CH 25.1

Lian Ru Ning stared at Hao Jian and her confession flashed in her mind. Lian Ru Ning’s heart became nervous and vaguely expectant.

Hao Jian took out the five hundred yuan she received and raised it, “Sugar momma!”

“. . .” Lian Ru Ning couldn’t say whether what she felt was disappointment or anything, the only thing she knew was that, she wasn’t satisfied with the answer.

Hao Jian smiles, “My money was robbed by the Li family. In the days to come, I still have to rely on cash.”

“It’s not certain whether people will sell food or not.”

“Not everyone will lose hope in the future. I believe that a considerable number of people still hope that the proper authorities can save them and restore order. At this time, their stored money, coins, gold, silver, and jewelry will be useful. . . So when we buy at ten times the price, they will not be unmoved.”

They soon arrive at the entrance of the village. At a glance, most houses inside are three-storied small buildings, but most of them do not have a yard, so every household has closed the door. Although the windows are installed with anti-theft nets, there’s still a small opening.

Some people have broken windows, and there are still a lot of blood stains on the doors and windows, which are obviously the result of cruel fights.

Hao Jian asked Xin Ting and Peng Mao to search for vacant houses near the village to see if they could find some useful materials. She and Lian Ru Ning knocked on someone’s window.

After they knocked on a few households, when no one responded, they moved on to the next one. Hao Jian wasn’t bothered, her goal wasn’t to buy food from these people anyway.

When the sun was slanting to the west, a family was finally willing to open the window and talk to her.

Hao Jian took the opportunity and told Lian Ru Ning, “You go and see how Xin Ting and the others are doing.”

“Will you be alright alone?”

Hao Jian glanced at the man of the family and replied, “I’ll be fine by myself.”

Although Lian Ru Ning wasn’t at ease, she also knows that Hao Jian is a person who doesn’t leave her weapons or armor, so she said, “I’ll go to the others for the mean time. If you encounter any situation, just call for us.”

After Lian Ru Ning left, Hao Jian asked the family about food, but they didn’t have any extra food to sell. After knowing that they came from the outside, he wanted to get some information form Hao Jian.

Hao Jian didn’t hope that she could buy food from them, so he asked if he had a backpack. This time he agreed, since a dilapidated shoulder bag cost more than two hundred yuan.

The villager also knew that the bag wasn’t food or a necessity for survival, so he didn’t ask a sky-high price.

Hao Jian asked for the bag and left. Later, she bought food from the mall and place it inside, saying that she bought it from the family.

Taking into account the conditions of the villagers, she gave up foods such as bread, rice balls, and eggs that were worth ten points. She only chose food like a catty of dried vegetables that was worth five points and a pack of instant noodles worth ten points.

As soon as she packed her things into her shoulder bag, she looked for Lian Ru Ning once again, “Peng Mao and Xin Ting found an empty house. Although the glass window was broken, the security net is still intact and the door is still okay.”

Hao Jian ignored the prying glances around them and followed Lian Ru Ning to the house to check it out.

There was a headless zombie lying in front and beside the door of the house. The stainless steel door still had traces after a fight, so it can be said that someone has been here. Hao Jian was afraid that there might not be many survival supplies availble.

Peng Mao and Xin Ting have searched the two-story house, but the only kitchenware they found was a leaky aluminum pot, and a heavy pressure cooker. There were also a few tableware and chopsticks, but the knives were gone.

Hao Jian went and took a look. Although the room was full of mess, it was still safer than a temple with little vision. On the top of the building, you can observe the surroundings. If they ever find something, they can also evacuate quickly.

The important thing is that there is water for bathing.

In such an environment, no one would care about hygiene, even if they didn’t take a bath for three days. But they killed so many zombies, and they would inevitably be splashed with zombie blood. They were worried about whether there would be any harm to them if they didn’t wash it after a day.

Moreover, after a few days of sweating, their whole body was stinking. Lian Ru Ning didn’t even dare to get too close to Hao Jian, fearing that the latter might smell her body.

Hao Jian learned form the system that some people have studied the zombie virus or ‘Q Virus’, and said that it cannot survive in the air, but the corpse of the zombie contains decomposed toxic substances that could pollute land and water sources. Although it will not turn humans into zombies, it will still cause some physical discomfort.

Therefore, it is best not to touch surface water, but tap water that has undergone disinfection and other processes is relatively safe. Although such a process cannot eliminate the zombie virus implanted in the human body, it can eliminate the toxic substances from the zombie’s blood.

Hao Jian said, “Aside from the paralysis of the network signal, electricity and water in some places seem to be still operating. It seems that the country has already reacted.

