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墨書 Inktalez
Zhou Laoyezi sat alone for half a day after learning the news. District Chief was a comrade who had fought alongside the old man in their youth. They had both endured criticism during the tumultuous times back then.
Even as the apocalypse approached, District Chief brought the old man to the Safe Zone. This bond was something Li Yan and the others could not understand or appreciate. The old man hadn't even eaten dinner, and Li Ming, unusually obedient, sat beside him. He could sense the old man's sorrow but didn't quite know how to comfort him. Li Yan gently touched the child's forehead, holding him close; sometimes, silent support was more comforting than any words.
The aftermath of the earthquake far exceeded everyone's imagination. The military was short-staffed, and the newly appointed District Chief was determined to establish a new Safe Zone. Not only did he transfer all military personnel, but he also forcibly recruited many young and strong men. Initially, many were reluctant to go, but the conditions offered by the Safe Zone were too attractive.
One bowl of White Rice for breakfast, two steamed buns for dinner, and if they helped at the Safe Zone, they would have priority access in the future. After the earthquake, food shortages became apparent; there were no crops in the fields, and food supplies at home dwindled day by day. With walls collapsed, refugees often came to steal supplies, prompting many to eagerly hope for entry into the new Safe Zone.
Liu Tao had secretly visited several times; his expression grew increasingly grave and serious, bringing with him a wealth of insider information. In fact, there were internal connections between different Safe Zones. Moreover, these zones would periodically exchange supplies. Although this process was dangerous—refugees outside were becoming more desperate—military escorts with firearms could not guarantee complete safety. However, firearms within the Safe Zone were adequately secured through these exchanges.
Additionally, while food supplies in the Safe Zone were dwindling, they continued to generously provide for those "construction workers." Did they not fear running out of food later? What was this new Jiang District Chief really planning?
This Jiang District Chief was an ambitious individual with a completely ruthless mindset; he had no thoughts of helping the weak or showing mercy. Survival of the fittest was his principle for human progress. He had originally been second-in-command at the Safe Zone, and his subordinates had long controlled the entire military district.
Li Yan and Zhou Miao were busy helping people in the village rescue others while also trying to rebuild their homes and fend off occasional refugee attacks. The only comforting news was that Li Jingfeng's family had been brought to the Safe Zone. Li Ming's Little Friend even celebrated by eating two apples.
Li Jingfeng managed to save his foot but would walk with a limp from now on. As for their daughter Li Yuanyuan, she was found on the fourth day; although weak, she survived and was sent directly to the Safe Zone. It was said her injuries were severe, but Li Yan did not concern himself with specifics.
Others in the village were not so fortunate; they had no military to rescue them. Most of the young men from the village had been conscripted by the Safe Zone, leaving only a few willing to stay behind.
Thus, over a hundred able-bodied men followed Li Yan and Zhou Miao, working tirelessly day and night to dig. The longer they took, the more dangerous it became for those trapped beneath. Perhaps heaven showed mercy; after seven days, they managed to rescue over fifty people. Although several severely injured later died, it was still considered a blessing amidst misfortune.
Every day, Yu Tian and Li Ming delivered food to those rescuers, though it wasn't much—mostly porridge and coarse bread with some meat and pickled vegetables mixed in. Those who volunteered to stay behind didn't mind; if they wanted better food, they could just help at the Safe Zone. What mattered to them were familial ties, friendships, and community bonds. Moreover, this food came from the Li Family, with some villagers contributing what little they could for communal cooking. Times were tough; they couldn't always take advantage of others.
Day by day, these men followed Li Yan in rescuing people and rebuilding homes while also repelling rogue elements. Unbeknownst to them, they began to respect Li Yan's wisdom and capabilities. During reconstruction efforts, they unconsciously centered their work around Li Yan's family's old house.
Both Li Yan and Zhou Miao noticed this development; it was precisely what they needed. Previously, their thoughts had been too simplistic—they believed that as long as they kept a low profile and lived peacefully without causing trouble everything would be fine. However, after coming to Zhangjia Village, they gradually realized that in an apocalyptic world where one could not establish a foothold, their lives hung precariously in balance.
Through deliberate persuasion and organization by Li Yan, those remaining in the village began to change their mindset. He quietly awaited the day when construction on the new Safe Zone would be completed; he believed that entry would not be granted easily then—and that moment would be their opportunity.
Three months later, as November approached, heavy rain suddenly poured from the sky. This delighted those in the nearly waterless Safe Zone, which hadn't seen rain for months—rivers had dried up and even well water was scarce. Each day everyone could only ensure basic drinking water needs; this downpour felt like a lifesaver.
On that same day, the Safe Zone announced: a new Safe Zone had been established.
The strong men who helped build the Safe Zone returned, filled with joy and anticipation, waiting for the Safe Zone to welcome them in. So, after returning to the village, they didn’t rush to build houses. Everyone was in high spirits, talking about how the new Safe Zone had toilets and electric lights. There were also plenty of fields inside, and a dam had been constructed in the Safe Zone, so there was no need to worry about water supply. It was said that shops were going to open in the Safe Zone, just like in the old city.
However, after waiting for a month without any news, many people began to feel anxious. Since the rain started, the weather had turned strange, with continuous downpours making the ground too wet for anyone to live on. The temperature dropped suddenly; although it was still around twenty degrees Celsius, it was not suitable for staying in tents every day. Adults could manage, but children could not endure it.
Some began to waver, thinking it would have been better to stay and build houses. Those who remained could now move into new homes; although they were all single-story buildings and not as sturdy as those in the Safe Zone, at least they provided shelter from wind and rain.
