanted to eat; there were plenty of cooked foods inside, all thanks to the just-passed cold season.

"Mom came today and talked about family matters," Shen Yao simply told Cheng Qi what Song Ling had said, "I feel we probably won't be able to leave this year."

Not only were they all Shen family members, but they also had their own preparations, and Manman was too young; getting sick on the road would be enough to worry them.

"There's no progress on Eldest Young Master's matter either, and Mom and Dad are more willing to stay," Cheng Qi said, speaking of Cheng Dage; he had tried every method but had no good results.

"Forget it, we'll go by our own plan; prepare what needs preparing, don't think too much," they couldn't just not leave because of other people.

Cheng Qi and Shen Yao cared about their families but wouldn't overly insist on family affection; when it came time for both sides to part ways, they could only go their separate ways.

Shen Yao smiled and nodded, then turned around to help Cheng Qi pack his luggage.

After Cheng Qi left the base to go on his mission, Shen Yao simply took Manman out to collect.

Not limiting herself to collection points near the base or slightly farther away, Shen Yao carried her back basket and held the child, leaving early and returning late every day; although the harvest looked small (she put a lot in her space), they could still be self-sufficient.

Because of this, the mother and daughter avoided several schemes hidden behind them; after all, whose family would rob a poor ghost? Everyone targeted those with money.

The days passed slowly like this; Shen Yao took over Cheng Qi's work, either queuing at the exchange center to buy grain or going to the market to buy supplies.

Her space was filled piece by piece until several more vehicles were added to the parking spot.

Shen Yao raised her eyebrows, thinking that Cheng Qi's side was going smoothly; he had gains after being out for a week.

Cheng Qi smiled bitterly, "Run, don't stop; this group of wild cattle isn't something we can handle."

Truly unlucky to the extreme; who sent the intelligence, and why was there still concealment?

The wedding guests in the car cursed and swore; Cheng Qi already had a good temper and could comfort himself, but the unluckier people and cars were all in the crazy herd of cattle.

"When we get back, we must report this; this mission is clearly aimed at our lives."

"Yes yes, dozens or hundreds of mad cows two or three stories high; even bringing the base's big cannons would be useless," they were all mere mortals; how could they handle it?

"......"

Whether speaking or not, as long as they could still breathe, they were all full of pent-up anger.

Cheng Qi lowered his head and pinched his severely injured wrist, slowly exhaling.

So dangerous, so close!

He almost exposed the secret of his space; fortunately, he reacted in time, but such fire-chestnut-picking affairs should be done less in the future.

Those who often walk by the river—how can they not get their shoes wet?

Cheng Qi didn't want to gamble on anything; leaning against the hard metal crate, he closed his eyes to rest on the surface while actually immersing his thoughts in his space.

He took in three vehicles in one breath, all new vehicles produced by the base; at least he didn't have to worry about the journey in the future.

As for how to explain it when returning to the base? With video and audio as proof, they had escaped death; would the base really make trouble?

The base wouldn't make trouble, but the base upper echelon was indeed angry because these wild cattle couldn't be driven away, really delaying their mining activities.

The base didn't care about the few lost vehicles; they could just build more, but the base couldn't be without mines; that was their main means of external exchange.

After being away for more than half a month, when Cheng Qi returned, his face was full of stubble, scaring Manman into crying loudly upon seeing him; no one could coax her.

Shen Yao was helpless; she told Cheng Qi to hurry and tidy himself up before asking what exactly had happened.

Cheng Qi spread his hands, "Can't solve the problem; the upper echelon is helpless," estimating that the last resort would be to take a detour and continue mining; although it delayed time, at least there were mineral veins.

Shen Yao:......

Shen Yao told Cheng Qi to stop acting innocent with a frivolous smile; this person often put on an improper appearance, but actually understood better than anyone what to do.

Although they were reprimanded when they returned this time, it also indirectly slowed down the upper echelon's steps; looking at the vehicles entering and leaving A District, there were far fewer than a few days ago.

"Rest assured, even if we leave, let them go scout the way first."

Cheng Qi touched the hair that had fallen from Shen Yao's head, revealing that he had already planned several routes; at that time, they would see which route had the most people and take that one.

Shen Yao made an acknowledging sound, "Transportation is sorted; next is fuel."

"I've already contacted the people at the car rental shop; taking advantage of the convenience to get a few more drums."

"Do the show in full; we'll go out more recently so people won't suspect."

"......"

Calculating against the unintentional; the base really had people paying attention to these miscellaneous matters.

Although Cheng Qi's identity was sensitive, his reasons for buying were reasonable, so it didn't cause any waves; instead, others who acted incautiously were caught red-handed and couldn't provide a valid excuse, directly losing both person and goods.

Because of these events, Cheng Qi and Shen Yao acted even more carefully and cautiously.

Only when the mild season ended and the hot rainy season arrived did the two of them breathe a sigh of relief.

Having been here for nearly three years, Shen Yao was extremely familiar with the hot rainy season.

When Cheng Qi was at home, she entrusted the child to Cheng Qi's care, while she ran to the kitchen to busy herself preparing cooked food in advance; when Cheng Qi was not at home, Shen Yao took the child with her to the studio to hand-weave various usable items of all sizes.

By mid-Hot Rainy Season, Song Ling sent word that Chen Jia had given birth smoothly, and both mother and child were safe.

Shen Yao had already sent over plenty of infant clothing during the Mild Season; now she gathered another pile, and taking advantage of the convenient space, asked Cheng Qi to help deliver them.

Cheng Qi's current work schedule was fixed, passing by the Shen Family home every day on the way to and from work, so carrying things back and forth was convenient and quick.

The Patrol Team's atmosphere was not good, and this affected the several captains including Cheng Qi, whose relations with the Temporary Workers were strained, with constant friction.

These frictions were like little sparks; if not noticed, they could spread into a great fire.

And fire was a dangerous thing—it could burn people, ultimately hurting both others and oneself.

Just as the second Mild Season was arriving, the conflict between the Patrol Team and the Temporary Workers erupted.

That day Cheng Qi came back very late, covered head to toe in bloodstains.

Shen Yao was so frightened she nearly went into shock; only Cheng Qi's soothing words and a hospital examination slip finally calmed Shen Yao down.

However, this incident also caused the two of them to erupt in an unprecedented 'conflict'; pressed by family pressure, Cheng Qi reluctantly resigned.