If there are people operating in power plants and water plants, or other related organizations, they must be relatively safe. Considering that we haven’t proper authorities appear for so many days, they must have been assigned to protect these important factories.

Thinking about this, Hao Jian said to Lian Ru Ning who was in a daze, “No need to worry, mankind is not completely doomed and your family is still alive.”

Lian Ru Ning felt that Hao Jian’s words seemed to have some magic power. After hearing what she said, Lian Ru Ning’s heart calmed down a lot and she also believed that her family was still alive, waiting for their reunion!

Suddenly, she snickered before laughing and said, “It’s strange, you can still comfort people!”

Hao Jian leaned into Lian Ru Ning’s ear. Her voice was different from her usual cold and flat tone. It was instead full of magnetic beauty, “I can do a lot more to comfort you.”

Lian Ru Ning thought of some very yellow pictures after hearing Hao Jian, causing her face to slowly become hot. Worried about being misunderstood by Xin Ting and the others, she hurriedly backed away, “I’ll go upstairs and have a look.”

Seeing her running away, Hao Jian asked the system, “The partner you chose for me is the same as me?”

“The system can’t know. Although your partner is perfect fit for the host, humans have perceptual emotions and their choices are often not the best for themselves.”

“To be blunt, although she fits well with me, she may like men or people other than me.” Hao Jian said.

The system does not deny, “Therefore, it is not easy to have a deep soul connection with your partner. Because of this, the rewards for completing the love mission is high.”

“Interesting.” Hao Jian smiled.

Now most people in the village use gas and natural gas for cooking, but the old people with stoves liked to cook in the old way. Fortunately, the gas tank in the house wasn’t empty and wasn’t taken.

Hao Jian understood the minds of the robbers. They can take away knives as weapons, use cooking pots for armor or use them when cooking in the wild. Although the pressure cooker and gas tank were good, they were also bulky, so they were abandoned.

Because of these pots, they have the opportunity to boil water and eat the dried Vegetables and instant noodles that Hao Jian brought out.

Of course, after learning that the tap water could be boiled for drinking, the four bottles of mineral water in Hao Jian’s bag wasn’t used. She instead prepared them to use for emergency.

The four of them were divided into two groups. Hao Jian and Peng Mao worked in a group. When Lian Ru Ning went to take a bath and Xin Ting was preparing the instant noodles, Hao Jian was on the lookout in the roof upstairs while Peng Mao watched at the door.

The reason for this arrangement was what Hao Jian said to Peng Mao, “Although you have no combat effectiveness, your muscles can still scare people.”

When the three women teamed up, they were still targeted by Li Chang. No matter how skilled they were, they looked weak in the first impression of others. This stereotype will cause them a lot of unnecessary trouble.

Hao Jian also thought about it. Instead of guarding Peng Mao, it is better to make the best use of everything and have him act as a façade. If Peng Mao wants to part ways with them after today, they will not lose.

It took Xin Ting ten minutes to cook the noodles. Peng Mao, who was staring at the door in the living room, was distracted when he smelled the aroma and wandered into the kitchen.

In the past, if these fried foods were given to him by others, he would not eat them. But he had been hungry for a long time and didn’t care if it was bad, as long as he could eat.

When he saw Xin Ting preparing to take away a bowl of noodles with lots of noodles and dried vegetables, he was taken aback for a moment and wondered, “Is that bowl for me?”

Xin Ting looked at him and smiled embarrassedly, “This is Hao Jian’s”

“But. . . ” Peng Mao looked at the other three same bowls. He wanted to say that he was a man with a big appetite.

“Hao Jian has exhausted a lot of physical strength these days, so she has to eat more. And she was the one who got us food. We are so lucky, wouldn’t you say that she should eat more?”

“Hmm. . .” Peng Mao was lost. He himself wasn’t a ‘fighting force.’ It’s normal for Xin Ting to treat them differently. Moreover, they eat the same amount. He should be satisfied to even be able to take a bite.

Lian Ru Ning, who came out of the shower, heard their conversation and felt a strange feeling in her heart. She stepped forward and said, “I’ll take it to her. Your hand is still hurting!”

“Then I’ll trouble you!’

Lian Ru Ning went to the top of the building and saw Hao Jian leaning on the railing with her back faced the setting sun, her gaze swept across the village path indifferently. She had easygoing expression, as if she was just looking at the scenery form the top of the building.

Several poems appeared in Lian Ru Ning’s mind. She didn’t mind the romantic atmosphere.

A refreshing breeze came from behind, and Hao Jian smelled the scent that seemed like nothing before looking back.