Finally, at the end of December, just as most people were about to protest at the Safe Zone, the entry conditions for the new Safe Zone were announced. First, anyone wishing to enter must be skilled in farming, and this required proficiency in cultivation techniques. Most farmers were not worried about this requirement since farming was their traditional occupation.
The second condition stated that only men aged between fifteen and forty-five who were free of any diseases and capable of labor would be recruited. If they had spouses, as long as their spouses were healthy and capable of labor, they could accompany them.
The third condition required each able-bodied man wishing to enter the Safe Zone to provide one thousand pounds of white rice or wheat. If couples wanted to bring elderly or children into the Safe Zone, each elderly person or child would require three hundred pounds of food, limited to two individuals.
Additionally, there was a special note stating that those who had helped construct the Safe Zone would be given priority for entry. The total capacity for the Safe Zone was set at ten thousand people.
This announcement sent the entire village into an uproar. The young men who had helped build the Safe Zone felt mixed emotions. They were happy that they could enter first but worried about providing over a thousand pounds of food. After all, which family didn’t have a few elderly or children? How would they manage?
Some people protested at the Safe Zone, questioning why those inside could bring nothing while they were being forced to provide so much food.
The personnel at the Safe Zone responded politely but firmly: "If you feel wronged or think it’s unfair, then don’t come. If some villagers became aggressive, they would simply show their weapons. If you truly want to endanger your life, we can help you with that; it only takes a few seconds to ensure you won’t have to worry about anything anymore."
At this point, people suddenly realized that the current Safe Zone was different from the past one; this new District Chief was not someone to be trifled with. The guns held by personnel were not merely for show like before. Some began to feel uneasy; entering the Safe Zone felt like entering a prison where disobedience could lead to dire consequences.
However, most people had a different perspective: having guns meant greater safety. With cold weather outside and fears of being robbed for food while freezing, security became paramount. The crops grown by farmers were also safe from those desperate enough to eat tree leaves.
Five villages gathered daily to discuss matters; many had already begun calculating their food supplies. Those from One Village who stayed behind for rescue efforts remained surprisingly calm; they weren’t afraid of refugees since they had managed to drive them away even without weapons during previous battles. Besides, what could the Safe Zone do? Initially promising priority entry into the Safe Zone now hinged on providing a thousand pounds of food; no one knew what future conditions might be like.
Of course, there were some wavering opinions among a minority. Li Yan and Zhou Miao said nothing; they spent their days eating and sleeping as January approached with winds carrying a chill. The old man seemed preoccupied with his chickens and ducks; discussions about the death of the District Chief gradually faded away.
Yu Tian cooked a chicken stew with some mushrooms and potatoes; hot pot was perfect for such cold weather. The collapsed firewood shed in their yard had been repaired; however, several old trees had fallen and crushed some chickens. During the hot weather back then, Yu Tian had boiled those dead chickens for rescue workers; now they enjoyed freshly killed chicken meat.
There was still plenty of food stored away; they stir-fried some vegetables and gathered around the table for a hearty meal. The children devoured chicken legs and wings, their faces smeared with grease. "Brother, let’s listen to the radio," one child suggested. They had been too busy lately even to turn on their radio.
To Li Yan's surprise, two or three radio stations were broadcasting now—likely newly established ones. One station featured a woman’s voice unexpectedly selling goods like cotton and charcoal—current necessities—and calling on various Safe Zones for exchanges. Their own Safe Zone was named Sunny Day and was located in City A—the once most prosperous city.
"Has the city opened up new land now?" Li Ming's little friend asked seriously, tugging at Yu Tian's hand. "Brother Yu Tian, do you think they buy KFC?"
This question was quite insightful! It’s likely that they don’t sell KFC; they sell KFC packaging instead.
In recent days, several people had come to win over Li Yan, after all, he was the son of Li Jingfeng. They hoped that entering the Safe Zone might allow him to get a backdoor deal and pay less in food contributions.
In the end, Li Yan simply closed the door and turned them away. He had no intention of going anywhere. His grandfather's house was his home, and what did Li Jingfeng have to do with him?
With the first snowfall arriving, the shelters couldn’t withstand the heavy snow, and many people began to leave the village. A tragedy was gradually unfolding; not every man could stand tall, and not every child could be filial to their elders.
The pressure of a thousand pounds of food forced people to make choices between life and family ties. Every night in the village, elderly people and children were dying. Occasionally, bodies could be seen hanging from the few crooked trees left standing. The elders had worked hard all their lives for this family, only to end up like this...
Not every elderly person who died was abandoned; some didn’t want to burden their children. They were old and wouldn’t live many more years anyway; dying sooner or later was still death. Zhang Sanye's son ultimately decided not to leave; their family's food supply barely totaled a thousand pounds. If death came, so be it; he couldn’t face his ancestors without shame. At first, the old man refused to budge, saying he would die in front of his son if he didn’t leave. But seeing his son and daughter-in-law kneeling on the ground crying, he finally sighed and thought it over—let Heaven decide whether they lived or died.
Zhang Jianguo truly lived up to his reputation as the stingiest man in the village. On the day they headed to the Safe Zone, the military trucks were loaded with two large trucks of supplies. Many present were moved to tears; damn it, this food was enough for several families to leave.
Many people had left the village, leaving it empty except for occasional sounds of children crying. However, after one night, there were no signs of life left. Those newborns could not survive through the cold winter nights without their mothers' care. Tang Zhaodi’s mother took all their food and followed the men inside; she didn’t dare look for Li Ming. Her mother said that someone like her should die early to avoid burdening others, and she didn’t want to weigh down her kind brothers.
When Yu Tian and Li Ming found her, her limbs were already cold and numb with no sensation left; her faint breath only left a wisp of white vapor in the air.
Li Ming immediately burst into tears, holding his brother tightly as he cried out of frustration and sadness for this little sister...
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