After her shower, Lian Ru Ning had her hair loose and her long-sleeved shirt was wet because of her hair, though she didn’t notice it.

She washed her hair, face, and every inch of skin on her body, as if she was reborn. Had it not been for the soreness in her palm, she would have thought that the previous fays had been nothing more than a nightmare.

“Hey, Xin Ting has prepared the biggest bowl for you.” Lian Ru Ning handed out the bowl.

Hao Jian took it, sat down cross-legged, and started eating.

Lian Ru Ning squatted down beside her, looking at the gorgeous sunset, “It’s amazing. I saw the sunset before, and it looked like a setting sun full of blood. But I don’t see it anymore.”

Hao Jian also looked up at the sun and said, “This is a good thing. It shows that you are mentally prepared to face the catastrophe.”

“I should thank you, you are a good person.”

Hao Jian moved for a while. Why did she feel that she had been issued a ‘good guy card’ for some reason?

However, Lian Ru Ning simply praised Hao Jian. She asked, “What do you do in Southern City? You seem to have a lot of experience.”

After asking, she was still a little worried about whether her question was too abrupt for Hao Jian.

Hao Jian didn’t mind her asking these things. They had experienced life and death together, which could be called a companionship and she had nothing to hide.

“After I dropped out of school, I worked a few jobs. Later, I was caught by You Xiaoxiao, the son of the couple who runs a farmhouse. He is also a game streamer. Seeing that I play games well, he encouraged me to become a game streamer.” Hao Jian paused, “Speaking of which, you are still my junior sister!”

Lian Ru Ning was surprised, “Are you from Southern City University too?”

Hao Jian smiled, “Yes, but I am majoring in Sociology and Anthropology, The campus is in the sea area of Nanfang City. However, I have only studied for half a year, and I didn’t even have time to get acquainted with my classmates.”

Being able to afford a well-known school like Southern City is enough to prove that Hao Jian is also a smart girl herself.

“Then. . . Why did you drop out of school?”

“Because my mother became sick. She was very ill. She needed money to treat her illness and she needed someone to take care of her.”

Lian Ru Ning heard Hao Jian mentioned that she was only paying homage to her mother when she came home, so Hao Jian could think of her later situation without mentioning her. As for why Hao Jian’s father didn’t show up, she didn’t ask. The answer would not be very good after all.

“Sorry, my question made you uncomfortable.” Lian Ru Ning said.

“Why do you think so? I don’t think this is something that cannot be mentioned. Although it is indeed a sad past, my mother has been dead for four years. My sadness has faded.”

Hao Jian finished her last bite of noodles, “At first, I would be sad and at a loss. Later, I found a way to survive. In order to survive, I don’t have time to immerse myself in grief.”

Four years ago, Hao Jian lost the most important person in her life, all alone. Some relatives were willing to lend her money to continue her university, but she refused.

After her relatives heard that she was a game streamer, they all said that she was depraved. Whenever she was mentioned to others, they were ‘sorrowful’ that she was such a smart girl who indulged in the game, depraved, and did unscrupulous work.

But she knew that the reason why they were willing to lend her money to study at university was just to control her future life. If they were really king, they would not say that there was no money when her mother needed money for her medical treatment.

Hao Jian didn’t resent her relatives, her mother’s illness might not be cured even if she invested millions in it after all. They didn’t want to throw money into a bottomless pit, and she understood that.

And they were willing to lend her money to finish university because her tuition is within their affordability and her future after graduation can make them reap considerable rewards.

She wants to be good enough to make her mother happy and at ease. Now no one will be disappointed because she is not good enough, so why doesn’t she let herself be more easygoing?

After thinking about this, she gave up and dropped school.

Lian Ru Ning suddenly understood why Hao Jian was not sad or happy about everything she encountered now. This was her attitude towards life. Doing nothing and wanting nothing, leaving life and death out of the way, so you can be particularly be brave.

“Hao Jian, are we friends?” She asked.

“Girlfriend or. . .”

Lian Ru Ning stared at her, “You always molest me like this, I will let you know that ‘the price of chaos’ is!”

Hao Jian wasn’t bothered by Lian Ru Ning’s anger, on the contrary, she thought she was very cute.

Hao Jian pursed her lips and smiled. Suddenly she heard movement from downstairs. She got up and looked down, she eyes suddenly darkened and told Lian Ru Ning, “People are coming from downstairs. I don’t know where they’re coming from. I’ll go down. You stay and watch from here.”

Lian Ru Ning nodded. Before Hao Jian left, she took her hand and cheered, “You be careful.”